What was the first spoken language in the world? Have you ever thought about it? I think it was Hebrew. Here's why:
What language did God use to communicate with Moses when he was given "The Ten Commandments"? That language was carved into stone by God's finger and the records of that incident remains with us today. That language was Hebrew. Exodus 34:1
After creation, there was only one language in existence on earth. It was used in creating the Tower of Babel and was so powerful that God had to stop its sole use and divided the languages on the earth. Genesis 11:1,6,7 What language was this?
Could it be the same language God used in speaking the heaven and earth into existence? Genesis 1:1-3 (The phrase "God said" is repeated 12 times in Genesis chapters 1 & 2.) John writes in John 1:1 that Jesus was the Word of God that created the heaven and earth. Hebrews 1:1,2; Colossians 1:16,17 In His earthly life, Jesus spoke Hebrew. Was that the language He used to create the worlds, too?
Was that the same language He used in communing with Adam in the Garden? Genesis 3:8,9. And was it the same language Adam and his family spoke when cast out of the Garden? Genesis 4:1,8.
We know for sure that words were used to create the world. What language was that? If that language exists today, it would be well worth everyone's effort to learn it since it was God's Kingdom language.
After my recent trip to Israel, I am amazed at the depth of the Hebrew language and, after three weeks, am on the edge of being able to read the Hebrew Bible. I can't be dogmatic about what was the first language spoken, but can't you tell that I am partial to Hebrew as that first one.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Friday, July 29, 2011
Husband and Wife
S- So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep. While the man slept, the Lord God took out one of the man's ribs and closed up the opening. Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib and he brought her to the man. “At last!” the man exclaimed. “This one is bone from my bone, and flesh from my flesh! She will be called ‘woman,’ because she was taken from ‘man.’” This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one. http://bible.us/Gen2.23.NLT
O- The woman was taken out of man. She was bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh. This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife and the two are united into one. If she is created out of Him then she is a product of who he is. She is one with him.
A- The wife is an extension of the man. If you really want to know the man, look no further than his wife. If you want to know the wife, look no further than her husband. The two are one. We are also one with Christ. We were taken from His side when Blood and Water poured out. If you want to know who we are, then you must look at Christ.
P- God, please help me. As I become one with you, help my wife and my family to become one with you as well.
Double Portion
S- “Now then, your two sons born to you in Egypt before I came to you here will be reckoned as mine; Ephraim and Manasseh will be mine, just as Reuben and Simeon are mine. 6Any children born to you after them will be yours; in the territory they inherit they will be reckoned under the names of their brothers. Gen 48:5-6
O- There was no tribe of Joseph. Joseph was not named a patriarch of the faith. Joseph was not named as a son. He grew up an orphan, then had to also give away his first 2 sons. It was in living as an orphan and then giving of his sons that he secured a double portion legacy. This was a perfect reflection of Jesus. Jesus would be orphaned by His father and give the Jews and Gentiles to His Father and receive a great inheritance.
A- Because of what Jesus did, we can never be orphaned. We can enjoy a relationship with the Father, and everything that we do that bears fruit, should be given to God as a sacrifice and as we do that, we can be confident that a legacy will be secured.
P- Father, thank you that you have adopted me into your family and that everything you allow me to do for you is yours. Please give me the grace to give you everything you ask for.
O- There was no tribe of Joseph. Joseph was not named a patriarch of the faith. Joseph was not named as a son. He grew up an orphan, then had to also give away his first 2 sons. It was in living as an orphan and then giving of his sons that he secured a double portion legacy. This was a perfect reflection of Jesus. Jesus would be orphaned by His father and give the Jews and Gentiles to His Father and receive a great inheritance.
A- Because of what Jesus did, we can never be orphaned. We can enjoy a relationship with the Father, and everything that we do that bears fruit, should be given to God as a sacrifice and as we do that, we can be confident that a legacy will be secured.
P- Father, thank you that you have adopted me into your family and that everything you allow me to do for you is yours. Please give me the grace to give you everything you ask for.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
What's Not Written
Scripture: I Chronicles 1:1, "Adam, Seth, Enosh"
Observation: Do you notice what is missing? Cain and Abel. What do we learn from what's missing about them?
