LORD, come down and rescue me. Where there is doubt, build trust. Where there are insecurities, be the foundation of everything I believe in.
During different parts of my life, different verses really speak to my situation. Sometimes I just read a Psalm and go, "That's exactly how I feel!"
A while ago, I repeatedly recited 1 Peter 4:1 to myself. Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, army yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
The verse was a strong reminder to keep my eyes on Christ throughout all suffering. He went through much more pain than I, and his attitude was, well, God-like! Despite the hatred against him, Jesus Christ never faltered or failed. He was good.
But my verse changed from 1 Peter 4:1, and soon I began digging into Psalm 55. I felt like David did, pleading "Listen to my prayer, O God, do not ignore my plea; hear me and answer me. My thoughts trouble me and I am distraught." (Psalm 55:1-2.)
So much worry, lies, minor depression weighed me down. So much confusion kept me from looking to God to cure my anxieties. I longed, like David, to "fly away and be at rest" (from vs 6) But I couldn't run away from my own thoughts, which plagued me until I couldn't sleep, eat, enjoy life.
Yet, if God has taught me anything in these past three years, it is that He will not forsake me. In Joshua 1:9 (one of my favorites) God says to Joshua, Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
In our discouragement, we forget this promise. When we are depressed, we cannot feel God beside us and for that reason, we begin to believe that He's abandoned us. When these lies penetrated me, I was discouraged further--because if God had left, there would be no end to this trial!
But later in that same Psalm, the fifty-fifth, David in his anxiety and troubles says this: Cast your cares on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall. (Vs 22)
He is there, even when you feel like you're shattering. You're losing it. You feel hopeless, because there's nothing left to do.
Yet, can I say something very important for you to hear? God is faithful. What you are doesn't really matter, in sight of all that He is.
When I am afraid,
I will trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I will not be afraid.
What can mortal man do to me?
-Psalm 56:3-4
Monday, October 28, 2013
Sunday, September 8, 2013
Before the Throne of God Above
Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea.
A great high Priest whose Name is Love
Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on His hands,
My name is written on His heart.
I know that while in Heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair
And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look and see Him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because the sinless Savior died
My sinful soul is counted free.
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me.
Behold Him there the risen Lamb,
My perfect spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace,
One in Himself I cannot die.
My soul is purchased by His blood,
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ my Savior and my God!
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Isaiah 57:15,18-19
For this is what the high and lofty One says--
He who lives forever, whose name is holy:
"I live in a high and lofty place,
but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will guide him and restore comfort to him,
creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel.
Peace, peace to those far and near,"
says the LORD. "And I will heal them."
He who lives forever, whose name is holy:
"I live in a high and lofty place,
but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit,
to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.
I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;
I will guide him and restore comfort to him,
creating praise on the lips of the mourners in Israel.
Peace, peace to those far and near,"
says the LORD. "And I will heal them."
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
In Our Midst
Near the beginning of this Bible Study, we, as most of you know, did a study in the book of Ephesians.
When we were starting our study there I had many questions for the Lord.
"Why did You have us start this Bible Study?"
"What do You want to do through this?"
"Why are we reading in Ephesians?"
And as God often does, He spoke through His Word and gave me a verse as an answer.
This answer came through Ephesians 2:22
"In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."
From the very beginning it was God's goal that we be a people and a group where God's presence could dwell.
This came about through our submission.
There was much struggle as there will continue to be.
But, this is the Invitation, Promise, and Challenge that the Lord issued to us.
And, I believe that God is bringing that to fruition in our lives.
An interesting thing that happened recently:
A few weeks ago we had a Bible Study in Pioneer park. While we we worshipping the Lord, praying, and being in fellowship together, about three people came over by where we sitting in the park. One lady said several time, "You guys just have a nice vibe." Also, a good number of dogs ventured over into our group of people. And it seems that people were just generally attracted to where we were.
And, I believe that this is due to the Spirit of God dwelling with us.
Because, though my friends are awesome people, it wasn't us who were attracting people.
It was the Spirit the Lord dwelling in our midst.
God is fashioning us into a people who walk with the Lord where ever we go.
In our homes, with our friends, at any and every place we go.
But now there comes in a new part.
We need to go out.
God didn't bring us together so that we can just talk to each other about Him.
We are called in the Great Commission to go out into all the world!
This is going to be a huge year of change for all of us.
I believe that the Lord has some very crazy things He wants to teach us.
But, in all of it, He is calling us to go forth and declare the glories of Him to everyone.
