Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer--Romans 12:12
(emphasis mine)
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
This triplet in Romans is filled with wisdom and exhortation for daily living. The one that we need, however, to do the other two is to be continuing steadfastly in prayer. We need the connection with Him...without Him we can do nothing. This is what we must practice in our lives. Surrendering to Him when we feel overwhelmed, insecure, grieved, angry, offended, undecided...and a thousand other feelings that us frail human beings must deal with daily. God wants us to cry out to Him and when we do it is then we can rejoice and be patient because we know He has got our backs. He will doing nothing to harm us. His goal is only our good...
We can rejoice in a sure and certain hope because God has got our past, present and future covered. Our past is covered because our sins were forgiven at the moment of salvation. Our present is covered because Jesus by His death and resurrection tore down the wall of separation so we who believe, can now come to His throne of grace boldly to find mercy and help in our time of need. Our future is assured because He is our sure and certain hope and our refuge now and at death.
We can be patient in tribulation because as it says in James the testing of our faith produces endurance and we know that our trials produce blessings. Verse 12 in James 1 is a beatitude and says "Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial. We can suffer long through a trial because our past, present and our future is secure and the battle is not ours but His. We can look forward in a trial to the blessings that it will produce now and in eternity.. We can step out of the misery and the pain of a moment and look forward....unfold it so to speak in our minds and see what the Lord might do in us and through us. An unbeliever, sadly, has no forward button in a trial...there is no hope..just increasing pain and misery and then endless suffering. Tragic, but the remedy is simple. Belief.
The thread that runs throughout both of these as I said earlier is prayer. We cannot know God without spending time with Him both in His word and in prayer. It is our confidence in God and who He is that anchors us in this world. That is why continuing steadfastly in prayer is the key...spending time with Him, learning all that we can about Him, depending on Him and allowing Him to guide our thoughts, words and actions. Draw near to Him girls, stay in fellowship with Him, wait on Him. When our eyes are on Him, His word, His promises and what He has done, they are off ourselves and our circumstances and focused on the One who can do exceedingly abundantly in our lives. We remember then that our purpose here on earth is just to do His will...then whatever comes our way is from Him and we can be patient through it because we have confidence that He is working it for His purposes in our life. I can bear the present because I am giving my burdens to Him.
Live your life as a prayer to Him...the key is drawing near in real intimacy...not just going through the motions, but by truly drawing near and making a practice of dependence on Him in your life. We need to learn trust Him with everything. He loved us enough to die for us when we were still His enemies, dead in our trespasses and sins. How much more will He take care of us and defend us when we have been reconciled to Him. He will surely see us through. We are concerned about our present comfort, Jesus is concerned about eternity. Choose not to be upset or discontent about whatever your situation might be at the moment. Choose Him. Choose to give the heartache, the loss, the grief, the trial, the circumstance to Him. Rest then in His provision and care. David does this so well...read the psalms. He had such an intimate relationship with His God.
Go to Him, girls. Cry out like David did...Wait on Him. Be quiet before Him. Wait for Him to speak to your heart. Take the cares and concerns of your day and turn them into prayers. We talk about doing this a lot but not many of us actually do it. Lay it all out before Him. Give them all to Him. Watch Him do exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ask or think...probably not as you expected but better and more beautifully than you ever could have imagined. As you do this you will have His peace that will surpass your understanding and will leave you rejoicing in His goodness, grace and mercy.
Love
Mom
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks for this is the will of god in Christ Jesus for you. (me)--1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. --Philippians 4:4-7
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; --Colossians 4:2
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Ezra A Man of God to Follow
For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.--Ezra 7:10
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
I loved reading this...Ezra had prepared his heart. We prepare for so many vain things in this world. I think the most common thing all of us prepare is ourselves so the world can view us as we want to be seen. We want to look well put out...well put together...disciplined and ordered. We want our appearance and outward presentation to be pleasing and impressive to those around us. Are you doing the preparing that is really necessary...the preparing of your heart to seek Him and Him alone. Doing the outside preparation without the inside heart set aside for Him is like preparing a body for burial...really what is the point except to make those that are still alive feel better. The body is rotting on the inside and that will become more and more evident on the outside as time passes. The bible says that our outward man is perishing but our inward man is being renewed day by day. When we do what Ezra did we become like the tree in Psalm 1.
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.--Psalm 1:1-3
How do we do this? Ezra gives us the proper order of things. First we are to seek the law and understand it. Why are we to seek it...not for curiosity's sake or for that puffed feeling that comes with knowledge but we are to seek it to do it. We are to make a practice of following God's law. When I practice something I begin to understand it and see the benefits of it in a very personal way. God's word is not only there on the page but it is alive...living and powerful in my life. Ezra, therefore was able to teach the people by not only His word but also his deed.
What an example Ezra is for us. He was a man who had prepared His heart to receive the implanted word with meekness. He was a man devoted to the study of the Scripture. He was a man who was diligent to make a practice of living out the word of God in His life. The blessing comes in the doing girls...James 1:22-25 says this:
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
We are not blessed because we know the Scripture...we are blessed when we obey them. When I surrender and obey, something inside me changes. There is a freeing from bondage. When our hearts believe something our actions will follow. Belief will look like something in your life. It will be evident. If we fail to make the Scriptures a part of who we are...if we fail to do what it tells us to do, we deceive ourselves and attempt to deceive others. (See 1 John 1:5-10)
Aside from studying and obeying the Word, Ezra also taught it. The priests and the Levites would read and explain the Scriptures to the people because most could not afford to own their own Scrolls of the Law. Nehemiah 8:8 says this:
So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.
I love that. So they read from the book...distinctly...and gave the people the sense to help them understand the reading. Be faithful to teach His word to your little ones, girls. Hold God's word above all else. Do not try to just fit it into the day. If you do not teach them anything else, you still have given them what they need. This life goes by like a vapor. Your children will grow up fast, and there will never be much time in the day. Make the time. There may also come a time when they will no longer have ears to hear...teach them while they are willing to listen. Let your obedience and surrender to the Spirit of God be evident to them. If your word and deed do not match, neither will theirs. Your children will see through your facade. Teach them by your word and your example. Hide this verse in your heart and ask the Lord to bring it to your mind to remind you to be faithful.
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.--Deuteronomy 6:7
Warren Wiersbe pointed out that there is a parallel to this verse in Matthew 13:52. Jesus is speaking.
Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."
Girls, we have the treasure of His word, both old and new at our fingertips.The Old Testament points the way to Jesus the Messiah. Jesus quoted from it often and upheld its authority. The New Testament contains the teachings of Jesus. Chuck Missler and probably others have said that the Bible is an integrated Message System, containing 66 separate books, penned by 40 different individuals over thousands of years. It has its origin from outside our time domain. It has an integrated design: The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed. The Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.
And according to Napoleon: "The Bible is no mere book, but it is a Living Creature, with a power that conquers all that oppose it"
Someone else has said that the Bible is an acronym for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth....I like that one.
Be like that householder and bring forth these treasures...meditate on them, hide them in your heart and most of all when and if the Lord blesses you with little ones, be diligent to teach them...not only in word but in deed. I have included Psalm 127...I memorized it early in my walk with the Lord. It is a wonderful reminder always to me of what is important.
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
I loved reading this...Ezra had prepared his heart. We prepare for so many vain things in this world. I think the most common thing all of us prepare is ourselves so the world can view us as we want to be seen. We want to look well put out...well put together...disciplined and ordered. We want our appearance and outward presentation to be pleasing and impressive to those around us. Are you doing the preparing that is really necessary...the preparing of your heart to seek Him and Him alone. Doing the outside preparation without the inside heart set aside for Him is like preparing a body for burial...really what is the point except to make those that are still alive feel better. The body is rotting on the inside and that will become more and more evident on the outside as time passes. The bible says that our outward man is perishing but our inward man is being renewed day by day. When we do what Ezra did we become like the tree in Psalm 1.
Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the LORD, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.--Psalm 1:1-3
How do we do this? Ezra gives us the proper order of things. First we are to seek the law and understand it. Why are we to seek it...not for curiosity's sake or for that puffed feeling that comes with knowledge but we are to seek it to do it. We are to make a practice of following God's law. When I practice something I begin to understand it and see the benefits of it in a very personal way. God's word is not only there on the page but it is alive...living and powerful in my life. Ezra, therefore was able to teach the people by not only His word but also his deed.
What an example Ezra is for us. He was a man who had prepared His heart to receive the implanted word with meekness. He was a man devoted to the study of the Scripture. He was a man who was diligent to make a practice of living out the word of God in His life. The blessing comes in the doing girls...James 1:22-25 says this:
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
We are not blessed because we know the Scripture...we are blessed when we obey them. When I surrender and obey, something inside me changes. There is a freeing from bondage. When our hearts believe something our actions will follow. Belief will look like something in your life. It will be evident. If we fail to make the Scriptures a part of who we are...if we fail to do what it tells us to do, we deceive ourselves and attempt to deceive others. (See 1 John 1:5-10)
Aside from studying and obeying the Word, Ezra also taught it. The priests and the Levites would read and explain the Scriptures to the people because most could not afford to own their own Scrolls of the Law. Nehemiah 8:8 says this:
So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading.
I love that. So they read from the book...distinctly...and gave the people the sense to help them understand the reading. Be faithful to teach His word to your little ones, girls. Hold God's word above all else. Do not try to just fit it into the day. If you do not teach them anything else, you still have given them what they need. This life goes by like a vapor. Your children will grow up fast, and there will never be much time in the day. Make the time. There may also come a time when they will no longer have ears to hear...teach them while they are willing to listen. Let your obedience and surrender to the Spirit of God be evident to them. If your word and deed do not match, neither will theirs. Your children will see through your facade. Teach them by your word and your example. Hide this verse in your heart and ask the Lord to bring it to your mind to remind you to be faithful.
You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.--Deuteronomy 6:7
Warren Wiersbe pointed out that there is a parallel to this verse in Matthew 13:52. Jesus is speaking.
Then He said to them, "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old."
Girls, we have the treasure of His word, both old and new at our fingertips.The Old Testament points the way to Jesus the Messiah. Jesus quoted from it often and upheld its authority. The New Testament contains the teachings of Jesus. Chuck Missler and probably others have said that the Bible is an integrated Message System, containing 66 separate books, penned by 40 different individuals over thousands of years. It has its origin from outside our time domain. It has an integrated design: The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed. The Old Testament is in the New Testament revealed.
And according to Napoleon: "The Bible is no mere book, but it is a Living Creature, with a power that conquers all that oppose it"
Someone else has said that the Bible is an acronym for Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth....I like that one.
Be like that householder and bring forth these treasures...meditate on them, hide them in your heart and most of all when and if the Lord blesses you with little ones, be diligent to teach them...not only in word but in deed. I have included Psalm 127...I memorized it early in my walk with the Lord. It is a wonderful reminder always to me of what is important.
Love
Mom
A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon
Psalm 127
Unless the LORD builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the LORD guards the city,
The watchman stays awake in vain.
It is vain for you to rise up early, To sit up late,
To eat the bread of sorrows;
For so He gives His beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD,
The fruit of the womb is a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,
So are the children of one's youth.
Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;
They shall not be ashamed,
But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Christophobia: Walk the Walk
Christophobia: Walk the Walk: "Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. For many walk, of whom I have told you oft..."
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Come Away With Me, My Love - Song of Solomon
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
I love the Song of Solomon...it is one of my favorites. People laugh when they hear me say that, because there are so many interpretations to this book...some see it as an erotic love poem...others as the love between the king and his maiden and there are many viewpoints in between. I see it as a beautiful picture of the love that Jesus has for me personally and corporately for His Bride, the church.
With that said I was reading the Song of Solomon and came to chapter 2. Read the following verses as a love letter from the Lord or as if He is outside your bedroom window speaking to you before the dawn of a new day.
My beloved spoke, and said to me: "Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away. For lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth her green figs, And the vines with the tender grapes Give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away! "O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret places of the cliff, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely." Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes. My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies. Until the day breaks And the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, And be like a gazelle Or a young stag Upon the mountains of Bether.
These verses always speak to my heart about what is truly important and how I need to give Jesus the pre-eminence in my life. Jesus wants to spend time with me. I am His love, His fair one, the one He died for...He is asking me to come away with Him. He wants to see my face and hear my voice. My king is outside my window before daybreak and is calling me to come...Other things in life (the little foxes) try to get in the way of my time with Him. But He says, spend time with me, this is your all. Don't stay in bed and leave me outside...come with Me. You will need my grace and mercy. You will need my guidance and my love today. There are things I need to tell you. Come away with me my love.
