1 Corinthians: A Church Divided

DAY 81
Romans 15:1 - 1 Corinthians 14:40

If we took a look back at Acts 18, we can find the beginnings of the Church at Corinth. It was a church with so much promise. It was planted and nurtured by Paul for at least a year and a half. The founding members included Aquila and Priscilla, not to mention the former synagogue leader, Crispus, and his entire family. Notable disciples such as Silas, Timothy, and Apollos ministered there. It was truly a great beginning with great expectations.

Fast forward a couple of years to when Paul writes 1 Corintians. It was a church that was every pastor's nightmare. It contained a host of problems. The reason for Paul's letter can be found in 1 Cor 1:10.

"I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought."

Division. It is a terrible word in the context of the body of Christ. In fact, on Day 77, we talked about one of the last things Jesus prayed for was that there would be unity in the body of Christ. Its been over 1900 years since the first church began and now according to some conservative estimates there is over 6000 different divisions of Christianity. Unfortunately, many of those divisions are not based on issues of truth and doctrine. This link will provide you with some of the history of the major branches. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_denomination

So what were the problems at the Corinthian Church?

1) Division, Quarreling, and Arrogance (1:1 - 4:21)

2) Sexual Immorality (5:1-13; 6:12-20)

3) Lawsuits Against One Another (6:1-11)

4) Marital Problems (7:1-40)

5) Issues with Food and Christian Liberty(8:1-13; 10:14-33)

6) Issues in Worship (11:2- 16; 14:26-40)

7) Issues with the Lord's Supper (11:17-33)

8) Issues about Spiritual Gifts (12:1-14:25)

9) The Resurrection of Christ and His Disciples (15:1 -58)

So, what is the solution to all these problems? What is Paul's guidance to the Corinthians Church. His answer to Corinth and to all of us for problems and divisions in the church is: The Lordship of Christ and The Supremacy of Love.

Go back to the first 10 verses of 1 Corinthians and read them. 10 times in 10 verses, Paul mentions Jesus. If Jesus is Lord in the lives of a group of believers that call themselves the church then there will be no division. (Even if there are some disagreements). The reason is because Jesus will be working in the believers' lives to move them to maturity. And the Holy Spirit will search our hearts and make corrections in our lives.

"It is because of Him (God) that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God - that is our righteousness, holiness, and redemption." (1:30)

"But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." (6:11)

And when Jesus is our Lord and Saviour, we develop the same attitude that Paul had.

"For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified." (2:2)

And when all we claim Jesus as Lord and Saviour, our focus isn't on our differences; it is on our similarity as sinners saved by grace. As a result, the Holy Spirit works through our lives by granting spiritual gifts to be used by the body. And when the body of Christ is whole; it produces an amazing thing this world rarely sees; True Love.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protect, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. ... And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love" (13:4-8a;13)

With a love like that we will be a beacon of hope to a dark and dying world which shows that faith in the Lord Jesus Christ is the answer to the division between man and God.

The Gospel According to Romans

DAY 80
Acts 28:17 - Romans 14:23

Next to Genesis and the Gospels, Romans is one of the most analyzed and debated books of the Bible. It would be almost impossible to limit ourselves to just one topic in each readings. We could spend a year at least just going through Romans.

However, as we go through the final days of this 90 day journey, I am persuaded that providing each letters description of the gospel would have the most benefit to us as readers. Also, we might provide a general outline of the book with some key verses.

We will use an outline for Romans from Dr. Dunnett in his New Testament Survey and I will add some key verses.

I. Introduction (1:1-17)

Theme: "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith" (1:16-17)

II. The Need For Redemption: Sin (1:18 -3:20)

"We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are under sin. As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one" (3:9b-12)

III. The Provision of Redemption: Justification (3:21 - 5:21)

"This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that cam by Christ Jesus" (3:22-24)

IV. The Effect of Redemption: Sanctification (6:1 - 8:39)

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. (8:1-2)

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us." (8:37)

V. The Scope of Redemption: Jew and Gentile (9:1 -11:36)

"That if you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord' and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. As the Scripture says, 'Anyone who trust in Him will never be put to shame,' For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile - the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for, 'Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (10:9-13)

VI. The Fruit of Redemption: Service (12:1 - 15:13)

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship." (12:1)

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." (12:10)

VII. Conclusion (15:14 - 16:27)

And as a suitable ending, Paul's closing comments.

"Now to Him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey Him - to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen."

The Gospel According to the Apostles

DAY 79
Acts 16:38 - 28:16

Most of us may look at the book of Acts as a historical record of how the gospel was spread throughout the Roman Empire. As we conclude this book, I would like to highlight the 13 discourses, or speeches, that are given by Peter, Stephen, and Paul. Primarily because each of the speeches gives us a testimony about Jesus Christ. Each of these speeches are in essence the gospel itself.

Most of them are remarkably similar in content. The testimony considering Jesus includes his ordination by God, His miracles, His death and resurrection, the fulfillment of OT scriptures, His ascension into heaven, and the apostle's authority as a witness. Besides the testimony, the discourses generally call for repentance in light of judgment and promise the forgiveness of sins. (Adapted from H.N. Ridderbos)

The following is a list of the discourses and a portion of the gospel message in each.

1) Peter at Pentecost (Act 2:14-39)

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ." Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call." (36, 38-39)

2) Peter at Solomon's Porch (Acts 3:12-26)

"But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord" (18-19)

3) Peter at the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:8-12)

"Then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. He is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." (10-12)

4) Stephen's Defense (Acts 7:1-60)

"Look," he said, "I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." (56)

5) Peter at Cornelius House (Acts 10:35-43)

"How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." (38-43)

6) Peter's Defense to the Church (Acts 11:5-18)

"When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life." (18)

7) Paul at Antioch (Acts 13:17-41)

"Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses." (38-39)

8) Paul in Athens (Acts 17:22-31)

"In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to all men by raising him from the dead." (30-31)

9) Paul at Ephesus (Acts 20:18-35)

"I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus." (21)

10) Paul's Defense at the Temple (Acts 22:3-21)

"And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name." (16)

11) Paul's Defense to Felix (Acts 24:10-21)

"However, I admit that I worship the God of our fathers as a follower of the Way, which they call a sect. I believe everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets, and I have the same hope in God as these men, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked." (14-15)

12) Paul's Defense to Agrippa (Acts 26:2-29)

"I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me." (17b-18)

13) Paul at Rome (Acts 28:23-28)

"From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets." (23b)

It is important to understand the gospel of Jesus as the apostles preached, because it is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

The following external links are animated sequences of Paul's Missionary Journey's. You can click on the cities and geopraphical areas for more information.

http://www.apostlepaulthefilm.com/paul/journey_01.htm

http://www.apostlepaulthefilm.com/paul/journey_02.htm

http://www.apostlepaulthefilm.com/paul/journey_03.htm

A Light Unto the Gentiles

DAY 78
Acts 6:8 - 16:37
(Focus Passage Acts 10:1 - 11:18)

Isaiah 49:6 & Acts 13:47 "I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth."

