2 Chronicles 6:18
18 “But will God really dwell on earth with men? The heavens, even the highest heavens, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!
God is ‘big’ and glorious. Even the highest heaven cannot contain Him. But David and Solomon wanted to build a place for God to dwell on earth. God has to ‘bend down’ in order to dwell in Solomon’s Temple. I can see that God was responsive to David and Solomon’s wish. In fact, if God is not love, He will not allow them to build Him a temple as even the greatest temple cannot contain Him. The way I see it is that God is love. He is eager to have a relationship with man. So, in order to suit the ‘thinking’ of man, He allowed David and Solomon to build Him a temple to dwell in, just to provide a ‘humanly’ way for man to approach Him.
Closely related to this, our hearts are also a temple of God. Do we pay the same respect of David and Solomon to ‘decorate’ our hearts for God? Do we treasure the Holy Spirit who dwells in our hearts?
Frederick
====== Jane:
Proverbs 19:25b means what? I thought you would elaborated on that!
There is no condemnation in those who are in Jesus Christ. Seems we condrmn Ourselves!! We carry around slot if guilt trying to live up to expectation the world and God and the bible has for us. It’s a difficult thing being a Christian! Not easy, because we will never measure up. God loves us unconditionally!
Greetings
1 Chronicles 7:11+12
11 When Solomon had finished the temple of the Lord and the royal palace, and had succeeded in carrying out all he had in mind to do in the temple of the Lord and in his own palace, 12 the Lord appeared to him at night and said:
“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this place for myself as a temple for sacrifices
The very fact that, God himself, shows up AT NIGHT to Solomon. In a very personal way and tells him He’s heard his prayer. It makes me think about how Solomon had the visual example in his dad David. First hand on how to have a tangible relationship with God. David knew God intimately. It shows in Solomon…
Peace
Imja
====== Dee:
Reading the comme tary up there and seeing the author’s and Neopolitan’s artwork..do you think those pinks and Browns and cream is where they got the ice cream flavor from 😆 🤣 just a thought. I love seeing Solomon building the temple and all the different Jon’s and helpers that went into it. It’s neat.
Romans..th thing I want to do I don’t and what I don’t want to do I do..carnal sin and trying to avoid temptation and being played is the hardest thing and surprisingly two little letters N-O is just as hard to say to people..that is something I have to get better at
David sang this out to God protecting me from my enemies..death stared at me but didn’t defeat me. God saved and protected Mr.
It’s sad to be so slothful to not even feed yourself because of laziness. I have been so tired sleep called me over food but yes it’s important to take care of this vessel the lord gave amen
Dee
====== John
Romans 7
If there is a choice, I would rather you read Bob Deffingbaugh’s commentary on this section than anything I write. If you do not have much time – at least read the Conclusions. It is a powerful commentary.
http://www.bible.org/page.asp?page_id=2304
Paul has talked about Christians not going back to obey the Law – “shackles” to a saved soul. And that the Law is good, it is sin that is evil and our “flesh” that is weak.
Romans 7:14-25
Struggling With Sin (The War within a Saved Soul)
Boy, this chapter has been tough. It has been hard to focus, and did not want to write – because of this section.
Earlier Paul talked about Salvation, and how when saved we are no longer at war with God. But one war seems to have been exchanged for another. Now within the Christian is a war with sin.
The “I DO” Verses
So tough to read. I can understand each sentence individually, but when read in toto (vs. 14-20), I find it hard to maintain the thread of thought. (Plan on re-reading it each day for awhile, until it flows.) Paul (and we as Christians) want to do good, but keep(s) on sinning. Huh? I thought we had the “new man”. What is Paul talking about?
Nestled in the middle of the paragraph, are the two truths that devastate me. I knew of one, then just realized the second tonight.
Vs. 18
“I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” NIV
1) There is no good in my old nature (“flesh”).
2) There is no power in my new nature.
