The Devotional - 123 - Righteousness verses wickedness

Thought for the Day – 123 – Righteousness verses wickedness

Proverbs 28:28 – The strength of righteousness exceeds the power of the wicked! What? Well… if you are one of the wicked don’t worry since God’s view of you is as that of a dead person – thus righteousness is not applicable to you.

 

Comments and challenges

There will not be a devotional for today; Wednesday August 28, 2013 through September 2, 2013 as we move through the Labor Day holiday. I will pick up in Mark 1:21-28 on Tuesday, in the meantime please have a pleasant and peaceful holiday as the season winds down.

During this time I will seek to establish a link with Biblos.com or Biblestudytools.com that will allow the blog to display the Bible verses that are reference. This will be a helpful tool for all of us. Please pray for wisdom to do this and if you have some helpful hints, that too would be good to know.

Jesse

The Devotional - 122 - Fishers

Thought for the Day – 122 – Fishers

Proverbs 27:18 – This year we were not able to keep the garden, we had good hopes but since being ill and such the garden became over ridden with weeds and bugs. We did manage a small crop and these are a blessing, also God knows our circumstance and we wait for Him. Wait on the LORD and He will direct your path. Proverbs 3:1-10

 

Comments and challenges

It is not easy to start a new system to redesign something that has worked so well for a number of years and what I am talking about is the devotional. Yes there has been some erosion along the way, the earlier search tools and Bible verse “pop ups” have fallen away, but daily I seek to find new ways to regain these abilities. So far I have ran into unsuccessful walls but I am not giving up so if you feel led, please pray that God will direct my path in seeking to resolve this and make the reading of the devotional easier.

Another thing I notice is that my desire to go through a whole book may not be in the best interest for everyone. It seems that as I proceed to study verse by verse which is not really a problem for me (I enjoy it) but it is time consuming to search out various available or not so available commentaries and other biblical references that by the time it takes me to finish a normal topical look at the Book that I am well past the time that I can allot to these mornings. People wait too long for the devotional to come out and I get a late start on my day.

The gospel of Mark; that is as much as I have looked into it is a blessing and I know that to continue a topical study would be just as full of blessings and this is the root of the matter, is it not? Full of blessings and life which is another pursuit of living in Christ; let me explain! One look around in this world of ours will point the casual observer to SIN and DEATH. Pick up any newspaper, read any secular book, open any magazine at the doctor’s office, read any secular pamphlet, watch any commercial, news program or television show and you are immediately surrounded by death and despair of LIFE.

Yet and again, pick up any of these same articles of information that are spiritually motivated and biblically correct and you are immediately surrounded by the joy of living, of mercy and grace, of peace and goodness. All focused on the Living God who in eternity plans for LIFE. As Mark 1:14 says that: Jesus cane “Preaching the gospel of God” we live in the fullness of these times and we as believers of this TRUTH should be so excited. You and I have the ONLY message of LIFE. I do not know if you can wrap the fingers of your soul around this TRUTH or not, but I do know this! On the day you were saved your SOUL did rejoice because you BELIEVED.

Now in these days our salvation is NEARER than when we first believed; for one we are OLDER, for two we should be WISER and as I seek to cling to Mark’s gospel I am reminded of a few interesting thoughts I have about Marks observations of the selection of those who will follow Jesus. Mark 1:17 – Come after me and I will make you become fishers of men. Wow ~ Are you a fisher of those who do not know that the kingdom of God is at hand? If we are “believers in Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God, then YOU are.

Now of course some of us say things like; “I can’t talk to people about faith!” or “No one listens to me” or “In today’s world? Are you kidding me!” well let’s back up a little! What about the day you “believed” yes that moment when joy entered your soul like nothing ever did before? “I know, some of you are saying also.” Well, yes I remember but I do not have that joy now! “Oh but contraire my brother or sister” you may not be experiencing that joy, but you do have it. Galatians 5:22 a passage you no doubt have committed to memory says.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is; love, JOY, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”. Now don’t say “well I can’t have that all the time… I am human you know?” Yes but the attributes of the Spirit filled life are supernatural… not natural! Of course some will want to say that I am talking about perfection in the Spirit or some sort of mystical nonsense but I am not. Mark’s gospel is in harmony with the other gospels as we readily note that Jesus Christ and coinciding with His baptism is filled with the Spirit of God. John 1:29-34.

During the ministry of Jesus at that moment in time until Acts 2:1-4 when the Spirit of God returned to earth after the ascension of Jesus; Jesus was the only ONE who had the indwelling Holy Spirit. If you search in the gospels you will not find another; only Jesus. When we are in church we are among the brethren and until the church ascends into heaven we are walking about in the world; we are often the only Spirit filled and alive individual in the midst of an unspiritual and dead community. So this is the way that I perceive things. By being human (and guess what we are) we interact with friends, neighbors and relatives all day long.

 

If these folks are going to lay down their nets of sin and death, then they need to see a reason to lay these things down. They need to see what a real Spirit filled believer looks like. Mark 1:16-20. These men knew Jesus the man before that day, some say and I agree that they were already had some knowledge of his claims, but now they see Him in the light of the fulfillment of prophesy and Good News. Knowing that Jesus is a descendent of Jesse and believing that He is the Messiah and now seeing that the Spirit of the LORD is with Him, these new disciples of Jesus lay down their worldly possessions and follow Him. The BRANCH in whom the Spirit of LORD rests; the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge and fear, Isaiah 11:1-2.