It is considered one of the major turning points in the history of Christianity. And it started with a bunch of animals floating on a sheet in a vision. Three times God instructed Peter to kill an unclean animal (according to Jewish dietary laws) and eat it. Three times Peter said no, that he would not eat anything unclean. And a voice said, "Do not call anything impure that God has made clean." Then the sheet disappeared.

In Acts 10:17 it states that Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision. Did he think about the three times he denied knowing the Lord? Did he think about the three times Jesus asked him "Do you love me"? We don't know. But I am certain, three times meant something to Peter.

When Peter entered Cornelius household, he understood what God was telling him. "But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean." (10:28b)

As Peter began to share the gospel he stated "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right." (10:34-35)

Once back in Jerusalem, Peter explained everything to the apostles and brothers in Christ. At the end, that all praised God, saying "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."

In God's perfect timing, He arranged a meeting between Peter and Cornelius. At the same time, Saul is being transformed into Paul at Tarsus. By the end of the chapter, God will send Barnabas after Paul to start a major ministry in Antioch, the third largest city of the Roman Empire.

There was a tiny spark that started at Pentecost, another when the disciples were scattered after Stephen's stoning, another was added by Philip on the desert road to Gaza, and another by Peter's visit to Cornelius, and one more by the men from Cyprus and Cyrene at Antioch. Each of these events was God preparing the way for Paul to begin his ministry to the Gentiles.

And Paul would later write in Galatians, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male or female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus" and in Colossians, "Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free, but Christ is all, and is in all."

There is a lesson we can learn from Peter's vision and Paul's words.

No one on this earth is beyond or beneath the redemptive plan of God.

That They May Be One

DAY 77
John 15:18 - Acts 6:7

It is just hours before Jesus would face the Sanhedrin, Pilate, Herod, and the people that wanted to take His life. As Jesus was talking to the Father and looking ahead at the suffering and crucifixion; He prayed for something unusual. He didn't ask for His followers to be wealthy or famous. He didn't ask for them to take over the world by force. He prayed that His disciples and those that would believe in Him would be protected and that they would be one.

John 17:11 " Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name - the name you gave me - so that they may be one as we are one."

John 17:21-23 "That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me."

Unity! That's what Jesus prayed for all his followers right before He endured the penalties of our sins.

And how is that going to be accomplished? If you re-read the scriptures you will notice that it is done by The Power of His Name for The Glory of God and through Christ In Us.

The Power of His Name. Whatever the reason for the separation between brothers and sisters in Christ, the Power in His Name is even greater. When families, churches, or the universal church are divided, the Power in His Name can bind them back together. When our focus is taken off of whatever separates us, and placed on God then we will be one.

The Glory of God. Nothing in ourselves can mend the differences in denominations. Nothing we may do on our own can fix the division in a church. But when we forget about putting ourselves first and place our efforts on magnifying the glory of God, then all those things that keep us apart will fade away.

The Christ in Us. The key is that Christ must be in us. There are certainly goats and wolves among us that masquerade as His sheep that Satan uses to devour and destroy the church. However, if a group of people have Christ as their Lord and Saviour and are giving God the Glory, then the Power of His Name will protect them. And they will be in complete unity. They will also be "one in heart and mind"(Acts 4:32) because they will not be seeking the desires of the flesh. Rather they will be doing the will of God.

When a group of believers are in complete unity, then the world will know that they are Christians because they will see God's love work through them. They will see what is described in Ephesians 4:1-6 and Colossians 3:12-14.

"As a prisoner of the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to one hope when you were called - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have aganist one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity."

What binds all the virtues together and what binds all believers together is love. A love that can only come from Christ in Us. A love that was demonstrated on the cross for the Glory of God. A love which is the Power in His Name.

Where there is love for God, there is unity. And when there is unity, then the world believes that God sent His Son.

Jesus Wept

DAY 76
John 6:1 - 15:17
(Focus Passage John 11:1-44)
(Picture of Jesus weeping in front of the Oklahoma City National Memorial)

It is one of the most memorable and widely known verses of the Bible. Probably for the wrong reason; it is the shortest verse in the Bible. But let us not miss the significance of this wonderful verse and passage of scripture.

John 11:35 "Jesus Wept"

In verse 33, it tells us that Jesus was "deeply moved in spirit and troubled" by Mary and the Jews with her weeping.

It is His anguish which comes when He sees the effects of sin and death on His children.

It is His compassion that comes from knowing that the ones He loves are hurting.

It is His sadness toward those that will reject Him and His message.

It is His grieving and groaning when He intercedes for His sheep who commit sin.

It is His sorrow toward those closest to Him who do not understand what He has been teaching them. That He is the resurrection and the life.

It is His suffering that He will endure for those that believe in His name.

But most of all, it is His heartache which shows us His humanity.

And when we come to know this, we realize He is:

Someone we can cling to when we are hurting. Someone we can go to when we are troubled. Someone who can hold us when we are weeping.

Today, I wept for the ones I love. Today, I rested in the loving arms of my Saviour who knows how I feel.

But more importantly, Jesus wept with me. He wept in anguish at the sins that have scarred my life. He wept with compassion knowing that I was hurting. He wept with grief as He intercedes on my behalf. He wept with sorrow, knowing how poorly I understand Him and His message.

But He also wept with joy, because He knows He is my resurrection and He is my life.

The Pool at Bethesda

DAY 75
Luke 20:20 - John 5:47
(Focus Passage John 5:1-17)

One of the few excavations they have done and are positive about it's location is the Pool of Bethesda (located to the right).

1) The Important Question

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie–the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty‑eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

The pool near the sheep's gate was called Bethesda. Bethesda means "house of mercy" or "house of grace" It was the place to go to for healing. The myth was that an angel would stir the waters of the pool and the first one in would be healed. There are a lot of myths today about how to be made well; and people will seek just about any place for a spiritual healing of the soul.

And just like the Pool at Bethesda, before Christ we are all disabled when it comes to spiritual matters. We are blind to the knowledge of God and cannot see what truth really is. We are lame when it comes to attaining righteousness and cannot meet the standards of a Holy God. And we are paralyzed from attaining healing of our spiritual sickness.

And then Jesus asked a question, "Do you want to get well?" or a more literal rendering would say "Do you desire to be made whole."

We might think that the question is rhetorical because the man was sitting by the pool. However, there are people today that are trying anything to cure their spiritual void and have disregarded the gospel message. Some of these even attend church, which would be considered, the "house of mercy." Unfortunately, many people that come to the house are content to stay at the side of the pool.

The sad fact is some people actually do not desire be healed of their sickness. As an illustration, there are many who have never been able to quit bad habits successfully. It is because their desire for the habit is greater than their desire to be healed. And so it is with the spiritual disease of sin. Some desire their sin, more than the possbility of being made spiritually whole.

