Considering the Bible

Philippian Bits – 4:6

2024-05-26

For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

4:6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

As a believer, I assume those of like minded faith have found the value of memorizing portions of Scripture. To have passages of Scripture available for the Spirit to bring to mind at instantaneous moments of decision making is an invaluable blessing and resource. I mention Bible memorization as this particular verse is one of the very first I committed to memory, and have found it to be a verse that I come back to so often, for I am an anxious fella.

To be anxious is to be troubled with cares, and often associates itself with those things that are directly connected with one’s own interests. That may seem obvious, but saying it out loud seems to make the action of being anxious just a little bit more foolish.

Yet I worry, fret, care about and am troubled by many things that will, in the end either not come to pass, or if they do, will not be of the concern that I feared.

My anxiousness belies a core problem in my heart. Can anyone suggest what that problem may be from our text? I can suggest two problems in a persons life that is riddled with anxiousness.

Lack of Prayer

Paul provides the first problem, or should I say the first solution to an anxious life. Prayer and supplication. The addition of the term “supplication” implies a need that has to be requested for, a time of asking, of requesting. Prayer itself is the more general term of our communicating (and communing ) with God. Supplication adds to this passage an aspect of need, of a humbleness of knowing that we are not “all that”.

Our realization of our need in our prayers may be our greatest need! That our needs are not simply a grocery list of wants that we speak out repeatedly, but a heart issue that makes the spirit waken, that reaches out with a passion at times, begging for an answer. I think of David’s prayers in the book of Psalms, and of his emotional phrases he approaches God with.

One of my favorite passages, when I think of David’s prayers, is found in psalm 5. I especially like the way the Message delivers David’s cry out to God.

Psalm 5:1-3

Listen, God! Please, pay attention!
Can you make sense of these ramblings, my groans and cries?
King-God, I need your help.
Every morning you’ll hear me at it again.
Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar and watch for fire to descend.

He was going to “wake up” God if he had to, and he wouldn’t give up.

How passionate have you been with the Lord lately? Does He know what you care about, or that you just have cares?

Complaining Spirit

One of the most crippling spiritual diseases I have been a victim to is being a victim, living a life of complaint and comparison with others. What a slavish, horrible existence, for just when you think you have a leg up on someone, another person seems to have a better life than yours.

Of course, with a complaining spirit, there is no need to address God in prayer, for it is a foregone conclusion that He will not do anything for you. You are trapped in a life of lack, an existence that sees scarcity and shortcomings. What a life!

Yet with an attitude adjustment, in the very same conditions, that life can become one of joy and fruitfulness, if a thankful spirit is exercised. This is a choice for the most part and with the Spirit of God residing in us, pleading with us to rise up out of a victim mentality and able to provide the strength to be a thankful believer, life can instantly be one worth living.

Thankfulness is a fantastic attitude to exercise, for it spreads good feelings and creates feeds the good attitude as it grows in my heart. A thankful spirit is a victorious spirit, and makes trials and troubles so much easier to bear. Trials and troubles will come, but why take them on without a thankful spirit?

Earlier, I mentioned that anxiousness is a choice and one of the two verses I think of when it comes to anxiousness, besides our verse this morning, is in Matthew 6

25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin,

Jesus questions why we are anxious. The very questions create the space where we should realize how foolish these concerns and cares are. Do not be anxious.

Instead of being anxious,

seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Prayer and thankfulness can and will replace an anxious life, but it is a choice that we need to exercise on a daily basis.

May the Lord bless you as you seek Him and His righteousness.

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion

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Psalms for Psome – Ps 61.01

2024-05-25

My wife and I are reading through the Psalms in our evening reading and occasionally a nugget of the Psalms jumps out of the page. Don’t you love it when, after years of reading the “Old Book” passages become alive, reinforcing old teachings or simply warming your heart.

This is the book of Psalms, and it is rich.

I pray I can communicate a portion of the blessing we receive from this wonderful book.

Psalm 61:1 To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. Of David. Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;
Psalm 61:2 from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I,
Psalm 61:3 for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.

It seems no one is sure of when this Psalm was written or even if it was King David. Some suggest this psalm was written during the Babylonian captivity. I tend to look at the psalm from a traditional approach and consider this Psalm to be of David, and the situation he finds himself in is the rebellion of Absalom.

David was on the run, across the river Jordan, and eventually makes it to the city of Mahanaim, where he gathers reinforcements and prepares for the battle of Ephraim, where his son is defeated.

Prior to the battle, David is in the weakest position he has experienced. If this psalm comes from the hand of David, it is at this point where I feel he may have given us his passage. Having crossed the Jordan, he is away from the temple, from his city, from the throne, and essentially running for his life.

He may have felt like he was at the ends of his kingdom, near the extent of his authority, the limits of his national borders, as he travelled away from his capital. When he refers to the end of the earth, the phrase may be translated the ends of the “land” also, and makes better sense, at least in my mind.

As he is on the run, priorities come to his heart, and as his hopes and dreams are seemingly being dashed by his own blood, he calls out to God as was his habit.

Hear my cry. Pay attention to my prayer O Lord. Not only pay attention, but also understand my prayer. This type of boldness of the Psalmist is what I find so refreshing, so challenging. He had been in enough experiences with Almighty God that he could speak to Him in this manner.

I often come to the Lord with a cowering sense of subjugation, a head bowed and a knee bent attitude, which is due His Person, and yet the one who is on the run is looking up to God, standing in front and requesting (demanding?) an audience with the Most Holy.

Is this stance of David one out of pride of association, out of a familiarity of relationship with the Father? David admits his heart is faint. To be faint originally meant to be covered over, or enveloped. He was completely distracted or consumed in heart with the circumstances and out of this weakness looked to the Lord for three requests

Guidance to

David was looking for His Rock, the God who never changes, is solid in His Person and that gushes forth living water when least expected. David sought a higher position, knowing that both in military battles and spiritual safety, being higher is preferred. He was not looking to stay where he was, to wallow in his experience but to seek higher ground, to the Rock who is always higher.

Guidance Away

David sought God in his deepest and weakest experiences. But let us not miss that he seeks a position or place that is higher than him. He is not looking to himself for any direction, and it may be read that he is looking for guidance away from his own wisdom, abilities or strengths.

He is looking for guidance to God away from a dependence on his own, for he knows he is faint, at his end, distracted from his priorities, and without resources.

A Historic Haven

The Refuge, his Strong Tower against his enemy, who turns out to be his own son. How conflicted David must have been, distracted in his decisions and faint of heart. No matter what David looked to accomplish, he would wrestle with his decisions, having contrary desires pulling at him. Restore his kingdom, but loose his son, or loose the kingdom and die a traitor at the hand of his son.

To put it bluntly, David was in the worst of situations and he had no idea what to do. He desperately needed guidance, and he needed to get out of his own headspace, where he found no solution that was acceptable. He needed a place of refuge, and that place of refuge was His God.

