55I called on Your name, O LORD, From the lowest pit, 56You have heard my voice; Do not hide Your ear From my sighing, from my cry for help. 57You drew near on the day I called on You, And said, "Do not fear!" 58O Lord, You have pleaded the case for my soul; You have redeemed my life. (Lamentations 3:55-58, NKJV)
What great confindence we can have in our Lord to answer when we call on Him. From a subtle sigh to a screaming cry. He hears it all. He knows our hearts and what we need, to which He replies "Do not fear!" We can have confidence in that. We can also have confidence in our redemption. He's pleaded our case and redeemed our lives. Why? We called on His name. He answered.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Bible Study 4/15/13
It's been a while since I've posted. I've been extremely busy. The new website is up. Go check out http://www.the119project.com. It's an online magazine of sorts. It will be discussing the variety of topics contained in Psalm 119. The first issue, The Introduction, is ready to be read. The second issue on Obedience to God's Word is coming soon. Be sure to check it out.
In ay event, my daily devotions have brought me to the book of Lamentations. I came across the following verse this morning:
20See, O LORD, that I am in distress; My soul is troubled; My heart is overturned within me, For I have been very rebellious...(Lamentations 1:20, NKJV)
When bringing our sin to the Lord, this is how our heart should feel and our spirit should feel when confession is taking place. Our insides should be so troubled and feel so out of place that we recognize our rebellious nature and confess it to God. This type of attitude most certainly lays the foundation for repentance, which if you don't know means laying your sin down and not returning to it. Wow. Such an applicable verse for tax day. (Just kidding!) Such an applicable verse for our prayer lives and our walk with Christ!
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Saturday, September 22, 2012
Bible Study - 9/22/12
Since my last blog post, I am continuing my study through Isaiah and have ventured into 2 Corinthians. I will share some of the verses that affected me spiritually and really caused me to stop and think during my study through Isaiah. It says in Isaiah 34:18, "Search from the book of the LORD, and read: Not one of these shall fail; Not one shall lack her mate. For my mouth has commanded it, and His Spirit has gathered them." If you're not searching God's Word, you should. It will not fail you and it will not lack in fulfilling, but rather fulfill over and above.
In Isaiah 35, God gives Isaiah a glimpse into the coming Kingdom. The 1000 year reign of Christ. I love how in verses 8-10 the Highway of Holiness is described. Nothing "unclean shall pass over it", "whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray", "But the redeemed shall walk there", "and the ransomed of the LORD shall return".
In Isaiah 37:16 I believe we are given a great example of how to start a prayer to God. Jesus gives us an outline of how to pray in Matthew chapter 6, and in that outline the beginning is praise to God. Matthew 6:9, "...Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name." Isaiah 37:16, is the start of a prayer from King Hezekiah to God. It says, "O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth."
Isaiah 40:6-8 - "6The voice said, 'Cry out!' And he said, 'What shall I cry?' All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever." People wither and fade away. Our eternity rests in the promises made in God's Word. The promise that if we have Jesus as our Savior then we will spend eternity with God. We can rest in that, and have peace in that. People don't stand the test of time, but God's Word does, it stands forever.
The latest thing to get me thinking and being truly thankful for is in chapter 43:1 and chapter 44:23. The two, in my opinion, go hand in hand. Let me give a little background story first. In Genesis 25:26, Jacob is born and he is named Jacob because he came out of the womb holding onto his brother's heel. For those that don't know, Jacob means supplanter or deceitful, and deceitful his was throughout his life. If you don't know the story I suggest you read it. Anyways, in Genesis 32 after Jacob wrestles with God, God renames him Israel which literally means Prince with God. Okay, now we can proceed. Isaiah 43:1, "But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel; 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have call you by your name; You are Mine." Isaiah 44:23, "...For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel." God creates life in our birth. Then we are born, but we are not born pure we are born sinners. Look at the story of Jacob if you don't believe we are sinners when we are born. He came out of the womb grabbing onto his brother's heel as if to say "I want to come out first". Pride in the heart of a newborn already. However, God does not stop at the creation process. He takes that life he created and forms it when we allow Him to do His perfect work in us which is triggered by our true and whole hearted acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Read these verses from Romans.
Romans 8:1, and 12-17 - "1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors-not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father'. 16The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."