If faith is to grow and it will, then we need to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of faith, who for the JOY that was placed before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. This is the only way to become His disciples, how is that? Through the disciplines of hearing and learning to live in the Spirit. Hebrews 12:1-11. The joy of living in Christ is set before us, all we need to do is to pick up the cross and follow after Him, Mark 8:34.

 

The Devotional - 121- Temptation

Thought for the Day – 121 – Temptation

 

Proverbs 26:17 - When people are quarreling, I always want to step in and help. The problem is that I might not know who the victim is! Even so; victim or culprit both can attack like a mad dog.

 

Comments and challenges

 

There are many people who read these devotionals who do not believe that Satan exists; just let me say that when I think of how to deal with this I just want to cry. Since denying the existence of Satan would seem to be clever it is actually - stupid; since those who do, deny a large percentage of the Holy Bible. These folks in their clever thoughts also deny the One who they say does exist and in doing so call Him a liar. 1 John 2:3-11 and note Luke 22:31-34.

 

In Matthew 4:1-17 and in Luke 4:1-13 we have an account of Satan’s plan to defeat God on earth, but let’s not make a mistake; this is not Satan’s first attempt. At the beginning and throughout the Patriarchal Dispensation; the Jewish Dispensation and the Church Age Dispensation; Satan has led the way of sin and death. His army of devils and his unbelieving community of humans are on a violent rampage of evil, thus Satan and his war against God is visible in every moment of time.

 

We should not believe that Mark is any less concerned about the effects of Satan in the world or of the temptation that was placed upon the LORD Jesus Christ. Mark as we know is seeking to cover a lot of information quickly; sort of a topical view, much like an evangelist might. In fact; Mark is referred to by some commentators as an evangelist. It is not recorded anywhere in scripture that he was and we need to be careful and not seek to identify him other than a man who came to believing faith just as you or I might; that is, by the study of convicting Truth and observation. Also, he is seen in the book of Acts as a spiritual aide, assistant or servant. Acts 13:4-12. Even to say that Mark was an apostle would also present a false truth; scripture does not provide that information even though one of the prerequisites for being an apostle was to have seen the LORD Jesus in person; as Mark did, but note; that Mark was not chosen with the twelve disciples. Luke 6:12-16.

 

So Mark a servant has studied the scriptures and He has at least one and possibly two New Testament writings to study; the Gospel of Matthew and the Epistle of James as many believe that James the half-brother of Jesus wrote before the Pauline Epistles since there is no reference to grace in the epistle of James. Thus Mark is qualifying the deity of Jesus Christ as the Son of God and the three major events in the life of Jesus Christ to begin the ministry that will place Jesus Christ on the Cross three years and a few months from the statement of Jesus Christ that Mark records in Mark 1:15

 

These events are (1) John the Baptizer comes on the scene preaching water baptism because of remission of sin (2) Jesus is baptized by John; Matthew 3:1-17 and John 1:29-34 (3) Jesus is tempted by Satan Matthew 4:1-17 and Luke 4:1-13 and (4) we see in Mark 1:14-15 what Luke’s gospel records in Luke 4:16-27; especially verse 21.

 

There is a lot of reading for you here today so I think I will move on for another day.

The Devotional - 120 - Fulfillment

Thought for the Day – 120 – John Mark

Proverbs 23 – Over seventy seven times Solomon says “DO NOT” in the Book of Proverbs; in all we are to be practicing righteousness and promoting justice. Interesting since our national governing standard for “right and wrong” is replaced with; if it feels good “JUST DO IT”!

 

Comments and challenges

The River Jordan flowing from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea is mostly a polluted river these days except for the upper regions near the Sea of Galilee which to this day is still kept clear and pristine for baptisms. I find this interesting in that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee to John to be baptized by him. Just a thought of how creation demonstrates the glory of God. The Sea of Galilee demonstrates abundant life. Baptism is a picture of identification with the Abundant Life of God by believing in Jesus. As the waters of the river move down stream pollutions begin to destroy life until all is found dead in the Sea where nothing lives.

One thing we will notice about Mark is that he effectively highlights the Kingdom Authority or deity of Jesus Christ with words like; “You are my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” these are the words of God the Father as the heavens parted and the Spirit of the Living God descended on Jesus at His baptism. Now I do not believe that Mark was there at the baptism of Jesus, but what is important is that He believes what Matthew says in Matthew 3:17 because it is very possible that Mark along with his mom was present later, when Jesus fulfilled what was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet in Matthew 12:15-21 and Isaiah 42:1-4

Mark no doubt understood to the charter of a servant who could have been a servant himself, certainly we see him briefly in this capacity in his association with the apostles as in 2 Timothy 4:11 and in Philemon 1:24 as a fellow laborer. In our world today we would cringe if someone would call us a servant, yet little do we understand in that “most of us are” even those of us who are self-serving. Those who serve themselves have an IMMEDIATE reward, those who IMMEDIATELY serve others will be protected from Satan, the wild beasts of the wilderness and angels will watch over them (1 Peter 1:12).

