My Daily Bread

Trust the Son

2008-12-05T07:02:00.004-05:00

"Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." (Psalm 2: 2 KJV)

Salvation is promised to those who "kiss" and "put their trust" in "the Son." Faith is placing trust. It is believing and receiving Christ and truth.

"But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee." (Psalm 5: 11 KJV)

Those who put trust in the Lord are they who are promised joy and blessing, and assured of divine protection. Those who trust in the Lord are the same as those who "love thy name."

God and Christ the Son are to be trusted because they are trustworthy.

"Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint." (Proverbs 25: 19 KJV)

Confidence and trust in God and in Christ is to put trust in one who is faithful to his promises, one who will not "let down" those who trust in him.

Men are called and invited to place their hope, confidence, and trust in the Lord. They are called to forsake all objects of trust other than God and his word.

Father, teach us to trust. Help our unbelief.

The Virtue of Contentment

2008-12-04T21:32:00.005-05:00

"And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages." (Luke 3: 14 KJV)

"Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." (Philippians 4: 11, 12 KJV)

"Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition." (I Timothy 6: 5-9 KJV)

"Let your conversation (manner of life) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Hebrews 13: 5 KJV)

From these words of holy scripture, we are directed to the value and virtue of contentment. We also learn from them how contentment is connected with "gain," with money and wealth. It is viewed as the antidote to greed, a deadly sin.

"Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom." (Proverbs 23: 4 KJV)

"Two things have I required of thee; deny me them not before I die: Remove far from me vanity and lies: give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me: Lest I be full, and deny thee, and say, Who is the LORD? or lest I be poor, and steal, and take the name of my God in vain." (Proverbs 30: 7-9 KJV)

It is a sin to covet wealth and to horde it. God gives extra to a man and wills that he share it with those in need. God does not give a man wealth so that he may live in luxury while his neighbors suffer in want. The giving of wealth is a test.

The wise king of Israel advised that one desire neither to be rich or poor, for each of these states, without divine grace and instruction, that Paul spoke about in the above words, provokes to sin. The state of wealth tempts to pride and leads to ignorance of the divine. The state of poverty tempts to theft and doubt and rejection of God. We should desire that God give us what we need and anything above that we should recognize as given to us so that we might distribute it to others.

Father, teach us contentment.

Tyrants of Faith

2008-12-02T07:54:00.011-05:00

"Not for that we have dominion over your faith, but are helpers of your joy: for by faith ye stand." (II Corinthians 1: 24 KJV)

"Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind; Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being examples to the flock. " (I Peter 5: 2, 3 KJV)

It has been said - "God's people are like sheep, not cattle. They can only be "led," not "driven." Ideally, this is true, but, practically, it is often not so, at least with many professing Christians. Some, in respect to their "faith," are "driven with the wind and tossed." (James 1: 6 KJV) These have no firm "anchor," and so, like a ship without one, in rough seas, is "driven" and "tossed about."

"That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive." (Ephesians 4: 14 KJV)

The community of believers has always had trouble with those who desire to be little "lords" among them, men like Diotrephes who "loved to have the preeminence among the brethren." (III John 1: 9) These want to be "lords" and autocratic rulers in the church.

"A tyrannical ruler lacks judgment." (Proverbs 28:16 NIV)

A "tyrant" is one who is despotic, harsh, cruel, unjust, oppressive, dictatorial, fascistic, totalitarian, brutal, domineering, lordly, autocratic, and bossy.

"This is the portion of a wicked man from God, And the inheritance which tyrants receive from the Almighty." (Job 27: 13 New American Standard Bible)

Tyrants will be judged by Lord God, be they political tyrants, or ecclesiastical tryants.

"Can the prey be taken from the mighty man, Or the captives of a tyrant be rescued?" Surely, thus says the LORD, "Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away, And the prey of the tyrant will be rescued; For I will contend with the one who contends with you, And I will save your sons." (Isaiah 49: 24, 25 New American Standard Bible)

No one can be "lord" over the faith of the believer other than Christ. The above verses teach the right of each individual to come to his own conclusions about faith matters without coercion from others, even from the church. No group of believers has any right to lordship or tyranny over the consciences of individual Christians. Each believer is a priest to God and needs no earthly mediator. Beware of those who use tyrannical practices, such as do the "cults," to enslave your minds and consciences.

Father, help those whose minds are enslaved to cult dictators. Keep our own minds free of the tyranny of others.

Courage to Stand Alone

2008-12-01T15:41:00.003-05:00

"At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge. Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (II Timothy 4: 16-18 KJV)

Paul stood his ground for he knew he was right. He had convictions and was willing to stand for them even if no one else did. He stood his ground for his convictions even at the peril of his life. See and admire him in the courage of his convictions about the truth of scripture, especially as it concerns God's religion and the person of Jesus Christ.

Every martyr is one who stood his/her ground for the Lord's sake. But, equally true, is that the Lord stood with Paul and the martyrs.

We can be assured that the Lord stands with us when we ourselves stand for his word and his gospel.

It is not easy to "buck the crowd," to go against common opinion, to think freely and independently, especially when it involves adverse consequences. It requires courage in one's convictions.

To take a stand for morality and righteousness, and for godliness, more and more requires courage from the Lord. The enemies of these things have inordinate wrath for such things, in these depraved times, and therefore "curse the blessed of the Lord" and "bless the cursed of the Lord," and who "call evil good, and call good evil."

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God..." (Ephesians 6: 10-17 KJV)

Father, give us the grace and strength of courage to stand for you and for your truth.

Happy Faces

2008-11-30T08:59:00.000-05:00

"Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face." (Matt. 6: 16,17 KJV)

Though Christians are not to attempt to conceal their griefs and mental sufferings, which are often very heavy, and though they often have reason to be downcast, yet they are not to "gloat" in their sufferings nor take "pride" in them, as did the hypocrites.

It is impossible to fully keep our "faces" from showing our griefs, yet Christians ought to be careful not to give the appearance of being an inordinantly depressed and sad people.

When a caring person sees another with their "countenances fallen," as was Cain's, we may ask them, as did God to Cain, "why is your countenance fallen?"

We ought to try to "wear a smile each day" as Christians. We are not to boast of our sufferings, saying to others, thereby, "hey, look at me!"

We Christians are described as being a people who "...worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Phil. 3:3)

We "rejoice evermore." (I Thess. 5:16) We have great reason to rejoice. Of that fact every true Christian may become fully assured.

Jesus, with all his burdens and cares, did not go around with a sad and disfigured face, broadcasting his woes, as did the hypocrites. Such is what Paul called a "false humility." It was not humility at all, but pride, though it was masked and cloked to appear otherwise.

It should be our concern "how we appear to men," yet our concern, in that regard, as Christians, is different from that of the hypocrites.

How Christians reveal themselves to each other, as members of the "family of God," in private confessions and discussions, is altogether different than how they would appear in public, to the world of unbelievers.

We don't call attention to our sufferings, as Christians, but to the sufferings of Christ, and to the reasons why we can rejoice even in the greatest of sufferings.

To do as the hypocrites, and put on an air of self pity, is a form of murmurring and complaining, though done more non-verbally. We communicate to others with the expressions on our faces as well as the words that come out of our mouths.

If we keep the above verses of scripture always in mind, as Christians, we will truly be able to "count it all joy even when we fall into various trials." (James 1:2)

Pay day is both here for us now, for we receive, as Christ said, "manifold more in this present life," but pay day is in a far greater way yet future, to be fully realized "at the resurrection of the just." (See Matt. 19:27-29; Luke 14:13-15; 18:30)

It will be worth it all! That is what Christ is saying to all his faithful followers! You will receive good things now but "the best is yet to come." You have a good taste now, but the full course meal, the banquet, is yet future!

Christian, are you "rejoicing in Christ Jesus" as you should? If not, is it because you need improved spiritual vision to see all the blessings of God now upon you? Pray that you may be shown how blessed and rich you are even now! Father, help us!

Heart Circumcision

2008-11-29T08:31:00.002-05:00

"Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, and take away the foreskins of your heart, ye men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem: lest my fury come forth like fire, and burn that none can quench it, because of the evil of your doings." (Jeremiah 4: 4 KJV)

What is circumcision of the heart? How does one "take away" the "foreskins" of the "heart"? In physical circumcision, excess skin is removed from the male body part. In spiritual circumcision, something is cut away or surgically removed from the heart. What is it?

"To whom shall I speak, and give warning, that they may hear? behold, their ear is uncircumcised, and they cannot hearken: behold, the word of the LORD is unto them a reproach; they have no delight in it." (Jeremiah 6: 10 KJV)

"Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye." (Acts 7: 51 KJV)

Uncircumcision of heart includes the "ear."

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he." (Proverbs 23: 7 KJV)

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." (Proverbs 4: 23 KJV)

The "heart" is the source of man's thoughts, feelings, and desires. It is where he "hears" mentally, where he receives thoughts and ideas, and where he understands, and where cognition occurs. It is where he inwardly listens and pays attention. It is the place where decisions and choices are made, and where plans and intentions are formulated. It is the place of wisdom and fear, the place of both condemnation (guilt) and salvation, of both sin and righteousness.

"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ." (Colossians 2: 10, 11 KJV)

This "putting off," mentioned by Paul, is no doubt the same thing Jeremiah spoke of as a "cutting away." Paul says the "body (foreskin) of the sins of the flesh" are removed. It involves what is called spiritual circumcision of the heart, by both prophet and apostle.

This surgical operation done by Christ and the Father through the Holy Spirit, is a radical procedure and has lasting results. The organ of sin that is "cut away" in this heart and ear circumcision can never be put back. Spiritual deafness is cured. Heart disease, hardness, coldness, and deadness of heart, is remedied. The disposition to and craving for sin is removed.

"For circumcision verily profiteth, if thou keep the law: but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncircumcision. Therefore if the uncircumcision keep the righteousness of the law, shall not his uncircumcision be counted for circumcision? And shall not uncircumcision which is by nature, if it fulfil the law, judge thee, who by the letter and circumcision dost transgress the law? For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God." (Romans 2: 25-29 KJV)

"For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh." (Philippians 3: 3 KJV)

Father, circumcise our hearts and ears!

Saluting Others

2008-11-28T08:00:00.005-05:00

"Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you." (Romans 16: 16 KJV)

Salute is from the Greek word "aspazomai" and means:

1) to draw to one's self
a) to salute one, greet, bid welcome, wish well to
b) to receive joyfully, welcome (Strong)

In the AV it is translated as "salute" 42 times, as "greet" 15 times, as "embrace" 2 times, and as "take leave" 1 time.

Vine said:

"It also signifies "to bid farewell," e.g., Act 20:1, RV, "took leave of" (AV, "embraced"). A "salutation or farewell" was generally made by embracing and kissing (see Luk 10:4, which indicates the posibility of delay on the journey by frequent salutation). In Hbr 11:13 it is said of those who greeted the promises from afar, RV, "greeted," for AV, "embraced." Cp. aspasmos, "a salutation.""