WOW! There is so much goodness in Romans 8. I encourage you to read it. In any event, I shared these verses because when we have Jesus as our Lord and Savior and living according to the Spirit, we are considered co-heirs with Christ. We are Princes with God. We go from being created sinners (Jacob) to being formed into Princes with God (Israel). How awesome is that!? I am so thankful for that! Words can't even express the joy! Why does God do it? If you look at Isaiah 44:23 again, our redemption is for His glory. Simple as that.
Thank you for reading. I know these a multitude of things going on here, but it just goes to show the dynamics of God's Word.
In Isaiah 35, God gives Isaiah a glimpse into the coming Kingdom. The 1000 year reign of Christ. I love how in verses 8-10 the Highway of Holiness is described. Nothing "unclean shall pass over it", "whoever walks the road, although a fool, Shall not go astray", "But the redeemed shall walk there", "and the ransomed of the LORD shall return".
In Isaiah 37:16 I believe we are given a great example of how to start a prayer to God. Jesus gives us an outline of how to pray in Matthew chapter 6, and in that outline the beginning is praise to God. Matthew 6:9, "...Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name." Isaiah 37:16, is the start of a prayer from King Hezekiah to God. It says, "O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth."
Isaiah 40:6-8 - "6The voice said, 'Cry out!' And he said, 'What shall I cry?' All flesh is grass, And all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. 7The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it; Surely the people are grass. 8The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever." People wither and fade away. Our eternity rests in the promises made in God's Word. The promise that if we have Jesus as our Savior then we will spend eternity with God. We can rest in that, and have peace in that. People don't stand the test of time, but God's Word does, it stands forever.
The latest thing to get me thinking and being truly thankful for is in chapter 43:1 and chapter 44:23. The two, in my opinion, go hand in hand. Let me give a little background story first. In Genesis 25:26, Jacob is born and he is named Jacob because he came out of the womb holding onto his brother's heel. For those that don't know, Jacob means supplanter or deceitful, and deceitful his was throughout his life. If you don't know the story I suggest you read it. Anyways, in Genesis 32 after Jacob wrestles with God, God renames him Israel which literally means Prince with God. Okay, now we can proceed. Isaiah 43:1, "But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel; 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have call you by your name; You are Mine." Isaiah 44:23, "...For the LORD has redeemed Jacob, And glorified Himself in Israel." God creates life in our birth. Then we are born, but we are not born pure we are born sinners. Look at the story of Jacob if you don't believe we are sinners when we are born. He came out of the womb grabbing onto his brother's heel as if to say "I want to come out first". Pride in the heart of a newborn already. However, God does not stop at the creation process. He takes that life he created and forms it when we allow Him to do His perfect work in us which is triggered by our true and whole hearted acceptance of Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Read these verses from Romans.
Romans 8:1, and 12-17 - "1There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 12Therefore, brethren, we are debtors-not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father'. 16The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."
WOW! There is so much goodness in Romans 8. I encourage you to read it. In any event, I shared these verses because when we have Jesus as our Lord and Savior and living according to the Spirit, we are considered co-heirs with Christ. We are Princes with God. We go from being created sinners (Jacob) to being formed into Princes with God (Israel). How awesome is that!? I am so thankful for that! Words can't even express the joy! Why does God do it? If you look at Isaiah 44:23 again, our redemption is for His glory. Simple as that.
Thank you for reading. I know these a multitude of things going on here, but it just goes to show the dynamics of God's Word.
Monday, September 3, 2012
Bible Study - 9/4/12
On my last blog I gave a rundown of some of the things I have come across while studying through Isaiah. Today I'm going to give a rundown of the things I've come across while reading through 1 Corinthians. Being that the last time I posted about something was in 1 Corinthians chapter 3 and I am now in 1 Corinthians chapter 16, I will try to be as brief as possible.
One of the things I love about 1 Corinthians is that it is very matter of fact. There really isn't any need for interpretation. The letter explains itself pretty well. Following are just some of the verses that caught my eye through my study in this book over the last couple of weeks. This is not an all inclusive list either. I've studied this book many times. These are just the things that popped out this time around.
1 Corinthians 4:6, "...not to think beyond what is written..." - I love this verse for the very reason I just mentioned. This letter doesn't really need a whole lot of interpretation. There is no reason to think beyond what is written because the letter says what it means and means what it says. The main thing I take away from this verse and the surrounding ones is that there really isn't any reason to take scripture to far beyond what it says. If it's not clear or evident, than take it to prayer and seek the Holy Spirit for understanding, "Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law", Psalm 119:18 (NKJV).