The straightway message of Mark is that Jesus knew what to do and how to do it. Jesus did not consider the temptation of Satan a threat, or the elements of the world around Him to contend with. He simply let the natural and supernatural world around Him fulfill His mission and needs while He maintained humbled obedience to the Father’s will. Philippians 2:5-11. Please note that the apostle Paul encourages you and me to; “let this mind be in you” who’s mind? The mind of Jesus! Of course, if you do not have the Holy Spirit, this is an impossible task.

There is one more thought for Mark to respond to that sets up his conversation with us about the ministry of Jesus Christ and the kingdom of heaven being with mankind, or as Mark and others put it; “the kingdom of heaven at hand”. The imprisonment of John the baptizer, Matthew 4:12-17 indicates that this is the moment in TIME, a fulfilling moment when the Ministry of Jesus Christ was officially off and running (Galatians 4:4). Mark 1:14-15 and Mark says that it is recorded that Jesus said; “change your mind and believe in the Good News”

The Devotional - 119 - The Baptizer's Messge

Thought for the Day – 119 – The Baptizer's Message

Proverbs 22:3 – We may believe that prude and prudence have something in common, but it is not so; a prude is overly cautious and stands out like a fraud. Prudence on the other hand is like the military man, who sees the enemy and isolates himself until the right moment. So stop being a prude with the Word of God, the punishment can be deadly.

 

Comments and challenges

I think that John Mark was a hyper, a sort of over the top individual; in our medical minded world of Post Hole Diggers (PHD’s) we would brand Mark as A.D.D., or A.D.H.D. and write him off as “challenged” or someone who should ride the “short bus” to school. This cataloging or classifying of our young people today is a shame and most cases a sham simply because many secular parents have no clue about raising children and many doctors who have no children claim they have the “inside straight” on how too. Now don’t take that wrong, I was once a young secular parent; I had no clue who made larger than life mistakes too.

Mark wrote nearly twenty years after Matthew’s gospel, no doubt as he grew up that he had plenty of opportunity to read Matthew’s gospel as a commentary on the life of His Savior and as he compared the life of Jesus with the Scriptures of the Old Testament he begins seeing the connection that the prophets spoke of in the coming of Messiah. For me as I have studied in the truth of Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God; knowledge of Jesus did not come chronologically, I understand the chronological events, but I seldom write in any order.

Also, if you have a reference Bible, you might note the number of times Mark references the gospel of Matthew, but I will take this no further since I believe you get the point in that we sometimes swallow the camel without a “burp” and gag to the point of “up-chucking” over the gnat.

Mark says that John the baptizer came baptizing with a message of repentance; in the NKJV, the KJV and even the NIV state that the baptism is for the remission of sin. Now this is important so take a closer look. The rendering of these words are better translated “because of the remission of sin” not “for”. With God who lives in eternity where time does not exist, all things are completed actions; from Genesis to Revelation God has provided what “was” what “is” and what “is to come” only as the “fullness of time is experienced” do we in time see what God has already done.

How else could John the apostle who wrote his gospel just before his writing of Revelation; circa 85 A.D. say in his opening words. “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the SIN of the world” of course at this time John is at least 45 years beyond the death and resurrection of the LORD, but in a few years future he will be a witness and a writer of the these words of Jesus. “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, says the LORD, which IS, and which WAS, and which is TO COME, the ALMIGHTY. Revelation 1:8

Mark is convinced, just as we should be CONVINCED that the baptism of John the baptizer was sufficient in the remission of sin. How else can it be said? “God hates sin in mankind and He dealt with it by removing IT. The only obstacle that stands between God and mankind is the evil condition of mankind’s heart which is UNBELIEF. Hebrews 3:7-19. Also we should note in the Book of Acts the testimony of the apostle Paul concerning a man named Apollos who only knew the baptism of John the baptizer. Acts 18:24-28.

The Devotional - 118 - John Mark

Thought for the Day – 118 – John Mark

Proverbs 21:1 – Getting past this verse of scripture without thinking about it is like standing in the middle of an intersection during rush hour and not seeing the danger. Yet in our nation today we fail to see that our channels of government are no different than that of Solomon’s day. So why are we not on our knees in prayer to the One who can make changes in justice and righteousness?

 

Comments and challenges

Yesterday when I was in the Gospel of Mark I thought about the number of times I have referenced anything from this small book. No not much was my response; in fact if I am referencing anything from the four gospels it is usually from the gospel of John first, Matthew second and Luke third… Mark; hardly ever, so I thought why is that, can it be because his gospel is shorter than the others, or because he ran from the scene in the garden when the LORD Jesus was being arrested after someone grabbed his clothing. Now I am not alone in this, many “Bible thumpers” avoid the gospel of Mark.

I suppose that are many human elements that stand in the way of this little book, it is not chronological and his gospel is hard to follow as he hurriedly skips from one topic to another, but we should be mindful of this truth. Mark was educated… HE COULD READ AND WRITE! Now I write that boldly because most of the people of his day could not read, nor could they write, so I thought it might be good to take a look as some of the things he had to say about Jesus Christ; The Living Son of The Living God.