I knew the first, sin has a “base of operations” in my “flesh” (old nature), and it is working overtime. Satan would like nothing better than to discredit a Christian. He may have lost that soul, but by discrediting the Christian, he believes he can stop the geometric spread of Christianity. Sin is Satan’s WMD.
Andrew B.- the second reminded me of your question awhile back. We have the new nature – the “new mind”, but why isn’t Paul experiancing the “abundant blessings of the Holy Spirit? Why all this failure? At this point, it seems it is because of the “I”‘s.
“..but I cannot carry it out”
I (you) cannot do it. The “new man” is like a bomb, it has to be “armed” before it can be utilized. The “believer” is not qualified to do this, it must be “armed” by another. We can sit there all day long atop an “inert bomb” and we will be trampled by sin. We are not only not qualified to “arm” it, we are not qualified to “utilize” the bomb. We must depend on another.
“Who will rescue me from this body of death?” (sin and the old nature).
[“When Paul describes this body of death, some commentators see a reference to ancient kings who tormented their prisoners by shackling them to decomposing corpses. Paul longs to be cut free from the wretched body of death clinging to him.” – David Guzik]
The answer: “Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
and on to the next chapter….. 🙂
John
====== John:
Romans 8:1-8
The Power of the Holy Spirit
“‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of Hosts” (Zechariah 4:6).
“God’s work is never accomplished by human effort but only by divine enablement. It has always been this way.” – Bob Deffingbaugh
======================================================
One of the Great Truths
vs. 1a
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,..” NIV
“Since the Father does not condemn Jesus, neither can He condemn those are in Him. They are not condemned, they will not be condemned, and they cannot be condemned.” – David Guzik
Jesus’s death on the cross meant that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met “in us”.
[Paul was very careful, not “by us” – as we can do nothing to become righteous on our own. But “in us” – requirements fulfilled through Christ.]
Through Jesus’ ressurection we receive new life (new man) and the Power of the Holy Spirit.
Vs.8
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.” NIV
“Paul gives an easy way for us to determine if we walk in the Spirit or walk in the flesh – to simply see where our mind is set. The mind is the strategic battleground where the flesh and the Spirit fight.” – David Guzik
The mind controlled by the Spirit is “life and peace”. Sounds good! Much better than last chapter.
John
====== Vance:
This comment is in response to this question:
“ Will you pray to accept Jesus as your savior today and allow him to free you from you bondage to sin? ”
The part…”allow Him to free you from sin” is not a ONE-TIME event. We are certainly MADE FREE FROM SIN by what Jesus did on the Cross… yet, do we live in freedom from bondage of sin?
We have to ALWAYS CHOOSE to trust God.. not ourselves.
I know we have not come to Romans 8 yet – but I can’t wait !
Realize the provision of GLORY God / Jesus has placed within us! As I meditate on these verses to come in Romans 8, I think of what I read this morning in “Shemos – Jewish Torah name for Exodus” in reference to Exodus 16 where the glory of God appeared to Moses, Aaron, and the people. This is where Yahweh provided quail and manna for the people.
In “Shemos – Exodus”, this is how Exodus 16:9 reads in that translation:
“…the glory of HASHEM appeared in a cloud.”
HASHEM is the word the
Torah uses for “the God of
Mercy”—the quintessential
name for God.
The definition of glory in the cloud– in the “Shemos” is excellent:
“the dwelling place of the Presence”.
ROMANS 8
1
THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.(A)
2
For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.
3
For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [[a]the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [[b]subdued, overcame, [c]deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice],(B)
==> Romans 8, Verse 2
The law of the Spirit of Life is the law of our new being – created by the Lord Himself through Jesus on the cross.
This makes me think of I John 3:9 (Amplified) which reads:
No one born (begotten) of God [deliberately, knowingly, and [h]habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him
Yet, we have to CHOOSE to walk—to yield to—what God has placed within me. WOW!
