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
Friday, February 11, 2011
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
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
He Has Got Us Covered...
For you shall not go out with haste, Nor go by flight; For the LORD will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard.--Isaiah 52:12
Dear Girls
I love this. God has got us covered. We do not have to rush...or do anything impulsively. He goes ahead of us and shows us the way. We do not have to worry about what is coming up from behind because He is our rear guard. In fact, His grace and mercy follow us and as believers He works all things together for good in our lives. Paul tells us in Acts 17:28 that in Him we live and move and have our being. We are encompassed...surrounded...enveloped by our Lord. The One who inhabits eternity dwells within our hearts and not only makes perfect all things that concern us but also performs all things for us.
Here is one more for you from Isaiah 54:17
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.
This is our heritage as His servant. Security and victory are ours...we can claim these promises as His servants Protection is mine because I am His child! Here comes my favorite part. "And their righteousness is from Me." It is His...not ours. If I stood in my own righteousness, I would stand ashamed. But by His grace, I stand in His righteousness, and I look to Him and am radiant and my face is not ashamed.
Love
Mom
Dear Girls
I love this. God has got us covered. We do not have to rush...or do anything impulsively. He goes ahead of us and shows us the way. We do not have to worry about what is coming up from behind because He is our rear guard. In fact, His grace and mercy follow us and as believers He works all things together for good in our lives. Paul tells us in Acts 17:28 that in Him we live and move and have our being. We are encompassed...surrounded...enveloped by our Lord. The One who inhabits eternity dwells within our hearts and not only makes perfect all things that concern us but also performs all things for us.
Here is one more for you from Isaiah 54:17
No weapon formed against you shall prosper, And every tongue which rises against you in judgment You shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is from Me,” Says the LORD.
This is our heritage as His servant. Security and victory are ours...we can claim these promises as His servants Protection is mine because I am His child! Here comes my favorite part. "And their righteousness is from Me." It is His...not ours. If I stood in my own righteousness, I would stand ashamed. But by His grace, I stand in His righteousness, and I look to Him and am radiant and my face is not ashamed.
Love
Mom
Fulfilled Prophecy - Ezra 1:1-4
Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and also put it in writing, saying, Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: All the kingdoms of the earth the LORD God of heaven has given me. And He has commanded me to build Him a house at Jerusalem which is in Judah. Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem. And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.--Ezra 1:1-4
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
The Book of Ezra begins with fulfillment of prophecy. The above verses are the proclamation by Cyrus to release the people of Israel from captivity. It gave the Jews permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple and the city walls. Jeremiah said that the Jews would be in captivity for 70 years. (See Jeremiah 25:12-14, Jeremiah 29:10, Jeremiah 33:7-13) This prophecy was fulfilled when the decree from Cyrus went out and ended seventy years of captivity for the Jews.
"The seventy-year period can be calculated in two ways: from 605 B.C., when Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem and led off the first deportation, to 535 B.C., when the foundation of the temple was laid; or from the fall of Jerusalem, in 586 B.C., to the completion of the temple, in 516 B.C."--Believer's Bible Commentary
Now maybe that is not enough for you...wait there's more. Isaiah 44:24 begins:
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: “ I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolishness; Who confirms the word of His servant, And performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be inhabited,’ To the cities of Judah, ‘You shall be built,’ And I will raise up her waste places; Who says to the deep, ‘Be dry! And I will dry up your rivers’; Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”’--Isaiah 44:24-28 (Emphasis mine)
The above was written 180 years before Cyrus' decree went forth...150 years before Cyrus was even born. And yet....and yet the prophet Isaiah by the word of the Lord calls this guy by name. He would not be born until 150 years in the future and yet the Lord named him. Isaiah 45 continues and it is so worth reading.
“Thus says the LORD to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held— To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut: I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel. For Jacob My servant’s sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other;"
Amazing...supernatural. Evidence of the inspiration of God! Here the Lord, speaking through the prophet, spoke of future events with supernatural detail. He names Cyrus and then in chapter 45 says "I have named you, though you have not known Me." The Lord knows each of us like that. Psalm 139 says this in verse 16: "Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them" Fulfilled prophecy is not the reason I came to Christ but it is one of the very telling reasons I believe that the Bible is indeed the word of God. Reading them are always an encouragement to my faith. And yes there is more in regard to this decree...next Daniel's seventy week prophecy that begins with Cyrus' decree and ends with Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
The Book of Ezra begins with fulfillment of prophecy. The above verses are the proclamation by Cyrus to release the people of Israel from captivity. It gave the Jews permission to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple and the city walls. Jeremiah said that the Jews would be in captivity for 70 years. (See Jeremiah 25:12-14, Jeremiah 29:10, Jeremiah 33:7-13) This prophecy was fulfilled when the decree from Cyrus went out and ended seventy years of captivity for the Jews.