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

When we understand the gospel and have a true desire to be made well, our reponse is the same as the disabled man. I want to be healed, but I need help. I want to be right with God, but I can't do it on my own. And once we get to that point, Jesus says to us what He said to that man at the pool.

Rise - Get up, your sickness has been healed. The sin that so entangled you and kept you away from God has been done away with. The disease that has kept you from being what God intended you to be, has been cured.

Pick up your Mat - No longer is the disease your master, but the Lord has enabled you through His Holy Spirit to conquer your sickness, which is sin.

Walk - Now that we are whole and have been healed, we can walk. We can walk with the One that healed us, that made us well. And by walking with Him, we are continuously made well as He sanctifies us. And we can leave all the myths behind.

The question Jesus asks everyone is "Do you want to get well?"
And those that desire to be made whole, Jesus will heal.
Because Jesus himself is the "home of grace."

The Great Banquet

DAY 74
Luke 10:1 - 20:19
(Focus Passage Luke 14:15-24)

Since today is Thanksgiving, I thought I would keep in the spirit of the day and discuss the Parable of the Great Banquet.

In the parable, the man giving the banquet sent his servants to gather the people that had been invited. Typically in OT times, two invitations were sent out. The first was to notify people and for them to get prepared. The second was when the banquet was ready. So, we are at the second invite. And the first invitees represent the ones that considered themselves important at the time; Pharisees, Sadduccees, Herodians, etc.

But each invite came with excuses. Luke 14:18-20

But they all began to make excuses. The first said, "I have just bought a field and I must go and see it. Please excuse me." Another said, "I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me." Still another said, "I just got married, so I can't come."

Each of the excuses the invitees gave, are also ones we use today. The first person was more concerned with his possessions. The second person was more concerned with his livelihood, or job. The last person was more concerned with his family. They all had something else that was more important to them.

Materialism, Occupation, and Other People. They are the wordly interests that we still use today as excuses from attending the banquet, which is a relationship with Jesus.

Next notice that the master of the banquet sends his servants into the city to invite people. This symbolizes the rest of Israel; the poor, widows, orphans, oppressed, etc. Then there was still room at the banquet for more, so he sent his servants out to the roads and country lanes. This symbolizes the Gentiles. In the end, you will notice that the invitation of Jesus is open to everyone. However, some will refuse to come to the banquet. Some will choose the things of this world.

As we pause during this time of giving thanks, may I remind you that millions around the world will not have a feast today. Millions may not have much to be thankful for. But you can make a difference. Those that God has given plenty, are expected to give plenty.

There was another feast that Jesus talked about that started with a few loaves and a few fish. But because one person gave little, much was accomplished. So I would encourage you all to give to World Hunger through the SBC, to adopt a child through one of the numerous Christian organizations, to volunteer at the Baptist Mission Center or Grace Rescue Mission.

Because Jesus himself said,

“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’

Your Faith Has Saved Thee; Go in Peace

DAY 73
Luke 2:1-Luke 9:62
(Focus Passages: Luke 7:36-50; Luke 8: 43-48)












Two women, two different stories, same results.

Luke 7:50 Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace"
Luke 8:48 And He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has saved you; go in peace"

Both verses contain the same Greek words that are transliterated as:
"pistis sozo se poreuomai eis eirene"

1) The Evidence of Faith

So what does the common ground of faith look like. Let's look at each woman's story.

In the first story, the sinful woman kneeled down at his feet and with tears in her eyes wiped His feet with her hair, kissed His feet, and poured perfume on them. And the scripture tells us her sins were forgiven because she loved much.

In the second story, the sick woman touched the fringe of Jesus's garment. When asked who touched Him, the woman came trembling and fell down at his feet. And the scripture tells us she was healed.

So what was the evidence of Faith? Tears, Trembling, Kneeling, Humility, Service, and Love. To be quite honest, I haven't seen much of that in my own life lately. And I haven't seen an abundance of that in our churches.

But the faith that saves, is the one that is continuously humbled in the presence of Jesus. It is the faith that is brought to tears by our sin and the thought of those dying in the world. It is a faith that trembles in the presence of the Lord. It is a faith that kneels in submission to God's authority. It is a faith that serves the Lord's purpose and plan. It is a faith that comes from a love for God and our neighbor. That is the common ground of faith.


2) The Product of Faith

The sinful woman received more than just forgiveness of sins, and the sick woman received more than just healing. They both received peace. And peace is more than just a tranquil feeling, or the absence of hosility. It is freedom to be with God.

The Greek word for peace (eirene) comes from the verb "eiro;" which means "to join." And the word we translate "go" (poreuomai) means to "walk" or "journey" in a continuous manner. Both women received the gift of "joining with God" and "walking with God" because of their faith. Romans 5:1-2 tells us that this faith in Jesus gives us access to God and His grace. It also gives us joy and hope.

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

And the same peace is given to all those who have faith in God to save. We have access to a "walk with God." We have the ability to stand in His presence because of His grace through Jesus Christ. We have a hope that our sinfulness and sickness can be cured. We have a joy because the glory of God is made manifest in His Son. And His Son, Jesus sits at His side to make intercession for us. Faith brings more than forgiveness and healing, it joins us in a journey with a loving God.

Two women, two different stories, same results.
What did they do the same?

They both reached out for Jesus in faith that He could save.
And they both received more than they could ever imagine; a walk with God.

Descending into Greatness!

DAY 72
Mark 9:14- Luke 1:80

Mark 10:43-45 "But it shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

There are numerous things in our lives that out of nowhere change the direction we are taking. Some of these are called "significant emotional events." Some of these are a death in the family, a car accident, a major injury, a loss of a job, a major geographical move, or our conversion experience.

Other things aren't so major, but still have a major impact on our lives. A talk with a parent, advice from a friend, a new church, and even a book.

One of these major experience for me happened in 1996 when someone handed me a copy of Bill Hybels Descending into Greatness, which is a commentary on Phillipians 2. For today, I thought I would share a few quotes from that book.

"What concerns Him (God) is upward mobility as defined by the world: to promote ourselves, to advance our own cause, to push our own agenda at the expense of others. The end goal is to arrive at the top of the heap with enough money, power, and material possessions to feed one's main objective: self indulgence." (p.20)

Self-indulgence. It is an attitude (and sin) that affects and infects all of our lives. It consumes every action and choice we make. Have you ever caught yourself saying, "Well, I deserve this." Especially when it comes to recognition or a possession. Even when it comes to "Christian" things self-indulgence creeps in. We want to be the one making the decisions. When we go to church, we want to be served instead of serve.

In this very passage of scripture, James and John are wanting to sit on the right and left of Jesus in glory. Too many times we want to be the head of the table, instead of the one doing the dishes. In many parts of scripture, Jesus points to a different way of life. Instead of going up, He wants us to go down.

