S – Scripture O – Observation A – Application P – Prayer
Title: Ignorance of the Law is no excuse
S: Lev. 4:27 “If the whole Israelite community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, even though the community is unaware of the matter, they are guilty.”
O: There are so many laws that have acts that have gone from illegal to legal in my lifetime that the majority of people now believe that these acts are now no longer wrong to do. Laws on abortion, homosexuality, common law marriage, laws of legal age of consent (in Canada 14 and sometimes 12) – all this has changed in my lifetime. So, most people go by the present laws and feel innocent of any wrong doing --- but the Bible says if people commit sins and are unaware of their sins – they are still guilty.
A: So what is my responsibility to others? I believe that all sin is sin….. – and that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23) and so we are all condemned for our sins – whether big or small and our only answer is Jesus – who paid the price of guilt for us so that we are presented perfect to God. Do I have to keep telling others that this or that is a sin just because they no longer know --- well yes and no – telling a person that something is wrong will make him aware and he or she has choice, however judging them for their sin is something God will do --- they will know what is right and what is wrong when they come to Christ. I was listening to a lady who said she never paid the penny for the use of the toilet (she was English) – but on the day she was saved she knew that it was not right to cheat and have someone hold the door so she didn’t have to pay – for the first time in her life – she ‘spent a penny’ for the toilet. When we become Christians we have a new awareness of what is right and what is wrong.
P: If Jesus said – “Forgive them Lord for they know not what they do” as his last words – what should my attitude be to those who live in sin – the only unforgivable sin is rejecting the Holy Spirits urging to accept Jesus. So help me to Lord to both be aware of my sins and to share the way of knowing you with others – helping others with awareness is okay but I must leave judgments with you.
Title: Guilt by silence
S: Lev. 5:1 “If a person sins because he does not speak up when he hears a public charge to testify regarding something he has seen or learned about, he will be held responsible.”
O: We must defend the innocent whenever we can. It is not good enough just to live a good life as a Christian… it is our responsibility to defend injustice. What this really means is that not speaking up when wrong is being done makes me guilty. I was once very vocal poliTtically for the unborn, for other causes but it is hard work and mentally exhausting…. So now I am quiet. I am wrong… there are many that suffer under injustice …. I am guilty of silence for sure.
A: I do not have to be on the podium as a grandmother defending injustice… but I do have to say something when I see it…. Silence is not an option.
P: To speak up whenever it is right to do so.
Title: What percent did the old testament call for.
S: Lev. 5:16 “… add a fifth of the value to that and give it all to the priest.”
O: So here it was 20% and not a tithe…. I do not believe that we are to tithe in this day and age as the new testament says that we are to give as God prospers us and to give as our hearts tell us so that could be any amount…. Those who have more are to give more.
A: Giving is a heart thing but the 10% or 20% is what the old testament did … not for now.
P: To give.
Title: The rule of finding something that was Lost – return it and tell the truth about it.
S: Lev. 6:2 “…. Or if he finds lost property and lies about it….
O: What is the saying … ‘finders keepers, losers weepers’…. Not so the Bible even has instruction on this . If we find something we tell the truth about it…. I assume do whatever is possible to let others know and to find the owner…. Because you found it does not make it yours.
Title: So this is where the Mormons get the idea of linen underwear.
S: Lev. 6:10 “The priest shall then put on his linen clothes, with linen undergarments next to his body……”
O: So – we are not under the law… we are under grace through Jesus so all these rules of what priests should wear are not applicable… however the practical comments about defending injustice seems reasonable and good advice to still hold to. The issue is that we cannot keep this law no matter how we try… not that defending injustice is wrong… just that we cannot do any of this law well enough that is why there had to be the perfect sacrifice of Christ.
A: Ritual – like holy Mormon underwear – is an example of rejecting the perfect sacrifice of Christ. What rituals do I hold to… probably many that I am not even aware of and I should make an effort to recognize whether something is just a ritual within my faith or it is heartfelt love in action.
P: To be aware of my action…. if I am just going through the motions… similar to the rituals of those who attempt to live under the law.
Acts 14
Title: Effective and ineffective preaching
S: Acts 14:1 “…..There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews and Gentiles believed.”
O: So is there effective and therefore ineffective preaching? I always thought that the word “shall not return unto me void”(Isa 55:11) but here there is a comparison… so effectively… What I must assume is that when God’s word goes out there are always results but in this case the results were huge. What I wonder is whether the effectiveness is due to man or God? I think that it is due to God as another verse says that God gives the increase (1 Cor 3:7) so the prayer, fasting and commitment are up to us but the actual results are always up to God however if we are truly close to God there will be effectiveness as God is working through us.
A: Our task is to read, pray, fast, share the word and what happens is up to God however there will most likely be more effectiveness if we are walking close to God and what others see and hear is God rather than us.
P: Commitment. ?
Title: Are miraculous signs and wonders a confirmation of the message?
S: Acts 14:3 “So Paul and Barnabas send considerable time there speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.”
O: So – if signs and wonders are a confirmation of the message – is the lack of such evidences a proof that the message is not right? I am not sure. First of all not sure that all signs and wonders are of the making the blind see variety. I am thinking that saved souls that result in changed lives are equally to be considered a wonder… however if there is rarely a person who is saved soul or a healing…. Then I think that is a place where the true word is not being preached.
A: Watch for people being saved and people being healed…. If it never happens than I am not in the right place.
P: To be aware and never deceived by a “form of godliness but denying the power (2 Tim. 3:5)
Title: The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
S: Acts 14:5 “There was a plot afoot among the Gentiles and Jews , together with their leaders to mistreat them and stone them.”
O: It is easy to find out who is an enemy to God when you see who aligns themselves together to oppose the preaching of his word..
Title: Can faith be seen?
S: Acts 14:9 “Paul looked directly at him, saw that he had the faith to be healed.”
O: Can a discerning Christian have this awareness? Can we look at a person and know that there is faith? If this is true then it is a gift given by the Holy Spirit. I don’t know if I know anyone like this but think it is an important gift for a preacher.
A: Look for discerning ministers of the word.
P: Pray that our overseers will have this gift of discernment.
Title: Paul and Barnabas go from super heroes to people that they want to kill.
S: Acts 14: 12 & 19 “Barnabas they called Zeus and Paul they called Hermes….(14:12).. “they stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead..(14:19)
O: Never change the gospel in order to please others…. Although we might be popular for the moment… in an instant this popularity can change to hate…. Just serve God as the word says.s
A: Act, speak and live with integrity… and never to please.
P: To speak up – no matter the consequences.
Title: Is there a contradiction here – it seems that the following verse speaks of a works rather than a grace salvation?
S: Acts 14:22 “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.”
O: I often think that verses are just a statement of fact that Christians will endure hardships for Christ’s name… but here this seems to indicate conditions in order to enter the kingdom. What about “by grace are you saved through faith and not of yourselves” (Eph 2:8) Not sure why this verse about going through hardships in order to enter the kingdom is here.
P: Understanding of this Book
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
February 6, 2010, Leviticus 1-3, Acts 13
Feb. 6, 2010, Leviticus 1-3, Acts 13
Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer.
Title: These are the rules and procedures on how to make offerings to God.
S: Lev. 2:10 “The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons;
It is a most holy part of the offerings made to the Lord by fire.”
O: This section goes through the different types of offerings that are made as sacrifices to God – grain offerings, animal offerings, etc. It is interesting that the ministers are not paid first but get what is left over – and yet it is the most holy part of the offering… but still the rest of what is left. Seems odd and disrespectful that those who are the ministers should get what is left over but perhaps it is like the feeding of the 5000 – there should always be more than enough left over if God is honored.
Title: Jesus the perfect sacrifice.
S: Lev. 3:1 “…….he is to present before the Lord an animal without defect..
O: We can never earn our salvation through good works and the sacrifice of deeds is just a love gift. So often we forget that are doing, doing is not for spiritual reward or to earn anything. God can do it all without our effort but he allows us to serve Him …. It is a privilege to serve – but not a need for God.
A: Always know that Jesus, the perfect gift, has made the sacrifice and all we have to do is accept it. Never feel inadequate because I think I should be doing more, or that others think I should be doing more….. I am to do everything as a gift to God and if He enables me to do more He will.
P: Thanks for doing what you did Jesus.
Title: Is God like the angels and neither male or female?
S: Leviticus 3:6 “….he is to offer a male or female without defect”
O: It is not always a male animal that was used in the offering. If these offerings are symbols of the offering of Christ who is to be the final and perfect sacrifice – how strange that either male or female is to be offered. I really don’t have an answer except that in Genesis God created man in His own image “male and female” created he them – and so my imagination of God is very inadequate – He is more than my limited construct of a God with a nice male face …. He is much more that this and I really cannot imagine His form adequately. He is a Spirit and we must worship Him with our spirits. (John 4:24)
A: Stop limiting my perspective of God.
P: That my understanding of God would grow.
Title: Don’t eat fat or blood???
S: Leviticus 3:17 “……you must not eat any fat or any blood.”
O: This is where some of the rituals for meat comes into the Jewish customs I guess and also the Jehovah Witness church rejects blood transfusions because of this verse – but it seems like this is the ritual for the sacrificed animals that they were bled and they were roasted so both blood and fat removed. This whole chapter is about how the priests were to prepare the sacrifices …. This not about our daily eating???? And since Christ is the sacrifice that ended such rituals…. Not for this day and age.
Title: Missionary workers are sent out by the church.
S Acts 13:3 “So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
O: So often in this day and age you can sign up for a Christian service endeavor and just go…. Not sure how many places are doing the fast, pray, lay hands on and send out.
A: To ask for this before any endeavor.
P: For such a sending out for those in service, my daughter, others….
Title: The boss believes but the servant rejects Jesus.
S: Acts 13:12 “When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.”
O: Sergius Paulus is the proconsul of the Island of Cyprus and he believes but his attendant, Elymas, was a Jewish sorcerer who tried to convince his boss not to believe.
A: When someone finds the truth it is often the case that the vultures come out to try and dissuade the new convert from the path of finding God…. This is when the new Christian needs help to hold fast and to not allow these detractors to do their work. This is the reason for not merely sharing Christ and helping someone become a Christian but also there is the responsibility of nurturing the new convert.
P: To care for new Christians.
Title: The religious people listened every Sabbath about the coming of Jesus – but didn’t get it.
S: Acts 13:27 “The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.”
O: How different am I? I hear the word of God every Sunday – but do I get it? Does it change me? Am I just like these people of Jerusalem and not understanding what I should do about this Jesus? How is my Christianity changing how I live my life? I would like to be different than these people of Jerusalem but what are my real actions…..
A: To move my feet.. and do something about my faith.
P: Help me to get on with it.
Title: This is from Isaiah said that “the Light” to the Gentiles would come through a Jew.
S: Acts 13:47 “For this is what the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
O: This verse in the Greek the ‘you’ is singular…. Meaning a person… a light…. Jesus. This is from Isaiah 49:6 -- it would be a Jew that would bring salvation to the earth. Even today these passages are sung by a cantor in the synagogues and yet…. They are still waiting…. Just like Jesus time…. Hearing these words every Sabbath but not getting it.
A: We still have ears that do not hear…
P: To have ears that both hear and then feet that act.
Title: Women can be used to subvert the progress of the church.
S: Acts 13:50 “But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city.”
O: The whole city was coming to the synagogue to hear the gospel and these jealous Jews knew how hold back this blessing coming upon this place… they would talk to the women who were God-fearing in their synagogue first – and the men would listen. Oh how important that women know the word---that we are not turned off course due to our lack of Biblical knowledge. If there is something very wrong in the church by all means we must speak however these women did not know the scriptures and their lack of knowledge was manipulated by others. Many cults seem to have a large following of women. Our emotions are out there… sometimes to our detriment.
A: To be careful not to speak against those who are doing what God wants them to do and never participate in gossip. To have an answer for the faith we believe in. (1 Peter 3:15)
P: A wise tongue.
S: Acts 13 51 “And they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.”
O: Does this mean that if people reject Christ we should just give up on them and move on? There are missionaries out there that have labored for all of their lives and have had very few converts but still soldier on. I am not sure if I understand this verse.
A: Need some help on understanding this verse.
P: Understanding of this scripture.
Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer.
Title: These are the rules and procedures on how to make offerings to God.
S: Lev. 2:10 “The rest of the grain offering belongs to Aaron and his sons;
It is a most holy part of the offerings made to the Lord by fire.”
O: This section goes through the different types of offerings that are made as sacrifices to God – grain offerings, animal offerings, etc. It is interesting that the ministers are not paid first but get what is left over – and yet it is the most holy part of the offering… but still the rest of what is left. Seems odd and disrespectful that those who are the ministers should get what is left over but perhaps it is like the feeding of the 5000 – there should always be more than enough left over if God is honored.
Title: Jesus the perfect sacrifice.
S: Lev. 3:1 “…….he is to present before the Lord an animal without defect..
O: We can never earn our salvation through good works and the sacrifice of deeds is just a love gift. So often we forget that are doing, doing is not for spiritual reward or to earn anything. God can do it all without our effort but he allows us to serve Him …. It is a privilege to serve – but not a need for God.
A: Always know that Jesus, the perfect gift, has made the sacrifice and all we have to do is accept it. Never feel inadequate because I think I should be doing more, or that others think I should be doing more….. I am to do everything as a gift to God and if He enables me to do more He will.
P: Thanks for doing what you did Jesus.
Title: Is God like the angels and neither male or female?
S: Leviticus 3:6 “….he is to offer a male or female without defect”
O: It is not always a male animal that was used in the offering. If these offerings are symbols of the offering of Christ who is to be the final and perfect sacrifice – how strange that either male or female is to be offered. I really don’t have an answer except that in Genesis God created man in His own image “male and female” created he them – and so my imagination of God is very inadequate – He is more than my limited construct of a God with a nice male face …. He is much more that this and I really cannot imagine His form adequately. He is a Spirit and we must worship Him with our spirits. (John 4:24)
A: Stop limiting my perspective of God.