==> Romans 8, Verse 3
God sent His own Son in the disguise of sinful man—yet as a TRUE MAN – who overcame
As the TRUEST MAN, Jesus was TRULY human. This means he also was dependent on the Father and the Spirit just as we are. AS SUCH,
He overcame the temptations which Adam and Eve failed when they were tempted by the devil. When they sinned and chose to yield to him, they gave their authority over earth to the evil one. Thus, the devil became “the god of this world.”
Jesus had to come as a man, and as a man He came to take back authority over earth—and give it back to redeemed men and women who trust in Jesus. Thus, we can live LIKE JESUS on this earth – and can obey the Lord to spread the Gospel over the earth. That is WHY we are here.
EPHESIANS 1 (Amplified)
22
And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church],(A)
23
Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself].
==> Romans 8, Verse 3
Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] … [[b]subdued, overcame, [c]deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice],(B)
So..
In our weakness, is His strength. Yet, we must CONTINUALLY choose Him. Jesus’ IRON PILLARED DETERMINATION to trust God and the Father’s power are demonstrated in His victory over the world, flesh, and devil.
And His IRON-PILLARED WILL AND DETERMINATION are inside of US… who trust in Jesus!
Vance
====== Vance:
2 Chronicles 6 (NKJV)
14
and he said: “LORD God of Israel, there is no God in heaven or on earth like You, who keep Your covenant and mercy with Your servants who walk before You with all their hearts.
15
You have kept what You promised Your servant David my father; You have both spoken with Your mouth and fulfilled it with Your hand, as it is this day.
18
“But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple [LITERALLY HOUSE] which I have built!
19
Yet regard the prayer of Your servant and his supplication, O LORD my God, and listen to the cry and the prayer which Your servant is praying before You:
20
THAT YOUR EYES MAY BE OPEN TOWARD THIS TEMPLE [Literally House] DAY AND NIGHT, TOWARD THE PLACE WHERE YOU SAID YOU WOULD PUT YOUR NAME, that You may hear the prayer which Your servant makes toward this place.
30
THEN HEAR FROM HEAVEN YOUR DWELLING PLACE, and forgive, and give to everyone according to all his ways, whose heart You know (for You alone know the hearts of the sons of men),
NOTE:
How matchless is the only true and living God!
I echo the question that the Holy Spirit spoke through Solomon: “But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth?”
Will God—who is the Most High and above all—indeed dwell with men on earth?
Note that God’s dwelling place is in heaven, yet He has put His Name in the Temple (literally HOUSE) that Solomon built.
The Temple (literally HOUSE) of God was the first step in preparing you and I for the truth that the Holy Spirit later revealed through the Lord Jesus:
man’s spirit and being is designed to be the “house” of the Spirit of the Most High through GRACE.
First, Jesus came in John 1 (Amplified Bible)
14
And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and TABERNACLED (FIXED HIS TENT OF FLESH, LIVED AWHILE) AMONG US; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honor, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favor, loving-kindness) and truth.
Then, later through the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus—we can now become the houses of God.
Romans 8 (Amplified Bible)
10
But if Christ lives in you, [then although] your [natural] body is dead by reason of sin and guilt, the spirit is alive because of [the] righteousness [that He imputes to you].
~~~
May I—and may we—really ponder and meditate on the wonder of the Presence of God within us.
Once we really come to grasp and know clearly and with certainty the reality of God’s Presence in us as the Spirit teaches and convinces us—then our lives will never be the same.
We will bring glory to the One who honors us with His very Presence!
2 Chronicles 7 (NKJV)
3
When all the children of Israel saw how the fire came down, and the glory of the LORD on the temple, they bowed their faces to the ground on the pavement, and worshiped and praised the LORD, saying: “For He is good, for His mercy endures forever.” [Compare Psalm 106:1]
6
And the priests attended to their services; the Levites also with instruments of the music of the LORD, which King David had made to praise the LORD, saying, “For His mercy endures forever,” [Compare Psalm 106:1] whenever David offered praise by their ministry. The priests sounded trumpets opposite them, while all Israel stood.