1. Family conflicts alienating family members is part of our life of sin. That's true for the first children of Adam and Eve. Cain killed Abel and both of them are missing from the genealogy of Adam. Without Christ, our families would live fractured and divided, too.
2. God's purpose will always be fulfilled. Though Cain and Abel aren't in the lineup, God replaced them with Seth. God wants to use us but, if we aren't willing, He'll fulfill His purpose without us.
3. This is a prophecy of Jesus killed by the Jews. The 1st son of Adam was killed by his brother. Jesus, the only begotten of the Father, was betrayed and killed by his brothers, the Jews. The Jews were replaced by the Gentiles, like Seth replaced Cain.
Application: I have difficulty accepting family squabbles whenever I work with it. I realize that will always follow human life, even in my life, so I need to always watch my heart toward my family. I want God to use me, not replace me with someone else. I appreciate that I, a Gentile, am part of God's plan.
Prayer: "Thank you for speaking to me about my attitude toward family and my destiny in Christ. I want follow and please You."
Observation: Do you notice what is missing? Cain and Abel. What do we learn from what's missing about them?
1. Family conflicts alienating family members is part of our life of sin. That's true for the first children of Adam and Eve. Cain killed Abel and both of them are missing from the genealogy of Adam. Without Christ, our families would live fractured and divided, too.
2. God's purpose will always be fulfilled. Though Cain and Abel aren't in the lineup, God replaced them with Seth. God wants to use us but, if we aren't willing, He'll fulfill His purpose without us.
3. This is a prophecy of Jesus killed by the Jews. The 1st son of Adam was killed by his brother. Jesus, the only begotten of the Father, was betrayed and killed by his brothers, the Jews. The Jews were replaced by the Gentiles, like Seth replaced Cain.
Application: I have difficulty accepting family squabbles whenever I work with it. I realize that will always follow human life, even in my life, so I need to always watch my heart toward my family. I want God to use me, not replace me with someone else. I appreciate that I, a Gentile, am part of God's plan.
Prayer: "Thank you for speaking to me about my attitude toward family and my destiny in Christ. I want follow and please You."
Monday, May 23, 2011
Grace and Truth
Hey GBC family,
Just thought I'd post a thought from a devotional this morning. It comes from Genesis 3 where Eve says "We cannot eat of the tree, neither can we touch it or we will die."
An interesting thing to note is that God never told Adam that he could not touch the fruit. Several things that are significant. In this passage we see our tendency to err on the side of either legalism or grace. This happens when we ADD to the Word or TAKE AWAY from it.
God said, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
Eve ADDED, "neither shall we touch it". This is legalism that we tend to pull toward. We always put more restrictions on ourselves than God puts on us. That makes us judgmental.
Eve TOOK AWAY the word "Surely". This is erring on the side of grace. Satan took advantage of this by telling her, "you will not SURELY die". Many Christians do this by taking away the severity of sin and they become loose in their lifestyle thinking that God will overlook sin and they will not "Surely" have to pay for it.
The perfect balance it knowing the freedom God gives us to live and love life and also the severity of sin if we choose to disobey. :)
Another cool thing is in revelations 22, it talks of the restoration of Eden and at the end Jesus gives a warning,
"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone ADDS anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone TAKES WORDS AWAY from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll."
It's almost as if Jesus is saying, "Let's not repeat the mistake that got us into this mess in the beginning".
This is one of the coolest insights I've gotten from that passage and just wanted to share it! :) Our Church name is fitting. Lets strive to live the balance of Grace and Bible.
Love you guys
Jonavan
Just thought I'd post a thought from a devotional this morning. It comes from Genesis 3 where Eve says "We cannot eat of the tree, neither can we touch it or we will die."
An interesting thing to note is that God never told Adam that he could not touch the fruit. Several things that are significant. In this passage we see our tendency to err on the side of either legalism or grace. This happens when we ADD to the Word or TAKE AWAY from it.
God said, "But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die."
Eve ADDED, "neither shall we touch it". This is legalism that we tend to pull toward. We always put more restrictions on ourselves than God puts on us. That makes us judgmental.