He is Emmanuel, God with us.
And He will be our strength through it all.
As we keep our eyes on Christ, He will use us to change the world.
Glory to God!
When we were starting our study there I had many questions for the Lord.
"Why did You have us start this Bible Study?"
"What do You want to do through this?"
"Why are we reading in Ephesians?"
And as God often does, He spoke through His Word and gave me a verse as an answer.
This answer came through Ephesians 2:22
"In Him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."
From the very beginning it was God's goal that we be a people and a group where God's presence could dwell.
This came about through our submission.
There was much struggle as there will continue to be.
But, this is the Invitation, Promise, and Challenge that the Lord issued to us.
And, I believe that God is bringing that to fruition in our lives.
An interesting thing that happened recently:
A few weeks ago we had a Bible Study in Pioneer park. While we we worshipping the Lord, praying, and being in fellowship together, about three people came over by where we sitting in the park. One lady said several time, "You guys just have a nice vibe." Also, a good number of dogs ventured over into our group of people. And it seems that people were just generally attracted to where we were.
And, I believe that this is due to the Spirit of God dwelling with us.
Because, though my friends are awesome people, it wasn't us who were attracting people.
It was the Spirit the Lord dwelling in our midst.
God is fashioning us into a people who walk with the Lord where ever we go.
In our homes, with our friends, at any and every place we go.
But now there comes in a new part.
We need to go out.
God didn't bring us together so that we can just talk to each other about Him.
We are called in the Great Commission to go out into all the world!
This is going to be a huge year of change for all of us.
I believe that the Lord has some very crazy things He wants to teach us.
But, in all of it, He is calling us to go forth and declare the glories of Him to everyone.
He is Emmanuel, God with us.
And He will be our strength through it all.
As we keep our eyes on Christ, He will use us to change the world.
Glory to God!
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Do not be afraid
Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
-Revelation 2:10.
Suffering?
Me too.
Jesus?
Yeah, he suffered too.
The whole world suffers, and it stinks. But we've got an advantage named Christ. Some people have their escapes, their drugs, their comforts from the pain. But guys, lets head to the professional. In Revelation, the Church in Smyrna is warned about the persecution to come. They are even given a convenient time amount...ten days. (Ten days, though...ten days is a LONG time when you're suffering.)
But you know, reading this right now, I'm quite encouraged. Because yeah, I may be suffering, and I have not a clue when it will end. Ten days? I dunno. But the promise still stands. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
And in Revelation 2:25, Jesus says to the Church in Thyatira, "Only hold on to what you have until I come." What is it that they held on to?
Jesus.
Here's something cool....I rediscovered this excerpt from a blogpost Jadon posted, like last year. In it he says, "In my personal life right now I'm facing the impossible. Last time this happened I ran away in terror. But not this time. This time I'm looking the impossible right in the eyes and saying, "Come at me bro!" =) The difference in me between then and know is where my strength is found. Last time I relied in myself for strength, and that didn't go over so well. This time though, my strength is in Jesus and He is my strength...So when the impossible comes, don't focus on the physical but the spiritual. Focus on Christ."
(http://worshipoftheheart.blogspot.com/2012/01/impossible.html)
It's the same idea. When facing the impossible, when Satan attacks you, when you're just straight up in pain--Focus on Christ. Do not let your physical circumstances scare you away. Why should you, when you have Christ to hold on to?
When Christ is holding on to you?
God, holding you in His arms. Father, comforting child.
And that is why Christ could direct his Church not to fear. "Do not be afraid," He says. So that we can say, "come at me bro!" knowing that in everything, God will walk with us. Through the valley of the shadow of death itself. You can walk into suffering, relying on Christ for strength, knowing that He will be glorified throughout it all.
But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
-Isaiah 43:1-2
Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
-Isaiah 46:4
-Revelation 2:10.
Suffering?
Me too.
Jesus?
Yeah, he suffered too.
The whole world suffers, and it stinks. But we've got an advantage named Christ. Some people have their escapes, their drugs, their comforts from the pain. But guys, lets head to the professional. In Revelation, the Church in Smyrna is warned about the persecution to come. They are even given a convenient time amount...ten days. (Ten days, though...ten days is a LONG time when you're suffering.)
But you know, reading this right now, I'm quite encouraged. Because yeah, I may be suffering, and I have not a clue when it will end. Ten days? I dunno. But the promise still stands. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life.
And in Revelation 2:25, Jesus says to the Church in Thyatira, "Only hold on to what you have until I come." What is it that they held on to?
Jesus.