"Salute every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren which are with me greet you. All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar's household." (Philippians 4: 21, 22 KJV)

"All the saints salute you." (II Corinthians 13: 13 KJV)

"Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them." (Romans 16: 15 KJV)

Romans 16 is filled with apostolic "salutes" to certain named persons! Is is used 21 times!

From these verses we learn that Christians should have a genuine fondness for other professing Christians, even if they are of a different sect of denomination of Christians. Christians are to recognize, welcome, and fellowship with each other, within the limits of scripture. Christians should be hospitable to all, but especially to the "household of faith."

"And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so?" (Matthew 5: 47 KJV)

We should show kindness and friendship to all, but especially to the brethren in the Lord. Our greeting and saluting of others should not unfairly discriminate.

"And when ye come into an house, salute it." (Matthew 10: 12 KJV)

This is just common courtesy, a common act of respect.

"Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you." (Hebrews 13: 24 KJV)

Again, this is to be understood as an especial salutation and greeting, a particular and more abundant welcoming and recognizing.

"And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!" (Mark 15: 18 KJV)

This was a mock salute, intended to ridicule the Lord Jesus. We must never be insincere in our salutings, welcomings, and greetings of others.

"Carry neither purse, nor scrip, nor shoes: and salute no man by the way." (Luke 10: 4 KJV)

It takes a little time to greet, salute, or welcome others. In the military, it is a formal affair, with proper hand gestures. In Oriental countries it involves the bowing of the head, or embracing and kissing. Jesus was telling these disciples, while on their errand, not to be delayed by these formalities.

The idea of "saluting" is connected with "receiving" or "welcoming."

"Wherefore receive ye one another, as Christ also received us to the glory of God." (Romans 15: 7 KJV)

"Receive" is from the Greek word "proslambanō" and means:

1) to take to, take in addition, to take to one's self
a) to take as one's companion
b) to take by the hand in order to lead aside
c) to take or receive into one's home, with the collateral idea of kindness) to receive, i.e. grant one access to one's heart
1) to take into friendship and intercourse
e) to take to one's self, to take: i.e. food (Strong)

It too may be translated as "welcome," yea to joyously and kindly welcome.

Father, help us not to be forgetful to "entertain" the saints, to be kind in greeting others, and especially to the saints.

Gratitude

2008-11-27T09:20:00.002-05:00

"And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger." (Luke 17: 12-18 KJV)

Parents, if they are wise, teach their children "gratitude." They teach them to say "thank you" to others for all acts of kindness. They are telling their children that ingratitude is unbecoming, a fault in character. It is important, in "building character," to learn to be "thankful."

According to the above story, nine out of ten people are careless about giving God thanks. They receive of him many good things and yet they do not express to him praise for his graciousness and his goodness. Only one in nine "return to give thanks" to God for his manifold benevolence.

Ingratitude is no little sin. If we feel obligated to tell men "thank you" for any act of kindness, we should especially feel obligated to say it to God.

This is because "every good and perfect gift is from above, from the Father of lights." (James 1: 17)

Giving thanks is giving God glory and praise. To fail to thank God is to rob him of what belongs to him.

It is a beautiful thing to behold! How comely is thanksgiving! How ugly is ingratitude!

Father, fill our hearts with thanksgiving and praise! Let us not be as the nine, but as the one.

Need for Buffetting

2008-11-26T07:35:00.003-05:00

"And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (II Corinthians 12: 7-10 KJV)

The word "buffet" means - 1 : a blow especially with the hand 2 : something that strikes with telling force.

"And some began to spit on him, and to cover his face, and to buffet him, and to say (mock) unto him, Prophesy: and the servants did strike him with the palms of their hands." (Mark 14: 65 KJV)

The Greek word is "kolaphizō" and means:

1) to strike with the fist, give one a blow with the fist
2) to maltreat, treat with violence and contumely (Strong)

"Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace." (I Corinthians 4: 11 KJV)

"For what glory [is it], if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer [for it], ye take it patiently, this [is] acceptable with God." (I Peter 2: 20 KJV)

The disciples of the Lord Jesus are a "buffeted" people. All are "buffeted" or "beaten down" by sins. Sin strikes a blow at us. But, to be "buffeted" for our sins is one thing, but to be "buffeted" by Satan and evil men, for our obedience to Christ, is quite another thing.

Paul was beaten down and struck with the "messenger of Satan," his "thorn in the flesh," which seems to be a physical malady that Paul had, an eye disease, and which the Lord Jesus was unwilling to remove from Paul. This experience of being "buffeted" and "beaten down" by this "thorn" had good effects for Paul. He was taught how to endure hardness and suffering for Christ, how to rely on Christ.

All the Lord's people have their own "thorns" that the Lord refuses to remove. We pray for them to be removed, but they remain. We don't understand why the Lord refuses to remove our thorns. We say, why Lord?

The reply of Christ to Paul is the answer. Had Christ removed the "thorn," then Paul's pride would have had no restraints upon it.

The thorn that we discover that the Lord will not remove must be embraced and accepted. It must be seen for what it is, a means of keeping us from pride.

What is your "thorn"?

Father, help us, like Paul, to accept our thorns and to trust and rely upon you in dealing with it.

Disciples Indeed

2008-11-25T05:00:00.003-05:00

"Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed." (John 8: 31 KJV)

"Indeed" is from the Greek word "alēthōs" and means "truly, of a truth, in reality, most certainly" or "surely."

"Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!" (John 1: 47 KJV)

In these verses Jesus is being emphatic in his declarations and exclamations. His purpose is to remove doubt and questioning and to declare what is genuine.

There are genuine disciples, those who are believers indeed, or truly and really, and who are no pretenders, but actual disciples and believers.

"Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, (then) he will keep My word..." (John 14: 23 NKJV)

True love and devotion produces genuine works of kindness to the objects of affection.

Oftentimes what one thinks is "true" love is really not such, but a lower emotion. True love "never fails" and "endures all things." (I Corinthians 13: 4-8 KJV)

How do we know if we truly love Christ? Besides the deep emotions we feel towards him?

Do we spend time talking to him in prayer? Do we spend time listening to him speak to us? Do we read and meditate upon his teachings? Do we daily "stand amazed in his presence"? Is he daily in our "awe"? Do we see him as "awesome"? Do we delight in knowing him? In hearing his voice? Do we enjoy being with his people and hearing people talk about our Master?

Father, in Jesus' blessed name, and by the intercession of the Spirit of truth, make us disciples indeed.

Lovers of Preeminence

2008-11-24T20:12:00.003-05:00

"And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence." (Colossians 1: 18 KJV)

The Greek word for preeminence is prōteuō and means "to be first, hold the first place."

"I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not." (III John 1: 9 KJV)

The Greek word for preeminence is philoprōteuō and means "to aspire to pre-eminence, to desire to be first."

In this verse, the Greek word used by John, in regard to the heretic Diotrephes, is a compound word, having "philos" attached to it, while the word used by Paul, in regard to Christ, lacks it.

Unlike Diotrephes, the Lord Jesus Christ did not aspire to or covet "preemininence." Paul stated this so clearly elsewhere, writing:

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped (or aspired to), but made himself nothing (or "of no reputation" KJV), taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." (Philippians 2: 5-7 NIV)

Unlike Diotrephes, the Lord Jesus Christ actually had the preeminence. Diotrephes was only a pretender to it.

Diotrephes wanted to be a "big shot" among the Christian community. He wanted "a name that is above every name," yet this belongs only to Christ. (verse 9) He wanted men to "bow" to him, but this honor also belongs to Christ. (verse 10)

Diotrephes was cocksure and proud, but Jesus was "meek and lowly in heart." (Matthew 11: 29 KJV)

"Lift not up your horn on high: speak not with a stiff neck. For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another." (Psalm 75: 5-7 KJV)

"And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron..." (I Samuel 12: 6 KJV)

Those who aspire to preeminence are lovers of themselves, first and foremost, and not lovers of Christ.

Even the apostles managed to get into the "spirit" and "mindset" of men like Diotrephes, Korah, (See Numbers 16 and Jude 1: 11), and Simon Magus (See Acts 8: 9-24)

"Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receiveth me: and whosoever shall receive me receiveth him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great." (Luke 9: 46-48 KJV)

Father, in Jesus name, save us from ourselves! From our false pride and ambition! Keep us humble and give us the "attitude" of the Lord Jesus, and not of Diotrephes.

Unbelieving Heart

2008-11-23T22:03:00.000-05:00

"Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen." (Mark 16: 14 KJV)

"Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God." (Hebrews 3: 12 KJV)

"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God...He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him." (John 3: 18, 36 KJV)

"And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God." (Mark 11: 22 KJV)

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11: 6 KJV)

Are Christians alone saved? Are all non-Christians doomed?

What do these verses teach us? What does Jesus say? Is he being unjust and unkind to limit salvation to only those who believe in him?

Is the sin of unbelief and rejection of Christ that serious? Is it an "unpardonable sin"?

Are the various religions only different ways of finding salvation?

Can't one believe in "God" without believing in Jesus and the "Son of God"?

The answer to these questions is given by the Lord Jesus Christ himself, the one whom Moses foretold would come, "that prophet," who would be also king and priest, the very Son of God, or Lord from Heaven.

Unbelief in Christ is a damning sin. The unbelief that is natural to men is a terrible disease of the soul. It has infected the heart and mind of man. It is natural for him to disbelieve in Christ and the story of his life, passion, and death. Paul said:

"For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God." (I Corinthians 1: 18 KJV)

Unbelief is connected with "hardness" and "impenitence" of "heart," with an "evil heart." An "evil heart" is equated with an "unbelieving heart." A good heart is a heart of faith.

God sent a mighty Savior to rescue men from their sins and their depraved natures and bless them with eternal life and immortality for the body. He has commanded and invited all to come to him for deliverance. It is the greatest insult to his kindness for sinner's to reject his Deliverer, his own Son.

To reject God's Son is to reject him. Jesus said - "he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me." (Matthew 10 : 40 KJV)

"But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death." (Revelation 21: 8 KJV)

"And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house. " (Acts 16: 30, 31 KJV)

Everlasting Covenant

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"Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God. And he shall be as the light of the morning, when the sun riseth, even a morning without clouds; as the tender grass springing out of the earth by clear shining after rain. Although my house be not so with God; yet he hath made with me an everlasting covenant, ordered in all things, and sure: for this is all my salvation, and all my desire, although he make it not to grow." (II Samuel 23: 1-5 KJV)

"Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David." (Isaiah 55: 3 KJV)

"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13: 20, 21 KJV)

From these verses we learn something about the "everlasting covenant," the "covenant of grace," or the "new covenant."

We learn that salvation is connected with this eternal covenant. We learn that it is made with sinners and that in two ways. First, the covenant was made between God and Christ, wherein Christ stood as a legal representative for those who are named in the covenant. Second, the covenant is also made personally with every repenting sinner when he is converted to, and covenants with, Christ.