1 Corinthians 4:15, "For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." This verse stuck out to me because of the calling I feel God has placed on me. When a pastor is over a church, the relationship with the body is more than teaching them, it is likened to a father and his children.
1 Corinthians 5:1-5 - I challenge you, to go read these verses. This is a sort of church discipline, in my opinion, that is being neglected. That's all I will say about that.
1 Corinthians 5:11, "But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner - not even to eat with such a person." Wow. When you read this verse in its context it pretty much says that our mission is to spread the gospel to fornicators, those that covet, idolators, revilers, drunkards, and extortioners. To do that we have to go out to where they are. However, if we have a brother or sister in Christ who is practicing these things then we need to stay far away from them. The question is here is why? Well it could possibly be because that brother or sister that is practicing those things are being bad witnesses. How can you bring a non-believer to Christ who is practicing those things if they see "Christians" practicing those same things?
1 Corinthians 6:12, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." This is an interesting verse for many reasons. When you read it with the surrounding verses it still begs the question, huh? I look at it at the way it is written. To explain this, lets look at smoking. Smoking is lawful, but not helpful. It's obviously bad for the body. Research shows that. Smoking is lawful, but it can become sin if you are brought under the power of it. When it becomes an addiction, a have to have, is when it goes from being lawful to sin. At least that's the way I read this verse.
1 Corinthians 7:19, "...keeping the commandments of God is what matters." Plain and simple. No need for explanation.
1 Corinthians 8:1-3, "1...Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him." Love builds the body of Christ. Through love we are able to serve one another and meet needs that need to be met. Edifying the body. Knowledge says it, but love does it.
1 Corinthians 8:9-12 - Read these verses. How we handle ourselves around others has a huge impact whether they are believers or not. However, when you sin against our brothers and sisters in Christ and wound their weak conscience you sin against Christ, as it says in verse 12.
1 Corinthians 9:14, "Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel." 1 Corinthians 9:16, "For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!" We have to preach the gospel. To preach the gospel we have to live the gospel. I'm not saying we have to go evangelizing the world, because not everyone has that gift. However, if we are living the gospel then our lives are preaching the gospel. We are being witnesses of Christ as Christ Himself told us to be.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4, "3For I delivered to you, first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures". If you were looking for two verses that laid out the Gospel message simply, here they are.
1 Corinthians 15:25-26, "25For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26The last enemy that will be destroyed is death." These verses got me thinking about the millennial reign of Christ. It says in Revelation that we will reign with Christ 1000 years, then the beast will be released and then cast out to fire for all eternity, which then starts our eternity with Christ. So, while we are reigning with Christ for those 1000 years, will there still be enemy forces on this earth contending with God? When I read these two verses all I can say is, I think so.
1 Corinthians 15:57, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." We have victory over death because Jesus Christ is our Lord. How awesome is that?
One of the things I love about 1 Corinthians is that it is very matter of fact. There really isn't any need for interpretation. The letter explains itself pretty well. Following are just some of the verses that caught my eye through my study in this book over the last couple of weeks. This is not an all inclusive list either. I've studied this book many times. These are just the things that popped out this time around.
1 Corinthians 4:6, "...not to think beyond what is written..." - I love this verse for the very reason I just mentioned. This letter doesn't really need a whole lot of interpretation. There is no reason to think beyond what is written because the letter says what it means and means what it says. The main thing I take away from this verse and the surrounding ones is that there really isn't any reason to take scripture to far beyond what it says. If it's not clear or evident, than take it to prayer and seek the Holy Spirit for understanding, "Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law", Psalm 119:18 (NKJV).
1 Corinthians 4:15, "For though you might have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." This verse stuck out to me because of the calling I feel God has placed on me. When a pastor is over a church, the relationship with the body is more than teaching them, it is likened to a father and his children.
1 Corinthians 5:1-5 - I challenge you, to go read these verses. This is a sort of church discipline, in my opinion, that is being neglected. That's all I will say about that.
