tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22987022006857197582024-03-05T20:33:19.208-06:00Life of GraceDeborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-17546703136256676062009-04-04T03:11:00.002-05:002009-04-04T03:35:35.055-05:00The Cousins<div><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%203&version=31">Matthew 3</a> is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">setting the stage</span> for Jesus' public ministry, because who knows just how He was ministering during His 30 year in the carpenter shop of Joseph!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">The Voice for God</span></span></span></div><div>Matthew uses this passage from <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=is%2040.3;&version=31;">Isaiah 40:3</a> to identify John the Baptist as the prophesied <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">forerunner of the Messiah.</span> In this role, John’s purpose was to prepare hearts for the Messiah, and to bring an awareness of sin among Israel so they could receive the salvation from sin offered by the Messiah (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mt%201.21;&version=31;">Matthew 1:21</a>).</div><div><br /></div><div>His ministry has in mind <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">building up a great road </span>for the arrival of a majestic king. The idea is to fill in the holes, and knock down the hills that are in the way.</div><div><br /></div><div>So John’s main message wasn’t <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">"You’re a sinner, you need to repent." </span></div><div>John’s main message was <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">"The Messiah is coming." </span></span></div><div>The call to repentance was the response to the news that the Messiah was coming.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">The Frauds against God</span></span></span></div><div>John accuses the religious leaders of the day of wanting to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">appear </span>anxious for the Messiah, but not <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">truly </span>repenting and preparing their hearts; <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">John demanded fruits </span>worthy of repentance.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">The Purpose of God</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Baptize you with the Holy Spirit:</span> This is the promised out-pouring of the Holy Spirit promised with the New Covenant (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezekiel%2037:14;&version=31;">Ezekiel 37:14</a>).</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">And fire: </span>To baptize with fire means to bring the fires of judgment, which will purify the pure, but destroy the wicked like chaff. Chaff is the worthless residue of a wheat stalk after the kernel of grain has been removed. These proud and unrepentant leaders are just as useless to God.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Jewish leaders thought that the Messiah would come with judgment, but only against Israel’s enemies. They were blind in their <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">self-righteous confidence </span>that only others needed to get right with God.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">The Baptism of Jesus (God)</span></span></span></div><div>The purpose was for Jesus to completely <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">identify Himself with sinful man.</span> This is exactly what He did in His birth, His upbringing, and His death. So here is Jesus standing again in the place of sinful man.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">The Voice of God</span></span></span></div><div>It was important for God the Father to publicly demonstrate that Jesus’ baptism was not just like anyone else’s, in the sense of being a display of repentance. It was not a display of repentance, but instead it was <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">a righteous identification with sinners, </span>motivated by love, was well pleasing to the Father.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is an occasion when the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit</span> are all manifested at the same time.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: </span>When this voice of God the Father spoke from heaven, everyone knew that Jesus was not just another man being baptized. They knew Jesus was the perfect <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(in whom I am well pleased) </span>Son of God, identifying with sinful man. By this, everyone knew that Jesus was different. Jesus was baptized to be identified <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">with </span></span>sinful man, but He was also baptized to be identified <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">to </span></span>sinful man.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);"></span></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">O Father, Jesus is so much more than well-pleasing to us! He became sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. And this step of baptism is just another way in which He associated Himself with us sinful creatures. Thank You for loving us so much so as to make a way for us to be reconciled to Yourself.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">Father we do not want to be caught in self-righteousness, but desire a spirit of repentance. We know we have needs. We change our minds and agree with John the Baptist that You are right and we are wrong. Help our hearts and minds to line up with Your way of thinking and doing!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">John's ministry must have looked mighty weird during his day, and I can only imagine how that would translate to today! But You blessed him with success. I pray that You will bless St. Philip's ministry to the Bright Zone with success as well. Not for their namesake, but for the hearts of the people who live, work and worship in the Bright Zone. But even more importantly, that more people will fall in love with Jesus and give Him the worship due His name.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">I pray especially for the Birds, Babbili's (be with auntie Barbara, Willie, Helen, Manas and Shreeker), Brinkmans, Goforths (may they serve the same God with the same zeal as the </span></span><a href="http://www.wholesomewords.org/biography/biorpgoforth.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">Goforths of China</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);">), Harrisons, Harringtons, Lundes, Mirzaie-Golkahageh, and the Wintons (that Steven, Deven, Wren and Asa would find complete and total satisfaction in You). May they all draw closer to You especially during this time when the world seems to be crumbling! In Jesus' name, Amen!</span></span></div></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);"></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-79258111681621938462009-04-02T02:40:00.002-05:002009-04-02T03:39:06.331-05:00In the Beginning...Yay!! We are in the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">New Testament</span> in the <a href="http://www.stphilipsfrisco.org/education/3yrbiblereadplan.doc">3-Year Bible Reading Plan</a> at St. Philip's! Aside from the Psalms and Proverbs, the Old Testament books are behind us for a while!<div><br /></div><div>And to think the New Testament opens up with a book written by that dirty, lo-down, rascally tax collector, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Matthew</span>. At least that is what he was before Jesus got ahold of him! </div><div><br /></div><div>While we read through Matthew it would be good to notice how often he <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">refers to the Old Testament,</span> whether by outright quoting, or simply alluding to it. He seems to be concerned about the transition from Old Testament Judaism and it's <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">prophecies</span></span>, to the New Testament Christ and His <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">fulfillments</span></span>!</div><div><br /></div><div>And the first verse is a great example of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">prophecy</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">/</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">fulfillment</span> </span>idea! Jesus is the prophesied Son of David (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Samuel%207:12-16;&version=31;">2 Samuel 7:12-16</a>), the promised Seed of Abraham by Whom <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">all</span> the nations will be blessed (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2012:3;&version=31;">Genesis 12:3</a>).</div><div><br /></div><div>In this <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">legal lineage</span> of Jesus which goes through Joseph, Matthew records <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">five women,</span> a rather unusual event for a Jewish recorder. </div><div><br /></div><div>Women were rarely mentioned in ancient genealogies, and the five mentioned here are worthy of special note as examples of God’s grace. They show how <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">God can take unlikely people and use them in great ways.</span></span></span>They are</div><div><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Tamara</span>:</span> She sold herself as a prostitute to her father in-law Judah to bring forth Perez and Zerah. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=1&chapter=38&version=31">Genesis 38</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Rahab:</span></span> She was a Gentile prostitute, for whom God took extraordinary measures to save from judgment and her lifestyle of prostitution. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=josh%202;&version=31;">Joshua 2</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Ruth:</span></span> She was a widow from enemy territory, Moab, a Gentile. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ruth;&version=31;">Book of Ruth</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Bathsheba (Uriah's wife):</span> </span>was an adulteress, infamous for her sin with David. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=10&chapter=11&version=31">2 Samuel 11</a>)</div></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Mary:</span></span> was just an innocent young woman (teenager) of whom it was rumored had become pregnant from a Roman soldier. But yet even with these suspicions (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%208:19,%2041;&version=31;">John 8:19, 41</a>), she bore the Son of God who was conceived by the Holy Spirit. This is no greater wonder than the creation of the world by the Holy Spirit. There is no need to choke on this first recorded miracle in the New Testament.</div><div><br /></div><div>The rest of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%201.18-25;&version=31;">Matthew 1</a> is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Joseph's chapter.</span> He could have had her stoned according to Jewish law, but he graciously and quietly was just going to cut off the betrothal. He already seemed to know of a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">higher law called love!</span></div><div><br /></div><div>He has the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">open heart and ears to hear</span> and discern the voice of an angel. I may have just taken some Tylenol PM and try to get past my wild dreams and hallucinations! After all, nobody had ever referred to him as <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Joseph, son of David </span>before!</div><div><br /></div><div>The fact that the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">angel had to share the news</span> about the Holy Spirit conceiving the Child inside of Mary makes me wonder if Mary hadn't told him it was God's child for fear of being thought insane. Or if she had told him, and he did think her insane!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Jesus, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Jehovah Saves!</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> </span></span></div><div>Jesus meets us<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> in our sin, </span>but His purpose is to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">save us from them.</span> </div><div><ul><li>First from the penalty of sin, <br /></li><li>then from the power of sin, and <br /></li><li>finally from the presence of sin.<br /></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); ">Immanuel, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0); ">God with us!</span></span></span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">This title of Jesus refers to both His <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">deity </span>(</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">God </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">with us) and His identification and nearness to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">man </span>(God with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">us</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">).</span><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div>1:22-23 gives us the first usage of Matthew's mantra <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">that it might be fulfilled!</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>What a man of integrity, openness, graciousness and temperance. The words<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> did not know her till</span> imply that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Joseph and Mary</span> had normal marital relations after Jesus’ birth. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Jesus had four <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">brothers </span>whose names were James, Joseph, Simon and Jude. </div><div><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2012:46;&version=31;">Matthew 12:46</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013:55;&version=31;">13:55</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%208.19;&version=31;">Luke 8:19</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%203:31;&version=31;">Mark 3:31</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%207:1-10;&version=31;">John 7:1-10</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts%201:14;&version=31;">Acts 1:14</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians%201:19;&version=31;">Galatians 1:19</a></div><div><br /></div><div>He also had <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">sisters</span>, but they are not named or numbered (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2013:56;&version=31;">Matthew 13:56</a>).</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"></span></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lord Jesus, Promised One, Who delivers from sin and its power, I pray that You will be with us in a special way as St. Philip's undertakes this outreach campaign in the Bright Zone. I pray especially for the Babbilis, Birds, Brinkmans, Goforths, Harrisons, Harringtons, Lundes, MG, and the Wintons. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lord, let them experience the same creatorial work by the Holy Spirit in their lives as was demonstrated in creation and in Mary. May they bear forth good fruit that has its roots in heaven. Fruit not of this world. Fruit that will make a difference in their lives, that will sustain them through even economic recessions and spiritual confusion.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Thank You Lord, that You did, and can, use people with checkered pasts and reputations. That somehow You brought forth clean </span>(Jesus)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> from the unclean </span>(prostitute, deceiver, foreigner, adulteress, etc).<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> I pray that You will use St. Philip's to bring forth spiritual holiness in our neighborhood! In Your name, Jesus, Immanuel, I pray, Amen!</span></span></div></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"></span></span></div></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-36436872535114748302009-03-31T03:07:00.002-05:002009-03-31T03:32:27.111-05:00Divert from Reading Plan for Col. 1:24-2:3<div>Tomorrow at Women's Bible Study we will be looking at <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=col%201.24-2:5&version=31">Colossians 1:24-2:3</a> together, and in preparation for that I am diverting from Malachi tonight to look at this portion of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Paul's letter to the Christians in Colosse.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>And we start off with a bang. I love to use this verse in opening up conversations with believers, just by asking "what do you think <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=col%201.24-2:5&version=31">Colossians 1:24</a> means? Is there some<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> lack in Christ?"</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Well, one thing we know, this word <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">afflictions </span></span>is never used of the suffering of Jesus on the cross. Most commentators see this as a reference to the affliction Jesus endured in ministry. These afflictions are not yet complete, and in this sense <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus still “suffers” as He ministers through His people, </span>the Church.</div><div><br /></div><div>Notice that Paul didn’t suffer for himself the way that an ascetic might. Instead <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">he suffered for the sake of the body</span> of Christ.</div><div><br /></div><div>Ascetics focus on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">their </span>holiness, on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">their </span>spiritual growth, and on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">their </span>perfection. Paul followed in the footsteps of Jesus, and was an <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">others-centered person.</span> Instead, Paul found holiness, spiritual growth, and maturity when he pursued them for others.</div><div><br /></div><div>In the Biblical sense, a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">mystery </span>is not a riddle. It is a truth that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">can only be known by revelation,</span> not intuition. Now it can be known, because it now has been revealed to His saints.</div><div><br /></div><div>The wonder and glory of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">abiding, indwelling Jesus</span> was not clearly revealed in the Old Testament - especially that He would abide in the Gentiles. Therefore, this aspect of the work of Jesus in His people was a mystery that wasn’t revealed until the time of Jesus and the apostles.</div><div><br /></div><div>This is the Christian’s hope of glory. It isn’t our own<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> hard work</span> or <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">devotion to God,</span> or the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">power of our own spirituality.</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Instead, it is the abiding presence of Jesus: Christ in you.</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>This was the focus of Paul’s preaching. He didn’t preach himself, or his opinions, or even lots and lots of entertaining stories. He <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">preached Jesus.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div>Some translate <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">warning <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“counseling.”</span> </span>It means, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“to impart understanding,” “to lay on the mind or the heart.”</span> The stress is on influencing not only the intellect, but also the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">will and disposition. </span>It describes a basic means of education.</div><div><br /></div><div>The goal of Paul’s ministry was to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">bring people to maturity in Christ, </span>not dependence upon himself.</div><div><br /></div><div>Paul’s work was <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">empowered </span>by God’s mighty strength and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">energy. </span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Chapter 2</span></div><div>This great conflict was <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">inside </span>Paul <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(I have for you).</span> It wasn’t that Paul fought with others about the Colossian Christians. Paul described his <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">spiritual warfare </span>and heartfelt care for the Colossians as a great conflict. </div><div><br /></div><div><ul><li>Paul was concerned about their <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">enthusiasm</span></span>, because he longs that their <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">hearts may be encouraged.</span> Paul knew that discouraged, downcast Christians are easy prey for the world, the flesh, and the devil.<br /><br /></li><li>Paul was concerned about their <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">unity</span></span>, because he wanted to see them being <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">knit together in love.</span> The unity wouldn’t come from coercion, but love.<br /><br /></li><li>Paul was concerned about their <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">understanding</span></span>, because he wanted them to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">gain all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the knowledge of the mystery of God.</span></li></ul>The term <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">mystery of God</span> is used in a few different ways in the New Testament. Here, Paul uses the term regarding the character and person of God - something we could not know unless it were revealed by Him.</div><div><br />Real <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">riches </span>are found in the believer’s full <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">assurance</span>. <br /></div><div><br /></div><div>It’s not wrong to seek after wisdom and knowledge; but we must <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">seek it all in Jesus.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>So much more to this portion, but I am struck foremost by the fullness we have in Jesus Christ, and not just in one arena, like spiritually, or mystically, or emotionally. But in every arena. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ALL the FULLNESS dwells in Christ and He in us! </span>O the riches!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"></span></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Lord Jesus, thank You that when we suffer, You feel it, You are intimately acquainted with it. There is just something comforting about knowing we are that closely connected.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Also, Father, as St. Philip's attempts to go Beyond Ourselves and into the Bright Zone, I pray we would be faithful to Jesus and to them. That it would be more than just a social outreach, but like Paul, we would counsel, teach and proclaim the glorious riches of Christ! Equip us O Lord, and use us. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">I pray especially for the Birds, Brinkmans, Babbilis, Goforths, Harringtons, Harrisons, Lundes, Mazrie-Goltehebrath and Wintons. That You would be their Wonderful Counselor, their Prince of Peace, and Mighty God. We all need power during this time of our nation. We desire Your energy to be working in us! Give us a glimpse of what it is to be in conflict for someone else, rather than ourselves, by Your power. In Jesus' name, Amen!</span></span></div></blockquote>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-50367866399109880532009-03-30T02:56:00.002-05:002009-03-30T03:23:35.425-05:00God's Sacrifice of the Good Shepherd<div><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%2012;&version=31;">Zechariah 12</a> ended with <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Israel’s return to the LORD</span> through the once rejected but now embraced Messiah. And <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=45&chapter=13&version=31">Zechariah 13</a> opens with the fountain flowing from their embrace of the Messiah. </div><div><br /></div><div>They now enjoy a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">fountain that brings cleansing for sin</span> and for uncleanness. The cleansing comes after their mourning for the One whom they have pierced.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">“According to the verse before us this provision is inexhaustible. There is a fountain opened; not a cistern nor a reservoir, but a fountain. A fountain continues still to bubble up, and is as full after fifty years as at the first; and even so the provision and the mercy of God for the forgiveness and the justification of our souls continually flows and overflows.” (Spurgeon--of course!)</span></blockquote></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Idolatry and false prophecy</span> were the two principle ways Israel was led astray from God. God not only provides a fountain to cleanse, but He also promises to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">cut off the source </span>of uncleanness - in this case, idolatry and false prophecy.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">God promises ultimately to take away even the memory of our sin.</span></blockquote></span></span></div><div>Zechariah prophesies a coming day when public opinion <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">will not tolerate false prophets.</span> There will be such a commitment to the LORD and His truth that even the family of a false prophet will condemn the false prophet.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The man accused of being a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">false prophet insists the scars </span>on his body are not the self-inflicted wounds often associated with false prophets (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Kings%2018:28;&version=31;">1 Kings 18:28</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2048:37;&version=31;">Jeremiah 48:37</a>), but merely the result of a brawl in his friend’s house. This unlikely, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">ironic explanation</span> shows just how desperately people will avoid being identified with false prophets in this coming day Zechariah speaks of.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(Some take verse 6 as another Messianic prophecy in Zechariah, because Jesus was clearly wounded by those who should have been His friends. But the context demonstrates that this is about </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">false prophets.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">)</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>But in the context starting in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%2013;&version=31;">verse 7</a>, and especially in light of the quotation of this passage in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:31;&version=31;">Matthew 26:31</a>, we understand that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">the Shepherd is Jesus </span>the Messiah - and it is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">God the Father Himself who calls for the Shepherd to be struck.</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Zechariah relates a thought also said in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2053:10;&version=31;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Isaiah 53:10</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">: </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Yet it <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">pleased </span>the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. </span></div><div><br /></div><div>The prophets Isaiah and Zechariah gloriously and emphatically, state that the suffering of the Servant of the Lord was ordained by the Lord. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">This was God’s doing!</span> He gave the command to strike the Shepherd. Jesus was no victim of circumstance or at the mercy of political or military power. It was the planned, ordained work of the Lord God, prophesied by Isaiah hundreds of years before it happened. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">This was God’s victory,</span> not Satan’s or man’s triumph.</div><div><br /></div><div>As Paul says in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Corinthians%205:19;&version=31;">2 Corinthians 5:19</a>, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself. </span>The Father and the Son worked together at the cross. Though Jesus was treated as if He were an enemy of God, He was not. Even as Jesus was punished as if He were a sinner, He was performing the most holy service unto God the Father ever offered.</div><div><br /></div><div>Jesus quoted from <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%2013.7;&version=31;">Zechariah 13:7</a> in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:31;&version=31;">Matthew 26:31</a> in reference to the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">scattering of His disciples</span> during His arrest and suffering. There is also a sense in which the disciples were a type of Israel as a whole in being scattered.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Without Christ</span> and His work on the cross, we are without a Shepherd and are lost and scattered. Thank God for His provision.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">O Pierced Shepherd, we thank You for being willing to take the punishment that was our due. O bless the heart that planned it! We pray Lord that You would guide the Bright Zone outreach. We take confidence that it is from Your hand, that we should live Beyond Ourselves and minister to those in our neighborhoods during these hard times.