NOTE:
It is obvious from the first three (3) verses in 2 Chronicles 7 how eager God is to demonstrate the Glory of His Presence and His Love to man.
It is also obvious that God’s Name is His Presence! His Presence is Glorious!
May these truths be lodged deep within you and I as we meditate on Colossians 1:27
“Christ in you—Who is the certain, guaranteed hope of Glory!”
May God’s manifest Glory be demonstrated more and more in our lives as we pray, meditate, surrender, and have deep and intimate fellowship with the Lord. Then, the will of the Lord Jesus will be fulfilled:
John 7 (NKJV)
38
He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, OUT OF HIS HEART WILL FLOW RIVERS OF LIVING WATER.”
John 14 (NKJV)
21
He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. AND HE WHO LOVES ME WILL BE LOVED BY MY FATHER, AND I WILL LOVE HIM AND MANIFEST MYSELF TO HIM.”
~~~
Romans 7 (NKJV)
20
Now if I do what I will not to do, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells in me.
21
I find then a law, that evil is present with me, the one who wills to do good.
22
For I delight in the law of God according to the inward man.
23
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
NOTE:
I like these jewels of truth – my paraphrase:
a. Because I do what I do not want to do, I no longer sin—but SIN DWELLING IN ME
b. I do not mean I am not responsible for sin I commit
c. I see two (2) unchanging laws within me at the same time:
* Law of God’s Overcoming Righteousness:
I am righteous in my inner man and delight to do God’s will.
* Law of sin and death in my members
I am called to the process of surrender and doing God’s will, so my whole being and all my members are trained in righteousness through Holy Spirit
Yes… we have to practice righteousness, and yes we have to choose to participate in being set apart and sanctified. Yes, we always have to resist sin in the power of the Spirit.
Yet, may we never forget WHO WE ALREADY ARE in Christ. We are not “helpless victims” as we resist sin and the sin in our members.
We are already spiritual victors through Christ, and He—only by His matchless grace—has imparted to us His victory!
I thoroughly enjoy these rich verses in Romans 8 (Amplified).
1
THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.
2
For THE LAW OF THE SPIRIT OF LIFE [which is] in Christ Jesus
** [THE LAW OF OUR NEW BEING]
Has Freed Me From The Law Of Sin And Of Death.
3
For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. SENDING HIS OWN SON IN THE GUISE OF SINFUL FLESH AND AS AN OFFERING FOR SIN, [GOD] CONDEMNED SIN IN THE FLESH
** [Subdued, Overcame, Deprived It Of Its Power Over All Who Accept That Sacrifice],
4
So that the righteous and just requirement of the Law might be fully met in us who live and move not in the ways of the flesh BUT IN THE WAYS OF THE SPIRIT [OUR LIVES GOVERNED NOT BY THE STANDARDS AND ACCORDING TO THE DICTATES OF THE FLESH,
** But Controlled By The Holy Spirit].
~~~
May we really realize who we already ARE in Christ! Did you catch that the Law of the Spirit of Life IS THE LAW OF OUR NEW BEING!
We are alive in our spirits because of God’s righteousness! So before Satan deliberately focuses attacks on us through sin in our members, MAY WE DELIBERATELY SET OUR MINDS on Christ and His Overcoming Life.
Then, we will be prepared! Prepared not just to “survive”, but prepared to OVERCOME and to win many for the Lord Jesus!
So, may we put our highest priority on fellowship and intimacy with the Holy Spirit. His Life is in us!
We are in Christ and Christ is in us!
Then, may we take the next stept and fulfill the Holy Spirit’s joy of unity TOGETHER as expressions of the Body of Christ all over the world:
Philippians 2 (NKJV)
2
fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
THEN, as we do that, then the victory of Christ—we are in Christ and He is in us—will be MORE manifest so all people in the world WILL NOT BE ABLE TO MISS THE REALITY, PRESENCE, AND GLORY OF JESUS in us!