Here's something cool....I rediscovered this excerpt from a blogpost Jadon posted, like last year. In it he says, "In my personal life right now I'm facing the impossible. Last time this happened I ran away in terror. But not this time. This time I'm looking the impossible right in the eyes and saying, "Come at me bro!" =) The difference in me between then and know is where my strength is found. Last time I relied in myself for strength, and that didn't go over so well. This time though, my strength is in Jesus and He is my strength...So when the impossible comes, don't focus on the physical but the spiritual. Focus on Christ."
(http://worshipoftheheart.blogspot.com/2012/01/impossible.html)
It's the same idea. When facing the impossible, when Satan attacks you, when you're just straight up in pain--Focus on Christ. Do not let your physical circumstances scare you away. Why should you, when you have Christ to hold on to?
When Christ is holding on to you?
God, holding you in His arms. Father, comforting child.
And that is why Christ could direct his Church not to fear. "Do not be afraid," He says. So that we can say, "come at me bro!" knowing that in everything, God will walk with us. Through the valley of the shadow of death itself. You can walk into suffering, relying on Christ for strength, knowing that He will be glorified throughout it all.
But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, Jacob,
he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
-Isaiah 43:1-2
Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.
-Isaiah 46:4
Hebrews 3-4:13
Hebrews 3
New International Version (NIV)
Jesus Greater Than Moses
3 Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest. 2 He was faithful to the one who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house. 3 Jesus has been found worthy of greater honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house has greater honor than the house itself. 4 For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. 5 “Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,”[a] bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. 6 But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.
Warning Against Unbelief
7 So, as the Holy Spirit says:
“Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion,
during the time of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your ancestors tested and tried me,
though for forty years they saw what I did.
10 That is why I was angry with that generation;
I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray,
and they have not known my ways.’
11 So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”[b]
8 do not harden your hearts
as you did in the rebellion,
during the time of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your ancestors tested and tried me,
though for forty years they saw what I did.
10 That is why I was angry with that generation;
I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray,
and they have not known my ways.’
11 So I declared on oath in my anger,
‘They shall never enter my rest.’ ”[b]
12 See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13 But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14 We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. 15 As has just been said:
Hebrews 4
New International Version (NIV)
A Sabbath-Rest for the People of God
4 Therefore,
since the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us be careful
that none of you be found to have fallen short of it. 2 For
we also have had the good news proclaimed to us, just as they did; but
the message they heard was of no value to them, because they did not
share the faith of those who obeyed.[a] 3 Now we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said,
And yet his works have been finished since the creation of the world. 4 For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: “On the seventh day God rested from all his works.”[c] 5 And again in the passage above he says, “They shall never enter my rest.”
6 Therefore
since it still remains for some to enter that rest, and since those who
formerly had the good news proclaimed to them did not go in because of
their disobedience, 7 God
again set a certain day, calling it “Today.” This he did when a long
time later he spoke through David, as in the passage already quoted:
8 For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. 9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,[e] just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. 13 Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.Tuesday, August 20, 2013
2 Thessalonians 1-3
Today's reading is the first few chapters of 2 Thessalonians, but I actually wanted to pull some focus back to 1 Thessalonians 5:24.
The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
(I want to add some exclamation points to this. He will do it!!! The context is our sanctification. Once again we are reminded that we rely on God for everything...He makes us blameless and He is at work to make us more like Him. As Paul reminds the Thessalonians repeatedly, our faith is not vapid and does not slow to a stop. He urges them to love their brother more and more (1 Thess 4:10.) and continually prompts them to take their faith a step up. Constantly walking and growing in faith.)
(Now, I'm about to go read the actual portion for today, 2 Thessalonians 1-3...That'll be great too!! The Bible is, actually, pretty awesome.)
Peace.
The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
(I want to add some exclamation points to this. He will do it!!! The context is our sanctification. Once again we are reminded that we rely on God for everything...He makes us blameless and He is at work to make us more like Him. As Paul reminds the Thessalonians repeatedly, our faith is not vapid and does not slow to a stop. He urges them to love their brother more and more (1 Thess 4:10.) and continually prompts them to take their faith a step up. Constantly walking and growing in faith.)
(Now, I'm about to go read the actual portion for today, 2 Thessalonians 1-3...That'll be great too!! The Bible is, actually, pretty awesome.)
Peace.
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Ephesians 4-6
I was planning on posting a long and boring story about my experience with Ephesians 4 and how its convicted me. But as I dug into the reading this morning, I was reminded of this incredible teaching by Francis Chan, based off of some of the words in chapter 5. I thought I'd share that instead :)
It's a really great sermon, guys.