Covenants contain promises and so does the everlasting covenant. God promises, in this covenant, to "forgive sins," and to bestow unending blessings of joy and peace, and of eternal life.

Have you made a covenant with God? Have you agreed with him?

Prosperity Gospel?

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"If they obey and serve him, they will spend the rest of their days in prosperity and their years in contentment." (Job 36: 11 NIV)

These are the words of Elihu, one of the "friends" of the suffering Job. He was one who promoted a false idea, still prevalent in our day, one that avows that the truly "godly" and "holy" man, the man whom God favors and blesses, is one who enjoys a life of financial prosperity and freedom from worry and stress.

The bible does not teach that those who serve God faithfully enjoy, as a result of their devotion, great financial rewards and material blessings in this life. That was one of Elihu's great errors and it is sad that his philosophy is being promoted today.

James had a different message. He wrote:

"Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have insulted the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are slandering the noble name of him to whom you belong?" (James 2: 5-7 NIV)

Paul also had a different idea about the matter. One of the ways in which he "proved" or "demonstrated" his high standing with the Lord was in his poverty of circumstances!

"But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings..." (II Corinthians 6: 4, 5 KJV)

Do not listen to those, like Elihu, who urge you to become a "Christian" so that you may be rich in this world.

The World's Message

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"They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them." (I John 4: 5 KJV)

What is the message of the world? Who are the "worldly" preachers? What is the message of Christ? How does the message of the world differ from the message of Christ?

The world has a message and it is fervent in proclaiming and promoting it. What is the chief topic of the world? It is the world itself. The world loves to make itself the center of discussion.

"A fool hath no delight in understanding, but that his heart may discover itself." (Proverbs 18: 2 KJV)

The world promotes egotism, self will, hedonism, narcissism, and other destructive philosophies and ways of life. The world advises people to spend their lives "discovering themselves," of coming to "know themselves," yet the message of the bible is for men to discover God first and foremost. In fact, one cannot truly know himself if he does not know God and his word.

"...if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die." (I Corinthians 15: 32 KJV)

This is the chief message of the world. Live it up! There is no such thing as "sin" and a "Day of Judgment." There is no God! Or, if he does exist, he does not make a "big deal" out of "sin" as the bible affirms.

"They have healed also the hurt of the daughter of my people slightly, saying, Peace, peace; when there is no peace." (Jeremiah 6: 14, 8: 11 KJV)

"For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it." (Luke 9: 24 KJV)

"And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me." (Luke 9: 23 KJV)

Thus the world "preaches" a false "peace," and a life of "selfishness" and self love, of "indulging" oneself, rather than "denying" oneself. The world teaches its "first principles," another of which is the priority it puts on the here and now, on bodily and sensual pleasures, rather than on eternity and the nobler things of the spirit.

"For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous, whom the LORD abhorreth." (Psalm 10: 3 KJV)

Here is another example of the world's philosophy. The world values the greedy and covetous man. But, the Lord abhors him.

"For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishnes." (I Corinthians 1: 17-23 KJV)

Here we see the "messages" of the world contrasted with the "message of Christ," the message of the gospel.

God's Fatherliness

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"Yet, O LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand." (Isaiah 64: 8 NIV)

"For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device." (Acts 17: 28, 29 KJV)

These verses identify Lord God as the one universal father of the human race. All are God's children by virtue of him "begetting" or "fathering" them, of him giving them existence, and life, and destiny.

"Hath the rain a father? or who hath begotten the drops of dew?" (Job 38: 28 KJV)

Lord God is the father of all things, for he has created or produced all things.

"As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust." (Psalm 103: 13, 14 NIV)

All are God's children by creation, and recieve graciously many blessings and acts of fatherly kindness. God shows all men general kindness and compassion, for he is not only a "faithful Creator," but also a "faithful Father." (I Peter 4: 19 KJV)

But, only those who become his children by a "new birth," by being spiritually "begotten again," become his "children," and he their "Father," receive his special blessings and favors, yea, the blessing of salvation.

"But you are our Father, though Abraham does not know us or Israel acknowledge us; you, O LORD, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name." (Isaiah 63: 16 NIV)

"A son honors his father, and a servant his master. If I am a father, where is the honor due me? If I am a master, where is the respect due me?" says the LORD Almighty." (Malachi 1: 6 NIV)

"Is this the way you repay the LORD, O foolish and unwise people? Is he not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?" (Deuteronomy 32: 6 NIV)

These verses describe the great evil of men in turning their backs on their heavenly Father who created them. They are "rebellious children," as the prophets described them. They have renounced the Father who created and blesses them, and have made others to be "father," yea, even the devil himself, saying to them - "you are of your father the devil." (John 8: 44, 45)

So, we may say that Lord God "is the Father of all men, specially of those who believe." (See I Timothy 4: 10 KJV) He is specially the "father of spirits made perfect." (Hebrews 12: 22 KJV)

"The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place." In spite of this, you did not trust in the LORD your God." (Deuteronomy 1: 30-32 NIV)

"Therefore come out from them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you." "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." (II Corinthians 6: 17, 18 NIV)

"Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!" (Hebrews 12: 9 NIV)

Lord God is to be honored and respected, and obeyed, above every earthly father. Salvation is the result of acknowledging God as "Father," and trusting in his great "fatherliness."

Growth

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"As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all." (Ecclesiastes 11: 5 KJV)

"And he said, So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear." (Mark 4: 26-28 KJV)

Growth is a mystery. Who fully understands "germination"? Who comprehends birth and growth in the womb? Who fathoms photosynthesis? Oh the wonder of "life" and "growth"!

"What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." (I Corinthians 3: 5-7 NIV)

"And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food..." (Genesis 2: 9 KJV)

"Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains." (Psalm 147: 8 KJV)

Lord God is the author of life and growth. Things grow because he makes them to grow.

"The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon." (Psalm 92: 12 KJV)

"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ." (Ephesians 4: 15 KJV)

"But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen." (II Peter 3: 18 KJV)

We are responsible to grow, yet we cannot grow without the power and blessing of God.

"Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the watchmen stand guard in vain." (Psalm 127: 1 NIV)

The Strength of Love

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"Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned." (Song of Solomon KJV)

Oh the supreme value of love! Virtue of virtues is true love.

"God is love." (I John 4: 8) And, he is "the real thing," not some imitation of 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 protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." (I Corinthians 13: 1-8 NIV)

We do not love God naturally. Naturally we rather are born with an inner hate and rejection of God, a predisposition to oppose and resist him. (See Ephesians 2: 1-3 and Psalm 51: 3) We have no love for God springing from our carnal natures. In order to "fall in love with God" one must have God to "woo" and "draw" him. The sinner is responsible to not resist God's gracious work, for he seeks to "win the heart" of his enemies. Will you "surrender" to God and have him fill your heart with his love?

"At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us..." (Titus 3: 3-5 NIV)

Apt Replies

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“A man finds joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word!” (Proverbs 15:23 NIV)

"The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned." (Isaiah 50: 4 KJV)

"Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4: 6 KJV)

We need wholesome tongues. We need knowledge in the use of our organs of speech. We need to know how to "use words aright."

There is "power" in the tongue. It can be for good or evil, and it can be either constructive or destructive, like fire.

"Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell." (James 3: 4-6 KJV)

God give us wise and self-controlled tongues! May our words be used for edifying and in salvation, and not in destruction.

The Wonder of Praise

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"But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel." (Psalm 22: 3 KJV)

If I would know if God lives in me, I would know whether God dwells in my lips and in my mouth and tongue. Does God form any part of my regular speech? Do I mention God day by day? Or, is the name of God rarely heard on my lips?

A man who is regularly praising God may be fully assured that God "dwells," or "lives," or "resides" with, or in, his inmost being. Such a man "has" God as a possession, as it were, as a steady friend and companion. Glorious thought!

"I create the fruit of the lips; Peace, peace to him that is far off, and to him that is near, saith the LORD; and I will heal him." (Isaiah 57: 19 KJV)

"LORD, thou wilt ordain peace for us: for thou also hast wrought all our works in us." (Isaiah 26: 12 KJV)

"By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name...Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (Hebrews 13: 15, 20, 21 KJV)

God is the author of true praise and worship. One cannot worship God without God enlightening and leading him to do so. Thus, one who is praising God as he ought to be praised is one who may be assured that he is indwelt and led by the omnipotent and loving Creator.

Father, dwell in us! Perfect our praise!

Spiritual Longing

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"For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness." (Psalm 107: 9 KJV)

A spiritual man, a child of God, is one who is a "longing soul." He has his yearnings, hopes, dreams, and expectations.

"O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is." (Psalm 63: 1 KJV)

Such a soul longs for God himself, to see him and to have eternal fellowship and life with him.

"How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God." (Psalm 84: 1, 2 KJV)

"My soul breaketh for the longing that it hath unto thy judgments at all times...Behold, I have longed after thy precepts: quicken me in thy righteousness...I opened my mouth, and panted: for I longed for thy commandments...I have longed for thy salvation, O LORD; and thy law is my delight." (Psalm 119: 20, 40, 131, 174 KJV)

The spiritual soul longs for God, his word of truth, and for the dwellingplace of God.

"For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1: 8 KJV)

"For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick." (Philippians 2: 26 KJV)

"Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved." (Philippians 4: 1 KJV)

The spiritual soul longs for the fellowship of the family of God, to have the full enjoyment of the house of God. He is given the promise that he will have his desires, and the thing he longs after, for God "satisfies the longing soul."

Fleeing for Refuge

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"Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the heirs of promise the immutability of his counsel, confirmed it by an oath: That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil." (Hebrews 6: 17-19 KJV)

God is a "sanctuary" or "place of refuge and protection." In the Old Testament, the LORD provided "cities of refuge" for the innocent manslayer, a place where he could be safe from those who would seek to destroy him. Lord God is such a place for those who flee to him.

"Then ye shall appoint you cities to be cities of refuge for you; that the slayer may flee thither, which killeth any person at unawares (or accidently)." (Numbers 35: 11 KJV)

"Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me." (Psalm 143: 9 KJV)

Not only is one encouraged to flee TO God for safety, but also to flee FROM those things that are destructive and ruinous.

"Flee fornication." (I Corinthians 6: 18 KJV)

"Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry." (I Corinthians 10: 14 KJV)

"For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness." (I Timothy 6: 10, 11 KJV)

"Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart." (II Timothy 2: 22 KJV)

These are things sinners need to flee FROM. He needs to flee from sin, temptation, and from danger.

"The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe." (Proverbs 18: 10 KJV)

Fleeing from sin, the sinner is encouraged to flee to the Lord and to "take refuge" in him, in his love and power.

"And what will ye do in the day of visitation, and in the desolation which shall come from far? to whom will ye flee for help? and where will ye leave your glory?" (Isaiah 10: 3 KJV)

Full Assurance

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"That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ." (Colossians 2: 2 KJV)

"And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end." (Hebrews 6: 11 KJV)

"Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water." (Hebrews 10: 22 KJV)

"Full assurance" is from a single Greek word, from "plērophoria," which according to Strong, additionally means "certain confidence."