"The seventy-year period can be calculated in two ways: from 605 B.C., when Nebuchadnezzar attacked Jerusalem and led off the first deportation, to 535 B.C., when the foundation of the temple was laid; or from the fall of Jerusalem, in 586 B.C., to the completion of the temple, in 516 B.C."--Believer's Bible Commentary
Now maybe that is not enough for you...wait there's more. Isaiah 44:24 begins:
Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: “ I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, And drives diviners mad; Who turns wise men backward, And makes their knowledge foolishness; Who confirms the word of His servant, And performs the counsel of His messengers; Who says to Jerusalem, ‘You shall be inhabited,’ To the cities of Judah, ‘You shall be built,’ And I will raise up her waste places; Who says to the deep, ‘Be dry! And I will dry up your rivers’; Who says of Cyrus, ‘He is My shepherd, And he shall perform all My pleasure, Saying to Jerusalem, “You shall be built,” And to the temple, “Your foundation shall be laid.”’--Isaiah 44:24-28 (Emphasis mine)
The above was written 180 years before Cyrus' decree went forth...150 years before Cyrus was even born. And yet....and yet the prophet Isaiah by the word of the Lord calls this guy by name. He would not be born until 150 years in the future and yet the Lord named him. Isaiah 45 continues and it is so worth reading.
“Thus says the LORD to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held— To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut: I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel. For Jacob My servant’s sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the LORD, and there is no other;"
Amazing...supernatural. Evidence of the inspiration of God! Here the Lord, speaking through the prophet, spoke of future events with supernatural detail. He names Cyrus and then in chapter 45 says "I have named you, though you have not known Me." The Lord knows each of us like that. Psalm 139 says this in verse 16: "Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them" Fulfilled prophecy is not the reason I came to Christ but it is one of the very telling reasons I believe that the Bible is indeed the word of God. Reading them are always an encouragement to my faith. And yes there is more in regard to this decree...next Daniel's seventy week prophecy that begins with Cyrus' decree and ends with Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.
Love
Mom
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Introduction to Ezra...
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
Both the books of Ezra and Nehemiah were written by Ezra, the priest during the 5th century B.C. The northern tribes of Israel had been taken captive by Assyria. The Assyrians had repopulated northern Israel and had intermarried with the people. This is where the Samaritan people originated. The Babylonians had conquered southern Israel or Judah and most of the people had been carried away captive. Judah was mostly unpopulated for the 70 years they remained in captivity. The Babylonian Empire was captured by the Persians while the children of Israel were in captivity and the Persians began to allow them to return to their homeland to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple.
The book of Ezra begins here and in the Hebrew Bible Ezra and Nehemiah are combined into one book. The first wave to go back went with Zerubbabel . He took about 50,000 with him to work on the reconstruction of the temple. Ezra later followed with about 2,000 more to aid in the rebuilding of the temple. Nehemiah followed to rebuild the walls of the city of Jerusalem.
I love Ezra because he was such a shepherd to the people. He stood on the word of God and really cared for them spiritually. It was not all about the building project. He wanted the people to remember why they went into captivity in the first place and encouraged them to obey the word of God so as not to make the same mistake twice. Ezra was an outstanding leader and led by the word of God.
Next installment...verses 1-4 of chapter 1 that are to me some of the greatest apologetic in the Bible.
Love
Mom
Both the books of Ezra and Nehemiah were written by Ezra, the priest during the 5th century B.C. The northern tribes of Israel had been taken captive by Assyria. The Assyrians had repopulated northern Israel and had intermarried with the people. This is where the Samaritan people originated. The Babylonians had conquered southern Israel or Judah and most of the people had been carried away captive. Judah was mostly unpopulated for the 70 years they remained in captivity. The Babylonian Empire was captured by the Persians while the children of Israel were in captivity and the Persians began to allow them to return to their homeland to rebuild Jerusalem and the temple.
The book of Ezra begins here and in the Hebrew Bible Ezra and Nehemiah are combined into one book. The first wave to go back went with Zerubbabel . He took about 50,000 with him to work on the reconstruction of the temple. Ezra later followed with about 2,000 more to aid in the rebuilding of the temple. Nehemiah followed to rebuild the walls of the city of Jerusalem.