The other day I was talking with the pastor of a church and we were discussing the various Bibles available to us these days. He explained that he uses the King James Version in his church and that he had six or seven other translations available on his desk as he studied and this got me to thinking about the number I have. Readily I see four and a Strong’s Concordance. Also available with the touch of the keyboard are all of the translations available through; bibletools.com. I am sure that Mark a disciple of Jesus Christ did not have these resources and he says in his opening words, he had better resources than we have today.

We boast of our technology, Mark, relies on “As it is written in the Prophets: “Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare Your way before You.” “The voice of one crying in the wilderness; Prepare the way of the LORD, Make His paths straight.” Mark 1:2. With this authority, Mark begins his journal of the events of Jesus with the appearance of John the baptizer who came preaching confession of sin and water baptism for remission of sin.

C.I. Scofield says that Mark, also called John Mark was the son of one of the Mary’s that followed Jesus and was a nephew of Barnabas. As we travel through the book and reference the book of Acts we will see the connection of his name to Barnabas and other important information. Like the gospel of John the historical events of both books cover a period of seven years, both the gospels of Matthew and Luke cover 38 years. While the historical events offer different views of Jesus Christ; the Deity, the Person, the Ministry and the Son of God does not.

We also need to know that each of the gospels give an account of Jesus Christ in the four offices He fulfills in His earthly ministry. In Matthew; Jesus is “Covenant King” His birth in Bethlehem the city of David, Micah 5:2. In Mark; Jesus is the Servant King who emptied Himself of deity or the form of God but was in all respects; “the Mighty God” Isaiah 9:6. In Luke; we see Jesus as a human with needs like you and me. Jesus suffers, He is tired, He is hungry and we see His boyhood through His mother’s eyes. However, Luke protects the deity and kingdom of Jesus with Luke 1:32-35 and the apostle John reveals Jesus as the Sacrificial Lamb and Son of God in human flesh. John 1:1-14.

All of this preliminary information is needed; however what I have said is brief. If you have a Scofield Bible or other solid references, take the time to read up on the ministries of these four men, you will be blessed with their knowledge of Jesus Christ. How about you, do you have a strong knowledge of whom you believe in? I have all sorts of books and references but to my shame; most of these books sit on the book shelf gathering old age; the dust is just one of those rewarding hazards that causes a person to sneeze when deciding which one to look into.

The devotional - 117 - The honorable and the foolish

Thought for the Day – 117 – The honorable and the foolish

Proverbs 20-3 – This trait is visible in people daily; the grouping of the gripers in the workplace and the lonely worker at their assigned position. Less striving and more production is honorable, those involved in a quarrelsome moment are branded by the Living Word of God as foolish, so STOP IT!

 

Comments and challenges

If you have spent any time on the oceans of the world you know about the weather; calm and rough seas are within the top ten experiences of life on this planet. During the fourth watch of the night (3am to 6am) is a time for some of the calmest waters for men in a small boat on their way to the other side of a small sea to experience. In the days of the ministry of the LORD Jesus the only way to forecast calm seas was to watch the sunset. Red sunsets are a delight to all sailors, even in today’s technological quagmire. Matthew 16:2-3

Large ocean storms are very dangerous, a small boat would have a better chance of surviving one these, than a small boat on a small sea. The same amount of wind and rain on a small sea causes waves to densely populate and be very high, as the storm approaches and danger intensifies anyone in a small boat; even the seasoned sailor will give in to fear. So this is the scene we find in Mark 6:45:52. Jesus sent his disciples from Capernaum to Bethsaida across the sea a distance of four or five miles.

No one in the boat complained of the sunset of the night before so everyone was expecting a peaceful and pleasant journey. By the will of the LORD the sea was all but calm, the men were not rowing the boat to get to shore; they were rowing against the wind to maintain stability in the water, the shore was just and after though, like I wish we had never left it. Mark 6:48. The imagination runs wild in the midst of a storm as the wind and the water form monstrous images, made up of white foam and water mist, but still to the finite mind these elements are enough to cause great fear. Mark 6:49

Can you imagine the moment? One might have said; “I see a ghost” while another said; “no, but it is a person” and another; “this cannot be!” and lastly; O but look, it is JESUS. (for me writing this, this is the best part of the message) bringing wonderful tears to my eyes… O but look, it is JESUS because in Mark 6:50 it says for they ALL saw Him. I don’t know how you perceive this moment in time for the life of those disciples but for me, these men went from fear to being troubled.

This is a step in the right direction; from fear and panic to just being troubled about the scene unfolding in front of them now. Jesus walking on troubled waters. Now as the LORD sees that all eyes are on Him, He says: “Be (or Take courage) of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid. Where Jesus is, it is always joyful and calm, notice that when He stepped into the boat the wind ceased. Is this not the way it is when we allow Jesus to step into our life?

The future of the United States of America is high seas and unpredictable winds. While the liberal and socialistic predictions are pleasant sunsets of red, the fourth watch of the night is approaching. Believers in JESUS today are in a small boat; yes we will see Him and He will calm our hearts; the question is: have we; that is, before the storm hits… answered the call of the LORD to feed the thousands, or is our heart hardened to the point of failing to understand and share with the lost the gospel of the grace of God.