Eve TOOK AWAY the word "Surely". This is erring on the side of grace. Satan took advantage of this by telling her, "you will not SURELY die". Many Christians do this by taking away the severity of sin and they become loose in their lifestyle thinking that God will overlook sin and they will not "Surely" have to pay for it.
The perfect balance it knowing the freedom God gives us to live and love life and also the severity of sin if we choose to disobey. :)
Another cool thing is in revelations 22, it talks of the restoration of Eden and at the end Jesus gives a warning,
"I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone ADDS anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone TAKES WORDS AWAY from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll."
It's almost as if Jesus is saying, "Let's not repeat the mistake that got us into this mess in the beginning".
This is one of the coolest insights I've gotten from that passage and just wanted to share it! :) Our Church name is fitting. Lets strive to live the balance of Grace and Bible.
Love you guys
Jonavan
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Does my religion match my words?
S - "If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless". James 1:26
O - Plain and straightforward, James says if I don't control what comes out of your mouth then my testimony will be a candle without a flame. It's easy to be negative, backbiting, swearing, cursing, speaking rumors, just like the guy next door. It's easy to criticize and jump on the bandwagon especially when people rub you the wrong way or even when things get difficult does curses come out of my mouth?
A - I looked at my daily life and had one thought that if I was to live for just one more day, what would I carry into the day. I would want to be a person who carries words of Christ to others at work and home. I want to be a life giver to people no matter who it is.
P - Lord, change my heart and let me be a mouthpiece for You so that You will be glorified.
O - Plain and straightforward, James says if I don't control what comes out of your mouth then my testimony will be a candle without a flame. It's easy to be negative, backbiting, swearing, cursing, speaking rumors, just like the guy next door. It's easy to criticize and jump on the bandwagon especially when people rub you the wrong way or even when things get difficult does curses come out of my mouth?
A - I looked at my daily life and had one thought that if I was to live for just one more day, what would I carry into the day. I would want to be a person who carries words of Christ to others at work and home. I want to be a life giver to people no matter who it is.
P - Lord, change my heart and let me be a mouthpiece for You so that You will be glorified.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Helping the Poor
TITLE: Helping the Poor
DATE: March 26, 2011
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 15:11
“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.”
OBSERVATION: The eradication of poverty is possible. God gives the key to accomplish that goal – 1) cancel all debts every seven years (v.1), and thereby stabilizing asset ownership so no one can accumulate more than their original possessions, and 2) carefully obeying “with care” God’s commands (v.4, 5). If these would be done, poverty would become history. But God is realistic and understanding of human nature. He realize that 1) and 2) will not be carried out and declares that “There will always be poor people in the land.” (15:11) Therefore, those with assets must be generous to those without to assist them. And we need to be “openhanded” or generous to the poor. (v.7-10)
APPLICATION: We are helping Maui’s hungry and poor, but need to go beyond, providing for the poor, and position them for prosperity through education, opportunities and mentorship. Empowering the poor is just as great, or even greater, a need as giving them a helping hand. For me, the eradication of poverty should be a major goal as helping them in their poverty. Our Maui pastors and churches need wisdom to know how to empower the poor in the island to lift them into self-sufficiency.
PRAYER: “Broaden my heart to see needs as You see them and help the poor in the long term as we are in the short term.”
DATE: March 26, 2011
SCRIPTURE: Deuteronomy 15:11
“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.”
OBSERVATION: The eradication of poverty is possible. God gives the key to accomplish that goal – 1) cancel all debts every seven years (v.1), and thereby stabilizing asset ownership so no one can accumulate more than their original possessions, and 2) carefully obeying “with care” God’s commands (v.4, 5). If these would be done, poverty would become history. But God is realistic and understanding of human nature. He realize that 1) and 2) will not be carried out and declares that “There will always be poor people in the land.” (15:11) Therefore, those with assets must be generous to those without to assist them. And we need to be “openhanded” or generous to the poor. (v.7-10)
APPLICATION: We are helping Maui’s hungry and poor, but need to go beyond, providing for the poor, and position them for prosperity through education, opportunities and mentorship. Empowering the poor is just as great, or even greater, a need as giving them a helping hand. For me, the eradication of poverty should be a major goal as helping them in their poverty. Our Maui pastors and churches need wisdom to know how to empower the poor in the island to lift them into self-sufficiency.