I love Ezra because he was such a shepherd to the people. He stood on the word of God and really cared for them spiritually. It was not all about the building project. He wanted the people to remember why they went into captivity in the first place and encouraged them to obey the word of God so as not to make the same mistake twice. Ezra was an outstanding leader and led by the word of God.
Next installment...verses 1-4 of chapter 1 that are to me some of the greatest apologetic in the Bible.
Love
Mom
Remember Your Resting Place
In those days and in that time,” says the LORD, “ The children of Israel shall come, They and the children of Judah together; With continual weeping they shall come, And seek the LORD their God. They shall ask the way to Zion, With their faces toward it, saying,‘ Come and let us join ourselves to the LORD In a perpetual covenant That will not be forgotten.’My people have been lost sheep. Their shepherds have led them astray; They have turned them away on the mountains. They have gone from mountain to hill; They have forgotten their resting place--Jeremiah 50:4-6
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
Sometimes it is good to stop and remember. Today as I read through Jeremiah 50 and 51 describing the judgment and destruction that God would bring upon Babylon, I stopped short at this verse and remembered where my resting place is. My resting place is in God, my Savior. He is my shelter.
As God speaks judgment against Babylon, He remembers His people. His people who were in Babylon because of their sin of idolatry...their sin of forgetting Him. Here He predicts blessing for them in verses 4-7 and then again in verses 17-34. He will not forsake Israel...Restoration is coming...sin will be pardoned and they will return to their own land. Destruction, however, awaits Babylon with no promise of restoration or rebuilding. God used Babylon as His instrument of judgment to Judah and now it will experience the Lord's judgment.
Verses 4 and 5 in this chapter of Jeremiah speak to the contrast between how God's people went into captivity...in pride and sin and how they returned. We see them returning with tears of godly sorrow...unlike the worldly tears they shed as they went into captivity. They would now seek after Him and not after idols. Hebrews 12 speaks of this as the peaceable fruit of righteousness.
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
There is such evil out there today girls...I think of the Philadelphia and the slaughter of innocents for 30 years...I think to the link I just posted where planned parenthood is aiding in the trafficking of young girls for prostitution. Our government is turning a blind eye...we are Babylon. Judgment is coming...evil surrounds us. Where do we find rest...
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.”
Rest in Him...find peace in Him.
You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah --Psalm 32:7
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. --Psalm 91:1
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
Sometimes it is good to stop and remember. Today as I read through Jeremiah 50 and 51 describing the judgment and destruction that God would bring upon Babylon, I stopped short at this verse and remembered where my resting place is. My resting place is in God, my Savior. He is my shelter.
As God speaks judgment against Babylon, He remembers His people. His people who were in Babylon because of their sin of idolatry...their sin of forgetting Him. Here He predicts blessing for them in verses 4-7 and then again in verses 17-34. He will not forsake Israel...Restoration is coming...sin will be pardoned and they will return to their own land. Destruction, however, awaits Babylon with no promise of restoration or rebuilding. God used Babylon as His instrument of judgment to Judah and now it will experience the Lord's judgment.
Verses 4 and 5 in this chapter of Jeremiah speak to the contrast between how God's people went into captivity...in pride and sin and how they returned. We see them returning with tears of godly sorrow...unlike the worldly tears they shed as they went into captivity. They would now seek after Him and not after idols. Hebrews 12 speaks of this as the peaceable fruit of righteousness.
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
There is such evil out there today girls...I think of the Philadelphia and the slaughter of innocents for 30 years...I think to the link I just posted where planned parenthood is aiding in the trafficking of young girls for prostitution. Our government is turning a blind eye...we are Babylon. Judgment is coming...evil surrounds us. Where do we find rest...
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.”
Rest in Him...find peace in Him.
You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah --Psalm 32:7
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. --Psalm 91:1
Love
Mom
Monday, January 31, 2011
Leaving Your First Love
"Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place—unless you repent"--Revelation 2:4-5
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
The book of Revelation was addressed and sent to the seven literal churches that were in Asia. This is the first letter to the first of the seven churches, the church at Ephesus. A letter specifically addressed to the Church of Ephesus from the Lord himself. I am pretty sure they probably sat up and took notice.
