Mark's Daily Reading Journal

As I think about each gospel, each picture of Jesus being led out of the city and crucified for the sins of the world I am reminded of the scapegoat that would bear the sins of the people each year on the day of Atonement.  The scapegoat is a foreshadow, a type of Christ that pictured what Jesus would do perfectly for HIS people.  Remember how the author of Hebrews stated it?

Heb 13:8-16 "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  9 Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by foods, since those involved in them have not benefited.  10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle do not have a right to eat.  11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the holy of holies by the high priest  as a sin offering are burned outside the camp.  12 Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate,  so that He might sanctify  the people by His own blood. 13 Let us then go to Him outside the camp, bearing His disgrace.  14 For here we do not have an enduring city; instead, we seek the one to come.  15 Therefore, through Him let us continually offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that confess His name.  16 Don’t neglect to do good and to share, for God is pleased with such sacrifices." 

Jesus is led outside the camp, HE is led out of the city as a scapegoat, and we learn in Isaiah 53:10 that, "it was the Lord’s good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy a long life, and the Lord’s good plan will prosper in his hands."  Concerning Jesus being the scapegoat for our sins Spurgeon made the following comments.

What learn we here as we see our blessed Lord led forth? Do we not perceive that truth which was set forth in shadow by the scapegoat? Did not the high-priest bring the scapegoat, and put both his hands upon its head, confessing the sins of the people, that thus those sins might be laid upon the goat, and cease from the people? Then the goat was led away by a fit man into the wilderness, and it carried away the sins of the people, so that if they were sought for they could not be found. Now we see Jesus brought before the priests and rulers, who pronounce him guilty; God himself imputes our sins to him, “the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all;” “He was made sin for us;” and, as the substitute for our guilt, bearing our sin upon his shoulders, represented by the cross; we see the great Scapegoat led away by the appointed officers of justice.

Beloved, can you feel assured that he carried your sin? As you look at the cross upon his shoulders, does it represent your sin? There is one way by which you can tell whether he carried your sin or not. Have you laid your hand upon his head, confessed your sin, and trusted in him? Then your sin lies not on you; it has all been transferred by blessed imputation to Christ, and he bears it on his shoulder as a load heavier than the cross.

Let not the picture vanish till you have rejoiced in your own deliverance, and adored the loving Redeemer upon whom your iniquities were laid. Spurgeon, C. H. (1995). Morning and evening : Daily readings (April 3 AM). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.

In Leviticus we learn of the purpose of the scapegoat, to carry the sins of the people away.  In Isaiah we catch a glimpse of the shadow of the great scapegoat, of the perfect scapegoat.

Is 53:6 We all went astray like sheep; we all have turned to our own way; and the Lord has punished Him for  the iniquity  of us all.

Is 53:11 He will see  ⌊it⌋   out of His anguish, and He will be satisfied with His knowledge.  My righteous  servant  will justify many, and He will carry their iniquities.

Is 53:12 Therefore I will give Him  the many as a portion, and He will receive  the mighty as spoil, because He submitted Himself to death, and was counted among the rebels; yet He bore the sin of many and interceded for the rebels.

Lev 16:8  “Aaron shall cast lots for the two goats, one lot for the Lord and the other lot for the scapegoat.

Lev 16:10  “But the goat on which the lot for the scapegoat fell shall be presented alive before the Lord, to make atonement upon it, to send it into the wilderness as the scapegoat.

Lev 16:26  “The one who released the goat as the scapegoat shall wash his clothes and bathe his body with water; then afterward he shall come into the camp.

It never ceases to amaze me that all this was planned in eternity past!  How can that be?  I don't know...but the heart response to such news should be worship, awe, wonder, praise and adoration of the one who planned it!  What does Luke teach us in Acts 2:23?  Though He was delivered up according to God’s determined plan and foreknowledge, you used  lawless people  to nail Him to a cross and kill Him.  Luke continues in Acts 2:36-41, “Therefore let all the house of Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah!” 37 When they heard this, they were pierced to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles: “Brothers, what must we do?” 38 “Repent,”  Peter said to them, “and be baptized,  each of you, in the name  of Jesus the Messiah for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off,   as many as the Lord our God will call.” 40 And with many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt  generation!”

BE SAVED FROM THIS CORRUPT GENERATION!  PURSUE WITH ALL YOUR HEART, SOUL, MIND AND STRENGTH THE ONE WHO WILLINGLY TOOK YOUR SINS AND MY SINS AND BORE THEM ON THE CROSS...HE CAME THAT WE MIGHT HAVE LIFE AND HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY!  WHAT IS LIFE?  KNOWING JESUS!  KNOWING THE ONE WHO WILLINGLY TOOK WHAT I DESERVE...NOT ONLY A HORRIBLE DEATH, BUT THE FULL WRATH OF GOD!  HE SUFFERED OUTSIDE THE CITY SO THAT WE COULD BE PRESENTED IN THE NEW JERUSALEM.

Let's pursue HIM, let's encourage one another to pursue HIM with a white-hot passion. 

Father in heaven,

Fill me with YOUR Spirit and enable me to GO HARD AFTER YOU...AND TO BRING SOME WITH ME!

love,

m

Our reading in John opens with Peter exclaiming a second and third time..."I AM NOT."  In yesterdays reading in John we witness Jesus stepping forward and asking, "who is it you are looking for?"  It is no accident that Jesus states three times...I AM!  Let's look again at John 18:5-8 They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. 6  So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground. 7 Therefore He again asked them, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus the Nazarene.”     8 Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,”

John 18:37-38 “You are a king then?” Pilate asked. “You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world  for this: to testify  to the truth.  Everyone who is of the truth listens to My voice.” 38 “What is truth?” said Pilate.  Pilate did not hear HIS voice!  How horrifying to know that you had the author and giver of life, creation, the universe standing before you and you missed HIM.  What is truth?John 14:6  Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

How would you like your name to go down in the history of the World as "crucified under Pontius Pilate?"

The Nicene Creed is still recited around the world in churches.

We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen.  We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one Being with the Father; through him all things were made. For us and for our salvation he came down from heaven, was incarnate of the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary and became a human being.  For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate; he suffered death and was buried.  On the third day he rose again in accordance with the Scriptures;  he ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.  He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.  We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father [and the Son], who with the Father and the Son is worshipped and glorified, who has spoken through the prophets.  We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.  We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.  We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the life of the world to come. Amen. Hebblethwaite, B. (1996). The essence of Christianity : A fresh look at the Nicene Creed (1). London: SPCK.

You and I will not have our names quoted in any Christian creed, praise God, but each of us will be just as accountable before a holy God. 

Do you love what the world loves?  Do you pursue the same things that the World pursues?  Do I?  Am I radically different since my encounter, coming to faith, with the sovereign and living God?  Have my affections, desires and longings changed?  Do I constantly hunger and thirst for more of Jesus?  IF NOT, THEN I HAVE TO WONDER IF I AM A CHILD OF

YOU CANNOT LOOK AT THE CROSS, BEHOLD THE CROSS AND WALK AWAY UNCHANGED UNLESS YOU ARE NOT AMONG HIS SHEEP...HIS SHEEP KNOW HIS VOICE AND FOLLOW HIM...THE COMMAND IT TO TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW HIM EACH AND EVERY DAY!

FATHER IN HEAVEN,

When we are asked...are you a disciple of Jesus, enable us by your Holy Spirit to say joyfully I AM!

love,

m

I love this passage in the gospel of John.  We see Jesus willingly walking directly to the Cross!  John tells us that HE knew everything that was about to transpire and HE continued in perfect obedience and submission to the Father.  Jesus will soon return to HIS glorified state, but the path is through the Cross.  This passage in each gospel is beautiful and yet horrifying, it is wonderful and yet incredibly tragic. 

It's beauty shines forth in blinding glory and brilliant light in the face of Jesus Christ, as we see in 2 Co 4:6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ."  WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT MARK?  THE STUNNING FACT THAT THE SECOND PERSON IN THE TRINITY, GODHEAD, WOULD ENTER A SIN INFESTED WORLD ON A RESCUE MISSION.  THROUGHOUT ALL ETERNITY NO ONE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT TO ASK GOD TO SEND HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN TO DO WHAT HE DID!  NO ONE!  WE WOULD HAVE CRIED OUT FOR MERCY, FOR relief from our torment in hell, but we never would have dreamed to ask God the Father to send God the Son to die in our place! 

The scandal, the tragedy is that we killed the Son of God, what is horrifying to me is THAT IT WAS MY SIN THAT NAILED HIM TO THE CROSS, AND EVERY TIME I SIN NOW I AM SCREAMING AT THE TOP OF MY LUNGS...CRUCIFY HIM, CRUCIFY HIM!  To see a glimpse of the depths that my heart would fall apart from HIS saving and sanctifying grace is horrifying and humbling to me.

So here we see Jesus stepping forward identifying HIMSELF..."I AM"

John 18:4-6 So Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” 5 They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them. 6  So when He said to them, “I am He,” they drew back and fell to the ground.

Being a sheep of Christ I had never stopped to consider the effect of the voice of Jesus on the unsaved!  Being a sheep you tend to think about John 10, that HE knows us by name, we hear and follow HIS voice, we follow HIM because we recognize HIS voice, BUT HIS VOICE STRIKES TERROR IN THE HEARTS OF THE UNSAVED!

He replies mildly that he is the person they are looking for, and yet he lays them prostrate on the ground, as though they had been struck down by a violent tempest, or rather by lightning. He did not lack the power, then, to restrain them if he had thought it right; but he wished to obey his Father, by whose decree he knew that he was called to die.

We may infer from this how dreadful and terrifying to the ungodly Christ’s voice will be when he ascends his throne to judge the world. Then he stood as a lamb prepared for sacrifice, and his majesty was apparently all gone; and yet when he speaks just one word, his armed and determined enemies fall down. And what was the word? He does not pronounce any dread curse against them but only replies, “I am he.” So what will happen when he comes, not to be judged by man, but to be the Judge of the living and the dead — not in that low and contemptible state, but shining in heavenly glory and with his angels? Then, he wanted to give an example of the effectiveness which Isaiah ascribes to his voice. Among other mighty works of Christ, the prophet declares that “he will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked” (Isaiah 11:4). True, Paul puts the fulfillment of this prophecy at the end of the world (2 Thessalonians 2:8), but we see the ungodly every day with all their rage and pride struck down at Christ’s voice. When those men fell down who had come to bind Christ, it was a visible symbol of the fear which all the ungodly feel within themselves, whether they want to or not, when Christ speaks through his ministers. Moreover, as this was to some extent accidental to the voice of Christ, whose property it is to raise people lying in death, he will undoubtedly display toward us such power as to raise us right to heaven.  Calvin, J. (1994). John. The Crossway classic commentaries (Jn 18:5). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

My brothers and sisters let's press in to see HIS beautiful face and to listen to HIS majestic voice...taste and see that the LORD IS GOOD!  Let's encourage one another to pursue HIM in HIS Word, to pursue HIM through prayer and meditation in and on HIS Word, let's pursue HIM seeking to love God, to love people, to share Jesus and to make disciples to the glory of God.

Remember HE rewards those that diligently seek HIM!  Attack the Hill...let's go hard after God!

love,

m

Beautiful Scandalous Night

Go on up to the mountain of mercy,
To the crimson perpetual tide.
Kneel down on the shore,
Be thirsty no more,
Go under and be purified.
Follow Christ to the Holy Mountain,
Sinner, sorry and wrecked by the fall,
Cleanse your heart and your soul.
In the fountain that flows,
For you and for me and for all
[Chorus]
At the wonderful tragic mysterious tree,
On that beautiful scandalous night you and me,
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white,
On that beautiful scandalous night.
On the hillside you will be delivered,
At the foot of the cross, justified.
And your spirit restored,
By the river that pours,
From our blessed Saviour's side
[Chorus]
At the wonderful tragic mysterious tree,
On that beautiful scandalous night you and me,
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white,
On that beautiful scandalous night.
Bridge,
You carry the sin of mankind on your back,
And the sky went black.
Go on up to the mountain of mercy,
Go the crimson perpetual tide.
Kneel down on the shore,
Be thirsty no more,
Go under and be purified.
[Chorus]
At the wonderful tragic mysterious tree,
On that beautiful scandalous night you and me,
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white,
On that beautiful scandalous night.
[Chorus]
At the wonderful tragic mysterious tree,
On that beautiful scandalous night you and me,
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white,
On that beautiful scandalous night.
On that beautiful scandalous night,
Beautiful scandalous,
Miraculous night...

There are some passages of scripture that are so filled with the glory of God that they render the child of God filled with wonder and speechless.  After completing our reading for today I thought to myself, self...let's focus on Jesus high Priestly prayer.  I read though it a few more times as is my normal manner and nothing.  I prayed some more...read though it again and nothing.  I hit my head a few times against the wall, (not really) read it again and nothing.

Then it hit me...it wasn't nothing, it was spiritual sensory overload!  If you will allow me, my spiritual RAM could not process everything that was coming into my spirit.  Remember in Revelation in John's vision when Jesus appears?  What does John do?  He falls at HIS feet as dead!  In John's vision he is experiencing spiritual sensory overload.

There are some passages that are so rich and dense with the weight and the awe-striking glory of God they overwhelm your spirit.  They are intended to do this...why?  The only appropriate response is WORSHIP!  John Owen, the Prince of the Puritan Divines wrote a book on the glory of Christ.  He wrote a book on one verse of scripture...a really good book!  What was the one verse?   John 17:24  “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.  Truth be told, he actually wrote the book on one phrase in the verse...so that they may see My glory which You have given Me.  I have memorized one brief passage from the book that hit me with great force..."Beholding the glory of Christ, herein would I live, herein would I die, herein would I dwell in my thoughts and affections to the withering and consumption of all the painted beauties of this world, unto the crucifying of all things here below, until they become unto me a dead and deformed thing, no way meet for affectionate embraces."

Remember that beholding is becoming!  We cling to the promise of 1 John 3:2, Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.

The glory is so bright let me share a few quotes from his book with you.  There is so much in John 17, it truly is overwhelming.  There is a critical point before anyone can enjoy and delight in the glory of Christ...you have to have the gift of eternal life!  What is eternal life?  Glad you asked!  Jesus tells us in John 17:3 “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.

Jesus himself prayed to the Father that you and I would see, behold and delight in HIS glory...let's press in, let's go hard after HIM, let's labor to see HIS prayer answered in ourselves and in those around us!

John 17:24  “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.

Here are a few quotes for John Owen's book The Glory of Christ -- Mediation and Discourses on the Glory of Christ--You may have to read and reread a few times to get it.

I shall lay the foundation of the ensuing Meditations in this one assertion, — namely, That one of the greatest privileges and advancements of believers, both in this world and unto eternity, consists in their beholding the glory of Christ. This, therefore, He desires for them in this solemn intercession, as the complement of all his other requests in their behalf; — “That they may behold my glory,” — ?να θεωρ?σι, — that they may see, view, behold, or contemplate on my glory. The reasons why I assign not this glorious privilege only unto the heavenly state, which is principally respected in this place, but apply it unto the state of believers in this world also, with their duties and privileges therein, shall be immediately declared.

All unbelievers do in their heart call Christ “Ichabod,” — “Where is the glory?” They see neither “form nor comeliness in him,” that he should be desired. They look on him as Michal, Saul’s daughter, did on David “dancing before the ark,” when she despised him in her heart. They do not, indeed (many of them), “call Jesus anathema,” but cry, “Hail, Master!” and then crucify him.

Did you see that?  How many in our churches would cry "Hail, Master!" and then let them choose between this life and Jesus and they cry "crucify HIM."  I confess it is only by HIS indwelling Spirit that I would be able to pass the test!

There are, therefore, two ways or degrees of beholding the glory of Christ, which are constantly distinguished in the Scripture. The one is by faith, in this world, — which is “the evidence of things not seen;” the other is by sight, or immediate vision in eternity, 2 Cor. v. 7, “We walk by faith, and not by sight.” We do so whilst we are in this world, “whilst we are present in the body, and absent from the Lord,” verse 8. But we shall live and walk by sight hereafter. And it is the Lord Christ and his glory which are the immediate object both of this faith and sight. For we here “behold him darkly in a glass” (that is by faith); “but we shall see him face to face” (by immediate vision). “Now we know him in part, but then we shall know him as we are known,” 1 Cor. xiii. 12. What is the difference between these two ways of beholding the glory of Christ shall be afterward declared.

It is the second way — namely, by vision in the light of glory — that is principally included in that prayer of our blessed Saviour, that his disciples may be where he is, to behold his glory. But I shall not confine my inquiry thereunto; nor does our Lord Jesus exclude from his desire that sight of his glory which we have by faith in this world, but prays for the perfection of it in heaven. It is therefore the first way that, in the first place, I shall insist upon; and that for the reasons ensuing:—

1. No man shall ever behold the glory of Christ by sight hereafter, who does not in some measure behold it by faith here in this world.

 

Some will say, that this must be effected by fresh supplies and renewed communications of the Holy Spirit. Unless he fall as dew and showers on our dry and barren hearts, — unless he cause our graces to spring, thrive, and bring forth fruit, — unless he revive and increase faith, love, and holiness in our souls, — our backslidings will not be healed, nor our spiritual state be recovered. Unto this end is he prayed for and promised in the Scripture. See Cant. iv. 16; Isa. xliv. 3, 4; Ezek. xi. 19; xxxvi. 26; Hos. xiv. 5, 6. And so it is. The immediate efficiency of the revival of our souls is from and by the Holy Spirit. But the inquiry is, in what way, or by what means, we may obtain the supplies and communications of him unto this end. This the apostle declares in the place insisted on: We, beholding the glory of Christ in a glass, “are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even by the Spirit of the Lord.” It is in the exercise of faith on Christ, in the way before described, that the Holy Spirit puts forth his renewing, transforming power in and upon our souls. This, therefore, is that alone which will retrieve Christians from their present decays and deadness.

Eze 37:1-7 Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones

     1     The hand of the Lord was upon me, and He brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; and it was full of bones.      2     He caused me to pass among them round about, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley; and lo, they were very dry.      3     He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “O Lord God, You know.”      4     Again He said to me, “Prophesy over these bones and say to them, ‘O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.’      5     “Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life.      6     ‘I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.’ ”      7     So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone.

Father in heaven,

Let these dry bones live and let them live for YOUR glory!  Enable us to behold YOUR glory by faith for YOUR glory and our joy in YOU...fill us with a boldness to make you known with those YOU place in our path.

love,

m

Mighty King David, the David that had slain his 10,000's, the David that the LORD gave victory in battle after battle, the David whom the LORD provided with military strategy to defeat Israel's enemies, this mighty warrior King has fallen...not in battle, but morally.  Apparently, David could have had as many wives as he desired, but that was not sufficient and King David fails with Uriah's wife, Bathsheba.  Beyond this failure, David attempts to cover his sin, a sin that should cost him his life!  Was was the Word of the Lord given to Moses, the Word that David knew well?  Exodus 20:14 “You shall not commit adultery. Leviticus 20:10 ‘If there is a man who commits adultery with another man’s wife, one who commits adultery with his friend’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.  Deut 5:18 ‘You shall not commit adultery.  What do the Proverbs have to say about the man who commits adultery?  Proverbs 6:32  The one who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; He who would destroy himself does it.

2 Sa 12:7-15  Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! The Lord, the God of Israel, says: I anointed you king of Israel and saved you from the power of Saul. 8 I gave you your master’s house and his wives and the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. And if that had not been enough, I would have given you much, much more. 9 Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. 10 From this time on, your family will live by the sword because you have despised me by taking Uriah’s wife to be your own.

11 “This is what the Lord says: Because of what you have done, I will cause your own household to rebel against you. I will give your wives to another man before your very eyes, and he will go to bed with them in public view. 12 You did it secretly, but I will make this happen to you openly in the sight of all Israel.”

13 Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”

Nathan replied, “Yes, but the Lord has forgiven you, and you won’t die for this sin. 14 Nevertheless, because you have shown utter contempt for the Lord by doing this, your child will die.” 15 After Nathan returned to his home, the Lord sent a deadly illness to the child of David and Uriah’s wife.