The Devotional - 116 - Discipline

Thought for the Day – 116 – Discipline

Proverbs 19:18 – When was the last time you chasten your child? (Failure in these matters is found written in one’s eyes so don’t look too deeply into mine.) If the first time of chastening was after six months of age; you failed. Also proper chastening is not destruction, but builds love and constructs good character. Proverbs 22:6

 

Comments and challenges

When I worked for a ship builder after retiring from the military I was assigned to a training department. There I learned a logistics program, wrote a study plan and implemented it to train civilian employees who worked for the U.S. Navy in various parts of the country from Georgia to Washington state and points in between. My assistant and I traveled together; I got to know him very well. He came from India a religious Hindu and a professing vegetarian who loved pizza. I am not sure how he got around the “cheese and pepperoni” he sometimes had but what interested me most was the little red string he had tied around his wrist.

He went NOWHERE without the string as it warded off all “evil spirits” and kept him safe while we traveled. I would say to him; “I do not wear a string like that and I bet if you checked it out, no one else on the plane wears a red string on their wrist and we are all safe, doesn’t this pose a problem for you?” “No, not at all since I am protecting all of us” Well, I said; “you are not protecting anyone and if there is any power in the little red string, it is the STRING and not YOU, what if I cut the string and it falls on the floor, will it still have the power?” This would frustrate him and he had no answer.

I did have limited opportunity to talk with him about God, but he and his wife were very religious; once my wife and I visited his home in North Stonington and he explained a rug on the floor that told a story about their religious beliefs all of which is a systems of works related to ancestors and family traditions. He has two daughters and as he puts it; they are more liberal with their beliefs than the parents simply because they are raised in the United States and go to school where the influence to pull them away from their religion is very strong.

Cultures, religions and traditions are strong influences in all of us; we cling to our roots so to speak. My grandfather would say to me; “be thankful to God that you are born in the United States, that you are a free man and that your parents are good people” as a young person I treasured that thought and when I learned that my family did not live up to my grandfather’s statement. I assumed that it was no longer necessary to be good and evil prevailed. Now was it because I failed to wear a little red string around my wrist?

Absolutely NOT, even if the little red string was powerful enough to ward off evil (NOT!) the string has no power over SIN. Sin is not in the vocabulary of Hinduism, it is all about evil spirits. So what might be the point of all of this? We live in a complicated world of deception; practices and beliefs that control our lives and lead us to an eternity void of God. There is but ONE God, there is NONE other than HE so idolatry is FOOLISHNESS.

Now please take the moment and read Isaiah 44:9-20; the workman, the craftsman and the common laborer foolishly use the materials of creation to feed themselves, clothe themselves, protect themselves and then with what is left over they create an idol and worship the wood, the hay and the waste to be their god, in other words these idolatrous people are willing to fall down and worship a block of wood that cannot deliver their soul, nor can the block of wood reveal the lie in idolaters right hand. A pity? Yes a pity!

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life; He is not a stick or a figment of the image of God, Jesus is God; notice John 11:17-27 and that Jesus has a better ministry, inasmuch as He is also Mediator of a better covenant, with better promises, better sacrifices and a better and enduring possession for those who believe in Him because HE is RISEN from the dead and seated alive in heaven. Hebrews 9:23-28 is the answer to all of the religions of the world, including modern Judaism.

The Devotional - 113 - Who are the POOR?

Thought for the Day – 113 – Who are the POOR?

 

Proverbs 14:25 – There is a true witness and there is a false witness, do you know who these are? One is a “Life Giver” the other a “life taker” John 10:7-18

 

Comments and challenges

In our devotions this morning we were discussing the rich and the poor and there is much said about both standards of life throughout the Living Word of God. The one verse that sticks out for me at this moment is “the rich and the poor have this in common; the LORD is the Maker them all” – Proverbs 22:2. Again the quick observation of this verse will not render a full appreciation of what Solomon is saying. Notice the last two words… “them all” wow; so how can anyone say; I am a self-made rich or poor man?

One of the ways is to assume that the only thought of Solomon here in Proverbs 22:2 is that God is our Creator and has nothing to do with the individuality of being rich or poor. Yet I am convinced that Solomon took into account the dream he had as a young man and King of Israel, read 1 Kings 3:1-5. Also as your read through 1 Kings there are other events that explain why God declares the commonality of the rich and the poor; note 1 Kings 17:8-24.

These events in history Glorify God and we should always seek to understand this rather than to rationalize, to do so is to miss the intended blessing. God has a plan and His plan is perfect for all of human life and when we decide to control our own destiny and/or tend to believe that we are in control; the earth opens up and swallows up all that we value. “Sink holes” are on the increase these days… have you not noticed?

There is though another current definition that is being formed in our society today for “poor people”. The definition is; kinda-sorta sickening I believe. This definition is applied to people who live on welfare, who knowingly bleed the federal and state government treasuries dry. These people qualify for state and federal aid by refusing to biblically marry as in Psalm 127:1-5. These people also of a minority ranking refuse to marry someone of the opposite sex as revealed in Romans 1:27-32.