1 Corinthians 5:11, "But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner - not even to eat with such a person." Wow. When you read this verse in its context it pretty much says that our mission is to spread the gospel to fornicators, those that covet, idolators, revilers, drunkards, and extortioners. To do that we have to go out to where they are. However, if we have a brother or sister in Christ who is practicing these things then we need to stay far away from them. The question is here is why? Well it could possibly be because that brother or sister that is practicing those things are being bad witnesses. How can you bring a non-believer to Christ who is practicing those things if they see "Christians" practicing those same things?
1 Corinthians 6:12, "All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any." This is an interesting verse for many reasons. When you read it with the surrounding verses it still begs the question, huh? I look at it at the way it is written. To explain this, lets look at smoking. Smoking is lawful, but not helpful. It's obviously bad for the body. Research shows that. Smoking is lawful, but it can become sin if you are brought under the power of it. When it becomes an addiction, a have to have, is when it goes from being lawful to sin. At least that's the way I read this verse.
1 Corinthians 7:19, "...keeping the commandments of God is what matters." Plain and simple. No need for explanation.
1 Corinthians 8:1-3, "1...Knowledge puffs up, but love edifies. 2And if anyone thinks that he knows anything, he knows nothing yet as he ought to know. 3But if anyone loves God, this one is known by Him." Love builds the body of Christ. Through love we are able to serve one another and meet needs that need to be met. Edifying the body. Knowledge says it, but love does it.
1 Corinthians 8:9-12 - Read these verses. How we handle ourselves around others has a huge impact whether they are believers or not. However, when you sin against our brothers and sisters in Christ and wound their weak conscience you sin against Christ, as it says in verse 12.
1 Corinthians 9:14, "Even so the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should live from the gospel." 1 Corinthians 9:16, "For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast of, for necessity is laid upon me; yes, woe is me if I do not preach the gospel!" We have to preach the gospel. To preach the gospel we have to live the gospel. I'm not saying we have to go evangelizing the world, because not everyone has that gift. However, if we are living the gospel then our lives are preaching the gospel. We are being witnesses of Christ as Christ Himself told us to be.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4, "3For I delivered to you, first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures". If you were looking for two verses that laid out the Gospel message simply, here they are.
1 Corinthians 15:25-26, "25For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet. 26The last enemy that will be destroyed is death." These verses got me thinking about the millennial reign of Christ. It says in Revelation that we will reign with Christ 1000 years, then the beast will be released and then cast out to fire for all eternity, which then starts our eternity with Christ. So, while we are reigning with Christ for those 1000 years, will there still be enemy forces on this earth contending with God? When I read these two verses all I can say is, I think so.
1 Corinthians 15:57, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." We have victory over death because Jesus Christ is our Lord. How awesome is that?
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Bible Study - 8/25/12
Though I have been reading God's Word consistently since my last post, I have been unable to post about anything. It's been a pretty busy couple of weeks. So today I'm just going to give a rundown of some of the things I have come across in my studies through Isaiah and 1 Corinthians over the past couple of weeks.
In Isaiah 26, Isaiah is prophesying about a song Israel is going to sing on the Day the LORD returns to establish His kingdom. However, there are some aspects to the song that are so applicable to today. Lets take a look:
2Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. 3You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed in You. 4Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength...12LORD, You will establish peace for us, For You have also done all our works in us. 13O LORD our God, other masters besides You Have had dominion over us; But by You only we make mention of Your...15...You are glorified; (Isaiah 26:2-3, 12-13, 15b NKJV)
How great is this, we can experience perfect peace as long as we keep our focus on the LORD. How do we keep our focus on the LORD, by trusting in Him. He will provide us with strength everlasting to help us get through this thing called life. Now, we have all had, or have, other masters in our lives. Our bosses at work, parents, alcohol, drugs, pornography, and so on, but only God gets mentioned, only God gets glorified because He establishes peace in us through the works He is doing in us. Now when it comes to the day of the Lord's return, the world will learn God's righteousness because, 9...For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness (Isaiah 26:9b, NKJV).
In Isaiah chapter 33 I came across this nugget of goodness as well:
5The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. 6Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, And the strength of salvation; The fear of the LORD is His treasure. (Isaiah 33:5-6, NKJV)
The New Living Translation says it like this:
5Though the LORD is very great and lives in heaven, He will make Jerusalem His home of justice and righteousness. 6In that day He will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.
I don't have much to say on that, since it's pretty self explanatory. God supplies us with a solid ground to stand on, eternal salvation, wisdom and knowledge. To gain these treasures, we have to fear Him, or revere Him which is a better translation.