Here is good news and bad news!  What is the good news for David, he is forgiven, he will not die for this sin!  This is amazing, he should have been put to death, stoned for committing adultery and yet he is spared, more importantly he does not go to hell for his sin, he is able to continue in his relationship with the LORD GOD!  What is the bad news...the bad news will unfold before us over the next several chapters. 

DAVID IS FORGIVEN, BUT THERE ARE STILL CONSEQUENCES THAT FOLLOW HIS SIN!  THIS IS CRITICIAL FOR YOU AND I TO UNDERSTAND!  YES WE ARE FORGIVEN, IF WE ASK FOR FORGIVENESS AND REPENT OF OUR SIN, BUT THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES.  What does Paul teach us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 6:7-8?  "Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit."  YOU WILL, YOU WILL REAP WHAT YOU SOW!  Yes, praise God, there is forgiveness, but you still reap what you sow.  What did we learn in Numbers 32:23?  "But if you fail to keep your word, then you will have sinned against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out."

Make no mistake, it is wonderful, glorious and beautiful news to KNOW THAT "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace Eph. 1:7.  I am afraid that too often people believe that forgiveness removes the consequences in this life.  It does remove eternal damnation, but when a child of God sins, as we will, it opens a door, it gives the devil a toe hold...be afraid, be very afraid! 

Job 28:28  “And to man He said, ‘Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding.’ ”

Ps 111:10  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.

Prov 1:7  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Prov 9:10  The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

Prov 15:33  The fear of the Lord is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes humility.

Father in heaven,

Enable me by YOUR indwelling Spirit to walk in obedience moment by moment to YOUR Word as given through the prophet  Micah in Micah 6:8  "He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?"

Work this for YOUR glory and my JOY in YOU!

love,

m

I confess I have a tendency to oversimplify; I am always looking for the root issue, the lowest common denominator, the “one thing” that really matters. My flesh would like to say it is a fruit of my keen intellect, or my creativity; you and I know where all true wisdom comes from…GOD!  My intention this morning is to look at the life of Mephibosheth and see if he can teach us what kind of heart God is looking for in HIS children.  Most of you will only remember Mephibosheth as the son of Jonathan, the one King David blessed and invited to eat at the Kings table because of his relationship to Jonathan.  There is much more that he can teach us...much, much more!  Take a look!

In Psalm 27, King David asked for “one thing.” He desired to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, to seek His face. In Luke10:41-42, Jesus told Martha that only “one thing” is necessary and that Mary had chosen the “better part.” The great Apostle Paul said, in Phil. 3:13, “one thing I do.” What do these three have in common? They were oblivious of themselves and they went hard after God, they had caught a glimpse of the Almighty and they would never be the same.  I believe that Job finally got it as we see in Job 42:2-6 “I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. 3 You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. 4  Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, ‘I will question you, and you shall answer Me.’ 5 “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, But now my eye sees You. 6 Therefore I abhor myself, And repent in dust and ashes.” Moses got it, boy did he get it...he refused to move without the presence of God and we see in Hebrews 11:24 ff. "By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward."

Throughout our reading in 2 Samuel we learn of Jonathan’s crippled son Mephibosheth. David discovered Mephibosheth as he sought heirs of the household of Saul so that he could “show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake.” Mephibosheth came before David bowed down and said, “What is your servant that you take an interest in a dead dog like me?” David restored Saul’s land to Mephibosheth and was invited to eat at the King’s table, as did the King’s sons.

Fast forward to 2 Samuel 19, the kingdom is being restored to David after the rebellion of Absalom. In verses, 24-30, through Mephibosheth I believe that God reveals the heart HE desires. As David returns he asks Mephibosheth why he did not go with him, Mephibosheth explains that he was deceived and then slandered by his servant Ziba. In 2 Samuel 16:1-4, Ziba met David with supplies for his family as they were fleeing for their lives. Ziba told David the reason Mephibosheth stayed behind was because he thought he would receive control of the Kingdom, in response David gives Mephibosheth’s land to Ziba. Now as David listened to Mephibosheth he is faced with two conflicting reports, David decides to divide the land between Mephibosheth and Ziba.  David weary from fleeing for his life, grieved at the rebellion and loss of his son Absalom...he does not know who to believe so he decides to split the land between Ziba and Mephibosheth.

I don’t know about you, but my first thought was…that’s not fair! The amazing thing is Mephibosheth’s heart toward David is revealed. His response is amazing and convicting!  We see Mephibosheth's response to Ziba's accusations in 2 Samuel 19... “Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home.” Mephibosheth cares nothing for his material possessions, he gladly parts with them, let Ziba “take it all.”

Here is a man who lost his father and grandfather (Jonathan and Saul) on Mount Gilboa at the age of five, at the same time he was crippled. He lives in fear for his life until he is found by David and invited to eat with the King. Now he is falsely accused of betraying the one he loves. His life is filled with tragedy and yet you detect no bitterness, no thought of himself, to the contrary he is oblivious of himself, he is only delighted to see the King safely home.  HIS WHOLE HEART IS TOWARD THE KING!

I had to ask myself, would I be so quick to let Ziba take it all? When I hesitated in my heart…I looked to God’s word to see how Mephibosheth came to love King David so deeply? There are several powerful truths in this passage that God the Holy Spirit USES to enable me to say, “let him take it all.” I confess that I was cowering in my spirit as I said it…I’m not fully there yet…I have good days and bad days, good moments and bad moments “but one thing I do...not looking back, I press on toward the upward call in Christ Jesus.” So what are those liberating truths? 

Here they are:

• A heart filled with awe for the King… “my lord the king is like the angel of God” v. 27
• Absolute surrender to the will and wisdom of the King… “do whatever you think best” v. 27b
• Amazed at the King's mercy...our “entire family deserves death" v. 28
• Amazed at the King’s grace… …but you set your servant among those who eat at your table” v. 28
• Understanding that we have no entitlements, rights or claims… “what further rights do I have…?” v. 28
• Deep sense of unworthiness, a right view of ourselves… “What is your servant, that you should regard a dead dog like me?” (2 Sam. 9:8)

Our debt to God is infinite, we are worse than dead dogs before a Holy God.  I am slowly learning that there are many things that suck the passion and energy for God out of our spirit, in my limited experience nothing can make me more anemic, emaciated, sickly and weak than when I am filled with thoughts about ME!   There are a number of things that can hurt our ministry for the LORD JESUS, there are many things that can render us useless in the ministry, there are many things that can leave us spiritually weak; one root causes is a lack of deep brokenness and humility. While I was rereading The Calvary Road (Hession) and Brokenness (Nancy Leigh DeMoss) I was reminded that when I feel that I deserve something better, better car, home, ministry or maybe I feel like I deserve to be treated better the effect is spiritual weakness and weakening in my love of Jesus.  The net result is I become useless in ministry!

Mephibosheth had a right view of David as the LORD'S anointed, “my lord the king is like the angel of God” v. 27.  1) We must have a right view of God through Jesus Christ, enabled by the Holy Spirit by HIS revealed Word.  2) We must be surrendered to our Lord's wisdom and will, knowing that "all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called...3 and 4) We must live our lives on earth continually stunned and amazed at the grace of King Jesus...knowing that we DESERVE DEATH, ETERNAL SEPEARATION FROM GOD, that would be fair...with that in mind understanding that God loved us so much that HE sent HIS son to die in your place and in my place...AMAZING GRACE!  Are you AMAZED?  Are you AMAZED OR ARE YOU LUKE WARM?  5)  Understand that I DO HAVE ENTITLEMENTS, I AM ENTITLED TO ETERNAL SUFFERING, WRATH, the lake of fire, the second death!  That is my right and that is my claim.  GLORY BE TO GOD THAT HE offers you and I a place at the Kings table, HE offers us eternal life, HE adopts us...we become children of the most High God!  Last, 6) We must have a right view of ourselves before a Holy God.  A right view of God (1) and a right view of ourselves are the bookends...think back to Job's experience.

I was running the other morning and thoughts like this began to flood my heart and mind, the bad ones, and I literally had to stop running and walk...I felt the physical energy pour out of my body.  What do you think those thoughts did to my spirit?  I don't know about you, but there are times when I find myself in a spiritual tail spin.  Through a series of events I end up falling and can't come out of it...the harder "I" try the worse it gets!  I was in one of those when the Lord brought me to this passage...and HE brought me out of the tail spin!  Thank you LORD!

This is cool...in John, Jesus teaches us how to walk in the Spirit and how to live a fruitful life.  In John 15:7-8, Jesus says, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."  If this is true of our lives, we will remain in HIM, we will maintain a right view of God and of ourselves, we will not end up spiritually anemic and weak.  Our reading in the Psalms today gives us the same answer in different words.  Palm 119:63-64 I am a friend to anyone who fears you— anyone who obeys your commandments. 64 O Lord, your unfailing love fills the earth; teach me your decrees."  Fear of the Lord ='s a right view of God...teach me your decrees ='s dependence on God for that right view.

We are all dead dogs, we have been loved with an amazing love, we have been invited and placed at the King’s table, received his grace and his tender mercies. The way to avoid spiritual weakness and the loss of love is by following Mephibosheth, fixing our eyes on Jesus in admiration, yielding to His wisdom and will, constantly amazed at His grace, having no rights and saying “Oh, let him take it all, since my lord the king has come safely home.”  LET HIM TAKE IT ALL, LET HIM TAKE IT ALL!  BE AMAZED!

Your fellow dead dog,

m

Over the past several months we have mentioned that Beholding is Becoming many times...that is beholding the glory of Christ will transform you and me from the inside out, heart transformation, life-change!  As I read our passage in John this morning I was reminded that we cannot see HIM if we have unconfessed sin and if we are not seeking to walk in obedience to our Lord. What does John teach us in 1 John 1:9-10 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

Oswald Chambers put it this way!

If ye love Me, ye will keep My commandments. John 14:15 (R.V.). Our Lord never insists upon obedience; He tells us very emphatically what we ought to do, but He never takes means to make us do it. We have to obey Him out of oneness of spirit. That is why when Our Lord talked about discipleship, He prefaced it with an IF—you do not need to unless you like. “If any man will be My disciple, let him deny himself”; let him give up his right to himself to Me. Our Lord is not talking of eternal positions, but of being of value to Himself in this order of things, that is why He sounds so stern (cf. Luke 14:26). Never interpret these words apart from the One who uttered them.

The Lord does not give me rules, He makes His standard very clear, and if my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without any hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone else in competition with Him, viz., myself. Jesus Christ will not help me to obey Him, I must obey Him; and when I do obey Him, I fulfil my spiritual destiny. My personal life may be crowded with small petty incidents, altogether unnoticeable and mean, but if I obey Jesus Christ in the haphazard circumstances, they become pinholes through which I see the face of God, and when I stand face to face with God I shall discover that through my obedience thousands were blessed. When once God’s Redemption comes to the point of obedience in a human soul, it always creates. If I obey Jesus Christ, the Redemption of God will rush through me to other lives, because behind the deed of obedience is the Reality of Almighty God.  Chambers, O. (1993, c1935). My utmost for his highest : Selections for the year (November 2). Grand Rapids, MI: Discovery House Publishers.

John 14:21  Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them. And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them.”

The Lord does not give me rules, He makes His standard very clear, and if my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without any hesitation. If I hesitate, it is because I love someone else in competition with Him, viz., myself. Jesus Christ will not help me to obey Him...LET ME ADD, PRAISE GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT WILL!  As a matter of fact it is impossible for me to walk in obedience without the filling of the Holy Spirit. The wonderful thing is that when I am filled with the Holy Spirit, I am filled with the fruit of the Spirit!  The first fruit mentioned in Gal. 5:22 is love...what will motivate me to walk in obedience?  The love of God within me.  It is like 1 John 4:19 We love Him because He first loved us.

Psalm 119:41-48 Let Your mercies come also to me, O Lord— Your salvation according to Your word. 42  So shall I have an answer for him who reproaches me, For I trust in Your word. 43  And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,  For I have hoped in Your ordinances. 44  So shall I keep Your law continually, Forever and ever. 45  And I will walk at liberty,  For I seek Your precepts. 46 I will speak of Your testimonies also before kings, And will not be ashamed. 47 And I will delight myself in Your commandments,  Which I love. 48 My hands also I will lift up to Your commandments, Which I love, And I will meditate on Your statutes.

Holy Spirit of God please fill me with your presence, fill me, cleanse me, return unto me the joy of YOUR salvation.  What do I want?  I want to SEE, I want to see JESUS.  Father in heaven, turn my eyes from worthless things, turn my eyes to Jesus, to look full on HIS wonderful face...and the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of HIS GLORY AND GRACE.  [hey, someone should write a song like that:)]

love,

m

In our reading in 2 Samuel you will notice that David does not make a move in battle without inquiring of the LORD!  Not only does the LORD answer, the LORD GOD provides military strategy for David and Israel.  However, when it comes to moving the ARK David does not seek the LORD and he encountered a deadly problem!

Check it out in 2 Samuel 6:6-7 When they came to Nacon’s threshing floor, Uzzah reached out to the ark of God and took hold of it, because the oxen had stumbled. 7 Then the Lord’s anger burned against Uzzah,  and God struck him dead on the spot for his irreverence,  and he died there next to the ark of God.  8 David was angry because of the Lord’s outburst against Uzzah, so he named that place an Outburst Against Uzzah,  as it is today. 9 David feared the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” 10 So he was not willing to move the ark of the Lord to the city of David;  instead, he took it to the house of Obed-edom the Gittite. 11 The ark of the Lord remained in his house three months, and the Lord blessed Obed-edom  and his whole family.

On the surface it appears that God was very harsh toward Uzzah, but that is only because that we see things from a sinful human perspective and not from the perspective of a Holy God!  It is like people asking..."if God is truly a loving God how could HE send anyone to hell?"  When the question that we should be asking is, "if God is truly a Holy God, how in the world could HE allow a SINNER LIKE ME INTO HEAVEN, INTO HIS PRESENCE?"  HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?

Consider that the ground that the ARK would have landed on was created by God and is therefore good!  Now consider that the hand that reached out to steady the ARK was the hand of a fallen and sinful human.  God was clear through Moses and the Law how the ARK was to be transported...you did not have to guess.  David used a new cart!  Bad idea!  WE MUST COME TO GOD IN THE WAY HE PRESCRIBES...IF YOU DON'T YOU WILL SPEND ETERNITY IN HELL...THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY!  We will see HIM in a moment in our reading in John.

The scripture does not tell us that David inquired of the LORD, but check out in verse 13 that the ARK is being carried...it does not tell us that it is being carried on poles, but you can trust that it was, that was the way God said it should be done and it was the only way HE would bless!

12 It was reported to King David: “The Lord has blessed Obed-edom’s family and all that belongs to him because of the ark of God.” So David went and had the ark of God brought up from Obed-edom’s house to the city of David with rejoicing.  13 When those carrying the ark of the Lord advanced six steps, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf.  14 David was dancing  with all his might before the Lord wearing a linen ephod . 15 He and the whole house of Israel were bringing up the ark of the Lord with shouts and the sound of the ram’s horn. 16 As the ark of the Lord was entering the city of David,  Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from the window and saw King David leaping and dancing before the Lord, and she despised him in her heart.

2 Samuel  6:21-23  David replied to Michal, “I was dancing  before the Lord who chose me over your father and his whole family to appoint me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel.  I will celebrate before the Lord, 22 and I will humble myself even more and humiliate myself.  I will be honored by the slave girls you spoke about.” 23 And Saul’s daughter Michal had no child to the day of her death.

You have to love David's passion and single heart toward the LORD God.  Clearly, David did not care what anyone thought about him, he sought to please only one...the LORD! 

A few thoughts, pray without ceasing and pray about everything, even the little things.  Pray about living in a manner worthy of the calling we have received in Christ Jesus.  BE VERY CAREFUL...DO NOT DESPISE ANYONE YOU SEE WORSHIPING GOD...IF YOU THINK THEY ARE WORSHIPING IN AN UNWORTHY MANNER...LEAVE IT TO GOD...DO NOT DESPISE THEM.

David Crowder had this passage in mind when he wrote Undignified...I hope it plays for you.

You will hear many like Oprah ridicule the fact that there is only one way to God, they contend that there are many ways to God.  IN ONE SENSE THEY ARE RIGHT!  DON'T PICK UP ANY STONES JUST YET:)  ALL ROADS DO LEAD TO GOD!  EVERYONE WILL EITHER FACE GOD'S WRATH AT THE GREAT WHITE THRONE...IF THAT IS YOUR PATH, YOUR JOURNEY, THEN YOU ARE ON THE BROAD ROAD THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION!  PLEASE GET OFF THAT ROAD, PLEASE!

In John 14:6, Jesus told him, “I am  the way,  the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.  What does Jesus teach us in Matt 7:13-14?  “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

“where I am, there you may be also” Heaven is where Jesus is (cf. 17:24)! Heaven is really face to face fellowship with the Triune God!

14:4 “you know the way” Jesus’ statement causes Thomas to express his doubt about knowing the way. Jesus’ answer is expressed in three terms often used in the OT.

14:6 “I am the way” In the OT, biblical faith was spoken of as a lifestyle path (cf. Deut. 5:32–33; 31:29; Ps. 27:11; Isa. 35:8). The title of the early church was “the Way” (cf. Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 24:14, 22). Jesus was emphasizing that He was and is the only way to God. This is the theological essence of John’s Gospel! Lifestyle good works are an evidence of personal faith (cf. Eph. 2:8–9, 10), not a means of righteousness.

“the truth” The term “truth” in Greek philosophy had the connotation of “truth” versus “falsehood” or “reality” versus “illusion.” However, these are Aramaic-speaking disciples who would have understood Jesus to be speaking in the OT sense of truth which was “faithfulness” or “loyalty” (cf. Ps. 26:3; 86:11; 119:30). Both “truth” and “life” characterize “the way.” The term “truth” is often used to describe divine activity in John (cf. 1:14; 4:23–24; 8:32; 14:17; 15:26; 16:13; 17:17, 19).

“the life” In the OT, a believer’s lifestyle faith is spoken of as a path unto the life (cf. Ps. 16:11; Pro. 6:23; 10:17). All three of these terms are related to lifestyle faith which is found only in personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

“no one comes to the Father but through Me” What a shocking claim! It is very restrictive but also very obvious that Jesus believed that only through a personal relationship with Himself can one know God. This has often been called the exclusivistic scandal of Christianity. There is no middle ground here. This statement is true or Christianity is false! In several ways this is similar to John 10.  Utley, R. J. D. (1999). Vol. Volume 4: The Beloved Disciple's Memoirs and Letters: The Gospel of John, I, II, and III John. Study Guide Commentary Series (127). Marshall, Texas: Bible Lessons International.

Please come to Jesus!  HE is the only way God can allow a sinner like me to enter into HIS presence!  Jesus took my sin and your sin and nailed it to the Cross...the dept is paid in full!  Come, drink of the living-waters, come and be satisfied, come and be filled...taste and see that the LORD IS GOOD!

Mt 11:28-30  Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

John 7:37  Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.

Rev 22:17  The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost.

Father in heaven,

open the eyes and ears of our hearts to know YOU, to love YOU, to pursue YOU in a manner that is worthy of YOU!  Enable us to delight in YOU the way David delighted in YOU with all his might.  Let it be done for YOUR glory and our JOY in YOU.

love,

m

Many of you will remember the advertising campaign of the late 80's and early 90's...BO KNOWS!  I honestly don't remember who the advertiser was, but I remember the phrase "Bo knows."  It struck me then and even more so now how little Bo probably knows.  Consider Albert Einstein and all he knew about the universe...you and I marvel at the genius.  Today we marvel at the iphone, ipod, technology and other gadgets, but let's try to put this into perspective with what Jesus knows!  In our reading in John today we see in John 13:1 that "Jesus knew that His hour had come to depart," and in 13:3, "Jesus knew that  the Father had given everything into His hands."  In verse 11 we learn that "He knew" who would betray HIM.  Many other times we see that Jesus knew and knows ALL THINGS...HE IS OMNISCIENT!

John 2:24  But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men,

John 4:10  Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”

John 5:6  Then Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He *said to him, “Do you wish to get well?”