The church was off to a good start. He had much to commend them for. He says that He knows their works, their labor, their patience and that they cannot bear those who are evil. He tells them that they have discernment and have kept false doctrine and false teachers out of the church. He commends them for persevering and not growing weary...Then he drops the bomb. The church of Ephesus had a fatal flaw. They had left their first love. They had not lost it...they had left it. Their love had gone cold. They were still doing what they always did, what was expected, the work of the church was being accomplished, but it had all become a duty rather than a "want to" or a "get to". They were still receiving honor and respect from the people around them. They were doing the works that they thought God had called them to do, but it was empty and the Lord said that if they did not repent and do the first works again, He would remove their lampstand. Sadly, that is exactly what happened to this very strong, vibrant church that the Apostle Paul had poured his heart into.
Love is the supreme commandment. The commandment that fulfills all the law and the prophets. The love of God is central. We are to love Him with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength. This is the first commandment. We love Him so much that we want to spend time with Him. We love Him so much that we want to obey Him. We love Him so much that we want to serve Him. We love Him so much that we put Him first in our lives above all else. Are you getting the point. Love is not a duty. Anyone who has ever been in love knows this. It is a joy...being with that person and spending time with them becomes our number one desire. The love the church of Ephesus had for Jesus had grown cold. What was left was "going through the motions." He was no longer their consuming passion...God wants to be your consuming passion.
The apostle Paul's letters are filled with this kind of passion for Christ. For Paul to live was Christ and to die gain.
"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 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 all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 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.
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." --Philippians 3:7-14
Truly the love of Christ was Paul's driving passion...the motivating force behind all that He did. God wants everything we do to be motivated by our love for Him. The problem in Ephesus was that although they still had the works, labor and patience of the past, their motivation had changed. Love for their Lord was no longer the force behind what they did. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 says this:
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing."
God is love...if it is missing, we are empty vessels that are good for nothing. Ask yourself these questions. Do I love Jesus more now than in the past? Do I desire His presence in my life more now than before? Am I pressing on toward the goal...moving forward with my love for Him as the driving force? If not, Jesus tells us to remember, repent and do the first works.
Remember from where you have fallen. Remember the mire that He pulled you from. Remember how lost you were...how desperate you were. Remember the condition of your heart before your redemption occurred. Then remember the joyful explosion that occurred in your heart at the time of your salvation. Remember the transformation that occurred. Remember how much you have been forgiven. If you cannot remember back to a time when you were not Christian...get on your knees and thank Him. Find someone who does remember...listen to their stories of what their life was like before Christ. Ask them to tell you the story of their transformation.
Next we are to repent. Repent means to go in the other direction and it will look like something in your life when it happens. Confess your sin. Loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength is a commandment. Confess the sin of leaving your first love and of allowing your love to grow cold. Confess the sin of doing the outward without the inward heart of love for your Lord.
The last thing is to repeat the first works. What does that mean? If you have ever been in love think back to the first days, weeks, months or years of your love. Think about what you did during that time and do it again. Remember when you carried your bible everywhere...went to church three or four times a week...prayed without ceasing...worshiped Him in song. Go back to the time when God's love for you swept you away. Jesus says remember, repent and do the first work again. He wants to be your consuming passion. Love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Return.
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
The book of Revelation was addressed and sent to the seven literal churches that were in Asia. This is the first letter to the first of the seven churches, the church at Ephesus. A letter specifically addressed to the Church of Ephesus from the Lord himself. I am pretty sure they probably sat up and took notice.
The church was off to a good start. He had much to commend them for. He says that He knows their works, their labor, their patience and that they cannot bear those who are evil. He tells them that they have discernment and have kept false doctrine and false teachers out of the church. He commends them for persevering and not growing weary...Then he drops the bomb. The church of Ephesus had a fatal flaw. They had left their first love. They had not lost it...they had left it. Their love had gone cold. They were still doing what they always did, what was expected, the work of the church was being accomplished, but it had all become a duty rather than a "want to" or a "get to". They were still receiving honor and respect from the people around them. They were doing the works that they thought God had called them to do, but it was empty and the Lord said that if they did not repent and do the first works again, He would remove their lampstand. Sadly, that is exactly what happened to this very strong, vibrant church that the Apostle Paul had poured his heart into.
Love is the supreme commandment. The commandment that fulfills all the law and the prophets. The love of God is central. We are to love Him with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind and with all our strength. This is the first commandment. We love Him so much that we want to spend time with Him. We love Him so much that we want to obey Him. We love Him so much that we want to serve Him. We love Him so much that we put Him first in our lives above all else. Are you getting the point. Love is not a duty. Anyone who has ever been in love knows this. It is a joy...being with that person and spending time with them becomes our number one desire. The love the church of Ephesus had for Jesus had grown cold. What was left was "going through the motions." He was no longer their consuming passion...God wants to be your consuming passion.