P: That my understanding of God would grow.
Title: Don’t eat fat or blood???
S: Leviticus 3:17 “……you must not eat any fat or any blood.”
O: This is where some of the rituals for meat comes into the Jewish customs I guess and also the Jehovah Witness church rejects blood transfusions because of this verse – but it seems like this is the ritual for the sacrificed animals that they were bled and they were roasted so both blood and fat removed. This whole chapter is about how the priests were to prepare the sacrifices …. This not about our daily eating???? And since Christ is the sacrifice that ended such rituals…. Not for this day and age.
Title: Missionary workers are sent out by the church.
S Acts 13:3 “So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
O: So often in this day and age you can sign up for a Christian service endeavor and just go…. Not sure how many places are doing the fast, pray, lay hands on and send out.
A: To ask for this before any endeavor.
P: For such a sending out for those in service, my daughter, others….
Title: The boss believes but the servant rejects Jesus.
S: Acts 13:12 “When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.”
O: Sergius Paulus is the proconsul of the Island of Cyprus and he believes but his attendant, Elymas, was a Jewish sorcerer who tried to convince his boss not to believe.
A: When someone finds the truth it is often the case that the vultures come out to try and dissuade the new convert from the path of finding God…. This is when the new Christian needs help to hold fast and to not allow these detractors to do their work. This is the reason for not merely sharing Christ and helping someone become a Christian but also there is the responsibility of nurturing the new convert.
P: To care for new Christians.
Title: The religious people listened every Sabbath about the coming of Jesus – but didn’t get it.
S: Acts 13:27 “The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath.”
O: How different am I? I hear the word of God every Sunday – but do I get it? Does it change me? Am I just like these people of Jerusalem and not understanding what I should do about this Jesus? How is my Christianity changing how I live my life? I would like to be different than these people of Jerusalem but what are my real actions…..
A: To move my feet.. and do something about my faith.
P: Help me to get on with it.
Title: This is from Isaiah said that “the Light” to the Gentiles would come through a Jew.
S: Acts 13:47 “For this is what the Lord has commanded us, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”
O: This verse in the Greek the ‘you’ is singular…. Meaning a person… a light…. Jesus. This is from Isaiah 49:6 -- it would be a Jew that would bring salvation to the earth. Even today these passages are sung by a cantor in the synagogues and yet…. They are still waiting…. Just like Jesus time…. Hearing these words every Sabbath but not getting it.
A: We still have ears that do not hear…
P: To have ears that both hear and then feet that act.
Title: Women can be used to subvert the progress of the church.
S: Acts 13:50 “But the Jews incited the God-fearing women of high standing and the leading men of the city.”
O: The whole city was coming to the synagogue to hear the gospel and these jealous Jews knew how hold back this blessing coming upon this place… they would talk to the women who were God-fearing in their synagogue first – and the men would listen. Oh how important that women know the word---that we are not turned off course due to our lack of Biblical knowledge. If there is something very wrong in the church by all means we must speak however these women did not know the scriptures and their lack of knowledge was manipulated by others. Many cults seem to have a large following of women. Our emotions are out there… sometimes to our detriment.
A: To be careful not to speak against those who are doing what God wants them to do and never participate in gossip. To have an answer for the faith we believe in. (1 Peter 3:15)
P: A wise tongue.
S: Acts 13 51 “And they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium.”
O: Does this mean that if people reject Christ we should just give up on them and move on? There are missionaries out there that have labored for all of their lives and have had very few converts but still soldier on. I am not sure if I understand this verse.
A: Need some help on understanding this verse.
P: Understanding of this scripture.
Monday, March 15, 2010
February 5, 2010, Exodus 39 & 40, Psalm 15, Acts 12
Exodus 39
The priestly garments.
The colors are always blue, purple and scarlet. They are the clothes that the priests are to serve the people in when they approach God. The description of each piece is symbolic of Christ – the great high priests who intercedes for us…. With each piece the breastpiece over his heart… as we are …. The covering on his head .. the turban… we are His workmanship… made by a craftsman and carried daily by Christ.
S: Exodus 39:36 “the table with all its articles and the bread of the Presence, the pure
Gold lampstand and its row of lamps and all its accessories and the oil for the light;, the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tent….
O: The Bread of the Presence apparently means the bread that is set out in the presence of God…. What it foreshadows is Jesus, the bread that will be broken for us…. The golden lampstand – Jesus as the “light of the world”… the oil – as the Holy Spirit – the curtain that would be split in two when Christ dies and resurrects… the fragrant incense to remind us of his birth, and his death.
A: Before the world began God was - I really do not understand the trinity but I do understand that God came in a human form for a period of time, and that the attributes of God were to be put in the human form of Jesus for us to know him in a way that we could understand.
P: Lord help me understand how to explain the three aspects of the nature that you display. That you are from the beginning of time and foretold in the ancient writings of the old testament and that you are not a separate person God but a form of our One God.
Exodus 40 – Setting up he tabernacle.to wash t
S: Ex 40:2 “Set up the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting on the first day of the first month. Place the ark of the Testimony in it ….:
O: They had been away from Egypt about a year – some commentaries say 2 weeks less than a year…. And it took a day to set up the tabernacle and this would be the first month which to the Jews is Nisan which is between March and April. So about now…. The setting up of the Tabernacle….. now the Passover celebration --- this year March 15, 2010.
A: So many correlations --- with the sacrifice of the perfect lamb…. Salvation day.
P: To remember what a great gift salvation is to me and to my family and to all to find this gift… why am I so quiet about it. Must change.
S: Exodus 40:9 “Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it….”
O: They did not just anoint people but also things. Interesting.
A: Not sure – what about dedication of our possessions to God…?
P: ??
S: Ex 40:30-32 “He placed the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing, and Moses and Aaron and his sons used it to wash their hands and feet. They washed whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar, as the Lord commanded Moses.”
O: The ceremonial cleansing before approaching God. Now we are washed by Jesus through salvation and do not have to do this before approaching God however remembering what God did for us before approaching him in prayer might be a good way to prepare before praying or worshiping.
A: Do not just read this book, but think about what it all means, a little more diligence when approaching God.
P: To be more in awe when approaching God.
Psalm 15
S: Psalm 15:1 “Lord who may dwell in your sanctuary?”
O: This chapter talks about the blameless and righteous man who may dwell in God’s sanctuary and “will never be shaken”. The problem is that “there is no man righteous, no not one” and so it really means the person who has been sanctified by God and he only way this happens is to be saved… cleansed through the washing of Jesus. So the only ones who may dwell in your sanctuary are those who are saved.
A: Salvation….. the only way to “never be shaken”
P: Salvation … for others is my prayer.
S: Acts 12: 8 “Then the angel said to him…… “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison….”
O: Instant obedience… Peter has come a long way. It makes no sense, he thinks it is a dream but he puts his clothes on and keeps walking – right out of the prison. This is the way it should work… stop all that procrastinating and worrying and make those feet move. We live in our own prisons… our limitations… because we will not get up on our feet and move them. Peter living under severe persecution had no qualms about doing anything that God wanted him to do.
A: Must move these feet.
P: Lord help me to move my feet and do things.
S: Acts 12:15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her.
O: I have not heard anyone else spoken to with such disrespect that is within the church…. Is it because she is a woman and not an elder that they speak this way?.....whatever… she is the only one that has the truth about Peter and has it first. Think this happens a lot… the least likely person is the one that Jesus uses and we do not regard them….. and “God is no respecter of persons” (ActsW 10:34).. should keep us from such quick assessments of people but we are human and it happens.
A: Be aware of voices that may be spiritual but do not look like they have the message… by assuming things we pass over people that might be a great blessing to us.
P: To be able to listen to the girl by the door with the message as well as to people that seem to have it together… might just learn something.
S: Acts 12:22-23 “They shouted. “This is the voice of a god, not a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.”
O: Pride, pride….. first he tries to be a people pleaser persecuting Christians then he accepts the adoration of people. This man is so full of ego. Pride goes before a fall and death is just around the corner. You do not mess with God as He runs the show.
A: We are so little …. We would not even remember Herod’s name if it was not for his relationship to Jesus. He allowed people to look at him like a God… but this adoration was shortlived.
P: Watch that the nasty sin of pride never
The priestly garments.
The colors are always blue, purple and scarlet. They are the clothes that the priests are to serve the people in when they approach God. The description of each piece is symbolic of Christ – the great high priests who intercedes for us…. With each piece the breastpiece over his heart… as we are …. The covering on his head .. the turban… we are His workmanship… made by a craftsman and carried daily by Christ.
S: Exodus 39:36 “the table with all its articles and the bread of the Presence, the pure
Gold lampstand and its row of lamps and all its accessories and the oil for the light;, the gold altar, the anointing oil, the fragrant incense, and the curtain for the entrance to the tent….
O: The Bread of the Presence apparently means the bread that is set out in the presence of God…. What it foreshadows is Jesus, the bread that will be broken for us…. The golden lampstand – Jesus as the “light of the world”… the oil – as the Holy Spirit – the curtain that would be split in two when Christ dies and resurrects… the fragrant incense to remind us of his birth, and his death.
A: Before the world began God was - I really do not understand the trinity but I do understand that God came in a human form for a period of time, and that the attributes of God were to be put in the human form of Jesus for us to know him in a way that we could understand.
P: Lord help me understand how to explain the three aspects of the nature that you display. That you are from the beginning of time and foretold in the ancient writings of the old testament and that you are not a separate person God but a form of our One God.
Exodus 40 – Setting up he tabernacle.to wash t
S: Ex 40:2 “Set up the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting on the first day of the first month. Place the ark of the Testimony in it ….:
O: They had been away from Egypt about a year – some commentaries say 2 weeks less than a year…. And it took a day to set up the tabernacle and this would be the first month which to the Jews is Nisan which is between March and April. So about now…. The setting up of the Tabernacle….. now the Passover celebration --- this year March 15, 2010.
A: So many correlations --- with the sacrifice of the perfect lamb…. Salvation day.
P: To remember what a great gift salvation is to me and to my family and to all to find this gift… why am I so quiet about it. Must change.
S: Exodus 40:9 “Take the anointing oil and anoint the tabernacle and everything in it….”
O: They did not just anoint people but also things. Interesting.
A: Not sure – what about dedication of our possessions to God…?
P: ??
S: Ex 40:30-32 “He placed the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar and put water in it for washing, and Moses and Aaron and his sons used it to wash their hands and feet. They washed whenever they entered the Tent of Meeting or approached the altar, as the Lord commanded Moses.”
O: The ceremonial cleansing before approaching God. Now we are washed by Jesus through salvation and do not have to do this before approaching God however remembering what God did for us before approaching him in prayer might be a good way to prepare before praying or worshiping.
A: Do not just read this book, but think about what it all means, a little more diligence when approaching God.
P: To be more in awe when approaching God.
Psalm 15
S: Psalm 15:1 “Lord who may dwell in your sanctuary?”
O: This chapter talks about the blameless and righteous man who may dwell in God’s sanctuary and “will never be shaken”. The problem is that “there is no man righteous, no not one” and so it really means the person who has been sanctified by God and he only way this happens is to be saved… cleansed through the washing of Jesus. So the only ones who may dwell in your sanctuary are those who are saved.
A: Salvation….. the only way to “never be shaken”
P: Salvation … for others is my prayer.
S: Acts 12: 8 “Then the angel said to him…… “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. Peter followed him out of the prison….”
O: Instant obedience… Peter has come a long way. It makes no sense, he thinks it is a dream but he puts his clothes on and keeps walking – right out of the prison. This is the way it should work… stop all that procrastinating and worrying and make those feet move. We live in our own prisons… our limitations… because we will not get up on our feet and move them. Peter living under severe persecution had no qualms about doing anything that God wanted him to do.
A: Must move these feet.
P: Lord help me to move my feet and do things.
S: Acts 12:15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her.
O: I have not heard anyone else spoken to with such disrespect that is within the church…. Is it because she is a woman and not an elder that they speak this way?.....whatever… she is the only one that has the truth about Peter and has it first. Think this happens a lot… the least likely person is the one that Jesus uses and we do not regard them….. and “God is no respecter of persons” (ActsW 10:34).. should keep us from such quick assessments of people but we are human and it happens.
A: Be aware of voices that may be spiritual but do not look like they have the message… by assuming things we pass over people that might be a great blessing to us.
P: To be able to listen to the girl by the door with the message as well as to people that seem to have it together… might just learn something.
S: Acts 12:22-23 “They shouted. “This is the voice of a god, not a man.” Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.”
O: Pride, pride….. first he tries to be a people pleaser persecuting Christians then he accepts the adoration of people. This man is so full of ego. Pride goes before a fall and death is just around the corner. You do not mess with God as He runs the show.
A: We are so little …. We would not even remember Herod’s name if it was not for his relationship to Jesus. He allowed people to look at him like a God… but this adoration was shortlived.
P: Watch that the nasty sin of pride never
Saturday, March 13, 2010
February 4, 2010, Exodus 37 & 38, Psalm 19, Acts 11
February 4, 2010, Exodus 37 & 38, Psalm 19, Acts 11
Exodus 37
This starts with a description of the ark of the covenant…. The mercy seat. It is described in detail .. the cherubim on either side looking at each other over the center – and God is the center who they worship and adore continuously. Then there is the table where the shew bread would go and the utensils and candlesticks of pure gold. All these things are symbolic of God and his purity – the gold – the table set – as Jesus waits for us to dine with him – the golden candlesticks – the pure light of the world…. The incense and anointing oil – prayers and holy spirit anointing. A detailed description of all the attributes of God – the symbolism that foretells Christ…
Exodus 38
Description starts with the lesser materials bronze but getting closer to the holy of holies it is silver and then gold….getting closer to God. I am sure the details of the materials of this would make a fascinating study for another day.