John 6:64  “But there are some of you who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who it was that would betray Him.

John 8:19  So they were saying to Him, “Where is Your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also.”

John 16:19  Jesus knew that they wished to question Him, and He said to them, “Are you deliberating together about this, that I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me, and again a little while, and you will see Me’?

In his little book Seeing and Savoring Jesus Christ, John Piper beautifully contrasts what Jesus knows and what we know.  You may need to read through it several times and read through the verses he references...it is HIS Word that will not return void...God's Word will accomplish what HE wills.

The greatest thing that can be said of Jesus’ knowledge is that he knows God perfectly. He knows God perfectly, because he is God. We know God partially and imperfectly. Jesus knows him like no other being knows him. He knows him the way an omniscient person knows himself. “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Matthew 11:27). No one but Jesus knows the Father immediately, completely, and perfectly. Our knowledge of the Father depends wholly on Jesus’ gracious revelation; our knowledge is derivative and partial and, because of our sin, imperfect.

Nothing greater can be said about the knowledge of Jesus than that he knows God perfectly. All reality outside God is parochial compared to the infinite reality that God is. What God has made is like a toy compared to the complexity and depth of who God is. All the sciences that scratch the surface of the created universe are mere ABCs compared to Christ’s exhaustive knowledge of the created universe. And even this knowledge of the created universe is a dewdrop on a blade of grass compared to the ocean of knowledge that Jesus has of the being of God himself. While the universe is finite, God is infinite. Complete knowledge of the infinite is infinite. Therefore to know God as Jesus knows God is to have infinite knowledge.

Therefore, let us bow down and worship Jesus Christ. Even if we are impressed with the scholarship of man and the achievements of scientific knowledge, let us not play the fool by trumpeting the wonder of these tiny chirps [e.g., Iphone]while ignoring the thunderclap of Christ’s omniscience. Jesus alone is worthy of our highest admiration. Jesus alone is worthy of our trust. He can show us the Father (Matthew 11:27). He can give us irresistible wisdom (Luke 21:15). He can see how to make all things work together for our good (Romans 8:28). Not one of his judgments about anything is ever mistaken (John 8:16). He teaches the way of God with infallible truthfulness (Matthew 22:16). Trust him. Admire him. Follow him. For “in [him] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).  Piper, J. (2004). Seeing and savoring Jesus Christ (54). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

The great I AM takes on flesh and be beautifully reveals God the Father to those who will believe and enable us to become children of God.  This same God is the one [2 Co 4:6-7 ] "who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness” —He has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge  of God’s glory  in the face of Jesus Christ. 7 Now we have this treasure in clay jars, so that this extraordinary power  may be from God and not from us." 

Cast your eyes upon Jesus, fix your eyes on Jesus...remember, beholding is becoming, becoming like HIM.

Complete the good work YOU began Father...for YOUR glory and our joy in YOU!

love,

m

John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst.

John 8:12  Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

John 8:28  So Jesus said, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and I do nothing on My own initiative, but I speak these things as the Father taught Me.

John 8:58  Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.”

John 10:7  So Jesus said to them again, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.

John 11:25  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in Me will live even if he dies,

John 14:6  Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

John 18:5  They answered Him, “Jesus the Nazarene.” He *said to them, “I am He.” And Judas also, who was betraying Him, was standing with them.

John 18:8  Jesus answered, “I told you that I am He; so if you seek Me, let these go their way,”

John 18:37  Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”

David the Warrior King is on the move!  As those words flowed from my finger tips I saw images of Aslan from the Chronicles of Narnia.  I see images of Aslan setting the captives free that have been turned to stone, images of Asaln mighty in battle, destroying the Witch with the breath of his mouth!  I think of Saul and Jonathan, "how the mighty have fallen," this mighty one will NOT fall!  NO CONTEST!  I am not referring to David, but to our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ.  I LOVE THE IMAGE JOHN paints under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in Revelation...this ROCKS!

Revelation 1:12-18  When I turned to see who was speaking to me, I saw seven gold lampstands. 13 And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. 14 His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. 15 His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. 16 He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance. 17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave.

WHO IS THIS?  THIS IS JESUS!  THIS IS ULTIMATE FIGHTING JESUS, THIS IS JESUS THE WARRIOR KING! 

If you read the book, The Chronicles of Narnia, you have to love the dialogue between Lucy and Mr. and Mrs. Beaver...

"Ooh!" said Susan, "I'd thought he was a man. Is he - quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."  "That you will, dearie, and no mistake," said Mrs. Beaver, "if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly."  "Then he isn't safe?" said Lucy.  "Safe?" said Mr. Beaver. "Don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."

Is HE safe?  Is HE safe?  Au contraire!  Safe, who said anything about safe...HE'S THE KING I TELL YOU!

What do you think happens to the Wildebeest when he sees the Lion and begins to run?  What should you do if you encounter a lion in the wild?  Run?  Bad idea!  What did John do in Revelation when he encountered the Lion of the Tribe of Judah?  John played dead!  Don't run from the Lion, drop at HIS feet as dead..."is HE safe."  NO!  HE will require your life...HOWEVER HE WILL GIVE YOU AN INFINITELY BETTER ONE IN RETURN!  YOU CANNOT OUT GIVE HIM.

Mt 10:39  If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.

Mt 16:25  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it. 

Mk 8:35  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake and for the sake of the Good News, you will save it.

Lk 9:24  If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.

Lk 17:33 If you cling to your life, you will lose it, and if you let your life go, you will save it.

Do you remember what happened in Luke 19 with the parable of the talents?  I included several verses to give the context, verse 27 is the one that will strike fear in your heart!  WARNING!  DO NOT RUN!  Turn toward the LION and play dead!  Offer HIM your life, drop on your face...prostrate before HIM and an amazing thing will happen.  You will feel the touch of HIS hand and HE will say...“Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave."  When you look up you will see Jesus!  Whatever you do, don't run away...it will end ugly, really ugly!  Run toward HIM with all your might and fall at HIS feet as dead!

Lk 19:20-27  “But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said, ‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe. 21 I was afraid because you are a hard man to deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant.’ 22 “ ‘You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words condemn you. If you knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and harvests crops I didn’t plant, 23 why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ 24 “Then, turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’ 25 “ ‘But, master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten pounds!’ 26 “ ‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. 27 And as for these enemies of mine who didn’t want me to be their king—bring them in and execute them right here in front of me.’ ”

I say all of this to drive at two verses in our reading today, John 12:25-26  The one who loves his life will lose it,  and the one who hates  his life  in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 If anyone serves Me, he must follow Me. Where I am, there My servant  also will be.  If anyone serves Me, the Father will honor  him."  What does it mean that "The one who loves his life will lose it,  and the one who hates  his life  in this world will keep it for eternal life."

John 12:25. “The man who loves his life will lose it.” Christ adds an exhortation to his teaching. If to bear fruit we must die, we should patiently allow God to put us to death. But since Christ contrasts the love and the hatred of life, we must understand what it is to love and to hate life. The person who is under the influence of immoderate desire for this present life and cannot leave the world without coercion is said to love life. But the person who despises this life and advances courageously to death is said to hate life. Not that we should hate life completely, for it is rightly thought of as one of God’s highest blessings. But believers should lay it down cheerfully when it hinders their access to Christ. They should be like the person who wishes to do anything quickly and who shakes off a heavy and inconvenient burden from his shoulders.

In summary, it is not wrong in itself to love this life, provided we only journey in it as foreigners, always mindful of where we are traveling to. The true way to love life is when we remain in it as long as God pleases and are prepared to change our home as soon as he tells us — or, to put it in a word, when we, as it were, carry it in our hands and offer it to God as a sacrifice. Whoever is too attached to this present life loses his life; that is, he throws it to everlasting ruin. For to lose does not mean to abandon or to suffer the loss of something valuable, but to give it over to destruction.

“The man who hates his life …” I have already suggested that this expression is used comparatively, in that we ought to despise life so far as it hinders us from living for God. If meditation on the heavenly life held full sway in our hearts, the world would have no power to hold us back. This is the solution to a potential problem. Many people, through despair or from other reasons, and especially from weariness of life, commit suicide. But we cannot say that they provide for their own safety. Other people are swept away to death by ambition, who also throw themselves into ruin. But here Christ is speaking specifically about the hatred or contempt for this fleeting life which believers have because of their desire for a better life. So anyone who has not learned to look to heaven has not yet learned how life is to be saved. Moreover, Christ added this latter clause to frighten those who desire the earthly life too much; for if we are overwhelmed by the love of the world so that it is not easy to forget it, it is impossible for us to go to heaven. But since Christ arouses us so forcefully, it would be madness to sleep the sleep of death.  Calvin, J. (1994). John. The Crossway classic commentaries (Jn 12:25). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

IS HE SAFE?  NO!  HE'S THE KING I TELL YOU!

love,

m

In our reading in John tomorrow we see Jesus explain HIS death, burial and resurrection to the disciples in John 12:24-26 "I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. 25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. 26 Anyone who wants to be my disciple must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

We have discussed concern over those who will enter hell deceived, believing themselves to be Christians.  I believe that verse 25 gives us an excellent test to apply to OURSELVES!  Verse25 tells us that, Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.  IS THERE ANYTHING IN YOUR LIFE...OR ANYONE THAT IF GOD CHOSE TO TAKE THEM OR IT AWAY YOU WOULD CALL GOD INTO QUESTION?  WHAT I AM TRYING TO ASK IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU LOVE, SERVE, FEAR, DESIRE MORE THAN GOD.  DO YOU LOVE ANYONE MORE THAN JESUS?

WHY DID THE JEWS WHAT TO KILL JESUS?  THEY WANTED TO KILL HIM BECAUSE THEY LOVED THEIR LIFE IN THIS WORLD!  How do you know that Mark?  John 11:48 tells us that, "If we allow him to go on like this, soon everyone will believe in him. Then the Roman army will come and destroy both our Temple and our nation.”

Some will want to stone me, but the American dream is from the pit of hell...it is not of God!  You are not your own you were bought with a price, purchased with the precious blood of Jesus...you belong to HIM...live like it!  Just in case you are wondering...I am saying this to myself!

In light of this, I do find it somewhat humorous that the Jews wanted to kill Lazarus as we see in John 12:9-11, When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. 10 Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, 11 for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

Christian apologist and philosopher, Ravi Zacharias posed this question: “What would you do to frighten Lazarus after he had been raised from the dead?” Do you think that reality might impact his daily life?  Ravi went on to explain that Eugene O’Neal wrote a play entitled “Lazarus Laughed.” 

"Being that Lazarus was the first man to return from dead, a realm whose boundary is never to be crossed back over, the crowd listens intently to his words. He says to them that there is no death – only God’s eternal laughter.

This is the basis of the play. The subsequent scenes portray a series of tests (perhaps similar to those trials of Job) by the Jews, Romans and Greeks to try the faith of Lazarus. Consequently, members of his family are taken from him, but Lazarus continues always to laugh, even to the very end, when the Roman Emperor Tiberius burns him at the stake (Wikipedia).

In the play, the Roman Emperor is rounding up and persecuting Christians. One day, Lazarus is brought before the Emperor. Lazarus is told he must denounce Christ or he would be tortured and killed. And Lazarus laughed. This, of course, infuriated the man who believed himself to be a god and the most powerful man on earth. He said “one more laugh out of you, Lazarus, and you’re dead.” Lazarus doubled over with laughter. When he caught his breath he said, “have you not heard death is dead…DEATH is DEAD.” It is hard to threaten one who has already been there and knows the One who let him out.
Do you remember Paul's words in I Corinthians 15:56-58: "O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR VICTORY? O DEATH, WHERE IS YOUR STING? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.” 
Death has no power, sting, no ability to threaten us. Jesus gave His life so that you and I do not have to be afraid. In reality death is a friend, a good friend, death is the only way to enter the presence of our LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST.  Death is simply the door we must walk through to get to Jesus!

Death is not death if it kills no part of us,

Save that which hindered us from perfect life.

Death is not death if it raises us in a moment

From darkness into light

From weakness into strength

From sinfulness into holiness

Death is not death if it perfects our faith by sight,

And lets us behold Him in whom we have believed and loved.

Death is not death if it gives us to those whom we have loved and lost,

For whom we have lived,

For whom we long to live again.

Death is not death if it rids us of doubt and fear,

Of chance and change,

of space and time,

And all which space and time bring forth

and then destroy.

Death is not death,

For Christ has conquered death for himself,

And for those who trust, believe and obey Him.

Author Unknown

John 11:25-26  Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

"I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered Himself up for me. Galatians 2:20  Death has no claim on our future and our present days are guarded by the Lion of the Tribe Judah. Jesus defeated sin, death and Satan!  Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day .  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. II Corinthians 4:16-18

Proverbs 8:17  “I love those who love me; And those who diligently seek me will find me.

Hebrews 11:6  And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

Proverbs 2:4  Search for them as you would for silver; seek them like hidden treasures.

Proverbs 2:5 Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God.

John 7:37  On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me!

James 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

You might think that I am crazy, but I believe that you and I can live with the same passion, power and intensity that Lazarus had following his resurrection.  I believe that our heavenly Father has equipped us with everything we need to walk, live, labor and love in the same way.  I DID NOT SAY IT WAS EASY!  We must diligently see HIM, search for HIM, fear HIM, know HIM, love HIM with all our heart, soul, mind and strength!

OH God, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit,

please enable me, enable us to pursue YOU, to love YOU, to go hard after YOU in a manner that is worthy of who YOU are!  I confess that I am not able in my own power...I am not able!  What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me? 13 I will lift up the cup of salvation and praise the Lord’s name for saving me Psalm 116:12-13 .  LORD as I lift the cup of salvation and praise YOUR Holy name...I cry out for more grace, more grace!  Lord, grant more grace to love YOU, more grace to know YOU, grace to walk in a manner that is pleasing to YOU and YOU alone!  Grant the grace to love YOU, to love the people YOU put in my path, grace to share YOU, grace to witness to what YOU have done for me and grace to call others to follow YOU.  Father, work this for YOUR glory and my JOY in YOU.

LORD please complete the good work YOU began.  If someone is reading this and they are not sure, bring them under heavy conviction by YOUR Holy Spirit, do not let them rest, keep them in a state of turmoil and panic UNTIL THEY COME TO YOU TO DRINK OF THE LIVING WATERS.

If you are in turmoil what should you do to find peace?  You need to take a journey, a journey on a road, the Roman Road...

Romans 3:23 “For all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God.” We must all realize that we are sinners and that we need forgiveness. We are not worthy of God’s grace.
Romans 5:8 “But God demonstrates His love toward us, in that, while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Through Jesus, God gave us a way to be saved from our sins. God showed us His love by giving us the potential for life through the death of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Romans 6:23 “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” If we remain sinners, we will die. However, if we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, and repent of our sins, we will have eternal life.
Romans 10:9-10 “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Just confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead and you will be saved!
Romans 10:13 “For whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.” There are no religious formulas or rituals -- Call upon the name of the Lord and you will be saved!
Romans 11:36: "For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen." Determine in your heart to make Jesus Christ the Lord of your life today.

Roman Road: Are You Ready to Accept God’s Gift of Salvation?
If you truly believe the message of the Roman Road, and want to accept God’s gift of salvation right now, it's a matter of repenting of your sins and turning the rest of your life over to Jesus Christ. Again, this is not a ritual based on any specific words or prayers, but rather, a willful decision and a sincere step of faith.

“Father, I know that I have broken your laws and my sins have separated me from you. I am truly sorry, and now I want to turn away from my past sinful life toward you. Please forgive me, and help me avoid sinning again. I believe that your son, Jesus Christ died for my sins, was resurrected from the dead, is alive, and hears my prayer. I invite Jesus to become the Lord of my life, to rule and reign in my heart from this day forward. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.”

• Get baptized as commanded by Christ.
• Tell someone else about your new faith in Christ.
• Spend time with God each day. It does not have to be a long period of time. Just develop the daily habit of praying to Him and reading His Word. Ask God to increase your faith and your understanding of the Bible.
• Seek fellowship with other followers of Jesus. Develop a group of believing friends to answer your questions and support you.
• Find a local church where you can worship God.

In our reading in John today we have yet another I AM statement of Jesus, “I am the resurrection and the life.”  If you are in Christ, if you are a child of God, these words bring great comfort and hope...we know that HE is the first fruits, we don't know exactly what we will be like in our resurrected state, but God promises that we will be like HIM and that is AWE-INSPIRING.  Do you realize that we are being invited into the presence of the Trinity, of the Godhead?  WE NEVER BECOME GOD, BUT WE WERE CREATED IN HIS IMAGE...REMEMBER!  Peter tells us that we will be partakers of the divine nature!  If that does not blow your hard drive then...well, call me...we need to talk:)

Remember that God did this, raised Lazarus from the dead, for HIS own glory...the same way HE allowed the man born blind to be born blind and then healed was to provide an opportunity to display the glory of God.  Is HE just playing with us?  NO!  HE is setting us free from our SINS by HIS OWN blood.  IF YOU EVER BEGIN TO WONDER IF GOD IS JUST MESSING WITH HUMANITY, JUST BEING MEAN IN ALLOWING ALL OF THE HORRIFIC THINGS THAT WE SEE...LET THE HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD TAKE YOU TO THE FOOT OF THE CROSS...Jn 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. Romans 8:32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Romans 5:8 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Check out the commentary below on our passage in John.  I over slept this morning so forgive the brevity of my comments...many of you are thinking praise God and that is a good thing because that is our reading in Psalm 117 this morning...did you read it?  I believe that you will be blessed with the following...I will warn you to slow down in your reading as you go:) ENJOY!

25. “I am the resurrection and the life.” First of all Christ says that he is “the resurrection and the life.” Then he explains each part of the statement separately and distinctly. First, Christ calls himself “the resurrection,” because the restoration from death to life naturally precedes the state of life. But the whole human race is plunged in death. Therefore, no one will possess life unless he is first risen from the dead. So Christ is here teaching that he is the start of life. Later he adds that the continuity of life is also the work of his grace.

The explanation which follows clearly shows that Christ is speaking about spiritual life: “He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.” So, in what way is Christ “the resurrection”? By his resurrection he regenerates the sons of Adam, who by their sin were alienated from God, so that they begin to live a new life. Away with those who idly say that people are prepared for receiving the grace of God by the movement of nature. They might as well say that the dead walk! Since no part or faculty of the soul is not corrupted and turned aside from what is right, the fact that men live and breathe and are endowed with sense, understanding, and will tends to their destruction. This is how death reigns everywhere, for the death of the soul is alienation from God. So people who believe in Christ, although they had been once dead, begin to live; for faith is a spiritual resurrection of the soul and, as it were, brings the soul alive, that it may live for God. As it was said earlier, “The dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live” (5:25). This is indeed a strong commendation of faith, which conveys to us the life of Christ and thus liberates us from death.

26. “And whoever lives and believes in me …” Christ now explains the second clause, about how Christ is “the life” — because he will never allow the life to be lost which he has once given, but keeps it to the end. What would become of people, as they are so inherently frail, if when they have obtained life they are then left to themselves? The ongoing life must, therefore, also rest on Christ’s power, so that he may complete what he has started.

“… will never die.” It is said that believers “will never die” because their souls, in that they are born again “not of perishable seed” (1 Peter 1:23), have Christ living in them, through whom they are continually brought to life. Although “your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness” (Romans 8:10). The fact that day by day “outwardly [they] are wasting away” does not take anything away from their true life, but in fact helps their progress since “inwardly [they] are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16). What is more, death is itself a sort of liberation from the slavery of death.

“Do you believe this?” At first it appears that Christ is speaking about spiritual life in order to distract Martha from her present desire. Martha wanted her brother to be restored to life. Christ replies that he is the author of a better life, because he brings alive the souls of believers with a heavenly power. Yet I have no doubt that Christ intended to include both graces. So he describes in general that spiritual life which he gives to everyone who belongs to him; but he also wants to offer Martha a taste of the power which he would soon show in raising Lazarus.