Also, just to add one more category, but I know there are several more. What about illegal people in the United States of America. Now don’t get it wrong here; I am not talking about people who desire to be citizens of the United States of America who may not have all of their “t’s” crossed or their “I’s” dotted. I am talking about those thugs, thieves, murders and terrorists who aggressively walk our streets looking for a handout, or a federal loop hole and a weakened state government to set up their dangerous agendas.

So don’t as a Citizen of the United States of America go walking hand in hand with any of these folks singing songs like; “give me your poor and needy” or God bless America once more” I know God is long suffering; but I have had enough of this. It is time Citizens like you and me to fall flat on our face and weep and mourn over the condition of our country. Our relationship to God as a nation is nearly non-existent, our children are growing up to accept everything and everybody and I could go on and on.

Let us stop now and weep and mourn in prayer that God would simply not bless America once more; but that He would have MERCY on our sinful way of life today and restore the rich and the poor to a biblical definition, rather than the one that is crushing our present FREEDOM. Yes I am saying that the battle is the LORD’s but it is time too, to look at our Forefathers who fought a good fight, who kept the faith for the freedoms we have experienced and the freedoms to worship as we have, that are now TODAY being stolen by the POOR in politics, the POOR in country and the POOR on the street corner. Have a pleasant DAY.

 

The Devotional - 111 - Ignorantly Ignorant?

Thought for the Day – 111 – Ignorantly Ignorant?

 

Proverbs 12:2 – This verse of scripture causes me to reflect on my conduct. I am not good, oh don’t get me wrong I strike out each day to be good and here I am at seventy three. I cannot recall but a few days on this planet that I can say that was a day without sin; that’s not good! Still I have obtained favor from the LORD, OH! Be still my soul, this joyful thought is overwhelming as I meditate on the mercy He has given and favor (grace) He provides daily. Matthew 9:13

 

Comments and challenges

Just a quick note on my email address, I am seeking to return to my “yahoo” email address since I am very comfortable using yahoo. This will be a test and if it does not work out then I will continue to use the AOL address.

I was looking through Romans recently and thinking about the flesh “the old man” and the spirit “the new man” and how all of this works for you and me, that is assuming that I am talking to those who are under the power of God because we are buried with Him (Jesus) through baptism (Spiritual) into Christ Jesus and in a like manner were baptized (Spiritual) into His death. Romans 6:3-4. The apostle is not relating to a water baptism in these passages.

No do not get all weighted down on water baptism, these verses are talking about a total spiritual immersion we have when we believe in Jesus Christ the Son of the Living God. Simply, there is no mention of water in the text and shame on you if you try to sprinkle in a few drops. In other words, God provides through the Holy Spirit all that you and I will ever need to enter eternity at the point in time when you say to God through the response of your soul (heart) that you believe that Jesus Christ as your only hope of Salvation. Romans 10:8-13.

Many spiritual things happen to a person when they believe in Jesus Christ, but there are two on my list of many that stand out among the others and here these are. (1) we are no longer “ignorant of God” Jesus in Prayer to His Father, just before His Death and Resurrection spoke to His Father and said as recorded in John 17:3 “and this is eternal life, that they may KNOW You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent”. So far the first time in our lives when we believe in Jesus we come to know God.

It gets better so hang on to your hat, if you have it on; if not go get one! When we believe in Jesus at that moment in time we receive the indwelling Holy Spirit of God so we now have what I would like to call the SAVING knowledge of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit abiding in our heart (soul). At the point of being saved the full knowledge of the Godhead is revealed. John 14:7-11, also for the first time we feel the effects of the love of God; Romans 5:6-11 because we know and understand that Christ has placed Himself in our place.

Now I can spend hours in these thoughts, but I have less than an hour to finish. Jesus died as the sacrificial LAMB OF GOD THE FATHER because of the SIN OF THE WORLD which according to scripture is ignorance of God. Now do not take that lightly, behind that curtain of ignorance stands the devil and all of his army of fornicators, homosexuals, sodomites, thieves, covetous, drunkards, revilers, extortioners and everyone else who is ignorant or who ignores God and His Son Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11.

Notice that I used ignorant and ignoring in the chapter above and the thought that can creep into one’s mind is how can I ignore what I am ignorant of? Good question; the way for me to explain this is that if you are standing on any freeway at rush hour in the middle of traffic and put on a blindfold; then you are knowingly ignorant of the danger that you have chosen to ignore. Romans 1:18-32 explains Satan’s trafficking and the blindfold of ignoring the rush of sin that men and women put on and are destroyed because they chose to be wrapped up in this ignorance of God. Did you get the picture?

We often talk about “choice” the choice of accepting God at His Word and the “choice” of rejecting God at His Word. Believing in Jesus Christ is accepting His Word; John 1:14 and speaking of Jesus who is coming again, He is identified in Revelation as the Word of God in Revelation 19:11-15. So this I see; it is prime time for believing in Jesus the Word of the Living God; there will be more that I have to say about this, so keep your hat close.