If only we would heed these words of Jesus...to come away with Him and let Him speak to our hearts. But many times we roll over in bed and tell Him that yes, we are His, but we will meet Him later...you know...after the sun is up...at a less ungodly hour...or at a less inconvenient time. If you read further, what you will find is that as the day starts she finds that she needs Him and searches for Him in the city streets and in the broad ways...but she found him not. She had missed the moment. As soon as she does find Him, however, she takes Him to the closest place available to be with Him and would not let Him go.
May we never not hear and obey His voice when He calls us to come away and be with Him. May we put aside the business of living for a moment and focus on Him when His Spirit speaks to our hearts. Put nothing before Jesus and even your dark times He will make light about you.
Love
Mom
I love the Song of Solomon...it is one of my favorites. People laugh when they hear me say that, because there are so many interpretations to this book...some see it as an erotic love poem...others as the love between the king and his maiden and there are many viewpoints in between. I see it as a beautiful picture of the love that Jesus has for me personally and corporately for His Bride, the church.
With that said I was reading the Song of Solomon and came to chapter 2. Read the following verses as a love letter from the Lord or as if He is outside your bedroom window speaking to you before the dawn of a new day.
My beloved spoke, and said to me: "Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away. For lo, the winter is past, The rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; The time of singing has come, And the voice of the turtledove Is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth her green figs, And the vines with the tender grapes Give a good smell. Rise up, my love, my fair one, And come away! "O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret places of the cliff, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely." Catch us the foxes, The little foxes that spoil the vines, For our vines have tender grapes. My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feeds his flock among the lilies. Until the day breaks And the shadows flee away, Turn, my beloved, And be like a gazelle Or a young stag Upon the mountains of Bether.
These verses always speak to my heart about what is truly important and how I need to give Jesus the pre-eminence in my life. Jesus wants to spend time with me. I am His love, His fair one, the one He died for...He is asking me to come away with Him. He wants to see my face and hear my voice. My king is outside my window before daybreak and is calling me to come...Other things in life (the little foxes) try to get in the way of my time with Him. But He says, spend time with me, this is your all. Don't stay in bed and leave me outside...come with Me. You will need my grace and mercy. You will need my guidance and my love today. There are things I need to tell you. Come away with me my love.
If only we would heed these words of Jesus...to come away with Him and let Him speak to our hearts. But many times we roll over in bed and tell Him that yes, we are His, but we will meet Him later...you know...after the sun is up...at a less ungodly hour...or at a less inconvenient time. If you read further, what you will find is that as the day starts she finds that she needs Him and searches for Him in the city streets and in the broad ways...but she found him not. She had missed the moment. As soon as she does find Him, however, she takes Him to the closest place available to be with Him and would not let Him go.
May we never not hear and obey His voice when He calls us to come away and be with Him. May we put aside the business of living for a moment and focus on Him when His Spirit speaks to our hearts. Put nothing before Jesus and even your dark times He will make light about you.
Love
Mom
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Hidden Message in Genesis 5 - Chuck Missler
The summary of the New Testament Gospel is found in the genealogy in the Old Testament. Read and be amazed...
Read Genesis 5...it is the genealogy of Adam through till Noah. Chuck Missler dug into the meaning of the Hebrew roots that make up the names...Here is the treasure...the pearl of great price that he found.
Here are the names and their respective meanings.
Adam: (adomah) "man"
Seth: "appointed" (Genesis 4:25 tells us this)
Enosh: (from root anash, "to be incurable") "mortal", "frail", "miserable"
Kenan: "sorrow,:" "dirge," "elegy"
Mahalal'el: "the Blessed God--(mahalal) "blessed", ; (El) the name for God
Jared: (from the verb yaradh) "shall come down"
Enoch: "commencement" or "teaching"
Methusaleh: "his death shall bring:--muth, a root that means "death" ; shalach means "bring" or "send forth"
Lamach: "despairing (from which we get lament or lamentation)
Noah: (derived from nacham) "comfort" or "rest" (Genesis 5:29)
Reading the meaning of those names in order, here is what we get in English:
"Man [is] appointed mortal sorrow; [but] the blessed God shall come down teaching [that His] death shall bring [the] despairing rest."
Wow!!!!!
Every detail in the bible is there by design...it is a supernatural book written outside of time. God's plan of redemption was not a knee jerk response reaction to the fall in chapter 3. God had ordained it before the foundation of the world.
Read Genesis 5...it is the genealogy of Adam through till Noah. Chuck Missler dug into the meaning of the Hebrew roots that make up the names...Here is the treasure...the pearl of great price that he found.
Here are the names and their respective meanings.
Adam: (adomah) "man"
Seth: "appointed" (Genesis 4:25 tells us this)
Enosh: (from root anash, "to be incurable") "mortal", "frail", "miserable"
Kenan: "sorrow,:" "dirge," "elegy"
Mahalal'el: "the Blessed God--(mahalal) "blessed", ; (El) the name for God
Jared: (from the verb yaradh) "shall come down"
Enoch: "commencement" or "teaching"
Methusaleh: "his death shall bring:--muth, a root that means "death" ; shalach means "bring" or "send forth"
Lamach: "despairing (from which we get lament or lamentation)
Noah: (derived from nacham) "comfort" or "rest" (Genesis 5:29)
Reading the meaning of those names in order, here is what we get in English:
"Man [is] appointed mortal sorrow; [but] the blessed God shall come down teaching [that His] death shall bring [the] despairing rest."
Wow!!!!!
Every detail in the bible is there by design...it is a supernatural book written outside of time. God's plan of redemption was not a knee jerk response reaction to the fall in chapter 3. God had ordained it before the foundation of the world.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Solitude Needed...
Luke 5:16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.
Luke 6:12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Matthew 14:23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
Jesus had the need to be alone with His Father. I am going to say that again. Jesus had the need to be alone with His Father. He, often withdrew into the wilderness to pray and be alone. If Jesus needed to do this, girls, how much more do we? Being alone with our Father must be an integral part of our lives if we are going to shine for Him as we face the pressures and trials of this world. Jesus saw it as a necessity. He left for us the example. Follow Him in this and you will be like that tree in Psalm 1 that is planted by the rivers of water.
There are so many many distractions in this world and these distractions have increased astronomically it seems in the last 20 years. If you are so inclined, it is possible to spend most of your life distracted...never alone or at least never alone with your thoughts. As a believer we are under under the authority of our Lord Jesus and as such are in submission to Him. Jesus was in complete submission to His Father. In fact the bible tells us this in John 14:10
"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works."
or John 12:49
"For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak."
The Father in many places calls Jesus His Servant and that is exactly why He came...He served us to the end by giving His life for us so that we who believe could live forever with Him. As God's Servant He spoke only what His Father in heaven told Him to speak and did only that which He told Him to do. Girls, in order for Jesus to be directed in this manner, He had to be in close communion or communication with His Father. This is what Jesus wants for us in our own lives. We are His servants. As His servants we need to be directed by Him. In and of ourselves we should be bereft of ambition...our lives totally turned over to do His will. We as a servant, have no rights...we live solely for the Lord...to please Him. We belong to our Master. A servant does not get up in the morning and do his own thing and yet most of us do just that. We cannot be directed by Him if we are not seeking Him and spending much time with Him. God's will is in His word...we will not know what His plan is for our lives, for the year, for the month, for the day or even and especially for the hour if we are not spending time alone with Him in prayer and His word.
Jesus cared about one thing, His Father's will. That's it. How beautiful. How simple. That is how He was able to move around with peace and a complete lack of busyness and distraction. If only we could stamp that in a place where we could see it always. Our job here on earth is really so simple but we get caught up in all of its distractions and lose our focus. There really is only one thing that is needed...Here is what Jesus said to Martha in the Gospel of Luke.
" But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."
As we like Mary choose the good part...the part that will never be taken away there are so many things that happen inside our hearts by the power of His Spirit who dwells there. We are strengthened during our times with Him...strengthened in faith, strengthened with might in our inner man, strengthened with all might for all patience and long suffering with joy, strengthened with His power and directed by His word and His will, and strengthened so that His message might be preached to an unsaved world by our words and our deeds.
In addition the bible tells us that as we immerse ourselves in His word we are conformed to His image and likeness and know His perfect and good and acceptable will. For like Jesus you are here not to do your own will but the will of Him who sent you.
As we draw near to Him and become increasingly dependent on His glorious power and grace, we begin to see ourselves for who we really are...with all the dents and scrapes. The first 5 chapters of Isaiah are replete with Isaiah speaking woe unto others...but in Chapter 6 after He saw His Lord--high and lifted up---Isaiah says this: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts." As a result of this we have more compassion for others because after receiving knowledge about me, I am no longer as hard on you.
And all of this choosing the good part brings us to a place of increased usefulness as a vessel set apart for Him. The more time we spend with our Lord the deeper our roots sink into His love, mercy and grace. This grounding and depth enables us to speak words in season to those who are weary and like the tree planted by the rivers of water all that we do prospers because He is in it. When you make a practice of spending time with Him it is evident to those around you. You are radiant with His love and speak from a depth of understanding and a passion that those who have not spent time with Him do not have.
Praying that each one of you will covet this kind of solitude with Jesus.
Love
Mum
Luke 6:12 Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.
Matthew 14:23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
Jesus had the need to be alone with His Father. I am going to say that again. Jesus had the need to be alone with His Father. He, often withdrew into the wilderness to pray and be alone. If Jesus needed to do this, girls, how much more do we? Being alone with our Father must be an integral part of our lives if we are going to shine for Him as we face the pressures and trials of this world. Jesus saw it as a necessity. He left for us the example. Follow Him in this and you will be like that tree in Psalm 1 that is planted by the rivers of water.
There are so many many distractions in this world and these distractions have increased astronomically it seems in the last 20 years. If you are so inclined, it is possible to spend most of your life distracted...never alone or at least never alone with your thoughts. As a believer we are under under the authority of our Lord Jesus and as such are in submission to Him. Jesus was in complete submission to His Father. In fact the bible tells us this in John 14:10
"Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works."
or John 12:49
"For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak."
The Father in many places calls Jesus His Servant and that is exactly why He came...He served us to the end by giving His life for us so that we who believe could live forever with Him. As God's Servant He spoke only what His Father in heaven told Him to speak and did only that which He told Him to do. Girls, in order for Jesus to be directed in this manner, He had to be in close communion or communication with His Father. This is what Jesus wants for us in our own lives. We are His servants. As His servants we need to be directed by Him. In and of ourselves we should be bereft of ambition...our lives totally turned over to do His will. We as a servant, have no rights...we live solely for the Lord...to please Him. We belong to our Master. A servant does not get up in the morning and do his own thing and yet most of us do just that. We cannot be directed by Him if we are not seeking Him and spending much time with Him. God's will is in His word...we will not know what His plan is for our lives, for the year, for the month, for the day or even and especially for the hour if we are not spending time alone with Him in prayer and His word.
Jesus cared about one thing, His Father's will. That's it. How beautiful. How simple. That is how He was able to move around with peace and a complete lack of busyness and distraction. If only we could stamp that in a place where we could see it always. Our job here on earth is really so simple but we get caught up in all of its distractions and lose our focus. There really is only one thing that is needed...Here is what Jesus said to Martha in the Gospel of Luke.
" But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her."
As we like Mary choose the good part...the part that will never be taken away there are so many things that happen inside our hearts by the power of His Spirit who dwells there. We are strengthened during our times with Him...strengthened in faith, strengthened with might in our inner man, strengthened with all might for all patience and long suffering with joy, strengthened with His power and directed by His word and His will, and strengthened so that His message might be preached to an unsaved world by our words and our deeds.
In addition the bible tells us that as we immerse ourselves in His word we are conformed to His image and likeness and know His perfect and good and acceptable will. For like Jesus you are here not to do your own will but the will of Him who sent you.
As we draw near to Him and become increasingly dependent on His glorious power and grace, we begin to see ourselves for who we really are...with all the dents and scrapes. The first 5 chapters of Isaiah are replete with Isaiah speaking woe unto others...but in Chapter 6 after He saw His Lord--high and lifted up---Isaiah says this: "Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts." As a result of this we have more compassion for others because after receiving knowledge about me, I am no longer as hard on you.
And all of this choosing the good part brings us to a place of increased usefulness as a vessel set apart for Him. The more time we spend with our Lord the deeper our roots sink into His love, mercy and grace. This grounding and depth enables us to speak words in season to those who are weary and like the tree planted by the rivers of water all that we do prospers because He is in it. When you make a practice of spending time with Him it is evident to those around you. You are radiant with His love and speak from a depth of understanding and a passion that those who have not spent time with Him do not have.