It is good to remind ourselves that David is not crying out to God for a first time in this instance. Notice that he refers to God as having been his refuge in times past. His previous trials, though arguably of lighter concerns than the present trial, trained his heart to reach out to the God of Israel. This experience was critical, for now David was drowning in this trial, and he naturally had experience with his God as his refuge, as a strong tower from which he might be protected.

As we go through trials, no matter the size or complexity, run to the Father for your help. Not only will this please the Father, and deepen your dependency on the ever faithful One, but it will prepare you for trials that may be heading your way.

Not matter the trial or temptation, He is the One we need to resort to. He is the One who is our Strong Tower. Don’t refuse the great blessing of God’s guidance and protection as you go about your day today.

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Names of God – CHRIST JESUS – 77

2024-05-24

My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.

The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.

The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.

May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.

77

CHRIST JESUS

Romans 3:24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

When my list of the names of God revealed todays topic, that is the name “Christ Jesus”, I want to be honest with you – I was intimidated with addressing the Master’s name in a proper, accurate respectful and loving manner.

Not that His majesty would be affected by my failure in properly describing Him, for His being cannot truly be tarnished by a lowly believer trying to do his best for Him.

After all, He is the One who can take a cripple and make him walk, or find a mute deaf man and provide communication skills to him. He is the One who is always showing grace, exhibiting His mercy, providing patience and longsuffering to His disciples, bringing them from glory to glory.

He is the Anointed One (Christ), the Savior (Jesus).

I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Conditional Security – John 15:1-6 – B

2024-05-23

John 15:1-6

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

When we last got together on John 15, we were discussing verse 2 and 3, and the relationship of pruning and cleansing. We saw the two types of branches, and the actions taking on them based on their fruitfulness. Of course we considered what Jesus meant for the non-fruit bearing believer when He used the term “take away”, and couldn’t come to a conclusion as to His meaning given the verse we were looking at. Did it mean to raise up, as in raising the branch our of the dirt , or did it mean removal of the branch form the vine?

Hopefully the next few verses will assist in our understanding.

Verse 4 is a defining verse in this passage, for Jesus identifies who the branches are. It may have been assumed previously, but now there is no doubt. The branches are disciples.

Their responsibility? Abide in Jesus. This is a command that is to be obeyed, and out of this obedience, a fruitfulness occurs. Don’t get this backward though. Working at being fruitful is not the intent of this passage. Jesus isn’t saying that we should force fruitfulness out of our lives, as if that were possible. No. He says to abide in Him.

To Abide

The Greek term is menō. Synonyms for this word include remain, dwell, continue, tarry and endure.

For the disciple to continue having the life of God course through his (spiritual) veins, he has to remain in Christ. His responsibility is to stay put, to continue with Christ and not to “not abide”.

Yet in this passage Jesus brings to the disciples thoughts what are the consequences if anyone does not abide in Jesus….

This is the picture of the one who started as a branch, but decided to move on to something “better”. This disciple did not abide, he did not stay in Christ.

What is the reaction of the Father? As a Master Vinedresser, He tends the vineyard, finding unconnected branches, possibly with green leaves and fruit hanging from it, and throws the unconnected branch away. The unconnected branch may have the appearance of life, but since it is not connected to the life giving source of the True Vine, it is only a matter of time before the leaves turn brown, and the branch dries out.

The one who chooses not to abide in the True Vine is thrown away, eventually to be gathered together with other unconnected branches, to be thrown in fire.

Now that is some harsh teaching!

When Jesus brings the picture of burning and fire into the monologue, might Jesus be referring to hell as we modern believers understand it? A fire of eternal torment? This particular passage does not address this topic fully of course, and other Bible passages may provide alternate understandings of fire in a believers existence.

Might the fire refer to a fire of consumption? That is a fire that consumes whatever is thrown into it?

Another possible understanding is that the fire is a fire of purification, intending to burn off waste in order to cleanse.

Whatever the fire means in this passage cannot be something to look forward to. And it surely is not the intended end of a believer.

John 15 is very comforting to believers of all stripes, and I used to love reading it, skipping over the “difficult” parts, but it may be wise to tackle those very parts, in order to truly enjoy the comforting parts.

What are your thoughts on this passage? Have you a comment to offer on this passage and the provided teaching? I would love to hear anything you may say, especially from those who may disagree.

Nevertheless, may the Lord give you peace and strength to stay put in Christ, to abide in Him. He is the True Vine!

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Life of David – 7.03

2024-05-22

Saul’s Jealousy of David

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

1 Samuel 18:10-11

10 The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand.
11 And Saul hurled the spear, for he thought, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David evaded him twice.

Envy had gripped King Saul by the throat and was beginning it’s death choke. The king couldn’t get beyond the woman’s celebration of his and David’s victory. To attribute more victories over the Philistines to David than to the great King Saul infuriated him, and put David squarely in his sights.

Did David intend to become a target of the King? Absolutely not. Did the women know they were placing David in harms way? No. Yet this envy of Saul would lead him down a very dark path, to the point of attempting to kill his greatest asset multiple times.

Saul’s envy opened the door for another influence that would amplify the illogical thinking the envy had begun. Saul was on a path that began a rapid descent into madness, and in the mysterious plan of God, God sent a harmful spirit to Saul to torment him. Saul knew this spirit, for God had sent it to Saul previously, to torment him due to his bad decisions, and evil actions.

Consider the following verses, and note that the harmful spirit was always from the Lord.

1 Samuel 16:14 Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him.
1 Samuel 16:15 And Saul’s servants said to him, “Behold now, a harmful spirit from God is tormenting you.
1 Samuel 16:16 Let our lord now command your servants who are before you to seek out a man who is skillful in playing the lyre, and when the harmful spirit from God is upon you, he will play it, and you will be well.”
1 Samuel 16:23 And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.
1 Samuel 18:10 The next day a harmful spirit from God rushed upon Saul, and he raved within his house while David was playing the lyre, as he did day by day. Saul had his spear in his hand.
1 Samuel 19:9 Then a harmful spirit from the LORD came upon Saul, as he sat in his house with his spear in his hand. And David was playing the lyre.

Saul was experiencing torment from this harmful spirit for days in this passage, raving about the house like a madman. As was David’s lot in life at this time, he was to calm the king, especially during these times of possession, but David’s faithfulness simply gave Saul the opportunity to nail David to the wall.

And Saul took this opportunity.

TWICE!

The text says that David evaded Saul’s spear twice. What is with this young shepherd? Saul exposes his intentions and yet David returns to minister to his King. Was it not David’s responsibility to minister to the King, especially in these times of madness? David returned because it was his responsibility. He was faithful, even though Saul made multiple attempts of killing him, to fulfill his ministry to the king, despite the king’s envious eye being directed to him.

Jesus also continued to minister to those who hated Him and sought His destruction. He asked the Father to forgive His murderers, even while hanging on that wretched cross, and He continues to do so even today. He is constantly reaching out to those who, without cause, despise Him.

He is a faithful Savior. Don’t be a madman and reject His ministry to you. He will provide a peace that is beyond understanding once you come to submit to His reign in your life.

He is King and Lord.