"Greatness is not a measure of self-will, but rather self abandonment. Descending into greatness seems absurd" It involves "demotion, anonymity, servanthood, downscaling, decreasing, losing, and dying" (p.17)

"He challenged His followers to embrace their uniqueness and pursue the dreams God had given them. But losing does mean that we allow God to determine what needs are legitimate. Losing means to yield our desires and passions to His guidance; to invite Him to chip away the rough edges of our personalitites; to use our gifts without seeking applause; and to allow Him to conform our dreams to His will." (p.21)

Unfortunately, very few of us find this downward spiral into greatness. The truth is that God has called each one of us to surrender our self-indulgence - to die to ourselves. He has called each one of us to serve Him for His glory. He has called each one of us to serve a lost and dying world by ministering to their needs.

Can you imagine how that could change a church, a community if there were an abundance of servants? If every need that was expressed, was met. It would look at lot like the early church in Acts.

Measure by the Gallon and Not the Teaspoon!

DAY 71
Matthew 26:57 - Mark 9:13
(Focus Passage Mark 4:21-25)

And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand?For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” (ESV)

Most of us have heard of this parable and the one in Matthew 5:14-16 many times before. But there are a few things that I would like to share.

First, we must consider the fact that lamp in our day would mean candle. And a candle has no light on its own, it must be lit. In a similar way, we must come to realize that we have no light in ourselves, nothing to shine in the darkness of the world. When we come to the Light of the World, Jesus, He starts our flame. And we are responsible for sharing the Light (the knowledge of Jesus) to a dark world.

Second, the bushel and the bed may sound like funny places to hide a light, but many seem to think that they represent two areas of our life: work and home. We must be careful not to hide our faith because of obligations at work or home. If a candle is hidden it will eventually go out because of a lack of oxygen. In the same way, if our light is not out in the open sharing Jesus, then the understanding that God gave us can be taken away.

Lastly, I want focus on a key phrase in the passage.
"with the measure you use, it will be measured to you"

It can be a frightening statement. Do you ever wonder why sometimes we can't grasp some of the truth in the Word of God. Sometimes, it is because God chooses not reveal them to us. However, at other times it is conditional based on what we have done with the truth we have. This verse makes it extremely clear. If we are stingy with the knowledge that God gave us, then we may not be given more. What's worse it that He may take away what we already have because we don't use it. On the other hand, if we are generous with the gospel message God will be generous in adding more understanding to us.

It is also practical for how we live our lives. How can we who have been given so much grace and mercy, not pour it out on our brothers and sisters in Christ? How can we not extend that same grace and mercy to the world around us. And we wonder why more people wait in line to get tickets to a movie than at the doors of the church. It's because most of us measure by the teaspoon instead of the gallon when it comes to our living our faith.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (ESV)

If we want renewal and revival, this is the place to start. All the grace, mercy, hope, and love that has been bestowed on you because of Jesus Christ needs to be the same with how we treat each other. Throw out the measuring spoons and cups and start using something much larger, like a dumptruck.

Then people may start lining up at the doors.

Who do you say that I am?

DAY 70
Matthew 16:1-26:56


Matt 16:13-20
Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

"Who do you say that I am?"
It is the question each one of us is asked today, and will be asked in the world to come.

"Who do you say that I am?"
It is the question each of us should be asking those that are in our families, workplaces, and city.

"Who do you say that I am?"
It is the one question that everyone will have to answer correctly.

C.S. Lewis shared these thoughts in "Mere Christianity"

"I am trying here to prevent anyone saying the really foolish thing that people often say about Him: "I'm ready to accept Jesus as a great moral teacher, but I don't accept His claim to be God." That is the one thing we must not say. A man who said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic--on a level with the man who says he is a poached egg--or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this man was, and is, the Son of God: or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill Him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to."

"Who do you say that I am?"
Jesus himself claimed to be the Messiah, the Son of God. He left us with only one option. Either we believe He is God who became flesh, or we do not.

By God's grace, may we all say "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."

External Link: This is an excellent website from Campus Crusade for Christ.
http://www.whoisjesus-really.com/main.htm

Yesterday's Post: Three Discourses

DAY 69
Matthew 5:1-15:39
(Vincent Van Gogh's Parable of the Sower)


There are five major discourses in the Gospel of Matthew
1) The Sermon on the Mount-Morality: Chap 5-7
2) The Missionary Discourse-Mission: Chap 10
3) The Parable Discourse-Kingdom of Heaven: Chap 13
4) The Community (or Church) Discourse-Relationships: Chap 18
5) The Apocalytic (Eschatological, or Olivet) Discourse: Chapt 24-25

The first discourse connects the Old Testament and the levitical system of morality to Jesus. Jesus tears away all the misconceptions between religion and faith. He describes what God requires; a heart that is pure. And anyone reading it will quickly realize that the righteousness needed is way beyond our human capability.

Between the first and second discourse, Jesus performs many miracles. The healing of the leper, centurion servant, Peter's mother-in-law, the paralytic, the bleeding woman, two deaf men, and a mute. He casts out demons from the two men at Gadarenes and raises the ruler's daughter from the dead. And we find something new. That many outside of Israel will join the feast in the kingdom of Heaven with the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. (8:11) And before He sends out the disciples we see "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His field." (9:37)

When is the last time that you and I looked up from our "busy" lives and even looked at the fields and saw the harvest? When is the last time you and I prayed to send out workers to the field? When is the last time we said "Here am I, send me?"

The second discourse involves instructions for Jesus' disciples as they go our to the harvest. It tells us to be on guard against the wolves of this world that would seek to devour us. It tells us to be as shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves. It reminds us that the Holy Spirit will provide us with what to say. It explains to use that "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven" (10:32)

Between the second and third discourses we see the beginning of the rejection of Jesus as King and Messiah. The Pharisees begin to plot against Him. Jesus reminds us that He "desires mercy, not sacrifice." and that "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." (12:39-40)

The third discourse, which is found in Matthew 13 concerns the "kingdom of heaven." And it describes the time from the beginning of the church until Jesus' return. There are eight parables.
1) Parable of the Sower (1-23)
The relationship of the gospel message of the kingdom of heaven to those that hear it. The hearts of those that hear it will be like the path, the rocky ground, thorny ground, and the good soil. And those that are good soil will produce different actions.

2) Parable of the Weeds (24-30, 36-43)
The relationship of the gospel message to the devil and to the end of time. It explains that Jesus is the one that is responsible for determining those followeres that are true or false.

3) Parable of the Mustard Seed (31-32)
How the effects of the gospel message can transform one life into something that can be used for God's purposes.

4) Parable of the Yeast (33-35)
How the effects of the gospel message can spread when it is lived out in the world.

5) Parable of the Hidden Treasure (44)
The gospel message is precious like something that was hidden but now revealed.

6) Parable of the Pearl (45)
The gospel message is precious like something that is sought after and finally found.