Praying that each one of you will covet this kind of solitude with Jesus.
Love
Mum
Sunday, February 13, 2011
The Crimson Worm - Psalm 22:6
Psalm 22:6 But I am a worm, and no man; A reproach of men, and despised by the people.
Psalm 22 is one of the greatest prophetic messianic psalms and gives a very graphic description of the crucifixion of our Lord. David wrote this psalm 1000 years before crucifixion became a Roman method of capital punishment. The very first verse of Psalm 22 in fact, was quoted by Jesus on the cross. For this study I am looking at the word worm in verse 6. The word is from the Hebrew word towla and in the Strongs it is listed as H8438. There are many different kinds of worms but the word used here refers to a very particular kind of worm. It is the scarlet or crimson worm. In fact, wherever the bible speaks of the word scarlet, as in your sins may be as scarlet, they are referring to the color and shape of this particular worm. Remember how the bible describes the cloak that they put on Jesus.
Matthew 27:28 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.
Read and be amazed at how Jesus truly is found on every page of the Bible.
Here is part of the entry for how it is used in this particular psalm:
worm, scarlet stuff, crimson
"When the female of the scarlet worm species was ready to give birth to her young, she would attach her body to the trunk of a tree, fixing herself so firmly and permanently that she would never leave again. The eggs deposited beneath her body were thus protected until the larvae were hatched and able to enter their own life cycle. As the mother died, the crimson fluid stained her body and the surrounding wood. From the dead bodies of such female scarlet worms, the commercial scarlet dyes of antiquity were extracted."
What a picture this gives of Christ, dying on the tree, shedding his precious blood that he might 'bring many sons unto glory' (Hbr 2:10)! He died for us, that we might live through him! Psa 22:6 describes such a worm and gives us this picture of Christ. (cf. Isa 1:18)" (Henry Morris. Biblical Basis for Modern Science, Baker Book House, 1985, p. 73)
Pretty amazing...
Psalm 22 is one of the greatest prophetic messianic psalms and gives a very graphic description of the crucifixion of our Lord. David wrote this psalm 1000 years before crucifixion became a Roman method of capital punishment. The very first verse of Psalm 22 in fact, was quoted by Jesus on the cross. For this study I am looking at the word worm in verse 6. The word is from the Hebrew word towla and in the Strongs it is listed as H8438. There are many different kinds of worms but the word used here refers to a very particular kind of worm. It is the scarlet or crimson worm. In fact, wherever the bible speaks of the word scarlet, as in your sins may be as scarlet, they are referring to the color and shape of this particular worm. Remember how the bible describes the cloak that they put on Jesus.
Matthew 27:28 And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.
Read and be amazed at how Jesus truly is found on every page of the Bible.
Here is part of the entry for how it is used in this particular psalm:
worm, scarlet stuff, crimson
a) worm - the female 'coccus ilicis'
b) scarlet stuff, crimson, scarlet
1) the dye made from the dried body of the female of the worm "coccus ilicis"
The following gives a better explanation...
"When the female of the scarlet worm species was ready to give birth to her young, she would attach her body to the trunk of a tree, fixing herself so firmly and permanently that she would never leave again. The eggs deposited beneath her body were thus protected until the larvae were hatched and able to enter their own life cycle. As the mother died, the crimson fluid stained her body and the surrounding wood. From the dead bodies of such female scarlet worms, the commercial scarlet dyes of antiquity were extracted."
What a picture this gives of Christ, dying on the tree, shedding his precious blood that he might 'bring many sons unto glory' (Hbr 2:10)! He died for us, that we might live through him! Psa 22:6 describes such a worm and gives us this picture of Christ. (cf. Isa 1:18)" (Henry Morris. Biblical Basis for Modern Science, Baker Book House, 1985, p. 73)
Pretty amazing...
Friday, February 11, 2011
For Susana and Her Precious Family ---by Anna
For Susanna
In His arms she rests
Beyond all trials, beyond all tests
Happy, healthy now, it’s true
Oh Susanna, wait for me too.
Happy, healthy, safe and home
Always with Him, never alone
Above the skies
Above the sighs
Above the cries
Susanna, child of my Savior’s love
I didn’t know you here below,
But up above
By the shining river’s eternal flow
I’ll look for you, with body new.
Susanna, little one, precious in His sight
Because of you there’s a child in Haiti
For whom the dark has become the light
And that is just one
Of the many things you’ve done
Of the many crowns you’ve won.
Safe and sound, snug within His hug
Happy, healthy now, it’s true
Oh Susanna, there’s nothing about your life to rue.
Submission to Husbands 1 Peter 3:1-6
Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.--1 Peter 3:1-6
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
I love these verses and make no apology for loving them. They are some of the most beautiful, family friendly verses in the bible. This is marriage God's way and it can only be done in surrender to the Holy Spirit dwelling inside you. There cannot be two heads to a household...just like there cannot be two presidents of the United States...the result is chaos. A household that serves the Lord must be submitted to the order that God has deemed to be right and best. These verses are just practical. Jesus submitted to His Father in everything...He was not diminished by it, in fact He was exalted above every name on heaven and on earth. The safest place for anyone to be is in the will of God. The will of God for wives is to be in submission to their husbands as to the Lord. This is where they are protected. This is where they can serve God best.
By submitting to your husband's authority you are submitting to God's authority. Not submitting is rebellion (sin) plain and simple. Submission does not in any way imply inferiority nor does it say anything about the man's personal worthiness or even his spiritual condition. We submit to our husbands as a loving act of obedience to our God. This is His will for us. Submission to your husband is God's desire for you.
As women, we need to be honest with ourselves. Our husbands do not and cannot meet all our needs. They do not satisfy every desire that we have. But many of us expect just that...and some of you lay it all at your man's feet. Go back to Genesis. Your man is a sinner just as you are. You will have difficulty in the flesh as long as you live on this earth. You will have even more difficulty if you are a believer and are not obeying your Lord. Marriage can really only work God's way. He has the directions and the blueprints for it because, you know...He established it way back in Genesis. The bible tells us in several places that there is no partiality with God. We are all equal in His sight. There are, however, different roles that each of us are given. The woman's role is to be her husband's "helpmeet". This is her first and most important ministry. When Adam and Eve fell into sin in Genesis 3, God pronounced curses on each of them. Here is what He said to the woman:
"To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.”
Did you get that last part. As wives we will want to usurp our husband's authority. This is never ever pretty. The best way to bypass this curse is to obey God. Submit to your husband as unto the Lord. Obey Him as you would your Father in heaven. In fact, the best thing you could do for your marriage and your children is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Look to Him to fulfill your need and their you will find rest for your soul. Your marriage and the children that God blesses you will flourish and bear much fruit. Modern society will laugh...but God's word has stood the test of time...a marriage based on it will be blessed.
The second verse here is something that I can attest to personally. My husband and I were married for 7 years before I came to the Lord. Marriage without the Lord for us was disastrous. When I came to the Lord, my demeanor toward my husband became quieter and gentler...really through no effort of mine. It was all God. I did not even know that biblically this is what I was suppose to do. God led me and because of the work that He had done in my heart, my husband was saved a short while after I came to the Lord. The change that God wrought in him before my very eyes convinced me beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was real and He did perform miracles. I was just getting over the miracle that God had worked in my own selfish, prideful heart but now to see Him do that same work in my husband's heart brought me joy that was unspeakable.
Peter goes on to tell us not to let our adornment be only outward but to let it be the hidden person of the heart with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious to the Lord. This is what is valuable to our Lord. Our gentle and quiet spirits. This is what will attract our husband's to us. This is what will erase the lines on our faces and dissolve the hardened look It is amazing what God does with a life that is submitted to Him...that is seeking Him first above all else and giving Him pre-eminence. When both a woman and a man find their ultimate satisfaction in God their Savior and are immersed in His word, their marriage will flourish. The pressure is removed from both of their shoulders and the fighting and the hidden agendas cease. They are a joy to be around. His love and joy flows from both and their times together are sweet and rich.
Peter uses Sarah as the model of a submitted woman in verses 5 and 6 which say that Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him lord. In Genesis 18:12 Sarah says this in her heart...Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" She spoke of Abraham as her lord in her heart...she recognized the role God had given him and honored him even when she was not speaking aloud. True submission cannot be commanded...it comes from the heart and it is beautiful to behold. Jesus Christ submitted to death so that we could be saved. The key to this kind of submission is trusting God and putting Him at the center.
Purpose in your heart ahead of time to submit to your husband. Decide ahead of the opportunity to respond rightly. When you are tested, you have already decided that you are going the way of obedience. The way that wholly pleases your God. (Deciding to submit ahead of time really does help! The hard decision has already been made.) This is what Sarah did by calling him lord in her heart.
This is so needed in marriage today. You will probably not agree with everything your husband might want to do or share his vision. When your husband does share a desire or vision he has with you, share your thoughts and perspective on the subject...but end with something like, "whatever the Lord leads." If he decides to do whatever he spoke of, your job as his wife is to come alongside and help. Embrace his goals...his plans...his decision. Stay by his side. Travel when he travels...be there for him...despite the difficulty it might mean for you. If your husband leads you and your family down a wrong path, the Lord will deal with him directly. You are under God's protection because in submitting to your husband you are in His will. Your family will be blessed by your submission. Don't strive with your husband. Don't get in his way. Don't let him go it alone...he was not meant to be alone. In fact the man being alone is the only thing God said was not good in Genesis. Do what you can to help him realize the goal or the vision. The Lord will bless this kind of attitude abundantly.
Love
Mom
Note: Christian submission never involves disobedience to God, nor does it include remaining in unsafe situations or participating in anything that our conscience bans.
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
I love these verses and make no apology for loving them. They are some of the most beautiful, family friendly verses in the bible. This is marriage God's way and it can only be done in surrender to the Holy Spirit dwelling inside you. There cannot be two heads to a household...just like there cannot be two presidents of the United States...the result is chaos. A household that serves the Lord must be submitted to the order that God has deemed to be right and best. These verses are just practical. Jesus submitted to His Father in everything...He was not diminished by it, in fact He was exalted above every name on heaven and on earth. The safest place for anyone to be is in the will of God. The will of God for wives is to be in submission to their husbands as to the Lord. This is where they are protected. This is where they can serve God best.
By submitting to your husband's authority you are submitting to God's authority. Not submitting is rebellion (sin) plain and simple. Submission does not in any way imply inferiority nor does it say anything about the man's personal worthiness or even his spiritual condition. We submit to our husbands as a loving act of obedience to our God. This is His will for us. Submission to your husband is God's desire for you.
As women, we need to be honest with ourselves. Our husbands do not and cannot meet all our needs. They do not satisfy every desire that we have. But many of us expect just that...and some of you lay it all at your man's feet. Go back to Genesis. Your man is a sinner just as you are. You will have difficulty in the flesh as long as you live on this earth. You will have even more difficulty if you are a believer and are not obeying your Lord. Marriage can really only work God's way. He has the directions and the blueprints for it because, you know...He established it way back in Genesis. The bible tells us in several places that there is no partiality with God. We are all equal in His sight. There are, however, different roles that each of us are given. The woman's role is to be her husband's "helpmeet". This is her first and most important ministry. When Adam and Eve fell into sin in Genesis 3, God pronounced curses on each of them. Here is what He said to the woman:
"To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire shall be for your husband, And he shall rule over you.”
Did you get that last part. As wives we will want to usurp our husband's authority. This is never ever pretty. The best way to bypass this curse is to obey God. Submit to your husband as unto the Lord. Obey Him as you would your Father in heaven. In fact, the best thing you could do for your marriage and your children is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Look to Him to fulfill your need and their you will find rest for your soul. Your marriage and the children that God blesses you will flourish and bear much fruit. Modern society will laugh...but God's word has stood the test of time...a marriage based on it will be blessed.
The second verse here is something that I can attest to personally. My husband and I were married for 7 years before I came to the Lord. Marriage without the Lord for us was disastrous. When I came to the Lord, my demeanor toward my husband became quieter and gentler...really through no effort of mine. It was all God. I did not even know that biblically this is what I was suppose to do. God led me and because of the work that He had done in my heart, my husband was saved a short while after I came to the Lord. The change that God wrought in him before my very eyes convinced me beyond a shadow of a doubt that God was real and He did perform miracles. I was just getting over the miracle that God had worked in my own selfish, prideful heart but now to see Him do that same work in my husband's heart brought me joy that was unspeakable.