27. “Yes, Lord.” To show that Martha believes what she had heard about Christ — that he is “the resurrection and the life” — she replies that she believes he is “the Christ” and “the Son of God.” This knowledge includes all of God’s blessings, for we must recall the reason why the Messiah was promised and the duty the prophets ascribe to him. When Martha confesses that he was the One who was to come into the world, she strengthens her faith by the predictions of the prophets. From this it follows that the full restoration of everything and perfect happiness are to be found in Christ and, in summary, that he was sent to set up and prepare the true and perfect kingdom of God. 

Jesus called in a loud voice. Christ’s power is more clearly seen by the fact that he did not touch the body with his hand but only called out, using his voice. At the same time Christ commends to us the secret and wonderful efficacy of his Word. For how did Christ restore life to the dead but through his Word? So in the raising of Lazarus Christ shows us a visible sign of his spiritual grace which we daily experience through the perception of faith, for Christ shows that his voice brings life. Calvin, J. (1994). John. The Crossway classic commentaries (Jn 11:44). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

Father in heaven,

burn these truths in our hearts and minds...enable us to hear HIS voice, the voice of our Master and LORD, enable us to follow with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength...for YOUR glory and our joy in YOU.

love,

m

Our reading today touches on a couple of my favorite scripture passages, two of these float through my heart and mind almost daily...they have for several years now.  First, let me say praise God for Abigail, she prevented David from taking vengeance into his own hands.  It is obedience to leave vengeance to the Lord.  What does Paul tell us in Romans 12:19?  "Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for His  wrath. For it is written: Vengeance belongs to Me; I will repay, says the Lord."   In my short 47 years on this planet I have watched God work this many times.  Never on my time table...HE IS THE ON TIME GOD!

John 10:27-30 is my favorite passage concerning eternal security.  We are assured in this passage by our LORD that HIS sheep hear HIS voice and follow HIM and we are absolutely secure in HIS hand.  Check it out!  John 10:27-31  My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.” 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him.

Mark, if that is true then why do we see so many SO CALLED CHRISTIANS living like the world lives?  What did John teach us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in 1 John 2:19?  "They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us."  JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE SAYS THAT THEY ARE A CHRISTIAN DOES NOT MAKE THEM ONE!  IT GRIEVES ME PAINFULLY AND DEEPLY THAT COUNTLESS MILLIONS WILL WAKE UP IN HELL BELIEVEING THEMSELVES TO DIE AS CHRISTIANS!

What did our Lord say in Matt 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven."

BUT THOSE THAT JESUS SAVES HE SAVES ETERNALLY...Remember John 1:11-13 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

John 3:3  Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

John 3:7  “Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’

LOGIC AND REASON ALERT:)  I always try to let you all know when I am speculating, as I have in the past...this is speculation based on reason...I delightfully confess that there are times when reason cannot explain the mystery of the great "I AM!" 

Here is the reason and logic...you cannot be unborn spiritually anymore than you can be unborn physically!  Once you are born again you cannot be unborn again...ONCE YOU BELONG TO JESUS, ONCE YOU ARE A SHEEP OF HIS YOU CANNOT BE LOST SPIRITUALLY, YOU ARE IN HIS HAND AND THE HAND OF THE FATHER ETERNALLY.  PRAISE GOD!  "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 I and My Father are one.” 31 Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him. 

You may hear people say from time to time that Jesus never claimed to be God...I am not speculating here...if Jesus did not claim to be God then why did the Jews pick up stones again to stone HIM?  Jesus received worship from Thomas and others, HE claimed to be God, only because HE is the great I AM!

This is so cool the way this worked out...in light of this incredible salvation that the triune God worked for us, for HIS sheep...in light of all that you know about what Jesus did for you how should you respond?  When your favorite team wins the championship game in the final seconds do you sit emotionless, thinking Oh that is nice...or do you jump to your feet and scream your head off:)  HOW SHOULD YOU AND I RESPOND TO JESUS DEATH, BURIAL AND RESURRECTION?

I love what we see pictured in Psalm 116 today.  When the psalmist cried out, "What shall I render to the Lord for all of his benefits to me?" the reply was, "I will lift the cup of salvation and call upon the name of the Lord" (Psalm 116:12-13).  God the Father gives us the gift of HIMSELF in Jesus Christ and we ask, what can I render to Jesus for all the benefits of his fellowship, of the gift of eternal life, of knowing HIM of HIM completing the transaction of my adoption by the Father?" Answer: Ask him for MORE GRACE. That's the gift he wants!  LIFT UP THE CUP OF SALVATION AND CALL ON JESUS FOR MORE, MORE GRACE...LORD JESUS, please grant more grace to love YOU, to pursue YOU, to know YOU and to make YOU known!  MORE GRACE...MORE GRACE!  I HUNGER AND THIRST FOR YOU...ENABLE ME BY YOUR GRACE YOU HUNGER AND THIRST FOR YOU AND YOU ALONE!

The reason Christ wants this is because HE always wants to get the glory while we get the JOY and blessing. Glory comes to HIM when we depend on him rather than try to enrich HIM. If we come to HIM with gifts—as though he needed something—then we put him in the position of a needy person, and we're the benefactors. He always wants to be the one who is infinitely self-sufficient.  Why?  Because HE is...HE is the great I AM! Therefore the only gifts that we can bring Jesus are gifts of praise, thanks, longing, and neediness, desperation on HIM to complete the good work HE began in us.

One Pastor made the analogy of Jesus the fountain of living waters to a fountain on a mountain.  He put it this way..."A fountain is not glorified by us hauling buckets of dirty water up the mountain and pouring them in. A fountain—a spring in a mountain—is glorified, rather, by us lying down at the edge of the stream, putting our face in, drinking our fill, and getting up and saying, "Ah!" That's called worship. Then we take a bucket, dip it in, walk down the hill to the people in the valley who don't know that the spring exists, and we say, "Taste this! It's right up there, and his name is Jesus!" The kind of gift that the fountain wants is drinkers, because then he looks truly overflowing, rich, and self-sufficient. And that's exactly what he wants to look like."

So how do we respond to John 10:27-30?  We drink deeply of the living waters and leap to our feet and cry out AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!  TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD!  THEN WE SHOW OTHERS WHERE TO FIND THE LIVING WATER...AND IF THEY CANNOT GET THERE ON THEIR OWN POWER YOU TAKE THEM A CUP OF COLD LIVING WATER!  THAT IS HOW YOU RESPOND!

GOD IS SO GOOD!

LOVE,

m

We have two more I AM statements from Jesus in our reading in John today..."I am the door," and "I am the Good Shepherd."  In 1 Samuel the madman, king Saul is still chasing David, the man who would write Psalm 23...the Lord is my Shepherd!  Saul knows that the Kingdom has been taking from him and yet he will not let go.  Remember, it started with pride that led to disobedience and then God gave him over.

In our reading in John we have the beautiful picture of Jesus the good Shepherd who lays down his life for HIS sheep.  Let's get a little context on shepherds and sheep.

SHEPHERD — a person who takes care of sheep. Figuratively, the Old Testament pictures God as Israel’s Shepherd-Leader (Ps. 80:1; Ezek. 34:14). The New Testament reveals Jesus as the Good Shepherd who gave His life for His sheep. When He said, “I am the good shepherd” (John 10:11), Jesus linked His own divine nature with one of the most ordinary occupations in Israel.

Abel is the first shepherd mentioned in the Bible (Gen. 4:2). Kings who led Israel (Jer. 6:3; 49:19) and certain ministers (Jer. 23:4) are also called shepherds.

The sons of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob herded sheep (Gen. 13:7; 26:20; 30:36). Rachel was a shepherdess (Gen. 29:3). David (2 Sam. 5:2; Ps. 78:70–72), Moses (Ex. 3:1), and Amos (Amos 1:1) found herding to be excellent preparation for future leadership roles.

Jesus’ life exemplifies these leadership traits. Jesus knows each of His sheep intimately (John 10:3–5). Sometimes several shepherds will pen their sheep together in a cave or a sheepfold at night. The next morning the shepherds call out to their own sheep. Each sheep knows its shepherd’s voice and responds immediately. Even in a large flock, one individual sheep will run to its shepherd when its own pet name is called. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me,” (John 10:27).

Sheep are curious but dumb animals, often unable to find their way home even if the sheepfold is within sight. Knowing this fault, shepherds never take their eyes off their wandering sheep (Ps. 32:8). Often sheep will wander into a briar patch or fall over a cliff in the rugged Palestinian hills. The shepherds tenderly search for their sheep and carry them to safety (Luke 15:6).

In water-hungry Syria and Palestine, shepherds have always had to search diligently for water, sometimes for hours every day. Sheep must be watered daily. The shepherd might find a bubbling stream for the sheep that are always on the move and needing fresh pastures every day (Ps. 23:2). An old well with a quiet pool or trough close by might provide the water (Gen. 29:7; 30:38; Ex. 2:16). Often the shepherd carries a small pail, patiently filling it many times for the thirsty sheep who cannot reach the available water.

A trusted shepherd also provides loving protection for the flock. Shepherds on the Bethlehem hillsides still use a sling, made of goat’s hair or leather and immortalized by David against Goliath (1 Sam. 17:49). At times shepherds will throw their rods at a stubborn, straying sheep that refuse to hear their voice. At other times shepherds gently nudge the strays with the end of a six-foot staff, crooked at one end. Both the rod and the staff work together to protect the sheep (Ps. 23:4).

The presence of the shepherd also offers comfort to the flock. David recognized this in Psalm 23. Sheep are content merely to be in the same field with their shepherd; Christians are comforted by the very presence of the Lord. This thought is especially comforting when darkness overshadows the believer. Jesus is our Door; nothing can touch our lives without touching Him first. This is a perfect picture of shepherds, who literally become the living door of the sheepfold. They curl up in the door or in the entrance of a cave. They put their bodies between the sleeping sheep and ravenous animals or thieves.

One day Jesus the Chief Shepherd will return, gather His whole flock into one fold, and divide the sheep from the goats (Matt. 25:31–33). Until that time, Jesus continues His search for every lost sheep (Matt. 18:12–14). His sheep are to yield themselves to Him for His useful service until, at last, they “will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Ps. 23:6).Youngblood, R. F., Bruce, F. F., Harrison, R. K., & Thomas Nelson Publishers. (1995). Nelson's new illustrated Bible dictionary. Rev. ed. of: Nelson's illustrated Bible dictionary.; Includes index. Nashville: T. Nelson.

Dr. Rogers used to say that you become like what you worship, as you read verse 6 you can see where he got that from...those who make idols and trust idols become like them...they cannot hear, speak, see, walk, they can't do anything...if you trust in idols you become like them!  Spiritually DEAD!

TO GOD BE THE GLORY...WHEN WE WORSHIP JESUS IN SPIRIT AND IN TRUTH WE BECOME LIKE HIM, WE ARE CONFORMED AND TRANSFORMED TO BE LIKE JESUS.  WHO DO YOU TRUST?  WHO DO YOU LOVE?  WHO OR WHAT DO YOU WORSHIP?

Psalm 115

     1     Not to us, Lord, not to us, but to Your name give glory because of Your faithful love, because of Your truth.

     2     Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”

     3     Our God is in heaven and does whatever He pleases.

     4     Their idols are silver and gold, made by human hands.  5 They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but cannot see. 6 They have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but cannot smell. 7 They have hands, but cannot feel, feet, but cannot walk. They cannot make a sound with their throats.

     8     Those who make them are  just like them, as are all who trust in them.

     9     Israel,  trust in the Lord! He is their help and shield. 10 House of Aaron, trust in the Lord! He is their help and shield. 11 You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord! He is their help and shield. 12 The Lord remembers us and will bless ⌊us⌋.  He will bless the house of Israel;  He will bless the house of Aaron; 13 He will bless those who fear the Lord—  small and great alike. 14     May the Lord add to ⌊your numbers⌋,  both yours and your children’s. 15 May you be blessed by the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 16  The heavens are the Lord’s, but the earth He has given to the human race. 17     It is not the dead who praise the Lord, nor any of those descending into the silence ⌊of death⌋. 18  But we will praise the Lord, both now and forever.   Hallelujah!

FATHER GOD, HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD,

enable us to worship YOU in Spirit and in truth...Lord Jesus enable us to clearly hear YOUR voice and to distinguish YOUR voice.  Give us eyes to see and ears to hear YOU and YOU alone.  Grant us wisdom to stay close to the shepherd that laid down HIS life so that we might have life and have it more abundantly.

let it be!

love,

m

If you think back to Saul's failures, he failed because he was more concerned about pleasing the people and being popular with the people than he was concerned with obeying and pleasing God.  What do you think would be the root cause of that?  PRIDE!  I like to say that pride is the original, original sin!  It was the downfall of Satan.  It was Saul's pride and disobedience that set him up to be handed over to be tormented by evil spirits.  What does Paul teach us in Romans 1:19-24...since what can be known  about God is evident among them,  because God has shown it to them. 20 From the creation of the world  His invisible attributes, that is, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what He has made.  As a result, people  are without excuse. 21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds  were darkened.  22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools  23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man, birds, four-footed animals, and reptiles. 24 Therefore God delivered them over in the cravings of their hearts  to sexual impurity, so that their bodies were degraded among themselves.  Three times in Romans chapter 1 we see that God gives sinners over after they exchange the glory of God for some created thing.  The Psalmist states basically the same thing in Psalm 81:12, So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own plans.

1 Sam 19:9  Now an evil spirit from the Lord  came on Saul as he was sitting in his palace holding a spear.  David was playing ⌊the harp⌋, 

1 Sam 16:14  Now the Spirit of the Lord had left Saul,  and an evil spirit from the Lord began to torment him,

1 Sam 18:10  The next day an evil spirit from God took control of Saul,  and he began to rave  inside the palace. David was playing ⌊the harp⌋ as usual,  but Saul was holding a spear, 

It is amazing how in our reading in 1 Samuel we see Saul's blindness that drives him to seek to kill David, to order the slaughter of all of the Lord's priests.  He was acting like a mad blind man.  THAT IS WHAT A HUMAN BECOMES SEPERATED FROM THE LIVING GOD.  We were created for an intimate relationship with our Abba, our heavenly Father...when we turn from that relationship our hearts will be filled with something, we will worship something.  We are slaves to what we worship!

In our reading in John we SEE Jesus healing a blind man setting the stage for the spiritual blindness of the Pharisees to be made known.  Part of this teaching is a little difficult to process.  Why was this man born blind?  Let's see what Jesus has to say...John 9:1-5 As He was passing by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples questioned Him: “Rabbi,  who sinned, this man  or his parents,  that he was born blind?” 3 “Neither this man nor his parents sinned,” Jesus answered. “⌊This came about⌋ so that God’s works  might be displayed in him. 4 We  must do the works  of Him who sent Me  while it is day.  Night is coming when no one can work. 5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”  [Here we have another "I AM" statement by Jesus]

On the surface you might think, I did, you mean God made this man go through the first 20 years of his life BLIND just so that HE could display HIS works in him?  LORD, surely YOU could of thought of another way, YOU are God!  Consider the words of Helen Keller who said, The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.  This from a woman who accomplished incredible things and lost her sight and hearing at 18 months of age.

Remember that God's economy is vastly different from ours.  A man shared a story with me several years ago about an incident at a Charasmatic church.  He told me that one of the Pastors in the church had been prompted to go and lay hands on a man in a wheelchair and he did not do it.  The Pastor had confessed this to my friend and was deeply grieved because the man left the service still in his wheelchair.  My friend was very upset that his Pastor would do such a thing.  I asked my friend..."what if God did not intend to heal the man physically, but wanted to save his eternal soul.  Big deal if you heal a man so that he can walk or see if he still goes to hell!

My simple point in all of this is do not be quick to call God into judgement...IF YOU CAN'T TRACE HIS HAND TRUST HIS HEART!  What heart?  The same heart that would move God the Father to send Jesus.  This is how Paul puts it in Romans 8:32,  He did not even spare His own Son, but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything?  TRUST THAT HEART!

What does God's Word say about spiritual blindness?  Check this out!

Scripture often employs the imagery of blindness to describe the spiritual condition of persons who are either unable or unwilling to perceive divine revelation. The things of God are perceived not by observation and inquiry, but by revelation and illumination (Matt. 11:25–27; 1 Cor. 1:21; 2 Peter 1:19–21). It is the Lord who “gives sight to the blind” (Ps. 146:8; Isa. 42:16).

The figure of blindness is a favorite device of Isaiah, who repeatedly announces to rebellious Israel that God has afflicted them and their apostate prophets, priests, and rules with blindness (43:8; 56:10; 59:10). Zephaniah reveals that this condition is divinely imposed upon the hardhearted (1:17). Appropriately, then, the Messiah’s ministry would be marked by opening the eyes of the spiritually blind (Isa. 42:7, 16, 18). At the outset of his public ministry, Jesus lay claim to the messianic office by revealing that he would fulfill Isaiah’s prophetic promise to proclaim “recovery of sight to the blind” (Luke 4:18).

Some of Jesus’ strongest outbursts were directed at the Pharisees, who masqueraded their superficial conformity to Jewish ceremonial laws as sincere and sufficient righteousness in the sight of God. Jesus follows the form of Isaiah in castigating the Pharisees as “blind guides of the blind” (Matt. 15:14; cf. 23:16–26; John 9:39–41). He announces that he will impose judgment on these self-righteous legalists, “so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind” (John 9:39).

Paul tells the Corinthian believers that blindness aptly describes the spiritual state of pagan unbelievers. He points out that this blindness is inflicted by the “god of this age [who] has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God” (2 Cor. 4:4). The New Testament reveals that believers are subject to spiritual blindness. Peter deems those who fail increasingly to exhibit diligence in pursuit of spiritual virtue as blind or nearsighted (2 Peter 1:9). And the exalted Lord of the church views the lukewarm but haughty Laodicean church as wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked (Rev. 3:17).

Spiritual blindness, then, refers in some instances to the inability of unbelievers to comprehend spiritual truth, specifically failure to recognize the true identity of the incarnate Word, Jesus Christ. It is vital, therefore, to conduct all Christian witness in dependence on the Holy Spirit, who works to counteract the cataracts of Satan and to reveal the truth of God. But spiritual blindness can also afflict believers who fail to perceive their true spiritual condition. To avoid the plague of spiritual blindness and escape the condemnation of leading others into spiritual ruin, believers must be quick to appropriate and obey the Word of God.  Elwell, W. A., & Elwell, W. A. (1997, c1996). Evangelical dictionary of biblical theology (electronic ed.). Baker reference library; Logos Library System. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

Father in heaven,

give us eyes to see the wonderful things in YOUR word, give us eyes to see Jesus, eyes of faith...to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.  Open the eyes of our hearts Lord, to know YOU, to love YOU...enable us to live lives that are pleasing to YOU, enable us to live to an audience of ONE...YOU!  Father as we behold YOUR glory in the beautiful face of YOUR Holy and precious Son transform us and conform us to HIS image...beholding is becoming.

Work this for YOUR glory and our Joy in YOU,

love,

m

Psalm 112:1-3 Hallelujah! Happy is the man who fears the Lord, taking great delight in His commandments. 2 His descendants will be powerful in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.

Happy, blessed is the man who FEARS THE LORD, taking great delight in His commandments...IS IT POSSIBLE TO TAKE GREAT DELIGHT IN SOMETHING YOU HAVE NOT READ?  DO YOU THINK THAT GOD EXPECTS HIS CHILDREN TO READ EVERY WORD IN HIS WORD?  DO YOU THINK THAT HE EXPECTS HIS CHILDREN TO STUDY ALL OF HIS WORD?  What do we learn from Paul in 2 Tim 2:15?  Paul exhorts young Timothy to, "Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth."  Mark can you really say that we should study all of God's Word?  YES!  We know from 2 Ti 3:16-17 that, "All Scripture is inspired by God   and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, 17 so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work."

Don't miss the promise of verse 2-3...His descendants will be powerful in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures forever.  If children grow up watching Mom and Dad in love with Jesus, pursuing a passion for God through HIS Word, prayer, fellowship of the Saints...living lives that demonstrate a love for God, a love for people, a desire to share Jesus, to make HIS name known throughout the World...DO YOU THINK THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT ON THEM?