This is the will of Jesus:
John 17 (NKJV)
21
that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.
22
And The Glory Which You Gave Me I Have Given Them, That They May Be One Just As We Are One:
23
I IN THEM, AND YOU IN ME; THAT THEY MAY BE MADE PERFECT IN ONE, AND THAT THE WORLD MAY KNOW THAT YOU HAVE SENT ME, AND HAVE LOVED THEM AS YOU HAVE LOVED ME.
~~~
Proverbs 19 (NKJV)
24
A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl,
[Septuagint and Syriac read bosom; Targum and Vulgate read ARMPIT] and will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
25
Strike a scoffer, and the simple will become wary; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will discern knowledge.
NOTE:
Please notice the note in the New King James Version I have included after the phrase “A lazy man buries his hand in the bowl”. One possible alternate meaning of “bowl” is “armpit”.
Then a comical picture came to mind: I chuckled to myself when I read this. I thought of a lazy man who had one hand in his armpit (I HOPE HE SHOWERED!!)—while he was sucking the thumb of his other hand!
~~~
Proverbs 19: 24 really speaks volumes. But, in one way, this verse appears to have nothing to do with American society, as Americans are moving at a faster and frenzied pace than ever.
Yet, in another way, verse 24 precisely speaks to our fast paced and frenzied American culture. For, though we are busy and very active, the business of “busy-ness” can be a huge distraction to keep us from doing what we are called to do.
So, we can be extremely busy at the wrong thing, and yet be lazy at doing the right thing.
Mike had written this as one of his comments on Proverbs
“So – thankfully – as we know from our recent Romans readings, we can be free from our lazy ways! Being in relationship with Jesus has literally cured me of my laziness.”
My question is this? Mike mentioned: “as we know from our recent Romans readings, we can be free from our lazy ways!”
Which recent Romans readings pertain to laziness? Maybe I was so lazy, I missed it! (Ha!)
I am extremely glad that being in relationship with the Lord Jesus has cured Mike of laziness. In Jesus’ Matchless Name—I receive some of that zeal with wisdom!
I pray for “zeal with wisdom” for I find myself going fast—but sometimes I feel like a laboratory rat continually running around in an enclosed maze in the laboratory. I do not just want to be “doing” things—I want to be wise and find out what the Lord’s will is—and do that.
As Jesus said, “I only do those things I see my Father doing.” May we emulate the best example in the world, that of the Lord Jesus—the Perfect Man Who always resisted sin and distraction—as He prayed and then followed His Father.
Vance
Mike,
You have reminded me of something in your comments on the Romans reading today so I have ran to Mr. Strong’s Concordance to do a little research. The words translated world, Go into all the world—etc in the King James Version really need to be looked at carefully—at least the Greek behind them because the English word world well, is just one word while there are seven Greek words translated into English as world/earth/land or country. (one is just a small variation.)
1) gē –(1093) Ghay – Contracted from a primary word; soil; by extension a region, or the solid part or the whole of the terrene globe (including the occupants in each application): – country, earth (-ly), ground, land, world.
2) aiōn—(165) ahee-ohn’ From the same as 104; properly an age; by extension perpetuity (also past); by implication the world; specifically (Jewish) a Messianic period (present or future): – age, course, eternal, (for) ever (-more), [n-]ever, (beginning of the, while the) world (began, without end). Compare G5550.
3) aiōnios—(166)–ahee-o’-nee-os 165; perpetual (also used of past time, or past and future as well): – eternal, for ever, everlasting, world (began).
4) Katachthonios –(2709)–kat-akh-thon’-ee-os From 2596 and χθών chthōn (the ground); subterranean, that is, infernal (belonging to the world of departed spirits): – under the earth.
5) kosmokratōr—(2888)–kos-mok-rat’-ore From 2889 and 2902; a world ruler, an epithet of Satan: – ruler.
6) Kosmos –(2889)–kos’-mos Probably from the base of G2865; orderly arrangement, that is, decoration; by implication the world (in a wide or narrow sense, including its inhabitants, literally or figuratively [morally]): – adorning, world.