Peter goes on to tell us not to let our adornment be only outward but to let it be the hidden person of the heart with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious to the Lord. This is what is valuable to our Lord. Our gentle and quiet spirits. This is what will attract our husband's to us. This is what will erase the lines on our faces and dissolve the hardened look It is amazing what God does with a life that is submitted to Him...that is seeking Him first above all else and giving Him pre-eminence. When both a woman and a man find their ultimate satisfaction in God their Savior and are immersed in His word, their marriage will flourish. The pressure is removed from both of their shoulders and the fighting and the hidden agendas cease. They are a joy to be around. His love and joy flows from both and their times together are sweet and rich.
Peter uses Sarah as the model of a submitted woman in verses 5 and 6 which say that Sarah obeyed Abraham calling him lord. In Genesis 18:12 Sarah says this in her heart...Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, "After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?" She spoke of Abraham as her lord in her heart...she recognized the role God had given him and honored him even when she was not speaking aloud. True submission cannot be commanded...it comes from the heart and it is beautiful to behold. Jesus Christ submitted to death so that we could be saved. The key to this kind of submission is trusting God and putting Him at the center.
Purpose in your heart ahead of time to submit to your husband. Decide ahead of the opportunity to respond rightly. When you are tested, you have already decided that you are going the way of obedience. The way that wholly pleases your God. (Deciding to submit ahead of time really does help! The hard decision has already been made.) This is what Sarah did by calling him lord in her heart.
This is so needed in marriage today. You will probably not agree with everything your husband might want to do or share his vision. When your husband does share a desire or vision he has with you, share your thoughts and perspective on the subject...but end with something like, "whatever the Lord leads." If he decides to do whatever he spoke of, your job as his wife is to come alongside and help. Embrace his goals...his plans...his decision. Stay by his side. Travel when he travels...be there for him...despite the difficulty it might mean for you. If your husband leads you and your family down a wrong path, the Lord will deal with him directly. You are under God's protection because in submitting to your husband you are in His will. Your family will be blessed by your submission. Don't strive with your husband. Don't get in his way. Don't let him go it alone...he was not meant to be alone. In fact the man being alone is the only thing God said was not good in Genesis. Do what you can to help him realize the goal or the vision. The Lord will bless this kind of attitude abundantly.
Love
Mom
Note: Christian submission never involves disobedience to God, nor does it include remaining in unsafe situations or participating in anything that our conscience bans.
Love
Mom
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Blessed Be The Name of the Lord by Rebecca
One moment, Job was the owner of “seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys” (vs. 3); he was the master of “a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the peopl ...e of the East.” (vs. 3); and he was the father of ten, undoubtedly much-beloved, children: seven sons and three daughters (vs. 2).
The next moment it was all gone. The disastrous reports from surviving servants arrived almost simultaneously. One after the other, before each previous speaker was even finished, the servants delivered their devastating news.
“The oxen were plowing and the donkeys feeding beside them, when the Sabeans raided them and took them away—indeed they have killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” (vs. 14-15)
“The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” (vs. 16)
“The Chaldeans formed three bands, raided the camels and took them away, yes, and killed the servants with the edge of the sword; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” (vs. 17)
“Your sons and daughters were eating and drinking wine in their oldest brother’s house, and suddenly a great wind came from across the wilderness and struck the four corners of the house, and it fell on the young people, and they are dead; and I alone have escaped to tell you!” (vs. 18-19)
But what did Job do? “Then Job arose, tore his robe, and shaved his head; and he fell to the ground and worshiped. And he said: ‘Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return there. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.’”
Job refused to curse God or charge Him with wrong. He refused to scream and wail and whine and complain. He refused to rail against his Creator. He grieved deeply, yes, but even in his grief, Job kept his eyes on the truth. As human beings, God’s creations, He owes us nothing. In fact, as fallen human beings, we deserve nothing from God except His wrath and eternal judgment. Even Job himself, though blameless and upright, was a sinner. We all are. We all deserve death. The fact that we are not given it – that the Lord sacrificed His own Son to redeem us – that He bears with us with much longsuffering – that He longs to make us His children and heirs of His glory – that He restrains the evil in this world (for now) so that we do see some good still – is unfathomable grace. Incredible as it may seem to us, Job had neither right nor cause to protest; the only judicious response was exactly the one he demonstrated: worship. Job fell on the ground and worshiped the Almighty God, who alone is good and worthy of praise.
How do I respond to suffering? Do I look past the pain and see the Truth walking on the midst of the storm? The Lord gave His very life for me. How shall He not freely give me all things? This life is but for a moment; eternity is forever! The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. (Romans 8:18) My outward man may be perishing, but my inward man is being renewed day by day. The trials of believers are our “light affliction,” in this life, which are but for a moment, and are working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) Job suffered greatly. But the Lord turned his mourning into dancing; his sorrow into joy; his Valley of Baca into a spring. He used Job’s trials to bless him that much more. The God of Job is my God – the God who performs all things for me, who perfects all that concerns me, and who works all things together for good for me. I would not trade the trials He’s blessed me with for the world! They yield fruit far more precious than gold that perishes. They tap into a fountain of springing joy that cannot be taken away. Better yet, they shine the light of God into a world filled with death and despair!
2 Corinthians 4:7-11, “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh.”
As a believer, I know that the heartbeat of time I spend here is the worst I’ll ever know. This life, the one in which the Lord works all things – even those intended for evil – together for good for me, is the closest I will ever come to hell. No wonder the Apostle Paul was always so full of joy! No wonder believers undergoing heartbreaking trials can lift their hands in praise! No wonder believers thrown to the wild beasts in the Roman arenas could die with a smile! No wonder martyrs who were burned at the stake could sing even as the flames soared into the sky! The joy of the Lord is our strength.
But an unbeliever? Their life in this broken, evil world is the closest they will ever come to heaven. And the worst is still to come. The Lord’s restraining hand will be removed from the earth; His Church will have vanished. He’ll have brought His bride home to hide her away from the Great Tribulation that will come upon the earth. I know where I’ll be: with my Savior in the place He has prepared for me. But what about you? Are you ready? Will you surrender to the Lord as Job did? Because the time is short! Don’t wait! Don’t waste this period of grace! Fall on the ground NOW and worship the One who is stretching out His hands to save you.
Revelation 3:10-12, “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I [Jesus] also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.”
Loving your Brother...Cain and Abel
1 John 3:11-12 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
This is the heart of Jesus for each of us. This is the message that we heard from the beginning...that we should love one another. The word here for love is the Greek word "agapao". This is an unselfish, self sacrificing love. The kind of love Jesus had for us on the cross. Go to the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians. Read verses 4-8 inserting Jesus' name where the word love is. This is the kind of love that is required and it is impossible outside of the Spirit of God.
In the next verse John points back to the first recorded instance of a man who did not love his brother. Cain showed he was of the wicked one and not a believer because he killed his brother. The book of Hebrews says that Abel offered his sacrifice to God by faith and it was accepted. Cain offered to God the work of his hands...the work of his own effort and it was rejected. This rejection caused Cain to develop a bitterness of heart toward his brother Abel. So much so that Cain murdered him.
And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."
People who do right expose those who do not. This is what happened with Cain. God gave Cain a chance to repent and do what was right but Cain chose to instead let his bitterness and sin rule. He killed Abel not for any fault of Abel's but the reverse. He killed Abel because Abel was good. If we live for God, the world will often hate us, because we make them painfully aware of their sin. Be aware of any heart of bitterness that you might have toward a fellow believer...keep your heart with all diligence for out of it spring the issues of life. Repent and overcome your evil with good. Remember what God said to Cain...if you do well, will you not be accepted...rule over your sin by surrendering in obedience to the Spirit who dwells within you.
Love
Mum
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
This is the heart of Jesus for each of us. This is the message that we heard from the beginning...that we should love one another. The word here for love is the Greek word "agapao". This is an unselfish, self sacrificing love. The kind of love Jesus had for us on the cross. Go to the 13th chapter of 1 Corinthians. Read verses 4-8 inserting Jesus' name where the word love is. This is the kind of love that is required and it is impossible outside of the Spirit of God.
In the next verse John points back to the first recorded instance of a man who did not love his brother. Cain showed he was of the wicked one and not a believer because he killed his brother. The book of Hebrews says that Abel offered his sacrifice to God by faith and it was accepted. Cain offered to God the work of his hands...the work of his own effort and it was rejected. This rejection caused Cain to develop a bitterness of heart toward his brother Abel. So much so that Cain murdered him.
And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. So the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it."
People who do right expose those who do not. This is what happened with Cain. God gave Cain a chance to repent and do what was right but Cain chose to instead let his bitterness and sin rule. He killed Abel not for any fault of Abel's but the reverse. He killed Abel because Abel was good. If we live for God, the world will often hate us, because we make them painfully aware of their sin. Be aware of any heart of bitterness that you might have toward a fellow believer...keep your heart with all diligence for out of it spring the issues of life. Repent and overcome your evil with good. Remember what God said to Cain...if you do well, will you not be accepted...rule over your sin by surrendering in obedience to the Spirit who dwells within you.
Love
Mum
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Faith and George Mueller - by Anna
Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory
I was reading my Literature book this morning, and I found a passage on George Mueller—by Anna Talbott McPherson, and it was called “Beloved Friend of Little Waifs”…I did a test on that unit, and you have to know the authors…you get the pic...ture. Anyway, the unit was called Faith and Hope, but it was mainly on faith.
I was reading my Literature book this morning, and I found a passage on George Mueller—by Anna Talbott McPherson, and it was called “Beloved Friend of Little Waifs”…I did a test on that unit, and you have to know the authors…you get the pic...ture. Anyway, the unit was called Faith and Hope, but it was mainly on faith.
Faith. That intangible, nonphysical quality that is somehow both those things, and yet, its effect is very tangible. Just ask George Mueller.
At one point in his life, he spent time in jail for collecting tax money and spending it on himself. At another, the same man was regularly handling hundreds and thousands of dollars—and spending it all on friendless little waifs.
Anybody who hasn’t experienced firsthand the life-changing, world-turning-upside-down-
“Here was a day when I died; died to self, my opinions, preferences, tastes and will; died to the world, its approval or censure; died to the approval or blame even of my brethren or friends; and since then I have studied only to show myself approved unto God.”
The old George Mueller, the former, sinful man, died. The new George Mueller, empowered by Christ within and a child of God forever and ever, was raised up. That’s what happened to him.
This new George Mueller had faith. One time in his mission for the children, they ran out of money. There were dozens of children in the orphanage, and all of them usually received a mug of milk during breakfast. And all that was left—keep in mind, there wasn’t a cent to buy any more—had run out the day before.
George Mueller prayed. The next morning, the orphans were all trooping down to breakfast. Still no milk, but they knew it was coming. It had always come before.
This new George Mueller had faith. One time in his mission for the children, they ran out of money. There were dozens of children in the orphanage, and all of them usually received a mug of milk during breakfast. And all that was left—keep in mind, there wasn’t a cent to buy any more—had run out the day before.
George Mueller prayed. The next morning, the orphans were all trooping down to breakfast. Still no milk, but they knew it was coming. It had always come before.
Mueller wasn’t worried. He’d prayed. He’d given it to his Father, and much of the time he’d spent praying the previous night was actually thanking God in ADVANCE for the milk!
They were all just sitting down when there was a knock on the door. The milkman’s cart had broken down just outside, and seeing as the gallons and gallons of milk with him weren’t going to be able to market today because of that, the milkman offered it all, free of charge, to the orphans. More than enough for every single mug to be filled.
And that was just one of the miracles George Mueller witnessed almost daily. Some were as simple as a deck chair provided for his sick wife. Some were just a bit more astonishing—just ask the bewildered sea captain who’d informed Mr. Mueller that the fog surrounding the ship was going make their arrival late. Mueller calmly told him to step outside, and that once he did, the fog would be gone.
Guess what? Bye-bye fog. And all because Mueller prayed and had faith like a child.
I’ve got wants and needs just like Mueller—although I daresay a little less important than caring for 50,000 orphaned children—and God knows them too. And He will answer them. Maybe not the way I want Him to, but I’ll still win out in the end no matter what happens. His will is best. He knows what I need and what I don’t need. I’m His daughter, and He loves me. (I still can’t fathom why; what have I got to offer the King of Kings?) He’s never going to leave me or forsake me. He’s written me on the palm of His Hand. My walls are continually before Him. (Is. 49:15-16.) He knows what I want most in the world, and He knows what’s best for me. (And you should see what He got me for Christmas this year! I’m still ecstatic.) And I know—I have faith—that He’ll come to take me home with Him.
One of these days.
13 Reasons Why the Church will be Raptured before the Tribulation by Jon Courson
The Rapture Controversy
A Topical Study of Revelation 3:10
The Book of Acts tells us the Berean believers were more noble than their neighbors in Thessalonica because the Bereans searched the Scriptures to validate what Paul taught them (Act_17:11). So, too, I want our church family to be able to say, "Here's why we believe what we do." To this end, I would like to submit to you thirteen reasons why I believe the church will be raptured before the Tribulation.