The apostle Paul's letters are filled with this kind of passion for Christ. For Paul to live was Christ and to die gain.
"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 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 all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 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.
Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." --Philippians 3:7-14
Truly the love of Christ was Paul's driving passion...the motivating force behind all that He did. God wants everything we do to be motivated by our love for Him. The problem in Ephesus was that although they still had the works, labor and patience of the past, their motivation had changed. Love for their Lord was no longer the force behind what they did. 1 Corinthians 13:1-2 says this:
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing."
God is love...if it is missing, we are empty vessels that are good for nothing. Ask yourself these questions. Do I love Jesus more now than in the past? Do I desire His presence in my life more now than before? Am I pressing on toward the goal...moving forward with my love for Him as the driving force? If not, Jesus tells us to remember, repent and do the first works.
Remember from where you have fallen. Remember the mire that He pulled you from. Remember how lost you were...how desperate you were. Remember the condition of your heart before your redemption occurred. Then remember the joyful explosion that occurred in your heart at the time of your salvation. Remember the transformation that occurred. Remember how much you have been forgiven. If you cannot remember back to a time when you were not Christian...get on your knees and thank Him. Find someone who does remember...listen to their stories of what their life was like before Christ. Ask them to tell you the story of their transformation.
Next we are to repent. Repent means to go in the other direction and it will look like something in your life when it happens. Confess your sin. Loving the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength is a commandment. Confess the sin of leaving your first love and of allowing your love to grow cold. Confess the sin of doing the outward without the inward heart of love for your Lord.
The last thing is to repeat the first works. What does that mean? If you have ever been in love think back to the first days, weeks, months or years of your love. Think about what you did during that time and do it again. Remember when you carried your bible everywhere...went to church three or four times a week...prayed without ceasing...worshiped Him in song. Go back to the time when God's love for you swept you away. Jesus says remember, repent and do the first work again. He wants to be your consuming passion. Love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Return.
Love
Mom
Saturday, January 29, 2011
On Being at Ease and Settled on Your Dregs
Moab has been at ease from his youth; He has settled on his dregs, And has not been emptied from vessel to vessel, Nor has he gone into captivity. Therefore his taste remained in him, And his scent has not changed. “ Therefore behold, the days are coming,” says the LORD,--Jeremiah 48:11-12
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
We have reached Chapter 48 in Jeremiah. Jeremiah had a ministry to the Jewish people for more than 40 years. In chapter one God told him that he would be a prophet to the nations. Chapter 46 begins his "international" ministry where he speaks to the nations around Israel. God is speaking to Moab in Chapter 48.
Here God, speaking through Jeremiah, pronounces plunder and great destruction on Moab. Moab's judgment occurred because of her immense pride. She was powerful, prosperous and had much, but she did not have the Lord. Destruction came without warning and judgment was swift and thorough. Her pride was her undoing. Joy and gladness ceased and God caused the wine to fail from the winepresses. The sound of joy and celebration was no more. In its place was weeping and wailing.
“ We have heard the pride of Moab (He is exceedingly proud), Of his loftiness and arrogance and pride, And of the haughtiness of his heart.” --Jeremiah 48:29
A general lamentation On all the housetops of Moab, And in its streets; For I have broken Moab like a vessel in which is no pleasure,” says the LORD.--Jeremiah 48:38
We are described in the Bible as vessels. Some are for honor and some are for dishonor. 2 Corinthians 4:7 says that Christ dwells in these earthen vessels of ours. We have this treasure (Christ) in our earthen vessels so that the the excellence of the power may be of God and not us.
"Moab had settled in the dregs." What does that mean? On the surface it means that Moab had had a quiet history. They were a settled people. The imagery used is of wine making. In the production of sweet wine, the juice was left in the wineskin until the sediment of dregs were settled on the bottom. Once that occurred it was poured into another skin. If left too long in the same vessel, the dregs that had settled at the bottom would make the wine bitter...so as soon as the dregs settled, the wine was poured into another vessel. Each pouring separated more of the dregs. This continued until the dregs were removed and the pure, sweet wine remained. Moab had never been poured...she had settled into the dregs...bitterness, pride and sin filled her vessel.