The Devotional - 110 Whose comng to Dinner

Thought for the Day – 110 – Any one care to go dining

 

Proverbs 9:1-18 – Of course some of you may be wondering who my friend is? Well wonder no further… she is my wife! If Proverbs 8 explains the Excellency of the Wisdom of God it is only fitting that Proverbs 9 should explain the way this Wisdom is applied in daily life. Go ahead read the chapter and we will do some application in the comments and challenges section.

 

Comments and challenges

For those false religions chapter 9 of Proverbs is either very chilling or the leaders have simply cut this chapter out of their bibles; that is of course if these religions use a Bible. Now there is a purpose of referring to their bible with a small “b” and my Bible with a Capital one. My Holy Bible says that God has completed His work, note that the house of Wisdom is complete. That there are seven pillars that support God’s house of Wisdom.

Should you want to know what those seven pillars are, you need only to travel to Isaiah’s Book and read Isaiah 11:1-2 as Isaiah makes a comment about the Second Coming of Messiah who is the LORD Jesus Christ; of course you will need to read to verse 5 to be the full context. In this chapter Jesus the Messiah strikes the earth with Righteousness and Judgment. Jesus uses the seven pillars of Wisdom to accomplish this task which are the Seven Attributes of the Spirit of God.

And remember Jesus’s First Coming is as the Lamb of God who takes away the SIN of the world, He accomplishes this task with the Holy Spirit too; in forgiveness, in faith and in love so these seven attributes of the Spirit of God is like the double edged sword found in Hebrews 4:11-13. This reminds me here too in Proverbs 9:8-9 that we are to utilize this same Wisdom of mercy on the lost to bring them to Jesus so they might be saved.

In God’s house of wisdom the writer explains in terms we can understand. The house of Wisdom is fully supplied with plenty of food and wine, the table is set and the food is always fresh since the maidens are present to keep fresh supplies available for those of God’s family to partake whenever they choose to do so. So the question I have is; are you willing daily to dine on the Freshly Prepared Wisdom of God?

It matters not of what intellect you may be at, I know this first hand. When I first was saved I could barely read with less than a ninth grade education. God through the Wisdom of His Word changed all of that and to Him I sing praise every day! I was simple, but He heard my cry; oh the thought of this overwhelms my emotions. Don’t be ignorantly ignorant of what God is willing to do for YOU! I know He will do more than you could ever ask or even think.

So come, eat of His bread and drink of His wine, please note that the meatier wisdom is there also. His Word is prepared for YOU, He had you in mind when He formed the earth, and He had you in mind when He had His maidens set out the table. And did you notice that the table is filled with foods that give nourishment to a hungry soul. Again, the plea from God is to forsake foolishness and live and He sort of pats us on the back sends us on our way in Proverbs 9:6 and says; “and GO in the way of understanding”.

Also we are not to use this Wisdom of God for selfish ambitions of the flesh; notice leave the scoffers and the wicked alone; let the LORD handle them, by the LORD’s intervention these folks may become wise and then you will have opportunity. But until then don’t bring shame to yourself by seeking to correct or openly reprove them. How many times do we hear from the Word of the Living God this call: “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of Wisdom” now I do not know about you; but I see God the Father in this verse and Jesus too. Verse 10 if you are not sure where I am.

The LORD God and His Holy One through His Spirit provide all of the Wisdom and Understanding that His Children will ever need to protect us and multiply our days and years. Of course with much Wisdom there is a warning, do not be selfishly wise and become a scoffer. What might that look like? Well the remaining verses are a picture of the world. It is not so much the woman that is in focus, but what the men of the world do to promote their ungodly ways. Don’t scoff at the world, what good is that?

 

Just as there is nothing new under the sun as Solomon puts it in Ecclesiastes; in other words, you cannot add to the good and evil of the world it is a closed system. Also, you cannot add or take away any of the Wisdom and Understanding of the Living Word of God; this too is a closed system since Jesus Christ Himself shut the door on Revelation, in Revelation 22:18-19. Enjoy God today. Control plus click: http://www.bibletools.com/

The Devotional - 108 - Do you Know God

Thought for the Day – 108 – Do you KNOW God

 

Proverbs 8:1-36 – My friend and I were talking this morning about the fall of mankind and the progressive ignorance toward God since that day. Proverbs 8 explains the conversation my friend and I had. Verse 12 – I wisdom dwell with prudence and find out knowledge and discretion. Verse 23 – The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way! Does the wisdom God possess you? Or is it the world that grip’s your day?

 

Comments and challenges

I have said this time and again but I have to say it again. Proverbs 8 is one of my favorites. The best way to put this is to say that if heaven were merely a cloud, then I hope it is packed with Proverbs 8:1-36; in other words I could roll around heaven all day with the wisdom and prudence of this chapter. Simply, I cannot say enough about it, so here is the challenge – read it for yourself and let God the Holy Spirit speak truth into your soul.

The truth is that most of us need TRUTH, did you read what is written here; most of us need TRUTH! If you watch the news media any day of the week, then you are being fed a morning breakfast of LIES, a lunch of DECEPTION and a dinner plate of the ungodly TRANSGRESSIONS of mankind. No wonder there are so many people around that live daily on mind altering drugs that keep them subdued and in a state of induced calmness.

