Unto The Hills

Foundations of the Faith 4: Intoduction to Bible Study

brtom — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 01:20:20 +0000

Introduction

After spending the last few weeks learning about the first foundation, that is prayer, we are moving on to our next foundation: Bible Study. Before we get to the Bible, there are a few thoughts on hermeneutics, that is a fancy word meaning the rules of Bible study and there are many but for the purpose of our study, we will limit ourselves to a few.

Never use the Word of God for personal gain. [i]

Luke 4:1-4

Then Jesus, being filled with the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 being tempted for forty days by the devil. And in those days He ate nothing, and afterward, when they had ended, He was hungry. 3 And the devil said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” 4 But Jesus answered him, saying, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’”

NKJV

Jesus was hungry and could have easily made bread for Himself, but He chose to use the Word for God’s glory not to satisfy His physical needs. Don’t get me wrong God is concerned about our physical needs but do not miss the spiritual lesson: Jesus did not need to prove Himself to the devil who He was.

The Bible is a mirror so we can see our own faults, it is the brass laver (Ex 38:8 He made the laver of bronze and its base of bronze, from the bronze mirrors of the serving women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. NKJV); it is a sword to use in spiritual warfare, but when we start using it as a offensive weapon against the lost or against brothers and sisters in Christ, we run the very real risk of becoming judgmental, hypocritical in a word a Pharisee plucking at the splinter in our brother’s eye while almost knocking his head off with the log in our own eye!

Always use the Word of God in Context. If we do not use a verse out of context. The Bible is meant to be read passage by passage, chapter by chapter, book by book so we can understand correctly what is being said. There is a danger in using the “hunt and peck” method of Bible study. Open the Bible randomly to one verse: Matt 27:5 Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. Second verse Luke 10:37 Go, and do thou likewise. Third verse John 13:27 What you do, do quickly. Out of context, we come up with the thought: suicide is ok, but nothing is further from the truth but you can make a doctrine out of almost anything if we ignore the context!
Be careful of Definitions. Meanings change over the course of time and from place to place. Getting a lift in the USA and in England are quite different. In the USA it means you are getting a ride in a car, in England it means you are riding an elevator. The solution is to use a good Bible dictionary that gives meaning closer to when the Bible was written. I like the Strongs Concordance/Dictionary and the Vine’s Expository Dictionary. We have both available here on the PC Study Bible.

Reading v. Studying

When we think about Bible study we think about reading the Bible, and quote the promise of Revelation 1:3 feeling we will be blessed by reading the Word.

Rev 1:3

Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

NKJV

We need to understand what three words mean to understand what this verse means

Blessed NT:3107; to beatify, i.e. pronounce (or esteem) fortunate: KJV – call blessed, count happy. makarios (mak-ar’-ee-os); a prolonged form of the poetical makar (meaning the same); supremely blest; by extension, fortunate, well off: KJV – blessed, happy (X -ier).[ii]

Read NT:314 anaginosko (an-ag-in-oce’-ko); from NT:303 and NT:1097; to know again, i.e. (by extension) to read: KJV – read. [iii]

Hear NT:191 akouo (ak-oo’-o); a primary verb; to hear (in various senses): KJV – give (in the) audience (of), come (to the ears), ([shall]) hear (-er, -ken), be noised, be reported, understand.[iv]

So we understand, it is more than a onetime casual reading that is being spoken of here. It means to read and read again, to listen, and by extension to do what it says.

So study is the key, not just reading. To search and study and apply the scriptures to our lives.

John 5:39- You search (G2045 ereunaō er-yoo-nah’-o Apparently from G2046 (through the idea of inquiry); to seek, that is, (figuratively) to investigate: – search.)

the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. NKJV
2 Tim 2:15 Study (G4704 spoudazō spoo-dad’-zo From G4710; to use speed, that is, to make effort, be prompt or earnest: – do (give) diligence, be diligent (forward), endeavour, labour, study.) to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. KJV

Why do we Study the Bible?

2 Tim 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work. NKJV

didaskalia

Docturine: NT:1319 didaskalia (did-as-kal-ee’-ah); from NT:1320; instruction (the function or the information): KJV – doctrine, learning, teaching.[v]
Reproof-NT:1648 a elegmos (el-eng-mos’); from NT:1651; found only in 2 Tim 3:16: conviction (of a sinner), punishment, refutation of error, reproof.[vi]
Correction NT:1882 epanorthosis (ep-an-or’-tho-sis); from a compound of NT:1909 and NT:461; a straightening up again, i.e. (figuratively) rectification (reformation): KJV – correction[vii]
Instruction NT:3809 paideia (pahee-di’-ah); from NT:3811; tutorage, i.e. education or training; by implication, disciplinary correction: KJV – chastening, chastisement, instruction, nurture.[viii]
Perfect NT:739 artios (ar’-tee-os); from NT:737; fresh, i.e. (by implication) complete: KJV – perfect.[ix]
So we can do the work of God. It is to glorify Jesus not beat each other down!

Verse Study

We will start off with the shortest of studies, the verse study. In this we focus on one or two verses in the Bible, but we need to be mindful of context!

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart,

And lean not on your own understanding;

6 In all your ways acknowledge Him,

And He shall direct your paths.

NKJV

What is the key word or words? Trust (batach OT:982 batach (baw-takh’); a primitive root; properly, to hie for refuge [but not so precipitately as OT:2620]; figuratively, to trust, be confident or sure: KJV – be bold (confident, secure, sure), careless (one, woman), put confidence, (make to) hope, (put, make to) trust.
Who are we to trust in? The Lord
Is there a promise? Yes He will lead us.
What are the conditions to the promise? We must trust the Lord and lean on Him only, not on ourselves.

I know this was an easy one, and for homework, do Psalm 1:1-2, it is also not too difficult and we will discuss this one next week

[i] Duplantis, Jessie, Strike One, Strike 2, Strike 3, devil Your Out, DVD, Jessie Duplantis Ministries.