Vine says it denotes "a fullness, abundance," also means "full assurance, entire confidence;" lit., a "full-carrying" (pleros, "full," phero, "to carry"). He says also:

"In Col 2:2, the freedom of mind and confidence resulting from an understanding in Christ; in Hbr 6:11 (AV, "full assurance," RV, "fullness"), the engrossing effect of the expectation of the fulfillment of God's promises; in Hbr 10:22, the character of the faith by which we are to draw near to God."

The Lord wants us to be confident and fully assured of the truth of the gospel. He wants us to be assured of our salvation through Christ and to be free of worry and doubt.

How can we have this "blessed full assurance"? Notice how it is connected with "understanding" of the truth. It is an assurance that has its source in understanding, but also in faith and hope. If we would increase in our assurance, we must increase in our understanding, and in faith, and in hope through the gospel.

Blessed Assurance! Thank you Lord!

Acceptable Meditations

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"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer." (Psalm 19:14 KJV)

This is the prayer of a renewed heart and mind, of an "honest and good heart." It expresses the desire to have one's thoughts conformed to the mind of God, and to righteousness.

"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." (Genesis 6: 5 KJV)

This is the mind and thinking of sinners who have no love for God and righteousness. The mind of sinners is naturally focused on sin.

"The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the (wordly) wise, that they are vain." (I Corinthians 3: 20 KJV)

Man's thoughts are "vain" because they are selfish, and egotistical, and focus on himself rather than upon his Maker, and upon godliness.

"I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love." (Psalm 119: 13 KJV)

Our daily prayer ought to be that our minds be purified to think upon God and upon what is pleasing to him, and not upon ourselves, and upon sin.

"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." (II Corinthians 10: 5 KJV)

Is your desire to have a mind enslaved to God and righteousness?

Record of Sins

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"Surely then you will count my steps but not keep track of my sin. My offenses will be sealed up in a bag; you will cover over my sin." (Job 14: 16 NIV)

Lord God knows every sin a person commits. He has them all recorded in his register, in his "book of remembrance." For the unbeliever, however, this record will be opened in the Day of Judgment and from those records the evidence of those crimes will be presented.

On the other hand, the believer in Jesus can expect not to be judged out of those books, for his sins are said, by an eternal decree of God, "not to be remembered." (Hebrews 8: 12; 10: 17)

"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life. The dead were judged according to what they had done as recorded in the books." (Revelation 20: 12 NIV)

If you are a believer in Jesus, your name is in the book of life, and you will not, therefore, be judged out of the "book of the law," or your destiny decided based upon the keeping of the law. Oh what glad tidings of great joy!

Truth & Righteousness

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"If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself." (John 7: 17 KJV)

There is a connection between knowing right and practicing right. In order to practice righteousness, one must first learn the meaning of righteousness, or the doctrine of godliness.

Doing God's will requires one to know what is God's will. Wrote Paul:

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (II Timothy 3: 16 NIV)

Jesus spoke of knowing "the doctrine," both which concerns the knowledge of God the Father (theology) and the knowledge of Christ (Christology).

We cannot expect to come to greater knowledge of the truth if we have our hearts set on practicing unrighteousness.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness." (Romans 1: 18 KJV)

There are those who, though entertaining some correct views of God, nevertheless live ungodly, the truth merely being an abstract idea, not something to actually practice.

If we truly desire to live godly and righteously, then God will see to it that we learn doctrine, and are given "know how" in living righteously.

Seeking God

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"I have not spoken in secret, in a dark place of the earth: I said not unto the seed of Jacob, Seek ye me in vain: I the LORD speak righteousness, I declare things that are right." (Isaiah 45: 19 KJV)

"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11: 5 KJV)

To genuinely and sincerely seek God with the whole heart, in faith and childlike trust, is to do something truly rewarding. There is no higher pursuit than the pursuit of God. To know God and to have fellowship with him is incomprehensible and amazing.

Lord God commands and invites all men to "seek him."

"From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'" (Acts 17: 26-28 NIV)

"Seeking" God ends with "finding" God! Will you seek him today?

Doubt & Unbelief

2008-09-25T08:03:00.003-04:00

"Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!" Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith," he said, "why did you doubt?" And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down." (Matthew 14: 30-32 NIV)

"They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have." (Luke 24: 37-39 NIV)

"I tell you the truth, if anyone says to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for him." (Mark 11: 23 NIV)

"Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." (John 20: 27 NIV)

"But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin." (Romans 14: 23 NIV)

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." (James 1: 5-8 NIV)

"Be merciful to those who doubt..." (Jude 1: 22 NIV)

A Christian must battle his doubts. He must seek and petition God for confidence, for strong undoubting faith. A man of faith is a man who is assured and confident, one who is stable and singular minded.

Let us all this day put every effort into the removing of all our unhealthy fears, of our sinful doubting, and into becoming stronger in faith and courage.

All That From Suffering?

2008-09-23T07:48:00.002-04:00

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” (Romans 5:3-4 NIV)

"But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." (I Peter 5: 10 KJV)

All this comes from the sufferings of Christians? Perseverence, character, hope, perfection, power, firm footedness, is all the fruit, directly or indirectly, of suffering? Can it be so?

Could it be that the reason some do not have these blessed things is that they have not suffered? Or, whose sufferings have not been blessed and sanctified?

If sufferings produce all these blessed things, then Christians ought to rather "rejoice" in them, rather than to complain.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." (James 1: 2,3 NIV)

A Need For A Good Token

2008-09-22T10:58:00.002-04:00

"Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me." (Psalm 86: 17 KJV)

"Shew me a token for good, may be rendered "make me a sign for good." Weiss paraphrases it, "make of me such a sign or monument of good that all my enemies may be arrested by it, and be daunted at injuring a man so assisted by the Lord." ("The Treasury of David" by C.H. Spurgeon)

Faith often calls on the Lord for "evidences" or "signs" ('tokens') of his good will towards us, for faith is often assailed by doubts. Faith needs fresh strengthening and renewed illumination to stay strong, ardent, and vibrant.

God's people should pray for such visible manifestations of God's approval. They should seek divine confirmation. As God seeks "proofs," as it were, of our love for him, so likewise do his people seek proofs and evidences of God's love. How merciful is God to answer such prayers when faith is assailed with doubts and fears!

Christ - Vanguard & Rereward

2008-07-12T09:53:00.002-04:00

Morning Bible Study Lesson

"Now Jeroboam had sent troops around to the rear, so that while he was in front of Judah the ambush was behind them. Judah turned and saw that they were being attacked at both front and rear. Then they cried out to the LORD. The priests blew their trumpets and the men of Judah raised the battle cry. At the sound of their battle cry, God routed Jeroboam and all Israel before Abijah and Judah." (II Chronicles 13: 13-15 NIV)

There are many good lessons to learn from this incident in the history of the divided people of God, of the civil war between the northern kingdom of Israel (ten tribes) and the southern kingdom of Judah. Of course, it was the northern kingdom who was at fault for this unholy war. God fought for Judah and "routed" the evil kingdom of "Israel" under the usurper, King Jeroboam.

The main lesson for us in this study is how God's "fighting for" Judah involved God in both offense and defense, in both being a Vanguard and a Rereward or Rear Guard.

By definition a "vanguard" is a person or group who protects the "front" of an army, one who is "before" the people being protected, or "between" them and the frontal attacking enemy.

The word "vanguard" is from the Middle English word "vauntgard," from the Anglo-French vantgarde, or "avantgarde" (from "avant" meaning "fore" or "before" - from Late Latin abante) and from "garde" (now "guard"). A "vanguard" is one who is in the "forefront" of an action or troop movement or the "fore guard."

The vanguard is in "advance" of the people or army, or "ahead" of them, one who is "leading" in the fight.

"Rereward" is also from Middle English, from the Anglo-French, from "rere," or "arere," or "behind," plus "warde," or "gard" (guard). It is synonymous with "rear guard."

In the above conflict, Lord God himself acted as Judah's Vanguard and Rereward. He was both their "fore" guard and their "rear" guard. He protected them against both a "frontal attack" and an attack to the "rear."

"And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, which was the rereward of all the camps throughout their hosts: and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai." (Numbers 10: 25 KJV)

"And the armed men went before the priests that blew with the trumpets, and the rereward came after the ark, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets...And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the LORD went on continually, and blew with the trumpets: and the armed men went before them; but the rereward came after the ark of the LORD, the priests going on, and blowing with the trumpets." (Joshua 6: 9, 13 KJV)

"But don't stop! Pursue your enemies, attack them from the rear and don't let them reach their cities, for the LORD your God has given them into your hand." (Joshua 10: 19 KJV)

"And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish." (I Samuel 29: 2 KJV)

All these passages emphasize the importance of being protected in both the front and rear, and of the need for having a strong Vanguard and Rereward. In the case of the incident in the days of Joshua, we see two groups who made up the Vanguard before the ark of the Lord.

First, there were the "armed" guard, and then the "priests" who bore and blew the holy trumpets. Also, it is seen how the safety of an army was dependent upon the strength of their vanguards and rear guards. If the vanguard or rear guard is weak, then the enemy will surely attack there.

God appeared to Abraham and said, "I am your shield." (Genesis 15: 1 KJV) Lord God is a "force field" that goes all around the believer, protecting his side, front, and rear. The "shield of faith" (Ephesians 6: 16) is the shield that faith takes hold of, but the shield is God himself.

"In a desert land he found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; he guarded him as the apple of his eye." (Deuteronomy 32: 10 NIV)

Shielded and guarded by the Lord! Safe all around! On every side!

"Depart ye, depart ye, go ye out from thence, touch no unclean thing; go ye out of the midst of her; be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD. For ye shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight: for the LORD will go before you; and the God of Israel will be your reward." (Isaiah 52: 11, 12 KJV)

Here the Lord urges sinners to "depart" or to "leave" their life of sin and to enter into fellowship with God. He gives them incentive for doing so by promising to "go before" them, to be their "vanguard" of protection and defense.

If the Lord goes out "before" his people, then he encounters every difficulty, and hurdle, and enemy, first. Thus, Lord God is both a leader and shield to his people. He is their vanguard of the future, of their destinies.

"Then I said to you, "Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place. In spite of this, you did not trust in the LORD your God, who went ahead of you on your journey, in fire by night and in a cloud by day, to search out places for you to camp and to show you the way you should go. " (Deuteronomy 1: 29-33 NIV)

The Lord went before his people to do all the things that leaders, scouts, and vanguards do. He went ahead of them to ensure their safe passage. In going before them the Lord would "fight for them," meeting the enemy in advance of his people.

"The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen." Then the angel of God, who had been traveling in front of Israel's army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other side; so neither went near the other all night long." (Exodus 14: 18-20 NIV)

What a display of the divine presence and protection! God's protection consisted of both what was visible and invisible. The pillars of cloud and fire, one for the day and the other for the night, were living representations of the presence of God. The "Angel of the Lord" was the Lord Jesus Christ, in his pre-incarnate existence, as Son of God, as God, and who led the people of Israel in all their wanderings. What mighty vanguards! What a shield!