Psalm 19
S: 19:7 “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.”
O: How do we get that inner revival of our souls happening? … dwelling on the law of the Lord… there are many questions… because I do not understand it many times… but I know one thing and that these precepts… these words… this law is perfect and it take me from simple to wise.
A: To meditate on the words of these books daily.n
P: Wisdom – to pass on to my family.
Acts 11
S: Acts 11:1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
O: We cannot see God… we are not to have idols that we can see… any kind of an image. I recently heard of a church that had their leaders picture everywhere… right away I was certain this church was off… I was right… written up as one of those groups to be aware of. No images …. But we are to be certain of what “we do not see.”
A: God is a Spirit…. There are many false religions out there… but we can look a some of the signs of false religions and know if it is wrong if certain precepts are not held to.
P: Discernment.
S: Acts 11:2 “So when Peter went up to Jerusalem the circumcised believers criticized him and said “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
O: Peter – is just another man to his fellow Christians… they do not put him on a pedestal as the Catholic church has done…. In fact they question and criticize his actions…. Yes he was the first to share the gospel with the gentiles however to make him as great as the Catholic church does is a questionable practice.
A: We are atoll just sinners for whom Christ died…. There are none that are worthy…. We are not to be enthralled by human beings… and if we are.. we are off track. Always look to Jesus --- he is the author and finisher of our faith.
P: Never become enamoured with the messenger…. Always just the message.
S: Acts 11:19 “Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in the connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch….”
O: Stephen was just a man that was asked to help look after the widows…. And yet his life and his martyrdom caused the gospel to be spread further than ever before. His testimony caused the spread of Christianity.
A: All tasks if done in obedience are worthy and all servants must be ready to explain the faith that they have… be prepared and well taught… just like Stephen.
P: To be obedient and well studied.
Title: Providing for those in Famine.
S: Acts 11:29 “The disciples each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea.”
O: This is not a tithe… it is according to whatever each could do or give.
A: To give as I can.
P: Help me to give more.
Exodus 37
This starts with a description of the ark of the covenant…. The mercy seat. It is described in detail .. the cherubim on either side looking at each other over the center – and God is the center who they worship and adore continuously. Then there is the table where the shew bread would go and the utensils and candlesticks of pure gold. All these things are symbolic of God and his purity – the gold – the table set – as Jesus waits for us to dine with him – the golden candlesticks – the pure light of the world…. The incense and anointing oil – prayers and holy spirit anointing. A detailed description of all the attributes of God – the symbolism that foretells Christ…
Exodus 38
Description starts with the lesser materials bronze but getting closer to the holy of holies it is silver and then gold….getting closer to God. I am sure the details of the materials of this would make a fascinating study for another day.
Psalm 19
S: 19:7 “The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.”
O: How do we get that inner revival of our souls happening? … dwelling on the law of the Lord… there are many questions… because I do not understand it many times… but I know one thing and that these precepts… these words… this law is perfect and it take me from simple to wise.
A: To meditate on the words of these books daily.n
P: Wisdom – to pass on to my family.
Acts 11
S: Acts 11:1 “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
O: We cannot see God… we are not to have idols that we can see… any kind of an image. I recently heard of a church that had their leaders picture everywhere… right away I was certain this church was off… I was right… written up as one of those groups to be aware of. No images …. But we are to be certain of what “we do not see.”
A: God is a Spirit…. There are many false religions out there… but we can look a some of the signs of false religions and know if it is wrong if certain precepts are not held to.
P: Discernment.
S: Acts 11:2 “So when Peter went up to Jerusalem the circumcised believers criticized him and said “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
O: Peter – is just another man to his fellow Christians… they do not put him on a pedestal as the Catholic church has done…. In fact they question and criticize his actions…. Yes he was the first to share the gospel with the gentiles however to make him as great as the Catholic church does is a questionable practice.
A: We are atoll just sinners for whom Christ died…. There are none that are worthy…. We are not to be enthralled by human beings… and if we are.. we are off track. Always look to Jesus --- he is the author and finisher of our faith.
P: Never become enamoured with the messenger…. Always just the message.
S: Acts 11:19 “Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in the connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch….”
O: Stephen was just a man that was asked to help look after the widows…. And yet his life and his martyrdom caused the gospel to be spread further than ever before. His testimony caused the spread of Christianity.
A: All tasks if done in obedience are worthy and all servants must be ready to explain the faith that they have… be prepared and well taught… just like Stephen.
P: To be obedient and well studied.
Title: Providing for those in Famine.
S: Acts 11:29 “The disciples each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea.”
O: This is not a tithe… it is according to whatever each could do or give.
A: To give as I can.
P: Help me to give more.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Feb. 3, 2010, Exodus 35 & 36, Acts 10
Feb. 3, 2010, Exodus 35 and 36, Acts 10
S: Ex 35:2 “For six days, work is to b e done, but the seventh day shall be your holy seventh day, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death. Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”
O: So many verses are for the time before Jesus when we were not under forgiveness and grace…. But we pick and choose…. Don’t hear anyone preaching about not lighting a fire not turning on the furnace on Sunday (which would be deadly in parts of Canada in the winter)
A: Although I know I will not die for doing something on Sunday that does not mean that a morning Sunday service is all that is necessary…. It is a day… a whole day…a day of rest and I should remember this.
P: To rest and worship on Sunday…. Our day of Sabbath.
S: Ex 35:21 “..and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and gave an offering to the Lord.”
O: Although it is rare to hear a sermon about not shopping on Sunday anymore I have heard the mention of tithing – and yet that also was for the pre-covenant church. Now we should be giving as we have purposed in our hearts (2 Co 9:7) and we should be generous but the 10 % rule does not carry over to the redeemed…. We do not live under legalism but that should mean that we give as much as we can. In fact that is very much the wording of Ex 35:21 – “whose heart moved him” -- God gets along fine without our money but I have to learn to be generous because it changes who I am…. It makes me less grasping and takes away that lover of money part of our personality.
A: Give generously.
P: Help me to plan my giving so that I always have enough on hand to give.
S: Ex 36:5-7 “ The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work…..No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary. And so the people were restrained from bringing more….”
O: When God is in on it and there is willingness there is abundance. I have heard begging on the radio and on television and even in a church or two and have never heard an announcement that the giving should stop as there is more than can be used….something must be wrong with the giving or with the dispersing… not sure.
A: A heart change on this.
P: Just do it.
Acts 10
S: Acts 10:4 The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a remembrance before God.”
O: Although God does not need us to help the poor as he can call 10,000 angels – when we pray and when we do good – these things come up to God --- He sees and He is pleased.
A: Deeds – not done for brownie points with God or because He cannot do it without us but because we cannot stop ourselves from doing such things…. It is our passion both to please God and to give others comfort.
P: To do good as often as possible.
S: Acts 10:11-15 “He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down…..it contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles…then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” Surely not, Lord! Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
O: Peter is willing to do anything for his Lord however to change his religious rituals….that is almost overwhelming to him. How similar are we… a change in pastor or a change in the music and the stern faces in the congregation showing displeasure from people who dedicate their whole lives to God. Something to learn from this… if God is in on the change…. Just go with it. By changing his expectations Peter understands that God wants him to preach to the Gentiles and to Cornelius and his gathering. There would not have been the conversion of the Gentiles if Peter had been unwilling to change.
A: Yes, the music and style is different at church with a change of pastor but …. I know it is right to be supportive and just go with it. What else will be a change this year… perhaps big things…. If God is in it… I will go with it.
P: That we will go with the change and that God will bring it on.
S: Acts10:44 “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.”
O: All were speaking in tongues and the Holy Spirit fell on all of them. There was not the special gift for one or two or some of them but they were all who heard the message. This should be still be happening. If it not why not? Looking forward to things to come.
A: I know that I attend a church that holds back on the gifts and yet they have so many good things that happen there. Not sure if I am wrong to attend a church that is not a full charismatic church or not.
P: Revival oh Lord , in our churches, in our land.
S: Ex 35:2 “For six days, work is to b e done, but the seventh day shall be your holy seventh day, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it must be put to death. Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”
O: So many verses are for the time before Jesus when we were not under forgiveness and grace…. But we pick and choose…. Don’t hear anyone preaching about not lighting a fire not turning on the furnace on Sunday (which would be deadly in parts of Canada in the winter)
A: Although I know I will not die for doing something on Sunday that does not mean that a morning Sunday service is all that is necessary…. It is a day… a whole day…a day of rest and I should remember this.
P: To rest and worship on Sunday…. Our day of Sabbath.
S: Ex 35:21 “..and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved him came and gave an offering to the Lord.”
O: Although it is rare to hear a sermon about not shopping on Sunday anymore I have heard the mention of tithing – and yet that also was for the pre-covenant church. Now we should be giving as we have purposed in our hearts (2 Co 9:7) and we should be generous but the 10 % rule does not carry over to the redeemed…. We do not live under legalism but that should mean that we give as much as we can. In fact that is very much the wording of Ex 35:21 – “whose heart moved him” -- God gets along fine without our money but I have to learn to be generous because it changes who I am…. It makes me less grasping and takes away that lover of money part of our personality.
A: Give generously.
P: Help me to plan my giving so that I always have enough on hand to give.
S: Ex 36:5-7 “ The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work…..No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary. And so the people were restrained from bringing more….”
O: When God is in on it and there is willingness there is abundance. I have heard begging on the radio and on television and even in a church or two and have never heard an announcement that the giving should stop as there is more than can be used….something must be wrong with the giving or with the dispersing… not sure.
A: A heart change on this.
P: Just do it.
Acts 10
S: Acts 10:4 The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a remembrance before God.”
O: Although God does not need us to help the poor as he can call 10,000 angels – when we pray and when we do good – these things come up to God --- He sees and He is pleased.
A: Deeds – not done for brownie points with God or because He cannot do it without us but because we cannot stop ourselves from doing such things…. It is our passion both to please God and to give others comfort.
P: To do good as often as possible.
S: Acts 10:11-15 “He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down…..it contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles…then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” Surely not, Lord! Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.”
O: Peter is willing to do anything for his Lord however to change his religious rituals….that is almost overwhelming to him. How similar are we… a change in pastor or a change in the music and the stern faces in the congregation showing displeasure from people who dedicate their whole lives to God. Something to learn from this… if God is in on the change…. Just go with it. By changing his expectations Peter understands that God wants him to preach to the Gentiles and to Cornelius and his gathering. There would not have been the conversion of the Gentiles if Peter had been unwilling to change.
A: Yes, the music and style is different at church with a change of pastor but …. I know it is right to be supportive and just go with it. What else will be a change this year… perhaps big things…. If God is in it… I will go with it.
P: That we will go with the change and that God will bring it on.
S: Acts10:44 “While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.”
O: All were speaking in tongues and the Holy Spirit fell on all of them. There was not the special gift for one or two or some of them but they were all who heard the message. This should be still be happening. If it not why not? Looking forward to things to come.
A: I know that I attend a church that holds back on the gifts and yet they have so many good things that happen there. Not sure if I am wrong to attend a church that is not a full charismatic church or not.
P: Revival oh Lord , in our churches, in our land.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Feb. 2, 2010, Exodus 33 & 34, Psalm 16, Acts 9
Feb. 2, 2010, Exodus 33 & 34, Psalm 16, Acts 9
S: Ex 33:1-3 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place…. Go up to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, I will give it to your descendants.” I will send an angel before you…..Go to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a siff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”
O: First of all – so all this time they were not headed for the promised land but God was with them ---- and now God finally tells them to head for promised land but he says he will not be with them as they go there because he is afraid he cannot restrain his anger and might accidentally destroy them on the way if he goes with them. Such difficult passage.
Here are my questions:
1. All this time in the wilderness I must assume that it is just a learning exercise as they are not spiritually ready to go to the promised land. So the people that came out of Egypt were not suppose to go to the promised land --- only the next generation as the people who had experienced Egypt were too sinful. Would they have followed Moses if they thought God had no intention of taking them to a better land? Were they duped?
2. God has been with them in the wilderness and they have done some very wrong things…. If he is now leaving them…. Will they not be more at risk of making great mistakes and this is their crucial time…. They are going to enter the promised land. How can God leave them when they need him most?
3. The reason that God gives that he cannot go with them to the promised land is that he cannot restrain his inclination to perhaps destroy them while they are going there. Does God have no restraint? Does God really leave us in our time of trouble? These verses are very strange to me.
A: I am going to believe that the verse in Hebrews 13 – “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” The example of the Israelites must be a very special passage as I cannot see God ever leaving me --- This is the Rock that I stand upon and the hope that holds me firm through everything.
P: I do not understand that in this circumstance you left the Israelites but Lord I am convinced that you will never leave me…. Help me to always know that.
S: Ex 33:11 “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.”
O: I am trying to get the picture…. Moses sets up a small tent outside the camp and he goes in there where others may come and ask him questions that he can relay to God… he has his understudy Joshua son of Nun there with him in the tent (vs.11)……..while he was in this small tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance of the tent and in this pillar of cloud there would be God who would speak to Moses face to face. So God does have a real face and Jacob has seen it and so has Moses…. And perhaps even Joshua who is in the tent with Moses…. Even though later in the chapter --- Ex 33:20 says “no one may see my face and live.” Now it does not say when they will be struck dead … and at some point we all die… how can this controversial passage be explained? Not sure? If God has a face then does he at this point manifest himself in a physical body just as Jesus did when he came to earth? Many questions her
P: Lord I doubt if anyone has more questions about this Bible than me… is there someone out there that could explain a few of the answers … would love to converse with a Bible scholar who could answer a few of my questions…. For this I pray.
Title: Time in the tent with God
S: Ex 33:11 b “…Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua Son of Nun did not leave the tent.”