7) Parable of the Net (47-50)
At the end of time, how those that responded to the gospel and those that did not will be separated.

8) Parable of the Homeowner (51-52)
Every disciple has a responsibility to share the knowledge of Jesus Christ and not keep it hidden in the storeroom's of their heart. We have the responsibility to share the full revelation of God.

He who has ears, let him hear.

Matthew: Jesus as the Messiah

DAY 68
Zechariah 11:1 - Matthew 4:25


As we start into the New Testament, I want to commend everyone on their progress and encourage each person to continue to the end.

In the gospel of Matthew, one of the major themes is presenting Jesus as the promised Messiah from the Hebrew Scriptures. As we go through Matthew, we will try to point out those portions that fulfill the scriptures.

Matt. 1:1-17:The Genealogy
The genealogy of Matthew has two primary purposes; to identify Jesus as a descendant of David and as a descendant of Abraham.
Gen. 18:18 "Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation and all nations on earth will be blessed through him."
Isa.9:7 "Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this."

Matt 1:18-24:The Virgin Birth
Isa.7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."

Matt 2:1-12 Born in Bethlehem
Mic.5:2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from ancient times."

Matt 2:13-23 Flight into Egypt and Death of the Children
Jer.31:15 This is what the Lord says: "A voice is heard in Ramah, mourning and great weeping, Rachel weeping for her children and refusing to be comforted, because her children are no more."
Hos.11:1 When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son

Matt 3: 1-12 John the Baptist
Isaiah 40:3 says: A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God."

Matt 4:1-17 The Temptation of Jesus
The temptation of Jesus is also a fulfillment of the Israelites failure to trust God as they left Egypt. Each temptation and response has a mirror image passage found in Deuteronomy.

"Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."
This is a quote from Deut 8:3, which is a commentary on the Israelites failure to trust God in Exodus 16.

"Do not put the Lord your God to the test." This is a quote from Deut 6:16, which is a commentary on the Israelites failure to trust God in Exodus 17:1-7

"Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only." This is a quote from Deut 6:13, which is a written because of the Israelites failure to trust God in Exodus 32- 33:6.

There is an excellent sermon on this at the following website with application for us today.
http://www.kings.cam.ac.uk/chapel/services/2005-2006/JeffreyJohn05Mar.html

Something That You Would Not Believe!!

DAY 67
Habakkuk 1:1 - Zechariah 10:12

As we get toward the end of the Old Testament. Can you feel the desperation? A nation so full of promise. A people that had the hand of God providing and protecting them, yet turned their back on the deliverer. And because of His holiness and love, the Lord chastened His people. O, how the mighty have fallen! Israel taken into captivity by Assyria. Judah taken by Babylon. A small remnant remains, and a smaller remnant will return from Persia.

"How long, O Lord must I call for help, but you do not listen?" (Hab 1:2)

The types and shadows are slowly coming to an end. There will be a time of silence from God when His people will call out for help, but there will be no answer. It is the quiet before the storm. But there is a ray of hope for the line of David and for the descendants of Abraham by faith.

"Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed. for I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told" (Hab 1:5)

Something special is coming; rather someone that you would not believe. Even though you have been told for generatons, you will be amazed at the revelation of God's plan. The former temple will pass away and a living tabernacle will be among them. And in that new house, will be the true Sabbath rest.

"The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house, says the Lord Almighty. And in this place, I will grant peace." (Hag 2:9)

"See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey. (Zech 9:9)

"They will look on me, the one they pierced, and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only child" (Zech 12:10b)

And a small seed will be planted. It is the seed of faith. That seed will be a conviction in God's love and power to save. And there will be a return to faith in the Lord God to fulfill all He has promised.

"For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (Hab 2:14)

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." (Zeph 3:17)

That seed will grow into a vine because of their trust in God's revelation. That vine will produce fruit because they will humbly give their lives to their God. They will know that God is their refuge and shelter.

"But I will leave within you, the meek and humble, who trust in the name of the Lord." (Zeph 3:12)

"Seek the Lord, all you humble of the land, you who do what He commands. Seek righteousness, seek humility; perhaps you will be sheltered on the day of the Lord's anger" (Zeph 2:3)

And something that we would never believe, happens. The promised King is not one for political power or national gain; but one of humility of spirit. The righteousness God seeks is not external, but internal. The sacrifices that the Lord wants are not animals, but a life lived by faith.

"But the righteous will live by his faith" (Hab 4:4)

"Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord Almighty." (Zech 4:6b)

And tomorrow, something you would not believe will happen.

In our reading, a new life will be born.

In our own lives, faith will be strengthened.

In the world around us, someone will be asking "How long must I call for help, before someone answers?"

And you can say. "Look here and be amazed, God is mighty to save and has done something you won't believe."

It's Not About a Big Fish

DAY 66
Amos 9:11 - Nahum 3:19

Just down Route 66 in Catoosa, Oklahoma, is the Blue Whale. The park closed in 1988 and the blue whale fell into disrepair because of neglect. However, ten years later it was restored and made a landmark along Route 66.

Today's reading takes us through the books of Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, and Nahum. It would have been easier to just stick with Jonah and the fish, but the messages that each of these prophets can give us is more along the neglect and restoration that the Blue Whale on Route 66 went under.

Obadiah
It is the shortest book in the Bible with only 21 verses. It is a message for Edom, the descendants of Esau. It's message speaks about "the pride of your heart has deceived you" because Edom stood by and watched Judah and Jerusalem fall into destruction. In verse 15 the prophet states, "The day of the Lord is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head."

It could just as well be a message to you and I. We stand by and watch while the world falls into destruction because of sin. We stand by and watch while the "prince of this world" and those that follow him, lead the world down the path of lies and into the darkness. It is a reminder that the "day of the Lord" is near. And that we will be responsible for our neglect of the poor, the lame, and the hurting souls in the world.

Jonah
This book is about God sending a warning to Nineveh, to turn from its wicked ways. "Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs" (2:8). But those that repent will be shown compassion by God. "I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity". (4:2)

It is the message that we all want to hear, that God relents from his judgment of sin to those that lay down their worthless idols, cry out in our distress from the depths of the pit, and rely on His salvation. (that He has provided through His son)

Micah

This prophet was concerned about Samaria and Jerusalem. "Woe to those who plan iniquity" (2:1) because "They will cry out to the Lord, but He will not answer them. At that time He will hide His face from them because of the evil they have done." (3:4) Our sin keeps us from a holy God, but the Lord did not leave us helpless in our iniquities. "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgressions of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea" (7:18-19).

Oh, how amazing is God, because he pardons the sins of the remnant who are in Christ Jesus. They receive the inheritance of life in the presence of God. Because, even in the judgment of Samaria is a promise from God. "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." (5:2) and "He will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they will live securely, for then his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. And he will be their peace" (5:4-5) He is our peace with God.