Notice how the pillar also acted as a rear guard or rereward. The pillar moved from its place in the vanguard to the place of the rear guard, for the enemy was then attempting to attack Israel in her rear. Notice how the purpose of a vanguard or rear guard was to "come between" the enemy and his people. That is what the Lord does for his people!

"Neither the pillar of cloud by day nor the pillar of fire by night left its place in front of the people." (Exodus 13: 22 NIV)

Yes, the pillar of God remained in the vanguard, only removing to the rear when the enemy approached from that direction. God too will not forsake his people, from defending them, from going before them, and from protecting them from "sneak attacks" from behind them.

"The LORD your God himself will cross over ahead of you. He will destroy these nations before you, and you will take possession of their land. Joshua also will cross over ahead of you, as the LORD said. The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." (Deuteronomy 31: 3, 8 NIV)

Notice again how Lord God promises to be the vanguard of his people, and how he enlists men who will become part of the vanguard of the Lord. People who are enlisted to lead God's people, and to act as a vanguard for the Lord, and for his people, are important people for the "general assembly" of the saints, for their well being.

"When you went out before your people, O God, when you marched through the wasteland, Selah the earth shook, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel." (Psalm 68: 7, 8 NIV)

"Then Deborah said to Barak, "Go! This is the day the LORD has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the LORD gone ahead of you?" So Barak went down Mount Tabor, followed by ten thousand men." (Judges 4: 14 NIV

What a vanguard! Well might every enemy tremble at the approach of the Lord's vanguard! Deborah uses the knowledge of the vanguard, protecting Israel, for her urging of faith, courage, and resolve in their work and in their fightings. She encourages the Lord's people to believe that God is their vanguard, and their shield and rereward, and that he will be "with them," and not forsake them, but will surely give them victory, promising to fight "for them" and "with them."

"I will send an angel before you and drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites." (Exodus 33: 2 NIV)

"Now go, lead the people to the place I spoke of, and my angel will go before you. However, when the time comes for me to punish, I will punish them for their sin." (Exodus 32: 34 NIV)

Here are other references to the "Angel" or "Messenger" of Lord God as being the protector of the people of God, their vanguard and rereward.

"I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow." (Joshua 24: 12 NIV)

Here the Lord enlists armies of hornets to act as vanguards for his people, as weapons of both offense and defense. Notice too that God acts as a protector in such a way that none of his people can legitimately claim to have been saved and preserved by their own strength, wisdom, or doings.

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard." (Isaiah 58: 6-8 KJV)

In this passage the Lord promises to be the vanguard and the rear guard of his obedient people. Those who live in disobedience to the Lord cannot be assured of this protection. It is only promised to those who repent of their sins and who trust in the Lord.

"When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, "Come, make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him...They said to me, 'Make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don't know what has happened to him.'" (Exodus 32: 1, 23 NIV)

Notice how this verse indicates that the people viewed Moses as their scout, leader, and vanguard. Notice also how they soon reject Moses and Lord God from being their vanguard, and attempt to create their own. How foolish! But, this is the story of all who reject the Lord.

"God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me." (Psalm 59: 10 NIV)

This is what every Christian and believer in Christ is able to say, by the grace of faith. He has come to have assurance of his safe standing with the Lord, and of his promised protection as his vanguard.

"As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because that will mean the LORD has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army." (II Samuel 5: 24 NIV)

This is a most interesting commentary on the way the Lord "signaled" his people to "move." When they were led by the pillars of cloud and fire, they moved when the pillar moved, and stopped to camp when it stopped. Here the prophet Samuel reveals a different manner in which the Lord would "signal" his people to move.

Friend, is God your shield? Is he your vanguard and rereward?

The Shield of God

2008-07-12T09:00:00.004-04:00

Evening Scripture Reading

"About Benjamin he said: "Let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders." (Deuteronomy 33: 12 NIV)

"Blessed are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the LORD? He is your shield and helper and your glorious sword. Your enemies will cower before you, and you will trample down their high places." (Deuteronomy 33: 29 NIV)

"But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head." (Psalm 3: 3 NIV)

"For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield." (Psalm 5: 12 NIV)

"My shield is God Most High, who saves the upright in heart." (Psalm 7: 10 NIV)

"As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him...You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great." (Psalm 18: 30, 35 NIV)

Cistern or Fountain?

2008-07-11T21:40:00.003-04:00

Morning Bible Study Lesson

"Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water." (Jeremiah 2: 12,13)

"O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters." (Jeremiah 17: 13 KJV)

Man cannot survive without a source of water. Water is, like bread, the "staff of life." (See Psalm 105: 16 KJV) Man cannot live without bread nor water. It is what he must have, being a neccessity. Besides being necessary for drinking and staying hydrated, it is also necessary for cleanliness, and without cleanliness, one is not safe from filth and from disease.

When man looked for a place to settle down, to make a permanent home, and to build a community, it was necessary to select a well-watered site. A land with many rivers and streams, and with plentiful underground springs and fountains, was of course highly valued. In areas where rainfall and underground water were lacking, people created "cisterns" to hold and preserve the precious water.

A man who had his own fountain or bubbling spring had no need for a system of collecting or saving it. He had a steady supply. Also, a man who had a natural spring of water always had fresh running water. "Running" water is always to be preferred over non-flowing water, or water stored in cisterns.

Who, in their right mind, would choose a cistern over a bubbling fountain? No one, of course. But, the sinner, in his depravity and rebellion against his Maker, in his spiritual stupidity, is not "in his right mind." He needs, like the demoniac of Gadara, to be put "in his right mind" by the Lord. (Mark 5: 15 & Luke 8: 35)

Further, in choosing a cistern over a fountain, who would opt for a "broken" or a leaking cistern, one that can "hold no water"? If a man thinks he has no choice, that he lives in an area where there is little or no water, and that he must, therefore, build cisterns, then he ought to move to a better place. Who, but the fool, chooses the desert over the oasis?

Spiritually speaking, who would choose to live in the desert? Yet, this is exactly what the sinner does in his choice to live in sin. He lives, in his heart, mind, and in his daily life, in a spiritual desert place of desolation, a place where there is "no water" for his soul. That is why the sinner finds no lasting "satisfaction" in his sins, for those carnal "springs" soon "dry up" and leave the sinner parched and "ready to perish" with thirst. (See Luke 15: 17)

It is because this deed and choice are so evil and foolish that Lord God calls it all "astonishing" and what ought to provoke fear and what will surely bring "desolation."

The "two evils" or the "double crime" of the Israelites lay in their "forsaking" God their "living fountain" and choosing instead the "broken cisterns" of their false gods and religion. This choice involved refusing God and in accepting what is false and ruinous. To not take advantage of a ready fountain, when one needs water, is a foolish act. To go further and drink from a broken cistern, from a stagnate source of water, is even greater folly. Yet, this is a perfect picture of the folly of man in rejecting his Creator and replacing him with other gods.

"Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst," He told her. "But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:14)

Being "saved" by the Lord first involves the transformation of the soul, heart, and mind. The first experience of salvation is described as "drinking" in God, or the "water of life." As man's lost condition is due to his hewing out his own mental cisterns of falsehood, so his salvation is due to his forsaking those cisterns and in availing oneself of the fountain of living truth.

Every man drinks water, and from some source. This is true with ordinary water for the body, but it is also true for the supernatural water of God's truth and of his presence in the soul.

God is the "fountain of living waters" and to come to him for a source of water, in order to drink in God, Christ, and salvation, and in order to be clean, is to find eternal life.

Lord God is no "cistern." Cisterns are man-made devices, but fountains and springs and naturally occurring wells, are divine creations. The truth about God and salvation is a fountain, but the devil's errors are "cisterns" or "cesspools" of falsehoods.

Religious falsehoods, like all erroneous propositions, philosophical or otherwise, are theoretical systems that "can hold no water." We even use that expression when referring to unsound or invalid propositions, saying of them individually, "that won't hold water," or in other words, "that is a broken cistern," it having all kinds of "holes" or "leaks" in it, and cannot, therefore, be the truth, for truth is ever consistent, without contradiction, or "holds water," or as Jesus said, "the word of God cannot be broken." (John 10: 35)

"Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions." (Ecclesiastes 7: 29 KJV)

"But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." (Matthew 15: 9 KJV)

"Has a nation ever changed its gods? (Yet they are not gods at all.) But my people have exchanged their Glory for worthless idols." (Jeremiah 2: 11 KJV)

These verses speak of a foolish and evil "exchange," wherein people reject God and his word as a source of life and refreshment, and of healing and cleansing, and substitute in his place, and in the place of his word, their own self-made gods and religious view of things, with their own "inventions," all which are designed to justify and condone, or sanction, his evil way of life and to make him feel good in his sins.

The woman at the well of Jacob, in John 4, was offered drink of that water which would so quench her thirst that she would "never have to drink again."

That water is not ordinary water, but extraordianary "living water." Also, the drinking in of this water would be "in her as a fountain of water," not as a cistern, and would remain in her as a bubbling spring, which would be continuaully "springing up into everlasting life" within her. The water in her would never become stagnant or dry up. Her heart and soul would never be a desert parched place again, but an oasis where God is the "living fountain" of life, joy, peace, and salvation.

All men thirst in their souls, but all do not thirst for the truth, or for the one living and true God. They are thirsty for sin and falsehood. Yet, they discover, at times, how the waters of carnal delight are polluted waters held in a broken cistern.

"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money, come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend money for what is not bread, And your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good, And let your soul delight itself in abundance....Hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you." (Isaiah 55:1-3)

"If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink," said Jesus. "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water." (John 7:37-39)

"And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Rev. 22:17)

Christ is that glorious "fountain of living water," where the soul may drink, be forever satisfied. Christ is "living waters" too, a place where the sinner may come and bathe and be cleaned and healed. Jesus is a healing spa, the veritable fountain of youth, the source of eternal life. Sinners are called to forsake their cisterns and come to the healing waters, to God and Christ, to the gospel, and to the way of truth and righteousness.

"Israel then shall dwell in safety alone: the fountain of Jacob shall be upon a land of corn and wine; also his heavens shall drop down dew." (Deuteronomy 33: 28 KJV)

"For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light." (Psalm 36: 9 KJV)

"The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." (Proverbs 13: 14 KJV)

"The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death." (Proverbs 14: 27 KJV)

These verses identify God and his truth, his law and word, his gospel, as the "fountain of life." When one comes to the fountain of life, he sees light, and departs from the snares of death, and saves his soul.

"A righteous man falling down before the wicked is as a troubled fountain, and a corrupt spring." (Proverbs 25: 26 KJV)

All fountains and springs are not pure or safe to drink nor in which to bathe. Man has within him, naturally, a corrupt fountain of evil. It "spews forth," like a fountain or volcano, its pollutions. This evil fountain needs to be "capped" or "stopped up," and another and better fountain found.