Not to mention some really powerful chapters of the Bible that we're reading right now.
You can find this teaching on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63Xqx3kAOCw
It's a really great sermon, guys.
Not to mention some really powerful chapters of the Bible that we're reading right now.
You can find this teaching on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63Xqx3kAOCw
Monday, August 12, 2013
Ephesians 1-3
Can you hear God saying this? Do you believe that God has chosen you?
Chosen, and adopted. Made part of the family of God.
"Seals" of the king identified a letter with that king--likewise, the seal of the Holy Spirit identifies us with the Spirit, so that people look at us and say, There's a Chosen One. 
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Galatians 5-6
Friday, August 9, 2013
Galatians 1-2
I apologize tht I haven't been posting our daily Bible reading schedule on time. By now, we've completed the wonderful books of Corinthians and have reached Galatians. Even if you're not on track with the reading, I really encourage you guys to read through Galatians! It an incredible letter, from which I pull one of my favorite verses (Gal 3:28).
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
-Galatians 2:20
"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
-Galatians 2:20
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Monday, August 5, 2013
Saturday, August 3, 2013
1 Corinthians 12-14
Last night I was sitting in worship when I decided to read and consider the 1 Corinthians 13 definition of love.
I was overjoyed to discover that this chapter was in today's reading, as well.
I love that the description of love starts off with "Love is patient." Why patient? Me and my friends have a saying... "True love is always loving."
But Paul says true love is patient.
I'm not going to say much more on this. I'd love for you to read this passage and consider it yourself. :)
I was overjoyed to discover that this chapter was in today's reading, as well.
I love that the description of love starts off with "Love is patient." Why patient? Me and my friends have a saying... "True love is always loving."
But Paul says true love is patient.
I'm not going to say much more on this. I'd love for you to read this passage and consider it yourself. :)
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Monday, July 29, 2013
Summer Bible Reading: 14-16
This is a sermon by Albert Mohler.
Here is his sermon on Romans 16:16-19
http://www.albertmohler.com/2006/02/12/romans-1616-19/
Dr. R. Albert Mohler Jr. serves as president of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary one of the largest seminaries in the world.
Dr. Mohler has been recognized by such influential publications as Time and Christianity Today as a leader among American evangelicals. In fact, Time.com called him the “reigning intellectual of the evangelical movement in the U.S.”Here is his sermon on Romans 16:16-19
http://www.albertmohler.com/2006/02/12/romans-1616-19/
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Friday, July 26, 2013
Summer Bible Reading: Romans 4-6
Salvation belongs to our God
Who sits upon the throne
And unto the lamb
Be praise and glory, wisdom and thanks
Honor, and power, and strength
Be to our God forever and ever
Be to our God forever and ever
Be to our God forever and ever
AMEN
We the redeemed shall be strong
In purpose and unity
Declaring aloud
Be praise and glory, wisdom and thanks
Honor, and power, and strength!
Be to our God forever and ever
Be to our God forever and ever
Be to our God forever and ever
AMEN
Thursday, July 25, 2013
Summer Bible Reading: Romans 1-3
This is a sermon by Alister Begg from Truth for Life. May God bless the reading and hearing of His word.
Wednesday, July 24, 2013
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Monday, July 22, 2013
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Summer Bible Reading: Acts 16-18
In Acts 16 Paul encourages Timothy to be circumcised, then later condemns it. Was he being hypocritical?
I don’t think the apostle was being hypocritical at all. This is a very interesting historical situation that the New Testament records for us. It does say that Paul circumcised Timothy and then refused to circumcise Titus, and this became a major controversy in the early church. Paul’s reasoning behind it, I think, can be ferreted out through a study of Galatians, Corinthians, and Romans.
He talks about his concern for ethics and says that there are certain things God prohibits and certain things he commands. Then there are those things that are basically neutral in the ethical sense—those things that in and of themselves have no moral import or ethical significance. He is consistent in his approach to these things, as we read in correspondence to the Romans and Corinthians; these are areas in which Christians can exercise their liberty.
But the Judaizing party sprang up and threatened to destroy the infant Christian church by seeking to impose the absolute law of circumcision on every convert to Christianity. The counsel of Jerusalem in Acts 15 was one of those examples of the church having to respond to this. The counsel’s conclusion was that it pleased the Holy Spirit not to add all of these burdens upon Gentile converts that God had required of the Jewish nation in the Old Testament. What had happened in contemporary terms is this: Those who wanted to cling to some of the now antiquated practices were considered by Paul to be weaker brothers, and Paul said we don’t do anything to cause the weaker brother to stumble. We want to be sensitive to the weaker brother.