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">I pray especially for these families: Birds, Babbilis, Brinkmans, Lundes, Harrisons, Harringtons, Mazrie-Goltehebrah, Goforths and the Wintons. That any stress or pressure they may be experiencing would drive them to You. And that any joy or thanksgiving they may be experiencing would draw their hearts to You! Give guidance to the committee as to how we all can be a part of this outreach, and that we will all be willing to live Beyond Ourselves. In Jesus' name, amen!</span></span></div></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/c/ocwbubth.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Jehovah bade His sword awake;</span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">O Christ, it woke ’gainst Thee!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Thy blood the flaming blade must slake;</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Thine heart its sheath must be;</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">All for my sake, my peace to make;</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Now sleeps that sword for me.</span></span></div><div>(Anne R. Cousin)</div><div><br /></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/t/f/tfountfb.htm">There is a fountain filled with blood,</a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Drawn from Immanuel’s veins;</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">And sinners, plunged beneath that flood,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Lose all their guilty stains.</span></span></div><div>(William Cowper)</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/r/o/rockages.htm">Foul, I to the Fountain fly;</a></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Wash me, Saviour, or I die.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Rock of Ages, cleft for me,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Let me hide myself in thee.</span></span></div><div>(Augustus Toplady)</div><div><br /></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-13988501388821750592009-03-29T18:48:00.003-05:002009-03-29T19:22:24.683-05:00Look upon Him Whom they have pierced...& so will I<div><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%2012;&version=31;">Zechariah 12</a> begins with praise for God’s creative power, reminding us that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">He is in control and completely able </span>to accomplish what He predicts. </div><div><br /></div><div>And for those who believe in the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">mass conversion of Jews</span> just prior to the physical return of Jesus to this earth, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%2012;&version=31;">Zechariah 1</a>2 is their passage, along with <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans%2011:26;&version=31;">Romans 11:26</a>. </div><div><br /></div><div>But before we cover that, let me just go to the verse that strikes me most, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%2012.8;&version=31;">verse 8</a>. King David was renowned for his fighting ability, courage, and success. God promises that the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">weakest </span>saint will be as <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">mighty as David</span> - and the leaders can only be compared in might to God! Even in our <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">weakness </span>in Christ, we are mightier than that mighty king of Israel, David!</div><div><br /></div><div>Now, back to the Jews…Part of this <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">great outpouring of strength</span> and might to defend God’s people will be an outpouring of the Spirit - but also it will be of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">g</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">race and supplication. </span>God will move among Israel and bring saving grace and repentant prayer.</div><div><br /></div><div>As Jerusalem is supernaturally defended and the Spirit is poured out on the nation, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">they will turn to Jesus, </span></span>the pierced One. </div><div><ul><li>His <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">head </span>was pierced with thorns, <br /></li><li>His <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">hands </span>and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">feet </span>were pierced with nails, <br /></li><li>and a spear pierced His <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">side</span>.<br /></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">They will look:</span> They will turn away from their trust in the foolish, worthless shepherd and turn their <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">focus on the Good Shepherd.</span> When we see Jesus crucified - understanding why He went to the cross and what He accomplished there - we are drawn to Him in humble repentance (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2012:32;&version=31;">John 12:32</a>). So am I.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Whom they pierced. </span>They will realize that they did it, and that they bear responsibility - not sole responsibility, but responsibility nonetheless - for the crucifixion of their Savior. So do I.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">They will mourn:</span> The Jewish people will turn to Jesus in repentance, mourning their past rejection of Him. The mourning will be deep, as if for an only son, the firstborn. Firstborn was synonymous with the most beloved. So will I.</div><div><br /></div><div>Spurgeon is by constant companion and by far my favorite preacher. He was the Billy Graham of the 1800's. He takes time to point out this nugget:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">They will look . . . they will mourn:</span></span> Here we see the pattern for coming to Jesus and true repentance. First we <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">look to Jesus, </span>then we <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">mourn for our sins.</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Looking to Jesus must come first.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">“A great mistake is very common among all classes of men - it is currently believed that we are first of all to mourn for our sins, and then to look by faith to our Lord Jesus Christ. Most persons who have any concern about their souls, but are not as yet enlightened by the Spirit of God, think that there is a degree of tenderness of conscience, and of </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">hatred of sin, </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">which they are to obtain somehow or other, and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">then they will be permitted and authorized to look</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> to Jesus Christ. Now you will perceive that this is not according to the Scripture, for, according to the text before us. Men </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">first </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">look upon Him whom they have pierced, and </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">then</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">, but not till then, they mourn for their sin.”</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">“It is a beautiful remark of an old divine, that </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">eyes are made for two things at least;</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> first, to look with, and next, to weep with. The eye which looks to the pierced One is the eye which weeps for Him.” </span></span></div></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">They will look upon Me:</span> Comparing <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%2012;&version=31;">Zechariah 12:10</a> with <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%2012;&version=31;">Zechariah 12:1 and 12:3</a> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">(Thus says the LORD . . . says the LORD) </span>makes it clear that the Me they look upon is the LORD God - Yahweh - Himself. This is astounding and wonderful evidence that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Jesus the pierced One is God,</span> and that Yahweh is the Triune God.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">O Pierced One, thank You for taking the penalty my sin deserved and bearing them in Your body on the tree. That is the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">greatest act of love.</span> It isn't so much the cross or the crucifixion or even what Mel Gibson portrayed in The Passion, but it is the pain of taking on the sins of the whole world into that sinless, pure, and perfect bosom and doing it all for me. My life cannot be <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">radical </span>enough for You, it can never compare to the radical extent You went to for me. Thank You so much.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I pray that the families in the Bright Zone will get to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">discover Your outrageous love,</span> and if it be Your good will, that St. Philip's will get to be a part of that discovery! We pray that You will own this initiative of living Beyond Ourselves and bless all the families that live within the Ida Bright Elementary attendance zone. Especially the Babbilis, Birds, Brinkmans, Lundes, Harrisons, Harringtons, </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 102, 102);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Mazrie-Goltehebrah, Goforths and Wintons. Thank You for Your sacred love, Amen!</span></span></span></span></div></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(85, 136, 102); font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; line-height: 16px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></span></div><div><br /></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-23925305359636183582009-03-29T04:52:00.003-05:002009-03-29T05:37:24.995-05:00The Price of a Dead Slave<div><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=45&chapter=11&version=31">Zechariah 11:1-3</a> is often understood to be yet another<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> history lesson</span> for us<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> (though it was a future lesson when Zack spoke/wrote it!). </span></div><div><br /></div><div>Some would say it describes the events of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">70 AD</span> when <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Vespasian </span>and Titus came down through Lebanon to destroy Israel and Judah and Jerusalem. These Romans destroyed Jerusalem after the Good Shepherd was crucified. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Josephus</span>, who was Jew taken into Vespasian's family, recorded the whole event in his book called </span><a href="http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/josephus/war-pref.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Wars of the Jews</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>commissioned by Vespasian himself.)</span></div><div><br /></div><div>But the rest of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=45&chapter=11&version=31">Zechariah 1</a>1 seems to be an <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">allegory </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(difficult as it may be)</span> that speaks of God fulfilling His promise. In it God speaks to a person yet unnamed (4) and tells him to pasture the flock <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"marked for slaughter."</span> They are so marked by their own leaders, who think only of the profit they can gain by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">selling out their people</span> (4-6).</div><div><br /></div><div>But when the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Good Shepherd</span> comes to care for the flock, and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"particularly for the oppressed of the flock," </span>He is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">rejected</span>! Though He rids them of false shepherds and seeks to guide them with <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">grace (favor)</span> and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">unity (union),</span> He is detested by His sheep!</div><div><br /></div><div>The first thing He does is remove <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">three shepherds.</span> Perhaps <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"these three shepherds should not be seen as three individuals but as three classes of individuals, namely: the prophets, priests, and kings of Israel.” </span>(Boice) </div><div><br /></div><div>The offices of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">prophet, priest, and king </span>were taken away from Israel after the Roman conquest of Judea and have never been restored - because they are now fulfilled in Jesus Christ.</div><div><br /></div><div>But the sheep detest these acts, as well as the very Shepherd Himself. For His care for them, the only pay they offer is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"thirty pieces of silver."</span></span> </div><div><br /></div><div>Strikingly, this price is the amount set in Old Testament law as compensation to be paid for a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">dead slave</span> (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=exodus%2021:32;&version=31;">Exodus 21:32</a>)! And the price of the Good Shepherd is thrown <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"into the house of the Lord to the potter" </span>(13).</div><div><br /></div><div>The Gospels present this passage as a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">prophecy about Jesus. </span></div><div><ul><li>He came, announcing Himself as the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Good Shepherd</span> (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2010:11-18;&version=31;">John 10:11-18</a>). <br /></li><li>But the flock He came to pasture <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">detested Him. </span><br /></li><li>The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">priests weighed out the price</span> of a dead slave to Jesus' betrayer (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026:14-16;&version=31;">Matthew 26:14-16</a>). <br /></li><li>And later, after Jesus' death, the coins were brought back by a remorseful Judas and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">thrown into the temple.</span> <br /></li><li>The chief priests picked up the coins and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">"decided to use the money to buy a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">potter's field</span> as a burial place for foreigners" </span>(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2027:1-10;&version=31;">Matthew 27:1-10</a>). <br /></li><li>Thus the words of Zechariah found fulfillment in Jesus, as did the similar prophecy of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Jeremiah </span>(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=jer%2032:6-9;&version=31;">32:6-9</a>).