PRAYER: “Broaden my heart to see needs as You see them and help the poor in the long term as we are in the short term.”
Is God Responsible For Natural Disaster?
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| Click on picture to read story of Christians helping Japan |
S- Haggai 2:17 NLT
I sent blight and mildew and hail to destroy everything you worked so hard to produce. Even so, you refused to return to me, says the Lord.
O- God sent evil to bring us back to Him. Many times we look as evil as evil and because of that we reason that those things could never come from the hand of God. This is not congruent with the Bible. Many times God sent plagues, war, and hunger to bring people back to himself. When we see that God is better than health, peace and food, we will understand that the absence of these things are good if it leads us to God. People that see these things as better than God will never understand the goodness of God in absence of these things.
A- I need to see that God is better than anything else in my life. Right now I need to see that God is better than peace. He is asking me to do things that will bring tension and stress, but if I am obedient I know that I will experience the presence of God and that is better than peace. Right now I am struggling to see God as good because of what He is asking me to do. This is because I value peace more than Him.
P- God, you are good. You are the best thing that could ever happen to me. Help me to let go of things that I view as important and embrace you. I love you and know there is nothing better in my life than growing closer to you.
Friday, March 25, 2011
S - Galatians 6:9 - Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
O - This is a promise that if we persevere in doing good, that we will reap a harvest from it. Just as a farmer spends much of the year working hard, preparing the soil, planting, and waiting, when the time for harvest comes, all his work was more than worth what he reaps. Thus we must keep in mind that the harvest, will come, and will be worth the work we put in.
A - Even though my life isn't that busy, or that difficult, I still have times where I feel tired physically and my will to keep doing good is weak. I can wish that I had another week of vacation to just get away and relax. However, I must remember that the harvest will come, because God is trustworthy, and that the harvest will be worth it, because God is a good father who gives good gifts.
P - God help me to persevere in doing good, to not grow weary, but zealously do good toward you and to those around me. Amen.
O - This is a promise that if we persevere in doing good, that we will reap a harvest from it. Just as a farmer spends much of the year working hard, preparing the soil, planting, and waiting, when the time for harvest comes, all his work was more than worth what he reaps. Thus we must keep in mind that the harvest, will come, and will be worth the work we put in.
A - Even though my life isn't that busy, or that difficult, I still have times where I feel tired physically and my will to keep doing good is weak. I can wish that I had another week of vacation to just get away and relax. However, I must remember that the harvest will come, because God is trustworthy, and that the harvest will be worth it, because God is a good father who gives good gifts.
P - God help me to persevere in doing good, to not grow weary, but zealously do good toward you and to those around me. Amen.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
A Promise & A Curse
Scripture: Deuteronomy 11Observation: This has to be one of my favorite chapters of the Bible so I can't just choose one verse. God tells us to love him, follow him and keep his commandments. He reminds us of his faithfulness, teaches us how to pass these things on to our children and reminds us of what will happen if we stray from this command.
Application: God could have commanded us to love and follow Him because of the things He has done in the past but instead He allows us to personally experience Him and to witness His power in our own lives.
My kids love to hear stories. We make up stories with characters like the ugly, scary, hairy, old green monster. Or the famous two sisters....Miley and Ralia. We tell stories at the dinner table, in the mini van, at bedtime and almost any time of the day. As much fun as the made up stories are, the kids love most the stories about our lives and the things that the Lord has done for us. How God brought us together...how we were blessed with the birth of each child...how we came to know Jesus personally...the miracles we've seen, etc.
Prayer: Lord, help me to continue to tell stories about your goodness, faithfulness and mighty power so that others can see how great you are.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
S-Phil 2:3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; 7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
O- When it comes to success in this world selfish ambition or vain conceit or both are usually the motivation behind it. It is awesome that we have an example of Jesus to follow where he was equal with the Father but didn't have a problem deferring to Him and doing His will and He also didn't have a problem valuing our lives more than His own and He showed this by laying down His own life for us.