Trials pour out the bitterness in our lives until the pure sweetness of the Lord remains. Changes take place in our hearts during our trials. Pride leaves, self-sufficiency leaves and we are on our knees beseeching our God for help and mercy in our time of need. We begin to understand that all our good is of Him and that apart from Him we can do nothing. Our dependence on Him increases and our self-will and self-desires (which you know...are the dregs) are removed. The pouring out process is painful, but the results are a vessel that is useful and can be used to shine the light of Jesus to others.
Jesus' first miracle was to turn water into wine. Wine represents joy. Joy is the first manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit which is love. Jesus loved us so much that He poured out His life for the joy that was set before Him...US!
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”--Matthew 26:27-28
What joy was wrought through the pouring out of God's Son on the cross. The darkest moment in the history of the world, but through it came the shining beacon of light that brings the hope of eternal life to all men.
When we believe, He begins this work in us and is faithful to complete it. When we allow ourselves to be poured out in surrender to Him, our lives become a source of light and refreshment for those around us.. He takes us from suffering to suffering so that our bitter dregs are removed and the pure sweet wine of Jesus remains.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.--2 Timothy 2:20-21
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.--Romans 8:18
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.--2nd Corinthians 4:7
Love
Mom
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna and Mikayla,
We have reached Chapter 48 in Jeremiah. Jeremiah had a ministry to the Jewish people for more than 40 years. In chapter one God told him that he would be a prophet to the nations. Chapter 46 begins his "international" ministry where he speaks to the nations around Israel. God is speaking to Moab in Chapter 48.
Here God, speaking through Jeremiah, pronounces plunder and great destruction on Moab. Moab's judgment occurred because of her immense pride. She was powerful, prosperous and had much, but she did not have the Lord. Destruction came without warning and judgment was swift and thorough. Her pride was her undoing. Joy and gladness ceased and God caused the wine to fail from the winepresses. The sound of joy and celebration was no more. In its place was weeping and wailing.
“ We have heard the pride of Moab (He is exceedingly proud), Of his loftiness and arrogance and pride, And of the haughtiness of his heart.” --Jeremiah 48:29
A general lamentation On all the housetops of Moab, And in its streets; For I have broken Moab like a vessel in which is no pleasure,” says the LORD.--Jeremiah 48:38
We are described in the Bible as vessels. Some are for honor and some are for dishonor. 2 Corinthians 4:7 says that Christ dwells in these earthen vessels of ours. We have this treasure (Christ) in our earthen vessels so that the the excellence of the power may be of God and not us.
"Moab had settled in the dregs." What does that mean? On the surface it means that Moab had had a quiet history. They were a settled people. The imagery used is of wine making. In the production of sweet wine, the juice was left in the wineskin until the sediment of dregs were settled on the bottom. Once that occurred it was poured into another skin. If left too long in the same vessel, the dregs that had settled at the bottom would make the wine bitter...so as soon as the dregs settled, the wine was poured into another vessel. Each pouring separated more of the dregs. This continued until the dregs were removed and the pure, sweet wine remained. Moab had never been poured...she had settled into the dregs...bitterness, pride and sin filled her vessel.
Trials pour out the bitterness in our lives until the pure sweetness of the Lord remains. Changes take place in our hearts during our trials. Pride leaves, self-sufficiency leaves and we are on our knees beseeching our God for help and mercy in our time of need. We begin to understand that all our good is of Him and that apart from Him we can do nothing. Our dependence on Him increases and our self-will and self-desires (which you know...are the dregs) are removed. The pouring out process is painful, but the results are a vessel that is useful and can be used to shine the light of Jesus to others.
Jesus' first miracle was to turn water into wine. Wine represents joy. Joy is the first manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit which is love. Jesus loved us so much that He poured out His life for the joy that was set before Him...US!
"And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”--Matthew 26:27-28
What joy was wrought through the pouring out of God's Son on the cross. The darkest moment in the history of the world, but through it came the shining beacon of light that brings the hope of eternal life to all men.
When we believe, He begins this work in us and is faithful to complete it. When we allow ourselves to be poured out in surrender to Him, our lives become a source of light and refreshment for those around us.. He takes us from suffering to suffering so that our bitter dregs are removed and the pure sweet wine of Jesus remains.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.--2 Timothy 2:20-21
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.--Romans 8:18
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.--2nd Corinthians 4:7
Love
Mom
Friday, January 28, 2011
Woe is Me Now!