7) oikoumenē–(3625)–oy-kou-men’-ay Feminine participle present passive of 3611 (as noun, by implication of 1093); land, that is, the (terrene part of the) globe; specifically the Roman empire: – earth, world.
He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
(Matthew 13:22 KJVR)
The word world in the above passage is the Greed aion (#2), and age, a course of time. In the Great Commission, that Jesus sends us and all his disciples on is not the “world” I have usually equated or think about when I hear the word “world.” It’s fun to look up these things and may be a big eye opener. It also validates or confirms Mike’s comment.
Grace and peace,
Ramona
====== Ramona:
2 Chronicles 19:1-20:37
Seeking God and obeying God are two separate events. Jehoshaphat, like the many good kings before him, didn’t cross the finish line, he didn’t complete his race. There seems to be this pattern that keeps popping up concerning the good kings, they fail and fall. They do so well until they get near the end of their life.
I think what we see in Jehoshaphat and Asa is an arrogance and complacency that develops with an ever so subtle shift from relying on God to relying on self. Like the moon that reflects the sun’s (Son’s) light, we too reflect the light of God’s glory. Where we fail is when we begin believing, after many years of reflecting that light, that we are the light. I wonder if the danger in our Christian walk is not when we are baby Christians but when we are mature, in that great “sugar state.”
Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. [Eph. 2:10.] (Psalms 100:3 AMP)
Grace and peace,
Ramona
====== Luch:
Someone has said, “The fear of the LORD is the continual awareness that God is watching, evaluating and judging every one of my thoughts, actions and motives.’ Sounds a little ‘heavy’ but it has kept me from many a bad choice, to know the LORD is continually with me.
Moses passes along a helpful thought on how ‘the fear of the LORD can help us in our journey…
Exodus20:20 Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so that the fear of God will be with you to keep you from sinning.”
Luch
====== Jen:
What I love about chronicles today was the verse “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on the Lord.” I feel often like I do not know what to do and I want always to look toward God and wait for his direction, because my success will be complete. Who could of imagined Judah defeating the armies against them, only God and the faithful.
Jen
======= Bob:
Proverbs 20:5 “Though good advice lies deep within the heart,
a person with understanding will draw it out.” (NLT)
I’ve been helping a friend try to understand a difficult relationship and I can see this takes time – a gift we can give others.
Bob
======= Joyce:
Mike and everyone,
Romans 10:14-15 Amplified Bible
14 But how will people call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how will they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher (messenger)?
15 And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
In his sermon Good News for All, Pastor Steven J. Cole shared the following practical steps we can share the good news that God forgives every sinner who trusts in Jesus as Lord and Savior.
A summary of his three steps,
‘1, Begin locally. Begin praying for the salvation of those you have regular contact with. Pray for opportunities to talk to them about the Savior.
2, Educate yourself about world missions. Read about missions. Pray for our missionaries and give to the cause of missions.
3, God may call some of you to go to those who have never heard. With Isaiah (6:8) respond, “Here I am. Send me!”’
Matthew 28:19-20 Amplified Bible
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations [help the people to learn of Me, believe in Me, and obey My words], baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
20 teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always [remaining with you perpetually—regardless of circumstance, and on every occasion], even to the end of the age.”
Mike, may Heavenly Father continue to bless you with spiritual wisdom and understanding as you serve Him through this One Year Bible Blog.
May He use this blog to bring His Word of Truth to far corners of the earth, in Jesus’ Name, amen.
Blessings!
Joyce
====== Dee:
I do pray that the fear of the Lord is upon me as spoken to these judges. It’s important to have a healthy level of fear. Also, I misspoke yesterday about Jehosophat dying. The King of Israel died because he didn’t heed warning from the prophet Micaiah. Jehosophat obeyed and walked in the Lord as King of Judah just as before him King Asa.