"Well, I have friends who say the church will go through the Tribulation. Why get all concerned about this issue?" you might say. My answer is because I believe one's view on Bible prophecy and the timing of the Rapture will affect the way one lives out his faith. Why does the debate continue concerning the timing of this event? I believe it is due to misunderstanding in three areas:
The Elect
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.—Mat_24:21-22
On the basis of this verse, people say "Aha! Here we see the elect in the Tribulation"—failing to realize that the term "elect" refers to three groups of people: Christians (Col_3:12), Israel (Isa_45:4), and those who will be saved in the Tribulation (Mat_24:21-22).
To which of the elect does Jesus refer in Mat_24:21? I believe the answer lies in the verse preceding it…
But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.—Mat_24:20
Even to this day, transportation in Israel is shut down on the Sabbath. Since the Sabbath means nothing to Gentile nations, the application to Israel is clear.
The Trumpets
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.—1Co_15:52
On the basis of this verse, people say, "Aha! According to Revelation 11, the seventh, or last trump signaling the Rapture, will take place midway through the Tribulation." But wait a minute. The seventh trumpet of Revelation 11 is sounded by angels, whereas 1Th_4:16 makes it clear that the last trump is sounded by God.
In Exodus 19, God sounded the first trump when the Jews were gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai to hear the law. The last trump will sound when the church is gathered to meet the Lord in the air and taken to heaven. Thus, the Jews hear the first trump; the church hears the last. The following thirteen reasons are why I believe this trump of God will sound before the Tribulation…
1. The doctrine is to be a comforting one (1Th_4:18). The belief that the Rapture happens after or in the middle of the Tribulation is anything but comforting because it means believers must endure unbelievable agony before they are taken to heaven.
2. The Tribulation is the outpouring of the wrath of the Lamb—and God has not appointed us to wrath (1Th_5:9-11). The wrath that should have been hurled at you and poured out on me was absorbed by our Hero, our Lord, our Savior on the Cross of Calvary.
3. Rapture before the Tribulation is illustrated in Genesis 19, where we see angels delivering Lot and his family before the destruction of Sodom. How do I know this is a picture of the Rapture? Because in reference to this, Peter writes, "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations" (2Pe_2:9). The word translated "temptations" is the same word translated "tribulation."
4. Rapture before the Tribulation is illustrated in Enoch, who was taken to heaven prior to the Flood (Gen_5:24). "Wrong analogy," some protest. "The correct picture is Noah who went through the tribulation of the Flood." But wait a minute. Noah is not a picture of the church, but of Israel, who will indeed go through the Tribulation—and will at last come to Jesus as a result.
5. Rapture before the Tribulation is illustrated in Daniel 3. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar, they were thrown into a fiery furnace. But where was their friend Daniel? Either he did, indeed, bow to Nebuchadnezzar—which is completely contrary to the rest of the book—or, his omission is in itself a picture of the Rapture. Bible scholars believe that, very likely, he was away on official business as an emissary. All we know with certainty, however, is that he was taken out of the scene.
6. Jesus told us to pray that we would be raptured before the Tribulation. In speaking of the Tribulation in His Olivet Discourse, Jesus said, "Watch and pray always that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things" (see Luk_21:36). How are we accounted worthy? One way: We are worthy because of what Jesus did for us on the Cross of Calvary.
7. Pre-Tribulation Rapture makes sense historically and scripturally. In accordance with Jewish custom, when a man came of age to marry, he would add a room on to his father's house for himself and his bride. When the addition was complete, and when the father gave the go-ahead, a trumpet would sound, and the bridegroom would go to meet his bride. Following the wedding ceremony, the bridegroom would take his bride to his father's house, where they would be tucked away for seven days in the newly completed "bridal suite." At the end of seven days, the bridegroom would come out with his bride and introduce her to the community.
That's exactly what's going to happen with us. Jesus, our Bridegroom, is preparing a place for us in heaven, His Father's house (Joh_14:2). At the appointed time known only by the Father, a trumpet will sound and Jesus will meet us, His bride, in the air to escort us up to the "Bridal Suite" He has prepared for us. We will remain with Him in heaven for seven years before we are presented to the world, where we will rule and reign with Him.
8. Pre-Tribulation Rapture follows the outline of the Book of Revelation. If you don't embrace a Pre-Tribulation view, your understanding of Revelation becomes as twisted as a pretzel because you've got to put chapters 4 and 5 after chapter 11, if you hold to a Mid-Tribulation stance; after chapter 19 if you take a Post-Tribulation point of view. Only a Pre-Tribulation placement of the Rapture allows for a consistent flow of the Book of Revelation.
9. Pre-Tribulation Rapture allows for the conditional aspect of the Tribulation. To the church at Thyatira, Jesus said, "If you don't repent, you will experience Tribulation" (see Rev_2:22). If the Rapture won't occur until after the Tribulation, what would be the reason for this warning of Jesus?
"Well, didn't Jesus say in this world we would have tribulation?" you ask.
Yes, but the crushing the believer goes through in the world is from Satan. The Tribulation of chapters 6-19, on the other hand, is from God as He pours out His wrath on a Christ-rejecting world. Folks, God will not allow anyone to get hit from both sides. If we experience tribulation in the world because of our faith, we will not experience the Tribulation of those who have none.
10. Pre-Tribulation Rapture allows for the unknown time of the Lord's return. According to Daniel's prophecy, three and a half biblical years (a Biblical year being three hundred sixty days) from the day Antichrist enters the temple and demands worship midway through the Tribulation, the Lord will return. Consequently, if believers were on earth during the Tribulation, they would be able to predict the exact time of the Second Coming—three and a half biblical years, or forty-two months, or one thousand two hundred sixty days after Antichrist enters the temple. The problem is, 1Th_5:2 and Mat_24:36 make it clear that no one knows the hour of His coming. Therefore, it follows that believers must be absent at this time.
11. The Tribulation is unnecessary for the church. Referred to as the time of Jacob's trouble, the Tribulation targets Israel, for through it she will be awakened and at last see Jesus as the Messiah (Deu_4:29-30). The promises God made to Abraham and to the Jewish people have not been forgotten, gang. God will work with Israel in the days of the Tribulation. He will make Himself known to them—and they shall indeed be saved.
12. Pre-Tribulation Rapture squares with the prophecy of Daniel. At the end of Daniel 9, Daniel was given the timetable for all of Jewish history in units of heptads, or weeks. It is clear from this all-important passage of Scripture that the sixty-nine weeks of Daniel refer to the time between the commandment to rebuild the temple, given in 445 B.C. by Artaxerxes, and the coming of Messiah, fulfilled perfectly on Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. But Daniel was also told, "Seventy weeks are determined upon Israel." To what does the seventieth week of Daniel refer? To the Tribulation. You see, the seventy weeks of Daniel refer to Israel. The church was not present for the first sixty-nine weeks. And the seventieth week doesn't begin until after the church is raptured. In other words, if the church was not present in the first sixty-nine weeks, why would she be present in the last week? She won't. She'll be in heaven.
Those are twelve reasons I believe the Rapture will occur before the Tribulation. But the most important one is the following:
A Pre-Tribulation Rapture viewpoint makes one seek first the kingdom. "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing" (Mat_24:45-46). Who is the one who will have authority and purpose in eternity? He who is watching for Jesus' coming. But this is impossible for those who believe the Tribulation precedes the Rapture because they must first watch for Antichrist, then the rebuilding of the temple, and finally the Abomination of Desolation when Antichrist demands to be worshiped as God.
Two factors kept the early church on fire: the empowering of the Holy Ghost and the belief that Jesus would return during their lifetime. "But He didn't come back in their day," you say. And you're right—but do you think those early believers are in heaven now, saying, "We didn't get bogged down in materialism or trivial pursuits. We sought the Lord. We witnessed fervently. We lived for the kingdom. If only we knew He wasn't coming, we could have played more racquetball"? No! They're ecstatic that they chose to do what Jesus says to do in every generation—to watch, to be ready, to live for His coming.
Whether or not you believe in a pre-Tribulation Rapture will not affect where you'll ultimately end up. If you're a believer, you'll be in heaven no matter what position you hold. But your viewpoint concerning the Rapture very definitely affects how you live your life this side of eternity. If you do not believe in a pre-Tribulation Rapture, you cannot look for Jesus Christ because, according to your eschatological viewpoint, Antichrist must appear first. Therefore, you find yourself scanning the news, checking out current events, watching the global scene for Antichrist rather than for Jesus. And this puts believers in a "survivalist" mentality. "We're going through the Tribulation," they say. "We better get ready." Is this what Jesus meant? Does He want us storing gold and guns? Or does He want us living every day in hopeful anticipation that today could be the day we go to heaven?
"I want you looking for Jesus every day," John said, "because he who has the hope of the imminent, sudden appearing of Christ and the Rapture of the church purifies himself" (see 1Jn_3:3). That is why I believe your view on the Rapture is of utmost importance. Live in constant expectancy of Jesus' return, gang. Be watching and be ready.
A Topical Study of Revelation 3:10
The Book of Acts tells us the Berean believers were more noble than their neighbors in Thessalonica because the Bereans searched the Scriptures to validate what Paul taught them (Act_17:11). So, too, I want our church family to be able to say, "Here's why we believe what we do." To this end, I would like to submit to you thirteen reasons why I believe the church will be raptured before the Tribulation.
"Well, I have friends who say the church will go through the Tribulation. Why get all concerned about this issue?" you might say. My answer is because I believe one's view on Bible prophecy and the timing of the Rapture will affect the way one lives out his faith. Why does the debate continue concerning the timing of this event? I believe it is due to misunderstanding in three areas:
The Elect
For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be. And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.—Mat_24:21-22
On the basis of this verse, people say "Aha! Here we see the elect in the Tribulation"—failing to realize that the term "elect" refers to three groups of people: Christians (Col_3:12), Israel (Isa_45:4), and those who will be saved in the Tribulation (Mat_24:21-22).
To which of the elect does Jesus refer in Mat_24:21? I believe the answer lies in the verse preceding it…
But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day.—Mat_24:20
Even to this day, transportation in Israel is shut down on the Sabbath. Since the Sabbath means nothing to Gentile nations, the application to Israel is clear.
The Trumpets
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.—1Co_15:52
On the basis of this verse, people say, "Aha! According to Revelation 11, the seventh, or last trump signaling the Rapture, will take place midway through the Tribulation." But wait a minute. The seventh trumpet of Revelation 11 is sounded by angels, whereas 1Th_4:16 makes it clear that the last trump is sounded by God.
In Exodus 19, God sounded the first trump when the Jews were gathered at the foot of Mount Sinai to hear the law. The last trump will sound when the church is gathered to meet the Lord in the air and taken to heaven. Thus, the Jews hear the first trump; the church hears the last. The following thirteen reasons are why I believe this trump of God will sound before the Tribulation…
1. The doctrine is to be a comforting one (1Th_4:18). The belief that the Rapture happens after or in the middle of the Tribulation is anything but comforting because it means believers must endure unbelievable agony before they are taken to heaven.
2. The Tribulation is the outpouring of the wrath of the Lamb—and God has not appointed us to wrath (1Th_5:9-11). The wrath that should have been hurled at you and poured out on me was absorbed by our Hero, our Lord, our Savior on the Cross of Calvary.
3. Rapture before the Tribulation is illustrated in Genesis 19, where we see angels delivering Lot and his family before the destruction of Sodom. How do I know this is a picture of the Rapture? Because in reference to this, Peter writes, "The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations" (2Pe_2:9). The word translated "temptations" is the same word translated "tribulation."
4. Rapture before the Tribulation is illustrated in Enoch, who was taken to heaven prior to the Flood (Gen_5:24). "Wrong analogy," some protest. "The correct picture is Noah who went through the tribulation of the Flood." But wait a minute. Noah is not a picture of the church, but of Israel, who will indeed go through the Tribulation—and will at last come to Jesus as a result.
5. Rapture before the Tribulation is illustrated in Daniel 3. When Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego refused to worship Nebuchadnezzar, they were thrown into a fiery furnace. But where was their friend Daniel? Either he did, indeed, bow to Nebuchadnezzar—which is completely contrary to the rest of the book—or, his omission is in itself a picture of the Rapture. Bible scholars believe that, very likely, he was away on official business as an emissary. All we know with certainty, however, is that he was taken out of the scene.