Nahum

Last, but not least we return to Nineveh. We find that for awhile they heeded Jonah's call for repentance, but once again they have turned to their wicked ways. We are shown that sin leaves a wound that cannot heal and an injury that is fatal when people ignore and turn away from God. But for those that have faith in God, we know that "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him." (1:7)

It is not about a big fish.

It is about a God who is good, compassionate, gracious, merciful, powerful, and abundant in love for those that trust Him. It is about a Saviour that will be our peace. It is about a King who will rule forever. It is about a God who relents for those that repent and trust in Jesus.

The Days are Coming

DAY 65
Hosea 13:7 - Amos 9:10


The message of Joel and Amos is a warning of impending judgment. The Lord God has set the plumb line and the Israelites have been found untrue. (Amos 7:7-9) The Lord has set out the basket of fruit, and the time is ripe for judgment. (Amos 8:1-2).

The message of Joel and Amos is a call to repentance. It is a “call to the sacred assembly” to consecrate themselves before God.

But, there is also a message of restoration, when God talks about “repairing the broken places” and “restoring the ruins” (Amos 9:11)

Amos 8:11-12
“The days are coming,” declares the Sovereign Lord, “when I will send a famine through the land—not a famine of food or a thirst for water, but a famine of hearing the words of the Lord. Men will stagger from sea to sea and wander from north to east, searching for the word of the Lord, but they will not find it.”

This prophecy points to the inter-testament period when the word of God was absent from Israel, before the coming of the Lord. It also points to the time before the second coming. Notice that the famine is in the “hearing” of the words of the Lord. The Word of God is here, both the written word and living Word; but people will not be able or willing to hear it.

According to 2 Timothy 4:3-4; people will turn their ears from the truth. And Matthew 4:4 reminds us “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Without the words and Word of God, there is no life.

The “days are coming”, and may already be here, when there is a famine of hearing the words of the Lord in our world.

Joel 2:28-32a
“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth, blood and fire and billows of smoke. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved;

These voices point to the crucifixion, Pentecost, and the last days. It Matthew 27:24 we are reminded that the world went dark from the sixth to the ninth hour while Jesus was on the cross. Later in Act 2, Peter stands up at Pentecost and speaks these verses in describing the disciples when the Holy Spirit came upon them.

At the end of Peter’s message, he says “Repent and be baptized, every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

The “days are coming”, and may already be here, when the Holy Spirit will be poured out again much like Pentecost and a vast number will call upon the Lord to be saved.

Joel 2:12-13
“Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

It is the call for repentance.
It is the call for an emotional rending of our hearts; to weep and mourn over our sins; to weep and mourn over the lost.
It is the call for action; to fast, to pray, to proclaim the gospel.
It is the call for remembrance of the grace, compassion, and love of our God.

The “days are coming”, and may already be here, when a remnant will rise up, rend their hearts, and serve the Lord.

It is your call.

The Gomer in All of Us

DAY 64
Daniel 9:1 - Hosea 13:6

Tucked away in the latter half of the Old Testament, is an amazing illustration of God's love found in the book of Hosea.

It is the story of Hosea and Gomer, the love of a man for his adulterous wife. It is the story of God's love for the adulterous Israel. It is the story of the bridegroom Jesus' love for His adulterous bride, the church. It is the story how much God loves His children. It is the story of a loving God, a faithless follower, and the alluring deceptions of the world.

Notice that God told Hosea that his wife would be unfaithful before he married her. An interesting reminder that God knew you and I would be unfaithful, but He still loved us.

It is a story about the alluring affects of the world we live in and how faithless we are. Just like Gomer, we "go after lovers" who give us things that we desire. Just like Gomer, we fail to "acknowledge that God was the one" who provided for us. And just like Gomer, we are adulterers of the heart. We have left the the Most High God who made a covenant of love with us. Just like Israel in Hosea 4:1 "There is no faithfulness, no love, no acknowledgement of God in the land."

Hosea follow's God's command and retrieves and redeems Gomer, purchasing her from another lover. And loves her again like the Lord loves Israel.

And it is a symbol of how our God pursues. The Lord states His plan: "Therefore I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her" and "In that day, declares the Lord, you will call me 'my husband" Just like Homer, He redeems his people and pays for them with the sacrifice of His Son.

And those that return to the Lord, He says to them:
"I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord." (2:19-20)
and
"I will heal their waywardness and love them freely" (14:4)

There is a Gomer in all of us, we have all been unfaithful and adulterous to our God. But because of His compassion and love, He has redeemed us with His Son. And because of Jesus, we are faithful and righteous. Because of Jesus, the Lord God says "You are my people" and we can say "You are my God."

A Fiery Furnace and a Den of Lions

DAY 63
Ezekiel 47:13 - Daniel 8:27

Daniel 3 (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the Fiery Furnace) and 6 (Daniel in the Lion's Den) are familiar stories that we are taught since childhood.

They have similar beginnings. In each situation, the men were asked to do something that required obedience to man, but disobedience to God. When they did not obey the king's rules, then those that were plotting against them turned them in for their devotion to God.

Because of their obedience to God's laws and decrees instead of man they both met the same fate. They were placed in their respective trials, the fiery furnace and the lion's den. Notice the response of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego to their situation in Daniel 3:17-18

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand, O king! But even if He does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold that you have set up"

What confidence they displayed in God. I think that there are two things in their response that we can live by. First, the sovereign God of the universe has the power, authority, and ability to save you from any circumstance.

The second is sometimes God chooses not to save us from a trial. He didn't remove the trial from these three young men or Daniel. But just like them we need to have our hearts and minds made up before we enter the trial, that no matter what happens we will continue to serve the Lord.

In both situations, God's protection and presence were provided. Don't miss this wonderful assurance from God. God provided His presence by means of the fourth person(who was likened to the son of God) or the angel. He protected each one from harm in the midst of the trial. They were neither consumed by the fire, or devoured by the lion.

In both scenarios, God is given the glory.

King Nebuchadnezzar said "No other god can save this way"

King Darius stated “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end. He rescues and he saves; he performs signs and wonders in the heavens and on the earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions.”

What a testimony!

My question for you is when was the last time you were in a fiery furnace or a lion's den.

If we are being obedient to God, we should find ourselves there more often. And it would benefit our faith, if we have our decisions already made. That regardless of what God chooses to do in the trials of life, that we would continue to serve Him faithfully.

So remember, when the fires are hot and the lions are mean, you are not alone. God is right there with you. And our God rescues, saves, protects, and provides His presence.

The Valley of Dry Bones

DAY 62
Ezekiel 36:1 - 47:12


This is another woodcut by Gustavo Dore. More of these can be found at the http://catholic-resources.org/Art/Dore-Prophets.htm

The Valley of the Dry Bones is one of those interesting visions that Ezekiel had.

Ezekiel 37:2-5

"The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry. And he said to me, "Son of man, can these bones live?" And I answered, "O Lord GOD, you know." Then he said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD. Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the LORD."