The awesome thing is that the WORD became flesh and dwelt among us in Jesus Christ!  In our reading in John we see the most powerful "I AM" statement that Jesus makes...(that's my opinion).  I believe that it is worth stopping and looking at the other instances and consider what HE is saying when HE declares that "I AM." 

John 8:47 The one who is from God listens to God’s words. This is why you don’t listen, because you are not from God.”

Do you currently know more of God's Word than you are obeying?  If so, then this verse should strike holy fear in your heart!  Why?  You don't listen because you are not from God!

No one is without sin, I am not saying you can achieve sinless perfection in this life...if you say that you have then you are calling God a liar, 1 John 1:9ff.  However, we must keep a short list, we must constantly, moment by moment be walking by REPENTANCE AND FAITH, REPENTANCE AND FAITH, REPENATANCE AND FAITH!

John 8:58  Jesus said to them, “I assure you: Before Abraham was, I am.” 

Let those who have ears to hear listen to "I AM."  Let those who don't repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and cry out to God the Father in the name of Jesus Christ and ask for the free gift of salvation.

Acts 16:31  So they said, “Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” 

love,

m

You know the more passionate you are about HIM, the more you hunger and thirst after HIM and HIS righteousness, the more you seek HIM though prayer, through HIS Word the more it becomes abundantly clear THAT THE CHRISTIAN LIFE, the life of a fully devoted follower of Christ is really very simple!  I did not say easy, but simple!  It is simply a relationship that you and I have been invited to ENJOY WITH THE SOVEREIGN, ALL POWERFUL GOD OF THE UNIVERSE, SEEN AND UNSEEN...THIS IS NOT JUST ANY RELATIONSHIP IT IS A RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS ALL POWERFUL GOD AS ABBA, FATHER, DADDY, AND PAPA!  The fear referred to in Psalm 111 is reverence and awe.  Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His instructions  have good insight. His praise endures forever.

Do you remember how God questioned the Israelites in Malachi 1:6-8?  God tells them that, “A son honors ⌊his⌋ father, and a servant his master. But if I am a father, where is My honor? And if I am a master, where is ⌊your⌋ fear of Me?  says the Lord of Hosts to you priests, who despise My name.” Yet you ask: “How have we despised Your name?” 7 “By presenting defiled food on My altar.” You ask: “How have we defiled You?” When you say: “The Lord’s table is contemptible.” 8 “When you present a blind ⌊animal⌋ for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present a lame or sick ⌊animal⌋, is it not wrong?  Bring it to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the Lord of Hosts.

Consider what you and I offer to God in our time, quite time?  What about time pursuing HIM and time serving others?  What are the 2 greatest commandments?  Love God, Love people!  What about our resources?  Do we give HIM the first fruits or the left overs?  Consider the question posed in verse 8 in Malachi...let's say you received notice that President Bush wanted to visit your home and have a meal with you and your family...would you serve left overs?  How much passion, energy, discipline and work to you and I put into pursuing a relationship with God?   I do not know what Michelangelo was attempting to depict in this painting, but what I see is God straining toward Adam and Adam barely lifting a finger to pursue his relationship with his creator.  WHERE ARE YOU?  ARE YOU LUKE WARM IN YOUR PURSUIT OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER THROUGH JESUS CHRIST?

I don't know about you, but like Jonathan, I fell in love with David and his passion as soon as he enters the scriptures.  Old Testament and New testify that he was a man after God's own heart.  We see in Acts 13:22 it is said, He raised up David as their king, of whom He testified: ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart,   who will carry out all My will.’   Remember what Samuel said to Saul in 1 Samuel 13:14?  "Now your reign will not endure. The Lord has found a man loyal to Him,  and the Lord has appointed him as ruler over His people, because you have not done what the Lord commanded.” 

DONT' MISS THIS!  WHAT IS GOD LOOKING FOR?  SOMEONE WHO WILLL CARRY OUT ALL MY WILL!

The Psalms also testify of this, we see in Psalm 89:20 I have found David My servant; I have anointed him with My sacred oil.

Why is David furious in 1 Samuel 17:26?  What is it that has made him so mad?  Is it that his way of life is threatened?  Is it that his people might have to serve the Philistines?  NO, NO, NO!   It is that his God is being dishonored...Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine  that he should defy the armies  of the living God?”  What did David do?  David spoke to the men who were standing with him: “What will be done for the man who kills that Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel?  Just who is this uncircumcised Philistine  that he should defy the armies  of the living God?”

In 1 Samuel 17:46-47 we clearly see where David's trust is placed...it is not in a sword, it is not in an army...his trust is in God alone!  "Today, the Lord will hand you over to me. Today, I’ll strike you down, cut your head off, and give the corpses  of the Philistine camp to the birds of the sky and the creatures of the earth. Then all the world will know that Israel has a God,  47 and this whole assembly will know that it is not by sword or by spear that the Lord saves,  for the battle is the Lord’s.  He will hand you over to us.”

We hear Zerubbabel saying similar words centuries later in Zechariah 4:6  Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel saying, ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts.

What the common thread between David and the LORD JESUS?  WHAT DID GOD SAY OF DAVID...‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after My heart,   who will carry out all My will.’   What does Jesus say of HIMSELF?

John 8:23-29  “You are from below,” He told them, “I am from above.  You are of this world;  I am not of this world.  24 Therefore I told you that you will die in your sins. For if you do not believe that I am ⌊He⌋,  you will die in your sins.” 25 “Who are You?” they questioned. “Precisely what I’ve been telling you from the very beginning,” Jesus told them. 26 “I have many things to say and to judge about you, but the One who sent Me  is true, and what I have heard from Him—these things I tell the world.” 27 They did not know He was speaking to them about the Father. 28 So Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man,  then you will know that I am  ⌊He⌋, and that I do nothing on My own.  But just as the Father taught Me, I say these things. 29 The One who sent Me is with Me. He has not left Me alone,  because I always do what pleases Him.”

If we desire to walk in the Spirit, the Spirit filled life...yes we must ask, but we always SEEK TO DO, WITH ALL OUR MIGHT, WHAT PLEASES HIM!

PURSUING A PASSION FOR GOD TOGETHER!

LOVE,

m

In our Sunday evening service this past week our Pastor challenged us to study and be diligent students of God's Word, as he stated it "Mighty in the Scriptures."   This taken from the reference in Acts 18:24 "Now a Jew named Apollos, an Alexandrian by birth, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus; and he was mighty in the Scriptures.  In his message he mentioned Charles Spurgeon, Spurgeon never attended seminary but he started and taught at one.  Spurgeon was a diligent student of the scriptures and unquestionable mighty in them.  Below are a few of his comments on the first few verses from our reading in Psalms today, Psalm 110.  It is worth READING AND REREADING UNTIL IS SINKS IN:)

The Lord said unto my Lord—Jehovah said unto my Adonai: David in spirit heard the solemn voice of Jehovah speaking to the Messiah from of old. What wonderful fellowship there has been between the Father and the Son! From this secret and intimate communion spring the covenant of grace and all its marvelous arrangements. All the great acts of grace are brought into actual being by the word of God; had he not spoken, there had been no manifestation of Deity to us; but in the beginning was the Word, and from of old there was mysterious fellowship between the Father and his Son Jesus Christ concerning his people and the great contest on their behalf between himself and the powers of evil.

Though David was a firm believer in the unity of the Godhead, he yet spiritually discerns the two persons, distinguishes between them, and perceives that in the second he has an especial interest, for he calls him my Lord. This was an anticipation of the exclamation of Thomas, “?My Lord and my God,?” and it expresses the psalmist’s reverence, his obedience, his believing appropriation, and his joy in Christ. It is well to have clear views of the mutual relations of the persons of the blessed Trinity; indeed, the knowledge of these truths is essential for our comfort and growth in grace. There is a clear distinction in the divine persons, since one speaks to another; yet the Godhead is one.

Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. Away from the shame and suffering of his earthly life, Jehovah calls Adonai, our Lord, to the repose and honors of his celestial seat. His work is done, and he may sit; it is well done, and he may sit at his right hand; it will have grand results, and he may therefore quietly wait to see the complete victory which is certain to follow. The glorious Jehovah thus addresses the Christ as our Saviour; for, says David, he said unto my Lord. Jesus is placed in the seat of power, dominion, and dignity, and is to sit there by divine appointment while Jehovah fights for him, and lays every rebel beneath his feet.  Spurgeon, C. H. (1993). Psalms. Crossway classic commentaries (132). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

This is amazing, we are allowed a slight glimpse into a conversation within the Trinity.  Psalm 110 is quoted in Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, it shows up all over Hebrew, we see something similar to verse one in three of Paul's letters.  Ps 110:1 The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.” 

1 Co 15:25  For Christ must reign until he humbles all his enemies beneath his feet.

Eph 1:20  that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.

Col 3:1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand.

Spurgeon gives the following comments on Psalm 110:4

We have now reached the heart of the psalm, which is also the very center and soul of our faith. Our Lord Jesus is a Priest-King by the ancient oath of Jehovah: “?he glorified not himself to be made a high priest,?” but was ordained thereunto from of old, and was called of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. It must be a solemn and a sure matter which leads the Eternal to swear, and with him an oath fixes and settles the decree forever; but in this case, as if to make assurance a thousand times sure, it is added, and will not repent. It is done, and done forever and ever; Jesus is sworn in to be the priest of his people, and he must abide so even to the end, because his commission is sealed by the unchanging oath of the immutable Jehovah. If his priesthood could be revoked, and his authority removed, it would be the end of all our security; the oath of God establishes our Lord both in his priesthood and in his throne. It is the Lord who has constituted him a priest forever; he has done it by oath; that oath is without repentance, is taking effect now, and will stand throughout all ages: hence our security in him is beyond all question.

God would have no king-priest save his Son. Melchizedek’s office was exceptional: none preceded or succeeded him; he comes upon the page of history mysteriously; no pedigree is given, no date of birth, or mention of death; he blesses Abraham, receives tithe, and vanishes from the scene amid honors which show that he was greater than the founder of the chosen nation. He is seen but once, and that once suffices. Aaron and his descendants came and went; their imperfect sacrifice contained for many generations, because it had no finality in it, and could never make the comers thereunto perfect. Our Lord Jesus, like Melchizedek, stands forth before us as a priest of divine ordaining; he was not made a priest by fleshly birth, as the sons of Aaron; he mentions neither father, mother, nor descent, as his right to the sacred office; he stands upon his personal merits, by himself alone; as no man came before him in his work, so none can follow after; his order begins and ends in his own person, and in himself it is eternal, “?having neither beginning of days nor end of years.?” The King-Priest has been here and left his blessing upon the believing seed, and now he sits in glory in his complete character, atoning for us by the merit of his blood, and exercising all power on our behalf.  Spurgeon, C. H. (1993). Psalms. Crossway classic commentaries (132). Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway Books.

Ps 110:4 The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Jn 12:34 The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”

Heb 5:6 And in another passage God said to him, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Heb 5:10 And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Heb 6:20 Jesus has already gone in there for us. He has become our eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Heb 7:3 There is no record of his father or mother or any of his ancestors—no beginning or end to his life. He remains a priest forever, resembling the Son of God.

Heb 7:17And the psalmist pointed this out when he prophesied, “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

Heb 7:21 but there was an oath regarding Jesus. For God said to him, “The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow: ‘You are a priest forever.’ ”

Who is this Son of Man, anyway?  Who is this eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek?  God's Word is explicit!

Lk 20:42-43  For David himself wrote in the book of Psalms: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, Sit in the place of honor at my right hand 43  until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.’

Ac 2:29-36 “Dear brothers, think about this! You can be sure that the patriarch David wasn’t referring to himself, for he died and was buried, and his tomb is still here among us. 30 But he was a prophet, and he knew God had promised with an oath that one of David’s own descendants would sit on his throne. 31 David was looking into the future and speaking of the Messiah’s resurrection. He was saying that God would not leave him among the dead or allow his body to rot in the grave. 32 “God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. 33 Now he is exalted to the place of highest honor in heaven, at God’s right hand. And the Father, as he had promised, gave him the Holy Spirit to pour out upon us, just as you see and hear today. 34 For David himself never ascended into heaven, yet he said,

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand 35 until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.” ’ 36 “So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!”

Hold on to this for a moment.  Consider our reading in John, we see Jesus being confronted by the Pharisees, they are trying to trap our Lord...BAD IDEA!  They bring HIM a woman caught in adultery and what does HE do?  HIS stunning strategy, HE stoops down and begins to write in the dirt!  We have no idea what HE wrote, some have speculated that HE began to write down the names of those who had also committed adultery with the woman...no one knows.  HE tells the crowd "let the one without sin cast the first stone and HE stoops and begins to write again.  We HE stands back up there is no one left to condemn the woman AND THEN THE AMAZING WORDS JESUS SPEAKS TO HER..."NEITHER DO I CONDEMN YOU, GO AND SIN NO MORE." 

Immediately following this we have one of Jesus beautiful "I AM" statements in John 8:12 “I Am the Light of the World”  Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” 

So Who is this Son of Man, anyway?  Who is this eternal High Priest in the order of Melchizedek?  HE is the Light of the World, HE is the one who forgives our sins.  The Lord Jesus is a Priest-King by the ancient oath of Jehovah: “?he glorified not himself to be made a high priest,?” but was ordained thereunto from of old, and was called of God a high priest after the order of Melchizedek.  WHO MADE HIM PRIEST FOREVER?  It is the Lord who has constituted him a priest forever; he has done it by oath; that oath is without repentance, is taking effect now, and will stand throughout all ages: hence our security in him is beyond all question.

NOW CONTRAST THIS WITH WHAT WE READ IN 1 SAMUEL.  In 1 Samuel 15:11 we have a stark contrast in what Yahweh says about Saul and what HE stated about Jesus.  “I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the Lord all night.

Did God make a mistake? (15:11, 35) Some have taken the phrase “God was grieved” He had made Saul king as an admission of error, as if God had not known how Saul would turn out. But the Heb. word niham can mean emotional involvement and anguish over a situation affecting others, as well as indicate a change of mind, as it does in verse 29 where Samuel asserts that God does not “change His mind.” God made Saul king, and Saul was an effective military leader. The fact that Saul’s flaws endangered the nation was a matter of deep divine regret, but no indication that God had made a mistake.  Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (189). Wheaton: Victor Books.

1 Sa 15:22-23 So Samuel said: “Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. 23     For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, And stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord,  He also has rejected you from being king.”

Two main things to take away from today's reading...partial obedience is disobedience...God does not give a rip about your abilities unless you are willing to walk in obedience.  Jesus said "my food is to do the will of HIM who sent me."  We must seek, by the enabling of the Holy Spirit to walk in obedience to our Lord every moment of every day.

The second thing to take away is the majestic beauty, the awe inspiring wonder of the Word of God...if you have eyes to see and ears to hear, you will see Jesus on every page.

Thank you Jesus!

love,

m

You cannot help but fall in love with Jonathan almost immediately.  We see a passionate young warrior who is willing to move into enemy territory based solely on his faith in his great God.  Jonathan's  faith was demonstrated in his confidence that God could save—and in his asking God for a sign before he attacked (10–12). It is wise to prayerfully wait for guidance before we act, to make sure that what we plan is in alignment with His will.  The amazing thing here is that Jonathan did wait for a sign...but he moved into enemy territory on the knowledge that "perhaps the Lord will help us."  Oh Father...grant me a faith like Jonathan every moment of every day!

1 Samuel 14:6-7 “Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!” 7 “Do what you think is best,” the armor bearer replied. “I’m with you completely, whatever you decide.”

God used Jonathan’s victory to initiate the spirit of fear among the Philistines. Then HE added a earthquake to heighten their mental state to a fearful and terrified frenzy ! Our heavenly Father longs to see HIS children move forward in faith, trusting in HIS promises, trusting in HIM...knowing and expecting to see God work to accomplish HIS will.  Jonathan moves out in faith and when he did God gave him the victory and sent terror throughout the Philistine army.   1 Sam 14:15-16 Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified. 16 Saul’s lookouts in Gibeah of Benjamin saw a strange sight—the vast army of Philistines began to melt away in every direction.

How cool is this...I don't know about you all, but it inspires me to want to go and take a mountain with and for God.  It makes me long to move into and take enemy territory for our great God.  To treasure HIS Word in my heart, to be intimate with HIM through prayer and then, in constant communication, MOVE OUT ON MISSION WITH HIM!  ATTACK THE HILL!

In contrast to Jonathan we see his father Saul who constantly seems to be more concerned with what his troop were doing or what his people were thinking than he was with waiting on God.  Yesterday we saw that when Samuel did not arrive on Saul's time table Saul acted foolishly and offered a sacrifice...he disobeyed because he was fearful that more troops would leave him.  Today we hear Jonathan express the faith in God...knowing that Yahweh is able to win any battle with "many warriors or only a few."  Do you see the contrast?  I must confess that there are times more times than I want to admit where I have been more concerned about what other think than with keeping my eyes on Jesus.

Check out 1 Sam 14:19, Saul’s statement to the priest, to stop what he was doing may relate to using Urim and Thummim to inquire into God’s will. In essence Saul was saying, “There’s no time to inquire of God.” This is another indication of Saul’s growing arrogance and indifference to the Lord.  The painful thought for me is how often I have not taken the time to seriously pray over important decisions...sure I give them a token amount of prayer...but the Lord has convicted me that at times I pray and then I do not wait on HIM for the answer!  Forgive me Father!

What is the answer?  How can you and I walk, live, breath, drink in a manner so that we are in constant communion and fellowship with our heavenly Father so that we may live the spiritual life of the righteous man who walks and lives by faith?  Jesus tells us in our reading in John today!

John 7:37-39  On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! 38 Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’ ” 39 (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)

Jn 4:10 Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

Jn 4:14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

Jn 6:35  Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

 

Joe 2:28 “Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions.

COME CLOSE EVERYONE AND I WILL TELL YOU THE GREAT MYSTERY AND SECRET...SHHHHH, DON'T TELL ANYONE...HOW DO YOU LIVE THE SPIRIT FILLED LIFE?  ARE YOU READY?  ARE YOU SURE?  CAN YOU TAKE IT?  ALRIGHT HERE IS THE HUGE SECRET...ASK!

Luke 11:9-13  “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. 11 “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? 12 Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! 13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Father in heaven,

Thank you for Jesus, Jesus thank you for taking my place on the cross so that I might be clothed in YOUR righteousness and be acceptable to the Father...thank you!  Thank you for sending the Holy Spirit...Father fill me with YOUR Holy Spirit according to YOUR promise...fill me...fill me that I might honor YOUR name in my heart, mind, soul, fill me with YOUR Holy Spirit that YOU will be honored in my marriage, family, ministry, church.  Work this for YOUR glory and my joy in YOU.

love,

m

In 1 Sam 12 Samuel gives his final public speech to Israel.  He gives testimony that he has faithfully served as a just judge over Israel and the Israelites agree with Samuel.  In contrast, Samuel gives a brief history of Israel and testimony to the fact that Israel has repeatedly been unfaithful to God, that they have been unjust and that their recent act of demanding a human king is a great evil. 

1 Sam 12:17-25 You know that it does not rain at this time of the year during the wheat harvest. I will ask the Lord to send thunder and rain today. Then you will realize how wicked you have been in asking the Lord for a king!” 18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people were terrified of the Lord and of Samuel. 19 “Pray to the Lord your God for us, or we will die!” they all said to Samuel. “For now we have added to our sins by asking for a king.” 20 “Don’t be afraid,” Samuel reassured them. “You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the Lord with all your heart, and don’t turn your back on him. 21 Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they are totally useless! 22 The Lord will not abandon his people, because that would dishonor his great name. For it has pleased the Lord to make you his very own people. 23 “As for me, I will certainly not sin against the Lord by ending my prayers for you. And I will continue to teach you what is good and right. 24 But be sure to fear the Lord and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you. 25 But if you continue to sin, you and your king will be swept away.”

God is faithful, anyway (12:14–15). The call for a king was a rejection of God—but God did not reject Israel. If the people would show reverence for (fear of) God by serving and obeying Him, God would bless. The very faithfulness of God to His covenant promises should move us to trust, and to obey.