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Jesus in the Old Testament – Absalom 5

2024-05-21

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

SEEING JESUS IN

Absalom

No Blemish

2 Samuel 14:25
Now in all Israel there was no one so much to be praised for his handsome appearance as Absalom. From the sole of his foot to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him.

1 Peter 1:19
but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

No blemish.

This likeness is typical of the way Jesus’ character is sometimes reflected in the Old Testament, by describing what a man may physically see. Absalom was without blemish. Stunning in stature, a handsome hulk, a real attractive he-man!

The word “blemish” in the Old Testament can speak of a spot or defect, either in the physical or the moral. This reference to Absalom is surely speaking of him as having no physical blemish in him since the verse speaks of no blemish from the sole of his foot to the crown of his head. The passage speaks of his handsomeness, and to his entire body being without blemish. The author was making a point! He was a looker!

Now, we all know of those amongst us that have that physical quality that draws your eyes to them, that is not only the most handsome man in the room but also has the personality and charisma that draws people to them. Based on appearance and personality. What they look and sound like.

Not so with the Lord. He is described elsewhere in the Word as ordinary, without the appearance of majesty, without beauty and nothing of outward appearance that would draw us to Him.

Isaiah 53:2

For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him.

Two men without blemish. Two men without defect or spot. We understand Absalom was described this way in the physical, and yet we know he had a very large and dark blemish in his character. Nothing spiritually stands out about this man, other than he is not godly, not spiritually appealing, not without spiritual blemish.

But consider Jesus, who is without blemish in His character, without blemish in His relationship with God the Father, without blemish before man, though they seek to find fault! This is simply a reflection of their own darkness, for darkened hearts seek to reject the light.

Yet His unspotted character cannot be denied, and though some try to deny, the Father validated His Son through the physical resurrection.

He is the spotless Son of God, a lamb without blemish, that was sacrificed for our souls! May His name be praised!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Names of God – CHOSEN PORTION – 76

2024-05-20

My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.

The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.

The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.

May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.

76

CHOSEN PORTION

Psalm 16:5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.

In our last post, we considered “Chosen One” as a name for God, and spoke of the contrast between the use of the name. Essentially the name “Chosen One” refers to God’s decision to pick the Messiah, that is was an action between God and the Son.

With our name of God in this post, we have a different dynamic being described. As David mentions the LORD as his “Chosen Portion” He is speaking of his choice to prioritize God over all else. The emphasis is on the elevated relationship the believer decides on between him and the Messiah.

In the Old Testament, the portion often referred to an allotment, or part of the family inheritance. That which each son could look forward to due to his being in the family. As I read David, I sense he is prioritizing the LORD over any family inheritance, or even His Kingly estate. All of David’s priorities lies with the LORD, and his future condition depends not on landmass, or status as the king of Israel, but on the LORD alone.

Truly a fantastic declaration from the king of Israel.

How are your priorities today?

I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Philippian Bits – 4:5

2024-05-19

For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

4:5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand;

Reasonableness. Yes, this is a clear command from the apostle to be nice, agreeable, non-confrontational, and malleable in the hands of those in and out of the church. To be compliant even with those who are against the gospel?

Is this Paul’s instruction? Are we to go along with everyone in order to be considered reasonable?

The Greek word is ἐπιεικής epieikḗs and describes one who is equitable, fair, patient, mild. The ESV typically translates this term as gentle. Given the many passages where we as believers are commanded to stand strong in the Lord and to fight for the faith, how does this “reasonableness” work itself into the equation?

It seems to make sense to me in that when we are fighting for the faith, or standing strong in the Lord, holding onto our convictions of how good and loving our God is and of the sacrifice of our Savior for our sake – in the midst of all of what He means to us, we are to have a gentle spirit.

A gentle spirit in front of everyone. Not just in Sunday School when it may be easy to put this front on, but in the workplace, where we are to be peacemakers, gracious and gentle when it comes to our relations with our co-workers, peers and those who are responsible to us in their duties.

Reasonable (gentle) when we have been attacked verbally by a neighbor, when we have been a victim of a crime, or have suffered a loss.

How can Paul expect this of believers? He provides the reason for the reasonableness.

The Lord is at hand. He is near. Paul may be referring to the Lord’s location or of the Lord’s imminent return from heaven. The term “near” can have either intent, yet for Philippians 4:5, Paul seems to be referring to the immanency of His return.

But hold up. If that is correct, how could Paul say that to the Philippians in the first century? He was writing to believers around 62 AD, and over 1,960 years have passed since, with no return. Was Paul wrong? Was he simply mistaken?

Or do we as modern believers sometimes think it is all about ourselves, that the Word was written 2000 years ago just for our generation? That is surely how I read the Word for many decades as a believer, yet Paul was writing to a local church, trying to encourage them in the Christian life.

What could “the Lord is at hand” mean for those believers?

One teaching that has made sense to me is that during this time after the resurrection, that first few decades, much upheaval was going on in the nations. The Roman government was going through civil wars, the land was experiencing many climate phenomenon’s, (the occurrence of earthquakes in the region had increased) and many false prophets had been opposing the gospel message. Our very next verse speaks of the church’s anxiousness. Things were in upheaval, and yet the Lord is at hand, He would be returning.

Yet the church is still on earth! So does that mean He did not return?

His specific return for the church may not be referred to here. There are times when the Word speaks of His return, of His coming in response to a churches relationship to Him. Consider the book of Revelation.

2:5 Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first. If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you repent.

2:16 Therefore repent. If not, I will come to you soon and war against them with the sword of my mouth.

2:25 Only hold fast what you have until I come.

3:3 Remember, then, what you received and heard. Keep it, and repent. If you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come against you.

With all this content speaking of the Lord’s coming to His church, many of these verses speak of a judgement, or a return to clean house, to put the church in order or even to “close it down”

This coming in Philippians 4:5 is most likely not the nature of Paul’s reference in our passage today, I am of the opinion Paul is speaking of the Lord’s coming to the nation of Israel in the form of the Roman army’s annihilation of the nation of Israel. This act of the most powerful nation doing the bidding of the Lord in taking the nation of Israel out of commission, would confirm the church’s status as the voice of God in the world.

This short study has definitely become a bit longer than anticipated, so I will close for now. If there are some out there who may have questions on this understanding, I would love to discuss further.

For now though, let us have a reasonable spirit as we live amongst everyone we come in contact with, while we stand for the Lord, and declare His goodness to all.

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion

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Psalms for Psome – Ps 60.04

2024-05-18

My wife and I are reading through the Psalms in our evening reading and occasionally a nugget of the Psalms jumps out of the page. Don’t you love it when, after years of reading the “Old Book” passages become alive, reinforcing old teachings or simply warming your heart.

This is the book of Psalms, and it is rich.

I pray I can communicate a portion of the blessing we receive from this wonderful book.

Psalm 60:9 Who will bring me to the fortified city? Who will lead me to Edom?
Psalm 60:10 Have you not rejected us, O God? You do not go forth, O God, with our armies.
Psalm 60:11 Oh, grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man!
Psalm 60:12 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.