The word that Jeremiah the prophet spoke to Baruch the son of Neriah, when he had written these words in a book at the instruction of Jeremiah, in the fourth year of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, saying,“Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, to you, O Baruch: ‘You said, “Woe is me now! For the LORD has added grief to my sorrow. I fainted in my sighing, and I find no rest.”’
“Thus you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the LORD. “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.”’”---Jeremiah 45
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
I think this is my favorite chapter in Jeremiah! The results are not up to us...they are up to God. Expect nothing and you will not be disappointed. Do not seek great things for yourself...just obey God. I am not in control....These are such good things for me to remember. My job is just to be obedient...whatever happens as a result is up to Him.
My hope is to be set fully in Christ and I am to expect nothing here on earth but opposition, trial and trouble. I am not to seek great things for me. I am to commit myself to my God in such a way that He is magnified. He must increase, I must decrease. To live should be Christ and to die gain. Baruch was looking for glory here and that is always fleeting, unsatisfying and leaves us wanting more.
Baruch worked as Jeremiah's scribe and was threatened for this by the king. (See Jeremiah 36) Baruch was hoping for great things to come to him because of his service to God He set his hope in the wrong place and was disappointed and grieved that things weren't working out according to his plan. He forgot that God was sovereign and works things toward His purposes and not ours. Setting your expectations high in this world only increases your frustration and make whatever trials that come more difficult to handle. Surrender it all to Him. God is the source of true contentment. If the Lord is our Shepherd, we have everything we need. Don't seek things for yourself...be content with what the Lord has given you. Serve Him knowing that your sufficiency comes from Him.
Humility of mind is what is needed to live like this. Imitate Christ who humbled and subjected Himself completely to the will of His Father in Heaven. That is how it is done. Lowliness of mind esteems the other as more important. Lowliness of mind keeps us from our own wrong desires and settles our mind on what He desires. Eyes off of ourselves and what we are doing for God or what we are not getting and onto Him and the privilege we have in serving Him.
Humility protects...lowliness of mind preserves. How? When I am humble, I am not self seeking...I am looking to live for Him and His glory. His perfect will then covers me. I am under his umbrella of protection so to speak. If I have done what my Lord has called me to do and fulfilled all His desires, than despite how it looks from an earthly perspective, I have led a successful life.
“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. (Psalm 127: 1-2)
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20).
Love
Mom
“Thus you shall say to him, ‘Thus says the LORD: “Behold, what I have built I will break down, and what I have planted I will pluck up, that is, this whole land. And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them; for behold, I will bring adversity on all flesh,” says the LORD. “But I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go.”’”---Jeremiah 45
Dear Suzanne, Rebecca, Anna, and Mikayla,
I think this is my favorite chapter in Jeremiah! The results are not up to us...they are up to God. Expect nothing and you will not be disappointed. Do not seek great things for yourself...just obey God. I am not in control....These are such good things for me to remember. My job is just to be obedient...whatever happens as a result is up to Him.
My hope is to be set fully in Christ and I am to expect nothing here on earth but opposition, trial and trouble. I am not to seek great things for me. I am to commit myself to my God in such a way that He is magnified. He must increase, I must decrease. To live should be Christ and to die gain. Baruch was looking for glory here and that is always fleeting, unsatisfying and leaves us wanting more.
Baruch worked as Jeremiah's scribe and was threatened for this by the king. (See Jeremiah 36) Baruch was hoping for great things to come to him because of his service to God He set his hope in the wrong place and was disappointed and grieved that things weren't working out according to his plan. He forgot that God was sovereign and works things toward His purposes and not ours. Setting your expectations high in this world only increases your frustration and make whatever trials that come more difficult to handle. Surrender it all to Him. God is the source of true contentment. If the Lord is our Shepherd, we have everything we need. Don't seek things for yourself...be content with what the Lord has given you. Serve Him knowing that your sufficiency comes from Him.
Humility of mind is what is needed to live like this. Imitate Christ who humbled and subjected Himself completely to the will of His Father in Heaven. That is how it is done. Lowliness of mind esteems the other as more important. Lowliness of mind keeps us from our own wrong desires and settles our mind on what He desires. Eyes off of ourselves and what we are doing for God or what we are not getting and onto Him and the privilege we have in serving Him.
Humility protects...lowliness of mind preserves. How? When I am humble, I am not self seeking...I am looking to live for Him and His glory. His perfect will then covers me. I am under his umbrella of protection so to speak. If I have done what my Lord has called me to do and fulfilled all His desires, than despite how it looks from an earthly perspective, I have led a successful life.