Foundations of The Faith: Keys to Answered Prayer

brtom — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:48:40 +0000

Key 1: Importunity, Just Keep Asking

Luke 11:5-8

And He said to them, “Which of you shall have a friend, and go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves; 6 for a friend of mine has come to me on his journey, and I have nothing to set before him’; 7 and he will answer from within and say, ‘Do not trouble me; the door is now shut, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot rise and give to you’? 8 I say to you, though he will not rise and give to him because he is his friend, yet because of his persistence he will rise and give him as many as he needs.

NKJV

Friend and friend: A friend comes to us in need, he is hungry but we have not a thing to set in front of him. We need to go to our Friend who has enough for all and more left over.
Need for 3 loaves
He said no!
Just bugged him enough to get the answer he wanted. Importunity (KJV, NKJV persistence) anaideia NT:335 anaideia (an-ah’-ee-die-ah’); from a compound of NT:1 (as a negative particle [compare NT:427]) and NT:127; impudence, i.e. (by implication) importunity: KJV – importunity.[i] Literally it means shameless.
His troublesome perseverance; his continuing to disturb the man, and refusing to take any denial. The word “importunity” denotes perseverance in an object, without any regard to time, place, or circumstances – an improper perseverance. By this the man was influenced. Rather than be disturbed he would rise and give what was asked. This is to be applied to God in no other sense than that he often hears prayers and grants blessings even “long after” they appear to be unanswered or withheld. He does not promise to give blessings “at once.” He promises only that he will do it, or “will answer” prayer. But he often causes his people long to wait. He tries their faith. He leaves them to persevere for months or years, until they “feel” entirely their dependence on him, until they see that they can obtain the blessing in no other way, and until they are “prepared” to receive it. Often they are not prepared to receive it when they ask it at first. They may be proud, or have no just sense of their dependence, or they would not value the blessing, or it may “at that time” not be best for them to obtain it. But let no one despair. If the thing is for “our” good, and if it is proper that it “should” be granted, God will give it. Let us first ask aright; let us see that our minds are in a proper state; let us feel our need of the blessing; let us inquire whether God has “promised such” a blessing, and “then” let us persevere until God gives it. Again: people, when they ask anything of God, often give over seeking. They go “once,” and if it is not granted they are discouraged. It is not so when we ask anything of people. “Then” we persevere; we take no denial; we go again, and “press” the matter until we obtain it. So we should of God. We should go again and again, until the prayer is heard, and God grants what we ask of him.

Key 2: Believe and Forgive

Mark 11:20-26

Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. 21 And Peter, remembering, said to Him, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.”

22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24 Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

NKJV

Key 3: Bearing Fruit

John 15:5-8

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 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.

NKJV

What is fruit? Could it be soul winning (cf. Proverbs 11:30)? Could it be the Fruit of the Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:22-23)? While these are both fruits in the Bible, we need to read the verse in context.
What is the context of this verse? We see in verse six it says “we ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.” So it could be salvation, health, victorious Christian living, because the fruit here is answered prayer!
This is not an unconditional request. The condition must be met, that is we must be abiding in Christ What does that mean?
It means we are obedient to Him and follow His teachings allowing His Spirit to lead us.
I know this may seem a little radical to those who are hearing this for the first time, I know it did to me but as I meditated and prayed, I realized this is correct for the context!

Wrap Up

Three keys Jesus gives us to have a fruitful prayer life: importunity, belief & forgiving, and abiding. This combined with what we learned in the first two lessons and a vital loving relationship with the Father will yield the prayer life and bring us closer to relationship we desire with God

Death in The Pot

brtom — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 19:12:11 +0000

2 Kings 4:38-41

And Elisha returned to Gilgal, and there was a famine in the land. Now the sons of the prophets were sitting before him; and he said to his servant, “Put on the large pot, and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” 39 So one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine, and gathered from it a lapful of wild gourds, and came and sliced them into the pot of stew, though they did not know what they were. 40 Then they served it to the men to eat. Now it happened, as they were eating the stew, that they cried out and said, “Man of God, there is death in the pot !” And they could not eat it.

41 So he said, “Then bring some flour.” And he put it into the pot, and said, “Serve it to the people, that they may eat.” And there was nothing harmful in the pot.

NKJV

Gourd -OT:6498 paqqu`ah (pak-koo-aw’); from the same as OT:6497; the wild cucumber (from splitting open to shed its seeds): KJV – gourd.[i]

Death in the Pot

What was meant to preserve life was about to bring death to the people of God. The devil desires nothing more that to destroy the life and testimonies of His people to either bring about their death or make them ineffective for God.

Death -OT:4194 maveth (maw’-veth); from OT:4191; death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades); figuratively, pestilence, ruin: KJV – (be) dead ([-ly]), death, die (-d).[ii]

During a famine the men of God went to get some vegetables to make a stew and someone saw some wild gourds growing on a vine, I guess they looked pretty good so he took himself a lapful. There are two thoughts I have on that:

He sliced them into the pot. Many troubles in our lives comes either from our own hands or others meddling where they have no business being.
He did not know what they were yet he put them in the pot. (knew: yada` OT:3045 yada` (yaw-dah’); a primitive root; to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including observation, care, recognition; and causatively, instruction, designation, punishment, etc.) [as follow]:KJV – acknowledge, acquaintance (-ted with), advise, answer, appoint, assuredly, be aware, [un-] awares, can [-not], certainly, comprehend, consider, could they, cunning, declare, be diligent, (can, cause to) discern, discover, endued with, familiar friend, famous, feel, can have, be [ig-] norant, instruct, kinsfolk, kinsman, (cause to let, make) know, (come to give, have, take) knowledge, have [knowledge], (be, make, make to be, makeself) known, be learned, lie by man, mark, perceive, privy to, prognosticator, regard, have respect, skilful, shew, can (man of) skill, be sure, of a surety, teach, (can) tell, understand, have [understanding], will be, wist, wit, wot.[iii]
Meal or flour was added and the poison was gone. This was one of the many miracles of Elisha. Bring meal – Though this might, in some measure, correct the strong acrid and purgative quality; yet it was only a miracle which could make a lapful of this fruit shred into pottage salutary.[iv]