Our last portion of Psalm 60. I always love the last portion of a psalm, for the body of the typical psalm provides a struggle, a failure, a disappointment, even a question of faith, and the author is struggling with a topic in each psalm, but when we get to the last portion, I do not recall a psalm yet that ends without a time of encouragement and hope in the Lord.

Psalm 60 is no different!

Yes verse 10 reminds us that the nation is feeling the loss of God’s help, that there is something going on that reminds the people of their state of weakness. They have been rejected in some manner and David reminds the people of this fact, yet he doesn’t sit there. He doesn’t remain in a defeated, woe is me state, for he immediately begins his plea with God for help, for his admission of his utter need of help.

No where is there any help in the efforts of men, for where could he go – God is the strength of the nation.

I can hear echoes of Peter in David’s writing here, of when Peter was asked if he would leave after a period of testing. What was Peter’s response in John 6:68?

“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.

To whom shall we go? What great reminder for each of us. David spoke of the vanity of the salvation of man. Peter takes the flip side and states the lack of any effective source to rely on other than the Lord.

We have a choice.

With God we shall do valiantly, for in the end, it is He who will tread down our foes!

Seeking help from man will lead us to empty results. No one reading this short post wants empty results!

Seek the Lord for His help!

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Names of God – CHOSEN ONE – 75

2024-05-17

My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.

The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.

The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.

May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.

75

CHOSEN ONE

Luke 23:35 And the people stood by, watching, but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!”

It is amazing the amount of truth that came from the rulers mouths during the time of Jesus being on the earth!
Yet the truth that came from the rulers mouths, that Jesus was the Chosen One, was filled with contempt and vitriol. The rulers scoffed at Him at His weakest moments, but as the Chosen One He was delivering them from the very hatred they poured forth.
For Jesus to be called the Chosen One at this time was not an isolated event. Back in Luke 9:35, as Jesus was transfigured in front of three of His disciples, Jesus was called out as God’s Chosen One.

And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, my Chosen One; listen to him!”

What a stark contrast for those three disciples who saw the transfiguration, where they witnessed the Lord in His glory, and were told of God’s choice of Him as His King.

Now the disciples were witnessing His utter rejection and humiliation. And to hear the rulers use the same title while He hung on a cruel cross!

He is the Chosen One. We have the witness of the Word, and though the rulers rejected Him, the truth stands.

I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Conditional Security – John 15:1-6 – A

2024-05-16

John 15:1-6

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.

2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you.

4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.

5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

Looking over my list of future Bible passages that speak to our topic of conditional security, I have come across the very passage that was one of the big ones that made me reconsider OSAS (Once Saved Always Saved) may not be without debate.

John 15, along with a passage in Colossians and a smattering of verses in Hebrews and Revelation all were instrumental in turning my eyes to this topic. After having worked through over 100 passages or verses in the Word in relation to conditional security, I was amazed that I had never addressed this particular passage.

Let’s consider the audience. Jesus is speaking to 12 men, men who have been following him for close to 3 years. Men who have committed to Him their lives, as much as they knew how to. Little did they understand the future revelations that would come to them, but at this time, these men showed every evidence of being true and faithful to Jesus.

Well – maybe one may show some lack of faithfulness in the near future, but that is an unknown to the group as we find them in this passage.

This passage centers around the picture of a vine, and the upkeep of the vine by the Father. Jesus begins by likening Himself to the vine, yet He qualifies the type of vine He speaks of. He describes Himself as the True Vine. This must surely have raised the eyebrows of the disciples, for they knew from their childhood teachings, that Israel was the vine of God. For Jesus to describe Himself as the true vine had some serious implications.

Israel the nation was not the true vine. This truth may have been predominant in the apostles minds. The second implication may have been that Israel the nation was simply a symbol of a reality. Now, this symbiology of Jesus being the reality of a shadow in the Old Testament would be fleshed out in future experiences with the disciples, but this is a typical teaching from the Lord while He walked with us on earth. Jesus is the True Vine, the True Shepherd, the True Temple, the True Israel. He is the fulfillment of all of the Old Testament pictures provided.

Let’s take a moment to gain some knowledge of how Israel was described as a vine in the Old Testament. God had brought the people of Abraham, Jacob and Joseph out of Egypt and planted them in the land as a vine in a vineyard. He prepared the land for the vine to grow and eventually it filled the land.

Psalm 80:8-9

8 You brought a vine out of Egypt; you drove out the nations and planted it. 9 You cleared the ground for it; it took deep root and filled the land.

Sadly, even under the care of the Master Vinedresser, after hundreds of years of testing and failure, Israel had proven that they, the vine, had turned wild, producing wild grapes instead of cultivated, fruit.

Isaiah 5:1-2

1 Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard:
My beloved had a vineyard on a very fertile hill.

2 He dug it and cleared it of stones, and planted it with choice vines; he built a watchtower in the midst of it, and hewed out a wine vat in it; and he looked for it to yield grapes, but it yielded wild grapes.

Further into Israel’s history, God spoke of Israel as a choice vine, a vine of good stock, yet it had become degenerate.

Jeremiah 2:21

21 Yet I planted you a choice vine, wholly of pure seed. How then have you turned degenerate and become a wild vine?

Surely there was a Vine that would not fail, that was of pure seed and that would be fruitful. Jesus is claiming this calling, and by that claim, knocked the nation of Israel out of contention for this title. But let us not forget the history of the image of the vine in the Old Testament, for Jesus is using this knowledge base when teaching His men at this time.

With Jesus establishing Himself as the True Vine, He continues with this image, describing the Father as the vinedresser. This should not be shocking to the disciples, for the Old Testament speaks of God as the One who planted the vine, cultivated it and watched over it.

Jesus then takes the picture of the vine and extrapolates the image to include branches, and begins to speak of two types of fruit. This is where is gets very interesting.

Fruit Bearing

Let’s consider the fruit bearing branch first. With this type of branch, He prunes it. To prune the branch is to kathairō. It speaks of cleansing, and when used in relation to vines, speaks of clipping useless shoots off the branch.

What I find interesting is that Jesus speaks of the disciples as already pruned, for the term for “clean” in our very next verse is katharos. Can you see a similarity of this word to the Greek word used previously?

The disciples had been pruned (cleaned) because of His teaching that He provided earlier. A pruning action had been performed on the disciples, through His teaching, that had born fruit in the disciples lives.

A question for my reader. How would you describe the fruit that was produced? What is it in the disciples lives that exhibited a fruitfulness?

Non Fruit Bearing

For those branches that are non fruit bearing, the Father will “take away”. Now it would be easy to associate this “taking away” with judgement, loss of life and condemnation, but after a bit of review, I found that this term can refer to two actions.

The first action would refer to moving something from it’s place, to take away, to remove, or to carry off. The translators use of “take away” fits this description.

A secondary interpretation of this Greek term is to lift up, to elevate or to raise upwards. As the vinedresser, the picture is that of God lifting up branches from the dirt of the field, in order to give them opportunity to thrive. This is appealing to consider yet for the sake of our discussion, it would be wise to consider both meanings as we venture through Jesus’ teaching.