O: Joshua turns into a man who is a man among men – brave, Godly and without guile. Pehaps it is this time in the tent that made Joshua different. I would love time in a tent alone with God. What a great idea…. I wonder if this is here the feast of Tabernacles came from… or feast of Booths on Sept. 15 where they all get in little tents and eat and live in them for 7 days to remember the tents of the Israelites.
A: Plan a time to get in a place alone with God. What a good idea --- alone with God… nothing but a small dwelling. Must do this.
P: That it actually happens, a time alone with God.
Title: Moses negotiates with God.
S: Ex 33:18 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”
O: Although God has said he will not go with him…. Moses convinces God to change His mind… is this what prayer is… begging God until He changes his mind. Does God not know what he will do from the beginning? How can God change his mind… or did God know what he would do all along? Just thinking.
A: If Moses could change the mind of God we can too. Prayer does work.
P: Changed lives… salvation for those I pray for.
S: Ex 33:19 “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
O: God makes the rules, true when we pray God will change his mind but He is sovereign and He answers always as He sees fit…. And sometimes he chooses to answer prayers that we should not have asked for and the answers are full of troubles. Just like when he gave the Israelites the desires of their hearts but sent leanness into their souls… we sometimes get what we want but reap that leanness in our souls.
A: Be careful what I pray for.
P: Wisdom in all that I pray for.
S: Ex 34:7 “Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”
O: We pass on our sins, even our sins of omission, what our children see us do – they will do and so it goes…. We will reap the rewards of what we do when we look at our children. We better be good examples.
A: Be a good example.
P: Lord help us both to be the above.
S: Ex 34:19 “The firstborn of every womb belongs to me…..”
O: Self explanatory.
S: Ex 34:28 “Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water.”
O: I know that you can survive 40 days without bread but without water ?? – the only way would be for God to help Moses supernaturally. What would have Moses mental condition have been like? He did come down with the ten commandments though.
Psalm 16
Acts 9
Saul is saved and becomes Paul and preaches.
S: Ex 33:1-3 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Leave this place…. Go up to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, saying, I will give it to your descendants.” I will send an angel before you…..Go to the land flowing with milk and honey. But I will not go with you, because you are a siff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.”
O: First of all – so all this time they were not headed for the promised land but God was with them ---- and now God finally tells them to head for promised land but he says he will not be with them as they go there because he is afraid he cannot restrain his anger and might accidentally destroy them on the way if he goes with them. Such difficult passage.
Here are my questions:
1. All this time in the wilderness I must assume that it is just a learning exercise as they are not spiritually ready to go to the promised land. So the people that came out of Egypt were not suppose to go to the promised land --- only the next generation as the people who had experienced Egypt were too sinful. Would they have followed Moses if they thought God had no intention of taking them to a better land? Were they duped?
2. God has been with them in the wilderness and they have done some very wrong things…. If he is now leaving them…. Will they not be more at risk of making great mistakes and this is their crucial time…. They are going to enter the promised land. How can God leave them when they need him most?
3. The reason that God gives that he cannot go with them to the promised land is that he cannot restrain his inclination to perhaps destroy them while they are going there. Does God have no restraint? Does God really leave us in our time of trouble? These verses are very strange to me.
A: I am going to believe that the verse in Hebrews 13 – “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” The example of the Israelites must be a very special passage as I cannot see God ever leaving me --- This is the Rock that I stand upon and the hope that holds me firm through everything.
P: I do not understand that in this circumstance you left the Israelites but Lord I am convinced that you will never leave me…. Help me to always know that.
S: Ex 33:11 “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.”
O: I am trying to get the picture…. Moses sets up a small tent outside the camp and he goes in there where others may come and ask him questions that he can relay to God… he has his understudy Joshua son of Nun there with him in the tent (vs.11)……..while he was in this small tent, the pillar of cloud would come down and stay at the entrance of the tent and in this pillar of cloud there would be God who would speak to Moses face to face. So God does have a real face and Jacob has seen it and so has Moses…. And perhaps even Joshua who is in the tent with Moses…. Even though later in the chapter --- Ex 33:20 says “no one may see my face and live.” Now it does not say when they will be struck dead … and at some point we all die… how can this controversial passage be explained? Not sure? If God has a face then does he at this point manifest himself in a physical body just as Jesus did when he came to earth? Many questions her
P: Lord I doubt if anyone has more questions about this Bible than me… is there someone out there that could explain a few of the answers … would love to converse with a Bible scholar who could answer a few of my questions…. For this I pray.
Title: Time in the tent with God
S: Ex 33:11 b “…Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua Son of Nun did not leave the tent.”
O: Joshua turns into a man who is a man among men – brave, Godly and without guile. Pehaps it is this time in the tent that made Joshua different. I would love time in a tent alone with God. What a great idea…. I wonder if this is here the feast of Tabernacles came from… or feast of Booths on Sept. 15 where they all get in little tents and eat and live in them for 7 days to remember the tents of the Israelites.
A: Plan a time to get in a place alone with God. What a good idea --- alone with God… nothing but a small dwelling. Must do this.
P: That it actually happens, a time alone with God.
Title: Moses negotiates with God.
S: Ex 33:18 Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”
O: Although God has said he will not go with him…. Moses convinces God to change His mind… is this what prayer is… begging God until He changes his mind. Does God not know what he will do from the beginning? How can God change his mind… or did God know what he would do all along? Just thinking.
A: If Moses could change the mind of God we can too. Prayer does work.
P: Changed lives… salvation for those I pray for.
S: Ex 33:19 “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
O: God makes the rules, true when we pray God will change his mind but He is sovereign and He answers always as He sees fit…. And sometimes he chooses to answer prayers that we should not have asked for and the answers are full of troubles. Just like when he gave the Israelites the desires of their hearts but sent leanness into their souls… we sometimes get what we want but reap that leanness in our souls.
A: Be careful what I pray for.
P: Wisdom in all that I pray for.
S: Ex 34:7 “Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”
O: We pass on our sins, even our sins of omission, what our children see us do – they will do and so it goes…. We will reap the rewards of what we do when we look at our children. We better be good examples.
A: Be a good example.
P: Lord help us both to be the above.
S: Ex 34:19 “The firstborn of every womb belongs to me…..”
O: Self explanatory.
S: Ex 34:28 “Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water.”
O: I know that you can survive 40 days without bread but without water ?? – the only way would be for God to help Moses supernaturally. What would have Moses mental condition have been like? He did come down with the ten commandments though.
Psalm 16
Acts 9
Saul is saved and becomes Paul and preaches.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Feb. 1, 2010, Exodus 30-32, Acts 8
Feb. 1, 2010, Exodus 30-32, Acts 8
S: Exodus 30:12 “When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.”
O: There was always a price that had to be paid. This is foreshadowing of the price that is to be paid by Christ when he gives his life for our sins.
S: Ex. 31:1-4 “Then the Lord said to Moses, See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts--- to make artistic designs…….”
O: Artists are given their skill by God. My son is a wonderful artist and yet he is doing another job as it is hard to work as an artist….
A: Oh that we would still create beautiful art for Christian purposes…. Gone are the days of beautiful churches and I know that it is true that God lives in our hearts and churches should not have money spent on lavish decor however that beautiful art of days gone by is so enjoyable and surely something small of that era could return.
P: An art job for my son so he can use his wonderful talent.
S: Ex. 31:15 “…..Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death.”
O: This is the Old Testament and under the law instead of grace however – very harsh – if it was so important then perhaps we should be a little more mindful of the importance of not working on the Sabbath as our business is a service business and employees often must work on the Sabbath.
A: Commit to doing as much as possible on Saturday so we can rest and worship on Sunday.
P: God help us to keep the Sabbath as a non working day for both us and our employees if at all possible and still maintain our business.
S: Ex 32:1 “When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”
O: Moses is only on the mountain top for 40 days in total and I am not sure when during the 40 days that this delegation approached Aaron but it is like having the pastor for Sunday lunch…. A common occurrence in church communities…. How disloyal to the leader that God has chosen for them and how often we are the same to our spiritual leaders.
A: Never grumble about the leadership that God has chosen within our spiritual communities.
P: For our Christian leaders.
S: Ex 32:8 “They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them….”
O: Oh how quickly it happens, so many thoughts of dedication to God and then so quickly other things come in the way – even obligations that are good but that take me away from God.
A: Commitment….. praying for this commitment for my husband too so we can serve you together.
P: For a united commitment to you Lord.
S: Ex 32:24 “Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”
O: Aaron sinned and had a golden calf made but instead of admitting his sin he said that the calf just appeared itself out of the gold that they had thrown in the fire. How ridiculous. He does not take responsibility for his part in this sin but makes up a stupid lie.
A: Denial of what the problem is or our part in disobeying God….. I do it, everyone does it but it has consequences….. we have to own up to our mistakes, repent and make changes …..that is the only answer.
P: Honesty when I have made mistakes, repentance and change.
S: Ex 32:26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord come to me.”
O: Talk is cheap…. At some point there is a day of decision and change when we must stand and do what
God wants us to do. We must stand and be counted for the Lord’s side.
A: We cannot straddle the fence in this Christian walk but must stand and be counted for Christ’s side.
P: A chance to stand for Christ’s side.
S: Ex 32:27 “…..Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbour.”
O: Don’t think I have ever noticed this verse before. It is the Levites that are to strap on swords and do this and kill 3000 of their own for this sin of worshipping another god and for this terrible service of killing their own these Levites are blessed. Very harsh.
A: I am so glad I live under grace as I have things that I love but I hope they are never that important to me…… God abhors when things become more important than him… whatever they are…. What am I thinking about…. Where is my heart?
P: Where your heart is there is your treasure also…… Lord help me to keep my heart on you.
S: Ex. 32:33 “The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.”
O: How wonderful that we will not be blotted out of God’s book because we sin…..because of Christ we can come to God with our sins and we are forgiven.
A: Must remember to come to God with my mistakes and ask for forgiveness.
P: Lord forgive me for complaining about things to my husband, for taking time off from my Bible study, for coveting new toys for my house, for chores neglected.
Acts 8
S: Acts 8:4 “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”
O: After the martyrdom of Stephen the church became persecuted and many were dragged off to prison with Saul one of the great persecutors of the church. T his persecution however caused the church to scatter and for the gospel to be preached farther and farther away. God can take a terrible event and turn it into good…… think it is important to keep that in mind when things seem to be going wrong.
A: I have never really been persecuted for Christ’s sake but who knows …. It could happen….. this year will go to share the gospel in an unfriendly land as I join my daughter for a short time….. this is a new experience…. But this is how God works.
P: Lord give me strength to prepare for this upcoming work…. Need to learn and be spiritually ready.
S: Acts 8:15 “When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of he Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit”
O: How often I have heard that when you are saved you have had the baptism of the Holy Spirit and that seeking more is not scriptural. Here it is…. These people have been saved as only believers are baptized but they have not received the Holy Spirit until Peter and John place their hands on them for that express purpose.
A: I do not attend a church where I see the gifts happening….. should I be? I enjoy the many good works this church does…. But there it is…. Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands…. Miss this aspect of church.
P: Direction.
S: Acts 8:18-23 “When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said “Give me this ability…… Peter answered, “May your money perish with you this because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money….. of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.”
O: Simon who was formerly a magician and had been saved and Baptized…. In this instance he is covetous of the gifts of Peter and John and Simon’s heart is wicked…. However is his sin such that it cannot be forgiven? How can Simon be “captive to sin” since he is a Christian
A: Christians can sin but can they sin so as to lose their salvation…. I do not believe so…. But if a Christian has returned to his wicked ways he must repent and ask for forgiveness just like anyone else. Even a Christian can once again be “Captive to sin”
P: Show me my sin Lord…… forgiveness please Lord.
S: Acts 8:26-27 “An angel of the Lord said to Phillip, “Go south…….down from Jerusalem to Gaza… on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch ….this man had gone to Jerusalem to worship and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading from Isaiah the prophet.”
O: Judaism has been part of Ethiopia for a long time….. perhaps since King Solomon’s time and the story of the Queen of Sheba having a son together or is it from earlier? It was a black Jew who had come to worship that carried Jesus cross. If Judaism had spread to Ethiopia – where else had it spread to—were the wise men who came from the East more than just star gazers but also like the eunuch readers of the prophecy about Christ? Not even Jewish historians have the answers about the Ethiopian Jewish history so it will remain a mystery.
A: There are no mistakes with God’s direction. If he directs us one way or another – there is a reason. It is hard to see into the future and figure out the plans of God when he directs us to different roads – but we have to trust – when we pray and seek God and he sends us places – it is for a reason…. And God wants everyone to know him ---- so it is for this reason …. Obedience will bear spiritual fruit.
P: Obedience even when it I can’t see why is my prayer.
S: Acts 8:32 -35 “The Eunuch was reading this passage of scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter….. The eunuch asked Philip, Tell me please who is the prophet talking about…. Then Philip began at that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus….. the eunuch said, “Look here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?”
O: If we did what God directed those ready to be saved would be waiting for direction. It was God that prepared the eunuch’s heart…. He was just waiting for Philip to come by and explain things to him….. this is what it would be like if we were like Philip and obedient to God’s leading.
A: Obedience will reap eternal rewards…. So the reason I am not seeing souls saved is that there is a lack of obedience?????
P: Obedience please.
S: Acts 8:39 “…the eunuch did not see him (Philip) again but went on his way rejoicing.”
O: Philip disappears, it is almost a supernatural vanishing…. Seems to be teleported – an Enoch thing here perhaps or perhaps not. Do not understand how he disappears…. This verse is a mystery …. Is he teleported? This is a strange verse in the Bible.
There is no follow up by Philip here. The eunuch is on his own with the scripture that he has been diligently reading in the past and will continue to do. There are times when an encounter and direction is all that is required in leading a soul to Christ…. Someone in the next seat on an airplane…. If it is God directed and we are obedient then it is God’s appointed timing….. go for it rather than say nothing.
A: Be always ready to explain the hope that we have.
P: To be prepared and aware and directed … waiting for the God given opportunities.