Ever wonder where America got the idea of a three part government? The men God used to found this country and establish this government were God fearing men. They used the Bible as a foundation for this country to stand on. It's a shame that it's different now, but no political tangents for me. Anyways, in Isaiah 33:22 it reads, "(For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us". The judicial, legislative, and executive branches of our government were molded after God's character. Great stuff!
I came across a bunch of stuff in 1 Corinthians, but I am out of time for now. Just keep your focus on the LORD and He will establish peace in you. Glorify God for the works He is doing in You.
In Isaiah 26, Isaiah is prophesying about a song Israel is going to sing on the Day the LORD returns to establish His kingdom. However, there are some aspects to the song that are so applicable to today. Lets take a look:
2Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. 3You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed in You. 4Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength...12LORD, You will establish peace for us, For You have also done all our works in us. 13O LORD our God, other masters besides You Have had dominion over us; But by You only we make mention of Your...15...You are glorified; (Isaiah 26:2-3, 12-13, 15b NKJV)
How great is this, we can experience perfect peace as long as we keep our focus on the LORD. How do we keep our focus on the LORD, by trusting in Him. He will provide us with strength everlasting to help us get through this thing called life. Now, we have all had, or have, other masters in our lives. Our bosses at work, parents, alcohol, drugs, pornography, and so on, but only God gets mentioned, only God gets glorified because He establishes peace in us through the works He is doing in us. Now when it comes to the day of the Lord's return, the world will learn God's righteousness because, 9...For when Your judgments are in the earth, The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness (Isaiah 26:9b, NKJV).
In Isaiah chapter 33 I came across this nugget of goodness as well:
5The LORD is exalted, for He dwells on high; He has filled Zion with justice and righteousness. 6Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, And the strength of salvation; The fear of the LORD is His treasure. (Isaiah 33:5-6, NKJV)
The New Living Translation says it like this:
5Though the LORD is very great and lives in heaven, He will make Jerusalem His home of justice and righteousness. 6In that day He will be your sure foundation, providing a rich store of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge. The fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.
I don't have much to say on that, since it's pretty self explanatory. God supplies us with a solid ground to stand on, eternal salvation, wisdom and knowledge. To gain these treasures, we have to fear Him, or revere Him which is a better translation.
Ever wonder where America got the idea of a three part government? The men God used to found this country and establish this government were God fearing men. They used the Bible as a foundation for this country to stand on. It's a shame that it's different now, but no political tangents for me. Anyways, in Isaiah 33:22 it reads, "(For the LORD is our Judge, the LORD is our Lawgiver, The LORD is our King; He will save us". The judicial, legislative, and executive branches of our government were molded after God's character. Great stuff!
I came across a bunch of stuff in 1 Corinthians, but I am out of time for now. Just keep your focus on the LORD and He will establish peace in you. Glorify God for the works He is doing in You.
Thursday, August 9, 2012
Bible Study - 8/7/12
I have been journeying through Isaiah and 1 Corinthians in my devotional time. This morning I was particularly struck by a verse while I was reading through 1 Corinthians 3:5-17. It reads:
16Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, NKJV)
The New Living Translation reads like this:
16Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17God will bring ruin upon anyone who ruins this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you Christians are that temple.
Wow! God's Word is calling the Church holy. Why is it holy? Because God is in the Church by way of His Holy Spirit. How did the Holy Spirit get in the church?
8But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8, NKJV)
4And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4, NKJV)
The Holy Spirit is in the Church because He is in each person that has accepted Jesus into their life as their Lord and Savior. It says in Romans 8:11 (NKJV), "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through the His Spirit who dwells in you". The Holy Spirit is where? In the Christian. He is dwelling in the believer. Wait a second. God's Word is calling the Christian holy. We are holy and the Church is holy because of the Spirit that is dwelling in the believer and the believers make up the body of the Church. Pretty awesome. Now that we see that. Lets get onto the main point.
14And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. 15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For 'the two,' He says, 'shall become one flesh.' 17But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (1 Corinthians 6:14-17, NKJV)
We share the same Spirit with Christ because it is His Spirit that dwells in us. IN THIS UNITY, WE ARE IN CONSTANT FELLOWSHIP WITH THE TRIUNE GOD. It's all caps because I'm making sure it sinks into knowledge, not just yours but mine as well. Anyways, knowing this, why are we so PASSIVE about sin? When we sin, we are defiling the temple because we are inviting something bad (sin) into the fellowship of something good (God). When you're watching something pornographic, you're watching it in the fellowship of God. When you're gossiping to a friend, you're gossiping in the fellowship of God. And so on. Isn't that crazy!