With that, I will let my reader ruminate on the two different meaning of “take away” in this passage and we shall close, for this post has become a bit longer than I expected. Let’s get together again to finish up this passage. Until then, may the Lord bless you and make you a fruitful believer.

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Life of David – 7.02

2024-05-15

Saul’s Jealousy of David

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

1 Samuel 18:8-9

8 And Saul was very angry, and this saying displeased him. He said, “They have ascribed to David ten thousands, and to me they have ascribed thousands, and what more can he have but the kingdom?”
9 And Saul eyed David from that day on.

As we ventured in our last post through David’s victory march and Saul’s development of a nasty case of envy, we made note that envy was not a possession thing, it was a character/skill thing. To be envious is to experience, even to feed a resentful awareness of someone else’s superiority.

With that understanding, we can see that Saul could do two things. Admit this envy as the sin it is, or succumb to it. As we know, Saul was not a man of self control, and he will seek to solve his problem through the use of his power as king.

Let’s remember that if Saul was simply jealous, he could take the possession from David that was causing the jealousy. But remember – Saul wasn’t jealous – he was growing envious, which in my opinion is a much bigger foe.

Envy is such a terrible foe. Envy’s victims are twofold, for the obvious victim in this case is David, but the real victim is Saul, for as we will see in future posts, Saul is driven crazy with envy, and never finds satisfaction, never attains his goal of obeying the dictates of this unsatiable envy. David the future king of Israel was entering into a trial based on Saul’s envy, a trial that would bring him to the edge of his grave.

I cannot resist reminding my reader that there was another King that was delivered up to the Romans by the chief priests out of envy.

Mark 15:10 For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up.

With the Lord, we know that the chief priests were successful in quieting the voice of the Lord initially, seemingly satisfying the demands of their envy, only to have the Savior rise from the grave, and forcing a greater decision upon the priests. Repent or destruction. Thankfully many of the sect of the Pharisees converted, yet some would live to see the fruits of their decision on the nation of Israel, and personally suffer their own destruction.

Back to David in our last verse, when the author stated that Saul eyed David from then on, it is fully understood that he has it in for this young shepherd warrior, this young man who has served him, this young man who delivered the nation from it’s greatest threat.

Yes, this envy would cause David much pain. But for Saul, like the chief priests in Jesus day, would cost him mounting frustration, and eventually his life!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Jesus in the Old Testament – Absalom 4

2024-05-14

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

SEEING JESUS IN

Absalom

Hung on a tree

2 Samuel 18:9
And Absalom happened to meet the servants of David. Absalom was riding on his mule, and the mule went under the thick branches of a great oak, and his head caught fast in the oak, and he was suspended between heaven and earth, while the mule that was under him went on.

Acts 5:30
The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree.

Acts 10:39
And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,

What a humiliating death for the mighty Absalom. After realizing the revolt had failed, Absalom took off through the forest of Ephraim, a heavily wooded forest, on his mule. As he was fleeing, his head caught in the tree, and the mule continued on. He must have experienced at least a concussion, or possibly a broken neck, with his head stuck in some nook of a branch, since it appears he didn’t seek to escape the situation.

Yes he was as good as dead, hanging from the tree. It was just a matter of time before good old Joab came by and thrust him through with 3 javelins. Talk about overkill!

There was a period of time for Absalom to be helpless, without the power to escape and yet realizing what he had sough to do to his own father. What a horrible condition to be in, and to know that it was just a matter of time before one of his father’s soldiers came by to finish him off. Yes – just a matter of time!

We know another who hung between heaven and earth, and the time he spent hanging there must have been horrific. Absalom hung between heaven and earth by a fluke accident, a situation he would most surely have wanted to avoid, to continue his battle against his father.

Jesus fought to get on the tree, for He knew this was His Father’s will. Jesus, in order to please His Father, fought to hang between heaven and earth.

Again, we see a glimmer of Jesus, at least by accident, in Absalom’s story, and yet when we compare the shadow with the reality, there really is no comparison.

Jesus on the tree was the gateway for His resurrection and our salvation. Absalom was simply an evil man who died alone.

May we consider Jesus act of sacrifice this day as we go about our business, as we seek to represent such a loving, giving and caring God.

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Names of God – CHOSEN OF GOD – 74

2024-05-13

My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.

The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.

The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.

May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.

74

CHOSEN OF GOD

1 Peter 2:4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious,

There have been men chosen of God for special callings, such as Moses, or Samson, David or Samuel. Each man chosen of God for a specific purpose. Moses as the lawgiver. David as the King. Samuel as a prophet.

Yes they were all chosen by God.

Jesus was chosen of God as a living stone in this verse, and we shall get to this description of our Savior in due course. But for this post, let us consider the description of our Lord as the chosen of God.

We often here of being chosen as a unilateral act of the chooser (God) on the basis of nothing other than the chooser’s choice. More commonly, when “chosen of God” is spoken of in our theological circles the idea of unconditional election rises to the top of our minds. Calvinism teaches that God’s election, or choice, is based solely on His sovereign will, and it (God’s choice) is not dependent on any merit or worthiness on the part of the individual being chosen.

Can we understand this teaching in relation to the One who was chosen to fulfill the greatest mission ever assigned, and to occupy the highest honor in God’s Kingdom?

Certainly we cannot assume that Jesus was chosen after having entered the human story through His miraculous birth. His choosing was prior to the foundation of the ages, in eternity past, amongst the Godhead. Yet each of the persons of the Godhead is perfection. Pure holiness. Without any defect or deficiency.

One of the Godhead was chosen, prior to creation, to provide salvation to a people who would reject Him.

The concept that Calvinism seeks to provide seems to fit the situation with the Son being chosen. Yet in the midst of this choosing, each of the Godhead realized the tremendous cost it would take from them all.

But He was chosen, sent to bear our sins, break the Father’s heart and provide a Helper that is too often ignored, or frustrated.

May we spend the time we have left on earth honoring our Savior, pleasing our Father and agreeing with the Spirit.

That is our choice. Give us strength O Lord!

I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Philippian Bits – 4:4

2024-05-12

For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.

A key verse of the letter. While Paul is in prison, addressing what may be considered a silly argument amongst those in his favorite church, he breaks forth with this reiteration of joy.

He says we are to rejoice always!

Come on Paul. I have a hangnail, and it is super irritating, my car had a flat last night and I have no diet coke in the fridge. How can you expect me to experience joy in the midst of these trials?

Oh the trials of the modern believer. Oh the heavy weight of the modern believer. In the midst of a life where we get distracted from our greater purpose by insignificant and inconsequential troubles, we are robbed of a joy that is offered to us.

Yet let us look at Paul’s statement once more.

He does not say “Experience joy” or “You shall enjoy life without condition”. His statement is a command. This is life changing, for as soon as I realized this was not simply a statement of my current condition, but a command to obey, much of the uncertainty of my faith fell away.