<br /></li></ul></div><div>With the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Good Shepherd slain, </span>the staffs of grace and unity are broken. He is replaced by worthless shepherds (14-17).<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>And so this chapter ends with the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">death of the Good Shepherd.</span> But His death is not the end, for evil has not and will not overcome!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Whew Lord Jesus! We do not want to treat Your provisions with such disdain. We rejoice with what You are doing, and what You are yet to do. Help us to join You and be a part of it, rather than criticize and crucify the vision before we even see what it is all about. We do not want to be guilty of doing the very thing the Jews were guilty of when they nailed You to the cross 2,000 years ago...rejecting the provision of Jehovah!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Father, bless the Beyond Ourselves effort as it seems to throb of the very heartbeat of Jesus, just by the mere fact that we are other-focused rather than self-focused. Guide St. Philip's exactly how they are to reach out to everyone in the Bright Zone, and raise up at least 300 people to be a part of this outreach!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I especially pray for the Harringtons, Harrisons, Goforths, Babbilis, Wintons, Lundes, Brinkmans and Mazrie-Goltehebrah. Lord, may these families be directly contacted and impacted by the Beyond Ourselves campaign and brought into a closer relationship with You! Amen!</span></div></blockquote>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-40634552482891167322009-03-28T15:17:00.003-05:002009-03-28T21:41:52.087-05:00Jesus Our Shepherd<div>We may have further history in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%2010;&version=31;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Zechariah 10:1-12</span></a> as some say it is a reference to the successful stand made by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Judas </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Maccabeus</span> and his brothers against <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Antiochus</span> around 165 BC. </div><div><br /></div><div>Israel had no irrigation system, and relied on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">rain to water their crops.</span> In a time of drought, nothing grew - so Israel relied on both the former rain <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(falling in autumn)</span> and the latter rain<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> (falling in spring).</span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>So when God says that<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> He will give them showers of rain</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">:</span> The Lord is challenging His people saying, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“Be bold enough to ask Me, and I will answer your prayer. I will provide what only I can provide.”</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">In man’s ideas of equality, often everyone ends up equally poor. But with God, His idea of </span>equality means abundance for everyone. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">(10:1)</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>The people have listened to false and deceptive leaders, and part of the reason is because there is a<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> lack of godly leadership. </span>But God will make His people as royal horses in the battle.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "> </span>In mercy God will take His people and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">transform them</span> from a flock of sheep to a herd of powerful horses, ready for service.</div><div><br /></div><div>Though God is displeased with Israel’s shepherds, He will raise up the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">perfect Shepherd</span> from and for Judah.</div><div><ul><li>Jesus is the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">cornerstone</span>: the foundation, measure, and standard <br />(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2028:16,;&version=31;">Isaiah 28:16,</a> <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20118:22-23;&version=31;">Psalm 118:22-23</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2021:42;&version=31;">Matthew 21:42</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%204.11;&version=31;">Acts 4:11</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter%202:4-5;&version=31;">1 Peter 2:4-5</a>).</li><li>Jesus is the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">tent peg:</span> holding all things securely <br />(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2022:23-24;&version=31;">Isaiah 22:23-24</a>).</li><li>Jesus is the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">battle bow:</span> a strong fighter for good <br />(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2063:1-4;&version=31;">Isaiah 63:1-4</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2019:11-16;&version=31;">Revelation 19:11-16</a>).</li><li>Jesus is the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">leader over every ruler </span>of His people<br />(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%2019:16;&version=31;">Revelation 19:16</a>).<br /></li></ul></div><div>God has strengthened us, and will strengthen us. <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=eph%206.10;&version=31;">Ephesians 6:10</a> says that we can draw on His resources for <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">strength</span>: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">power of His might.</span></span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>The availability of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">God’s strength means there will be opportunities</span> for us to use it. “The Lord does not say, ‘I will take you away from your labors,’ but ‘I will strengthen you, so that you will be able to perform, them.’ ” (Spurgeon)</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen St. Philip's as the partner with Frisco ISD to reach out to the Bright Zone, everyone who lives, works and worships in the Ida Bright Elementary School attendance area. I pray our focus in this area of Frisco will have a ripple effect for all Frisco, Collin County, Metroplex, Texas, USA, World. We want to dare to dream big, for without vision the people perish!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I especially for the Goforths, Harringtons, Harrisons, Lunde, Babbili, Wintons, Brinkman and Mazrie-Goltehebrah. May these difficult economic times drive them not to a bigger government (be that as it may) but rather to You Lord Jesus. May they know You as Jehovah-Jireh, The Lord Provider!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Thank You for family, friends, and all the people you have put in my life. You sure so spoil me. Amen!</span></div></blockquote>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-71666101369090303942009-03-28T14:01:00.002-05:002009-03-28T14:54:21.470-05:00One Thing for Sure...He does Restore 2x as Much!<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%209&version=31"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Zechariah 9</span></a> is loaded!<div><br /></div><div>Some say it speaks against nations that follow <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Alexander the Great's</span> path of destruction, thus making him the fulfillment of this chapter in 331 BC. It makes for some very interesting reading to cross these two elements: </div><div><ol><li>The Great Greek's <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">conquering path</span> & <br /></li><li>the nations and cities mentioned in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%209&version=31"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Zechariah 9:1-8</span></a></li></ol>especially when you consider that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Alex spared Jerusalem </span>(compare to 9:8)!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(See Josephus' interesting account of this in his eleventh book, </span><a href="http://www.ccel.org/j/josephus/works/ant-11.htm"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Chapter 8, paragraph 4-5</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">)</span><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div>If the first eight verses are about Alexander's march through the regions surrounding Israel, it makes <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">verse 9</span> all the more stark as it describes <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus' triumphal entry</span> into Jerusalem as <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"lowly and riding on a donkey!"</span> (See <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matt%2021;&version=31;">Matthew 21</a> & <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2012;&version=31;">John 12</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>And ever since Jesus rode into Jerusalem, the Gospel has been riding on throughout the earth from sea to shining sea!</div><div><br /></div><div><div>The rest of the chapter carries the idea that the Lord Himself leads the battle in the end. Both the Bible and the Koran have the idea of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">holy war</span> - which Islam calls <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Jihad </span>- but there is a huge difference between the idea of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">holy war in the Bible and in Islam. </span></div><div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Jesus alone</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> carries out the Biblical holy war - </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">never His people. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /></span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">In Islam, the Jihad is the responsibility of</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> every good Muslim.</span></span><br /></li></ul></div><div>God will, and does, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">protect </span>His people who are covered by the blood of the Lamb. And we <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"will sparkle in His hand like jewels in a crown!" </span>How precious is His mercy and grace!<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Lord Jesus, thank You for conquering our hearts by Your love and beauty! Thank You for protecting Your house (</span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20cor%206.19-20;&version=31;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">for it is all of us</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">). Father we ask that You would be just as zealous to protect Your name and reputation in our own lives.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Thank You especially for verse 12! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">To be Your captive is to be a "prisoner of hope!" And You do more than just doubly restore, You go so much beyond that in our lives. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">So I ask Lord, that we would live Beyond Ourselves, especially towards those who live in the Bright Zone. Help St. Philip's be a world-changing factor for the Bright Zone. Be with the leaders tonight as they unveil our intention in this outreach. I pray that the Harrington family will be one of many who are impacted by this ministry.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">And help me to successfully and purposefully get into prison, as You deem best. We love You Lord. Amen.</span></div></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-21403711508988763962009-03-27T03:52:00.004-05:002009-03-27T04:08:40.050-05:00Bright Zone<div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.friscoisd.org/departments/FacilitiesFinance/documents/FISD_08internet_comp-web.pdf"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 288px; height: 138px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD8kIOSSzMc6kEbQx1RwlNQVvzQ36U7g1bgsOPQtkLTzbsLCYAC3sclMunY7LrrH195NTlK84eLlZxsDxtozhWhfrDoZ7-ALErbJo2LjUWNqEB59njuRKX1dodbBjAsPzfAoqGQQhEr7FE/s400/FriscoISD+map.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317790382801169746" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="http://www.stphilipsfrisco.org/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">St. Philip's</span></a> is focusing their efforts on the people who live and work in the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Bright Zone.</span></span></span> And just what is the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Bright Zone?</span></span></span><div><br /></div><div>Frisco ISD has divvied up the area into 27 regions identified by Elementary schools. The region where St. Philip's exists is named after the school that St. Phil's had its start...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Ida Lee Bright</span></span> Elementary (or <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Bright </span></span></span></span>for short!)</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.friscoisd.org/departments/FacilitiesFinance/documents/FISD_08internet_comp-web.pdf">As you can see on this map</a>, it is located in the heart of Frisco going from Main street south to Stonebrook, and from Preston to the Tollway (with a little westward peninsula that encompasses St. Philip's!) </div><div>(Coordinates = LY-LZ:511-512)</div><div><br /></div><div>It also is one of the most, if not the most, impoverished region of all 27 districts. Instead of a building campaign, St. Philip's is going to focus on a people campaign, that of reaching out to everyone who lives and works in the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 102, 0);">Bright Zone </span></span></span>for the Lord!</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Growing Faith that Impacts the Bright Zone for Christ!</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-27106154291723665082009-03-27T03:23:00.003-05:002009-03-27T03:47:12.790-05:00Step One to Step Twelve<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%208;&version=50;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Zechariah 8</span></a> continues to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">answer the inquiry</span> made at the beginning of chapter 7 of whether or not we should continue to remember the sins of our past that took us into a 70-year captivity! You just gotta love this chapter!<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Truth and Love Must Prevail</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div>The Lord declares that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">His passionate love</span> for Israel has not diminished.