"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled." (Hebrews 12: 15 KJV)

Here again the inner moral corruption within the sinner is viewed as a polluted fountain, one that bubbles up evil thoughts and passions. This polluted fountain needs to be regularly "capped," while the fountain of God ought to be uncapped and opened up.

"Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh." (James 3: 10, 11 KJV)

Notice the verbs used for this spewing or springing up of water, the words proceeding, and sending forth, and yield. A man may have more than one inner fountain, but each cannot spew forth both clean and unclean water. Each has its own source, clean water, or good words and deeds, come from the fountain of the Spirit, the fountain of living waters, while that which is sinful and morally corrrupt springs from the sinful nature.

"The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook." (Proverbs 18: 4 KJV)

Rather than having a mouth be a corrupt fountain, spewing forth cursing and bitterness, and falsehoods, it ought to spew forth truth and wisdom and godliness. The mouth that speaks correctly about Jesus and the Father, and that proclaims the gospel, is such a blessed fountain!

"In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness." (Zechariah 13: 1 KJV)

This is a fountain of blood, a spa not of mineral water, but of the blood of Jesus, the thing that can wash away sin, and heal the soul of the disease of sin, and remove the spiritual and moral filth that pollutes the mind. This fountain was opened on Calvary, when Christ shed his blood "for the remission (removal) of sins."

"All my springs are in thee." (Psalm 87: 7 KJV)

What a lovely thought! One that the Christian knows by gracious experience. He looks to God as a fountain and as a gushing spring! He finds refreshment in God, and healing of soul and mind. He finds in God the source of everything good.

"Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern." (Ecclesiastes 12: 6 KJV)

One fountain that all men have from God is their physcial hearts, the organ that pumps the life blood to all parts of the body. The "breaking" of the "fountain" is probably an allusion to a heart attack of some kind. But, there are also the spiritual or emotional "breaking" of hearts also. The physical heart is a pump, well spring, or fountain. So we read of a woman in the gospels who's "fountain (heart) of her blood" was defective or "dried up." (Mark 5: 29 KJV)

"Drink waters out of thine own cistern, and running waters out of thine own well. Let thy fountains be dispersed abroad, and rivers of waters in the streets. Let them be only thine own, and not strangers' with thee. Let thy fountain be blessed: and rejoice with the wife of thy youth." (Proverbs 5: 15-18 KJV)

A man's wife is here called his cistern, well, or fountain. It is called a "blessed fountain." It bubbles up blessings, refreshments and joys of all kinds. We are told that a "good wife is of the Lord" and whoever "finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor of the Lord." (Proverbs 18: 22 KJV)

Thus, here are two fountains or springs that are good and beneficial to men, and which have graciously come from God. Truly, all our blessed fountains and springs of joy are from the Lord.

"A garden inclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed...A fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon." (Song of Solomon 4: 12, 15 KJV)

Verse twelve refers to the church, or bride of Christ, while verse fifteen refers to Christ. Christ is the fountain of living waters, the well from which the believer "draws" refreshement and strength. Oftentimes, however, the fountain within her is often "sealed" or "shut up," and she must needs cry out to the Lord to open to her all her closed and capped fountains.

"And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noon day: And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not." (Isaiah 58: 10, 11 KJV)

What a precious promise given to every wayward sinner! He is called upon simply to repent of his sins, and to forsake them, and to live for the Lord. He is promised many great blessings, including finding in God the source or spring of all his comforts.

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that the mountains shall drop down new wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the rivers of Judah shall flow with waters, and a fountain shall come forth out of the house of the LORD, and shall water the valley of Shittim." (Joel 3: 18 KJV)

"They shall not hunger nor thirst; neither shall the heat nor sun smite them: for he that hath mercy on them shall lead them, even by the springs of water shall he guide them." (Isaiah 49: 10 KJV)

"They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes." (Revelation 7: 16, 17 KJV)

"Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters." (Revelation 14: 7 KJV)

"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely." (Revelation 21: 6 KJV)

Yes, all our springs are in the Lord, both now and in the glorious future. He has manifold fountains for his people to enjoy!

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." (Isaiah 12: 2, 3 KJV)

Oh the "joy" of drinking of this well of salvation! This gushing living fountain that gives the "water of life"!

"These are wells without water, clouds that are carried with a tempest; to whom the mist of darkness is reserved for ever." (II Peter 2: 17 KJV)

A man without God, without Christ and salvation, without truth, is a man who, spiritually speaking, is either a corrupt fountain or a dried up well. What vivid and fitting metaphors! The believer, on the other hand, is one who has himself become a living fountain, possessing and bubbling up the water of life.

"He opened the rock, and the waters gushed out; they ran in the dry places like a river." (Psalm 105: 31 KJV)

"Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters." (Psalm 114: 8 KJV)

Friend, of what kind of fountain are you drinking? I call upon you to trust in the living God to open up pure fountains of living water for your soul. I urge you to come to the fountain of Christ's blood, where you may wash and be clean.

Spiritual Refreshment

2008-07-11T09:41:00.002-04:00

Evening Scripture Reading

"You gave abundant showers, O God; you refreshed your weary inheritance." (Psalm 68: 9 NIV)

"A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed." (Proverbs 11: 25 NIV)

"Like the coolness of snow at harvest time is a trustworthy messenger to those who send him; he refreshes the spirit of his masters." (Proverbs 25: 13 NIV)

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord." (Acts 3: 19 NIV)

God's Image

2008-07-10T22:52:00.002-04:00

Morning Bible Study Lesson

"Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let them rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, over all the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1: 26, 27 NIV)

What does God look like? If we know this, we will be able to recognize any pictures, likenesses, or images of him.

"And ye came near and stood under the mountain; and the mountain burned with fire unto the midst of heaven, with darkness, clouds, and thick darkness. And the LORD spake unto you out of the midst of the fire: ye heard the voice of the words, but saw no similitude; only ye heard a voice. And he declared unto you his covenant, which he commanded you to perform, even ten commandments; and he wrote them upon two tables of stone. And the LORD commanded me at that time to teach you statutes and judgments, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go over to possess it. Take ye therefore good heed unto yourselves; for ye saw no manner of similitude on the day that the LORD spake unto you in Horeb out of the midst of the fire: Lest ye corrupt yourselves, and make you a graven image, the similitude of any figure, the likeness of male or female, The likeness of any beast that is on the earth, the likeness of any winged fowl that flieth in the air, The likeness of any thing that creepeth on the ground, the likeness of any fish that is in the waters beneath the earth: And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven." (Deuteronomy 4: 11-19 KJV)

God has no "form," nor "body" or "shape," nor "similitude." He is pure Spirit, as Jesus said. (John 4: 24) Spirit, said Jesus, does "not have flesh and bone." (Luke 24: 39) God has essentially, therefore, no physical appearance.

God is "invisible." He has no material visibility. (I Timothy 1: 17 & Hebrews 11: 27) Wrote John:

"No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him." (John 1: 18 NKJV)

If God is invisible and cannot be "seen," then why does the Lord Jesus say that the "pure in heart will see God"? (Matthew 5: 8 KJV) And why do the scriptures say men will "see God face to face"?

"And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads." (Revelation 22: 3, 4 KJV)

And, why do the scriptures say that Moses "saw" the Lord?

"By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible." (Hebrews 11: 27 NIV)

Though God is "invisible" Spirit, yet he may make "appearances" to the eyes, in various forms, though he did not do so while appearing to the Israelites on Mt. Sinai. There he appeared in no form or likeness. Later, however, when appearing to Moses, he would appear first in a "burning bush," and then later in some other glorious manner, when he spoke to Moses "face to face."

Other times he would appear to other patriarchs in human form, as an angelic man, and then later to the prophets in various manners. To Ezekiel the Lord made an appearing, manifesting his presence in a glorious manner.

"To the Israelites the glory of the LORD looked like a consuming fire on top of the mountain." (Exodus 24: 17 NIV)

The writer to the Hebrews seems to refer to this appearance of God, saying "our God is a consuming fire." (Hebrews 12: 29) Moses too wrote:

"For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God." (Deuteronomy 4: 24 KJV)

"Understand therefore this day, that the LORD thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the LORD hath said unto thee." (9: 3)

"And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed." (Exodus 3: 2 KJV)

God is not fire, but fire is one of the ways in which God has manifested his "presence." God is like fire, as he is like wind, being Spirit.

"Then the woman went to her husband and told him, "A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome." (Judges 13: 6 NIV)

Awesomeness is a quality of the divine being and presence. This awesomeness is peculiar to the "divine nature," and is what is shared by glorified men and angels. The "divine nature" is glorious, beautiful, and spectacular. The "sight" of God's being and radiant glory fills the soul with awe, fear, and wonder and amazement. There is a "brilliancy" to the divine presence, when it is manifested, such that dazzles the eye.

"He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods." (Daniel 3: 25 NIV)

Who was this "fourth man" in the fire? It was no man, but an angel of God, perhaps even Christ himself, in one of his pre-incarnate appearances. Notice how there is a "likeness" to heavenly and divine beings, an image that is awesome and beatific.

"...saw his face as it had been the face of an angel." (Acts 6: 15)

"Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. When I saw it, I fell facedown, and I heard the voice of one speaking." (Ezekiel 1: 26-28 NIV)

This was either a description of some holy angel or of Christ, who is styled in scripture "the Angel of the Lord" and the "angel of his presence." and the "angel (messenger" of the covenant." (Isaiah 63: 9 & Malachi 3: 1) Notice how the divine presence is described as being fire, and glowing molten metal, and a brilliant rainbow of shining glory.

"And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy. And he said, Thou canst not see my face: for there shall no man see me, and live. And the LORD said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock: And it shall come to pass, while my glory passeth by, that I will put thee in a clift of the rock, and will cover thee with my hand while I pass by: And I will take away mine hand, and thou shalt see my back parts: but my face shall not be seen." (Exodus 33: 14-23 KJV)

Moses was not granted a full revelation of the "glory" of the "presence" and "face" of God. Rather, he was granted a limited vision, seeing only the "back parts" of God, his lessor glory. Such a full revelation Moses could not receive, for these greater revelations were reserved for those under the New Covenant and for the glorified and resurrected saints.

"Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God." (Exodus 3: 6 KJV)

Moses had apparently been strengthened in his courage and confidence with the Lord between chapters 3 and 33. He went from being afraid to look upon the Lord to greatly desiring to see his "face."

Further, from the teaching of the New Testament, it is clear that Christ, the Son of God, the one who was known in the Old Testament as the "Angel of Jehovah," is the "face", and "glory," and "presence" of God. (See II Corinthians 4: 6 & James 2: 1)

A man has his "natural face" (James 1: 23), the face of his body, but he also, by implication, has a "face" to his soul.

"And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." (Genesis 32: 24-30 KJV)

God is so awesome, and his presence so spectacular, that the experience drains mortal men of all their life. Men must be equipped and qualified to behold God in the plenitude of his glory. Jacob and Moses survived it, but they did not see the fulness of God's glory, and were both divinely enabled.