We are to rejoice! It is within our scope of obedience, and we are to enter into rejoicing by a decision we make in our lives. Paul gives us the focus of the joy, and that is in the Lord, He is our joy, and when our eyes focus on diet coke or flat tires, we have walked away from this command.

Yes diet coke and flat tires are distractions, some more powerful than others, but as we walk this pilgrimage, we are to focus on the Lord and rejoice.

As Paul said, I also will remind us and again say – Rejoice!

What a privilege to follow after Him, and to follow after Him in the midst of joy, not in a drudgery or complaining mood, which will suffocate your faith.

Rejoice. Decide to look to the Lord, realize who our Great Savior is, and rejoice!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion

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Psalms for Psome – Ps 60.03

2024-05-11

My wife and I are reading through the Psalms in our evening reading and occasionally a nugget of the Psalms jumps out of the page. Don’t you love it when, after years of reading the “Old Book” passages become alive, reinforcing old teachings or simply warming your heart.

This is the book of Psalms, and it is rich.

I pray I can communicate a portion of the blessing we receive from this wonderful book.

Psalm 60:6 God has spoken in his holiness: “With exultation I will divide up Shechem and portion out the Vale of Succoth.
Psalm 60:7 Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet; Judah is my scepter.
Psalm 60:8 Moab is my washbasin; upon Edom I cast my shoe; over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

After assuring his reader in the last portion of Psalm 60 that there is a place of refuge to run to; that God is a banner for those who seek Him, David then goes on to state God’s actions.

David was a big picture guy, having his eye on the future of God’s plan and did not let the current set back hold him back. This is a difficult lesson, for as we are pressing forward, we will always have setbacks, disappointments, discouragements, and delays. In our battles, we should not be surprised by difficult times entering our lives, even understanding that the Lord Himself is allowing these difficulties. During those times of difficulties, we must be big picture people, looking to the end game, the purpose for which He has brought us into the game.

The regions David refers to in our verses start in the northern portion of Israel, with each region zigzagging back and forth over the Jordan as the author moves his finger south down the map of Israel.

Each of these regions are described as God’s possessions. This fact that David reminds us of is instructive for it reminds us that we are not the owners, but only stewards, and that as the Owner, God will have his way of working His plan with those people in the regions He speaks of.

It is God’s land. Military setbacks are inevitable, but by remembering the land is the Lord’s and the big picture of God’s victory, David finds solace and relief to continue another day. Please understand – David’s current struggle is not being minimized, but in relation to the goal of God, David has found the perspective He needs.

Are you going through a valley, a difficult time, where it appears you have lost major gains in the Christian walk? Consider the big picture, and understand that God has an end purpose for our lives.

Love God and His Son, be patient, look to the big picture and hang on!

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Names of God – CHOSEN CORNERSTONE – 73

2024-05-10

My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.

The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.

The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.

May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.

73

CHOSEN CORNERSTONE

1 Peter 2:6-7 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.” So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,”

Throughout the Word, Jesus is described as the Chosen One, Chosen of God and even a believers Chosen Portion, but for our study this morning, let us consider that Peter refers to the Master as the Chosen Cornerstone.

To be chosen speaks of a decision outside of the intended chosen ones influence. It is to be picked, or to be elected by someone to an office, to a position or to a responsibility. To be chosen also speaks of selection and or an appointment to a situation.

Peter speaks of Jesus as the Chosen Cornerstone. The Cornerstone, upon which all other development, or construction refers to and is based upon. Of course Peter is not referring to the physical buildings we think of when we speak of when we mention “church”. Nothing so crass and insignificant in relation to the truth Peter is getting at. Peter is speaking of the Cornerstone upon which the entire Christian church, of all the ages, and throughout the entire globe is built upon. This Chosen Cornerstone is the lynchpin, the foundation, the Builder and Maker of the church.

Without the cornerstone, there is no building, there is no church, no body, no fellowship, no life, no salvation, no hope, no future.

He is the only reason the church exists in the world today, and as the Chosen Cornerstone, He is to be elevated as the only One to whom we look to.

I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Conditional Security – 2 Corinthians 13:5-9

2024-05-09

5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?–unless indeed you fail to meet the test!
6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test.
7 But we pray to God that you may not do wrong–not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is right, though we may seem to have failed.
8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for.

Who is Paul writing to? Believers or professors? If professors, he is certainly giving them much encouragement in thier status with God by calling them out as saints (1:1), brothers (1:8), having the seal (1:22) and the Spirit (1:22). Yes, for Paul to consider those he addresses as brothers in chapter 1 as professors in chapter 13 causes me a discontinuity that I cannot find justification for.

Given that Paul is addressing his brothers in chapter 13, let us consider what Paul is about to say. Ok, so let us ead it one more time.

Examine yourselves, to see if you go to church enough, tithe enough, read the bible enough, or pray enough.

That is not the message at all. The question is – Are you “in” the faith or “out” of the faith. That is the challenge!

This is one of the rare instances where two words for testing used by the Greeks is used in the same verse. Kinda interesting!

The first word (Examine) is peirazō, πειράζω to test (objectively). As we say at the office – It is what it is! No intentions, emotions or subjective rational during this testing. A fact is a fact!

The second word (Test) is dokimazō, δοκιμάζω, to test if genuine, also to approve, or deem worthy after testing. This word, when I come across it in the New Testament, always brings to mind the intent that the testing is for the sake of approval, the test is given hoping that the test is passed.

For both of these words to be used, I imagine, is Paul’s way of saying the truth is harsh, relentless, unforgiving (as to the conclusions arrived by seeking it) and possibly shocking. Yet in the midst of exhorting the Corinthians to face the facts, he also has the heart of a pastor, seeking for good results, for success after the time of self testing for the believers.

Yet the topic of this blog is the possibility of these believers having fallen away, left their Savior, walked away. Unless this is a very real possibility, the test seems to be an exercise of futility, and possibly may cause more damage than intended.

Let’s say that after some self examination, I find I am out of the faith, but are still being encouraged by outside forces that “things will be alright”, “there is nothing to worry about”, and reminded that “50 yrs ago you said a prayer”. The test becomes fruitless. There is no reason to repent from your current situation.

Let’s say instead I understand that the security I have is conditional, and that I may have slipped away. This testing could save my life, bringing me back under the Lord and in the church.

These are not light teachings, and we cannot judge Paul’s intent of message based on my simple logic, but let us be careful with blanket encouragement of those who may be undergoing a self examination with bad results.

Encourage them “in the Lord”, and not with empty platitudes or distant prayers. The focus is always the Lord, our relationship with Him.

Do you know Him? As a “Christian”, do you know Him?

Paul would pray for the believers restoration. Is there a restoration for you?

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Life of David – 7.01

2024-05-08

Saul’s Jealousy of David

As many who have followed me for a bit, I have fallen into the Psalms, and I can’t get up! (As if I would want to.) The Psalms are a majestic collection of poetry, of heart felt human experiences that constantly challenge me in my own frail attempt to follow the true King. As many of the Psalms are written by David, my study on the Psalms has spurred me on to looking at the life of David, is the main contributor to this book, and to follow the victories and tragedies of the shepherd King of Israel.