A Spiritual Application

We need to move from an Old Testament physical story to a New Testament spiritual application. We need to see the pot as the life of a Christian and the gourds are the things we add to our own lives that can cause “death in the pot” in our lives. Things either through ignorance or intent, with deliberation or emotional outburst, there are things that are death in the pot. These include:

Allowing ungodly influences into our lives. I remember a song I use to sing with my children’s church and we are going to use the lyrics for our outline:
O be careful little eyes what you see

O be careful little eyes what you see

There’s a Father up above

And He’s looking down in love

So, be careful little eyes what you see

We need to watch what we watch. There are few ways for things to enter and take root and the eye gate is one of them. We need what we watch on TV. We need to look at while we are reading. We need to take care that they are pure and wholesome. When wrong things enter our eye gate it can influence our lives and actions and can be death in the pot of the Christian life. (Put TV Guide in Pot)

be careful little ears what you hear

O be careful little ears what you hear

There’s a Father up above

And He’s looking down in love

So, be careful little ears what you hear

We need to be careful what we let in our ear gate. Ungodly music and talk (not just radio but listening to carnal Christians who are complaining and we listen to that garbage it can give place to the devil and harm those who listen to it. This includes those so called “prayer request” that are just dressed up gossip meant to tear someone down not build them up) it can plant wrong thoughts and ideas in our hearts and take root in our souls and influence our thoughts and actions and can be death in the pot of the Christian life. (Put CD/Cassette Player in Pot)

be careful little hands what you do

O be careful little hands what you do

There’s a Father up above

And He’s looking down in love

So, be careful little hands what you do

Is what we are working on in our lives meant to build up others or ourselves? Wrong motive in actions can lead us down a deadly path, being death in the pot of the Christian. (Put Paper Heart in pot)

be careful little feet where you go

O be careful little feet where you go

There’s a Father up above

And He’s looking down in love

So, be careful little feet where you go

We need to be careful. I was listening to a TV preacher, I won’t mention his name, I would hate to embarrass him but he said it was OK for a Christian to drink wine as long as he watched himself. I don’t see that. We need to keep our feet from going to where it would not glorify God. No bars, no drinks, why? (Put empty bottle in pot )

Lev 10:9

Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die (it is death in the pot)

You may say this is Old Testament, but watch, what was the tabernacle? The dwelling place of God, and where does God dwell now? In the Christian, so we are God’s tabernacle or temple (1 Cor 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?)

be careful little mouth what you say

O be careful little mouth what you say

There’s a Father up above

And He’s looking down in love

So, be careful little mouth what you say

OK this is a pretty big one, our mouths, which should be used to praise and glorify God but are being used for other things like:

Backbiting : BACKBITE To speak slanderously or spitefully about a person (Ps 15:3; Rom 1:30). Backbiting involves an element of deceit and cowardice. It should be avoided by Christians.[v]
Complaining: do we need to be reminded God hates complaining (see also murmuring) remember what happened to Israel in the wilderness, the quails, the brass serpent.
Lying: & sowing discord among the breathern:

Prov 6:16-19

16 These six things the LORD hates,

Yes, seven are an abomination to Him:

17 A proud look,

A lying tongue,

Hands that shed innocent blood,

18 A heart that devises wicked plans,

Feet that are swift in running to evil,

19 A false witness who speaks lies,

And one who sows discord among brethren.

NKJV

Lying tounge- sheqer

OT:8267 sheqer (sheh’-ker); from OT:8266; an untruth; by implication, a sham (often adverbial):

Sowing discord-weather by deceit or word, it is hated by God and is death the mouth can be death in the pot of a Christian. (put mouth in pot.

There is a Cure

When Elisha put the meal or flour in the pot the stew it was supernaturally fixed so there was no death in the pot! How can we as Christians get the death out of the pot?

Ps 119:11

Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

KJV

Ps 119:16-17

I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word . Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word .

KJV

Ps 119:105

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

KJV

By adding God’s Word to our lives, living it and following its teachings day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute we can get the death out and keep it out by keeping and following the Bible

But this only works for the Christian who has had his sins forgiven and is saved by grace, otherwise we are trying to work our way into Heaven, and we cannot do that as the Bible says:

Eph 2:8-10

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

NKJV

We are saved by grace alone by faith alone, works comes afterwards.

[iv] Clarke, Adam: Adam Clarkes’s Commentary on The Bible, 2 Kings 4:41, electronic database, E-sword.

The Law of Love

brtom — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 21:58:09 +0000

Introduction: Law & Grace

Matt 5:17-20

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 19 Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.

NKJV

Are we under law or grace? It is the grace of God that saves and keeps us (Ephesians 2:8-9) but does that give us license to sin? God forbid or certainly not!
Just as Jesus came to fulfill the law, the Christians main focus in living needs to follow the laws of God not to be saved but in obedience to the command of Jesus (If you love me, keep my commandments-John 14:15).

LOVE & THE lAW

Mark 12:28-31

Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?” 29 Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one. 30 And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. 31 And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.

NKJV

What is Love?

God is love. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. -1 John 4:8-10
Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. -1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Co 13:4 Charity suffereth long,…. The apostle, in this and some following verses, enumerates the several properties and characters of the grace of love; and all along represents it as if it was a person, and no doubt designs one who is possessed of it, and in whose heart it is implanted and reigns; such an one is said to “suffer long”, or be “patient”, as the Vulgate Latin and Ethiopic versions read; not only under afflictions by the hand of God, which such an one considers as arising from love; but under the reproaches and persecutions of men, for the sake of Christ and his Gospel, and in imitation of him; such a person is slow to anger when abused, not quick of resentment, nor hasty to revenge when affronted; but exercises forbearance, suffers long, and bears much, and is ready to forgive:

and is kind; liberal, and bountiful, does good to all men, even to enemies, and especially to the household of faith; he is gentle to all men, affable and courteous to his brethren, and not morose, churlish, and ill natured; he is easy and yielding to the tempers and humours of men; accommodates himself to their infirmities, capacities, manners, and circumstances, in everything he can, that is not contrary to the glory of God, the interest of Christ, the honour of religion, his own con science, and the good of men;

charity envieth not; or he that has the grace of love to God, Christ, and the saints, does not envy the temporal happiness of others, though it is what he has not, or is greater than he enjoys; as Rachel envied her sister, because she had children when she herself had none; as Joseph’s brethren envied him because he had a greater share in his father’s affections than they had; or as good men may be tempted to envy the prosperity of the wicked, when they themselves are in adversity; but this grace, when in exercise, will not suffer a person to do: nor will such an one envy the superior measures of grace, the more excellent spiritual gifts, or the greater degree of usefulness, and of success in any spiritual undertaking, and so of greater honour and respect, in any of the saints and servants of Christ to themselves, of which Moses and John the Baptist are remarkable instances, Num_11:28,