"As I looked, "thrones were set in place, and the Ancient of Days took his seat. His clothing was as white as snow; the hair of his head was white like wool. His throne was flaming with fire, and its wheels were all ablaze. A river of fire was flowing, coming out from before him. Thousands upon thousands attended him; ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him." (Daniel 7: 9, 10 NIV)

Again, this is but one vision of God in his relation to the coming Day of Judgment and is not to be taken literally as expressing his complete likeness. It is a visible representation of the invisible God, yea, of Christ, the Son of God and coming Judge and King.

God is not so much "seen" with the physical eyes but with the "eyes of the soul," with the "eyes of the understanding." (Ephesians 1: 18 KJV) The ancients called this man's "third eye," his ability to see in spirit the things of the realm of spirit. He is not seen corporeally, but mentally or intellectually; nor is he "seen" in his essence, but rather in his works of creation and providence. He is also not seen immediately, but mediately in and through Christ. Moses saw Christ visionally, and symbolically in the bush and in the consuming fire, and prophets and holy men saw him by faith, and with the eyes of their understanding.

It is therefore impossible to make an image, picture, or likeness of him, and to attempt to do so, is a direct violation of his expressed will, and a degradation to him. The only place to have an "image" of God is to have it in one's mind and understanding. Men have "mental images" of God, and they may be true and accurate or false.

The word imagination involves seeing "images" in the mind. What is our mental image of God? When the gospel and truth is preached and taught, false images of God are "cast down" while correct images of God are acquired. (II Corinthians 10: 5)

This is not to say that there are absolutely no images or likenesses of God, however. The above words say that God made man in his image and likeness. Thus, man, pristine man, is a picture of divinity.

But, it is not the physical being of man that resembles the divine being, but his spiritual, moral, and rational being, or in his soul and mind that resembles deity.

Yes, man is the only animal that walks erect, on two feet. Man is therefore physically "upright." Indirectly, therefore, does the physical body depict deity, for "uprightness" is a metaphor for being righteous and obedient.

"Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all." (Colossians 3: 9-11 NIV)

"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." (Ephesians 4: 22-24 NIV)

These verses define what it means for man to be made in the "likeness" and "image" of God. The "image" of the Creator is reflected or mirrored in the soul or mind of man, the place where he entertains his ideas and images about God. It is in knowledge, and righteousness, and holiness, that man most is "like" God.

The "old self" or "old man" is debased in his knowledge of God and divine things. The "new self" or "new man" is "renewed," however, in his knowledge and understanding of God, truth, and righteousness. The old self is unlike God because it is sinful, not righteous, and not holy, while the new self is like God in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness.

"To whom, then, will you compare God? What image will you compare him to?" (Isaiah 40: 18 NIV)

God is beyond description, so why would men attempt to make an image of him? How could man do better than God himself, who made man and angel to be an image or likeness of him?

"Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone—an image made by man's design and skill." (Acts17: 29 NIV)

"Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles. Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another." (Romans 1: 22-24 NIV)

Thus, idolatry is a most heinous crime against God. No creature could possibly be an "image" of God.

"The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God." (II Corinthians 4: 4 NIV)

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him." (Colossians 1: 15, 16 NIV)

"Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high..." (Hebrews 1: 3 KJV)

These verses tell us the the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the only full and "express image" of God. The face of Christ is the face of God. The glory of Christ is the glory of God. The likeness of Christ is the very likeness of God.

"Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us. Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father? Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works." (John 14: 8-10 KJV)

Christ being the "express image" of God, he could properly say, "he who has seen me has seen the Father." He looked like his Father, the perfect image of him. You cannot tell them apart.

"And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven." (I Corinthians 15: 49 NIV)

"For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." (Romans 8: 29 NIV)

Believers are predestined to be "conformed to the image of Christ," the "man from heaven." They will then "bear the image of the heavenly," rather than the earthly.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is...This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; nor is anyone who does not love his brother." (I John 3: 1,2, 10 NIV)

Children are the "images" of their parents. One can see the faces of parents in the faces of their offspring. So too with the children of God. In becoming his children by spiritual birth, they take on the nature and likeness of God.

"...and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since they are children of the resurrection." (Luke 20: 36 NIV)

To become fully "like God" as his children, he must be "renewed in knowledge" and in understanding of God, and must be made righteous and holy in Christ, and must be made immortal. Believers have now become God's people in spirit, though not in body, not yet fully, and will not become such till the resurrection of the body.

"The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." (Romans 8: 16 NIV)

"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children." (Ephesians 5: 1 NIV)

"...so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe." (Philippians 2: 15 NIV)

"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Matthew 5: 44, 45 NIV)

Those who are "conformed to the image of Christ" are they who have come to a true and saving knowledge of God, who have been made righteous and holy in Christ, and who are therefore "blameless" and "pure" and destined to shining glory. They are people who love.

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (II Corinthians 3: 18 NIV)

"On that day the LORD will shield those who live in Jerusalem, so that the feeblest among them will be like David, and the house of David will be like God, like the Angel of the LORD going before them." (Zechariah 12: 8 NIV)

Those who will behold with faith and love the beauty and glory of Christ are they who even now are being transformed into the image of God. When this transformation is complete, then the children of God will be "like God" and "like the Angel of the Lord," that is, like Christ.

Lasting Beauty?

2008-07-10T10:54:00.004-04:00

Evening Scripture Reading

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." (I Peter 3: 3, 4 NIV)

"For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich man will fade away even while he goes about his business." (James 1: 11 NIV)

"Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim's drunkards, to the fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley—to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine!..That fading flower, his glorious beauty, set on the head of a fertile valley, will be like a fig ripe before harvest—as soon as someone sees it and takes it in his hand, he swallows it." (Isaiah 28: 1, 4 NIV)

Sound The Alarm!

2008-07-09T22:40:00.002-04:00

Morning Bible Study Lesson

"Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the LORD cometh, for [it is] nigh at hand; A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, [even] to the years of many generations." (Joel 2:1,2)

Alarms are of such value to us today. We have alarm clocks, fire alarms, burglar alarms, and all kinds of high tech alarm systems, all designed to either "wake up" one from sleep or to "detect" dangers. They are designed to "give warning," so that one might thereby be "alerted" and escape threatening dangers. "Sirens" are also a kind of "alarm," used to alert of tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, and other perils.

Alarms are meant to save and preserve life, to aid in preparation against possible loss. Thankfully Lord God has his ways to alarm and alert people! Lord God has given instruments of alarm, men who "sound" the alarm, who metaphorically "blow the trumpet" and are "sirens" for the truth, all in order to give "alert" and to alarm the unconverted and the spiritually and morally careless.

We ought to know when we should become "alarmed" and when we ought not to become alarmed. We are often alarmed when we have no reason to be. On the other hand, we are also often not alarmed when we ought to be alarmed.

It is a balancing act! This trying to "sound an alarm" about real dangers without appearing to be "Chicken Little" or guilty of "crying wolf," or of being an "alarmist." But, there are indeed serious and real dangers about which all surely need to be urgently and regularly warned.

Sin, evil, guilt, death, pain, sorrow, Satan and evil spirits, and the coming judgment of God, are things that ought to alarm all. These things ought, in themselves, to "alert" all of the seriousness of these pressing "dangers" and to heed the "warnings" and "alarms" given of the Lord.

"By them (God's oracles) is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward." (Psalm 19: 11 NIV)

The Scriptures are filled with warnings! If we took all these scriptures and put them together, we would be saying to sinners, to ourselves, in our modern vernacular, -- Be on the alert! Watch out! Be careful! Warning! Danger! Look out! Beware! Caution! Attention! Be on the alert! Keep your wits about you! Be circumspect!

The intent of all these imperatives is to spur us to become more "alert," more "on guard," more "careful." They can scarcely be uttered or written without the exclamation mark (!), for urgency is integral to such warnings. Sinners also are in a desperate "emergency" situation, and to delay heeding God's warnings increase one's odds of being destroyed.

"From the time I brought your forefathers up from Egypt until today, I warned them again and again, saying, "Obey me."" (Jeremiah 11: 7 NIV)

Obviously the thing warned against is "disobedience" and "rebellion" against the Lord. We need to always be telling ourselves to "be careful"; And, not simply careful about driving our cars or doing some physically dangerous work. Rather, it ought to be a constant warning echoed in our spiritual ears about dangers to our souls as well. Notice how Lord God is the one who is giving warning. He is personally involved in the work. He has been faithful in giving out his warnings.

"In every case that comes before you from your fellow countrymen who live in the cities—whether bloodshed or other concerns of the law, commands, decrees or ordinances—you are to warn them not to sin against the LORD; otherwise his wrath will come on you and your brothers. Do this, and you will not sin." (II Chronicles 19: 10 NIV)

God "warns" by various means. His word is the chief means. Those who preach and teach God's word and relate the warnings of God to others, are those who God uses to that end. All good leaders are they who have foresight of perils and who are able to give good warning. "Ministers of the word of the Lord" are they who warn sinners about "sinning against the Lord."

"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. "Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself." (Ezekiel 3: 17-21 NIV - See also 33: 5-9)

"Do this and you will not sin" demonstrates that it is a sin to not give warning. God is bolder through Ezekiel about this matter. Those who fail to warn others of the dangers they see are accountable to the Lord for their failure and manifest their own unbelief, and of their doubt about the seriousness and reality of the dangers.

"You warned them to return to your law, but they became arrogant and disobeyed your commands. They sinned against your ordinances, by which a man will live if he obeys them. Stubbornly they turned their backs on you, became stiff-necked and refused to listen...Our kings, our leaders, our priests and our fathers did not follow your law; they did not pay attention to your commands or the warnings you gave them." (Nehemiah 9: 29, 34 NIV)

It is easy to go to sleep in this regard, to become careless, to get a false sense of safety and security, and fail therefore to "take warning" when it is given. We ought to be in the warning business, especially as the people of God. We both receive and give warning.

"I warned you when you felt secure, but you said, 'I will not listen!' This has been your way from your youth; you have not obeyed me." (Jeremiah 22: 21 NIV)

How many warnings have parents given to their children! Is God not a "father"? Has he not warned all since the world began? Did he not warn the antediluvians through the preaching of Noah, God's "watchman"? Those wicked sinners were all warned at a time when they had a "false sense of security" and "felt secure," when they were all crying "peace, peace, when there is no peace." God also warned the inhabitants of Sodom also at a time when she "felt secure." (See Ezekiel 16: 16) Again, notice how God is a faithful watchman who has never failed to give warning to sinners.

"To whom can I speak and give warning? Who will listen to me? Their ears are closed so they cannot hear. The word of the LORD is offensive to them; they find no pleasure in it." (Jeremiah 6: 10 NIV)

How many have died or been severely harmed by "not listening" to the words of warning! What makes people so careless? Why do some people "live dangerously"? Especially in spiritual and moral matters? Why do they "live on the edge" of danger? Part of the answer is given in the words of above. They are deaf! They have "closed their ears"! They are like a man who sets his alarm clock to wake up but muffles his ears before he goes to bed! The reason also lies in the fact that they despise and disbelieve the watchman, and reject his words, and "find no pleasure in the word of the Lord."