Yes you say but this is for me a way of life that works. One or two pills a day and I am good for the day’s activities and good for a nighttime of sleep so what’s the big deal? In fact; don’t tell me the truth since I am so used to the lie and the truth is; that TRUTH, the truth you are talking about is scarier than the lie I live with. Now see what you have done… I need another pill!

Well now, I do not apologize for causing you to swallow another pill just as you so willingly swallow another LIE, believe another DECEPTIVE comment or watch another MURDEROUS TRANSGRESSION in today’s media. You can STOP IT; yes I said STOP IT. I mean why force feed your mind with thoughts of a declining world society? But of course if you are an active part of this society, then you are not force feeding yourself, you are simply looking to see if you made the news today. Still, whatever the case you can STOP IT!

Go ahead now and use a bit of mindful innovation and say; HOW do I do that? This is how. First of all; do not ignore God, open your mind to the possibility that He is calling you. In fact; John the Baptizer did this very same thing in John 1:29-34, notice he says in verse 33; “I did not know Him” who might that be? It is Jesus Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world; verses 29 and 34.

What might the sin of the world be? Very good question, have you ever asked God to reveal to you just what it is that Jesus willingly came to earth for? He willingly came to earth to die in your place (Romans 5:8) because world does not know God the Creator of the heavens and the earth.  Like John the Baptizer; before knowing who Jesus is and the reason of His first coming into the world, we were ignorantly ignorant (a double negative) to emphasize the depth of Satan’s deceptive power over the world.

First we are born into a world that is ignorant of God and then we grow up in the ignorance and traditions of world, patterning our lives in ignorance, notice – John 1:1-13, these are simple verses of scripture but these are packed with the truth about our lack of knowledge of Proverbs 8. See John 7:28-29.

So we should see now that the hour has come, we have no excuse to dwell in the darkness of deception, STOP IT; stop consuming the nonsense of world and digesting the pills of a declining society to calm our human spirit. We can understand the Words that Jesus spoke to His Father just hours before He was crucified for the SIN of the world that is (ignorantly, ignoring) God. John 17:1-5, this has Proverbs 8:1-36 all over it. Today if you hear God’s voice, then please do not continue one more moment in the rebellion of a world that ignores HIM.

The Devotional - 107 - Freedom

Thought for the Day – 106 – More Freedom concerns

 

Proverbs 7:1-5 – Buddies, ever have one? We can be very tight with friends, they are close to us and we share things with them that we do not share with others. Sometimes they are a husband or wife; a brother or sister or a near relative. This is what God desires for us all; to know Him as a friend and His commands and laws as a loving Father. Psalm 19:1-14 is a perfect expression of God’s relational friendship with those who are not ignorant of Him.

 

Comments and challenges

Lifestyles in other parts of the world and that would be outside of the United States of America are different. For example; when I visited Spain, from noon until 2pm the streets in any town was deserted, all of the local people were at siesta. The stores were closed; transportation services ceased and even though it was day time it was very much like midnight.

In Ukraine away from the city of Kiev and in the small hamlets or towns there were very few stores to purchase things, maybe one or two stores to a town and these did not get a lot of business; just enough to survive. All of the villagers waited for what could resemble a traveling super store.

This would be a caravan of many different vehicles and trucks filled with clothing, house wares, cleaning products, butcher shops, bakery shops, produce, can goods and all of the merchandise like appliances, hardware and tools. These caravans showed up once a week and would stay through the day and overnight. The town was buzzing with people from sun up through the night to sun up again buying needed things.

It was also a time of much chatter, the chatter of purchases and bargaining, the chatter of family and friends seeing each other at least once a week. The chatter was so loud, there would be little sleeping, so it was better if you just would get up and join the commotion. Being there for two weeks was a very nice experience, so I guess this is added for free. If you get the chance to visit a foreign country and experience the culture… do so; you will enjoy the moment.

What I am seeking to say here is that what we do and citizens of the United States of America is NORMAL to us, what people do in other parts of the world is NORMAL to them. Cross culturing is not NORMAL for any nation under the sun. in fact; cross culturing is a condition that crumbles the identity of any nation, we need only to look at our own history to see this and just as other FREEDOM loving countries too; AUSTRALIA for example. Freedom is not FREE.

Freedom is not a hand out from the government, freedom is earned by hard working PEOPLE. Freedom is not being able to express your sin in public and expect it to be accepted by everyone as NORMAL; freedom knows that there are SOLID LAWS that prevent SIN as one might prevent a SICKNESS epidemic. Freedom is not IGNORANCE of God, FREEDOM KNOWS GOD and God KNOWS those who are HIS. John 10:25-30

What else can be said? As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for God, for the Living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my continual food day and night, while they continually say; where is you God? These words are the beginning of Psalm 42 and the Psalms ends like this; why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted (upset) within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help (salvation) of my countenance and my God.

You might want to read the whole Psalm; I do recommend that you do! The soul within all of us longs for God; if your soul does not talk with God, in fact; if you soul is ignorant of God’s love, comfort and peace then you are like the rest of the world. Scared and miserable, sad and lonely, sinful and critical, the writer of Psalm 42 is not king David, but are the sons of Korah. These men understood the results associated with ignoring God and after contemplating His Character wrote about their souls need for resting in Christ.