Ezekiel 37:11 "The whole house of Israel says "our bones are dried up and our hope is gone, we are cut off"

It's the questions the world still has today,
"Can these dead bodies be made alive again?"
"Is there hope left in the world?"
"Are we cut off from God?"

And here is God's response: "Prophesy and Preach the Word of God to the dry bones"

When Ezekiel began to prophesy, the bones came back together and formed a body (37:7-8) It is the same today, when the Word of God is preached then the dead in faith begin stirring and the hopeless see that there is hope. There is no greater call to a believer than to preach the Word of God. Because the Word stirs the dead in faith.

Next, God gave them breath "And breath entered them and they came to life" (37:10) After the Word of God is preached, those that hear the Word and are stirred, God gives them life. And they stand on their feet made alive, full of hope, and connected to God.

This Valley of Dry Bones can be found in the New Testament also.

It is found in Ephesians 2:1, 4-8 "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins. But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."

May Ezekiel remind us of our responsibility to Preach and Prophesy the Word of God to a dying world. May it also remind us that because of God's mercy and kindness, He provided the breath of life throught faith in His Son, Jesus. So that we would no longer be a Valley of Dry Bones, but a vast army of Spirit-filled believers.

The King of Tyre (and the King of Babylon)

DAY 61
Ezekiel 23:20 - 35:15

Focus Passges
Ezekiel 28:11-19 and Isaiah 14:12-17
(Illustration of the Devil provided for Paradise Lost by Gustave Dore)

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
"There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devil. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them."

As a result, we tread lightly on this subject with God's direction and protection.

The Hebrew word for Satan comes from a verb that means adversary, which is one of the ways he is portrayed. The most common Greek word is diabolos which means devil, adversary, or accuser. He is referred to as the tempter (Matt 4:3), Beelzebub (Mark 3:22), enemy (Matt 13:39), evil one (1 John 2:13), adversary (1 Peter 5:8), deceiver (Rev 12:9), great dragon (Rev 12:3), and father of lies (John 8:44). (Christian Theology, Millard Erickson)

On purpose, God chose to reveal only a little information concerning Satan, or the devil, and the fallen angels in the Bible. So far in our reading he has appeared in the Garden of Eden as the serpent and in the book of Job in the presence of God. Although not all theologians agree, a considerable number believe that the King of Tyre in Ezekiel 28:11-19 and the King of Babylon in Isaiah 14:12-17 are references to Satan.

From these two passages we might infer that Satan was created perfect in beauty and wisdom, in the garden of Eden, adorned with precious stones, a guardian cherub angel, walked in God's presence, and blameless from the day he was created. We know that his beauty and wisdom were his downfall. That he was consumed with pride and wanted to take the place of the Most High God. And because of that he and his followers were cast out of heaven.

Satan's fall and mankind's fall aren't much different. They are both the result of pride. Adam and Eve believed that their wisdom was better than God's wisdom. They essentially tried to take God's place by making decisions that were against His will. They two were cast out of God's presence and away from Eden.

And so the same result happens with each person. We in essence believe that we can make decisions better that God. We allow our pride to consume us and attempt to take the throne... at least in our own lives. The sin of pride is the foundation of all other sins. And each of us are cast out of God's presence because of it.

But as we seen through scripture, God created a plan to allow us back in His presence. That while we were still His enemies, He sent His Son to die on a cross for our pride and sin. That whosoever believes in Him would not perish, but have eternal life. That by faith his blood is applied to a believer's life. And the Holy Spirit writes the will of God on our hearts and minds so that we are able to follow Him.

May we take a lesson from the King of Tyre, the King of Babylon. Pride is the fall, God through His Son is the answer and deliverer.

The Soul that Sins shall Die, but ......

DAY 60
Ezekiel 12:21 -23:39

Ezekiel 18:4 "For every living soul belongs to me, the father as well as the son—both alike belong to me. The soul who sins is the one who will die"

Ezekiel 18 is an interesting chapter of the Bible. And it speaks plainly about the consequences of sin. The consequences of sin is death.

Later in verse 20, the writer explains in more detail.

"The soul who sins is the one who will die. The son will not share the guilt of the father, nor will the father share the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous man will be credited to him, and the wickedness of the wicked will be charged against him."

It explains the each person is responsible and accountable for their own sin. While the consequences of our sins may affect future generations, we alone are accountable to God for the sin itself. But we know from Isaiah 64:6 that we are all unclean, and that our righteousness is like filthy rags.

As a result, we have a problem. Our own righteousness is not good enough. We have not been careful to keep all the decrees of God. Therefore, our wickedness will be charged against us. And the soul who sins is the one will die.

As we read further we find the character of God in verses 23.

"Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?"

God doesn't take pleasure in the death of any of His children. He would rather see them repent, turn from their ways and live.

In verses 30-32, God even explains what is needed to live.

“Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall. Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

A new heart and a new spirit! That is the solution to our problem. And the only one that can give you a new heart and a new spirit is God himself.

Ezekiel 36:26 "A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh."

So we need somebody else's righteousness, a new heart, and a new spirit!
It sounds like we need a gift from God.

Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"

And with that gift comes a righteousness that fulfills God's requirements.

Romans 3:20-24 "But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus

And with that righteousness comes a new heart full of mercy and grace.
And with that righteousness come a new spirit that will be eternal.

The Soul that Sins shall Die, but if the righteousness from God through faith in Jesus is applied then your are justified and given a new heart and a new spirit.

The Watchman and God's Favor

DAY 59
Lamentations 2:1-Ezekiel 12:20

The picture is an illustration of Ezekiel 2:9-10. However, there are two thoughts into today's reading that I would like to point out.

The first is found in Ezekiel 3:17-19.
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself."

It's about the responsibility we have (those that have received and heard the word of God) to our neighbors and fellow man. The illustration points to the responsibility we have of sharing the gospel to the world. If we do not share the gospel to those without Christ and warn them about the penalties of sin, then they will die and suffer the penalties. We will also be held accountable. If we share the truth and they choose not to follow, then we are not accountable.

The second point is an illustration of when God withdraws his favor from a nation. It is found in Ezekiel 5:11 "Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because you have defiled my sanctuary with all your vile images and detestable practices, I myself will withdraw my favor; I will not look on you with pity or spare you."

We only have to look at history to see the patterns. You can see all the nations that ruled the Middle East around Jerusalem in 90 seconds. http://mapsofwar.com/ind/imperial-history.html

History continues to repeat itself. Nations have a spiritual revelation that draws them to truth about God. Those nations enjoy spiritual and earthly blessings while they follow God, or as the gospel gets shared. After the nation becomes successful and enjoys abundance, it later becomes complacent, self-centered, and apathetic. Especially concerning the truth about God. Eventually the nation falls into an abundance of sin and no longer follows God. Either a revival or hard times draws the nation back to God, or God removes His blessings and favor.