It amazes me how many Christians have not moved beyond the childish is this matter. not childlike with its perceived innocence and love but childish in its actions that it not only resents what the other has and brings a jealousy out in them to the point they instead of “rejoicing with those who rejoice” they try to take away from others what they have with the thought “it’s not fair!” with the same thought as two siblings who are arguing over who got the bigger slice of cake or scoop of ice cream.

charity vaunteth not itself, is not ostentatious, a proud boaster; either of what he has, the things of nature, as wisdom, riches, honour, strength, &c. or spiritual gifts; or of what he does, since what such an one does, he does from a principle of love, and with a view to the glory of God, and not to be seen of men, or to gain their esteem and applause: or is not rash, and precipitant; does not run headlong into measures, to promote his own honour and interest, without considering what will be the consequence of things; nor is he rash with his mouth, or hasty with his lips, to utter anything unbecoming before God or men. The Arabic version renders it, “does not speak deceitfully”; or hypocritically, for nothing is more contrary to true genuine love than this; the Syriac version renders it, “is not tumultuous”; noisy and seditious: such an one is not troublesome in a commonwealth, nor does he go into parties and factions in churches, but is all the reverse:

is not puffed up swelled with pride, and elated with a vain conceit of himself, of his parts and abilities, of his learning, eloquence, wisdom, and knowledge, as the false teachers in this church were; knowledge without grace, unsanctified knowledge, mere notional speculative knowledge, puffeth up; but charity, or the grace of love, does not; that edifies and preserves persons from being puffed up with themselves, or one against another.

1Co 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly,…. By using either unbecoming words, or doing indecent actions; for a man unprincipled with this grace will be careful that no filthy and corrupt communication proceed out of his mouth, which may offend pious ears; and that he uses no ridiculous and ludicrous gestures, which may expose himself and grieve the saints; accordingly the Syriac version renders it, “neither does it commit that which is shameful”: such an one will not do a little mean despicable action, in reproaching one, or flattering another, in order to gain a point, to procure some worldly advantage, or an interest in the friendship and affection of another. Some understand it in this sense, that one endued with this grace thinks nothing unseemly and unbecoming him, however mean it may appear, in which he can be serviceable to men, and promote the honour of religion and interest of Christ; though it be by making coats and garments for the poor, as Dorcas did; or by washing the feet of the saints, in imitation of his Lord and master: or “is not ambitious”, as the Vulgate Latin version reads; of honour and applause, and of being in the highest form, but is lowly, meek and humble:

seeketh not her own things: even those which are “lawful”, as the Arabic version renders it; but seeks the things of God, and what will make most for his honour and glory; and the things of Christ, and what relate to the spread of his Gospel, and the enlargement of his kingdom; and also the things of other men, the temporal and spiritual welfare of the saints: such look not only on their own things, and are concerned for them, but also upon the things of others, which they likewise care for:

is not easily provoked: to wrath, but gives place to it: such an one is provoked at sin, at immorality and idolatry, as Paul’s spirit was stirred up or provoked, when he saw the superstition of the city of Athens; and is easily provoked to love and good works, which are entirely agreeable to the nature of charity:

thinketh no evil; not but that evil thoughts are in such a man’s heart, for none are without them; though they are hateful, abominable, and grieving to such as are partakers of the grace of God, who long to be delivered from them: but the meaning is, either that one possessed of this grace of love does not think of the evil that is done him by another; he forgives, as God has forgiven him, so as to forget the injury done him, and remembers it no more; and so the Arabic version reads it, “and remembers not evil”; having once forgiven it, he thinks of it no more; or he does not meditate revenge, or devise mischief, and contrive evil against man that has done evil to him, as Esau did against his brother Jacob; so the Ethiopic version, by way of explanation, adds, “neither thinks evil, nor consults evil”; or as the word here used will bear to be rendered, “does not impute evil”; reckon or place it to the account of him that has committed it against him, but freely and fully forgives, as God, when he forgives sin, is said not to impute it; or such an one is not suspicious of evil in others, he does not indulge evil surmises, and groundless jealousies; which to do is very contrary to this grace of love.

1Co 13:6

Rejoiceth not in iniquity – Ου χαιρει επι τῃ αδικιᾳ· Rejoiceth not in falsehood, but on the contrary, rejoiceth in the truth: this meaning αδικια has in different parts of the Scriptures. At first view, this character of love seems to say but little in its favor; for who can rejoice in unrighteousness or falsity? But is it not a frequent case that persons, who have received any kind of injury, and have forborne to avenge themselves, but perhaps have left it to God; when evil falls upon the sinner do console themselves with what appears to them an evidence that God has avenged their quarrels; and do at least secretly rejoice that the man is suffering for his misdeeds? Is not this, in some sort, rejoicing in iniquity? Again: is it not common for interested persons to rejoice in the successes of an unjust and sanguinary war, in the sackage and burning of cities and towns; and is not the joy always in proportion to the slaughter that has been made of the enemy? And do these call themselves Christians? Then we may expect that Moloch and his sub-devils are not so far behind this description of Christians as to render their case utterly desperate. If such Christians can be saved, demons need not despair!

But rejoiceth in the truth – Αληθεια· Every thing that is opposite to falsehood and irreligion. Those who are filled with the love of God and man rejoice in the propagation and extension of Divine truth – in the spread of true religion, by which alone peace and good will can be diffused throughout the earth. And because they rejoice in the truth, therefore they do not persecute nor hinder true religion, but help it forward with all their might and power.