If we are secure and humble enough, then we too will lay down our own ambitions for God's ambitions and we will make other people's ambitions our ambitions as well. In a culture where we are taught to look out for ourselves God teaches us to focus on others. True leadership is not being better than everyone around you, but rather to make everyone around you better. Then God will lift you in due time.
A- I want to be secure and humble and to seek after selfless ambitions instead of selfish ones. I also want to follow the example of Christ and run after God's ambitions and to value others ambitions more than I value my own.
P- Lord please help me to do all of these things and help the legacy of my life show that I was more concerned with promoting others than promoting myself.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Understanding God
S - " So Moses the servant of the Lord died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the Lord." Deuteronomy 34:5
O - We know the story that Moses could not enter the Promise land because he disobeyed God. He was the vessel who God used to delivered the people of Israel from Egypt, lead them through the wilderness and brought them to the point of the Promise land. The land he had been preaching to the people as the promise from God but he could not enter in. Imagine that feeling but interestingly enough the bible says in v. 6-7 God buried him and his eyes were not dim or his vigor diminished. As we know that Moses was one of the two at the Mount of Transfiguration. There are so many things can be gleaned from this event but knowing what happened, God had a better future for Moses which was an eternal glory even though he failed God.
A - I realize that disappointments and failures are part of life and sometimes God will not change it but eternally there will be a glory waiting in heaven. A lot of times, I see only the present and the natural but God wants me to see that there is an eternal future. Sometimes its hard, I know Moses had to carry the disappointment walking in the earthly life but he was rewarded eternally.
P - Lord, help me when disappointments and failures come that I see an eternal future. I need Your grace to walk so whatever comes my way I can handle it.
O - We know the story that Moses could not enter the Promise land because he disobeyed God. He was the vessel who God used to delivered the people of Israel from Egypt, lead them through the wilderness and brought them to the point of the Promise land. The land he had been preaching to the people as the promise from God but he could not enter in. Imagine that feeling but interestingly enough the bible says in v. 6-7 God buried him and his eyes were not dim or his vigor diminished. As we know that Moses was one of the two at the Mount of Transfiguration. There are so many things can be gleaned from this event but knowing what happened, God had a better future for Moses which was an eternal glory even though he failed God.
A - I realize that disappointments and failures are part of life and sometimes God will not change it but eternally there will be a glory waiting in heaven. A lot of times, I see only the present and the natural but God wants me to see that there is an eternal future. Sometimes its hard, I know Moses had to carry the disappointment walking in the earthly life but he was rewarded eternally.
P - Lord, help me when disappointments and failures come that I see an eternal future. I need Your grace to walk so whatever comes my way I can handle it.
S- Galatians 1:10 "Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ"
O-Two things. "If I were still"-This shows that there once was time when Paul was trying to please people. And if you are trying to please people then you are not a servant of God. What is implied is that you are a servant of people or people's opinions.
I think that fear paralyzes me. Like when I play basketball, I have a fear of shooting because I want to make sure everyone gets a chance to score. I am more afraid of their opinion of me, than playing the way I know I should. This fear follows me in almost every area of my life-I feel junk when I don't pay like I know I should, and at the same time, I almost feel bad if I do well. That's crazy! But I think God is showing me, that it boils down to me trying to please people, and my own expectations, rather than pleasing or being a servant of God.
A-I need to start living more as a servant of Christ in all that I do. Do I try to please Christ (Christ meaning the anointed one)? Are my attitudes, motivations, and decisions lining up to what I am anointed to do?
No one who always played things safe, ever did anything great.
P-God help me to not fear people's opinions. Let me be wise in my dealings and interactions, but let the core reasonings for my life decisions be based upon what pleases you. Clarify what I am anointed to do, and to have the courage to walk in that.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
God's Assignments
TITLE: God’s Assignment
DATE: March 16, 2011
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 31:1
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Take vengance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.”
OBSERVATION: God gave Moses his final assignment as one day we will all be given our final assignment. After this task was completed, his life on earth would be over. He was to punish the Midianites and Balaam for the scheme against Israel by being enticed by the Midianite women. After this, Moses would be taken, not from his earthly family but taken to his heavenly family. The emphasis was not on what he was leaving, but what he was gaining – his people in heaven, those who have gone before. After God makes His assignment clear, we’ll join the cheering section watching and praying for us.