S: Exodus 30:12 “When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.”
O: There was always a price that had to be paid. This is foreshadowing of the price that is to be paid by Christ when he gives his life for our sins.
S: Ex. 31:1-4 “Then the Lord said to Moses, See, I have chosen Bezalel son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, and I have filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability and knowledge in all kinds of crafts--- to make artistic designs…….”
O: Artists are given their skill by God. My son is a wonderful artist and yet he is doing another job as it is hard to work as an artist….
A: Oh that we would still create beautiful art for Christian purposes…. Gone are the days of beautiful churches and I know that it is true that God lives in our hearts and churches should not have money spent on lavish decor however that beautiful art of days gone by is so enjoyable and surely something small of that era could return.
P: An art job for my son so he can use his wonderful talent.
S: Ex. 31:15 “…..Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death.”
O: This is the Old Testament and under the law instead of grace however – very harsh – if it was so important then perhaps we should be a little more mindful of the importance of not working on the Sabbath as our business is a service business and employees often must work on the Sabbath.
A: Commit to doing as much as possible on Saturday so we can rest and worship on Sunday.
P: God help us to keep the Sabbath as a non working day for both us and our employees if at all possible and still maintain our business.
S: Ex 32:1 “When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come make us gods who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”
O: Moses is only on the mountain top for 40 days in total and I am not sure when during the 40 days that this delegation approached Aaron but it is like having the pastor for Sunday lunch…. A common occurrence in church communities…. How disloyal to the leader that God has chosen for them and how often we are the same to our spiritual leaders.
A: Never grumble about the leadership that God has chosen within our spiritual communities.
P: For our Christian leaders.
S: Ex 32:8 “They have been quick to turn away from what I commanded them….”
O: Oh how quickly it happens, so many thoughts of dedication to God and then so quickly other things come in the way – even obligations that are good but that take me away from God.
A: Commitment….. praying for this commitment for my husband too so we can serve you together.
P: For a united commitment to you Lord.
S: Ex 32:24 “Then they gave me the gold, and I threw it into the fire, and out came this calf.”
O: Aaron sinned and had a golden calf made but instead of admitting his sin he said that the calf just appeared itself out of the gold that they had thrown in the fire. How ridiculous. He does not take responsibility for his part in this sin but makes up a stupid lie.
A: Denial of what the problem is or our part in disobeying God….. I do it, everyone does it but it has consequences….. we have to own up to our mistakes, repent and make changes …..that is the only answer.
P: Honesty when I have made mistakes, repentance and change.
S: Ex 32:26 So he stood at the entrance to the camp and said, “Whoever is for the Lord come to me.”
O: Talk is cheap…. At some point there is a day of decision and change when we must stand and do what
God wants us to do. We must stand and be counted for the Lord’s side.
A: We cannot straddle the fence in this Christian walk but must stand and be counted for Christ’s side.
P: A chance to stand for Christ’s side.
S: Ex 32:27 “…..Go back and forth through the camp from one end to the other, each killing his brother and friend and neighbour.”
O: Don’t think I have ever noticed this verse before. It is the Levites that are to strap on swords and do this and kill 3000 of their own for this sin of worshipping another god and for this terrible service of killing their own these Levites are blessed. Very harsh.
A: I am so glad I live under grace as I have things that I love but I hope they are never that important to me…… God abhors when things become more important than him… whatever they are…. What am I thinking about…. Where is my heart?
P: Where your heart is there is your treasure also…… Lord help me to keep my heart on you.
S: Ex. 32:33 “The Lord replied to Moses, “Whoever has sinned against me I will blot out of my book.”
O: How wonderful that we will not be blotted out of God’s book because we sin…..because of Christ we can come to God with our sins and we are forgiven.
A: Must remember to come to God with my mistakes and ask for forgiveness.
P: Lord forgive me for complaining about things to my husband, for taking time off from my Bible study, for coveting new toys for my house, for chores neglected.
Acts 8
S: Acts 8:4 “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went.”
O: After the martyrdom of Stephen the church became persecuted and many were dragged off to prison with Saul one of the great persecutors of the church. T his persecution however caused the church to scatter and for the gospel to be preached farther and farther away. God can take a terrible event and turn it into good…… think it is important to keep that in mind when things seem to be going wrong.
A: I have never really been persecuted for Christ’s sake but who knows …. It could happen….. this year will go to share the gospel in an unfriendly land as I join my daughter for a short time….. this is a new experience…. But this is how God works.
P: Lord give me strength to prepare for this upcoming work…. Need to learn and be spiritually ready.
S: Acts 8:15 “When they arrived, they prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit, because the Holy Spirit had not yet come upon any of them; they had simply been baptized into the name of he Lord Jesus. Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit”
O: How often I have heard that when you are saved you have had the baptism of the Holy Spirit and that seeking more is not scriptural. Here it is…. These people have been saved as only believers are baptized but they have not received the Holy Spirit until Peter and John place their hands on them for that express purpose.
A: I do not attend a church where I see the gifts happening….. should I be? I enjoy the many good works this church does…. But there it is…. Holy Spirit by the laying on of hands…. Miss this aspect of church.
P: Direction.
S: Acts 8:18-23 “When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money and said “Give me this ability…… Peter answered, “May your money perish with you this because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money….. of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.”
O: Simon who was formerly a magician and had been saved and Baptized…. In this instance he is covetous of the gifts of Peter and John and Simon’s heart is wicked…. However is his sin such that it cannot be forgiven? How can Simon be “captive to sin” since he is a Christian
A: Christians can sin but can they sin so as to lose their salvation…. I do not believe so…. But if a Christian has returned to his wicked ways he must repent and ask for forgiveness just like anyone else. Even a Christian can once again be “Captive to sin”
P: Show me my sin Lord…… forgiveness please Lord.
S: Acts 8:26-27 “An angel of the Lord said to Phillip, “Go south…….down from Jerusalem to Gaza… on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch ….this man had gone to Jerusalem to worship and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading from Isaiah the prophet.”
O: Judaism has been part of Ethiopia for a long time….. perhaps since King Solomon’s time and the story of the Queen of Sheba having a son together or is it from earlier? It was a black Jew who had come to worship that carried Jesus cross. If Judaism had spread to Ethiopia – where else had it spread to—were the wise men who came from the East more than just star gazers but also like the eunuch readers of the prophecy about Christ? Not even Jewish historians have the answers about the Ethiopian Jewish history so it will remain a mystery.
A: There are no mistakes with God’s direction. If he directs us one way or another – there is a reason. It is hard to see into the future and figure out the plans of God when he directs us to different roads – but we have to trust – when we pray and seek God and he sends us places – it is for a reason…. And God wants everyone to know him ---- so it is for this reason …. Obedience will bear spiritual fruit.
P: Obedience even when it I can’t see why is my prayer.
S: Acts 8:32 -35 “The Eunuch was reading this passage of scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter….. The eunuch asked Philip, Tell me please who is the prophet talking about…. Then Philip began at that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus….. the eunuch said, “Look here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?”
O: If we did what God directed those ready to be saved would be waiting for direction. It was God that prepared the eunuch’s heart…. He was just waiting for Philip to come by and explain things to him….. this is what it would be like if we were like Philip and obedient to God’s leading.
A: Obedience will reap eternal rewards…. So the reason I am not seeing souls saved is that there is a lack of obedience?????
P: Obedience please.
S: Acts 8:39 “…the eunuch did not see him (Philip) again but went on his way rejoicing.”
O: Philip disappears, it is almost a supernatural vanishing…. Seems to be teleported – an Enoch thing here perhaps or perhaps not. Do not understand how he disappears…. This verse is a mystery …. Is he teleported? This is a strange verse in the Bible.
There is no follow up by Philip here. The eunuch is on his own with the scripture that he has been diligently reading in the past and will continue to do. There are times when an encounter and direction is all that is required in leading a soul to Christ…. Someone in the next seat on an airplane…. If it is God directed and we are obedient then it is God’s appointed timing….. go for it rather than say nothing.
A: Be always ready to explain the hope that we have.
P: To be prepared and aware and directed … waiting for the God given opportunities.
January 31, 2010, Exodus 28-29, Acts 7
January 31, 2010, Exodus28 & 29, Acts 7
Exodus 28 – The Priestly Garments
S: Ex 28:3 “….make garment for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest.”
O: The Catholics wear priestly garments but the Protestants do not --- should they? God commanded that the priests were to wear these expensive garments with each part having a different symbolic meaning. Don’t think this dressing in fine and symbolic clothing is for now. Isaiah 61:10 says “For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.”
A: In the New Testament our clothing is spiritual “put on the breastplate of righteousness” –
S: Ex 28:15 “Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of a skilled craftsman.” Ex 28:29 “Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord……..Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.”
O: How interesting that this spiritual leader is the decision maker for his family and his people. Aaron is not the most spiritual of people and makes huge spiritual mistakes leading others astray and yet he is strong in body and can hold up the arms of Moses for a long time and he is Moses brother and God has decided to choose him. So when God chooses – it is the right thing to do – no matter what. I like the idea that the names of his family are written over his heart into his clothing and so they are always with him as he goes to prayer and about his business.
A: Although not embroidered on my clothing or engraved in a breastplate the idea of keeping those people we pray for engraved in our hearts figuratively is good. I will lift up each of them by name daily.
P: God help me to be diligent in praying for those engraved on my heart, each and every day.
S: Ex 28:37 “Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban.”
O: They wore turbans with a blue symbolic cord on it – so symbolic emblems within a turban such as the Sikhs wearing kirpan is not a new idea.
S: Ex 28:42 “Make linen undergarments in a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh. Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die.”
O: So this is where the Mormons get the holy underwear idea. This answers my earlier question – we are covered by Christ’s righteousness when we are saved and no longer have to where special clothes to be holy or sanctified or to cover our sin with a covering as Adam and Eve did as Isaiah 61 says we are now clothed with the “garments of salvation.”
A: Our garments of salvation should be as visible to others as real clothing…. That others may see this righteousness that we profess.
P: Lord let my spiritual “garments of salvation” and “robe of righteousness” be something that others can perceive as I live my life.
Acts 7
S: Acts 7:37 “This is that Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will send out a prophet like me from your own people.”
O: This is Stephen speaking – the man who is not to preach but to look after the widows and serve tables…. And yet he is so well educated that he can teach the elite of the Jews their own history and goes through the history of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the 12 tribes and the escape from Egypt. Even the humble servant jobs require diligent study and knowledge for who knows when we will be called on to speak about the truth of Christ.
A: Keep on with this Bible even though it looks like rocking babies and other menial tasks are not that important – this, is my task…… Who knows when God will call us to speak for Him.
P: Opportunities to serve and to speak.
S Acts 7:55-59 “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, “ Look,”he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him ot of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid heir clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.”
O: So many observations I am going to number them:
1. Stephen is picked to look after the old ladies and widows of the church to free up the preachers. To wait on tables … is the term used.
2. He is able to speak with confidences to the Pharisees and give them a history of the Jewish people quoting evidence that they had a history of rejecting God’s prophets.
3. He is able to share his faith in Jesus with all of them and to give his testimony.
4. His testimony enrages them so that they have to plug their ears --- this is what the gospel does to those who willfully reject it – they can not stand it.
5. He is not only a martyr but his example becomes the inspiration for Paul the apostle who goes on to take the gospel far and wide and is responsible for helping spread the gospel to the world.
6. He does his small task with great purpose and the results are world changing.
A: If we are obedient and look after those around us or whatever, in God’s great plan we have no idea what God might do.
P: Help me to just bloom where I am planted.
Exodus 28 – The Priestly Garments
S: Ex 28:3 “….make garment for Aaron, for his consecration, so he may serve me as priest.”
O: The Catholics wear priestly garments but the Protestants do not --- should they? God commanded that the priests were to wear these expensive garments with each part having a different symbolic meaning. Don’t think this dressing in fine and symbolic clothing is for now. Isaiah 61:10 says “For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness.”
A: In the New Testament our clothing is spiritual “put on the breastplate of righteousness” –
S: Ex 28:15 “Fashion a breastpiece for making decisions—the work of a skilled craftsman.” Ex 28:29 “Whenever Aaron enters the Holy Place, he will bear the names of the sons of Israel over his heart on the breastpiece of decision as a continuing memorial before the Lord……..Thus Aaron will always bear the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the Lord.”
O: How interesting that this spiritual leader is the decision maker for his family and his people. Aaron is not the most spiritual of people and makes huge spiritual mistakes leading others astray and yet he is strong in body and can hold up the arms of Moses for a long time and he is Moses brother and God has decided to choose him. So when God chooses – it is the right thing to do – no matter what. I like the idea that the names of his family are written over his heart into his clothing and so they are always with him as he goes to prayer and about his business.
A: Although not embroidered on my clothing or engraved in a breastplate the idea of keeping those people we pray for engraved in our hearts figuratively is good. I will lift up each of them by name daily.
P: God help me to be diligent in praying for those engraved on my heart, each and every day.
S: Ex 28:37 “Fasten a blue cord to it to attach it to the turban; it is to be on the front of the turban.”
O: They wore turbans with a blue symbolic cord on it – so symbolic emblems within a turban such as the Sikhs wearing kirpan is not a new idea.
S: Ex 28:42 “Make linen undergarments in a covering for the body, reaching from the waist to the thigh. Aaron and his sons must wear them whenever they enter the Tent of Meeting or approach the altar to minister in the Holy Place, so that they will not incur guilt and die.”
O: So this is where the Mormons get the holy underwear idea. This answers my earlier question – we are covered by Christ’s righteousness when we are saved and no longer have to where special clothes to be holy or sanctified or to cover our sin with a covering as Adam and Eve did as Isaiah 61 says we are now clothed with the “garments of salvation.”
A: Our garments of salvation should be as visible to others as real clothing…. That others may see this righteousness that we profess.
P: Lord let my spiritual “garments of salvation” and “robe of righteousness” be something that others can perceive as I live my life.