But suddenly the weaker brothers became so strong that they wanted to tyrannize the church and make their preferences the absolute law of God. Whenever people do that, it is a representation of legalism that destroys the essence of the gospel. Paul, by the time he wrote Galatians, saw the expansion of this group of Judaizers as being such a threat to the truth of the Christian gospel that he steadfastly refused to engage in circumcision as a religious act and used the strongest language to condemn those who were trying to make a matter of personal preference the absolute law of God.
You remember the earlier debate that Jesus had with the Pharisees. Jesus was very harsh with them because he said that they had taken the traditions of men and passed them off as if they were the laws of God, something we are not permitted to do. Jesus took the Pharisees to task for doing it, and Paul did the same thing; that is, in the earlier situation in which circumcision didn’t have this legal import to it, he went with the flow. He said if you want to be circumcised, fine; if you don’t want to, you don’t have to. So for those who wanted it, he did it. But when they tried to make it a law that he circumcise other people, he steadfastly refused to do it, in order to keep the integrity of the gospel intact.
From: Ligonier Ministries the teaching fellowship of R. C. Sproul
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Friday, July 19, 2013
Summer Bible Reading: Acts 10-12
BEYOND YOUR WALLS
And you shall be my witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth…
The season of Pentecost is the birthday of the Christian community. For Christians who celebrate Pentecost Sunday, a celebration is the order of the day to commemorate the birth of the church and its growth in numbers and witness. The book of Acts records the events surrounding the momentous day: the violent wind from heaven, the appearance of tongues of fire, and the miraculous gift of languages that caused the Jews who had come to Jerusalem for the Feast of Harvest to wonder if the disciples were drunk.
The ancient feast of Pentecost celebrated by the nation of Israel, however, was a celebration of harvest. The weeks of sowing were completed and now it was time to reap the gifts of the land. That the Spirit would be poured out during this Hebrew festival is no coincidence. Jewish pilgrims from many different lands had gathered for this feast and were astounded as they heard their native dialects and languages being spoken by a small group of Jesus-followers. These were the languages representing every region of the known world. The harvest was not just of crops, but of peoples—peoples far beyond the boundaries of Jerusalem.
And this is exactly what Jesus had promised would happen with the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The good news of the Messiah would go out beyond the walls of Israel to the “remotest parts of the earth.” What is often not realized—as modern people living in a pluralistic and multicultural world—is that taking the gospel to the remotest parts of the earth would have been bad news for those who believed the Messiah was only for Israel.
To understand why this mission of the Holy Spirit was so radical, we have to understand how religious Jews viewed Gentiles in the first century. Gentiles were unclean and Jews had no dealings with them. Jesus was often criticized for ministering to Gentiles or to Samaritans—half-breeds—who were also despised by the Jews. This background gives understanding for a conflict in the earliest Christian community in which the Hellenistic Jews (Jews from Greece) were angry at the native Hebrews for overlooking their widows in the serving of food.(1) Outsiders in general were treated with inferiority.
It also helps us understand the strange vision of the great sheet covered with unclean animals that appeared to the disciple Peter. In the vision, Peter is commanded to “kill and eat” what would have defiled him according to Jewish law. Peter cries out when he is told to kill and eat, “By no means, Lord, for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean!” This was not merely a protest against a new dietary law; Peter could not conceive of bringing the gospel to those he would have considered unclean. The narrative tells the reader that at the same time of this vision, Cornelius, a Roman solider was praying—praying as it turned out for Peter, his reluctant evangelist.
As a result of this vision, Peter later declares about the Gentiles, “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the one who fears God and does what is right is welcome to God. The word which God sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ…of him all the prophets bear witness that through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.”(2)
Peter ministered to those who were considered outside the bounds of God’s grace. And when he returned to Jerusalem, the Jews took issue with him over his “eating with the uncircumcised.” Peter explained the events and the Jews eventually declared, “God has granted to the Gentiles also the repentance that leads to life.” The gospel had pushed outward beyond the walls of Jerusalem! The words of the prophet Joel were being fulfilled: “In the last days, God says, I will pour forth my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, and your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams” (Joel 2:28-32).