Love: agape NT:26 agape (ag-ah’-pay); from NT:25; love, i.e. affection or benevolence; specially (plural) a love-feast: KJV – (feast of) charity ([-ably]), dear, love.[i]
God’s Love (same word) was shown by sending His Son to die for us so we could be saved!
We show our love to God by following His commandments. John 14:1 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”

Showing Love Towards God

Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, soul, mind, strength. How do we do this?

Ex 20:1-11

And God spoke all these words, saying:

2 “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.

4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image — any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; 5 you shall not bow down to them nor serve them. For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children to the third and fourth generations of those who hate Me, 6 but showing mercy to thousands, to those who love Me and keep My commandments.

7 “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain.

8 “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the LORD your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. 11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.

NKJV

God is a jealous God. He does not desire us to have anything in our lives more important than Him. Whatever that is becomes an idol. The bed, the TV, the job, the family, churchianity (that is religious service), anything.
Don’t take the name of God in vain. That is not jus cussin but saying you’re a Christian and not acting like it.
Take time to be with God, set aside time to be with Him, get to know Him.

SHOWING GOD’S lOVE TOWARDS EACH OTHER

…and love your neighbor as yourself

Ex 20:12-17

12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you.

13 “You shall not murder.

14 “You shall not commit adultery.

15 “You shall not steal.

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor’s.”

NKJV

In the law of love we show our love towards others by how we act towards them. If you love someone you will not lie to them or about them, steal from them, and commit adultery with them or against them. The root comes down to the last commandment: covetousness.

When we desire something that someone else has it can cause us to all kind of strange things. I read that people were given a choice between getting money for free or having to pay money in taxes but a “rich person” would have to pay the same amount in tax (I think the number was $50, but I’m not sure) most people chose to pay the tax! They were so covetous about the other person’s wealth that they chose to pay rather than get so that someone else would have to pay! Are we acting any better towards our brother Christians by our actions? I cannot answer that for you, but based on what I have seen, we all need to work on this.

Wrap Up

We need to work on this by making sure we are saved and have a relationship with God. We need to make sure all our actions are motivated by love and building up others and not exulting ourselves by tearing one another down.

The Shepherd

brtom — Thu, 28 May 2009 00:48:39 +0000

Jesus the Good Shepherd

John 10:11-18

11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep. 12 But a hireling, he who is not the shepherd, one who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees; and the wolf catches the sheep and scatters them. 13 The hireling flees because he is a hireling and does not care about the sheep. 14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. 15 As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. 16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. 17 “Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. 18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.”

NKJV

Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd,…. A shepherd of his Father’s appointing, calling, and sending, to whom the care of all his sheep, or chosen ones, was committed; who was set up as a shepherd over them by him, and was entrusted with them; and who being called, undertook to feed them; and being promised, was sent unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel; and under the character of a shepherd, died for them, and rose again, and is accountable to his Father for everyone of them; the shepherd, the great and chief shepherd, the famous one, so often spoken and prophesied of, Gen_49:24. And discharging his office aright, he is the good shepherd; as appears in his providing good pasture, and a good fold for his sheep; in protecting them from their enemies; in healing all their diseases; in restoring their souls when strayed from him; in watching over them in the night seasons, lest any hurt them; in searching for them, when they have been driven, or scattered in the dark and cloudy day; in caring for them, so that he lose none of them; and in nothing more than in what follows,

the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep: not only exposes it to danger, as David did his, for the sake of his father’s flock, but gives it away freely and voluntarily, for the sake of the sheep; in their room and stead, as a ransom for them, that they may be delivered from death, and might have eternal life: the Ethiopic version renders it, “the good shepherd gives his life for the redemption of his sheep”; so Nonnus paraphrases it, the “ransom price of his own sheep”: this belongs to Christ’s priestly office, and with the Jews priests were sometimes shepherds hence we read (q) of רועים כהנים, “shepherds that were priests”. Philo the Jew speaks (r) of God as a shepherd and king; and of his setting his word, his firstborn Son, over the holy flock, to take care of it: and a good shepherd is thus described by the (s) Jews;

“as רועה טוב, “a good shepherd”, delivers the flock from the wolf, and from the lions, (see Joh_10:12) so he that leads Israel, if he is good, delivers them from the idolatrous nations, and from judgment below and above, and leads them to the life of the world to come, or eternal life; (see Joh_10:10).”

Which description agrees with Christ, the good shepherd; and so the Lord is said to be רועה טוב, “the good shepherd”, and merciful, and there is none like him (t).

(q) Misn. Becorot, c. 5. sect. 4. (r) De Agricultura, p. 195. & de nom. mutat. p. 1062. (s) Zohar in Exod. fol. 9. 3. (t) Aben Ezra in Psal. xxiii. 3. & Kimchi in Psal. xxiii. 2.

A hireling – A man employed to take care of the sheep, to whom wages is paid. As he does not own the sheep, and guards them merely for pay, rather than risk his life he would leave the flock to the ravages of wild beasts. The word translated “hireling” is often employed in a good sense; but here it denotes one who is unfaithful to his trust; and especially those ministers who preach only for support, and who are unwilling to encounter any danger or to practice any self-denial for the welfare of the church of God. They are those who have no boldness in the cause of their Master, but who, rather than lose their reputation or place, would see the church corrupted and wasted by its spiritual foes.

Know my sheep – Know my people, or my church. The word “know” here is used in the sense of affectionate regard or love. It implies such a knowledge of their wants, their dangers, and their characters, as to result in a deep interest in their welfare. Thus the word “knoweth,” in Joh_10:15, is in Joh_10:17 explained by the word “loveth.” Jesus knows the hearts, the dangers, and the wants of his people, and his kindness as their shepherd prompts him to defend and aid them.

Am known of mine – That is, he is known and loved as their Saviour and Friend. They have seen their sins, and dangers: and wants; they have felt their need of a Saviour; they have come to him, and they have found him and his doctrines to be such as they need, and they have loved him. And as a flock follows and obeys its kind shepherd, so they follow and obey him who leads them beside the still waters, and makes them to lie down in green pastures.