Has American lost the favor of God? I don't know.

But I can guarantee that we will lose His favor if we continue to fail as the watchman by not speaking out in our nation about Jesus.

On November 2, 2006, John MacArthur gave a message based on Romans 1 called "Abandoned by God" at Southern Seminary. It contains numerous references to the Old Testament. It can be found toward the end of the page of chapel messages. http://www.sbts.edu/resources/Audio_Resources/Chapel_Messages/Fall_2006.aspx

Yesterday's Post: Lamentations

DAY 58
Jeremiah 48:1 - Lamentations 1:22
(Overview of Lamentation)

Lamentations is an interesting book. There are two books in the Bible that deal directly with suffering: Job and Lamentations. Job deals with personal suffering, while Lamentations deals with national suffering.

It consists of five distinct poems corresponding to the five chapters of the book. Just like a few of the Psalms, each of the five poems may be called an alphabetical poem, the first four being acrostic poems. Chapters 1, 2 and 4 each have 22 verses, the first verse beginning with aleph, the second with beth, and so on through the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet. In chapter 3 there are 66 verses, three to each of the letters in turn. In chapter 5 there is no planned sequence to the initial letters of the verses, but there are just 22 verses in the poem all the same, so that it too might rightly be called an alphabetical poem.

If we were to assign themes to the each poem they would be

Jerusalem is deserted and forsaken (1)
Divine judgment and call to repentance (2)
Prophetic lament and hope (3)
Zion past and present (4)
Prayer for divine mercy (5)

There will be times in our lives when we face communal suffering. It could be a family that loses a patriarch or matriarch. A church that suffers a division or disgrace. Other times it may be in a community due to national disasters like tornadoes, hurricanes, or earthquakes. Or due to man-made disasters like the Murrah Building and 9/11. Sometimes its affects a whole nation like during times of war. It's those times where we have community suffering that Lamentations can be a comfort, instead of a difficult book of the Bible to get through.

We can hide into our hearts for times of national suffering the encouraging words found in Lam 3:21-26.

21 Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:
22 Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
therefore I will wait for him.”
25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.

The Recabites (Rechabites)

DAY 57
Jeremiah 33:23 - 47:7

In the midst of the judgement and destruction located in Jeremiah, there is a brief interlude about a faithful group of people. An example to you and me concerning a family of obedience and the blessings on that family that God provides.

It is the story of the Recabites in Jeremiah 35.

The Recabites, were descendants of the Kenites (1 Chron 2:55).
The Kenites were descended from Moses father-in-law (Judges 1:16).
Jehonadab (Jonadab), son of Recab, helped Jehu, King of Israel, destroy the prophets and temple of Baal. (2 Kings 10:15-28).
Another son of Recab, Malkijah, helped rebuild the temple walls after the Babylonian captivity (Neh 3:14)

From what little we do have about the Recabites, a definite pattern emerges about their faithfulness. Jeremiah has constantly called Judah back to repentance, to turn from their ways or to face the correction of God. Apparently fear wasn't working. Therefore, the Lord used Jeremiah and the Recabites to show them their shame and disobedience.

Jeremiah 35:13b--16

‘Will you not learn a lesson and obey my words?’ declares the Lord. ‘Jonadab son of Recab ordered his sons not to drink wine and this command has been kept. To this day they do not drink wine, because they obey their forefather's command. But I have spoken to you again and again, yet you have not obeyed me. Again and again I sent all my servants the prophets to you. They said, “Each of you must turn from your wicked ways and reform your actions; do not follow other gods to serve them. Then you will live in the land I have given to you and your fathers.” But you have not paid attention or listened to me. The descendants of Jonadab son of Recab have carried out the command their forefather gave them, but these people have not obeyed me.’

So the Recabites had been more faithful to their forefather's commands than the Israelites had been to God and his prophets. Because the Israelites did not listen, then Judah and Jerusalem would suffer every disaster pronounced against them.

Since the Recabites had been faithful, they would never fail to have someone serve God.

We can learn a little bit from the story of the Recabites. The first is that the Word of God teaches that there are consequences for disobedience. Now, I don't think that is suprising to most people. But, I do believe we forget that there are consequences for our actions. Not only for ourselves, but for our families as well.

The proof of that would be to look at the state of marriage in America. As a nation our warped priorities and sinful actions have affected the state of marriage, so that almost half of all marriages end in divorce. What is worse, is that even for church-goers, the statistics don't lag much farther behind. As we have drifted into a self-centered culture that places more importance on the individual instead of God, we are reaping the consequences of our actions.

The second lesson is this: that there are blessings for obedience. There is an interesting fact about this blessing that is different than many made in the Old Testament. This one happens not to be conditional. Because a family decided to obey their forefathers (who were faithful to God), the descendants of that family would always have someone serve God.

It works in a similar manner today. I know that through God's providence and design, I have had family that were faithful to God. Because of their actions, descendants in their families, inlcuding me, have served God. It may have been the same in your family. The responsibility is yours and mine to continue that blessing, to train our families in obedience to God.

If not, you can start a blessing for generations to come (or until the Lord returns). You could be the Jonadab, son of Recab, for your family. You could sow the seed of faithfulness and obedience to God, which is one of the greatest inheritances you could give.

May we continue the example of the Recabites to a world that looks a lot like Judah.

Hide and Seek; Call and Answer

DAY 56
Jeremiah 23:9 - 33:22

Jeremiah 23:23-24
"Am I only a God nearby", declares the Lord, "and not a God far way?"
"Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see Him?" declares the Lord
"Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the Lord.

Sometimes we live our lives like the game hide and seek. We actually go through our days either hiding from God, or acting like He can't see what were doing. I wonder why we do that. As believers, we not only have God the Father watching us, but also Jesus interceding for us, and the Holy Spirit in us to guide our way. But sometimes we sure don't live like it.

It's important to practice the presence of God in our lives. To live each moment with the knowledge of the Holy Spirit in our hearts. To pray without ceasing. Because if we make it a practice to constantly call on God, we are less likely to act like He is far away. And God promises He will answer us.

Jeremiah 33:2-3
"This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it - the Lord is His name: Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

It's a ray of hope in the middle of Jeremiah's prophecies of God's judgement and wrath.
It's a glimpe at restoration.
It's a promise that only God can make. Not only will He answer when you call on Him, but He will tell you some amazing things. God would tell you that

I provided a Way for you to enter my presence.

I provided a Life for you, so that you could live eternally.

I provided a Lamb for you, so your sins would be taken away.

I provided Bread for you when you are hungry.

I provided Light for you when it is dark.

I provided the Truth for you amidst all the lies.

I provided a Friend for you when you are lonely.

I provided a High Priest for you, to intercede on your behalf.

I provided a Counselor for you when your discouraged.

I provided a Helper for you when you are in trouble.

And I am the God nearby who sees you. There is no reason to hide. You can call on me and I will answer!