In this season of Pentecost, I marvel at the irony of God calling Peter, and later Paul (who was Saul of Tarsus a “Hebrew of Hebrews”) to be “apostles to the Gentiles.” God was calling them to reach out with the good news that God was saving those deemed unlikable, unworthy, and far outside the promises and plan of God. Whether or not we celebrate the season of Pentecost, we might wonder about the ones in our lives we might be tempted to consider “Judeans or Samarians” or those “who dwell in the remotest parts of the earth.” The same Spirit who changed the world by changing the minds of a handful of disciples beckons still, pushing us outward beyond our own walls.
Margaret Manning is a member of the writing and speaking team at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Seattle, Washington.
(1) See Acts 6:1.
(2) Acts 10:34-36, 43.
(2) Acts 10:34-36, 43.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
July 17th Bible Reading: Acts 4-6
Acts 4:25b-26
Why did the gentile rage
and the people plot tin vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Monday, July 15, 2013
July 15th Bible Reading: John 19-21
John 20:31
But these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you might have life in His name.
But these things are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you might have life in His name.
Sunday, July 14, 2013
July 14th Bible Reading: John 16-18
Here is a great message by Pastor Zach, from Calvary Chapel Petaluma on John 18: 28-40 entitle "What is Truth". (SM1230)
http://calvarypetalumasite.org/media.php?pageID=11
God Bless!
http://calvarypetalumasite.org/media.php?pageID=11
God Bless!
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Friday, July 12, 2013
Thursday, July 11, 2013
July 11th Bible Reading: John 7-9
John 7: 16-18
Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from Him who sent me. If anyone chooses to do Gods will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of Him who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.
Jesus answered, "My teaching is not my own. It comes from Him who sent me. If anyone chooses to do Gods will, he will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. He who speaks on his own does so to gain honor for himself, but he who works for the honor of Him who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Monday, July 8, 2013
July 8th Bible Reading: Luke 22-24
John Bunyan, author of the classic Pilgrim’s Progress, wrote in the cover of his Bible,
“Either this book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book.”
Sunday, July 7, 2013
July 7th Bible Reading: Luke 19-21
Luke 19:41-42
And when He drew near and saw the city, He wept over it saying, "Would that even you, had known on this day the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes!"
This passage really struck me because earlier today my pastor sermon on what we should we pray for. Though he was using verses from Ephesians, this verse references a similar idea, the idea of God hiding and reveling that which is unknown.
In his letter, Paul was praying that the Ephesian Christians would receive revelation in the knowledge of God. He was not only praying this for the unsaved, but the believers as well.
Spiritual truth is not perceived by the physical senses, though it may feel that way, but in the spiritual realm. We need to be diligently and fervently praying that the Lord continues to speak to us though His Word, because without Him giving us revelation we fall back into the motions of reading the Bible, and attempting to sanctify ourselves.
That is my prayer for you, my friends, as well as myself. That the Lord would continually open our eyes!
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Friday, July 5, 2013
July 5th Bible Reading: Luke 13-15
The first commandment is to love the Lord you God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might.
And the second is to love your neighbor as yourself.
(Mark 12)
Luke 14:26
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
Jesus is calling us to be willing to be willing to give up everything to follow Him. Look at the lives of the disciples. Most of them left their family's, devoted their lives to His service, and at the end, gave up their lives. God may not ask us to give up these things, or He may, but are we willing ?
And the second is to love your neighbor as yourself.
(Mark 12)
Luke 14:26
If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. Whoever does not bear his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple.
Jesus is calling us to be willing to be willing to give up everything to follow Him. Look at the lives of the disciples. Most of them left their family's, devoted their lives to His service, and at the end, gave up their lives. God may not ask us to give up these things, or He may, but are we willing ?
Thursday, July 4, 2013
July 4th Bible Reading: Luke 10-12
Prayer is such a privileged. It glorifies and pleases God, as well as brings us to a point of humility and a deeper relationship with Him. I encourage you not to forget to whom you are praying to, or to underestimate what He can do when it is within His will.
Luke 11:13
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!
Today, being the 4th of July, I just want to ask you to take a few minutes out of your celebrating to pray for this country and its leaders, who God has put in authority.
I was really blessed by this testimony to the power of prayer, and I pray you will be too:
President Lincoln's Prayer Before Gettysburg
"…oppressed by the gravity of our affairs, I went to my room one day and locked the door and got down on my knees before almighty God and prayed to Him mightily for victory at Gettysburg. I told Him that this war was His, and our cause His cause, but we could not stand another Fredricksburg or Chancellorsville. Then and there I made a solemn vow to almighty God that if He would stand by our boys at Gettysburg, I would stand by Him. And after that, I don't know how it was, and I cannot explain it, soon a sweet comfort crept into my soul. The feeling came that God had taken the whole business into His own hands, and that things would go right at Gettysburg…"
Gettysburg was won by the Union forces on July 3, 1863, and is often considered a major turning point in the war.