Not of this fold – Not Jews. This is a distinct intimation that the gospel was to be preached to the Gentiles a doctrine extremely offensive to the Jews. This prediction of the Saviour has been strikingly confirmed in the conversion of millions of the Gentiles to the gospel.

Them also I must bring – Bring into the church and kingdom of heaven. This was to be done, not by his personal ministry, but by the labor of his apostles and other ministers.

One fold – One church; there shall be no distinction, no special national privileges. The partition between the Jews and the Gentiles shall be broken down, and there shall be no pre-eminence of rank or honor, Eph_2:14; “Christ hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;” Rom_10:12; “There is no difference between the Jew and the Greek.”

One shepherd – That is, the Lord Jesus – the common Saviour, deliverer, and friend of all true believers, in whatever land they were born and whatever tongue they may speak. This shows that Christians of all denominations and countries should feel that they are one redeemed by the same blood, and going to the same eternal home. Compare 1Co_12:13; Gal_3:28; Col_3:11; Act_17:26.

Summary

As we take time to think on these things about the Lord Jesus, the True Shepherd, the Door, The Good Shepherd. His love in caring for us, protecting us, dying for us leads me to two thoughts :

Is He you Shepherd? If not, why not? I would love to tell you about my Jesus, my Saviour if you have not partaken of His Gift of eternal life, why not do that today?
If He is your Shepherd, are you following like a good sheep? Sheep are defenseless away from the Shepherd and need to be close to Him to be safe. As Jesus said: why call me Lord, Lord and do not the things that I say? (Luke 6:46)

What The Bible Says on Abortion

brtom — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 12:11:21 +0000

Introduction

On January 22, 1973 the Supreme Court of the United States of America decided that an entire portion of the US population were relegated to a status of non-citizen and deprived of their right to life. That is those who have been conceived but not yet born.

The Supreme Court

This was their thought process in a nutshell: most laws against abortion in the United States violated a constitutional right to privacy under the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. They tossed about terms like “viability of the fetus” (generally 24^th to 28^th week unless “the health of the mother was in jeopardy” (which has been broadly defined to include her “mental health”).

The majority opinion of the Roe Court, written by Justice Harry Blackmun, declined to adopt the district court’s Ninth Amendment rationale, and instead asserted that the “right of privacy, whether it be founded in the Fourteenth Amendment’s concept of personal liberty and restrictions upon state action, as we feel it is, or, as the District Court determined, in the Ninth Amendment’s reservation of rights to the people, is broad enough to encompass a woman’s decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy.” Douglas, in his concurring opinion from the companion case Doe v. Bolton, stated more emphatically that, “The Ninth Amendment obviously does not create federally enforceable rights.” Thus, the Roe majority rested its opinion squarely on the Constitution’s due process clause.[i] (even though it doesn’t say anything like it but I guess they try to make it say what they want.)

Bryon White (one of the two dissenting justice) in his opinion:

I find nothing in the language or history of the Constitution to support the Court’s judgment. The Court simply fashions and announces a new constitutional right for pregnant mothers and, with scarcely any reason or authority for its action, invests that right with sufficient substance to override most existing state abortion statutes. The upshot is that the people and the legislatures of the 50 States are constitutionally disentitled to weigh the relative importance of the continued existence and development of the fetus, on the one hand, against a spectrum of possible impacts on the mother, on the other hand. As an exercise of raw judicial power, the Court perhaps has authority to do what it does today; but, in my view, its judgment is an improvident and extravagant exercise of the power of judicial review that the Constitution extends to this Court.[ii]

Nevertheless murder became the law of the land on that infamous day.

The Biblical perspective

The question first is: when does life start? Let’s look at a few Bible verses to get an idea:

For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. (Psa 139:13-16)

Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child. But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD. (Jer 1:4-8)

And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived. And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger. And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. (Gen 25:21-24)

We notice a few interesting facts we learn from these verses, first and foremost is that God does recognize life before birth, while they are in the womb. But the baby is in the womb a long time, when does life begin? Look at the first entry: Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them. God saw the baby when it was not perfected, while his members were not yet formed.

Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect,…. The word (q) for “substance” signifies a bottom of yarn wound up, or any rude or unformed lump; and designs that conglomerated mass of matter separated in the womb, containing all the essentials of the human frame, but not yet distinguished or reduced into any form or order; yet, even when in this state, the eyes of the Lord see it and all its parts distinctly; [iii]

So from the above verse I can interpret even a zygote (\ˈzī-ˌgōt\ Function: noun Etymology: Greek zygōtos yoked, from zygoun to join Date: circa 1887 : a cell formed by the union of two gametes ; broadly : the developing individual produced from such a cell.[iv]) the union of the sperm and the egg starts life. We also see that God not only sees the life, but what that life is going to accomplish from the womb as in Jeremiah. Going beyond that we see during Rebekah’s pregnancy that God also sees all descendants of those people born from those in the womb!

God and those who perform abortions

If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely punished, according as the woman’s husband will lay upon him; and he shall pay as the judges determine. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. (Exodus 21:22-25)

Fruit: H3206 yeled yeh’-led From H3205; something born, that is, a lad or offspring: – boy, child, fruit, son, young man (one).[v]

The punishment for committing an abortion is the same (doing anything to a woman causing the unborn child to die) is the same as a murder for a person: death.

Closing

In God’s eyes he sees the unborn in the same light as those born: as human beings. We as a society will be held accountable for the atrocities committed on our watch. We average 1.2 million per year and over 48 million since Roe v. Wade.[vi] It is scary, that is eight times the atrocities of Hitler to put it in perspective.

The thought boggles my mind, and we as believers cannot sit quietly while this continues. What can we do? Think about it: If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. (2Chronicles 7:14)

1. Christians must pray. We have not because we ask not
2. We must be humble, realizing it will take an act of God to save America
3. Seek God’s face
4. Turn from our wicked ways: first ours then confess the sins of our nation as Daniel did.
5. Take action. I am not taking about attacking anybody, but the abortion business is a business. If we reach out to those seeking abortions, show them the atrocities included in abortion (The Tract League, at http://tractleague.com/ have many good tracts on the topic), love them in the name of Jesus. As more people stop having abortions, the clinics will close for lack of business.