How about, when you're reading God's word, you're reading in the fellowship of God. When you're singing praise and worship tunes, you're singing in the fellowship of God. I would say these are much better options. Which one should you do?
The Bible is very clear about not quenching the Spirit. That means, when you are about to sin and you feel the Spirit in you telling you not to do it, but you do it anyway, you have just quenched the Spirit. You put Him out because you didn't heed His warning. He's warning us to not sin to keep us holy and to keep our fellowship with God pure and undefiled.
I am by no means perfect. I falter on a regular basis just like you, but think about the next time you falter, or are about to falter, Who you are including in that falter.
16Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are. (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, NKJV)
The New Living Translation reads like this:
16Don't you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 17God will bring ruin upon anyone who ruins this temple. For God's temple is holy, and you Christians are that temple.
Wow! God's Word is calling the Church holy. Why is it holy? Because God is in the Church by way of His Holy Spirit. How did the Holy Spirit get in the church?
8But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8, NKJV)
4And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. (Acts 2:4, NKJV)
The Holy Spirit is in the Church because He is in each person that has accepted Jesus into their life as their Lord and Savior. It says in Romans 8:11 (NKJV), "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through the His Spirit who dwells in you". The Holy Spirit is where? In the Christian. He is dwelling in the believer. Wait a second. God's Word is calling the Christian holy. We are holy and the Church is holy because of the Spirit that is dwelling in the believer and the believers make up the body of the Church. Pretty awesome. Now that we see that. Lets get onto the main point.
14And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power. 15Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of a harlot? Certainly not! 16Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For 'the two,' He says, 'shall become one flesh.' 17But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (1 Corinthians 6:14-17, NKJV)
We share the same Spirit with Christ because it is His Spirit that dwells in us. IN THIS UNITY, WE ARE IN CONSTANT FELLOWSHIP WITH THE TRIUNE GOD. It's all caps because I'm making sure it sinks into knowledge, not just yours but mine as well. Anyways, knowing this, why are we so PASSIVE about sin? When we sin, we are defiling the temple because we are inviting something bad (sin) into the fellowship of something good (God). When you're watching something pornographic, you're watching it in the fellowship of God. When you're gossiping to a friend, you're gossiping in the fellowship of God. And so on. Isn't that crazy!
How about, when you're reading God's word, you're reading in the fellowship of God. When you're singing praise and worship tunes, you're singing in the fellowship of God. I would say these are much better options. Which one should you do?
The Bible is very clear about not quenching the Spirit. That means, when you are about to sin and you feel the Spirit in you telling you not to do it, but you do it anyway, you have just quenched the Spirit. You put Him out because you didn't heed His warning. He's warning us to not sin to keep us holy and to keep our fellowship with God pure and undefiled.
I am by no means perfect. I falter on a regular basis just like you, but think about the next time you falter, or are about to falter, Who you are including in that falter.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Bible Study - 7/31/2012
So in my morning Bible Study time, I have been reading through Isaiah and 1 Corinthians. I like to have a good mix of Old and New Testament in my diet.
Lets start with my time in Isaiah. I read through chapters 20 and 21 today. I'm in the section of Isaiah where God is giving Isaiah prophecies of judgments against the nations surrounding Israel and Israel itself. A lot of these prophecies have already come to fruition or are end of days prophecies. It can be a little hard to discern the two, unless your a history major to which I am not. In any event, what stuck out at me this morning was a couple verses in Isaiah 20:2-3. They are as follows:
"2at the same time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet." And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. 3Then the LORD said, "Just as My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia," (NKJV).