Luke 11:13
If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!
Today, being the 4th of July, I just want to ask you to take a few minutes out of your celebrating to pray for this country and its leaders, who God has put in authority.
I was really blessed by this testimony to the power of prayer, and I pray you will be too:
President Lincoln's Prayer Before Gettysburg
"…oppressed by the gravity of our affairs, I went to my room one day and locked the door and got down on my knees before almighty God and prayed to Him mightily for victory at Gettysburg. I told Him that this war was His, and our cause His cause, but we could not stand another Fredricksburg or Chancellorsville. Then and there I made a solemn vow to almighty God that if He would stand by our boys at Gettysburg, I would stand by Him. And after that, I don't know how it was, and I cannot explain it, soon a sweet comfort crept into my soul. The feeling came that God had taken the whole business into His own hands, and that things would go right at Gettysburg…"
Gettysburg was won by the Union forces on July 3, 1863, and is often considered a major turning point in the war.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
July 3rd Bible Reading: Luke 7-9
Luke 8:16-18
New International Version (NIV)
A Lamp on a Stand
16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”
Tuesday, July 2, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
July 1st Bible Reading: Luke 1-3
WHICH VIRGIN BIRTH?
A while back I received an email from a friend of mine, a retired Princeton University professor, in which he detailed some of his objections to Christianity, and in his last line—as if to trump all other considerations—he wrote, “Nor can I believe in a virgin birth.” No further argument. As if to say, it would be crazy to believe in such a thing.
It did make me think, why is it so often the virgin birth that we have the hardest time accepting? Why not Jesus walking on water? Why not him multiplying the loaves?
Maybe it’s because we’re happy for God to do what he wants with his own body, and we’re happy for him to give us gifts, but we get offended at the thought of a miracle that inconveniences us, that has a claim on our lives, that requires us to respond “I am the Lord’s servant,” as Mary did (Luke 1:38).
I thought to write back to my friend with reasons why perhaps he could believe in a virgin birth. But then I realized, he already does. In fact, every person is committed to a virgin birth, whether they realize it or not.
We find one virgin birth in Chapter 1 of Luke’s Gospel:
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:38).
Admittedly, this is out of the realm of the ordinary. But what exactly is the alternative?
My colleague John Lennox recently debated another Princeton professor—Peter Singer—who is one of the world’s most influential atheists. John challenged him to answer this question: why are we here? And here’s how Peter responded:
“We can assume that somehow in the primeval soup we got collections of molecules that became self-replicating; and I don’t think we need any miraculous or mysterious [explanation].”(1)
And I remember thinking, How does us somehow getting self-replicating molecules in the primeval soup not count as a mysterious explanation? That sounds a lot like a virgin birth to me.
Or take the brilliant Cambridge physicist Stephen Hawking’s latest attempt to propose an atheistic explanation for our universe: “. . . the universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist.”(2)
Is that any less miraculous of a birth than the account from Luke Chapter 1?
We live in a miraculous world. Regardless of whether you are a theist, an atheist, or an agnostic, there’s no getting around that fact. It’s not a matter of whether we believe in a virgin birth, it’s just a matter of which virgin birth we choose to accept.
We can believe in the virgin birth of an atheistic universe that is indifferent to us—a universe where “there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind pitiless indifference.”(3) Or we can believe in the virgin birth of a God who loves us so deeply that he came to be born among us and to live beside us, to call us “family” (Hebrews 2:11) and “friends” (John 15:15), and to give himself the name “God with us” (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14).
There is a depth of relationship that is only possible between people who have been through the worst together— those who have been there in each other’s suffering, those who have fought through disaster side by side, those who have sat beside one another in devastation with nothing left to say other than “I know exactly what you’ve been through, and I still love you and I still believe in you.” Because of Jesus, that depth of relationship is possible with God. That is what we celebrate at Christmas.
Growing up near New York City, one of my most vivid memories of Christmas is of homeless people begging on the street corners. And I would give some change if I had some. Imagine someone who offers to trade his home for a cold street corner, who instead of giving a few coins sat down on the street corner himself and handed over the key to his home.