“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. (Psalm 127: 1-2)
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20).
Love
Mom
Inexcusable O Man, Whoever You Are Who Judge
Paul continues his message to the Roman believers by completely knocking down any delusions of self-sufficiency or self-righteousness. In Christ, there is neither male nor female, Jew nor Greek, slave nor free; we are all one in Christ Jes...us. There is no partiality with God (vs. 11) and He renders to each one according to his deeds (vs. 6). A frequent source of friction in the early church (and the source of much denunciation from non-believing Jews) was the active inclusion of Gentiles into the body of Christ. For a righteous Jew, Gentiles as a whole were unclean, depraved, and generally considered to be given over to the “debased mind” Paul described in the previous chapter. They would have been smirking their approval when Paul suddenly flipped the tables around with a stunning rebuke in the first verse of chapter two: “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.”
Jew and Gentile, Paul argued, are both equally guilty in the sight of the holy God. How could the Jews claim superior righteousness when they, who had the Law, had never perfectly kept it? Only one human has ever met God’s standard: Jesus Christ. So who were the real people of God and keepers of the law – the ones who bore the outward sign of circumcision and yet were inwardly unclean and depraved, or the ones who may or may not have borne the outward signs, yet whose hearts had been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ and who possessed the transforming Spirit of the Living God?
The Lord is not a respecter of persons. He could care less about your pedigree, your resume, your references, or your worldly assets and successes. He could care less about your excuses, self-justifications, or so-called righteousness. All those things make no difference to Him. Likewise, your failures, your sinful past, and your utter depravity are also irrelevant. There is only one choice that matters, one choice that can either condemn you or save you: your choice about Jesus. Accept Him personally as your Lord and Savior, and you are immutably His child forever; reject Him, and you will spend eternity suffering the consequences.
“But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignatio
It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done, or what your heritage might be or what blood flows through your veins. You might be considered the most respectable person on planet Earth, but if you do not have Christ, you are still guilty. You might be the most monstrous criminal on planet Earth, but if you have Christ, He will present you spotless before His Father in heaven. It’s not about who we are or what we can do; it’s about who the Lord is and what He has done. Jesus paid my debt and has imputed His righteousness to my account. And His Spirit works in me, I’m changing. He gives me fruit. He’s put His law on my heart. He gives me the grace and the desire to do His will. Each day He conforms me more into the image of His Son, and I know, with absolute certainty, that none of the credit belongs to me. It’s all Him, His power, His Spirit, and His grace. And it’s all there for the asking. Give Him your heart, and He will do something with it that is exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ask or think.
1 John 3:1-2, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
Jew and Gentile, Paul argued, are both equally guilty in the sight of the holy God. How could the Jews claim superior righteousness when they, who had the Law, had never perfectly kept it? Only one human has ever met God’s standard: Jesus Christ. So who were the real people of God and keepers of the law – the ones who bore the outward sign of circumcision and yet were inwardly unclean and depraved, or the ones who may or may not have borne the outward signs, yet whose hearts had been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ and who possessed the transforming Spirit of the Living God?
The Lord is not a respecter of persons. He could care less about your pedigree, your resume, your references, or your worldly assets and successes. He could care less about your excuses, self-justifications, or so-called righteousness. All those things make no difference to Him. Likewise, your failures, your sinful past, and your utter depravity are also irrelevant. There is only one choice that matters, one choice that can either condemn you or save you: your choice about Jesus. Accept Him personally as your Lord and Savior, and you are immutably His child forever; reject Him, and you will spend eternity suffering the consequences.
“But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, who ‘will render to each one according to his deeds’: eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignatio
It doesn’t matter who you are or what you have done, or what your heritage might be or what blood flows through your veins. You might be considered the most respectable person on planet Earth, but if you do not have Christ, you are still guilty. You might be the most monstrous criminal on planet Earth, but if you have Christ, He will present you spotless before His Father in heaven. It’s not about who we are or what we can do; it’s about who the Lord is and what He has done. Jesus paid my debt and has imputed His righteousness to my account. And His Spirit works in me, I’m changing. He gives me fruit. He’s put His law on my heart. He gives me the grace and the desire to do His will. Each day He conforms me more into the image of His Son, and I know, with absolute certainty, that none of the credit belongs to me. It’s all Him, His power, His Spirit, and His grace. And it’s all there for the asking. Give Him your heart, and He will do something with it that is exceedingly abundantly above all that you could ask or think.
1 John 3:1-2, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
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