"So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled." (I Thessalonians 5: 6 NIV)

"Let us be alert"! Let us take heed to the "alarms" sounded by the Lord through his word. Let us not hinder our ability to hear the warnings, for then they will do no good. The alarm of God is now sounding and it is not time to sleep or to be careless, but a time to wake up and be prepared. Notice how the apostle connects being "alert," warned, or "alarmed," with "self-control" or "continence."

"Be sober, be vigilant, for your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour." (I Peter 5:8 KJV)

Certainly the words "be careful" apply to anyone who is in a jungle with lions all around, all hungry and looking for food! Christians, like men in the midst of perils, have all their energies engaged in "watching" and in "preparation" for possible harms and dangers. In this world, they are like soldiers in war and who are constantly "on alert."

"So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears." (Acts 20: 31 NIV)

Paul was, like Ezekiel, like Christ, yea, like God himself, a faithful herald of warnings, a faithful watchman upon the wall, one who did not fail to give warning upon every occasion to every soul. It is done earnestly and fervently, with pleading, with urgency, with strong cries and yells for the careless to wake up to the impending dangers about them.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

"See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm (alertness), what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter." (II Cor.7:11 NIV)

There are lots of areas in our Christian lives where we need to be constantly warned and thanks be to God for those faithful watchmen who give out their fervent warnings, yea, even blowing loudly upon the trumpet of truth, of scripture. We need to learn to be "alert," like men in war, who are expecting imminent attack, and who are appropriately "on alert."

"In my alarm I said, "I am cut off from your sight!" Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help." (Psalm 31: 22 NIV)

Even the Lord's people, who trust in the Lord and believe his word, have their times when they become alarmed due to lack of faith and understanding of their alarming situations. They need to be told that they have little or no cause for alarm.

"You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come." (Matthew 24: 6 NIV)

"Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." (Mark 13: 33 NIV)

See how Jesus sought to remove all causes for alarm in the hearts of his people! How he exhorted and encouraged them, assuring them that with them it would "all be well," as it is promised to be for the "righteous."

"As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. "Don't be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him." (Mark 16: 5, 6 NIV)

He is risen! He is victorious over death and its awful curse! No more reason to be alarmed about death and judgment! Jesus assures the believer and tells him that he has no reason to be alarmed. Others do, they however, do not.

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." (Ephesians 6: 18 NIV)

"Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come." (II Thessalonians 2: 1, 2 NIV)

More exhortations against the believer becoming alarmed!

We have been forewarned and alerted to the coming judgment. Are you ready to stand before the awesome God of Scripture? Have you fled for refuge in Jesus? He is the Rock of Ages, the cleft in which you may hide and be safe. Will you come to him today and be safe?

Escape

2008-07-09T10:42:00.003-04:00

Evening Scripture Reading

"With his mouth the godless destroys his neighbor, but through knowledge the righteous escape." (Proverbs 11: 9 NIV)

"An evil man is trapped by his sinful talk, but a righteous man escapes trouble." (Proverbs 12: 13 NIV)

"You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell?" (Matthew 23: 33 NIV)

"Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man." (Luke 21: 36 NIV)

"While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape." (I Thessalonians 5: 3 NIV)

Humanizing God

2008-07-08T19:15:00.001-04:00

Morning Bible Study Lesson

"...thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes." (Psalm 50:21)

It is clear, from this oracle from Jehovah, that the Psalmist had entertained in his mind some false ideas about God, concerning who he is, what he is like, etc. This error in thinking about God lay in believing that God was "altogether" as the Psalmist.

This is indeed the case with many people -- certainly with all unbelievers, in one degree or another. It is even true with some of the Lord's enlightened people, who also often entertain false notions about God, his nature, and about his attributes and works of creation and providence.

Humanistic conceptions of God are not proper, and represent a "corruption" of the pure truth as it was originally taught to the parents and patriarchs of our race. Although the scriptures use human characteristics in referring to Lord God, yet they assure us that "God is not man."

Though God is said to have body parts, such as arms, legs, ears, nostrils, a tongue, etc., and to have emotions of love, hate, anger, grief, etc., these are not to be taken literally, but are to be understood figuratively or analogically, as "anthropomorphisms" and "anthropopathisms."

We have lost a sense today of God's transcendence, of his "otherness," and of his holiness and uniqueness.

Corrupt and sinful man has made God too much in his own image. He has lowered and debased him, as all idolatry does, thinking of him as if he were a creature.

The idea that God can suffer, feel pain, feel emotion and passion, just as we do, is an error that the historic creeds of Christendom have condemned, affirming rather that God is "without body, parts, or passions." God does not tire, fail, get hungry, go to sleep, or learn anything, as do the pagan deities.

"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19)

"And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent." (I Sam. 15:29)

These verses emphasize the fact that God is not a man, certainly not a sinful man. Creatures are mutable and subject to change, but God is immutable and changes not. Man is weak but God is Almighty. Man is deficient, but God is all sufficient, lacking nothing. Man is bound by limitation, but God knows no limitation. He is infinite while man is finite. Man knows very little, but God knows everything.

"And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men...And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein." (Acts 14: 11, 15 KJV)

Here we see the Hebrew, Christian, and monotheistic faith of Paul and Barnabas coming into contract with the pagan polytheism of the Gentiles. We have the pure truth about God and the nature of God confronting corruption in theology, or in the doctrine of God.

The pagans had reversed things, for rather than seeing the "image" and "likeness" of God in pristine man, they, as corrupt men, had made God in their own corrupt, impotent, foolish, and disgusting "image" and "likeness."

The pagan idolators who wanted to worship Paul and Barnabas wrongly imagined them to be incarnate gods descended from Mt. Olympus. These "gods" were indeed "made in the likeness of sinful men," having frailties, fickle emotions and depraved passions, "gods" and "goddesses" who were no better than those who worshipped them. The true God is very much "unlike" these pagan idol gods who were invented by men who desired to make a "god" in their own corrupt image.

The God of the bible is described in this fashion.

"But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth." (Job 23: 13 KJV)

"In one mind," never altering his plans, nor repenting of his purposes nor of his promises, and one not subject to "passion" as humans and as the mythical gods of Greece and Rome.

Paul and Barnabas called upon these polytheists and idolators to "repent" and to "turn from these vanities" and to turn to the one and only living and true God, and his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. He preached to them "one" Creator, not many creators, as did the idolators, who had one "god" create this thing, and another "god" to create another thing. The same in regard to God as "governer" and "ruler" of the cosmos. Paul and Barnabas preached that there was only one Sovereign Lord God, only one who made and governs all things.

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things." (Romans 1: 18-23 KJV)

What a degrading of Lord God! To make pictures of him in the likeness of men and animals! What a corruption of the "image" of God! Men reject the witnesses God has in the world, witnesses that testify of his excellence, and infinite perfections, and "robbing" him of the "glory" and "honor" he is due.

Paul gives a description of the root problem of all false religion, of all idolatry. Besides denying the oneness of God, they deny his eternity, immutability, omniscience, omnipotence, holiness, infinity and eternity, and his goodness, justice, and righteousness.

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." (Genesis 1: 26 KJV)

This "likeness" to God does not respect the physical body of man, at least not chiefly, but rather respects the higher qualities of man's soul and rational mind, his powers to act morally and to have fellowship with God. (See Colossians 3: 10) Man was originally made to "resemble" and to "reflect" the substance of Deity. Of course, he is not a perfect image, especially not now while in his state of corruption; Only Jesus, the Son of God, is the perfect "image" and "likeness" of God his Father. (See Hebrews 1: 3)

"Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?" (Exodus 15: 11 KJV)

There is none "like" God, none who is "as God." Yes, Michael the archangel, who's name means "he who is as God," resembles the being of God, but again, his likeness is still not comprehensive.

Man is forbidden to make images of God for this is to limit God and to degrade him.

"Take heed unto yourselves, lest ye forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and make you a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God hath forbidden thee." (Deuteronomy 4: 23 KJV)

It can be said that the only lawful images or likenesses of God are such as he made himself. Man was made in the image and likeness of God, but he was made by God himself. Michael too is an image and likeness of God, but he too was created by God. And Jesus too, who, in both his divine and human natures, though in differing degrees, is the very "express image" of his Father.

"Who hath measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, and meted out heaven with the span, and comprehended the dust of the earth in a measure, and weighed the mountains in scales, and the hills in a balance? Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding? Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. And Lebanon is not sufficient to burn, nor the beasts thereof sufficient for a burnt offering. All nations before him are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity. To whom then will ye liken God? or what likeness will ye compare unto him? The workman melteth a graven image, and the goldsmith spreadeth it over with gold, and casteth silver chains. He that is so impoverished that he hath no oblation chooseth a tree that will not rot; he seeketh unto him a cunning workman to prepare a graven image, that shall not be moved. Have ye not known? have ye not heard? hath it not been told you from the beginning? have ye not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in: That bringeth the princes to nothing; he maketh the judges of the earth as vanity. Yea, they shall not be planted; yea, they shall not be sown: yea, their stock shall not take root in the earth: and he shall also blow upon them, and they shall wither, and the whirlwind shall take them away as stubble. To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal? saith the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth. Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the LORD, and my judgment is passed over from my God? Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding." (Isaiah 40: 12-28 KJV)

These verses show that it is utterly impossible to make an image of the invisible God. God is indescribable. How then can he be fully portrayed by an image of wood, stone, gold, or silver?

"Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy." (Micah 7: 18 KJV)

Again, God is incomparable and cannot be comprehended or captured by a picture created by men. No image or likeness created by men could possibly "do justice" to the person and character of God. To attempt to do so is vain and sinful.

"Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars' hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead." (Acts 17: 22-31 KJV)

Men are called to "repent" or to change their minds, beliefs, and attitudes about God. They are to have proper views of his character and person. They are to see him as the lone Creator of all things, the only Ruler, Lawgiver, and Governor of the cosmos. They are to acknowledge his attributes, his excellence, and his surpassing greatness.

"Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews." (John 4: 22 KJV)

To worship God acceptably requires a proper understanding of who God is, of his nature, character, and works. The bible is the only source for this understanding. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is the only one who can reveal him to us.

"Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD." (Jeremiah 9: 23, 24 KJV)

Incomprehensible Deity

2008-07-08T07:17:00.003-04:00

Evening Scripture Reading

"O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!" (Romans 11: 33 KJV)

"Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?" (Job 26: 14 KJV)

"And these are but the outer fringe of his works; how faint the whisper we hear of him! Who then can understand the thunder of his power?" (NIV)

"Who can utter the mighty acts of the LORD? who can shew forth all his praise?" (Psalm 106: 2 KJV)

"How great is God—beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out." (Job 36: 26 NIV)

"God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding." (Job 37: 5 NIV)