Roman’s 10:14-11
Why do we struggle to hear what God is telling us. God outstretched to his own people amd yet they didn’t believe. Many of us newbys here and yet believe
Psalm 21:1-13 Praise after the battle. God gave strength before the battle and responded to David’s faith. I want to have that type of faith. That God gives victory before and after. You Lord give our hearts desire.
Proverbs 20:4-6 Proverbs 4 reminds my of New Testament verses..if a man don’t work he doesn’t eat. You have to prep the soil in order to have a harvest
Dee
====== Pat:
You send us modern praise songs; and they are great; but I find comfort in the old hymns that I grew up with. I think the church has deserted a wonderful tool to reach people for Christ. Many have been saved by just listening to the words of these old hymns.
WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS.
What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.
Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge, take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do your friends despise, forsake you? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In His arms He’ll take and shield you; you will find a solace there.
Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised Thou wilt all our burdens bear
May we ever, Lord, be bringing all to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright unclouded there will be no need for prayer
Rapture, praise and endless worship will be our sweet portion there.
Pat
====== John:
Romans 10:14-21
Israel (Present)
Paul has been saying that Israel did not operate by Faith, but by works. They did not know Christ – the Righteousness from God. But Israel (nation) is not written off – all they have to do is confess and believe in their heart. All they have to do is ‘call on the Name of the Lord’.
[NOTE: Earlier Paul talked all about God’s sovereignty and election. Now Paul is talking about choosing to believe. A fair question is: Which is it? The answer is: both. How that works – more Godly men than me will admit they do not know. If someone is a “believer”, it is just a concept that we will struggle with in doctrine. If an unbeliever balks and gets hung up on the concept of election, they should be looked in the eye and told:
‘Fine. What do you choose? – Will you believe in your heart Christ was raised from the dead, and confess with your mouth – “Jesus is Lord”? That is all it takes to be saved. The important thing is salvation, not arguing about “election”. That can all be worked out later – and if not – it certainly will be understood in heaven.’]
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So back to Romans 10 – How can the nation of Israel come to call on the name of the Lord? By the spreading of the gospel:
Word sent out ==>Word preached==>Word heard==>Word believed==>Call on the name of the Lord.
That is what was and is done, but not all Israelites accepted the Gospel. Paul says, and so it was foretold. Cites Is 53:1. Which to a Jew, when a teacher cites first line of a Chapter in Scripture they should look to whole Chapter – which here is describing the Messiah. A subtle message to the Jew to go back and review Scripture. Isaiah was prophesying that Israel would reject the Messiah – and they did.
Rom10:17 “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.” NIV
It is interesting to do a word study on ear, ears, hearing and see how God seems to access one through the “ear”. When “eye” is used for gaining information it is the eye that leads to stumbling/sin. (I wonder if it is because “eye” sounds like “I”???) Remember the Word was originally to be heard around the campfires in the Exodus. Parents were to recite it to children, and everyone was to meditate on going to sleep. It was not about reading the scrolls.
In Christianity: Seeing is not believing. Believing is seeing. Faith comes from hearing the message.
The order of events is : Hear==>Believe==>Perceive
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So did they hear? Did they understand?
Moses prophesied in Deut 32 in the song of Moses, and Isaiah prophesied in Is 65:1 (another whole chapter for Israel to look at because of the first line being cited) when talking about Judgment and Salvation:
That non-Jews would hear and understand, but the Nation of Israel supposedly seeking God was a “disobedient and obstinate people”. They heard, but out of stubbornness they did not understand – rather wanting to cling to their ways.
Romans 11:1-12
Israel (Future)
So did God Reject his people? Did God change His mind about his covenants and promises?
No, and I (Paul) am a prime example. I am a Jew, I am saved. Paul cites Elijah who thought he was the only faithful one left in Israel. God informs him – No, there are 7,000 others who have not bent their knee to Baal. There is always a remnant. There is a “remnant” in Israel now – the nation of Israel does not believe, but there are some. James leads a church in Jerusalem. Jews that have righteousness through faith in Christ. A remnant chosen by Grace. (Chosen being Gk. ekloge the act of picking out, chosen.)