APPLICATION: I don’t think I am faced with my final assignment, but I want my current assignment from God to be clear. Transitioning the church leadership, leading Maui’s pastors, writing books to convey the story of our church family & insights from God’s Word, reaching Okinawa and Japan and developing my gifts in the arena of finances are areas God is laying on my heart. I see it clearly in four quadrants – Family, Legacy, Church and Mission. There are many areas yet to complete. I haven’t come to my final assignment yet, but I would want it as clear, at that future time, as it was to Moses, and be prepared to meet those cheering & praying for me.
PRAYER: “Open my eyes to the ‘cloud of witnesses’ encouraging me to finish my course well and sensitize my heart to heari & do God’s assignments for me.”
DATE: March 16, 2011
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 31:1
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Take vengance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.”
OBSERVATION: God gave Moses his final assignment as one day we will all be given our final assignment. After this task was completed, his life on earth would be over. He was to punish the Midianites and Balaam for the scheme against Israel by being enticed by the Midianite women. After this, Moses would be taken, not from his earthly family but taken to his heavenly family. The emphasis was not on what he was leaving, but what he was gaining – his people in heaven, those who have gone before. After God makes His assignment clear, we’ll join the cheering section watching and praying for us.
APPLICATION: I don’t think I am faced with my final assignment, but I want my current assignment from God to be clear. Transitioning the church leadership, leading Maui’s pastors, writing books to convey the story of our church family & insights from God’s Word, reaching Okinawa and Japan and developing my gifts in the arena of finances are areas God is laying on my heart. I see it clearly in four quadrants – Family, Legacy, Church and Mission. There are many areas yet to complete. I haven’t come to my final assignment yet, but I would want it as clear, at that future time, as it was to Moses, and be prepared to meet those cheering & praying for me.
PRAYER: “Open my eyes to the ‘cloud of witnesses’ encouraging me to finish my course well and sensitize my heart to heari & do God’s assignments for me.”
Friday, March 18, 2011
Importance of Prayer
S - "And the Lord was very angry with Aaron and would have destroyed him; so I prayed for Aaron also at the same time." Deuteronomy 9:20
O - While Moses was up on the mountain meeting with God, Aaron had been leader in his absence. The people pressured Aaron and he gave in allowing them to make a golden calf. The anger of the Lord came against Israel and Aaron but it was because of Moses' prayers that the people were spared from God's wrath to be wiped off the face of the earth.
A - It showed me that in prayer: 1. One person can cry out and intercede for a nation where God would listen. If it wasn't for Moses' prayer, Israel would have been destroyed by God's judgment. 2. Prayer can change God's judgment on people's lives. Again, if it wasn't for Moses, God would have killed Aaron. Sometimes I think that my prayer for people goes on dead ground but in reading this passage, I understand when I pray for people I could have God's judgment be withheld on them.
P - Lord, give me the grace to be an intercessor for people and even the nation of Japan during this time.
O - While Moses was up on the mountain meeting with God, Aaron had been leader in his absence. The people pressured Aaron and he gave in allowing them to make a golden calf. The anger of the Lord came against Israel and Aaron but it was because of Moses' prayers that the people were spared from God's wrath to be wiped off the face of the earth.
A - It showed me that in prayer: 1. One person can cry out and intercede for a nation where God would listen. If it wasn't for Moses' prayer, Israel would have been destroyed by God's judgment. 2. Prayer can change God's judgment on people's lives. Again, if it wasn't for Moses, God would have killed Aaron. Sometimes I think that my prayer for people goes on dead ground but in reading this passage, I understand when I pray for people I could have God's judgment be withheld on them.
P - Lord, give me the grace to be an intercessor for people and even the nation of Japan during this time.
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Romans 2:6-10 NIV84
God “will give to each person according to what he has done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self‑seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
O/
You do good you get good.
You do bad you get worse.
This is not just for the temporal but the eternal.
Simple yet why sometimes do we expect good to ever come from bad? God specificly says He will give according to what is done.