Acts 7
S: Acts 7:37 “This is that Moses who told the Israelites, ‘God will send out a prophet like me from your own people.”
O: This is Stephen speaking – the man who is not to preach but to look after the widows and serve tables…. And yet he is so well educated that he can teach the elite of the Jews their own history and goes through the history of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and the 12 tribes and the escape from Egypt. Even the humble servant jobs require diligent study and knowledge for who knows when we will be called on to speak about the truth of Christ.
A: Keep on with this Bible even though it looks like rocking babies and other menial tasks are not that important – this, is my task…… Who knows when God will call us to speak for Him.
P: Opportunities to serve and to speak.
S Acts 7:55-59 “But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, “ Look,”he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, dragged him ot of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid heir clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul.”
O: So many observations I am going to number them:
1. Stephen is picked to look after the old ladies and widows of the church to free up the preachers. To wait on tables … is the term used.
2. He is able to speak with confidences to the Pharisees and give them a history of the Jewish people quoting evidence that they had a history of rejecting God’s prophets.
3. He is able to share his faith in Jesus with all of them and to give his testimony.
4. His testimony enrages them so that they have to plug their ears --- this is what the gospel does to those who willfully reject it – they can not stand it.
5. He is not only a martyr but his example becomes the inspiration for Paul the apostle who goes on to take the gospel far and wide and is responsible for helping spread the gospel to the world.
6. He does his small task with great purpose and the results are world changing.
A: If we are obedient and look after those around us or whatever, in God’s great plan we have no idea what God might do.
P: Help me to just bloom where I am planted.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
January 30, 2010, Exodus 25-27, Acts 6
January 30, 2010, Exodus 25-27, Acts 6
S: 25:2 “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give.”
O: Giving is not an obligation or a tithe rule but rather a heart thing – to be a response to a heart that wants to give – this is how giving works.
A: Giving is from a heart that wants to give so that is what I want.
P: Give me a giving heart Lord.
Acts 6
S: Acts 6:2-5 “So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Pharmenas and Nicolas……”
O: Someone had to look after the old, the young, the widows, etc. it could not be all praying and preaching for everyone….. or some would be neglected and this would not be right. So some of us – perhaps myself included – must spend most of our time looking after the old, the babies, the young mothers – just as I do and this is right.
A: Keep doing what I am doing and if there is an opportunity to share the gospel – go for it but it may not be the constant task that I am suppose to do.
P: Help me to keep doing exactly those things that you give me to do dear God. It may not look like much to those around me but it is what you want me to do so --- so being a people pleaser is not essential … pleasing you is.
S: Acts 6:15”All those who were sitting in the Snhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”
O: Stephen was the one chosen to help serve tables and look after widows and yet he is so godly that he is a thorn in the side of the Jews….. they can’t stand him and plot to kill him.
A: It does not matter how small the job…. We can still serve and share Christ no matter our task or position in life.
P: To be a Stephen type person.
S: 25:2 “Tell the Israelites to bring me an offering. You are to receive the offering for me from each man whose heart prompts him to give.”
O: Giving is not an obligation or a tithe rule but rather a heart thing – to be a response to a heart that wants to give – this is how giving works.
A: Giving is from a heart that wants to give so that is what I want.
P: Give me a giving heart Lord.
Acts 6
S: Acts 6:2-5 “So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.” This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Pharmenas and Nicolas……”
O: Someone had to look after the old, the young, the widows, etc. it could not be all praying and preaching for everyone….. or some would be neglected and this would not be right. So some of us – perhaps myself included – must spend most of our time looking after the old, the babies, the young mothers – just as I do and this is right.
A: Keep doing what I am doing and if there is an opportunity to share the gospel – go for it but it may not be the constant task that I am suppose to do.
P: Help me to keep doing exactly those things that you give me to do dear God. It may not look like much to those around me but it is what you want me to do so --- so being a people pleaser is not essential … pleasing you is.
S: Acts 6:15”All those who were sitting in the Snhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.”
O: Stephen was the one chosen to help serve tables and look after widows and yet he is so godly that he is a thorn in the side of the Jews….. they can’t stand him and plot to kill him.
A: It does not matter how small the job…. We can still serve and share Christ no matter our task or position in life.
P: To be a Stephen type person.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
January 29, 2010, Exodus 23 & 24, Psalm 14, Acts 5
January 29, 2010, Exodus 23 & 24, Psalm 14, Acts 5
Third time I have done this…. Lost it … and must start over again.
Title: When it is wrong, it is wrong…. No matter how the masses think.
S: Ex 23:2 “Do not follow the crowd in wrong doing.”
O: Popular opinion changes. Since I was a girl much of what was illegal and thought wrong has changed both in law and in popular acceptance. Homosexuality, abortion and drugs were illegal when I was young and now all are legal … well personal use marijuana is legal. So are they right or wrong since the laws and popular opinion has changed…. I think that if I carefully read this book I can know what is right and wrong.
P: Discernment.
Title: The poor should receive justice.
S: Ex 23:6 “Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.”
O: Justice means that the poor will receive the same legal assistance as anyone else and then receive just judgments. It means that we will not let the poor off just because they are poor but also that their defense will excellent. Does legal aid or the pro bono cases of law companies give such a defense to the poor? I doubt it.
P: Justice.
Title: Be good to foreigners in your land.
S: Ex 23:9 “Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens…”
O: It is hard to figure this book out. At the end of this same chapter it says that when you come to a land that is to be conquered to drive out the people that live there and not let them live in your land. Which is it good to the alien or not? The only difference I can see is that it is different when you are in charge of a country and take in people and when you enter a country to take it over….. a conquered people are resentful and may rise again if they become strong. So being good to the aliens that come into our country is wise but allowing such goodness to a conquered nation after war is not. I think our county is good to aliens but I have never been one so how would I know. I read a book once about a person that was white and colored his skin black and then traveled the Southern States…. The experience was different than he expected. That is what I think about aliens in our land… I probably have no idea of the problems they experience.
P: To think of those who come to our land in the same way as God does ….. deserving of all of His goodness and grace.
Title: Do not work on the Sabbath.
S: Ex 23:12 “Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed.”
O: How important is the Sabbath to our family. Well as a holy day…. Not important enough…. Our business is a 24/7 service and so our workers must often work on the Sabbath and so do we. Often if it is a family gathering I seem to have to stay home and cook if I am not organized enough to get it all ready on the Saturday. Do we give up our business? Do I give up family dinners on Sunday or do I just get more organized. Getting more organized and doing everything Saturday is something that can be done with planning but giving up the business that has fed us for over 35 years is what we know so not sure on that one. How important is God to me… very…. But I am a wife and do not control the family business…. So will have to pray on this.
P: A holy Sabbath for all of the family.
Title: Angels help us out.
S: Ex 23:20 “So I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.”
O: Is this verse just for the Israelites in the desert or do we have an angel going before us……I often wonder this …. If we are getting extra help down here from angelic powers….. I choose to think we are and will read my Bible that way as it really makes me feel good.
Title: How to take over a country.
S: Ex 23:30 “Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.”
O: War is not the most efficient way of taking over a country…. Population expansion is… even God says so. If the Jews or the Arabs want to take possession of certain territories the plan should be to inhabit as much land as possible and then have many children. Birth control has a way of diminishing particular races and may completely change the demographics of nations including the U.S. and Canada.
A: There really isn’t any – Christians are not born through physical birth but through spiritual birth and come in every race, color and creed. We can go and live in nations that have low Christian populations and by being salt and light have an effect but perhaps North America is becoming more secular than countries that we presently send missionaries to so it is difficult to know where the most needy mission field is right now.
P: Not sure.
S: Ex 23:33 “Do not let them live in your land (the alien) , or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you.”
O: So what happened to Ex 23:9 and “do not oppress an alien” is there not an inconsistency here or is there a difference in when you take over a land and when there is a minority already within your land. I think the teaching here is to treat the alien who is a minority in your land well however if you are taking over a country the recommendation is to drive out the alien since these people who are beaten will be an unfriendly foe within your borders if they are a conquered people. I think that eliminating the alien within a conquered country does not seem moral. This sounds like genocide --- but here it is as God’s advice here. It actually does not say kill them all it just says do not let them live in your land….. or I assume to push them out of their land. I guess that is how war works.
A: We judge nations that do this … it seems wrong.. Darfur etc., peaceful co-existence certainly seems more humane.
P:
S: Ex 24: 9 “Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.”
O: I really do not get this…. Ex 24:2 says “but Moses alone is to approach the Lord; the others must not come near.” …… and then by the end of the verse it says that 74 people including Moses went up and saw God and nothing happened to them…… this seems odd to me. Perhaps they were keeping their distance and saw God but it was not that close and so was not the kind of face to face experience that God did not permit. He does say to Moses come up to me on the mountain … so the 74 of them must have been quite a distance away and this was permissible….. the “worship at a distance” part of the verse.
S: Ex: 24: 15 “When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and he is in the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. “
O: So Moses is in a cloud, and God is in a cloud and so the experience is a e clouded image… not a clear one. Moses is a very old man at this time and he must not have eaten anything for the 40 days so it is a vague image while he is a physically deprived state… a situation conducive to some type of altered state of experience ….. but he came back with the ten
commandments on tablets and this has been the basis of all law and religion since that time so a very productive experience.
A: Moses got away with God on a mountain top and great things happened. Perhaps we are so busy with doing good things that we seldom get on a mountain top with God for 40 days and therefore little of great spiritual value is accomplished. Perhaps more would be accomplished for the kingdom if we stopped flapping our wings and just spent more time alone with God.
P: More time alone with God.
Psalm 14
S: Psalm 14:1 “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God”
O: Whenever it is discouraging when talking with those who really contend that there is no God… it is good to remember that God calls them fools…. That is what God thinks of those who deny His existence.
A: Have courage in the face of dissent.
P: Lord please give me courage when others are antagonistic against you.
Acts 5
S: Acts 5:4 “You have not lied to men but to God.”
O: This is the story of Ananias and Sapphira who sold a piece of land and want the praise of others and so they agree to lie and say that they are giving all the money that they have received for the land to God. And both of them, after lying about the amount that the received when handing it over to Peter, drop dead. The problem is that what they want is the approval of others for their good deeds. They could have said this is part of the money but they agreed to lie and it was this lying to God and this desire to have the approval of others regarding their Christian work that is their sin. How God must abhor our desire to have the approval of others for our Christian deeds…. It is a hanging offence so to speak. How important to keep our deeds secret.
A: Here is where I have a problem. Often if you give money to the church, if it is a good sum, someone finds out about it. I think that only the treasurer of a church should ever know who gives what. We are suppose to give to our local church but if you do it is always found out about (this has been my experience anyway) and so I have a hard time giving to the church that I attend as I am concerned that someone might find out and then we will have this regard that is not acceptable.
P: The ability to give and not be found out.
S: Acts 5:15 “people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that alt least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.”
O: Why would Peter’s shadow have any healing powers? He is a man although spiritually endowed with the gift of healing however I can not see how his shadow should have any extraordinary powers. This seems contrary to how God works. It should be through God’s power and not Peter’s power that healing occurs. Do not understand this verse.
A: The Catholic church looks at Peter differently then the protestant church does. Should we regard Peter differently than we do? I do not think so. Perhaps the people who were trying to get Peter’s shadow to fall on them were wrong. All pastors including Peter as far as I understand are only the messenger of God’s power and message and are not to be regarded greatly but for their ability to channel God’s power.
P: Lord help me to be enamored more with you than with your messengers.
S: Acts 5:21 “At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.”
O: I have such trouble getting to daytime activities at the church and I often think that it would be great to go to church early in the morning as I find it such a good habit to go to the gym early. My daughter goes to a Korean church and she has just learned that they have 4:00 a.m. church every day – wow – I wonder how that would change the world… Arabs pray at 5:00 a.m. everyday…. Think this would be hard to do and I do not believe in legalism of having to do some difficult feat for the sake of it however do think that would love to do that early morning time with God.
A: Get to bed early so I can get up early.
P: Lord help me just for today to get to bed early and help me to get up early tomorrow to spend time with you.
S: Acts 5:42 “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”
O: Day after day they are teaching and preaching Jesus – what an example to imitate.
A: Share more.
P: Help bring about opportunities to share you with others.
Third time I have done this…. Lost it … and must start over again.
Title: When it is wrong, it is wrong…. No matter how the masses think.
S: Ex 23:2 “Do not follow the crowd in wrong doing.”
O: Popular opinion changes. Since I was a girl much of what was illegal and thought wrong has changed both in law and in popular acceptance. Homosexuality, abortion and drugs were illegal when I was young and now all are legal … well personal use marijuana is legal. So are they right or wrong since the laws and popular opinion has changed…. I think that if I carefully read this book I can know what is right and wrong.
P: Discernment.
Title: The poor should receive justice.
S: Ex 23:6 “Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.”
O: Justice means that the poor will receive the same legal assistance as anyone else and then receive just judgments. It means that we will not let the poor off just because they are poor but also that their defense will excellent. Does legal aid or the pro bono cases of law companies give such a defense to the poor? I doubt it.
P: Justice.
Title: Be good to foreigners in your land.
S: Ex 23:9 “Do not oppress an alien; you yourselves know how it feels to be aliens…”
O: It is hard to figure this book out. At the end of this same chapter it says that when you come to a land that is to be conquered to drive out the people that live there and not let them live in your land. Which is it good to the alien or not? The only difference I can see is that it is different when you are in charge of a country and take in people and when you enter a country to take it over….. a conquered people are resentful and may rise again if they become strong. So being good to the aliens that come into our country is wise but allowing such goodness to a conquered nation after war is not. I think our county is good to aliens but I have never been one so how would I know. I read a book once about a person that was white and colored his skin black and then traveled the Southern States…. The experience was different than he expected. That is what I think about aliens in our land… I probably have no idea of the problems they experience.