Rom 11:6 And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.”
“Paul left the previous verse noting that the remnant was chosen according to the election of grace. Now he reminds us what grace is, by definition: the free gift of God, not given with any eye to the performance or potential in the one receiving, but only given out of the kindness of the giver.” – David Guzik
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The Nation of Israel does not believe, but some citizens do. The rest are hardened in their obstinance, just as Isaiah and David wrote.
[Note: There is some Christian teaching from certain ministries out there that: it is not Israel’s fault that they do not believe. God has hardened their hearts. Eyes that could not see – ears that could not here. How does that explain the remnant in Paul’s time or the Messianic Jews today?. I believe God hardened the nations heart, just like he hardened Pharaohs. That is – their hearts had already shown a predisposition to unbelief and stubbornness, and at some point God says – Ok – you want it that way – I will reinforce that feeling in you. Yet there are some in the nation that will believe.
It reminds me of the concept of an unbelieving Gentile. If one keeps rejecting the word of God. Keeps rejecting Christ – at some point there will be no more chances. They will be let loose to do it their way.]
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So Israel has stumbled over Jesus, did they fall beyond recovery? Can they be saved? Yes.
Because they stumbled, Salvation came to the Gentiles – as foretold in Old Testament. Salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel jealous. To make them want what we have.
[Note: Over the centuries have Christians done a good job of “making Israel want what we have”? Sometimes. But there is a distinctly historical issue of anti-Semitism amongst a good many Christians and Christian churches. I pray for that to occur less and less if not be eradicated. When we are told to love one another as Christ loved – it should be to all people.]
But if their stumbling causes riches (abundance) to the Gentiles and the World, then how much more abundance when God’s people are brought into the sheep pen? Or how much more fruit when the Jewish nation is grafted back into the tree?
John
====== Vance:
2 Chronicles 20:
As I focus my energy, time, love, worship on yielding, praising, worshipping, and obeying the Lord – God will make it clear to me who are my true enemies.
I say this because – though in this passage when Israel is attacked by an obvious enemy (like United States being attacked by terrorists on September 11, 2001) – often enemies are not so clear in our lives.
It can be easy for me to see people as enemies – husband, wife, child, mother, father, father-in-law, mother-in-law, boss, etc…
There can be disagreements –sometimes silly and sometimes serious…Sometimes only personality differences or sometimes really significant differences in understanding who God is.
I can see people as enemies IF I take my eyes off of the Lord. However, I can be established in the Lord.
I like 2 Chronicles 20:20 (NKJV) –
Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.”
If I establish myself in the Lord, then He will fight my battles for me ! The fear of the Lord comes on me – which for me is another way of saying the anointing of God comes on me – as I establish myself in the Lord.
One of the devotional notes I have at home suggested that the word for “established” is related to the word “Amen” The word “Amen” means “so be it” or “may it be established.”
The devotional also mentions that this is exactly what Abraham did when he “believed the Lord and was counted as righteous” (Genesis 15:6).
That is, he established himself in the Lord, and he was not moved by all circumstances that would keep him from unbelief. And his steadfastness of faith established him in faith to wait for 20 years for God’s promise to be fulfilled in his life !
When I establish myself in the Lord— all of life’s troubles— will fall into perspective and I will have God’s wisdom and His steadfastness to follow His wisdom.
Thus, the Lord will give me the wisdom to relate to people with wisdom – to draw out wisdom from within them instead of “preaching” to them.
PROVERBS 20
5
Though good advice lies deep within a person’s heart, the wise will draw it out.
6
Many will say they are loyal friends, but who can find one who is really faithful?
When I have to speak truth—even if it is hard truth—
I can do it with the wisdom and love of the Spirit to connect with what God is doing in them….
because I am established
in the fear and anointing
of the Lord !
Vance