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>A series of sayings of the Lord <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">assures His people </span>that they are the objects of His love. The hard-heartedness of their fathers in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%207.11-14;&version=50;">7:11-14</a> has not swayed the Lord from His commitment to Jerusalem and her people.</div><div><br /></div><div>Zechariah describes at length the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">prosperity </span>awaiting the chosen city. The Lord had returned to dwell there <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(and where ever the Lord is there is freedom and transformation), </span>and the old men and women who were at the end of life should join with <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">happy </span>boys and girls who were at the beginning in the enjoyment of the blessings of peace. </div><div><br /></div><div>So entirely would the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">memory of the past be obliterated</span> that fateful anniversaries would soon fade from their minds. Indeed they would discover that their dark days had been the source and origin of their glad ones.</div><div><br /></div><div>One last thought from Dr. James Boice regarding the last verse:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">“We are all </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">clinging to the seamless robe </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">of that one Jew, Jesus of Nazareth, who because of His work on the cross is the only basis on which anyone may approach God and entreat Him for spiritual blessings.” </span><br /></span></div><div></div></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Lord, we are so thankful that you can even </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">redeem our poor choices</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> and use them for good. It takes no great God to use good people who always makes the right choices. But what a marvellously gracious and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> powerful God </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">You are, that can take rebels, self-willed, constantly-finding-trouble, children and use them to minister to others. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I pray for all those who trapped by addictions and are working the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">12 step program.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> Let them discover how You can turn their powerlessness into a care and compassion and ministry to others. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">We pray for those who meet at St. Philip's for AA, and that anyone in the Bright Zone who struggles with powerlessness, that they would come and see Your transforming power in their lives. I pray that if the Harrington's are experiencing any captivity or bondage, that You will be their </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Savior and Deliverer! </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Amen</span></div></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><div><br /></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-37156576668177430862009-03-27T02:27:00.002-05:002009-03-27T03:20:57.020-05:00Focusing on Past Sins tends towards Self-indulgence<div><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%207;&version=50;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Zechariah 7</span></a> starts off with a delegation being sent, apparently from Babylon to Jerusalem with, of all things, a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">question about fasting.</span> At this point, the temple was somewhere around halfway completed.</div><div><br /></div><div>There are seven feasts that the Jews observed during their captivity, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">four </span>of which recalled the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">destruction of the temple</span> and their captivity:</div><div><ul><li>1) First enclosure of Jerusalem by the enemies' lines<br /></li><li>4) the capture of the city<br /></li><li>5) destruction by fire of the Temple<br /></li><li>7) murder of Gedaliah.<br /></li></ul></div><div>The national life was depressed by this <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">constant memory of disaster.</span> These men knew that during their forced exile in Babylon they observed these feasts that remembered the tragic fall of Jerusalem. </div><div><br /></div><div>But now since God’s people were back in the land and the temple was nearly rebuilt, they wanted to know <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">if it was appropriate to continue </span>to these fasts of mournful remembrance.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">(The matter brings up an issue relevant today: How long should we remember and mourn over our past? Should we do things to remember either our sin or the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">tragedies of the past?)</span></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>So <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">representatives were sent </span>to ask the views of the leaders. </div><div><br /></div><div>The delegation is<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> not answered directly. </span>Instead a word from God comes to Zechariah <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"to all the people of the land to the priests"</span> (4). </div><div><br /></div><div>What is the purpose of their fasting? Is it really for the Lord? Or is it an expression of their own needs, like eating and drinking? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Fasting </span>must not be <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">motivated </span>by <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">self-interest</span> but by concern for the glory of God (4-7).</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">(This also shows us that when we cling to the memory of sin or tragedy in the past, we often do it out of simple </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">self-indulgence.</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> We do it for our self, not for the Lord.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Instead of actively remembering the sin or tragedy of the past, God wants us to </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">focus on active obedience</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> and an active walk with Him. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">“There is no need to observe the sad anniversaries of our sins and their accompanying punishment, if once we are assured of God’s free forgiveness. When </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">He forgives and restores,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> the need for dwelling on the bitter past is over . . . Too many of us are always dwelling beside the graves of the dead past.” (Meyer))</span></blockquote></span></div><div>Then in a second word from God, Zechariah calls on Israel to recognize the basic issue facing them. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">God's real concern,</span> as shown in the history of Judah before her fall, is that His people <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another." </span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>What God wants is that they<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> "do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the stranger or the poor. In your hearts <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">do not think evil of one another."</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>(9-10) Some among the people of God found it easier to fast a few days a year instead of truly treating others in a godly way. </div><div><br /></div><div></div><blockquote><div>The issue is not fasts, but the willingness of this people to commit to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">a life that pleases God.</span></div><div></div></blockquote><div>Interesting <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">progression </span>is mentioned in verses 11-12:</div><div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Refused to heed . . . shrugged their shoulders . . . stopped their ears . . . made their hearts like flint: </span></blockquote></div><div>Zechariah vividly describes a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">progression of rejection.</span> It begins with simply refusing to heed God, then a self-justifying shrugging of their shoulders, then stopping their hears. It all ends with hearts as hard as flint.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Their disobedience and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">disregard for God</span> led to scattering and desolation. This is always our fate when we allow religious rituals to take the place of a real relationship with God.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Lord Jesus, we hunger for a<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> real relationship</span>. Deliver us, or prevent us, from being ensnared by activities, rituals and past sins. We want to focus on You and Your word for us. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">You say You have a plan and a future for us, one of hope and brightness. Because You have cleansed us and forgiven us, help us to focus on You and strive towards the goal of this <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">bright vision.</span> I pray this for us as individuals, and also for us as a church. May we walk in obedience by showing mercy and compassion especially to the people in the Bright Zone.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">May the Harringtons be recipients of Your mercy and grace through us. And if they be anywhere in this progression of rejection, that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">You would intervene</span> and soften their hearts to You. Thank You for Your guidance, love and deliverance. Amen.</span></div></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-1801152255767582212009-03-26T03:23:00.003-05:002009-03-26T04:14:54.718-05:00Prophet, Priest, King and All Good Things!In <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=45&chapter=6&version=50">chapter 6</a>, Zechariah concludes with the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">eighth vision</span> and then gives a glimpse of brighter things to come.<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=45&chapter=6&version=50">Zechariah 6:1-8</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Vision of the Chariots</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>This is a vision of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">protection and deliverance.</span> Four chariots issue from the mountains around Jerusalem<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> (Perhaps Mt. Zion & Mt of Olives). </span></div><div><br /></div><div>The colors of the mountains indicate judgement as well as the colors of the horses commissioned to execute against judgement<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> against the nations.</span> We see these steeds <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(or similar ones) </span>again in Revelation 6!</div><div><br /></div><div>“In the usual Scriptural <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">symbolism </span><i>red</i> speaks of <i>war</i>, <i>black</i> of <i>famine </i>and<i> death</i>, <i>white</i> of <i>victory</i>, and <i>grizzled</i> of<i>pestilence</i> (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ezek%2014.21;&version=50;">Ezekiel 14:21</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%206.7-8;&version=50;">Revelation 6:18</a>).” (Luck)</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Father, allow us to be messengers of Your grace and love. That because of our sharing of free grace of Jesus Christ there would be no need for the four horses of judgement to be dispatched! Help us to think radically like that, especially as we minister to the Bright Zone...what if everyone who lives in the Bright Zone were to have a loving relationship with You? Grant us vision and zeal, O Lord! Amen!</span></div><div></div></blockquote><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%206;&version=50;">Zechariah 6:9-15</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Priest Crowned King</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Note the closing incident, which foreshadowed the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">union of the offices</span> of priesthood and kingship <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">in the person of our Lord. </span></div><div><br /></div><div>According to <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%203.7-9;&version=50;">Zechariah 3:8</a>, Joshua stands symbolically in these visions <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"for things to come,"</span> and especially for the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">promised Branch</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(Messiah). </span></div><div><br /></div><div>The picture is one of a union between the office of priest and that of king in a<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> single individual.</span> When He comes to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"be a priest on His throne,"</span> the final and true temple of the Lord will be erected.</div><div><br /></div><div>The uniqueness and unusualness of this dual office is clearly told in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20chron%2026;&version=50;">2 Chronicles 26</a> which tells the tragic story of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">King Uzziah </span>who tried to function as a priest, and was stricken with leprosy to the end of his life. Through the history of Israel <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">God commanded a separation </span>between the religious and the civil leadership of Israel.</div><div><br /></div><div>Taking the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">meaning of the names:</span></div><div><ul><li>Heldai means <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">robust</span>, <br /></li><li>Tobijah means<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; "> God’s goodness,</span> and <br /></li><li>Jedaiah means <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">God knows</span>, <br /></li></ul></div><div>J. Vernon McGee sees the intention that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"God knows that through His goodness, He will put His king on the throne, and He will do it in a robust manner."