Just a few thoughts to get us started. Just remember this is still murder and murder most foul, killing the most innocent that cannot defend themselves, and we have to be their voice.

[i] Wikipedia, Roe v. Wade http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_v._Wade

[ii] Wikipedia, Roe v. Wade http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roe_v._Wade

[iii] E-sword, John Gills Exposition of the Entire Bible, Psalm 139:16

[iv] zygote. (2009). In Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary.

Retrieved April 14, 2009, from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zygote

[v] E-sword, Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries.

[vi] From http://www.all.org/article.php?id=10123, this is as of 2005!

What is a Christian?

brtom — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 22:15:29 +0000

Prince, Priest, & Prophets

Prince: our position

Nobody can buy their way into being a prince. No amount of work can get you here, even the most loyal of servants to a monarch may be knighted, or made a duke and given land but they would never be made a prince. A prince is born of a king.

Rom 8:14-17 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out,”Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

Adoption G5206 uihothesia hwee-oth-es-ee’-ah From a presumed compound of G5207 and a derivative of G5087; the placing as a son, that is, adoption (figuratively Christian sonship in respect to God): – adoption (of children, of sons). Spirit of adoption (πνεῦμα υἱοθεσίας) The Spirit of God, producing the condition of adoption. Ὑιοθεσία adoption, is from υἱός son, and θέσις a setting or placing: the placing one in the position of a son. Mr. Merivale, illustrating Paul’s acquaintance with Roman law, says: “The process of legal adoption by which the chosen heir became entitled not only to the reversion of the property but to the civil status, to the burdens as well as the rights of the adopter – became, as it were, his other self, one with him… this too is a Roman principle, peculiar at this time to the Romans, unknown, I believe, to the Greeks, unknown, to all appearance, to the Jews, as it certainly is not found in the legislation of Moses, nor mentioned anywhere as a usage among the children of the covenant. We have but a faint conception of the force with which such an illustration would speak to one familiar with the Roman practice; how it would serve to impress upon him the assurance that the adopted son of God becomes, in a peculiar and intimate sense, one with the heavenly Father” (“Conversion of the Roman Empire”).
So by the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit we receive adoption to the Family Of God. And in contrary to what we may think of as being a “second class son” but have the full rights of a Son in that we are heirs and joint heirs with Jesus with all the rights and responsibilities of Sonship (more on those later).
We can go to God and cry Abba, Father. We have that relationship now. Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
I can go to my Father and say “hey Dad, can I have $5 to go out with my friends?” He may say yeas or no but if my friends asked him the same question, he would probably say something like “get a job.” Why the difference? I have a relationship with my Dad.
My relationship with God allows me access to heaven when I die.
My relationship with God gives me the indwelling Comforter, the Holy Spirit, within me. Teaching me, guiding me, helping me pray and grow. Rom 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

Priest: Our reasonability towards God

1 Peter 2:4-6 Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

A holy priesthood offering spiritual sacrifices. A priest makes sacrifices to God, but God is no longer interested in animal sacrifices, or blood sacrifices (His Son satisfied that requirement, but there are still sacrifices to be made.
To offer up spiritual sacrifices – Not bloody offerings, the blood of lambs and bullocks, but those which are the offerings of the heart – the sacrifices of prayer and praise. Since there is a priest, there is also involved the notion of a sacrifice; but that which is offered is such as all Christians offer to God, proceeding from the heart, and breathed forth from the lips, and in a holy life. It is called sacrifice, not because it makes an covering or atonement for sin, but because it is of the nature of worship.
Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ – Through the merits of the great sacrifice made by the Redeemer on the cross. Our prayers and praises are in themselves so imperfect, and proceed from such polluted lips and hearts, that they can be acceptable only through him as our intercessor before the throne of God.

1 Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.

A royal priesthood to proclaim the praises of God. If you are struggling in your prayer time and seem to run out of things to say, it comes down to a 5-10 minute laundry list of things you want in “Jesus’ name” try adding two things to your prayer time: a time of thanksgiving for how God has already blessed you and a time of praise for all He is and all His promises. Think sacrifice of praise (Jer 33:11; Heb 13:15) Heb 13:15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. –Romans 12:1
Our desire to serve God should penetrate every fiber of our being and every aspect of our lives. Our flesh crucified daily to live for Christ.

Prophets: Our ministry to men

Heb 13:16 But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.

Our Sacrifices towards men

Share the Gospel: (Spiritual needs) Mark 16:15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. Teach them and help them grow (Matthew 28:19-20) · Help the man (Physical Needs) Matt 25:34-40 34 Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: 35 for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; 36 I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ 37 “Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? 39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ 40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’
God can work through agencies like the COL but we need to realize that the point of contact, where the “rubber meets the road” is one on one, man to man. We need to be our brother’s keeper and caretaker reaching out to give a helping hand to those in need, not those in greed. I lived in Arlington and there was a lady in our apartment complex that needed money to see her baby in the hospital so I gave her some gas money, later some money for food and it was not long before she was at my apartment every night. I had to stop as my Pastor at the time said “it is no longer a matter of need but greed.”

Wrap-up/Application

To truly be a Christian we need to apply all three offices to our lives. If we are not princes, then we are fooling ourselves: Unsaved and destined for hell. We need to take up the priestly garb and the prophets mantel and serve God and man, both are expected, both are necessary to truly live up to the name of Christian, that is “little Christ”.

Pure or Apparent?

brtom — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 01:38:16 +0000

If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain. (Jas 1:26)

· Religious: G2357 θρῆσκος thrēskos thrace’-kos Probably from the base of G2360; ceremonious in worship (as demonstrative), that is, pious: – religious.

· Bridleth: G5468 χαλιναγωγέω chalinagōgeō khal-in-ag-ogue-eh’-o From a compound of G5469 and the reduplicated form of G71; to be a bit leader, that is, to curb (figuratively): – bridle.

· Vain=without profit, empty.

Controlling the tongue? The tongue just brings out what is in the heart, so to control the tongue we need to control heart and emotions. (Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.