A/
To have the mind of Christ I can not reward good for evil, no matter how seemingly small the evil act of evil I perceive it to be, because evil is evil.
P/
Father thank you for this lesson. Help me to make this apart of my value system and moral code. Help me to have Your mind. Thank you, in Jesus name amen.
God “will give to each person according to what he has done.” To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self‑seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile; but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.
O/
You do good you get good.
You do bad you get worse.
This is not just for the temporal but the eternal.
Simple yet why sometimes do we expect good to ever come from bad? God specificly says He will give according to what is done.
A/
To have the mind of Christ I can not reward good for evil, no matter how seemingly small the evil act of evil I perceive it to be, because evil is evil.
P/
Father thank you for this lesson. Help me to make this apart of my value system and moral code. Help me to have Your mind. Thank you, in Jesus name amen.
S-Duet 23
O-"Who cannot be become one of God's people"
The Law truly shows how impossible it is to live up to the standard God has for us, and the restrictions He puts on who is accepted or not is so stringent, "no one who's private parts are crushed or cut off...born outside of legal marriage...[no one] who refused to give you food and water when you came out of Egypt, and tried to curse you".
I mean, to our American society, these things sound so unfair. Where's the grace? This God is just mean.
I even felt that way, reading this. But God is showing us how we must approach Him, and that we don't live in a "fairy tale" land where there is no judgment for sin, no enemy out to destroy the nation God is forming, and where the people can vote upon what they think is right. This is the Kingdom of God, and He shows us just how far we fall short of His glory, standard.
God also shows His love and merciful preservation, by turning Balaam's curse into blessing, and remembering those who are family, including family that they had while in Egypt, "you must be kind to Edomites and Egyptians and let their great-grandchildren become part of Israel, the Lord's people" (vs 7)
So God cleans out His nation of all "defects", yet allows people from the nation who oppressed Israel to become part of God's family. Such a paradox...
A-
I am humbled, because I am a person of defect and one who was not part of God's people, yet I am able to be forgiven and even accepted into God's family. God uses the generations of the past as living examples for us (some where born in times almost unfairly-like outside of marriage, and could not become part of the children of Israel. Now, after Jesus and the cross, I am able to approach God), and I am going to make my life be an example of someone who does not receive the grace over my life in vain. My application to meditate longer on what I should be thankful for and trust for God's direction in my life.
P-
God thank you for letting me be born in a generation where I am able to receive the blood of Jesus. Let my life be lived to the fullest of the call you have. Let me be faithful in developing my gifts for you, let me display your love in all circumstances. And let me be diligent in guarding my heart. And I thank you, that even though I was part of Egypt, you have let me be part of your family. Change me, renew my mind, and get the Egypt out of me :)
S- Hebrews 13:17 - Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.
O- When I first became a Christian I had an unhealthy view of authority and would follow them so I didn't have to hear God on my own and I would serve them to gain their approval and in hopes that one day others would serve me. Then when I started to hear God on my own I realized that leaders where supposed to serve those that God has entrusted them with as well. I started to fell that God wanted me to focus on serving those that I was leading to as well but instead of doing both I swung too far the other way and didn't care about bringing my authority joy but only care about bringing God joy and about seeing those that I ministered to live life full of the joy of the Lord.
A- I want to start making those that I serve under feel like I am a joy to work with and not a burden.
P- Lord please forgive me for not following this passage of scripture and please help me to do so for the rest of my life. Help me to find balance in this area and to be great at serving everyone around me whether they are leading me, I am leading them, or we are walking along side of each other. My hope is that everyone will find joy in working with me.
O- When I first became a Christian I had an unhealthy view of authority and would follow them so I didn't have to hear God on my own and I would serve them to gain their approval and in hopes that one day others would serve me. Then when I started to hear God on my own I realized that leaders where supposed to serve those that God has entrusted them with as well. I started to fell that God wanted me to focus on serving those that I was leading to as well but instead of doing both I swung too far the other way and didn't care about bringing my authority joy but only care about bringing God joy and about seeing those that I ministered to live life full of the joy of the Lord.
A- I want to start making those that I serve under feel like I am a joy to work with and not a burden.