</span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><div>We already saw this <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Branch </span>in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%203.7-10;&version=50;">Zechariah 3:8</a>, and it is a familiar title for the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Messiah </span>(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%204:1-3;&version=50;">Isaiah 4:2</a> and <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2011;&version=50;">11:1</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2023:4-6;&version=50;">Jeremiah 23:5</a> and <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah%2033:14-16;&version=50;">33:15</a>). </div><div><br /></div><div>The Branch is associated with <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">fruitfulness </span></span>and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">life</span></span>. Jesus used the same image when He said that He was the vine and we are the branches (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john%2015;&version=50;">John 15:5</a>).</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Behold, the Man:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> “In the Hebrew text the prophecy begins ‘Behold the Man,’ the very words Pilate used to present the beaten Christ to the people of Jerusalem: ‘Ecce homo!’ “ </span>(Boice) </div><div><br /></div><div>But in Zechariah’s vision it isn’t the humiliated Jesus we are asked to behold, it is the<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> triumphant Jesus. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "></span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; ">Jesus shall build the temple of the Lord:<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> The Branch will rebuild the temple </span>- not the same temple Zerubbabel worked on, but the</span> temple of His people<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal; "> (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians%202:19-22;&version=50;">Ephesians 2:19-22</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20peter%202;&version=50;">1 Peter 2:5</a>).</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>Jehovah Tsidkenu, The Lord our Righteousness, thank You for being for us our Prophet, Priest and King. You are all things to us. Help us to look to You to fill every capacity in our lives. There is no void You cannot fill! I pray Lord that every member of St. Philip's will discover more of who You are and bask in the wonder of it all. And then joyfully share it with others. Grant us uncommon grace during these troubling times. In Jesus' name, Amen!</blockquote></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://nethymnal.org/htm/j/o/joinatgn.htm">Prophet, Priest and King</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Join all the glorious names</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Of wisdom, love, and power,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">That ever mortals knew,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">That angels ever bore:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">All are too mean to speak His worth,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">To poor to set my Savior forth.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Great Prophet of my God,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">My tongue would bless Thy Name,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">By Thee the joyful news</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Of our salvation came,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">The joyful news of sin forgiv’n</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Of hell subdued, and peace with Heav’n.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus, my great High Priest,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Offered His blood, and died;</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">My guilty conscience seeks</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">No sacrifice beside:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">His powerful blood did once atone,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">And now it pleads before the throne.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">My dear almighty Lord,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">My Conqueror and my King,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Thy scepter and Thy sword,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Thy reigning grace I sing:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Thine is the power; behold I sit</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">In willing bonds beneath Thy feet.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Now let my soul arise,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">And tread the tempter down;</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">My Captain leads me forth</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">To conquest and a crown:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">A feeble saint shall win the day,</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Though death and hell obstruct the way.</span></span></div></div></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-43218694842589064042009-03-26T02:48:00.003-05:002009-03-26T03:22:31.318-05:00Sin PurgedZechariah gives us two more of his visions in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%205;&version=50;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">chapter 5</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">,</span> visions 6 & 7.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%205;&version=50;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Zechariah 5:1-7</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Vision of the Flying Roll</span></span><br /><br />This huge sheet of parchment, 30' x 15', was covered with the solemn <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">curses of the Law,</span> <div><ol><li>on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">one side against the thief</span> and <br /></li><li>on the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">other against false swearing. </span><br /></li></ol></div><div><div>These two sins may have prevelant in this young community or it could just be a way of noting the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Ten Commandments, </span>one from each side of the tablets. For </div><div><ol><li>to steal was to injure your <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">neighbor</span>; <br /></li><li>to perjure was to dishonor <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">God</span>, because you had sworn in his name. <br /></li></ol></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>Lord, keep St. Philip's pure and truthful, a generous giver, never accused of stealing or deceptive behavior. Keep the church above reproach especially as it strives to raise money to impact the lives of people in the Bright Zone. </blockquote></span><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Just an FYI:</span> The dimensions of the holy place in the tabernacle and of the porch of Solomon’s temple was 30' x 15'.</div><div><br /><br /><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%205;&version=50;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Zechariah 5:5-11</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">The Vision of the Basket</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""><span class="Apple-style-span" style=""></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><div>The woman, the basket, and the weight are associated with wickedness. They personify <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">greed, materialism, and dishonesty</span> for profit. Zechariah prophesied to those who returned from the Babylonian exile. God’s people came back from Babylon with a materialism problem, and this vision speaks to this problem.</div><div><br /></div><div>Zechariah sees this personification of wicked materialism being locked into a large container used to measure out grain, and carried away back to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Babylon </span>by two angels. Earlier God's people had been carried captive to Babylon because of their wickedness. </div><div><br /></div><div>In the future God will separate His people from evil, and it is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">evil </span>that is taken captive and sent far away into exile.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>Lord Jesus, how infiltrating these sins can be, as we disguise them with terms like stewardship, blessings and shrewd dealings. Protect us from ourselves and our selfishness. Help to be giving and living Beyond Ourselves. I pray you will protect the Harringtons from being taken up with these worry-produced, joy-robbing vices but rather lead them to You. Oh to fall headlong in love with You! Amen.</blockquote></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Just an FYI:</span> This portion is the only place, I think, that we find any idea of female angels!<br /></div></div></div></div></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-14459887313278960372009-03-25T03:27:00.003-05:002009-03-25T03:52:21.606-05:00...But By My Spirit!<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%204;&version=50;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Zechariah 4</span></a><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Not by Might</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(collective strength)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Not by Power</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(individual strength)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">But by My Spirit, saith the Lord</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(God's strength)!</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Zerubabbel had faltered in the great work of reconstrcution and had practically <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">lost heart. </span>Here he is encouraged to renew his efforts and persevere until the task is finished. </div><div><br /></div><div>He might be weak and worn, but none of his deficiencies could hinder him from finishing his lifework, if only <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">his spirit was kindled</span> with divine fire and fed by the grace of the Holy Spirit! </div><div><br /></div><div>Let us never despise the days of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">small things,</span> for from them God can build the great!<div><br /></div><div>FYI: Just a note I once saw, as to why the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">oil is a good picture of the Spirit:</span></div><div><ul><li>Oil <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">lubricates</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>when used for that purpose - there is little friction and wear among those who are lubricated by the Spirit of God<br /></li><li>Oil <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">heals </span></i>and was used as a medicinal treatment in Biblical times (<a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/Bible.cfm?b=Luk&c=10&v=34" style="text-decoration: none; color: rgb(50, 67, 149); ">Luke 10:34</a>) - the Spirit of God brings healing and restoration<br /></li><li>Oil <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">lights</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>when it is burned in a lamp - where the Spirit of God is there is light<br /></li><li>Oil <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">warms</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>when it is used as fuel for a flame - where the Spirit of God is there is warmth and comfort<br /></li><li>Oil <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">invigorates</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>when used to massage - the Holy Spirit invigorates us for His service<br /></li><li>Oil <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">adorns</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>when applied as a perfume - the Holy Spirit adorns us and makes us more pleasant to be around<br /></li><li>Oil <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">polishes</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>when used to shine metal - the Holy Spirit wipes away our grime and smoothes out our rough edges<br /></li></ul><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>Lord Jesus, we definitely want to be a people energized and fueled by the Spirit of God. You mention the work of two anointed ones in this chapter that stand to serve You. I pray that St. Philip's would plug into the power of Your Spirit and also be as one of the two anointed ones (olive trees) ministering to others. </blockquote><blockquote>Bless the efforts in the Bright Zone, and with those who are unemployed (that You would be their joy), and especially for the Harrington family. The whatever situation they are in, that it would drive them to You. In Jesus' name, Amen!</blockquote></span></div></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-8628656189513692182009-03-25T03:00:00.003-05:002009-03-25T03:24:48.268-05:00Jesus, Thy blood and righteousness, my beauty are, my royal dressLove, Love, Love chapter three, probably because I feel like a brand plucked from the fire!<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=45&chapter=3&version=31">Zechariah 3</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Purified for God's Service</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>The regulation for the maintenance of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">priesthood had fallen</span> into disuse, and they had neither robes, vessels, nor proper provisions or offerings. Probably also the spiritual life of the priests was at a very low ebb (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mal%201-2;&version=31;">Malachi 1 - 2</a>). </div><div><br /></div><div>Satan is always discovering the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">weak spots</span> in character and thrusting at them. He is keen as steel and cruel. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">But we have One </span>who pleads. He ever lives to make intercession for us. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan."</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">We are brands scorched </span>and charred with the burning. But we have been plucked out of the consuming flame. Surely then we are being<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> kept for some high</span> and useful purpose. All the past is an arugment for faith. That God has done so much is a pledge that He will perfect that which concerns us, because His mercy endures forever. (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ps%20138:7-8;&version=50;">Psalm 138:8</a>)</div><div><br /></div><div>What a blessing to have the filthy garments removed and to be <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">clothed by God's righteousness</span> in Christ Jesus! It is not enought to be cleaned from sin. Whom He justifies, He also glorifies. let us be content with nothing short of God's best and fullness!</div><div><br /></div><div>Zinzendorf's hymn states it so conscisely <a href="http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/t/jtbloodr.htm">http://cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/t/jtbloodr.htm</a></div><div><br /></div><div></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Lord, we have all been charred one way or another, and find ourselves sitting in filthy garments. How thankful we are for our royal robe of righteousness found in Christ Jesus. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Each morning</span> as we dress ourselves, help us to remember what a blessing it is to be made pure by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I pray that You will empower St. Philip's to be a faithful minister of this wonderful Gospel, and that specifically, the Bright Zone and the Harrington family will experience <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">deliverance </span>from the flame and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">purity </span>in Jesus Christ. In His name, Amen!</span></div><div><br /></div><div></div></blockquote><div><br /></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-3509490747918113992009-03-25T02:36:00.004-05:002009-03-25T03:00:10.170-05:00God's Protection, Affection & Direction<div><div>Woops! Looks like St. Philip's is skipping along <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">2 chapters at a time now,</span> and so I missed <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%202;&version=31;">chapter two</a> yesterday, and have chapters 3 and 4 of Zechariah today!! I'll post them one chapter at a time, and see how far we get! So, put on your running shoes and reading glasses!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech%202;&version=31;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Zechariah 2 </span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">God's Protection of His People</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Now Zechariah sees a man with a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">measuring line.</span> He is about to survey the city of Jerusalem. But Zack's angel guide sends another angel to hurry after this man with good news. </div><div><br /></div><div>God promises to bring so many people to Jerusalem that the crowds will <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">overflow the walls</span> of the city - but that won’t matter because <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">God will be their protection, </span>not walls. God Himself will <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"be a wall of fire around it",</span> and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"I will be its glory within."</span> </div><div><br /></div><div>The phrase <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“apple of His eye”</span></span> was used to describe something precious, easily injured and demanding protection. Spurgeon puts it this way:</div><div></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“He esteems [us] as much as men value their eyesight, and is as careful to protect [us] from injury, as men are to protect the apple of their eye. The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">pupil </span>of the eye is the tenderest part of the tenderest organ, and very fitly sets forth the inexpressible tenderness of God’s love.”</span></div><div></div></blockquote><div>Not only will He protect us, but He will be <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">among us</span> in a unique and powerful way.<br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">FYI:</span> This is the only place where the phrase <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Holy Land</span> is used in the Bible. The land is holy because it is separated unto God in a unique way. In the same exact way, we can be <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">holy</span>, set apart for God to use exactly as He sees fit!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><blockquote>Lord, let us see what it would look like to overflow the walls of St. Philip's, and to be assured of Your protection, affection and direction. May we have the same exuberance and fortitude as this man with the measuring stick seems to have. I pray Lord that you will make the Harrington family the apple of Your eye and bring them into Your Holy Land, as it were. In Jesus' name. Amen!</blockquote></span></div></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-134396245406406762009-03-24T03:35:00.003-05:002009-03-24T03:59:06.975-05:00Rebuilding Our Relationship with God<div>The book of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah%201%20;&version=31;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Zechariah </span></a>is one of the two key books of Old Testament prediction that are primary sources for the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">symbolism </span>of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=revelation;&version=31;">Revelation</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The prophet Zechariah lived at the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">same time as Haggai </span>and was interested in the same effort: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">to induce the Jews to carry on the rebuilding of their neglected Temple. </span></div><div><br /></div><div>But if all we had was <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=haggai%201-2;&version=31;">Haggai </a>to go by, we might conclude that all God was really interested in was the temple. However, Zechariah gives the rest of the story, and shows how <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">God is interested in lives, </span>not only buildings. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">It is so ironic how parallel this is with our call to live </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Beyond Ourselves </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">and to minister to people instead of erecting buildings!</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>The prophecies of Zechariah are dated a few years later than those of Haggai. In contrast to the direct and simple language of Haggai, Zechariah employs many figures and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">symbols </span>to enforce his message. </div><div><br /></div><div>He especially wished to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">give encouragement</span> and help to the leader and governor of the people, Zerubbabel, and the priest, Joshua.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">I’m challenged to consider how I can be an encouragement to the priest/pastor at St. Philip’s especially during these community-wide difficult times.</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>In the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">latter part of the book </span>there are many pictures of the glorious and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">happy future</span> which God had in store for His people and of the Deliverer Who was to come to rule over them. There will come a great day when <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“the Lord shall be king over all the earth.”</span></div><div><br /></div><div>The name Zechariah means <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“The LORD Remembers,”</span></span> and is a fitting name for a prophet of restoration. </div><div><ul><li>He was called to encourage and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">mobilize </span>God’s people to accomplish a task that they began yet lost momentum in completing. <br /></li><li>He encourages them indirectly by telling them about God’s care for them and by keeping the presence of the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Messiah </span>very much in their minds. <br /></li><li>He <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">worked with others, </span>notably Haggai, Zerubbabel, and Ezra. <br /></li><li>He <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">warned </span>them of the consequences of neglecting God’s work and he emphasized that God wants to do a work through His people. <br /></li></ul></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Let us pray the Holy Spirit will jump start us with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">divine momentum</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> yet again as we forge ahead into our next seven years at St. Philip’s!</span></span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Zechariah is shown <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">eight visions in the first 6 chapters.</span> In them he is not a passive observer. He is actively involved and free to question the angel God has provided as a guide. The meaning of most of these visions is explained in their context. Their focus is God’s intention for Jerusalem and Judea as history moves on and as the end time comes. Many of these themes are picked up in Revelation. Two of these visions are in chapter one.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech;&version=31;">1:1-17 </a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">A Vision of Pardon and Restoration</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; "><br /></span></div><div>Zechariah does not slur over the sins of the past, but lays stress on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">divine forgiveness.</span> His only fear is lest God should call in vain and the people refuse as their fathers did. </div><div><br /></div><div>Notice the repetition of God’s title <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Lord Almighty</span></span> five times in the first six verses. The enemy’s armies were vast, but the protecting hosts vaster! A glimplse of these hosts is given in the following vision. </div><div><br /></div><div>A green valley filled with myrtles, the emblem of humility, where the prophet may have spent his time meditating, seemed alive with mysterious horsemen who had been patrolling the earth. The four report to the angel of the Lord that the world is at rest and<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> peace. This is not good</span> news for Judea. </div><div><br /></div><div>Haggai proclaimed just a few months before that the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">nations must be shaken</span> before Messiah comes and Jerusalem’s peace is assured. God is angry with the nations of the world because they are at ease while God’s people suffer. </div><div><br /></div><div>In God’s thinking if the earth is at rest at the expense of His people, there is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">no rest at all. </span>Sure, the nations offered to help God’s people, but even their help was polluted by evil motives.</div><div><br /></div><div>But in all this, God reassures the prophet. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">God does care </span>deeply <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(“is very jealous”)</span> for Jerusalem and Judah. And He is angry with the nations that have been their persecutors. God will return to Jerusalem with mercy, and goodness will overflow.</div><div><br /></div><div>God solemnly promises to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">restore </span>Jerusalem and the cities of Judah. This was an especially comforting promise considering the lowly condition of the cities of the Promised Land in Zechariah’s day.</div><div><br /></div><div>About <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">four years</span> from the time of this prophecy Zion was comforted and Jerusalem was specially chosen - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">the temple was rebuilt four years after Zechariah gave this prophecy.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">In </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=zech;&version=31;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">1:18-21 </span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">A Vision of Being Rescued</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div>In the second vision Zach sees<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> four horns</span> that most people say represent the world powers that will hold political domination over Jerusalem. The horn symbolism is used in the same way in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=dan%207-8;&version=31;">Daniel 7 & 8</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Zechariah also sees <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">four craftsmen/carpenters. </span>These are workmen, bearing heavy hammers or chisels, whose function it is to throw down the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">“horns of the nations”</span> that have acted against Jerusalem. </div><div><br /></div><div>Thus <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">God shall </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">rescue </span>His people from their oppressors as history marches towards its intended end. God promises to break the power of those who use their power against God’s people. But as <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=rom%2012:9-21;&version=31;">Romans 12</a> warns, vengenance is the Lord's. It is God that shall do the rescueing from our oppressors!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Lord of hosts, God Almighty, thank You for what You are doing at St. Philip's an for the series of Beyond Ourselves. I pray that more opportunities will open up a Dawson, not only in 8a but throughout the whole jail, men and women. Grant that I might be able to get connected with Stek in exactly the place You have for me. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Also, just as You were able to infuse divine momentum into the weary and impoverished Jews to rebuild the temple and their relationships with You, be with St. Philip's as we reach out to the people in the Bright Zone. I pray you will bless Harrington/family and draw them to Yourself. Encourage Clay and the rest of the staff, that joy would be their portion. We love You Lord. Amen.</span></div></blockquote><div></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-21662284347889153002009-03-23T02:47:00.004-05:002009-03-23T03:57:54.428-05:00Making God's Priorities Our Priorities<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=haggai%201-2;&version=50;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Haggai </span></a>is a man with a single message: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Rebuild the Temple!</span></span></span><div><br /></div><div>He <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">returned from exile</span> in Babylon under the leadership of Zerubbabel and Joshua in the year 536 BC when Cyrus, king of Persia, moved by the striking prophecies about himself, which had probably been brought under his notice by Daniel, granted the Jews their liberty and provided them with materials for restoring their Temple.</div><div><br /></div><div>This work of rebuilding went on under Cyrus and his successor in spite of the opposition by the neighboring Samaritans. But finally these foes of the returned exiles obtained an edict from Artaxerxes to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">stop the progress</span> of the rebuilding of the Temple in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ezra%204;&version=50;">Ezra 4:7-23</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>The Jews gave up the work and began to build splendid <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">mansions for themselves, </span>so that the operations on the Temple site were not recommenced, even when there was opportunity for them. For 14 years the work was discontinued, until Haggai uttered his burning message.