6. Jesus told us to pray that we would be raptured before the Tribulation. In speaking of the Tribulation in His Olivet Discourse, Jesus said, "Watch and pray always that you may be accounted worthy to escape all these things" (see Luk_21:36). How are we accounted worthy? One way: We are worthy because of what Jesus did for us on the Cross of Calvary.
7. Pre-Tribulation Rapture makes sense historically and scripturally. In accordance with Jewish custom, when a man came of age to marry, he would add a room on to his father's house for himself and his bride. When the addition was complete, and when the father gave the go-ahead, a trumpet would sound, and the bridegroom would go to meet his bride. Following the wedding ceremony, the bridegroom would take his bride to his father's house, where they would be tucked away for seven days in the newly completed "bridal suite." At the end of seven days, the bridegroom would come out with his bride and introduce her to the community.
That's exactly what's going to happen with us. Jesus, our Bridegroom, is preparing a place for us in heaven, His Father's house (Joh_14:2). At the appointed time known only by the Father, a trumpet will sound and Jesus will meet us, His bride, in the air to escort us up to the "Bridal Suite" He has prepared for us. We will remain with Him in heaven for seven years before we are presented to the world, where we will rule and reign with Him.
8. Pre-Tribulation Rapture follows the outline of the Book of Revelation. If you don't embrace a Pre-Tribulation view, your understanding of Revelation becomes as twisted as a pretzel because you've got to put chapters 4 and 5 after chapter 11, if you hold to a Mid-Tribulation stance; after chapter 19 if you take a Post-Tribulation point of view. Only a Pre-Tribulation placement of the Rapture allows for a consistent flow of the Book of Revelation.
9. Pre-Tribulation Rapture allows for the conditional aspect of the Tribulation. To the church at Thyatira, Jesus said, "If you don't repent, you will experience Tribulation" (see Rev_2:22). If the Rapture won't occur until after the Tribulation, what would be the reason for this warning of Jesus?
"Well, didn't Jesus say in this world we would have tribulation?" you ask.
Yes, but the crushing the believer goes through in the world is from Satan. The Tribulation of chapters 6-19, on the other hand, is from God as He pours out His wrath on a Christ-rejecting world. Folks, God will not allow anyone to get hit from both sides. If we experience tribulation in the world because of our faith, we will not experience the Tribulation of those who have none.
10. Pre-Tribulation Rapture allows for the unknown time of the Lord's return. According to Daniel's prophecy, three and a half biblical years (a Biblical year being three hundred sixty days) from the day Antichrist enters the temple and demands worship midway through the Tribulation, the Lord will return. Consequently, if believers were on earth during the Tribulation, they would be able to predict the exact time of the Second Coming—three and a half biblical years, or forty-two months, or one thousand two hundred sixty days after Antichrist enters the temple. The problem is, 1Th_5:2 and Mat_24:36 make it clear that no one knows the hour of His coming. Therefore, it follows that believers must be absent at this time.
11. The Tribulation is unnecessary for the church. Referred to as the time of Jacob's trouble, the Tribulation targets Israel, for through it she will be awakened and at last see Jesus as the Messiah (Deu_4:29-30). The promises God made to Abraham and to the Jewish people have not been forgotten, gang. God will work with Israel in the days of the Tribulation. He will make Himself known to them—and they shall indeed be saved.
12. Pre-Tribulation Rapture squares with the prophecy of Daniel. At the end of Daniel 9, Daniel was given the timetable for all of Jewish history in units of heptads, or weeks. It is clear from this all-important passage of Scripture that the sixty-nine weeks of Daniel refer to the time between the commandment to rebuild the temple, given in 445 B.C. by Artaxerxes, and the coming of Messiah, fulfilled perfectly on Palm Sunday when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. But Daniel was also told, "Seventy weeks are determined upon Israel." To what does the seventieth week of Daniel refer? To the Tribulation. You see, the seventy weeks of Daniel refer to Israel. The church was not present for the first sixty-nine weeks. And the seventieth week doesn't begin until after the church is raptured. In other words, if the church was not present in the first sixty-nine weeks, why would she be present in the last week? She won't. She'll be in heaven.
Those are twelve reasons I believe the Rapture will occur before the Tribulation. But the most important one is the following:
A Pre-Tribulation Rapture viewpoint makes one seek first the kingdom. "Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season? Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing" (Mat_24:45-46). Who is the one who will have authority and purpose in eternity? He who is watching for Jesus' coming. But this is impossible for those who believe the Tribulation precedes the Rapture because they must first watch for Antichrist, then the rebuilding of the temple, and finally the Abomination of Desolation when Antichrist demands to be worshiped as God.
Two factors kept the early church on fire: the empowering of the Holy Ghost and the belief that Jesus would return during their lifetime. "But He didn't come back in their day," you say. And you're right—but do you think those early believers are in heaven now, saying, "We didn't get bogged down in materialism or trivial pursuits. We sought the Lord. We witnessed fervently. We lived for the kingdom. If only we knew He wasn't coming, we could have played more racquetball"? No! They're ecstatic that they chose to do what Jesus says to do in every generation—to watch, to be ready, to live for His coming.
Whether or not you believe in a pre-Tribulation Rapture will not affect where you'll ultimately end up. If you're a believer, you'll be in heaven no matter what position you hold. But your viewpoint concerning the Rapture very definitely affects how you live your life this side of eternity. If you do not believe in a pre-Tribulation Rapture, you cannot look for Jesus Christ because, according to your eschatological viewpoint, Antichrist must appear first. Therefore, you find yourself scanning the news, checking out current events, watching the global scene for Antichrist rather than for Jesus. And this puts believers in a "survivalist" mentality. "We're going through the Tribulation," they say. "We better get ready." Is this what Jesus meant? Does He want us storing gold and guns? Or does He want us living every day in hopeful anticipation that today could be the day we go to heaven?
"I want you looking for Jesus every day," John said, "because he who has the hope of the imminent, sudden appearing of Christ and the Rapture of the church purifies himself" (see 1Jn_3:3). That is why I believe your view on the Rapture is of utmost importance. Live in constant expectancy of Jesus' return, gang. Be watching and be ready.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Christophobia: Gain, Find, Know, Attain - Part 1
Christophobia: Gain, Find, Know, Attain - Part 1: "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of al..."
Lessons from Jeremiah the Prophet...
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
We have reached the end of the Book of Jeremiah. The fall of Jerusalem occurred, just as Jeremiah had predicted. Judgment had come. God suffers long and is kind, but He is not indifferent to the evil that goes on. Judgment does come...sin has consequences. The people of Judah had forsaken the living God, the fountain of living waters and carved out for themselves cisterns that could not hold water...they served the useless gods of the people around them and practiced the evil that they required....
There were so many lessons and applications for us to contemplate in the book of Jeremiah. I will not go back and review all of them, but I thought that we could look at a few.
The first is the picture we get of God's outstretched hand of mercy toward His disobedient and contrary people. Throughout the Book of Jeremiah what has struck me is our Lord's faithfulness, long suffering and mercy toward His people. Judah had rejected the word of the Lord, worshiped idols and believed the false prophets. They had walked very far from from the "old paths" where they would find rest for their souls. And yet, God pleads with His beloved people relentlessly throughout the book to come back to Him. It is such a beautiful picture to me as a mom. God warns His children to the very end...He never gives up. He so does not want them to suffer and face judgment. He yearns for them jealously and wants them with Him. When judgment does come, however, the people had no one to blame but themselves. How grieving it is when our children do not hear and go the wrong way. How difficult it is to watch knowing that trouble is ahead for them.
Another beautiful picture in Jeremiah is the prophet's faithfulness. He walked through life obeying God at every turn...despite what it looked like to those around Him...despite the lack of fruit...despite the humiliation and persecution and through it all Jeremiah was preserved and delivered by His God.
Jeremiah preached to the people for 40 years without any fruit. The results of his ministry are not what mattered to God. His heart is what mattered to God. Just as our hearts and not our results are what matters to God. I love that about God..He is so different from the world. Aside from whatever else the Spirit might accomplish through us, He also does a work in our hearts. That brings me to what I thought was the most poignant lesson in Jeremiah...the work that God accomplished in the prophet's heart.
As the prophet obeyed and communed with His God and shared in the fellowship of His suffering, he became like Jesus. Did you get that...the biggest lesson (for me) in Jeremiah is found in the transformation that occurred as he obeyed His Lord and stood on and for His word. In comparing Jesus and Jeremiah we find many similarities. They both rallied against outward religion, they both spoke the truth and were unpopular, they both wept over the city of Jerusalem, they were both men of sorrows and acquainted with grief, they both faced the rejection of their relatives and countrymen, and they both were despised and rejected by men.
Yet in all this Jeremiah was more than a conqueror through Him who loved Him. Why? Through all these things Jeremiah began to resemble his Lord...to be conformed into His image. God graciously used him to warn his beloved countrymen of the coming judgment...but the results of Jeremiah's ministry were up to God. Despite the outward failure of his ministry to the rebellious nation, Jeremiah knew Him and the fellowship of His sufferings...being conformed to His image as he daily died to himself and lived for His God's glory. This is what mattered most in the end to Jeremiah...living for the eternal and not the temporary.This girls is what is also most important in our own lives. Jeremiah is rejoicing in His Savior now...living eternally with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. His rebellious countrymen are suffering eternal torment in separation from God for rejecting His word.
Philippians 3:10 That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
2nd Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Love
Mom
We have reached the end of the Book of Jeremiah. The fall of Jerusalem occurred, just as Jeremiah had predicted. Judgment had come. God suffers long and is kind, but He is not indifferent to the evil that goes on. Judgment does come...sin has consequences. The people of Judah had forsaken the living God, the fountain of living waters and carved out for themselves cisterns that could not hold water...they served the useless gods of the people around them and practiced the evil that they required....
There were so many lessons and applications for us to contemplate in the book of Jeremiah. I will not go back and review all of them, but I thought that we could look at a few.
The first is the picture we get of God's outstretched hand of mercy toward His disobedient and contrary people. Throughout the Book of Jeremiah what has struck me is our Lord's faithfulness, long suffering and mercy toward His people. Judah had rejected the word of the Lord, worshiped idols and believed the false prophets. They had walked very far from from the "old paths" where they would find rest for their souls. And yet, God pleads with His beloved people relentlessly throughout the book to come back to Him. It is such a beautiful picture to me as a mom. God warns His children to the very end...He never gives up. He so does not want them to suffer and face judgment. He yearns for them jealously and wants them with Him. When judgment does come, however, the people had no one to blame but themselves. How grieving it is when our children do not hear and go the wrong way. How difficult it is to watch knowing that trouble is ahead for them.
Another beautiful picture in Jeremiah is the prophet's faithfulness. He walked through life obeying God at every turn...despite what it looked like to those around Him...despite the lack of fruit...despite the humiliation and persecution and through it all Jeremiah was preserved and delivered by His God.
Jeremiah preached to the people for 40 years without any fruit. The results of his ministry are not what mattered to God. His heart is what mattered to God. Just as our hearts and not our results are what matters to God. I love that about God..He is so different from the world. Aside from whatever else the Spirit might accomplish through us, He also does a work in our hearts. That brings me to what I thought was the most poignant lesson in Jeremiah...the work that God accomplished in the prophet's heart.
As the prophet obeyed and communed with His God and shared in the fellowship of His suffering, he became like Jesus. Did you get that...the biggest lesson (for me) in Jeremiah is found in the transformation that occurred as he obeyed His Lord and stood on and for His word. In comparing Jesus and Jeremiah we find many similarities. They both rallied against outward religion, they both spoke the truth and were unpopular, they both wept over the city of Jerusalem, they were both men of sorrows and acquainted with grief, they both faced the rejection of their relatives and countrymen, and they both were despised and rejected by men.
Yet in all this Jeremiah was more than a conqueror through Him who loved Him. Why? Through all these things Jeremiah began to resemble his Lord...to be conformed into His image. God graciously used him to warn his beloved countrymen of the coming judgment...but the results of Jeremiah's ministry were up to God. Despite the outward failure of his ministry to the rebellious nation, Jeremiah knew Him and the fellowship of His sufferings...being conformed to His image as he daily died to himself and lived for His God's glory. This is what mattered most in the end to Jeremiah...living for the eternal and not the temporary.This girls is what is also most important in our own lives. Jeremiah is rejoicing in His Savior now...living eternally with the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. His rebellious countrymen are suffering eternal torment in separation from God for rejecting His word.