At Christmas, Jesus literally comes and lives in our home—with all of its suffering, sin, and shame—and he shows us the home it will be, the home he is preparing—an eternal home where “[God] will wipe every tear from [our] eyes,” where there will be “no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4).
The way we accept this gift is with simple words: I’m sorry. Thank you.
I’m sorry for the times I’ve hid from you. I’m sorry for the times I’ve run from you. I’m thankful that you didn’t give up on me, but were willing to make even the greatest sacrifice in order to be with me. I want to be with you too, wherever that leads, not only this Christmas but always.
A while back I received an email from a friend of mine, a retired Princeton University professor, in which he detailed some of his objections to Christianity, and in his last line—as if to trump all other considerations—he wrote, “Nor can I believe in a virgin birth.” No further argument. As if to say, it would be crazy to believe in such a thing.
It did make me think, why is it so often the virgin birth that we have the hardest time accepting? Why not Jesus walking on water? Why not him multiplying the loaves?
Maybe it’s because we’re happy for God to do what he wants with his own body, and we’re happy for him to give us gifts, but we get offended at the thought of a miracle that inconveniences us, that has a claim on our lives, that requires us to respond “I am the Lord’s servant,” as Mary did (Luke 1:38).
I thought to write back to my friend with reasons why perhaps he could believe in a virgin birth. But then I realized, he already does. In fact, every person is committed to a virgin birth, whether they realize it or not.
We find one virgin birth in Chapter 1 of Luke’s Gospel:
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:38).
Admittedly, this is out of the realm of the ordinary. But what exactly is the alternative?
My colleague John Lennox recently debated another Princeton professor—Peter Singer—who is one of the world’s most influential atheists. John challenged him to answer this question: why are we here? And here’s how Peter responded:
“We can assume that somehow in the primeval soup we got collections of molecules that became self-replicating; and I don’t think we need any miraculous or mysterious [explanation].”(1)
And I remember thinking, How does us somehow getting self-replicating molecules in the primeval soup not count as a mysterious explanation? That sounds a lot like a virgin birth to me.
Or take the brilliant Cambridge physicist Stephen Hawking’s latest attempt to propose an atheistic explanation for our universe: “. . . the universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the universe exists, why we exist.”(2)
Is that any less miraculous of a birth than the account from Luke Chapter 1?
We live in a miraculous world. Regardless of whether you are a theist, an atheist, or an agnostic, there’s no getting around that fact. It’s not a matter of whether we believe in a virgin birth, it’s just a matter of which virgin birth we choose to accept.
We can believe in the virgin birth of an atheistic universe that is indifferent to us—a universe where “there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil and no good, nothing but blind pitiless indifference.”(3) Or we can believe in the virgin birth of a God who loves us so deeply that he came to be born among us and to live beside us, to call us “family” (Hebrews 2:11) and “friends” (John 15:15), and to give himself the name “God with us” (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14).
There is a depth of relationship that is only possible between people who have been through the worst together— those who have been there in each other’s suffering, those who have fought through disaster side by side, those who have sat beside one another in devastation with nothing left to say other than “I know exactly what you’ve been through, and I still love you and I still believe in you.” Because of Jesus, that depth of relationship is possible with God. That is what we celebrate at Christmas.
Growing up near New York City, one of my most vivid memories of Christmas is of homeless people begging on the street corners. And I would give some change if I had some. Imagine someone who offers to trade his home for a cold street corner, who instead of giving a few coins sat down on the street corner himself and handed over the key to his home.
At Christmas, Jesus literally comes and lives in our home—with all of its suffering, sin, and shame—and he shows us the home it will be, the home he is preparing—an eternal home where “[God] will wipe every tear from [our] eyes,” where there will be “no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4).
The way we accept this gift is with simple words: I’m sorry. Thank you.
I’m sorry for the times I’ve hid from you. I’m sorry for the times I’ve run from you. I’m thankful that you didn’t give up on me, but were willing to make even the greatest sacrifice in order to be with me. I want to be with you too, wherever that leads, not only this Christmas but always.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Saturday, June 29, 2013
June 29th Bible Reading: Mark 10-12
Here is a sermon from Alistair Beg from Truth for Life on chapter 10.
http://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/not-so-you/
http://www.truthforlife.org/resources/sermon/not-so-you/
Friday, June 28, 2013
June 28th Bible Reading: Mark 7-9
I find that familiarity can often take away from the greatness of what Jesus has done. Let us put this into perspective for a moment.
If Jesus could use:
to feed more then:
How can we so often doubt that He is truly able to take care of:
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