P- Lord please forgive me for not following this passage of scripture and please help me to do so for the rest of my life. Help me to find balance in this area and to be great at serving everyone around me whether they are leading me, I am leading them, or we are walking along side of each other. My hope is that everyone will find joy in working with me.
Guarding My Heart
TITLE: A Heart of Contempt??
DATE: March 12, 2011
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 14:23
“Not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one has treated me with contempt will ever see it.”
OBSERVATION: What a terrifying scripture! God said He would fulfill His covenant made with Abraham in each of our lives. But this verse lists one exception. He will not fulfill His fulfill His promise to one group – those with an attitude of contempt. Contempt means “looking at another as inferior, base or worthless.” God doesn’t say He withholds blessings from the unbelieving or fearful, but one who views Him with contempt.
APPLICATION: I don’t feel I look at God in this way, but, then, I suppose, all of Israel could have had the same feeling. What shocked me about this verse is that it is linked to disbelief which kept Israel from entering the promised land. To act with a lack of faith is to express contempt toward God, according to this verse. So, whenever, I cannot trust Him enough, I am on the threshold of a very serious attitude that kept Israel out of the land, which was contempt toward God – considering God “inferior, base or worthless”. I’ve never seen unbelief from that viewpoint and prompts me to serious self-examination to keep my heart right.
PRAYER: “Help me examine the inner workings of my heart not just my visible actions and keep my attitude healthy and right before You.”
DATE: March 12, 2011
SCRIPTURE: Numbers 14:23
“Not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one has treated me with contempt will ever see it.”
OBSERVATION: What a terrifying scripture! God said He would fulfill His covenant made with Abraham in each of our lives. But this verse lists one exception. He will not fulfill His fulfill His promise to one group – those with an attitude of contempt. Contempt means “looking at another as inferior, base or worthless.” God doesn’t say He withholds blessings from the unbelieving or fearful, but one who views Him with contempt.
APPLICATION: I don’t feel I look at God in this way, but, then, I suppose, all of Israel could have had the same feeling. What shocked me about this verse is that it is linked to disbelief which kept Israel from entering the promised land. To act with a lack of faith is to express contempt toward God, according to this verse. So, whenever, I cannot trust Him enough, I am on the threshold of a very serious attitude that kept Israel out of the land, which was contempt toward God – considering God “inferior, base or worthless”. I’ve never seen unbelief from that viewpoint and prompts me to serious self-examination to keep my heart right.
PRAYER: “Help me examine the inner workings of my heart not just my visible actions and keep my attitude healthy and right before You.”
What the hyssop?!
S - For the unclean person, put some ashes from the purification offering into a jar and pour fresh water over them. Then a man who is ceremonially unclean is to take some hyssop, dip it in the water and sprinkle the tent and all the furnishings the people who were there. - Numbers 19:17-18
O - Hyssop is a plant native to the Mediterranean and central Asia. Apparently it has "anti microbial and antiviral properties" 1. So our God wasn't just arbitrarily telling his people some ritual to follow, but probably did it to actually cleanse the people from bacteria and or viruses. It is incredible that God is so practical and knowledgeable of things we are only starting to understand in science.
A - Every time I read a command that may seem arbitrary, I can look to see if there is a practical reason that we can discover of why God is commanding this.
P - God you are incredible; your knowledge and understanding drives me to learn further from you. Let me humbly strive to know more about you and glorify you along the way
1. http://www.health-care-tips.org/herbal-medicines/hyssop.htm
O - Hyssop is a plant native to the Mediterranean and central Asia. Apparently it has "anti microbial and antiviral properties" 1. So our God wasn't just arbitrarily telling his people some ritual to follow, but probably did it to actually cleanse the people from bacteria and or viruses. It is incredible that God is so practical and knowledgeable of things we are only starting to understand in science.
A - Every time I read a command that may seem arbitrary, I can look to see if there is a practical reason that we can discover of why God is commanding this.
P - God you are incredible; your knowledge and understanding drives me to learn further from you. Let me humbly strive to know more about you and glorify you along the way
1. http://www.health-care-tips.org/herbal-medicines/hyssop.htm
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