P: To think of those who come to our land in the same way as God does ….. deserving of all of His goodness and grace.
Title: Do not work on the Sabbath.
S: Ex 23:12 “Six days do your work, but on the seventh day do not work so that your ox and your donkey may rest and the slave born in your household, and the alien as well, may be refreshed.”
O: How important is the Sabbath to our family. Well as a holy day…. Not important enough…. Our business is a 24/7 service and so our workers must often work on the Sabbath and so do we. Often if it is a family gathering I seem to have to stay home and cook if I am not organized enough to get it all ready on the Saturday. Do we give up our business? Do I give up family dinners on Sunday or do I just get more organized. Getting more organized and doing everything Saturday is something that can be done with planning but giving up the business that has fed us for over 35 years is what we know so not sure on that one. How important is God to me… very…. But I am a wife and do not control the family business…. So will have to pray on this.
P: A holy Sabbath for all of the family.
Title: Angels help us out.
S: Ex 23:20 “So I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared.”
O: Is this verse just for the Israelites in the desert or do we have an angel going before us……I often wonder this …. If we are getting extra help down here from angelic powers….. I choose to think we are and will read my Bible that way as it really makes me feel good.
Title: How to take over a country.
S: Ex 23:30 “Little by little I will drive them out before you, until you have increased enough to take possession of the land.”
O: War is not the most efficient way of taking over a country…. Population expansion is… even God says so. If the Jews or the Arabs want to take possession of certain territories the plan should be to inhabit as much land as possible and then have many children. Birth control has a way of diminishing particular races and may completely change the demographics of nations including the U.S. and Canada.
A: There really isn’t any – Christians are not born through physical birth but through spiritual birth and come in every race, color and creed. We can go and live in nations that have low Christian populations and by being salt and light have an effect but perhaps North America is becoming more secular than countries that we presently send missionaries to so it is difficult to know where the most needy mission field is right now.
P: Not sure.
S: Ex 23:33 “Do not let them live in your land (the alien) , or they will cause you to sin against me, because the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you.”
O: So what happened to Ex 23:9 and “do not oppress an alien” is there not an inconsistency here or is there a difference in when you take over a land and when there is a minority already within your land. I think the teaching here is to treat the alien who is a minority in your land well however if you are taking over a country the recommendation is to drive out the alien since these people who are beaten will be an unfriendly foe within your borders if they are a conquered people. I think that eliminating the alien within a conquered country does not seem moral. This sounds like genocide --- but here it is as God’s advice here. It actually does not say kill them all it just says do not let them live in your land….. or I assume to push them out of their land. I guess that is how war works.
A: We judge nations that do this … it seems wrong.. Darfur etc., peaceful co-existence certainly seems more humane.
P:
S: Ex 24: 9 “Moses and Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and the seventy elders of Israel went up and saw the God of Israel. Under his feet was something like pavement made of sapphire, clear as the sky itself. But God did not raise his hand against these leaders of the Israelites; they saw God, and they ate and drank.”
O: I really do not get this…. Ex 24:2 says “but Moses alone is to approach the Lord; the others must not come near.” …… and then by the end of the verse it says that 74 people including Moses went up and saw God and nothing happened to them…… this seems odd to me. Perhaps they were keeping their distance and saw God but it was not that close and so was not the kind of face to face experience that God did not permit. He does say to Moses come up to me on the mountain … so the 74 of them must have been quite a distance away and this was permissible….. the “worship at a distance” part of the verse.
S: Ex: 24: 15 “When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud covered it, and the glory of the Lord settled on Mount Sinai. For six days the cloud covered the mountain, and he is in the cloud as he went on up the mountain. And he stayed on the mountain forty days and forty nights. “
O: So Moses is in a cloud, and God is in a cloud and so the experience is a e clouded image… not a clear one. Moses is a very old man at this time and he must not have eaten anything for the 40 days so it is a vague image while he is a physically deprived state… a situation conducive to some type of altered state of experience ….. but he came back with the ten
commandments on tablets and this has been the basis of all law and religion since that time so a very productive experience.
A: Moses got away with God on a mountain top and great things happened. Perhaps we are so busy with doing good things that we seldom get on a mountain top with God for 40 days and therefore little of great spiritual value is accomplished. Perhaps more would be accomplished for the kingdom if we stopped flapping our wings and just spent more time alone with God.
P: More time alone with God.
Psalm 14
S: Psalm 14:1 “The fool says in his heart, “There is no God”
O: Whenever it is discouraging when talking with those who really contend that there is no God… it is good to remember that God calls them fools…. That is what God thinks of those who deny His existence.
A: Have courage in the face of dissent.
P: Lord please give me courage when others are antagonistic against you.
Acts 5
S: Acts 5:4 “You have not lied to men but to God.”
O: This is the story of Ananias and Sapphira who sold a piece of land and want the praise of others and so they agree to lie and say that they are giving all the money that they have received for the land to God. And both of them, after lying about the amount that the received when handing it over to Peter, drop dead. The problem is that what they want is the approval of others for their good deeds. They could have said this is part of the money but they agreed to lie and it was this lying to God and this desire to have the approval of others regarding their Christian work that is their sin. How God must abhor our desire to have the approval of others for our Christian deeds…. It is a hanging offence so to speak. How important to keep our deeds secret.
A: Here is where I have a problem. Often if you give money to the church, if it is a good sum, someone finds out about it. I think that only the treasurer of a church should ever know who gives what. We are suppose to give to our local church but if you do it is always found out about (this has been my experience anyway) and so I have a hard time giving to the church that I attend as I am concerned that someone might find out and then we will have this regard that is not acceptable.
P: The ability to give and not be found out.
S: Acts 5:15 “people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that alt least Peter’s shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by.”
O: Why would Peter’s shadow have any healing powers? He is a man although spiritually endowed with the gift of healing however I can not see how his shadow should have any extraordinary powers. This seems contrary to how God works. It should be through God’s power and not Peter’s power that healing occurs. Do not understand this verse.
A: The Catholic church looks at Peter differently then the protestant church does. Should we regard Peter differently than we do? I do not think so. Perhaps the people who were trying to get Peter’s shadow to fall on them were wrong. All pastors including Peter as far as I understand are only the messenger of God’s power and message and are not to be regarded greatly but for their ability to channel God’s power.
P: Lord help me to be enamored more with you than with your messengers.
S: Acts 5:21 “At daybreak they entered the temple courts, as they had been told, and began to teach the people.”
O: I have such trouble getting to daytime activities at the church and I often think that it would be great to go to church early in the morning as I find it such a good habit to go to the gym early. My daughter goes to a Korean church and she has just learned that they have 4:00 a.m. church every day – wow – I wonder how that would change the world… Arabs pray at 5:00 a.m. everyday…. Think this would be hard to do and I do not believe in legalism of having to do some difficult feat for the sake of it however do think that would love to do that early morning time with God.
A: Get to bed early so I can get up early.
P: Lord help me just for today to get to bed early and help me to get up early tomorrow to spend time with you.
S: Acts 5:42 “Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ.”
O: Day after day they are teaching and preaching Jesus – what an example to imitate.
A: Share more.
P: Help bring about opportunities to share you with others.
January 28, 2010, Ex 21 & 22, Psalm 12, Acts 4
Title: Law and Order comes from Exodus 21
Title: Penalties for Murder
S: Ex 21: 12-14 “ Anyone who strikes a man and kills him shall surely be put to death. However, if he does not do it intentionally, but God lets it happen, he is to flee to a place I will designate. But if a man schemes and kills another man deliberately, take him away from my altar and put him to death
O: Intentional murder – death penalty.
-Accidental murder – put him in a designated location….. perhaps a jail. Does not say how long….
-A premeditated murder – to be put to death
P: This is the Old Testament position and the rood of many of our present day laws...whether they are still applicable for today... not sure ..... we are in an era of grace through Jesus and everyone can be saved and forgiven even the worst of sinners. So do the rules of the Old Testament hold true now... not sure.
S: Ex 21: 16 “Anyone who kidnaps another…….put to death.”
O: Kidnapping – death penalty
S: Ex 21:18 If men quarrel and one hits another …..and he does not die but is confined to bed….. he must pay for the injured man for the loss of his time and see that he is completely healed.”
O: So the rule is complete responsibility for compensation until the injured party is restored to health.
Title: Death of an unborn child.
S: Ex 21:22 “If men who are fighting hit a pregnant woman and she gives birth prematurely….. if there is serious injury you are to take life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn , wound for wound, bruise for bruise.
O: Not sure if this means death of the woman or death of the unborn child…. Just says serious injury.
Title: Rules on Thieves
S: Exodus 22:2 "If a thief is caught breaking in and is struck so that he dies the defender is not guilty of bloodshed; but if it happens after sunrise, he is guilty of bloodshed. A thief must certainly make restitution, but if he has nothing, he must be sold to pay for the theft."
O: This is one of the strangest rules that I have read - so if you try and rob someone in the dark of night then you can be killed by your victim and there is no consequence..... however if it is in daylight the person killing the thief is guilty of killing the thief. So in the dark the victim might not have known what he was doing --- but in the light he did know that he was killing the thief. Whatever happens the thief must always pay back the victim in full for the victims losses. So how would this work in real life..... all jails would become workhouses and the prisoners would be assessed a daily wage according to their work and this money would go to the insurance company that had paid out the victim. When the insurance company was paid out in full..... the prisoner had paid his debt and could go free.
Title: The assessed cost of taking a woman's virginity.
S: Ex 22:16 "If a man seduces a virgin who is not pledged to be married and sleeps with her, he must pay the bride price, and she shall be his wife. If her father absolutely refuses to giver her to him, he must still pay the bride-price for virgins.
O: If a man seduces a virgin he must either marry her or pay a large amount of money as a fine for taking her virginity and the amount must be equal been paid for a dowry. What would the world be like if the fine for taking a girl's virginity was either marriage or a fine of $100,000 ... and if you could not pay it you went to jail and worked in a workhouse making widgets that would be sold in the world and when you had made enough widgets to pay off the dowry you could get out. Think there would be no unwed mothers and no fatherless children. That would change this country.
Title: What do we give to God - I have seen many innovative ways to raise money for those in Christian service.
S: Ex 22: 29-31 "Do not hold back offerings from your granaries or your vats. You must give me the firstborn of your sons. Do the same with your cattle and your sheep. Let them stay with their mothers for seven days, but give them to me on the eighth day."
O: Not sure what this means.... yes.. do not hold back as we offer what we have to God but our firstborn sons? In times past many good Catholics wanted one son of a family to go into the priesthood..... but is this ever mentioned today.... not really in the Protestant church ... should we still think this way that at least one of a family should be in God's service? I don't think I have heard a sermon in my life about the responsibility of parents to talk to their children about going into God's service. Perhaps this just means dedicating your children to God on the 8th day... like circumcision but not like giving them over for priests. Not sure. Think that when we dedicated our children to God we did not think that it was for a life of full time service, don't think my husband was thinking that anyway.... however give your firstborn, give your cattle means give in these verses. We are to give our bodies as our reasonable service to God - but as salvation and commitment are individual we cannot give our children as priests or missionaries as they must find that commitment themselves. We can do everything in our power to lead them on right paths though and here we have failed as we have been too much in this world and they will follow in our footsteps.
P: Change how we follow you so that it affects our offspring for generations to come.
Acts 4 -
S: Acts 4:12 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
O: Today I was talking to my friend at her home gym. I said I felt bad that I do not proselytize much as a Christian. She said that she believed she believed in God but that she did not like Christians saying that there is only one way. I said that I believed we were all built with a craving for God and that there could not be several truths but only one way which was the truth. We never carried the conversation on further however this North American world is turned off by jargon and conversation and a message about "salvation is found in no one else" is quickly a statement of offense. Peter and John spoke and 5000 men plus women and children were saved within a short time. There are two things I see.... first of all it is God who nudges each and every person toward God... and secondly this spirit filled passion that Peter and John had is missing .... do I care like they did...... do I have their urgency..... are there any Peters and John's still out there....
P: Passion ......
Title: The secret is being with Jesus
S: Acts 4:13 "When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus."
O: What made Peter and John so different They were fireballs for Jesus. The thing was that these two men changed. They became unique. In today's world people who do not profess any religious faith are outshining Christians in their good works. The Angelina Jolie's of this world are out there giving and doing with all they have and not selling any religion. But it is more than becoming a good person or doing good.... it is about finding truth. There cannot be numerous truths. Being with Jesus changed these men from the inside and we all have this craving... this inner emptiness and it was the "being with Jesus" that answered that inner craving that could not be satisfied by good works or fuzzy beliefs in this or that. So many Christians mess up that it gives Christianity a bad name but it is not Christians but Jesus who never changes and is the one who satisfies that hole in the center of us.
P: Guess I am missing things in my Christian walk but I am learning.... it is being with Jesus that will change who I am. Time with you Lord, please.
Title: An inability to be quiet should be our condition.
S: Acts 4:20 "For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard."
O: I am quiet about my beliefs as I am so polite that I just hate to offend anyone. But I am selling good friends short. Here I am enjoying that inner peace that comes from Jesus and others are suffering. How selfish I am just so I will not offend anyone.
P: Lord make me a braver. Just so Canadian and so polite that really hate to offend anyone. There are people out there that have an aching hole inside... looking for answers... and I know that it is just "being with Jesus".
Title: Coming to the same conclusion as Peter and John
S: Acts 4:29 "Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out our hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
O: They prayed for both boldness and wonders. Don't think I have prayed that very often. Have prayed for those I love who have been sick and have prayed for miracles and seen them..... but to help others believe..... hmm.
A: Prayer must be a commitment, a diligent ordered time set apart to pray for needs of others and for boldness to share who you are.
P: Lord change my prayer life.
Title: Communal living was part of the early church.
S: Acts 4:34 "There were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned lands or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles feet and it was distributed to anyone as he had need.