Many times in the narrative, we will see the Lord Jesus, imperfectly, yet a reflection of His spirit in a man with weaknesses.

1 Samuel 18:6-7
6 As they were coming home, when David returned from striking down the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet King Saul, with tambourines, with songs of joy, and with musical instruments.
7 And the women sang to one another as they celebrated, “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands.”

Ok, we have three participants in this short story. We have David, who had struck down the Philistines, King Saul who was “with” David, and the women.

Yes – the women.

They meant well, but it did cause a problem. Were the women trying to cause difficulty for David, trying to “stir the pot”? Absolutely not, if I read this properly. They were rejoicing that Israel was victorious and they knew that young shepherd soldier, who was all the rage in Israel, was the reason Israel was so successful. Yes, the women were simply rejoicing, with seemingly good motives, seeking to receive the victorious back to the land!

Yet, for David, this seemingly awesome reception and acknowledgement by the some of the nations women, set up a situation that would lead to attempts on his life, for there was a wee little man, (though head and shoulders above all his subjects), that could not accept the praise being given to David.

But that may not be entirely accurate.

It might not be that the praise given to David was the problem, but that Saul wasn’t receiving top billing, that King Saul was not the most important man in the parade.

It is not that King Saul was jealous, for that emotion is typically associated with possessions, or of a third party in a relationship. I suppose jealousy may apply here, but I think a more accurate word to describe Saul’s emotional constitution would be envy.

Envy and jealousy are sometimes thought of as synonymous, but I would submit to my reader that envy speaks to a resentful awareness of someone else’s superiority. It isn’t so much a possession thing but a character/skill that allows the nasty emotion to rise to the surface!

David was a skilled warrior. King Saul was one who sent men out to battle. Poor Saul wasn’t quite happy with his lot in life.

And the women, in all their innocent exuberance, brought out the envy residing in Saul, with force. It would become all controlling!

There were times when the Lord was praised by someone in the gospels, and He commanded them to be quiet. I never understood that for many years, thinking that everyone should know, that everyone should hear of all His works. That was until I settled down in my mind and thought of situations like we are looking at in this passage.

Good intentions of truthful witness can have dire circumstances. Of course Jesus was aiming for the cross, but it would be on His time schedule, and not someone else’s.

He was in control of every element of His ministry, the good, the bad and the innocent exuberance! Jesus was in control of His revealing at every moment. Jesus understood the heart of man like no other, and orchestrated His own crucifixion through the reactions of men’s dark hearts.

What an amazing Savior!

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Jesus in the Old Testament – Absalom 3

2024-05-07

Jesus in the Old Testament is a series of posts that will offer my readers a chance to consider pictures or shadows of Jesus in the Old Testament. As mentioned in the introduction to this series, some may be obvious, some may be not so obvious, and some may simply be a facet of the Lord those reading may not have considered previously.

I hope as we venture through this series, we will see the Lord in many wonderful pictures throughout the Old Testament.

SEEING JESUS IN

Absalom

Son longing to come home

2 Samuel 14:32 32 Absalom answered Joab, “Behold, I sent word to you, ‘Come here, that I may send you to the king, to ask, “Why have I come from Geshur? It would be better for me to be there still.” Now therefore let me go into the presence of the king, and if there is guilt in me, let him put me to death.’”

John 20:17 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Absalom had killed his brother Amnon, based on a convenient moral rage that he hid behind to gain advantage (I believe) to ascend to the throne of Israel. Yes Amnon performed a vile act of rape on his sister, and yes he should suffer the consequences of that wicked decision. But the judgement was not to be performed by his brother Absalom. But as we reviewed in our last post in this series, that is exactly what happened.

David’s third son killed David’s first son, heir apparent to the throne. It appears the children were watching when David took Bathsheba! David’s attitude toward women filtered down into Amnon, and began the dissolution of David’s family.

Yet, when in the darkness, as David must surely have been during these difficult days, a ray of hope is usually grasped without too much discernment. Such is the case here, when the self exiled Absalom calls unto Joab to request a return to the City of David, even to be presented before the King.

How audacious of a man this Absalom must be. Yet his very desire, though the evil intent may be cloaked with the appearance of family loyalty, indicates a normal healthy relationship between son and father. It is normal, yes even worth much for the relationship to be maintained.

For Absalom, he stated he would chance death for the opportunity to return to the King’s palace. Surely he must have been hedging his bets, but on the surface this statement is informative.

For our Lord, His desire was without mixed motives, for He left behind an eternal connection with the Father, a continual, deep, interactive and consistent relationship of holiness, love, peace and joy. At no time was there a point of friction, a discussion of differing opinions, a misunderstanding or a loss of connectedness between the Father and the Son.

Even while walking amongst us, the connection with the Father was never broken, never strained, never diminished. That is until that day when spike were driven into His hands and feet, and a sword was shoved into His chest. There was a time when the Father looked away. When Jesus was alone, all alone.

At that time, the desire to go home must have been heart crushing. Although Absalom spoke of this desire, Jesus experienced this longing like no one else.

May we be a thankful people, for a Savior such as He!

Jesus is such a Savior!

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Names of God – CHILD FROM THE HOLY GHOST – 72

2024-05-06

My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.

The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.

The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.

May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.

72

CHILD FROM THE HOLY GHOST

Matthew 1:18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

Matthew speaks of our Lord as a child from the Holy Spirit. We do not have much in the bible record of Jesus as a child but Matthew does supply a few tidbits of information.

After providing Jesus genealogy, Matthew cuts to the chase and informs his readers that this One was not merely a King of the line of David, but from the Holy Spirit. Of course this phrase may simply speak of His origin and not His very nature of God.

Joseph, two verses later, was also informed that this baby was from the Holy Spirit, in order to calm Joseph’s fears and suspicions. Matthew further reminds us that all that was occurring with Joseph and Mary was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken in Isaiah, identifying this unborn baby as a boy, and that He will be “God with us”.

Jesus was from the Holy Spirit, and is God with us. From the womb!

There may be some who may think He attained the status of God through His obedience in His ministry to the Father, or that He received His identity by the baptism He underwent. Matthew would argue against any effort to reduce the person of Christ from being God to becoming God, right from the start of his gospel.

We might be wise to do the same, for He is the Child from the Holy Ghost, the very nature of God!

I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!

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Philippian Bits – 4:3

2024-05-05

For this series in Philippians, I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

4:3 Yes, I ask you also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

What to do with arguing women? A question for the ages!

As we noticed in the previous verse Paul called out two women who were struggling with unity between themselves. And as we all have come to realize, when there are two who struggle with unity in a church, this typically causes two camps to form behind each opinion.

This is naughty! Not beneficial in any way! Divisive!

Yet what is Paul’s exhortation? Kick ’em out of the church! At least get rid of the one who brings less tithes into the coffers!

Duh – read the passage once more. Paul is requesting a third party to intervene in this strife. To help these women. Not to eject them. To bring about a spirit of cooperation between them, to unite them under one purpose.