Philippians 3:10 That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
2nd Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Love
Mom
Monday, February 7, 2011
Rejoicing in Hope...Romans 12:12
Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer...Romans 12:12
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
Back to look at another trilogy in Romans 12 that speaks to the kind of behavior that is becoming of a Christian. This one begins with the admonition of rejoicing in hope. What is hope? Hope is the absolute expectation of something good. Biblical hope is sure and certain...as if what you are expecting has already occurred. Luke 10:20 says we are to rejoice because our names are written in the book of life. Romans 5:1-2 are two of the most comforting verses in Scripture because of what they tell me about what I have through Jesus Christ at the moment of my salvation...at the time of my justification.
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
Here is why we should be rejoicing in hope....Yes, we can rejoice because our future is taken care of. Christ is our hope of glory...sure and certain. But through our justification He also has our present and past covered. Read on and be comforted and encouraged that no matter what situation you may find yourself in here on earth, our God is there.
An unbeliever, the bible tells us, is at enmity with God...at war and are under the condemnation of eternal separation from God. Justification is a declaration of peace...through our belief in God's Son we are declared righteous and are no longer under condemnation. We stand in Christ's righteousness. Our sins have been taken care of and eternal life with Him is ours because Christ died for us. We have been conveyed from death to life..from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light. Our past is taken care of...our sins are forgiven.
Now if that were not enough, we also has access to God now...at any time. Ephesians 2:18 says through Him we have access to the Father. The word access means entrance to the king through the favor of another. We can come to Him any time because we are His child. We do not have to clean ourselves up to come...we can just come. Hebrews 4 says we can come boldly to His throne that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25 tells us this:
Romans 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them
So no matter what circumstances we face here our God can see us through. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. Christ lives for us...our present is taken care of because He makes intercession for us.
Lastly and most important we can rejoice because our eternal hope is sure and certain. As a believer a home in Heaven with our Lord is ours. One day we will share in His glory. When we were sinners, we had no hope, but were dead in trespasses and sins. We can now boast in His righteousness and His glory. It is as certain as if it had already occurred. The righteous have a refuge in death...Jesus. He is the Anchor of our soul and guides us with His counsel here and afterward receives us in glory. Our flesh and our heart will fail here on earth, but God is our portion forever. Our future is assured...Christ is coming in glory.
Girls, God has got us covered not only because He lives in us...not only because He is our rear guard....not only because He goes before us...but because through our justification He has taken care of our past, our present and our future. Our past is taken care of because our sins (past, present, and future) are taken care of...they are forgiven. Our present is taken care of because we have access to God and can come boldly to His throne of grace to find mercy and help in our time of need. Our future is taken care of because our hope is in Him. He, as it says in Hebrews, is our Anchor, our Hope. He is the Presence that goes behind the veil and allows us access to our Father in Heaven. Our hope is anchored in the unchangeable, immutable word of God. Both in life and death then , we have no worries.
Love
Mom
--Thanks Warren Wiersbe for his commentary on Romans 5:1-2...when I first read it along with the verses it spoke volumes of comfort to my heart. I love the picture of Christ having our past, present and future taken care of and hope you will too.
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
Back to look at another trilogy in Romans 12 that speaks to the kind of behavior that is becoming of a Christian. This one begins with the admonition of rejoicing in hope. What is hope? Hope is the absolute expectation of something good. Biblical hope is sure and certain...as if what you are expecting has already occurred. Luke 10:20 says we are to rejoice because our names are written in the book of life. Romans 5:1-2 are two of the most comforting verses in Scripture because of what they tell me about what I have through Jesus Christ at the moment of my salvation...at the time of my justification.
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God."
Here is why we should be rejoicing in hope....Yes, we can rejoice because our future is taken care of. Christ is our hope of glory...sure and certain. But through our justification He also has our present and past covered. Read on and be comforted and encouraged that no matter what situation you may find yourself in here on earth, our God is there.
An unbeliever, the bible tells us, is at enmity with God...at war and are under the condemnation of eternal separation from God. Justification is a declaration of peace...through our belief in God's Son we are declared righteous and are no longer under condemnation. We stand in Christ's righteousness. Our sins have been taken care of and eternal life with Him is ours because Christ died for us. We have been conveyed from death to life..from the kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of Light. Our past is taken care of...our sins are forgiven.
Now if that were not enough, we also has access to God now...at any time. Ephesians 2:18 says through Him we have access to the Father. The word access means entrance to the king through the favor of another. We can come to Him any time because we are His child. We do not have to clean ourselves up to come...we can just come. Hebrews 4 says we can come boldly to His throne that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Romans 8:34 and Hebrews 7:25 tells us this:
Romans 8:34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.
Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them
So no matter what circumstances we face here our God can see us through. He never leaves us nor forsakes us. Christ lives for us...our present is taken care of because He makes intercession for us.
Lastly and most important we can rejoice because our eternal hope is sure and certain. As a believer a home in Heaven with our Lord is ours. One day we will share in His glory. When we were sinners, we had no hope, but were dead in trespasses and sins. We can now boast in His righteousness and His glory. It is as certain as if it had already occurred. The righteous have a refuge in death...Jesus. He is the Anchor of our soul and guides us with His counsel here and afterward receives us in glory. Our flesh and our heart will fail here on earth, but God is our portion forever. Our future is assured...Christ is coming in glory.
Girls, God has got us covered not only because He lives in us...not only because He is our rear guard....not only because He goes before us...but because through our justification He has taken care of our past, our present and our future. Our past is taken care of because our sins (past, present, and future) are taken care of...they are forgiven. Our present is taken care of because we have access to God and can come boldly to His throne of grace to find mercy and help in our time of need. Our future is taken care of because our hope is in Him. He, as it says in Hebrews, is our Anchor, our Hope. He is the Presence that goes behind the veil and allows us access to our Father in Heaven. Our hope is anchored in the unchangeable, immutable word of God. Both in life and death then , we have no worries.
Love
Mom
--Thanks Warren Wiersbe for his commentary on Romans 5:1-2...when I first read it along with the verses it spoke volumes of comfort to my heart. I love the picture of Christ having our past, present and future taken care of and hope you will too.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Jesus the Gentle...
Isaiah 42:3 A bruised reed He will not break, And smoking flax He will not quench; He will bring forth justice for truth.
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
Before I came to Jesus I never really thought too much about what He was like. If I thought of Him at all, I would picture the very large cross that was in front of the church at the Catholic church where I grew up. As I draw closer to Him, however, I see all of my life through Him. He is my starting point for everything I see and hear.
I can remember reading this verse 10 or 15 years ago and really not knowing quite what to make of it. But over the years as I abided in Him...as I beheld Him...I began to catch glimpses of who He is and as I did what I saw made me fall down (metaphorically speaking) in worship. Truly there is none like Him. His love is amazing, His mercies never fail, His ways past finding out, and His faithfulness reaches to the heavens.
"A bruised reed He will not break." Reeds are pretty fragile...they are hollow tubes and bend, break and crush pretty easily. This is how we are before we come to Christ...beaten down and crushed by the world and our sins. Hollow inside...empty. Jesus longs for you to come to Him when the burdens of the world become crushing, when the hollowness and emptiness of our lives scream for something to fill it. Jesus is the only remedy for that emptiness. He will not break you or destroy you...He wants to heal you. He wants to make your crooked places straight and lift the burden from your shoulders. As a non believer you really can't understand this, because faith is the access to the grace and mercy that is in Christ. When we do cry out, however, we begin to understand that the only life living is one lived in Him and for Him.
"And smoking flax He will not quench." This is a reference to the last piece of wick in an oil lamp. It is the piece you just want to throw out and replace. The one that you don't want to bother with. It is still smoking a bit...kinda just making things stink rather than giving any light. In fact the smoke gets in the way of your vision. The oil is gone as is the light. The natural reaction to that would be to snuff it out and put it out of its misery...just like the natural thing to do with a bent reed is to throw it into a fire to be burned. When you come to Jesus with your "smoking flax" He does not snuff it out...He blows on it...fans the flame and pours oil into your lamp and makes your flame bright again. He does this for me every morning as I study His word. He is not a threat to those who come to Him...He wants to help and heal.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Matthew 11 gives us the the only autobiographical statement Jesus ever made.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Come to Him now if you never have before...bring Him your burden. If you know Him, draw near to Him now...draw near to Him daily...immerse yourself in His word. Jesus came to heal the broken hearted and set the captives free.
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
Before I came to Jesus I never really thought too much about what He was like. If I thought of Him at all, I would picture the very large cross that was in front of the church at the Catholic church where I grew up. As I draw closer to Him, however, I see all of my life through Him. He is my starting point for everything I see and hear.
I can remember reading this verse 10 or 15 years ago and really not knowing quite what to make of it. But over the years as I abided in Him...as I beheld Him...I began to catch glimpses of who He is and as I did what I saw made me fall down (metaphorically speaking) in worship. Truly there is none like Him. His love is amazing, His mercies never fail, His ways past finding out, and His faithfulness reaches to the heavens.
"A bruised reed He will not break." Reeds are pretty fragile...they are hollow tubes and bend, break and crush pretty easily. This is how we are before we come to Christ...beaten down and crushed by the world and our sins. Hollow inside...empty. Jesus longs for you to come to Him when the burdens of the world become crushing, when the hollowness and emptiness of our lives scream for something to fill it. Jesus is the only remedy for that emptiness. He will not break you or destroy you...He wants to heal you. He wants to make your crooked places straight and lift the burden from your shoulders. As a non believer you really can't understand this, because faith is the access to the grace and mercy that is in Christ. When we do cry out, however, we begin to understand that the only life living is one lived in Him and for Him.
"And smoking flax He will not quench." This is a reference to the last piece of wick in an oil lamp. It is the piece you just want to throw out and replace. The one that you don't want to bother with. It is still smoking a bit...kinda just making things stink rather than giving any light. In fact the smoke gets in the way of your vision. The oil is gone as is the light. The natural reaction to that would be to snuff it out and put it out of its misery...just like the natural thing to do with a bent reed is to throw it into a fire to be burned. When you come to Jesus with your "smoking flax" He does not snuff it out...He blows on it...fans the flame and pours oil into your lamp and makes your flame bright again. He does this for me every morning as I study His word. He is not a threat to those who come to Him...He wants to help and heal.
The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit. Matthew 11 gives us the the only autobiographical statement Jesus ever made.
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
Come to Him now if you never have before...bring Him your burden. If you know Him, draw near to Him now...draw near to Him daily...immerse yourself in His word. Jesus came to heal the broken hearted and set the captives free.
Love
Mom
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Demonstrating His Love
Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:
“ Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Dear Girls,
Many of the early believers were servants...we are all, however, servants/employees of someone and ultimately if you are a believer...a servant of the Lord Himself. That is the emphasis here. Our demeanor in this world reflects on our Father in Heaven. Our testimony as a Christian should be above reproach. All we do should be to please Him. We should submit to our employers or masters whether they are considerate or harsh, for in so doing we may win some of them to Christ. (See Matthew 5:46, Luke 6:32-36, Ephesians 6:5-9)
Peter is teaching Isaiah 53 here. In our flesh we respond to offenses against us by surprise surprise...getting offended. Jesus taught and commanded something so different. The beautiful thing about Jesus is that He just didn't tell us what to do or what not to do...He demonstrated it to us by His example. He showed us the way. That is why He said in John..."I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me. It is all about Him. If you want to know how to behave in a way that glorifies your Father in Heaven, in the many different situations you will find yourself confronted with in this life, look to Jesus'. Whatever you might be facing, He has left you an example to follow. I loved what the Believer's Bible Commentary said about the meaning of the word example in verse 21.
"The word used here for example carries the idea of a copybook that contains flawless penmanship. The pupil seeks to reproduce the original as closely as possible. When he copies the model carefully, his writing is quite good. But the further he moves away from it, the more the copy worsens. Our safety is in staying close to the Original."
God is kind to the unthankful and the evil. He blesses people who don't deserve it, (me) and He pours out His kindness on all. This is the kind of love that God wants us to demonstrate to the people around us. SIGH! He wants us to be so conscious of our relationship with Him that we endure wrongdoing and pain without fighting back. He wants us to step out of the way and allow Him to deal with all that comes our way. The battle is truly His. Suffering patiently for doing good is so unnatural, so supernatural, that it shocks people into conviction of sin and, hopefully, into salvation.
We cannot do this unless the God of the Universe dwells in our hearts...it is when we surrender our will to His that this kind of love even becomes possible. When we do surrender, however, what a testimony we are. So unlike the people of the world around us.
Isaiah 53:10-11 "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities."