“As for me” (12:23). Samuel would no longer give political leadership. But his spiritual influence would persist. When our children are grown and we no longer exert control over them, we can still pray for them, and exert a powerful moral example.

No fear of God (13:5–7). “Fear” of God is that reverential awe that considers Him both real and present. Israel’s terrified flight from the army of Philistia showed that they considered their human foes more “real,” and thus more powerful, than their God!

Saul’s response (13:8–12). Saul could have set the spiritual tone and called Israel back to faith by his example. Instead the stress made him anxious, and in direct disobedience to Scripture he chose to officiate at a sacrifice, rather than wait for Samuel, an ordained priest (cf. 10:8).

“Foolishly” (13:13). The word indicates a moral corruption, not merely a mistake or miscalculation. Saul’s disobedience mirrored the unbelief and historic wickedness of God’s people, and disqualified him from permanent leadership.

600 men (13:15). Why does the text make a point of Saul’s 600 men? Because this is twice the number with which Gideon defeated another massed enemy force. The difference? Gideon had faith.Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (188). Wheaton: Victor Books.

1 Sam 12:14  “Now if you fear and worship the Lord and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the Lord’s commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the Lord as your God.

1 Sam 13:13  “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.

Saul's reign from God's perspective was over before it had gotten started.  The first test of faith and Saul falls and fails.  From the human perspective he reigned for 42 years, it was during that time that God was working in David's life to prepare him to be a king after God's own heart! 

1 Sam 13:14 But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

Ps 89:20  I have found my servant David. I have anointed him with my holy oil.

Ac 13:22  But God removed Saul and replaced him with David, a man about whom God said, ‘I have found David son of Jesse, a man after my own heart. He will do everything I want him to do.’

Consider that Moses had some 40 years tending sheep before his experience with the burning bush...this to prepare him to lead and shepherd God's people.  David is now going to enter an extended time of affliction and persecution in a different sort of wilderness to prepare him to lead and shepherd God people.  Those of us that are honest with ourselves realize that Jeremiah 17:9 is painfully true, “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? 

GOD KNOWS HOW BAD IT IS...and through our times of great trials and afflictions I believe God reveals our hearts condition to us.  WHY...you ask.  As we see our hearts true condition before a Holy God then we are able to repent of what HE has revealed and be healed.  No repentance, no healing...no healing, no growth in our walk with the Lord.

In our reading in John we learn that even Jesus brothers did not believe...we do know that James, our Lord's half brother would later believe.  How amazing that those that grew up beside HIM did not believe.  How amazing is the Israelites continual failure to trust God after HIS constant demonstration of power and faithfulness.  How slow of heart...how stupid could you be!  When I say things like that then God the Holy Spirit drops this little spiritual mirror in front of me as I speak those words and says them to me.  OUCH! 

WE HAVE SO MUCH MORE AT OUR DISPOSAL WITH THE COMPLETED BIBLE, THE INDWELLING HOLY SPIRIT...WE HAVE THE FULL STORY...WE HAVE THE ISRAELITES AS AN EXAMPLE TO US AS DID THE EARLY CHURCH...THE EARLY CHURCH DID NOT HAVE A COMPLETED BIBLE.

THE BIBLE DID NOT COME INTO PRINT UNTIL 1456 WITH THE ADVENT OF THE GUTENBERG PRINTING PRESS.  The 1st 1500 years people had to rely on the clergy for scripture.  Now most of us have several copies in our homes...HOW MANY OF US HAVE TREASURED HIS WORD AND HID HIS WORD IN OUR HEARTS?

FATHER GRANT US A CONSUMING AND BURING PASSION TO PURSUE YOU AND YOUR WORD FOR YOUR GLORY AND OUR JOY IN YOU!

love,

m

The psalmist calls the redeemed to praise God (107:1–3). In a series of graphic images he contrasts the lost state with the freedom that redemption brings (4–32). Exercising His sovereign power over nature, God will remake wastelands into fruit bearing fields (33–38) and revitalize our wasted lives and make us prosper (39–43).  In the last verse of Psalm 107, the Psalmist makes a poignant and powerful statement...in verse 43 he says, "Let whoever is wise pay attention to these things and consider  the Lord’s acts of faithful love." 

So, what are we to do?  Give thanks!  Psalm 107:1-3 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His faithful love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord proclaim that He has redeemed them from the hand of the foe 3 and has gathered them from the lands— from the east and the west, from the north and the south.

C.    Proclaim that HE had redeemed them from their enemy (107:2)

As we continue through 1 Samuel you see God setting the stage for HIS man David, a man that is after God's own heart.  I don't have time this morning, but it is interesting to consider Saul's sin and David's sin and from a human perspective we would say that David's sin was worse...no doubt it was horrific!  Pay attention to Saul's heart attitude as we read through the next several chapters.  See if you SEE IT!

John 6:43-47 Jesus answered them, “Stop complaining among yourselves. 44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws  him, and I will raise him up on the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets:  And they will all be taught by God.   Everyone who has listened to and learned from the Father  comes to Me— 46 not that anyone has seen the Father  except the One who is from God.  He has seen the Father. 47 “I assure you: Anyone who believes  has eternal life.

John 6:61-65 Jesus, knowing in Himself  that His disciples were complaining about this, asked them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what if you were to observe the Son of Man  ascending  to where He was before? 63 The Spirit  is the One who gives life. The flesh doesn’t help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. 64 But there are some among you who don’t believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning  those who would not  believe and the one who would betray  Him.) 65 He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me  unless it is granted to him by the Father.”

Jesus was not interested in drawing a crowd, actually HE frequently withdrew from the crowd to lonely and quiet places.  Remember, HIS food is to do the will of the Father.

Jn 6:66-70 From that moment many of His disciples turned back and no longer accompanied Him. 67 Therefore Jesus said to the Twelve,  “You don’t want to go away too, do you?” 68 Simon Peter  answered, “Lord, who will we go to? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One of God!”  70 Jesus replied to them, “Didn’t I choose you, the Twelve?  Yet one of you is the Devil!” 

These critical chapters begin the transformation of Israel into a monarchy. Moses had predicted that one day Israel would have a king (Deut. 17:14–20). Yet at this historic moment, Israel’s motive in demanding a king is wrong (1 Sam. 8:1–5). God tells Samuel, now old and about to pass from the scene, to warn His people. But when Israel insists on a king, Samuel is told to honor their request (vv. 6–22). Now the scene shifts, and we meet a young Saul, setting off in search of lost donkeys (9:1–5). Saul and his servant come to Samuel for help (vv. 6–14), and Samuel recognizes Saul as God’s choice for the throne (vv. 15–20). The youthful Saul is appropriately humble, and stunned to be the guest of honor at a banquet planned long before he appeared at Samuel’s door. Tension builds, as the next morning Samuel sends the servant on ahead, to share with Saul alone a message from God (vv. 21–27).Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (186). Wheaton: Victor Books.

This is a sad day in Israel's history...I suppose that there have been many sad days.  Let's perform the same little exercise that we have been doing the past few days.  Let's go back for a moment to Joseph and the horrible events that led to him being sold into slavery in Egypt, but we know from Gen. 50:20 that God did this to preserve HIS people from the famine that would ravage the land.  UP CLOSE the events in Joseph's life are impossible to understand, but when we pull back we see God's purposes.  Don't lose sight of the fact that these events are still tragically painful to Joseph and to his parents.  So we understand that God sent Joseph ahead of them into Egypt.  Following that why allow the horrible conditions that would evolve over the next 400 years in Egypt?  I admit I am getting ready to speculate, but I believe that I am on rock solid ground...see if you agree.  The conditions in Egypt had to be horrible or the Israelites never would have left to enter the promised land!  Remember how often they wanted to go back?  AGAIN, if you look closely at the events of their slavery in Egypt you might ask God, "how could you do such a thing."  If you pull back, it begins to make perfect sense.  NOW YOU KNOW THAT EGYPT PICTURES OUR SLAVERY TO SIN AND JESUS IS THE PASSOVER LAMB WHO TAKES AWAY THE SIN OF THE WORLD AND DELIVERS US FROM OUR SIN BY HIS BLOOD.  The good shepherd, who laid down HIS life for HIS sheep leads us through the "valley of the shadow of death" and though our circumstances to strengthen our faith, to grow us in HIM.  Jesus is jealous for HIS sheep and does not want us to go back to Egypt!  Do you think Jesus might orchestrate some painful circumstances to prompt a fat, complacent sheep out of sin and to lead the sheep to walk close to the shepherd?

Through Moses and Joshua they travel the wilderness and enter the promised land and experience a period of victory and prosperity.  Then comes the dark days of the Judges where each man "did that which was right in his own eyes."  The cycle begins, the cycle of falling into moral and spiritual bankruptcy, judgement from God through the affliction from an enemy, repentance and crying out for deliverance, God sending a Judge to deliver from the enemy leading to a time of spiritual revival and prosperity.

This brings us to our last judge Samuel and the installation of Saul as King.  What prompted the people to sin and ask for a king?  It was the wicked acts of Samuel's sons.  His sons violated the most basic provisions in O.T. Law concerning doing justice (cf. Ex. 18:21; 23:2, 6, 8; Deut. 16:19; 24:17). You have to wonder if Samuel like Eli (1 Sam. 2) was to blame, and that perhaps he gave so much time to his ministry he neglected his family. But God’s own people Israel, whom He loved, cared for, and disciplined, also strayed. We do not blame God for the sinful choices of His children. We must exercise caution and not be too quick to blame godly parents for the sinful choices of their children.  The operative phrase is godly parents.

ALL OF THIS TO SAY THAT OVER AND OVER IN GOD'S WORD WE SEE ISOLATED EVENTS THAT ARE INCREDIBLY PAINFUL TO THE INDIVIDUAL(S) AND AS WE WITNESS THESE EVENTS WE FIND OURSELVES ASKING GOD WHY...BUT WHEN WE PULL BACK AND PRAYERFULL READ GOD'S WORD, SEEKING THE ENABLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT TO OPEN OUR EYES, WE BEGIN TO SEE GOD'S PURPOSES. 

One thing that becomes incredibly apparent is that God is ALWAYS, ALWAYS faithful and HE is ALWAYS GOOD, HE IS ALWAYS GOOD.  We learn from Romans 8 that in ALL THINGS GOD IS WORKING FOR THE GOOD OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM!  Through the death of a loved one, disease, disaster, financial ruin, wayward children, [this is hard] through an evil event that touches you or me.  [this is real hard, I cannot express the weight I am feeling with these words] 

What else can you do with Gen 50:20?  You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people.  Consider Job...who was the active agent in bringing pain to Job?  ARE YOU SURE?  What did Job say...Job 1:21He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”

Ps 72:19--And blessed be His glorious name forever; And may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen, and Amen.

Ps 113:2--Blessed be the name of the Lord From this time forth and forever.

Ro 8:28-32  We know that all things work together  for the good  of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.  29 For those He foreknew   He also predestined  to be conformed to the image of His Son,  so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers.  30 And those He predestined, He also called; and those He called, He also justified;  and those He justified, He also glorified.

31 What then are we to say about these things? If God is for us, who is against us?  32 He did not even spare His own Son,  but offered Him up for us all;           how will He not also with Him grant us everything?

OUR ENEMY WILL ATTEMPT TO GET YOU AND I TO DOUBT THAT GOD IS GOOD!  What was the enemies strategy with Eve?  "Did God really say..."  "NO!  You will not die...in fact God knows that when you eat your eyes will be opened and you will be like God."

What has the enemy done...he cast doubt on God's Word and then he called God into question, basically telling Eve that God was holding out on her...so she took and ate!  THE DANGER IS THAT OUR ENEMY USES A LOT OF TRUTH MINGLED WITH DEADLY LIES.  Satan was right that there eyes would be opened and they would know good and evil.  THE PROBLEM IS THAT GOD CREATED US TO KNOW HIM, TO KNOW GOOD...HE DID NOT CREATE US TO KNOW EVIL!

EVERY TIME YOU THINK AND EVERY TIME I THINK, "IF GOD WAS REALLY GOOD WOULD HE DO THAT!  IF HE IS GOOD HOW COULD HE ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN."  EVERY TIME YOU THINK LIKE THAT REALIZE THAT THOSE THOUGHTS ARE COMING FROM OUR ENEMY! 

THEN DO WHAT JESUS DID IN THE WILDERNESS AND QUOTE SCRIPTURE AND SAY...If God is for us, who is against us?  32 He did not even spare His own Son,  but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything?   It is this Jesus, the good shepherd who laid down HIS life for me, [Rev 1:5-6 ] and not only that this Jesus, is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead and the ruler of the kings of the earth.  HE is the one who loves us and has set us free  from our sins by His blood, 6 and made us a kingdom,  priests   to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

You might want to reread all of Psalm 106 and our reading in John with this in mind.  God is good and HE is faithful...don't judge HIM in the specific events of life!  Come in humility and brokenness, surrendered at the throne of grace, enter through HIS precious blood...knowing that If God is for us, who is against us?  32 He did not even spare His own Son,  but offered Him up for us all; how will He not also with Him grant us everything?

When you can't trace HIS hand trust HIS heart...trust in Jesus, believe in Jesus...Jn 6:35-40 “I am  the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “No one who comes to Me  will ever be hungry,  and no one who believes in Me  will ever be thirsty  again. 36 But as I told you, you’ve seen Me,  and yet you do not believe. 37 Everyone the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never cast out.  38 For I have come down from heaven,  not to do My will, but the will of Him  who sent Me. 39 This is the will of Him who sent Me: that I should lose none of those He has given Me but should raise  them up on the last day. 40 For this is the will of My Father:  that everyone who sees the Son  and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I will raise  him up on the last day.”

Father in heaven,

bring to completion the good work you began in us...work this for YOUR glory and our JOY in YOU!

love,

m

I have to comment on the closing verse in 1 Samuel for yesterday's reading.  You got to hurt for this mom and this baby...a little baby, lost his Mom, Dad, uncle and Grandfather on the same day that he was born and then his Mom as she was dying named him..."The glory of the LORD has departed from Israel."  Ichabod!  WOW...happy birthday!  I don't know if they celebrated birthdays back then, but I know that they did not celebrate his.  I would have requested a name change claiming that my Mom was under great distress and duress.  Sorry, I was just feeling bad for this little guy.  AGAIN, this is one of those situations where if you look at a single event in the life of someone you MIGHT FIND YOURSELF ASKING GOD WHY HE WOULD ALLOW THAT TO HAPPEN, BUT WHEN YOU PULL BACK IT BEGINS TO MAKE SENSE, YOU CAN SEE THE BIGGER PICTURE.

What was the result of the Ark being captured, what was the result of God's glory departing from Israel?  I am getting ready to speculate here, but you have to think that the Philistines thought that they would now have this great power behind them to win battles and to do what Israel did to Egypt.  They wanted to add this power to the power of their god, Dagon.  The Philistines and we learn a very valuable lesson as did Joshua in Joshua 5:13-15, "When Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in His hand.  Joshua approached Him and asked, “Are You for us or for our enemies?” 14 “Neither,” He replied. “I have now come as commander of the Lord’s army.” Then Joshua bowed with his face to the ground in worship  and asked Him, “What does my Lord want to say to His servant?” 15 The commander of the Lord’s army said to Joshua, “Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy.”  And Joshua did so." 

God does not take sides...we do!  So the morning after capturing the Ark they find Dagon on his face before the Ark, the next morning same result except this time his head and hands are broken off.  No god can stand in the presence of Yahweh...NONE!  Then the terror of tumors begins in each of the cities of the Philistines.  After 5 cities are plagued the Philistines want to know how to get rid of the Ark and stop the devastation.

The Philistine priests and diviners give some interesting counsel that works...I find that interesting...1 Sam 6:5-6  "Make images of your tumors and of your mice that are destroying the land. Give glory to Israel’s God,  and perhaps He will stop oppressing you,   your gods, and your land.  6 Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened theirs?  When He afflicted them, didn’t they send Israel away, and Israel left?

Consider that Israel has been in and out of a state of moral bankruptcy for the past 400+ years.  The Philistines know what Israel's God did to Egypt and they know that Pharaoh hardened his heart.  How amazing is it that we see a pagan nation seeking to give glory to Israel's God.  How amazing that we see Israel humbled and deeply grieved at the loss of the glory of the LORD. 

If we pull back a little further we see that the people of Israel are moved to seek the LORD their God.  Check out 1 Sam 7:2-4 "Time went by until 20 years had passed since the ark had been taken to Kiriath-jearim. Then the whole house of Israel began to seek the Lord. 3 Samuel told them, “If you  are returning to the Lord  with all your heart,  get rid of the foreign gods  and the Ashtoreths that are among you, dedicate yourselves to  the Lord, and worship only Him.  Then He will rescue you from the hand of the Philistines.” 4 So the Israelites removed the Baals and the Ashtoreths  and only worshiped the Lord."

Again, what was the result of the Ark being captured?  A nation that was morally bankrupt is now experiencing a great revival all because of the events that led to a little baby boy being named Ichabod.

1 Sam 6:20 asks a profound question,  “Who is able to stand in the presence of this holy Lord God?  Who should the ark go to from here?”

Only those who have been twice born, you must be born again...only those who have a new nature, those that are new creatures in Christ, those who have repented of their sins and turned to the Lord, believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST AND YOU WILL BE SAVED. 

I do believe that when HE appears we will all hit the deck because of the splendor and awe striking nature of his glory.

GLORY!

love,

m

Our reading in 1 Samuel brings us to a dark day in the history of Israel, it is the day the Ark is captured by the Philistines.  I believe that the capturing of the Ark was only symbolic of what had happened as Eli's wicked sons began to serve in the temple, we learn that they have no regard for the LORD or for the priests' as they served.  Yesterday we witnessed how wicked Eli's sons were in 1 Samuel 2:17, So the sin of these young men was very serious in the Lord’s sight, for they treated the Lord’s offerings with contempt.  What should I say about that...BAD IDEA!

When Eli heard of everything his sons were doing he warned them but they would not listen to him. 

1 Sa 2:23-26 Eli said to them, “I have been hearing reports from all the people about the wicked things you are doing. Why do you keep sinning? 24 You must stop, my sons! The reports I hear among the Lord’s people are not good. 25 If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede?” But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death. 26 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel grew taller and grew in favor with the Lord and with the people.

A man of God came to Eli and spoke a harsh judgement on Eli, his family and all descendents.  I BELIEVE THAT EVERY DAD AND MOM, THAT INCLUDES ME, MUST TAKE HEED TO THIS WARNING...take heed!  Eli is judged, "You have honored your sons more than ME."  God tells him...NO LONGER!  I will honor those who honor Me, but hose who despise ME will be disgraced.  Later, when God calls and speaks to Samuel in 4:13, God tells Samuel that Eli's sons are defiling the sanctuary and he, Eli, has not stopped them...then the hammer falls.

Dads if you do not diligently discipline your children you HATE THEM!  YOU HATE THEM!  Mark, are you crazy, it is because of my great love for my children that I cannot spank or discipline them...NO, NO, NO...YOU HATE THEM!  Check out Proverbs 13:24...as you read it think about what Eli did to his own sons, God Himself said it..."Eli, has not stopped them."  Prov 13:24--He who withholds his rod hates his son, But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

No doubt this is not very popular today, but it is true!

1 Samuel 3:21 The Lord continued to appear in Shiloh, because there He revealed Himself to Samuel by His word. 

I love this verse because God reveals Himself to you and I in the very same way...by HIS Word.

Listen for HIS voice, His sheep know His voice, listen and say, "speak LORD your servant is listening."  When you have Him calling simply say, like Samuel and Isaiah, "here I am."

Rev 1:6
and He has made us to be a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Rev 5:10
“You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God; and they will reign upon the earth.”

1 Samuel 2:35 “ ‘Then I will raise up a faithful priest  for Myself. He will do whatever is in My heart and mind. I will establish a lasting dynasty for him,  and he will walk before My anointed one for all time. 

Our heavenly Father is looking for those that will go hard after HIM, by knowing HIM through HIS word and then doing what is in HIS heart and MIND!

HERE I AM LORD...SPEAK YOUR SERVANT IS LISTENING!