I've read through Isaiah a couple of times and don't remember ever catching this, but I caught it today. I know it's a strange verse to be talking about, but you have to look at the details. God told Isaiah to take his clothes off. He doesn't tell Isaiah why and for how long. After 3 years, God tells Isaiah why he has been walking around naked for that period of time, which when you read the rest of chapter 20 you find out why. What is so striking about this? Isaiah is showing a level of obedience and faithfulness that is awe inspiring. Isaiah didn't have the whole picture. He just had one instruction from the LORD and he obeyed it. He didn't know why, he didn't know for how long, and he did it anyway. Why? Because in Isaiah chapter 6 he told God in verse 8, "Here am I! Send me." He made a promise to God to do His will. So Isaiah in chapter 20 is doing God's will. The question that arises is, if God asked you to do something, would you do it? Even if you didn't have the whole picture. Because God isn't going to give the whole picture. He only gives one step at a time, hence the verse "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105, NKJV). Why does God do it that way? Because it is all about having faith in Him. If your read my blog http://godcallingjr.blogspot.com/ you can see a real world example of this. I am not saying I am perfect and always obey, but I did obey in that instance, and still giving God all the praise because of it. When we accept Christ into our lives we are saying, "Here am I! Send me." Acts 1:8 says, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (NKJV). As Christians, those who have accepted Christ into there hearts for salvation, we are witnesses to the work God is doing in our lives. We are to be able to proclaim that in word AND deed, while giving God ALL the praise. So if God calls you to do something crazy, do you do it? And if you do be sure to give God all the glory for the outcome.
My time in 1 Corinthians was spent in chapter 2 verses 10-16. This is one of my favorite portions of scripture, and you really need to start reading from verse 6 to get the whole context. It is pretty much how the Holy Spirit reveals Godly wisdom to us. It's a great read and pretty self explanatory. I encourage you to read it if you haven't. Jesus says in John 15:15, "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you" (NKJV). "We have the mind of Christ" as Paul states in 1 Corinthians 2:16. This was very convicting for me this morning. I have the Holy Spirit in me revealing to me Godly wisdom, but I sometimes disregard that to give myself over to sin.
Lets start with my time in Isaiah. I read through chapters 20 and 21 today. I'm in the section of Isaiah where God is giving Isaiah prophecies of judgments against the nations surrounding Israel and Israel itself. A lot of these prophecies have already come to fruition or are end of days prophecies. It can be a little hard to discern the two, unless your a history major to which I am not. In any event, what stuck out at me this morning was a couple verses in Isaiah 20:2-3. They are as follows:
"2at the same time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet." And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. 3Then the LORD said, "Just as My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia," (NKJV).
I've read through Isaiah a couple of times and don't remember ever catching this, but I caught it today. I know it's a strange verse to be talking about, but you have to look at the details. God told Isaiah to take his clothes off. He doesn't tell Isaiah why and for how long. After 3 years, God tells Isaiah why he has been walking around naked for that period of time, which when you read the rest of chapter 20 you find out why. What is so striking about this? Isaiah is showing a level of obedience and faithfulness that is awe inspiring. Isaiah didn't have the whole picture. He just had one instruction from the LORD and he obeyed it. He didn't know why, he didn't know for how long, and he did it anyway. Why? Because in Isaiah chapter 6 he told God in verse 8, "Here am I! Send me." He made a promise to God to do His will. So Isaiah in chapter 20 is doing God's will. The question that arises is, if God asked you to do something, would you do it? Even if you didn't have the whole picture. Because God isn't going to give the whole picture. He only gives one step at a time, hence the verse "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105, NKJV). Why does God do it that way? Because it is all about having faith in Him. If your read my blog http://godcallingjr.blogspot.com/ you can see a real world example of this. I am not saying I am perfect and always obey, but I did obey in that instance, and still giving God all the praise because of it. When we accept Christ into our lives we are saying, "Here am I! Send me." Acts 1:8 says, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" (NKJV). As Christians, those who have accepted Christ into there hearts for salvation, we are witnesses to the work God is doing in our lives. We are to be able to proclaim that in word AND deed, while giving God ALL the praise. So if God calls you to do something crazy, do you do it? And if you do be sure to give God all the glory for the outcome.
My time in 1 Corinthians was spent in chapter 2 verses 10-16. This is one of my favorite portions of scripture, and you really need to start reading from verse 6 to get the whole context. It is pretty much how the Holy Spirit reveals Godly wisdom to us. It's a great read and pretty self explanatory. I encourage you to read it if you haven't. Jesus says in John 15:15, "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you" (NKJV). "We have the mind of Christ" as Paul states in 1 Corinthians 2:16. This was very convicting for me this morning. I have the Holy Spirit in me revealing to me Godly wisdom, but I sometimes disregard that to give myself over to sin.
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