(Mat 15:11).

· Frustration, outburst of anger, swearing (gosh and jeeze included) can result and tarnish God’s name and our testimony

· gosh Pronunciation: \ˈgäsh, ˈgȯsh\ Function: interjection Etymology: euphemism for God Date: 1757 —used as a mild oath or to express surprise [i]

· Not controlling the tongue can lead to other things like taking God’s name in vain.

· Things may seem innocent but are not. I remember a sweet little girl named Kelly, she was about five years old and she was arguing with her mother. She kept telling Kelly to stop but she kept saying it was OK. Then she said well, I’m going to ask Brother Tom. She came into the dining hall in the church and had her ring finger extended. She said “it’s OK to do this, isn’t it? This finger does not mean anything.” I asked her: Kelly, does God know everything? (nod yes) So does God know what you mean when you do that? (you could see the light bulb go on) Do you need me to tell you it is wrong? (head shake no). It is wonderful how teachable children are and if I tell an adult about gosh they will go off on me like a firecracker how it is OK to say it no matter what I say, like they are fooling God or anyone else.

We need to have the mind and attitude of Christ:

Php 2:5-8 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

1Pe 2:21-24 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: (22) Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: (23) Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: (24) Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

· The mind of Christ is humble

· The mind of Christ is obedient

· The example of Christ is without sin

· The example of Christ is without guile (no craftiness or deceit) He was not trying to angle or get one over on you.

· When they tried to vilify Him, He did not respond in kind..

· When He suffered, He did not threaten. (how not like us!) but He committed Himself to The Righteous Judge.

Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world. (Jas 1:27)

· Clean & unsoiled or unspotted religion before God is this… it takes action

· Mat 25:34-40 Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: (35) For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: (36) Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me. (37) Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? (38) When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? (39) Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? (40) And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

· Keep unspotted from “world system”

· And to keep himself unspotted from the world – That is, religion will keep us from the maxims, vices, and corruptions which prevail in the world, and make us holy. These two things may, in fact, be said to constitute religion. If a man is truly benevolent, he bears the image of that God who is the fountain of benevolence; if he is pure and uncontaminated in his walk and deportment, he also resembles his Maker, for he is holy. If he has not these things, he cannot have any well-founded evidence that he is a Christian; for it is always the nature and tendency of religion to produce these things. It is, therefore, an easy matter for a man to determine whether he has any religion; and equally easy to see that religion is eminently desirable. Who can doubt that that is good which leads to compassion for the poor and the helpless, and which makes the heart and the life pure?

We can choose apparent religion, religiosity, or pure religion. Pure religion will speak the right things at the right time for the right reason. As we will see when we get to chapter 3 it is easier said than done but we can by the strength and grace of God. We also need to do the right things for the right reasons. It can be a challenge but it starts with a choice.

[i] “gosh.” Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009. Merriam-Webster Online. 28 March 2009

The Real Story of King James

brtom — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 01:34:39 +0000

I just finished listening to an excellent message dispelling many of the myths about the monarch who commissioned the AV or King James Bible. I just wanted to share the link here with you all. It is hosted on Sermon Audio and is free to download.

http://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=126091659547

Hearing God’s Voice

brtom — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 16:53:24 +0000

What do we mean by the “voice of God?”

Does God speak by an audiable voice? Yes He has, in times past He has spoken to many prophets but only twice (in the Old Testanent) is it said He spoke audiablly:

To Moses: Exo 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
To Elijah: He heard the still, small voice on the moutiantop (1 Kings 19:4-18)

And in the New Testiment:

The Apostles & Disciples who heard the voice in Jesus (and very few of them stayed faithful. out of 70, 12 remained, one of them betrayed Him) so actualy hearing God is not the final measure of faithfulness.
Those at the Baptism of Jesus, who heard God say, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”
Those at the transfiguration: “This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased, hear ye Him…and they were sore afraid” (Matthew 17:5-6) and afterwards Peter still denied Him, so hearing God’s audiable voice is no guartntee of not failing.
Paul on the road to Damacus.

I am afraid that many Christians, myself included, speak rather carelessly, when saying that “God spoke to me” and saying it like Jesus was at my side speaking in an audiable voice in my ear. This is not how God usually speaks. How then does God speak? I’m glad you asked!

To hear God’s voice you must be in God’s Will.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (Col 3:16)

Being in God’s Will is at the center of being able to hear His voice. He makes His will plain in His Word. We need to follow what we know is God’s will before He speaks in other ways. So the first way He speakes is by and through His Word. We need to let God’s Word dwell in us richly in all wisdom.

God Speaks by His Peace

And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. (Col 3:15)

Peace-G1515 eirēnē i-rah’-nay Probably from a primary verb εἴρω eirō (to join); peace (literally or figuratively); by implication prosperity: – one, peace, quietness, rest, + set at one again.
Rule-G1018 βραβεύω brabeuō brab-yoo’-o From the same as G1017; to arbitrate, that is, (generally) to govern (figuratively prevail): – rule.

We need to let peace rule like an umpire in our souls.

God Speaks by His Fire

Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay. (Jer 20:9)

The strong desire to do something for God, the fire in the bones, is a way of God speaking, When God called me to teach, He used the Bible, When Peter was talking with Jesus and asked Peter “lovest thou me?…feed my lambs, my sheep, my sheep” He spoke to me and I spoke with my Pastor and he put me in as a helper in a Sunday School class. But when he called me to preach (at the 1995 Sword of the Lord Meetings in Walkertown NC, Tom Malone was preaching on the rich man and Lazarus and he spoke of the rich man burning, our loved one’s burning, our friends burning and he asked me what are you going to do about it? I said anything, Jesus, just anything. God gave me the fire that night and it has not left me from them on.

The Word of God, The Peace of God, The Fire of God. Follow them and you can here God as well, it may not be audiable, but real none the less. But the starting point is salvation. You need to be one of His. So if you are not saved tonight, why not? Let me tell you about my Jesus. He loved you and died for you and He will save you tonight if you believe on Him and call on His name.

If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in thine heart God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. Why not trust Him now?