Is this third party a known brother to us? Is Paul describing this one as a true yoke fellow, or might he be calling on one in the church named Syzygos. It is interesting to say the least that if there was a worker in the church whose name was Syzygos, Paul calls on him to act as his name describes him, as one who unites under a yoke. Might it be that it is his strength or gift to bring people together under one yoke? Under one Savior?

As we ended the last post, we see that Paul continues with the theme of unity, of peacemaking. He is seeking to bring together those who have the same Master, to have believers be peacemakers. Again we see relationship within the body as being a paramount concern in the apostles heart.

Book of Life

Having said that, let us consider the topic of the book of life. Paul brings up this term seemingly out of nowhere. There are a number of possible links in the Old Testament that Paul may be referencing, and bringing into the New Covenant thought.

Our first passage in Isaiah designates a characteristic of those whose name is recorded for life. Holiness. A chief characteristic of the saint, of the follower of God is the desire of holiness, of being set apart for God. Isaiah speaks of a time when Zion will be cleansed of filth, with those left behind being the very same as those who are in the book of life, recorded for life.

Isaiah 4:3 ESV – And he who is left in Zion and remains in Jerusalem will be called holy, everyone who has been recorded for life in Jerusalem,

Our next verse is in Daniel. Notice that Daniel links citizenship in the nation of Israel with the names written in the book. When referring to “your people” Daniel is speaking of those who would be delivered from a time of trouble. Those whose name was found in the book would be protected.

Daniel 12:1 ESV – “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.

Ezekiel brings to our attention the idea on non inclusion, that is that the names should not be in the register of the nation. Those false prophets were not to be enrolled in the national register, the record of citizenship for the nation. Ezekiel speaks of keeping the register clean by not allowing any false prophets to be considered of the nation of Israel.

Ezekiel 13:9 ESV – My hand will be against the prophets who see false visions and who give lying divinations. They shall not be in the council of my people, nor be enrolled in the register of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord GOD.

One time in the Old Covenant, the idea of being blotted out of the book of the living is considered. David speaks of his foes, and by referring to them as being blotted out, links them with the nation of Israel. These foes were to be stricken from the rolls of citizenship!

Psalm 69:28 ESV – Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.

You know, when Paul brings up the topic of the book of life, right after his reference to our citizenship in heaven, it may not be as out of the blue as I first thought. May Paul be bringing this common thread of Old Testament record keeping of citizenship into Christian thinking? What thinkest thou?

Of course Paul is not the only apostle who speaks of the book of life. But the phrase is not used in the New Testament again until the apostle John refers to it in the book of Revelation six more times.

And that is for another time!

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Psalms for Psome – Ps 60.02

2024-05-04

My wife and I are reading through the Psalms in our evening reading and occasionally a nugget of the Psalms jumps out of the page. Don’t you love it when, after years of reading the “Old Book” passages become alive, reinforcing old teachings or simply warming your heart.

This is the book of Psalms, and it is rich.

I pray I can communicate a portion of the blessing we receive from this wonderful book.

Psalm 60:4 You have set up a banner for those who fear you, that they may flee to it from the bow. Selah
Psalm 60:5 That your beloved ones may be delivered, give salvation by your right hand and answer us!

David is recounting the goodness of God and it is instructive to recognize, that he was experiencing setbacks militarily. Not only military setbacks, but he calls out God in the earlier passage, stating God had been very harsh, making the land quake, tearing it open, making the nation stagger with what they had experienced. Let’s read the previous verses once more and consider what David was going through. Remember – he was claiming God was the One who brought about the following difficulties.

Psalm 60:2-3 You have made the land to quake; you have torn it open; repair its breaches, for it totters. You have made your people see hard things; you have given us wine to drink that made us stagger.

David was definitely in a low point, a struggle that was not merely a military issue, but a God issue.

A difficult passage to understand, yet as David ponders the goodness of God, I sense he is speaking of a remnant that will look to God, that a banner has been set up for, for those who fear God and will flee to. Yes the nation (physical) has experienced great trial here, but in the midst of this trial, those who fear God recognize the banner set out in front of them, that they can appeal to, that they can flee to, and hide under the Shadow of the Almighty.

Will all seek out the banner of God? David does not answer this, yet in the midst of difficult time, even times brought about by the Father, He is still our cover, our refuge, our banner to gather about.

Let us remember that in no difficulty or trial, God is not there for us.

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Names of God – CHIEF SHEPHERD – 71

2024-05-03

My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.

The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.

The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.

May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.

71

CHIEF SHEPHERD

1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.

Peter is addressing the elders of the church. For brevities sake, I shall not enter into a discussion on my understanding of leadership in the New Testament church, suffice it to say that it comprises of two types of men. One of these type of men are called elders, and we can safely state that an elder is one of many primary spiritual leaders in the local body.

Peter provides one command for these men.

Shepherd the flock they know. There are defining phrases that describe this command that follows, but this is the principle truth Peter wants to communicate to the elders. Shepherd the flock of God that they know.

How to do this?

Exercise oversight. Watch your flock. I understand this to include some discretion in the watching, for I sense Peter is not looking for an elder to be involved in every member’s decision making process, or to directly and constantly seek to influence each member to their way of thinking.

In this oversight, the desire of the elder is positive. It is not to be a drudgery attending to the members business, but a joy to assist the member as required, to have the patience to stand still for the member to reach out.

In this oversight, money is not to be a motivator. Peter has spoken of the elders willingness previously, and here he speaks of an eagerness.

Now you may think I am describing an elder to be stand offish, out of touch, or without the ability to create and maintain relationships with their flock. Please do not read me that way. Yet the next phrase in Peters description of the proper elder is that they are not to be domineering.

This is the kick in the gut, for how many have been in a body where the “accepted elder” is the one with the most education, the highest paycheck, the most demanding of his people and yet rarely allows those of his flock to see him with his family, with the struggles he experiences. He feels he has to be the perfect one as an example, and yet I would suggest this is an act of pride and domination.

The shepherd is to be one who is visibly in need of God’s grace, humbled by his failures and faithful in allowing his flock to experience his life, warts and all.

A shepherd is to be fully human, dependent upon the Lord, in humility providing a hand to those who feel comfortable to approach him.

I may have been off topic a bit, but this is the one who is the true leader, the one who understands his weakness, allows others to see their weakness and their need for God, and that is approachable, a servant to those who need to see Jesus.

For was it not characteristic of the Chief Shepherd to self humble, to come down, to be a friend of sinners and prostitutes, to be approachable (unless you were a bit too religious!). This is the character of Christ, and per the self humbling, He has become the highest of all, and the Chief Shepherd.

Our Chief Shepherd!

And when Jesus appears, these men of service and humility will gain a crown of glory, due to their not seeking it while on earth.

I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion. If you know someone this blog may bless (or challenge), send them a link, so they may join us in our discussion.

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Lack of Prayer

Complaining Spirit

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Guidance to

Guidance Away

A Historic Haven

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To Abide

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Fruit Bearing

Non Fruit Bearing

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Book of Life

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