Isaiah tells us it pleased the Lord to bruise Him and put Him to grief. He made His soul an offering for sin. Why? He "saw His seed." He saw all those who would be saved because of His selfless act. He was not thinking of Himself, He was thinking of us...knowing He was purchasing our redemption...knowing we could now spend eternity with Him. He saw the labor of His soul (me and you!) and was satisfied. Jesus looked ahead and saw the prize. He looked beyond the great sorrow and suffering of the moment and saw His seed and was satisfied. This is the life He calls us to....the life of looking beyond the offense, beyond the suffering and loving others sacrificially. Love always has an effect. It never fails. Look ahead and see the impact you could have for Christ...the pleasure of the Lord prospering in your life as you obey Him. It is not about us...all we do is for Him...for His glory. Commit yourself as Jesus did, to Him who judges righteously.
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.--Romans 5:6-10
Love
Mom
“ Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;
who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
Dear Girls,
Many of the early believers were servants...we are all, however, servants/employees of someone and ultimately if you are a believer...a servant of the Lord Himself. That is the emphasis here. Our demeanor in this world reflects on our Father in Heaven. Our testimony as a Christian should be above reproach. All we do should be to please Him. We should submit to our employers or masters whether they are considerate or harsh, for in so doing we may win some of them to Christ. (See Matthew 5:46, Luke 6:32-36, Ephesians 6:5-9)
Peter is teaching Isaiah 53 here. In our flesh we respond to offenses against us by surprise surprise...getting offended. Jesus taught and commanded something so different. The beautiful thing about Jesus is that He just didn't tell us what to do or what not to do...He demonstrated it to us by His example. He showed us the way. That is why He said in John..."I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me. It is all about Him. If you want to know how to behave in a way that glorifies your Father in Heaven, in the many different situations you will find yourself confronted with in this life, look to Jesus'. Whatever you might be facing, He has left you an example to follow. I loved what the Believer's Bible Commentary said about the meaning of the word example in verse 21.
"The word used here for example carries the idea of a copybook that contains flawless penmanship. The pupil seeks to reproduce the original as closely as possible. When he copies the model carefully, his writing is quite good. But the further he moves away from it, the more the copy worsens. Our safety is in staying close to the Original."
God is kind to the unthankful and the evil. He blesses people who don't deserve it, (me) and He pours out His kindness on all. This is the kind of love that God wants us to demonstrate to the people around us. SIGH! He wants us to be so conscious of our relationship with Him that we endure wrongdoing and pain without fighting back. He wants us to step out of the way and allow Him to deal with all that comes our way. The battle is truly His. Suffering patiently for doing good is so unnatural, so supernatural, that it shocks people into conviction of sin and, hopefully, into salvation.
We cannot do this unless the God of the Universe dwells in our hearts...it is when we surrender our will to His that this kind of love even becomes possible. When we do surrender, however, what a testimony we are. So unlike the people of the world around us.
Isaiah 53:10-11 "Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, For He shall bear their iniquities."
Isaiah tells us it pleased the Lord to bruise Him and put Him to grief. He made His soul an offering for sin. Why? He "saw His seed." He saw all those who would be saved because of His selfless act. He was not thinking of Himself, He was thinking of us...knowing He was purchasing our redemption...knowing we could now spend eternity with Him. He saw the labor of His soul (me and you!) and was satisfied. Jesus looked ahead and saw the prize. He looked beyond the great sorrow and suffering of the moment and saw His seed and was satisfied. This is the life He calls us to....the life of looking beyond the offense, beyond the suffering and loving others sacrificially. Love always has an effect. It never fails. Look ahead and see the impact you could have for Christ...the pleasure of the Lord prospering in your life as you obey Him. It is not about us...all we do is for Him...for His glory. Commit yourself as Jesus did, to Him who judges righteously.
For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.--Romans 5:6-10
Love
Mom
Friday, February 4, 2011
Daniel's Seventy Week Prophecy
“ Seventy weeks are determined For your people and for your holy city, To finish the transgression, To make an end of sins, To make reconciliation for iniquity, To bring in everlasting righteousness, To seal up Know therefore and understand, That from the going forth of the command To restore and build Jerusalem Until Messiah the Prince, There shall be seven weeks and sixty-two weeks; The street shall be built again, Messiah shall be cut off, but not for Himself; And the people of the prince who is to come Shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. The end of it shall be with a flood, And till the end of the war desolations are determined. Then he shall confirm a covenant with many for one week; But in the middle of the week He shall bring an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall be one who makes desolate, Even until the consummation, which is determined, Is poured out on the desolate.”--Daniel 9:24-27
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
We are in the first chapter of Ezra and looking at prophecy. Yes, I know the verses above are from Daniel 9. My previous study looked at two fulfilled within the first four verses of Ezra chapter 1. As I wrote that last study my mind went to Daniel's 70 week prophecy. Why? Because Cyrus' decree given in 538 B.C. was the first of three and brought it to mind. The third decree by Artaxerxes to Nehemiah to allow the rebuilding of the walls of the City of Jerusalem is the one that Daniel spoke of, and is the one that begins the countdown to Messiah the Prince. It is, in my opinion, one of the most amazing prophecies in Scripture because of its mathematical precision.
Artaxerxes decree was given on March 14, 445 B.C.and it ordered the restoration of the city of Jerusalem and its walls. This decree is the starting point for Daniel's 70 week prophecy...it is where the mathematics begin and ends (for our purposes) with Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. EXCITING STUFF!! (Go here for more info: http://endtimepilgrim.org/70wks3.htm)
Daniel was a prophecy buff...Yup...the prophet loved prophecy. Okay, now that I am thinking about that I guess that is not much of a surprise. Anyway, Chapter 9 verses 1-19 find him praying. The first few verses tell us why.
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.--Daniel 9:1-3
Daniel believed God...He knew what God had prophesied through Jeremiah and understood that the seventy years of captivity were nearing an end. He knew His God was about to do something really great and it led him to prayer. Daniel prayed for repentance on the people's behalf as well as for the promise God made to be fulfilled. The prophet Daniel is one of the most outstanding examples of a life lived unto the Lord in the Bible. God answered Daniel's prayer immediately....
Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God, yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:--Daniel 9:20-23
Verse 24 of Daniel 9 begins the seventy week prophecy I have posted at the beginning of this study.
Daniel outlined seventy weeks of years. What is that you ask? Literally seventy sevens or 490 years that were coming prophetically. These begin with Artaxerxes declaration to restore and rebuild Jerusalem which was occurred on March 14, 445 B.C. After this he said there would be 69 weeks of years, which translates into 173,880 days to the coming of Messiah, the Prince. There are six messianic tasks that need to be accomplished according to Daniel 9:24:
1. to finish the transgression
2. to make an end of sins
3. to make reconciliation for iniquity
4. to bring in everlasting righteousness
5. to seal up vision and prophecy
6. to anoint the most Holy
These were fulfilled in Jesus. This prophecy is perhaps the greatest proof for Jesus as the Messiah.
Let's look at the math in those verses, also. There are many who have done the calculations. Sir Robert Anderson was one of them. He took into account the different calendars and discovered that 173,880 brings you to April 6, 32 A.D...which you know is the first Palm Sunday! This is the day that it is believed that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey offering Himself as the long awaited Jewish Messiah. Wow! Wow! Wow! After this, Daniel said the Messiah would be cut-off but not for Himself. This was the crucifixion where He was cut-off for our sins.
Daniel goes on from the middle of verse 26 to the end of the chapter and details the time of what is called Jacob's trouble. The Great Tribulation. He treated this as a separate time when God would judge the earth. Right now we are in the church age...the age of grace. The end is coming...the stage is already being set for the week that Daniel spoke of that would come upon the whole earth. Are you ready?
There are many websites out there that delve into this in detail. Here is one I like in addition to the one given above.
http://www.khouse.org/articles/2004/552/
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
We are in the first chapter of Ezra and looking at prophecy. Yes, I know the verses above are from Daniel 9. My previous study looked at two fulfilled within the first four verses of Ezra chapter 1. As I wrote that last study my mind went to Daniel's 70 week prophecy. Why? Because Cyrus' decree given in 538 B.C. was the first of three and brought it to mind. The third decree by Artaxerxes to Nehemiah to allow the rebuilding of the walls of the City of Jerusalem is the one that Daniel spoke of, and is the one that begins the countdown to Messiah the Prince. It is, in my opinion, one of the most amazing prophecies in Scripture because of its mathematical precision.
Artaxerxes decree was given on March 14, 445 B.C.and it ordered the restoration of the city of Jerusalem and its walls. This decree is the starting point for Daniel's 70 week prophecy...it is where the mathematics begin and ends (for our purposes) with Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. EXCITING STUFF!! (Go here for more info: http://endtimepilgrim.org/70wks3.htm)
Daniel was a prophecy buff...Yup...the prophet loved prophecy. Okay, now that I am thinking about that I guess that is not much of a surprise. Anyway, Chapter 9 verses 1-19 find him praying. The first few verses tell us why.
In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans— in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.--Daniel 9:1-3
Daniel believed God...He knew what God had prophesied through Jeremiah and understood that the seventy years of captivity were nearing an end. He knew His God was about to do something really great and it led him to prayer. Daniel prayed for repentance on the people's behalf as well as for the promise God made to be fulfilled. The prophet Daniel is one of the most outstanding examples of a life lived unto the Lord in the Bible. God answered Daniel's prayer immediately....
Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel, and presenting my supplication before the LORD my God for the holy mountain of my God, yes, while I was speaking in prayer, the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, reached me about the time of the evening offering. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, “O Daniel, I have now come forth to give you skill to understand. At the beginning of your supplications the command went out, and I have come to tell you, for you are greatly beloved; therefore consider the matter, and understand the vision:--Daniel 9:20-23
Verse 24 of Daniel 9 begins the seventy week prophecy I have posted at the beginning of this study.
Daniel outlined seventy weeks of years. What is that you ask? Literally seventy sevens or 490 years that were coming prophetically. These begin with Artaxerxes declaration to restore and rebuild Jerusalem which was occurred on March 14, 445 B.C. After this he said there would be 69 weeks of years, which translates into 173,880 days to the coming of Messiah, the Prince. There are six messianic tasks that need to be accomplished according to Daniel 9:24:
1. to finish the transgression
2. to make an end of sins
3. to make reconciliation for iniquity
4. to bring in everlasting righteousness
5. to seal up vision and prophecy
6. to anoint the most Holy
These were fulfilled in Jesus. This prophecy is perhaps the greatest proof for Jesus as the Messiah.
Let's look at the math in those verses, also. There are many who have done the calculations. Sir Robert Anderson was one of them. He took into account the different calendars and discovered that 173,880 brings you to April 6, 32 A.D...which you know is the first Palm Sunday! This is the day that it is believed that Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey offering Himself as the long awaited Jewish Messiah. Wow! Wow! Wow! After this, Daniel said the Messiah would be cut-off but not for Himself. This was the crucifixion where He was cut-off for our sins.
Daniel goes on from the middle of verse 26 to the end of the chapter and details the time of what is called Jacob's trouble. The Great Tribulation. He treated this as a separate time when God would judge the earth. Right now we are in the church age...the age of grace. The end is coming...the stage is already being set for the week that Daniel spoke of that would come upon the whole earth. Are you ready?
There are many websites out there that delve into this in detail. Here is one I like in addition to the one given above.
http://www.khouse.org/articles/2004/552/
Love
Mom
Thursday, February 3, 2011
The World is Passing Away...
1 John 2:17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
Girls...
A short one on my birthday but filled with much. He who does the will of God abides forever. That verse is the verse that D. L. Moody had inscribed on his tombstone. In order to do the will of God we must be immersed in the word of God. Romans 12:2 says:
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The word of God is the anti dote to worldliness. The world is passing away...everything in it will burn one day with a fervent heat but the word of God abides forever.
The Believer's Bible Commentary says focusing on the world is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. It is like depositing money in a bank that is breaking. Wise people do not live for the world. They live for Christ and eternity...that is where their heart is and also their treasure. This is my birthday prayer for each of you today. I am a blessed Mom to have daughters who are such blessings. Immerse yourselves in the word and do the will of God...ABIDE FOREVER.
Love
Mom
Girls...
A short one on my birthday but filled with much. He who does the will of God abides forever. That verse is the verse that D. L. Moody had inscribed on his tombstone. In order to do the will of God we must be immersed in the word of God. Romans 12:2 says:
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
The word of God is the anti dote to worldliness. The world is passing away...everything in it will burn one day with a fervent heat but the word of God abides forever.
The Believer's Bible Commentary says focusing on the world is like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. It is like depositing money in a bank that is breaking. Wise people do not live for the world. They live for Christ and eternity...that is where their heart is and also their treasure. This is my birthday prayer for each of you today. I am a blessed Mom to have daughters who are such blessings. Immerse yourselves in the word and do the will of God...ABIDE FOREVER.
Love
Mom
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