LOVE,

m

1 and 2 Samuel overview

The Books of 1 and 2 Samuel trace the most exciting period in Israel’s history. God had fulfilled His covenant commitments to Abraham. After breaking the slave bonds of Abraham’s descendants, the Lord brought them safely into Canaan, the Promised Land. But there Israel proved faithless, again and again abandoning God for the idols and debased practices of the pagans who shared the land with them. For 400 years, during the time of the Judges, Israelite strength continued to wane. Then, suddenly, under a leader appointed by God, a stunning transformation took place. Over the space of some 50 years Israel was converted from an oppressed minority in Canaan into a powerful nation. First and 2 Samuel record the key events of these critical years, and focus our attention on one of the most beloved of biblical heroes: David, the shepherd boy who became Israel’s greatest king.

The story of the birth of the Hebrew monarchy is told through the lives of three men: Samuel, the last judge; Saul, Israel’s first and failed king; and David, whose personal gifts and courageous faith in God catapulted him to greatness. Through the stories of these men the author of 1 and 2 Samuel gives us deep insights into the religious, social, and political condition of the times. He also, without preaching, underlines foundational spiritual truths which shape not only the course of history, but also the direction of our individual lives. As we study 1 Samuel we learn from the experiences of one of the Bible’s truly great men. And we better understand the way that God works through all who trust, and are eager to respond to Him.  Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (178). Wheaton: Victor Books.

Remember our discussion yesterday concerning the sovereignty of God...remember how it is important not to judge God, (ever) but especially in the light of one event.  What was the result of Hanna's early childless years?  When you read how Peninnah treated Hanna, it makes you want to pop her in the head.  I'm sorry...but it does!  Pull back a little and look at the result of those events.  As you pull back think about these verses.

Gen 29:31  When the Lord saw that Leah was unloved, He opened her womb; but Rachel was barren.

Ruth 4:13 So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife; and when he went in to her, the Lord gave her conception, and she bore a son.

Briefly consider what John wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit in John 9:1-5...As He passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. 2  And His disciples asked Him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he would be born blind?” 3 Jesus answered, “It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was so that the works of God might be displayed in him.  4  “We must work the works of Him who sent Me as long as it is day; night is coming when no one can work. 5 “While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.”

From a human perspective my first thought is...Lord you made this guy be blind his whole childhood and early adult life just so you could show off your works...I WAS TEMPTED TO END MY BLOG THERE THIS MORING AND LET YOU ALL THINK THAT GOD SMOTE ME WHEN I SAID THAT:)  I try to be transparent with you all.  I said that is my first thought...then when I come to my senses I realize the God's economy is very different AND HIS IS RIGHT!  I am the one that needs to be transformed to be like HIS Son...too often we attempt to transform HIM into our image.

Who is sovereign over all things?  God!  Who is sovereign over human eyes?  God!  Who controls the womb?  God!  God is sovereign over the womb.  Was God being mean?  NO!  Was it some evil in Hanna, some hidden sin?  NO!  Why did God close her womb?  Could it be "so that the works of God might be displayed in him."

1 Samuel 1:5 But to Hannah he would give a double portion, for he loved Hannah, although the Lord had closed her womb.

1 Samuel 2:21 And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile the child Samuel grew before the Lord.

Why did God close her womb?  To give us Samuel, the last Judge and to set in motion and incredible string of events that would bring about King David.  You realize that without Samuel there is no King David, no David and Goliath and all those other stories that we love so much.  AGAIN, if you zero in on Hanna's plight it moves you to call God into question, but when you pull back and get a sense of what God is doing...accomplishing our redemption...it begins to make sense.  THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT THE PAIN IS NOT VERY REAL IN THE ISOLATED EVENTS...IT IS AND IT IS OK AND EVEN GOOD TO GRIEVE AS LONG AS WE TAKE THEM TO THE LORD...KNOWING THAT HE IS GOOD!  Paul teaches us in Romans 12:15 to, Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.  We should not feel guilty for grieving, Hanna's grief was very real and that is what moved her to prayer and to make the vow she did before the Lord.

WHEN YOU CAN'T TRACE HIS HAND TRUST HIS HEART!

In John 5 we see Jesus heal a man who had been sick for 38 years...38 years!  Jesus asked him if he wanted to get well and he told him to get up and pick up his bedroll and walk and he did.  From what we see in the text Jesus did not heal everyone else at the pool only one man, HE only healed this man who had been sick for 38 years.  DO YOU SEE HOW HARD IT IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT ISOLATED EVENTS OR AT A SINGLE MOMENT IN TIME?  WE MUST PULL BACK AND CRY OUT FOR GOD TO OPEN OUR EYES TO HIS PURPOSES AND PLAN.

SO the Jews get ticked because Jesus is healing on the Sabbath and they call HIM into question...in HIS response we hear HIS purpose and the Fathers purpose again.

John 5:19-24 So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing. In fact, the Father will show him how to do even greater works than healing this man. Then you will truly be astonished. 21 For just as the Father gives life to those he raises from the dead, so the Son gives life to anyone he wants. 22 In addition, the Father judges no one. Instead, he has given the Son absolute authority to judge, 23 so that everyone will honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son is certainly not honoring the Father who sent him.

24 “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.

God's purpose and Jesus purpose is one in the same and it is two fold.

Isaiah 48:9-11  Yet for my own sake and for the honor of my name, I will hold back my anger and not wipe you out. 10 I have refined you, but not as silver is refined. Rather, I have refined you in the furnace of suffering. 11 I will rescue you for my sake— yes, for my own sake! I will not let my reputation be tarnished, and I will not share my glory with idols!

Mk 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

HIS purpose is HIS OWN GLORY AND OUR SALVATION...that redeemed humanity in eternity will enjoy and delight in HIS glory for all eternity.

Believe on the LORD JESUS CHRIST AND THOU SHALT BE SAVED!

LET IT BE!

love,

m

What do you do with the sovereignty of God when it cuts both ways, when you and I are the ones that are hurt, or worse our loved ones.  Recently it seems more and more people are asking me, "Mark, if God is good then why do bad things happen?  Why is there evil?  Why are there seemingly meaningless accidents that take the lives of loved ones?"  Don't worry, I'm not going to fully answer those questions now...I'm physically and emotionally exhausted, but I believe that our reading in Psalm 105 touches on the sovereignty of God.  I at least want to take a tired swing at this. 

Remember what happened in Ezra and Nehemiah and how the sovereign God moved the kings heart on behalf of HIS people?  Check out Ezra 6:22 "They observed the Festival of Unleavened Bread for seven days  with joy, because the Lord had made them joyful, having changed the Assyrian king’s attitude toward them, so that he supported them  in the work on the house of the God of Israel."  God is sovereign over every king not just the Assyrian king as we see in Proverbs 21:1, I love this, "A king’s heart is a water channel in the Lord’s hand: He directs it wherever He chooses."  We learn two things in this verse, not only does our LORD direct every kings heart, HE also directs rivers and water channels.  You want something larger than rivers and kings, ok, how about the constellations?  God quizzed Job in Job 9:9 with a rhetorical when HE said, "Who makes the Bear, Orion and the Pleiades, And the chambers of the south...answer, God, Yahweh is HIS NAME.  Yahweh does it again in Job 38:31 “Can you bind the chains of the Pleiades, Or loose the cords of Orion?  Want more, here you go...Amos 5:8, He who made the Pleiades and Orion And changes deep darkness into morning, Who also darkens day into night, Who calls for the waters of the sea And pours them out on the surface of the earth, The Lord is His name. 

Now here is a tough one.  Do you remember awhile back I pointed out the irony of the fact that numerous baby showers had a theme of Noah's Ark.  If you recall, the irony is that to date Noah's Ark points to the most horrific loss of human and animal life ever lost in a single day since creation.  A bizarre theme for a baby shower...sorry!  [I'm tired, remember...stay on target, stay on target]  This verse sounds pretty harsh.  We have in Psalm 29:10, "The Lord sat enthroned at the flood; the Lord sits enthroned, King forever. "  The LORD sat enthroned while he saved 8 people, let that sink in, HE saved 8 people.  Consider how evil HIS creation had become.  This next thought is hard but true...HE WOULD HAVE BEEN JUST, RIGHT, FAIR AND JUST FOR HIM TO DESTROY ALL LIFE, INCLUDING NOAH AND HIS FAIMILY!

Consider our reading in Ruth today, let's think about Ruth and Naomi...what an awesome story!  You can see our Kinsman Redeemer working behind the scenes to bring about and picture our salvation.  Naomi and Ruth had no idea what God was up to...in the end Naomi and Ruth were both beautifully used of God and blessed richly.  They were ancestors to King David and to Jesus!  WHEN YOU PULL BACK AND SEE THE LARGER PICTURE...YOU THINK HOW INCREDIBLE!  BUT REMEMBER...Naomi did not know this!  She did not know it when her husband died, when her sons died and even when Boaz married Ruth and Ruth gave birth to Obed...she still did not know what God was doing.  THINK ABOUT THAT IN YOUR OWN LIFE!  GOD SEES THE WHOLE TAPESTRY HE IS CREATING...YOU ONLY SEE THE BIG KNOT IN THE MIDST OF YOUR LIFE.  HE IS SOVEREIGN AND HE IS GOOD!

Naomi’s ‘fulness’ revolved round her grand-child; looking after him as she had looked after her own children gave her a new lease of life. The name Obed (short for Obadiah) implied that he was a ‘servant of the Lord’ and thus summed up the hopes of everyone for this child. The author then leaps forward two generations to show how important Obed was to be as the grandfather of King David. God’s sovereign purpose could be traced through all the generations from Perez, who had been named in the marriage blessing (12), to David, hundreds of years later. Ruth’s determination to throw in her lot with Naomi had had far-reaching consequences, beyond anything she could ever have guessed. In view of the fact that all Judah’s kings belonged to David’s dynasty, the Moabite girl had most illustrious descendants, and the prayer of Boaz that she might be richly rewarded by the Lord (1:12) was spectacularly answered.  Carson, D. A. (1994). New Bible commentary : 21st century edition. Rev. ed. of: The new Bible commentary. 3rd ed. / edited by D. Guthrie, J.A. Motyer. 1970. (4th ed.) (Ru 4:13). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, Ill., USA: Inter-Varsity Press.

Ruth 1:16-17 But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. 17 Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!”

What about in our reading in John this morning?  In John 4:46-53 we are blessed to see the Son of God, God the Son demonstrating HIS sovereign power over sickness and disease and time and space.  Jesus did not have to be physically present to know who HIS son was, and what was wrong with HIM. 

Then He went again to Cana  of Galilee, where He had turned the water into wine. There was a certain royal official whose son was ill at Capernaum.  47 When this man heard that Jesus had come from Judea  into Galilee, he went to Him and pleaded with Him to come down and heal his son, for he was about to die. 48 Jesus told him, “Unless you ⌊people⌋ see signs and wonders,  you will not believe.” 49 “Sir,”  the official said to Him, “come down before my boy dies!” 50 “Go,” Jesus told him, “your son will live.” The man believed what  Jesus said to him and departed. 51 While he was still going down, his slaves met him saying that his boy was alive. 52 He asked them at what time he got better. “Yesterday at seven in the morning  the fever left him,” they answered. 53 The father  realized this was the very hour at which Jesus had told him, “Your son will live.” Then he himself believed, along with his whole household.

Mark, you said our reading in the Psalms demonstrates God's sovereignty.  Sorry, OK, check this out...in Psalm 105:16-17 we learn that HE, God, called for a famine in the land...sounds like something that Naomi experienced...16 He called for a famine on the land of Canaan, cutting off its food supply. 17 Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave.   THINK ABOUT THIS...IF ALL YOU AND I SEE IS A CUT OFF FOOD SUPPLY THEN WE WILL CALL GOD INTO QUESTION...RIGHT?  IF WE LOOK AT THE ISOLATED EVENTS OF OUR LIVES YOU SEE HOW IT IS EASY TO WONDER HOW CAN GOD BE GOOD AND ALLOW THIS TO HAPPEN.  WHY DID GOD DO THIS?

God sent Joseph into slavery...no, no, his brothers sold him into slavery!  That is not what this Psalm says and it is not what Genesis 50:20 teaches us...Joseph responding to his brothers after Jacob dies...20 You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result—the survival of many people. 

OK...HUGE THOUGHT COMING...NOT MINE, GOD'S...LET THESE WORDS SINK IN...GOD, IN HIS SOVEREIGNITY PLANS TO WORK THOUGH THE EVIL PLAN OF ANOTHER!  THEY ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR SIN AND GOD PLANNED TO WORK GOOD THROUGH THEIR EVIL.  It does not say that God took an evil event and turned it for good...IT SAYS THAT HE PLANNED IT FOR GOOD! 

John Piper said that Satan is God's lackey in the personal sanctification of the Saints, Satan is HIS errand boy in working our sanctification.  Satan does not want to be a willing participant in this...but HE is...GOD IS SOVEREIGN...ABSOLUTELY SOVEREIGN!  Can you see how an evil isolated event in your life could be planned by God to bring you or others to saving faith in Jesus?

Why were the Egyptians against Israel?  Take a look in Psalm 105:24-25 And the Lord multiplied the people of Israel until they became too mighty for their enemies. 25 Then he turned the Egyptians against the Israelites, and they plotted against the Lord’s servants.

You may think that it is not fair because God turned their hearts against them.  Remember that Idolatry was rampant and manifested itself in evil ways in Egypt, I believe that God turning their hearts against them was the beginning of the judgement on Egypt that would allow the LORD to bring the plagues to judge the idols of Egypt.

Ezek 20:7
Then I said to them, ‘Each of you, throw away the abominations which are before his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.’

God is good, ALWAYS...WHEN YOU CAN'T TRACE HIS HAND TRUST HIS HEART...HIS HEART SENT HIS SON TO DIE IN YOUR PLACE AND IN MY PLACE, JESUS PAID THE PENALTY FOR OUR SINS SO THAT IF WE REPENT AND RECEIVE HIM BY FAITH, TRUST IN HIS FINISHED WORK ON THE CROSS WE RECEIVE THE SPIRIT OF ADOPTION BY WHICH WE CRY ABBA FATHER...REJOICE AND BE GLAD CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH GOD...Romans 8:32  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

LOVE,

m

The last few chapters of Judges was difficult to stomach...the most painful part is how much our culture is like theirs and how easy it is to fall prey to the currents of the culture you live in.  Albert Einstein asked the question, "does a fish know it's wet?"  The fish would respond, "wet? what is wet?"  Wet is all the fish knows.  So you and I have to see the horrors and depravities of another culture to know that the one we live in is just as bad!  Come on Mark!  Just as bad...abortion...partial birth abortion...how many babies have been murdered since Roe v. Wade?  I rest my case!

Some friends returned from a short term mission trip to India...after they returned all I heard about was how spiritually oppressive the rampant idol worship was in India and how horrible it felt to be in a land that is so spiritually dark and closed to the gospel.  A year later I learned of a native Indian couple that were devout Christians, they were visiting the United States and another friend of mine asked them what they thought of the United States.  Do you know what they said?  All they could talk about was how spiritually oppressive the rampant idol worship was in the US and how horrible it felt to be in a land that is so spiritually dark and closed to the gospel. 

Do you see it NOW?  Our culture is like the water we swim in...wet?  What is wet?  Remember Paul in Athens from the post yesterday?  In Acts 17:16 we learn that as, "Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was being provoked within him as he was observing the city full of idols."  The human heart was created to worship our creator and if we don't the human heart cannot help but worship...it will worship something!  It might worship money, possessions, reputations, spouse, children, jobs, power, science, evolution, the world...the list really is endless.  It is anything that you love, serve, fear, desire, long for more than God...that is an idol to you!  WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE, LOOK AT THE LIST ABOVE AND MAKE YOUR OWN, THAT IF GOD TOOK IT AWAY YOU WOULD BE MAD AT GOD AND CALL HIM INTO JUDGEMENT...YOU WOULD CALL GOD ONTO THE CARPET AND DEMAND AN ANSWER..."HOW COULD YOU DO THIS?"

The last verse in Judges says it all for Israel and it says it all for us...everyone did what was right in his own eyes.  There is a huge problem with doing what is right in your own eyes, there is a problem with doing what seems right to you!  Remember Proverbs 14:12, There is a way which seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.

judges 17:6--In those days there was no king in Israel; every man did what was right in his own eyes.

Judges 19:1--Now it came about in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite staying in the remote part of the hill country of Ephraim, who took a concubine for himself from Bethlehem in Judah.

Judges 21:25--In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Now in the midst of darkness, in the midst of a spiritually oppressive and morally bankrupt time emerges this bright light, we are blessed to discover a diamond in the rough, and that diamond is the story of Ruth.

Ruth is one of the Old Testament’s warmest and most encouraging books. This brief book takes its name from the main character, a Moabite woman who chose to commit herself to her Hebrew mother–in–law and to Israel’s God.

The story is set in the difficult days of the Judges, which were marred by appalling spiritual, moral, and social decline. Yet, as the story unfolds, we discover that within the corrupt society there were still true believers: simple folk who tried honestly to love and serve God, and to live generously with their neighbors. The unveiling of Ruth, of her mother–in–law Naomi, and of her husband–to–be, Boaz, reminds us that the true sacred history is not learned so much in the annals of heroes and kings, as in the daily lives of godly women and men. The Book of Ruth should be required reading for any who study the era of the Judges, for it brings much–needed balance to our impression of that age of spiritual disarray.

The Book of Ruth also makes distinctive theological and historical contributions. Theologically it provides a clear picture of the kinsman–redeemer, an individual who through relationship is able to intervene on a family member’s behalf. In this role Boaz prefigures Jesus Christ, who became a real human being so that He might be our kinsman, and qualify as our Redeemer. Historically Ruth is an ancestress of David the king, who also prefigures Jesus, the ultimate Ruler of God’s kingdom. How stunning that God called a Moabite woman, not one of the chosen people, for this significant role. What clear evidence that, in ancient times as in ours, God’s love reaches out to all.  Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (173). Wheaton: Victor Books.

It really is amazing how all this comes together again and again...I do not sit down with any writing plan...ever!  I read the days reading and start typing and typically don't know where it's going until I get there.  What are you talking about Mark?  Well...you all would think that I planned to include the above phrase...God’s love reaches out to all, and then follow it with Jesus going to the Samaritan Woman.  The Jews could not stand the Samaritan people and would travel a great distance to avoid them and here (4:4) we have Jesus saying that HE must go to them...the social outcasts.

I don't know if it is the same town in Samaria, but if you remember James and John were ready to call down fire from heaven to consume the Samaritans and Jesus rebuked them and said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of; 56 for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.”] And they went on to another village."  Imagine the social boundaries that Jesus crossed to save this Samaritan village...this is so awesome!

“Living water” (4:10). The phrase indicates a spring of flowing waters in contrast to water in a well or cistern. Jesus is speaking metaphorically; the woman is thinking concretely. Jesus is speaking of humanity’s greatest thirst, for right relationship with God. The woman is thinking only of physical thirst.

“The gift of God” (4:10). When people know what God is willing to do for them, all as a free gift (doron), then and only then are they able to face their sins and seek the Lord.

“Call your husband” (4:16). The challenge immediately shifted the woman’s focus to the moral realm and to her true need. Yet the request was not improper. In that culture a married woman was not to talk with a strange man without her husband present.

Her blunt reply was not yet a confession. It meant, “I don’t need to. I’m not married.”

The man you have (4:17–19). Jesus stripped away the facade. Sin shows that our need for God, and our even unrecognized thirst, is real!

You Jews say (4:20). How quickly folks want to shift the subject from sin to theology. Jesus did answer her question. But He was not sidetracked.

God seeks worshipers (4:23–26). Sin is not threatening when the sinner realizes punishment is not an issue. God is seeking worshipers. He isn’t looking for new ways to judge us. When the woman linked this message of hope to the Messiah, and Jesus announced He was the Promised One, then she was ready to surrender all.  Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (681). Wheaton: Victor Books.