O: Well this definitely is more than mere tithing a tenth of what you have. Guess this is where the idea of communism came from however so far the great experiment has not worked in any society except this one that I know of. The problem is that it would have to be a perfectly unselfish Christian group of people and that is a rare. It happened here in the early church and it works in some small Christian communities still - but very unusual. But the example here is to give all you can....... not just 10 %. This can only happen with a true change of human nature where you care more about others than what you have. I know that I have not taught my children that one.
A: Change my thinking about giving.... it is about how much we can give.... not how much we can save or live on or acquire. This is new thinking.
P: Make this type of thinking come into practice dear Lord.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
January 27, 2010, Exodus 17-20, Acts 3
Title: Listening to people who are not always chosen by God to speak.
S: Ex: 18:17 Moses’ father in law replied “What you are doing is not good.”
O: Moses has been listening to God for all his instructions and has obeyed and this obedience has caused plagues, helped him lead the Israelites out of
A: Be careful who you take advice from ….. not all people are aware of what God has planned.
P: Discernment.
Title: The Jews are chosen by God….. Symbolically in a Christian context … those who become Christians now come under this description.
S: Ex 19:5-6 The Jews are the one nation that God calls His “treasured possession”…….you will be for me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
O: There is always this “type” as it is called in literature, where God leads these people through great trials so that they will choose to come to Him. Must we always go through trials before deciding to become a Christian…. Are any saved easily? Do I appreciate what God has done for me?
A: I sometimes think that I am not such a bad person…. But how does God see me…. He views me as his treasured possession… a priest and part of a holy people….. how am I living to live up to God’s assessment of me? Today’s sermon in church was one that said that if you study the Bible and come to church but do not witness to others then your faith is pretty useless. By the time I walked out I did not feel very good. Had two of my grandchildren with me as we had another grandchild today so felt excited about that but the sermon was a downer. We all do different things and looking after these kids and being a good wife, mother and grandmother really takes so much of my energy… like all of it… pretty exhausted from this work however is it the work that I am to be doing as a chosen priest and holy person of God? Yes, who else would get up with a 2 year old in the middle of the night and truly love this little one as much as I do.... not one other person I know.... Sorry pastor .... this is God's work too and this little one will be a vibrant Christian one day because I cared. We are not all Peter and preaching on a corner ... but obedience is the what God calls us to and obedience it must be.
P: Direction Lord, direction.
Title: Making idle promises to God.
S: Ex 19:8 “The people all responded together, “We will do everything the Lord has said.” So Moses brought their answer back to the Lord.”
O: The pharaoh promised to repent and follow God but he didn’t, the Israelites promise to obey God but they forget to do so….. how often have I promised God I would serve him and yet I have not…. What did that verse say – better to say I am not going to do it then do it then to say I will and not do it….
A: Oh this Bible reading is so convicting….. you can be happy about your life and then read the Bible and feel that you really are not obeying God at all…. I thought that serving was just blossoming where God planted me as this mother and grandmother… but I go back and forth.... is it really enough or does God want more? I know that He really does not need me for anything as He can call ten thousand Angels however .... use me Lord ... is all I mean.
P: Wisdom, discernment, clear answers, God you know our path… could you be more clear.
Title:
S: Ex 19:18 “
O: Was once near an erupting volcanic mountain in
Exodus 20: The ten commandments
S: Ex 20:5 ….. punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me but showing love to thousands who love me and keep my commandments.”
O: Still hear this verse quoted and yet… does not salvation remove the guilt in one generation…. And so this verse should not be quoted as it is no longer true.
A: Salvation redeems in one generation and the next generation of the God changed parents are no longer under this curse as far as I think.
P: I observe others and sometimes I am judgmental when I see the terrible things that fall on their lives but perhaps it is not some passed down curse but just living in this fallen world…. And it could fall on the just and the unjust. Should watch my judgmental ways.
P: Guard my swiftness to judge others oh Lord.
Title: How are we suppose to treat the 10 commandments now that we are under grace and not under the law?
S: Ex 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy”
O: I know that we cannot keep the law and that we are not suppose to as that is why Jesus paid the price for our salvation…. However there are so many rules besides the 10 commandments that I personally feel that I really should follow…. Am I wrong…. Yes I am wrong. I like to go to church however sometimes it feels like a tight club where you really are an outsider. To become an insider you have to attend a lot more things than I do. Really it is not an insider that I have any concern about what I want is to serve God and to do that it is important to become involved in the church as that is the way God structures service… within a group of believers.
A: Would like to aim for twice on Sunday but always someone needs me… here it is Sunday night and I am babysitting as son and daughter in law at hospital and right now little 2 year old has been coughing and I am up with her late…. Don’t think anyone else could do this task…. No it is not witnessing but it is still service and no way to go to evening service. Perhaps another day. Will aim for it.
P: Somehow I am sure this is where God wants me to be but only God and I know that.
Title: To covet is the sin of this day and age.
S: Ex 20:17 “You shall not covet your neighbors house.”
O: This is an age of Home and Garden television. I am not that house proud and I feel guilty for not being house proud. What is the balance between coveting our neighbors house and watching others and how it is done and making your own space pleasant… I have no idea. I think it is when it becomes your passion and what you think about other than God. Isn’t the measurement of the other God as whatever separates us from God – so it can be house or anything else that we pursue with all we have and think about more than anything else.
A: What am I thinking about? It should be about your business. If it is not … then that is the issue.
P: Right thinking.
Acts 3
Title: At the time of prayer.
S: Acts 3:1 “One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer --- at three in the afternoon.”
O: The Jews had set times for prayer, the Muslims have set times for prayer. We are to pray without ceasing… like as often as we remember… the problem is that we are so busy with living our lives that we do not remember to pray without ceasing and those with set times of prayer probably pray more than I do. So should we have set times of prayer or does that become salvation by works? Anway just thinking that although would not like to see any rule made on it …. Personal commitment to set times of prayer during the day may be a good idea.
A: Set some personal times that I know that this is prayer time.
P: Help me to increase my prayer time Lord.
Title: Times of refreshing
S: Acts: 3:19 “Repent then and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you…even Jesus.”
O: Times of refreshing – is this time with God in my Bible times of refreshing or what is this times of refreshing? Whatever it is… would like some.
A: Looking forward to more…. Times of refreshing.
P: Mercy drops round us are falling but for the showers I plead.
Just saw something written in pencil in my Bible that my son that I am babysitting for tonight would find a Christian wife when traveling…. Well he came home and found a wonderful Christian wife… love leaving those notes in my Bible… they always bless me when I come across them and know that God answered that prayer.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
January 26, 2010, Exodus 14-16, Acts 2
Title: Pharaoh repents and prays so many times - but then he just can't give up all the wonderful toys that his slaves provide him.
S: Ex 14:5 "Pharaoh and his officials changed their mind about them and said, "What have we done? We have let the Israelites go and have lost their services!"
O: Ah, those comforts that we so love and that others provide for us..... can we give them up.... that is the question... that top of the line T.V. - that better car... they take time and workers to acquire.... repentance and commitment to God is okay - but if it takes away those comforts - well all those things I thought about doing while sitting in the church pew --- just like the pharaoh.... how different am I?... commitment means living differently.
A: I am up early again with my Bible again- that is a 2 days in a row - but like pharaoh there are so many things I go back on.... good thing God is not finished with me yet.... the next goal is church ... to become involved... to be part of a place.... after several years of going to the same place.... went to a ladies tea and I was the new person..... most there had never seen me sitting in church..... guess I have not become very involved but that must change.
P: Involvement and service with others at church. Can't be like Pharaoh and just say I will repent and change and then change my mind the next day....
Title: Here is Pharaoh with all his wealth and his fancy chariots and he is in pursuit of a bunch of slaves on foot who just want church together....... all because his affluent lifestyle may take a step down.
S: Ex 14:7-8 "He took six hundred of the best chariots along with all the other chariots of Egypt......so that he pursued the Israelites, who were marching out boldly..."
O: Here is this rag a tag group with their cloaks pulled up and stuck in there belts so they can walk faster - what do they want - church - just to worship together - that is it - and what they had to do to get to church - beg and plead and finally run for it.... and here is the king of Egypt... the Pharaoh who has repented so many times and admitted he was a sinner and promised to let the Israelites go.... but he just can't give up his lifestyle.... what a contrast... the two types of worshiper the wishy washy Christian who says he repents and that he is a sinner and asks for prayer time and time again and then -------on the other side are these Israelites.... who "march out boldly" and what is their passion.... why are they risking everything....... church..... they want to worship God together.... do they ever impress me.... hmm the Pharaoh must have thought he could bring them back as only one of his best chariots for every 1000 men..... that is a confident Pharaoh.
A: How passionate am I about worshiping together..... will I beg and plan and then march out boldly with a few worldly possessions leaving all behind because I want to worship.... not at all.... that will have to change... this is why this is called A for the Application part of the Bible Study -- the application is the actual change that I make that comes from what I observe in this Bible....
P: Change and change today.
Title: When you step out for God there is apprehension and fear that we have done something too radical, that we have made a mistake.. but God is faithful.
S: Ex 14:12-14 "It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!" Moses answered the people "Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring to you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only stand still."
O: What - all this worry and fear that these things that need to be accomplished will be too difficult and what does God say --- just stand still - The fact of the matter is that they did run into the Red Sea - something they could not cross and the Pharaoh and his army were in in hot pursuit. The could not believe God would do it - I have sympathy with them as many times I do not believe that I will ever get the one thing that I have prayed for - why oh why is that so difficult for me to believe --- but there it is ---- just stand still - stop with that anxiety of how God is going to pull it off -- He just will --- this is nothing for Him --- He can do it...I have to just march out boldly and then just stand still and wait for God to take over. Chariots and armies coming at full speed are nothing.......
A: What it takes is faith. When it looks impossible that is when we are to just have faith and let God handle it because he is the only one who can. What can I do with this feeble body and a cloak and sandals ....... I have to keep this picture in my mind.... no wonder God wanted the Israelites to remember it.... I will go... my daughter will go... my husband will go.. it is not impossible.
P: Lord keep the vision alive of marching boldly out.... cannot get fearful and think about Egypt.
Title: It is at night that God drives the sea back for us to walk easily through on dry ground.
S:Ex 14:21 " Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. ..... and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground.."
O: Moses held up his hand with that very special staff that now has done so many miracles and he held it up all night. I wonder if the people were watching him and wondering if he was crazy .... they have gone south and the wrong direction and now they are stopped by the Red Sea and their leaders stands beside the water all night with his hands up.
A: The solution may not always be obvious. It may look strange to others and not something that can be explained.
P: When the answer looks ridiculous - don't flinch - God has figured it out and will bring it to pass.
Title: So - because the Jews were safe on the dry land - the Egyptians for running toward the dry land in the Red sea????
S: Ex 14:27 "Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing toward it, and the Lord swept them into the sea."
O: Well if the Israelites had faith and followed Moses into a path through the Red Sea that is one thing --- that the Egyptians flee toward the Red sea - makes no sense except that they were following leaders that would not turn back - because they were under orders or because they were sure they could capture the Israelites or why - but to willingly go into a river -- very odd.
A: Greed does things to people..... think it is true there are only two gods - God and money.
P: To have faith to follow God's leading - even if it looks impossible - and also to have the discernment to realize if greed and gain is pushing me into something that will lead to destruction and ultimate death.
Title: The song of Moses - when God doer. ...es us good - how important to praise God. Miriam took a tambourine in her hand and all the women joined her with tambourines and danced. Have not seen that in church for a while...... wish it happened.
Title: From dancing and praise to a pity party in 3 days.
S: Ex 15:23-24 "When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter.....So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, What are we to drink?"
O: How quickly from the mountain tops to the valleys - I have done it.... how can I be critical of these people who are just like the rest of us and forget very quickly what God has done.
P: I must hold my tongue and not complain.... it is so easy to do.
Note: Manna - still in desert today - tree sap from tamarisk tree - sweet tasting - on desert - each day.... omar is about 4 litres. They ate manna for 40 years.
Acts 2
Acts 2 is controversial but here goes.
S: Acts 2:1 "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place."
O: On this occasion it was a particular event in history .... a specific day.
A: Is it for every service or just for this moment in time in history - here it is a particular day however other scripture has further information.
S: Acts 2 : 4 "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."
O: Is speaking in tongues for every Christian - well in this instance all of them spoke in tongues.
Title: The debate is that this was for this particular occasion and it was for the purpose of spreading the gospel in everyone's own language.
S: Acts 2:6 "When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.|"
O: Any speaking in tongues that I have heard is not in a language that anyone in the room knows. So was this particular day a unique event in history - if I read this literally and do not put any preconceived ideas on it - it seems to be. Think there may be two kinds of speaking in tongues - this one time event and the unutterable groaning that is also a speaking in tongues prayer meant for God. So - maybe two kinds ..... not sure what I mean about this.....
Title: Peter's explanation of the Day of Pentecost.
S: Acts 2:17 "In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people"
O: Does this mean speaking in tongues - well it says prophecy, dreams, wonders and signs and salvation - so think that tongues is probably not an impossibility either.
S: Acts 2: 37 "When the people heard this they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, everyone of you, in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins might be forgiven, And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.",38
O: Wow - when the Holy Spirit comes and then Peter preaches - there is a great change in his effectiveness ... people want to get saved....and they ask how ..... this is what a holy spirit filled Christian is like - "he cuts to the heart".
A: This lukewarm Christianity is not worth doing..... no wonder the results are not happening......
P: God help me to change.
Title: Results
S: Acts 2:41 "Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day."
O: Peter - what an example...... can anyone so similar..... yes anyone if they are full of the Holy Spirit and get out there and preach.
P: Cravings - more, Lord, more.
Title: So how often were they in church - everyday.
S: Acts 2:46 "Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts."
O: None of this one hour on Sunday - everyday they met together.
A: They ate together, prayed together, what a church.... and
Acts 2:47 "The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)