God is seeking worshipers that will worship HIM in spirit and in truth.  I love the response that Jesus gives HIS disciples as they are trying to get HIM to eat.  HE tells them in John 4:34 "My food is to do the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work."  Do you remember what Jesus told the disciples in John 20:21?  So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 

Father in heaven,

Transform the core affections of my heart more and more so that I can say like Jesus that my food is to do the will of my heavenly Father.  Nothing nourishes, nothing satisfies me, nothing brings more delight than to walk in obedience to my Abba and my Father.

Accomplish this for YOUR glory and my JOY in YOU.

love,

m

My land, what can you do when you read Judges 19 but weep and grieve.  We see in verse 22 that perverted men of the city surrounded the house, beat on the door and demanded that the visitor be brought out so that they may rape him and have sex with him.  If that is not bad enough, the old man who was kind enough to take the visitor and his wife into his home offer the perverted men his virgin daughter and the visitors wife.  Throughout this dramatic event he is pleading with these men, "no, don't do this evil," "don't do this horrible thing,"  "don't do this horrible thing to this man."  Amazingly, at least to me, the visitor grabs his wife and takes her out to them.  The perverted men rape her until daylight and then let her go.  In desperation she makes it back to the house that took them in and dies at the door.

I am struggling to find words to describe this, but I believe that her husbands are as horrific or close.  We learn from verse 27 that her husband got up in the morning to continue his journey.  First, what must the spiritual condition of a man be to hand over any woman much less your wife to a group of perverted men?  Second, what sort of spiritual condition must a man be in that hand his wife over to them and then sleeps?  What is the spiritual condition of a man who walks out the door and sees his wife with her hands at the threshold and says, "Get up, let's go."  Remember as the story begins we learn that this man is a Levite.

One commentator equates the spiritual condition to that of Sodom and Gomorrah!

The welcome offered by Gibeah was no hospitality at all; it was the hospitality of Sodom (Gen. 19), an outrageous affront to the Levite and especially to his concubine. The men of Gibeah demanded to have sexual relations with the old man’s guest. Offered the Levite’s concubine instead, they assaulted her until she was half dead. This section closely resembles Gen. 19:4–9; indeed, the author may have written this story to make the comparison with Sodom unmistakable, as if to say, “Things are as bad now as they were in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah!”

19:22 Perverted men is literally the “sons of Belial,” a phrase describing wicked or worthless people. The name Belial came to designate Satan, as it is used in 2 Cor. 6:15. That we may know him means that the men of Gibeah wanted to sodomize the Levite. The same expression is found in Gen. 19:5, where the men of Sodom wanted to force homosexual relations on Lot’s guests.

19:27–30 The Levite’s indifferent reaction to his concubine’s collapse is followed by a gruesome deed: After carrying her away, he cut her body into twelve pieces, sending a piece to each tribe. This gesture was practically a call to arms; Saul did the same with oxen (1 Sam. 11:7).  Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Jdg 19:22-30). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

This whole episode leaves you feeling sick and then to learn in the next chapter that the Benjaminites would not give up these perverted men, but protected them.  As a result of protecting them the tribe of Benjamin lost 18,000 warriors.  It is amazing to notice in 20:28 that the LORD spoke!  Remember, the spiritual conditions were bad every direction.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?  I THINK THAT IT MEANS THAT THERE IS HOPE FOR AMERICA, THERE IS HOPE FOR THE CHURCH IN AMERICA!  It is always darkest before the dawn. 

I wonder if the husband cut his wife into pieces to cause an outrage because he knew that simply the news of what happened to his wife would not stir his country men to action.  That seems to be the case.  A hard and calloused heart will make you insensitive to horrible things around you.  I can't help but think of Paul in Athens.  In Acts 17:16 we learn that while Paul is waiting on Silas he has a violent reaction to something...what do you think it was?  Take a look, "While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply troubled by all the idols he saw everywhere in the city."  The phrase "greatly troubled," or provoked means great distress or burning with anger.  Paul saw people worshiping anything and everything in Athens, people that were created by their Creator to know HIM, love HIM, delight in HIM and Worship HIM and HIM alone AND HE WAS JEALOUS FOR GOD'S SAKE.  So jealous that he had a violent internal reaction when he witnessed the rampant idolatry!

Mark, where are you going with all this?  I would say that the spiritual environment you and I live in is like what we see in Judges, it is like what Paul witnessed in Athens and in Rome and in Jerusalem.  My question to me and to you is how do we react as we witness people worshiping their jobs, money, cars, homes, children, spouse, reputation?  Are we repulsed?  Are we jealous for God's sake, are we burning with anger that countless image bearers of God have been deceived into worshiping created things rather than the creator?  Are we spiritually indifferent to the idolatry?  Have we joined them?

John 3:27-36 John responded, “No one can receive a single thing unless it’s given to him from heaven. 28 You yourselves can testify that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah,  but I’ve been sent ahead of Him. ’ 29 He who has the bride  is the groom. But the groom’s friend, who stands by and listens for him, rejoices greatly  at the groom’s voice. So this joy  of mine is complete. 30 He must increase, but I must decrease.”

31 The One who comes from above  is above all. The one who is from the earth is earthly and speaks in earthly terms.  The One who comes from heaven is above all.  32 He testifies  to what He has seen and heard, yet no one accepts His testimony. 33 The one who has accepted His testimony has affirmed that God is true.  34 For God sent Him, and He speaks God’s words, since He  gives the Spirit  without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son  and has given all things into His hands.  36 The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who refuses to believe in the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.

I love Psalm 85:6, the Psalmist cries out to God...Will You not Yourself revive us again, That Your people may rejoice in You?  Our heavenly Father teaches us through HIS word what HE longs for and what HE desires from HIS children...2 Chronicles 7:14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

Father in heaven,

Revive us that we may rejoice in YOU, delight in YOU, worship YOU and YOU alone.  YOU have promised to give YOUR Spirit without measure...please fill me with YOUR Holy Spirit, enable me to walk today in a manner that is pleasing in YOUR sight.  Please work this for YOUR glory and my joy in YOU.

love,

m

We now enter a time in Judges that depicts the spiritual, moral, and social deterioration that took place during an era when “everyone did what he wanted” (17:6; 21:25). In Judges 17 we learn of Micah, who steals (vv. 1–4), sets up a shrine in his house with silver idols, makes one of his own sons a a priest until he hires a Levite (vv. 5–12), and amazingly he expects God to bless him for his piety (v. 13). The irony is that each of Micah’s acts directly disobeys God's Word given through Moses and Micah does not know! 

This is a painful picture of America!  Like Israel, we began as a nation devoted to God, established to allow freedom of worship and to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ.  If you don't remember, the Mayflower Compact begins with the following words, "In the name of God, Amen. We, whose names are underwritten, the Loyal Subjects of our dread Sovereign Lord, King James, by the Grace of God, of England, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, e&. Having undertaken for the Glory of God, and Advancement of the Christian Faith." 

What about the Church in America today!  What about the Church in America...how many Christians are looking to Dr. Phil to help them with their problems?  How many are listening to Oprah?  In doing so we are inviting idols into our homes...not knowing that we are doing anything wrong!  Sadly this is a painful picture of much of the Church in America today.  Biblical ignorance is at an all time high.

Consider that the ALL POWERFUL, absolutely sovereign, ALL KNOWING, EVERYWHERE PRESENT or if you prefer omnipresent God provided an instruction manual for life, HE sent us HIS Words, as a matter of fact...in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God...ALL THINGS WERE CREATED THROUGH HIM and then this same God, the Word became incarnate and dwelt among us.  DO YOU THINK IT WOULD BE WISE TO SPEND SOME OF OUR TIME GETTING TO KNOW HIS WORD?  I KNOW, I KNOW, IT IS TOUGH TO DECIDE!

WHY did God take on human flesh?  Why did HE condescend and become like us, tempted in every way, yet without sin?  Why?  Did HE come so that we might serve this great God while HE was here in the flesh?  NO, Jesus teaches us in the gospel of Mark in verse 10:45 “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”  Our great God, the Word became incarnate to give HIS life as a ransom for many.  What does Jesus teach us today in the gospel of John?  "And as Moses lifted up the bronze snake on a pole in the wilderness, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, 15 so that everyone who believes in him will have eternal life. 16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. 18 “There is no judgment against anyone who believes in him. But anyone who does not believe in him has already been judged for not believing in God’s one and only Son. 19 And the judgment is based on this fact: God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil.

Pursue HIM in and through HIS Word, meditate on HIS Word...eat and drink deeply the Word of life. 

Psalm 104:1-4

1 Let all that I am praise the Lord.

O Lord my God, how great you are! You are robed with honor and majesty. 2 You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens; 3 you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds. You make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind. 4  The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants.

I hope this plays for you...if not go to youtube and search for "How Great is our God" by Chris Tomlin.  Psalm 104 is where he got the words for his song.

Consider how great HE is...forgive me...labor to get a tiny sense of how great HE is and labor to get a tiny sense of all that HE has done for HIS children and then Worship HIM in spirit and in truth.  The only way you can worship HIM in truth is to know HIM in and through HIS precious Word.

Let's go hard after God, let's pursue HIM with a white hot passionate love and a desire to know HIM more and more.

Father in heaven,

please accomplish the good work YOU began in me and in my friends...do it for YOUR glory and our joy in YOU.

love,

m

The eyes have it!  Be careful what it is!

Samson's life is a life of unbridled passion, of love corrupted by fear, aggression, and bribery (Judg. 14:15; 16:5); of insult and retaliation (14:20; 15:3, 7, 10); of fiery fields and of fiery death (15:4–6); of a hero who loves to eye women (14:1; 16:1), his eyes lead to his demise and ironically they are gouged out (v. 21).  Samson is a superman who can carry city gates 40 km. (24 mi.) uphill (v. 3) and burst unbreakable bonds four times, but who cannot break the bonds of a woman that brings delight to his eyes.  His eyes are a snare and they are his downfall. 

Samson's story is an incredible example and warning to us today...if you have eyes to see and ears to hear, let us hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church!  What did Solomon teach us in Proverbs 4:23?  Guard your heart above all else, for it is the source of life.  Solomon, the wisest man on earth ever...apart from the Lord Jesus Christ, also fell prey to his eyes as he took on hundreds of wives and was led astray to worship their gods.  Solomon opened the door to the unspeakable horrors that fell on Israel.  If you think about it, Solomon inherited the weakness from his father, David. 

What does Paul teach us in Philippians?  In chapter 6, Paul is teaching us about prayer and he unwittingly provides us with a strategy to protect our eyes and our hearts.  "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you."  There it is, pray about everything and meditate on Jesus!  Wait Mark, he does not say to meditate on Jesus!  Yes he does!  Who do you think HE is describing?  He is describing Jesus, the Lover of your soul and my soul.  It is difficult to entertain lustful thoughts when you are praying.  If we will be sober minded, on the alert, knowing that Satan is prowling around like a lion seeking whom he may devour...those that are sober minded will stay close to the shepherd and overseer of their souls, if you are close to Jesus you will not be easy prey for the enemy.  It is those sheep that take their eyes off Jesus, they get careless in their spiritual lives and they tragically become causalities of spiritual warfare.

Our LORD JESUS also walked a life marked by passion, the passion.  HE walked a life of love, uncorrupted and unconditional, sacrificial love.  Bribery and fear?  I don't think so...HE did pay a ransom, a ransom that cost HIM HIS life...HE led a life marked by zeal, a zeal for HIS Fathers house.  Praise God you and I are that house as we see in 1 Peter 2:5 "you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

We learn in John 2:13-17 that Jesus is zealous for God's children and God's house.  Check it out!  "The Jewish Passover  was near, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  14 In the temple complex  He found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and ⌊He also found⌋ the money changers sitting there. 15 After making a whip out of cords,  He drove everyone out of the temple complex with their sheep  and oxen. He also poured out the money changers’ coins and overturned the tables. 16 He told those who were selling doves, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning My Father’s  house  into a marketplace!”  17 And His disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal  for Your house will consume  Me. 

Personally, I am very excited to know that Jesus is zealous for me.  The literal translation of Psalm 23:6 IS..."surly goodness and mercy will PURSUE me all the days of my life."  There is a huge difference between pursue and follow...the only thing that I can think of is that when the King James was translated in 1611 that follow had a very different connotation that it does today.  If you think about some of the old movies where there was a hot pursuit the person jumped into the cab and said...?  What?  "Follow that car."  They did not mean, "hey let's dilly dally and meander along behind that car."  The intent was to pursue, catch, overtake and capture the person in that car. 

Psalm 23:6 tells us that goodness, God, God is good and HIS saving grace will hunt you down and capture you every day of your life!  That is really good news!  We are richly blessed with more good news in Psalm 103.  When we stumble and fall and we will, we know that when we come to our senses God's great love and grace will forgive us when we turn from our sin and turn back to HIM.

Ps 103:1-5, 8, 10, 12-14

Praise for the Lord’s Mercies --A Psalm Of David.

1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2   Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3  Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4  Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5  Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

12  As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.  As a father pities his children, So the Lord pities those who fear Him. 14 For He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust.

Father in heaven,

Thank you, thank you, thank you...oh Father all that is within me blesses YOUR holy and precious name, bless the LORD O my soul.  Thank you for the gift of forgiveness, thank YOU for spiritual healing, thank YOU for pursuing me and redeeming my life from destruction.  Thank YOU for hunting and chasing me down and crowning me with lovingkindness and YOUR saving grace.  YOU and YOU alone can satisfy my craving, burning soul...satisfy me in the morning with YOUR steadfast love that I may rejoice in YOU and YOU alone.

I delight and rejoice in knowing that you are merciful, gracious and slow to anger, abounding in mercy.  I acknowledge that I deserve eternal hell, I deserve YOUR undiluted wrath...YOU have not dealt with me as I deserve...THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!  What peace fills my soul to know that Jesus took ALL MY SINS AND THE SINS OF THE WORLD WHEN HE WENT TO THE CROSS.  What peace fills my soul to know that when YOU look at me YOU see the righteousness of YOUR only begotten Son.  

Holy Spirit of God enable me, enable us to rest in YOU, please fill us today, pursue me this morning and keep me all day!  Enable me to guard my heart, to be sober minded, alert...allow me to keep my eyes on Jesus...to behold HIM and be transformed into HIS likeness.

love,

m

It is so sad to watch the children of God turn from HIM again and again!  In Judges 13:1, as we watch the powerful Samson enter fabric of history, they cycle repeats itself.  "Again the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years."  Our verses in Proverbs apply to Samson and when I am not walking filled with the spirit of God they apply to me.  It is an amazing connection.  Proverbs 14:15-16 The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps. 16  A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident.  It is astonishing how God worked through flawed men like Samson, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, as we will see, King David...and in this age you and me!  It is astonishing and encouraging.  Please don't forget what Paul teaches us in 1 Corinthians 10, "these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved."  A few verses latter Paul writes "these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come."  

DON'T PLAY THE FOOL AND IGNORE THE EXAMPLE AND THE WARNING! 

The familiar story of Samson begins with Israel again apostate, and this time oppressed by Philistines. Samson’s birth is announced by an angel, and he is brought up as a Nazarite (13:1–25). Samson is gifted with great physical strength as well as godly parents. But as an adult he insists on marriage to a Philistine woman (14:1–11). Tricked, a furious Samson leaves the marriage feast, and when his bride is given to another, this powerful man launches a one–man vendetta against Israel’s enemies (14:12–15:8). Threatened by war, the men of Judah turn Samson over to his enemies—and he slaughters their entire army single–handedly (vv. 9–20). Samson is finally betrayed by his passion for Delilah and his hair, the symbol of his Nazarite vow, is cut off (16:1–19). Drained of his supernatural strength, Samson is blinded and set to work grinding grain for the Philistines (vv. 20–21). Later Samson is brought into a Philistine temple to be ridiculed. But his hair has grown back, and his strength has returned. With one final, mighty effort, Samson dislodges the pillars that hold up the temple, and dies with hundreds of his enemies (vv. 22–31). He is the only judge who failed to deliver his people. Though a man of great physical strength, his moral and spiritual weakness doomed him.  Key verse. 14:7: A leader must put his people first.  Personal application. Samson was ruled by his physical desires. Let’s not make the same mistake, but subject our bodies to God.  Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (168). Wheaton: Victor Books.

It is noteworthy to me that the only Judge that failed to deliver his people is the one who from a human perspective should have been the most successful.  The rash behavior of Samson and his pride led to his sad demise.  As we will see in our reading tomorrow Samson was not even aware that the LORD and his strength had left him. 

I have watched too many men crash and burn in and out of the ministry not to maintain a holy fear and reverence...NO ONE IS ABOVE FALLING!  My only hope is to cling to Jesus, to cling to and to pursue HIM.  To cry out with Jacob, I will not let YOU go unless YOU bless me.

Matt 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Matt 7:8 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

Luke 11:9 “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

Luke 11:10 “For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, it will be opened.

What am I seeking, what am I asking for with importunity!  (Go look it up)  HIM, I am after HIM, HIS presence, HE is the gospel...the good news is that we get God.  The good news is not the gifts HE gives, though HE does give gifts to HIS children, the good news is that our relationship with God the Father has been restored through the sacrifice of God the Son and we have the unspeakable gift of God the Holy Spirit residing in the children of God.  IF YOU SAY HOHUM TO THAT YOU ARE DEAD IN YOUR SINS AND TRESPASSES.  IF THAT DOES NOT EXCITE YOU THEN YOU ARE IN ROUTE TO HELL...I'M SORRY!  BUT IF YOU HAVE ANY SPIRITUAL LIFE IN YOU THE TRUTH OF THE GOSPEL WILL LIGHT YOU UP!

Angel of the Lord. (Heb. mal’ak yehwah). Supernatural being who bears a message on behalf of God. In many passages in the Old Testament, the angel of the Lord is identified with God, while in other instances a distinction is made between the Lord and the angel. In general, however, the terms “the angel of the Lord,” “the Lord,” and “God” are interchangeable.

The angel of the Lord is the messenger of both good and evil. He comes to Hagar after she has fled from the abusive Sarai (Gen. 16:7–14) to assure her that God has heard about her misery and that her descendants will be too numerous to count. She names him “You are the God who sees me” (v. 13). The angel of the Lord pronounces a curse on the people of Meroz, because they refused to come to the help of the Lord (Judg. 5:23).

The angel of the Lord executes judgment on behalf of the Lord. He puts to death 185,000 Assyrian soldiers in their camp, thereby saving Jerusalem from decimation (2 Kings 19:35).

The angel of the Lord both commissions and commends God’s servants. The commander of the Lord’s army commissions Joshua to undertake the Lord’s battles for Canaan, just as Moses had been commissioned to confront Pharaoh (Josh. 5:13–15; cf. Exod. 3:5). The angel of the Lord appears to Abraham. He stops Abraham from sacrificing Isaac and commends him because he has not withheld his only son from God (Gen. 22:11–18). Abraham identifies the angel as God, calling the place “The Lord Will Provide.”

The angel of the Lord carries out a ministry of reconciliation. He asks how long God will withhold mercy from Jerusalem and Judah (Zech. 1:12).

The connection between the angel of the Lord and the preincarnate appearance of the Messiah cannot be denied. Manoah meets the angel of the Lord, and declares that he has seen God. The angel accepts worship from Manoah and his wife as no mere angel, and refers to himself as “Wonderful,” the same term applied to the coming deliverer in Isaiah 9:6 (Judg. 13:9–22). The functions of the angel of the Lord in the Old Testament prefigure the reconciling ministry of Jesus.  Elwell, W. A., & Elwell, W. A. (1997, c1996). Evangelical dictionary of biblical theology (electronic ed.). Baker reference library; Logos Library System. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

The angel of the Lord is the pre-incarnate Son of God, the angel of the Lord is Jesus in human form before the incarnation, before HIS birth.  It is sweet to see HIS incarnation in John chapter one. This is why John was able to say in verse 29-30 "The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Here is the Lamb of God,  who takes away the sin  of the world! 30 This is the One I told you about: ‘After me comes a man who has surpassed me, because He existed before me.’

Behold the Lamb of God who takes away your sin and my sin...beholding is becoming!

For those who have left this World and are in HIS presence they now have the joy of seeing HIM face to face...the author and finisher of their faith.

Even so come LORD JESUS!

LOVE,

M