</div><div><br /></div><div>He seems to have been an old man when summoned to be a prophet, and his term of service lasted for only <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">four months!</span> But when a man speaks in the power of God, you cannot measure the effect by chronology. His brief ministry had immediate effect, for within three weeks the people were once more at work on the Temple!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=haggai;&version=50;">Haggai 1:1-11</a></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Selfish and Shortsighted Thrift?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></div><div>The returned exiles had been experiencing a succession of bad seasons. They had sown much and reaped little; their <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">money ran out </span>of the bag as quickly as they put it in; a drought lay on all the land, and the reason for it was to be found in the neglected Temple.</div><div><br /></div><div>I wonder how frequently my losses in business arise from my <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">failure to remember God's cause.</span> I say that I do not have the time, cannot afford the money, and see no necessity for setting apart the Lord's day or the daily period for meditation and prayer. I'm beginning to think that if I saw things as they really are, I would find that this is false economy and wastes more than I actually save. </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=haggai;&version=50;">Haggai 1:12 - 15</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Priorities Straightened!</span></div><div><br /></div><div>One earnest person can arouse an entire community! Let a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">fire glow in our hearts, </span>and it will spread. Assured of God's presence and favor, Haggai spoke, and within 3 weeks the whole land was awake. Imagine if it were the Bright Zone! </div><div><br /></div><div>Note the cooperation of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">God's Spirit</span> with the message of His servant: <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"The Lord stirred up."</span></div><div>Let us ever seek and rely on his cooperation! We are witnesses; so also is the Holy Spirit!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=44&chapter=2&version=50">Haggai 2:1-9</a></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Even Better than Before</span></div><div><br /></div><div>But <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">how </span>can a people on the bare edge of poverty rebuild the temple? </div><div><br /></div><div>God announces through Haggai that He is owner of all the gold and silver of the world. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">God <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">will </span>meet the need,</span> and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"the glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former" </span>(e.g., Solomon's temple). </div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ezra%206;&version=50;">Ezra 6:8-12</a> tells us that <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">God <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">did </span>meet the need.</span> Although the governor of the Persian province oppses the rebuilding, he is commanded by the king himself to finance the whole project! Later, in the days of Herod the Great the temple was greatly expanded and was the recipient of fabulous gifts. By the time of Jesus it did surpass the temple of Solomon for glory.</div><div><br /></div><div>What would<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> St. Philip's</span> look like a year or two from now if it could be said for it, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic; ">"the glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former"?</span></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=44&chapter=2&version=50"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Haggai 2:10-19</span></a></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Only with Christ is Holiness Contagious!</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Haggai is sent to make a public inquiry of the priests concerning a point of law of Moses. Under the law an object or person which is ceremonially unclean makes unclean whatever it touches. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Under the law </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">nothing which is holy can make any defiled thing clean.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Haggai applies the principle. This people is not to think that the presence of the temple makes them holy. They are defiled by sin. But God operates among them in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">grace</span>. He will accept their gift of obediece, and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"From this day on I will bless you."</span></div><div><br /></div><div>Thank God, that with His Son, the touch of something holy, can actually make the defiled ones clean! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">With Christ, holiness is contagious</span> instead of our dirt!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=44&chapter=2&version=50">Haggai 2:20-23</a></span><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Jesus Christ: Our Real Temple</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>The same day Haggai receives a message from God to give to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Zerubbabel</span>. This individual is of the royal family of David. But he is not king, for Judah in under the domination of Persia and is merely a minor region in one of the 120 administrative districts! </div><div><br /></div><div>But the words of Haggai look forward to a time when God will shake the nations. Then Zerubbabel <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(that is, the family of David),</span> will again be established...and it is 520 years later in Jesus Christ! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus Christ is now our Temple,</span> our place to meet with God!</div><div><br /></div><div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Lord Jesus, thank You for touching me with Your holiness and thereby cleansin me from all sin and defilement. And thank You also for Your great patience, which kindly waits for me to get my priorities straightened out with You as the center. I pray for the Bright Zone and for Harrington...help us to be a catalyst of Your glory to this area and to this family. In Jesus' name, Amen.</span></blockquote></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-51807726202443896212009-02-03T22:17:00.004-06:002009-02-03T23:37:43.934-06:00Cashier Checks & Bowing Down to 90 Feet StatutesWell, I missed <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=daniel%202;&version=31;">Daniel 2</a> yesterday, but we'll see similar content (though not the details) in chapter 7 & 9, I think.<div><br /></div><div>So instead focusing on that boundary-setting, boundary-honoring Daniel, or that administratively gifted leader <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(who doesn't use it so wisely all of the time)</span> Nebuchadnezzar, we get to look at those three bold, balanced, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">faithful Hebrew boys</span> in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=daniel%203&version=31">Daniel 3</a>.</div><div><br /></div><div>Talk about someone who is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">image conscience</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(pun intended)!</span> He invites all the VIP people to his "little" party so they can bow down to him! It's amazing the effort I will <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(er, I mean, that he will) </span>put forth just to maintain a facade/image, and oh so cheery is the occassion! But it ends in death still the same!</div><div><br /></div><div>Enough about Neb...what about those 3 men, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Rack, Shack & Bennie</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(or so VeggieTales would have us call them)</span>?!</div><div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikXfHsAZDJpJ6UY3ELxzGd33S9hT4BslRup2GIFNirKrtHFW1PF7WoRXFIeqZrzBs43CXQj4y8TLCsB_jR56HQG4PJLeMG0Ny-r75lKnfi5Jq72caHqZolGdSUmo70NoGHS6FQe95edZw-/s320/veggietales.jpg" style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 173px; height: 250px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5298800702014860738" /><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Talk about <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">faithfulness, clarity of conviction and the courage to stand firm!</span> These three exemplified it. I got a taste of that this morning...not nearly the consequences, but still consisted of those three elements.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm trying to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">sell my motorcycle</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> (1989 Red Yamaha Virago 1100cc for $2,400 in case anyone was wondering ;-)</span> and I got a call today from a guy who was eager to purchase it. Asked at first if I would take money orders since he could only withdraw $350 a day from his bank. I told him I would do a little research and get back with him.</div><div><br /></div><div>After hanging up, he called back nearly 3 minutes later and suggested PayPal. Hmmmm. We made arrangements for him to come to the house to see it. He called about half hour later for directions, and I wanted to tell him "cash only", but the subject didn't get brought up. So I was mum.</div><div><br /></div><div>After I hung up, Ashley challenged me <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(probably why there was 3 Hebrew men...they all <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">needed each other's help</span> in it all!)</span> "you need to call that guy back and tell him cash only so he doesn't come here for no good reason."</div><div><br /></div><div>Gulp! This is not my cup of tea! But I did it. With sweating palms, I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">dialed his number</span>. I stammeringly told him "cash only" and apologized for this but that it I needed to operate that way. He continued to pursue. I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">stated it again,</span> with a firmer conviction and without apology "cash only."</div><div><br /></div><div>He proceeded to tell me that I would meet him at the bank to get money orders with him. And with full conviction, courage and eyes-wide-open understanding, I notified him <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">yet again "CASH ONLY!</span></span> There will be no meeting you at the bank..." </div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Click</span>....he hung up.</div><div><br /></div><div>And he with the same <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">burning </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">fury, </span>rage and anger <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(pun intended!)</span> that fella threw in me into the furnance heated seven times hotter than usual <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(er, I mean, he texted me a message calling me nasty names and accusing me of wasting his time!)</span></div><div><br /></div><div>And you know what?! I felt just like those boys must have felt<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"> (tho I'm sure not to the same degree). </span>Very excited that the conviction was adhered to, and blessed to see good results from it all. I blame it all on the <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">"fourth who is like the Son of God."</span></span></div><div><br /></div><div>Just <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">a few little observations</span> about this passage before heading off to bed...</div><div><ol><li>the same <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">fire </span>that was moltened the image that everyone worshipped, had no effect on those faithful men<br /></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">those </span>that tossed them into the furnance were scorched by approaching the fire and yet these three merely walked in the midst of the burning<br /></li><li>evil meant the fire to burn them to death, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">but God</span> had the fire only burn the ropes that had them bound<br /></li><li>the three men <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">did not presume to know</span> God's mind as to whether they would be martyred or preserved, but they knew He was powerful enough to do either one. They didn't treat God like a vending machine...I like that about these boys<br /></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">not even the smell of smoke</span> was upon them, nor a single hair singed <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(that word looks like the pieces of hair couldn't sing!). </span>But this little observation gives me hope that no matter what upbringing or unhealthy situation people may find themselves in, God is able to bring them out without even their garments affected by it...I know a lot of ladies who are asking that for their children!<br /></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Our God is Able</span> to Save, is Able to Deliver, and is Able to Keep!</li></ol></div><div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Oh Son of God, I pray whatever situation I find myself, whether in sunshine or in the fiery furnance, that I will know Your presence always with me. I pray also for that same kind of faithfulness, courage, and conviction that these fellows had so that I might be a better witness to Your sovereignty! And thank You for today! Wouldn't have happened just a year or two ago! Amen.</span></blockquote></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-80791359149896146792009-02-01T23:11:00.002-06:002009-02-01T23:39:44.217-06:00Administration & Boundaries<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Nebuchadnezzar </span>(Neb) has a gift I greatly long for...that of administration! I mean, just look at this guy in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=daniel%201;&version=50;">Daniel 1</a>. <div><br /></div><div>He didn't let <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">prejudice </span>prevent him from choosing top notch cabinet members. He had the ability to look past nationality and race.</div><div><br /></div><div>He also had a knowledgeable <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">support staff </span>in place. Somebody had to figure out what the measurable data points were to decide upon who of the captive Judean children were the wisest, knowledgeable, quickest to understand, gifted, good looking and able to serve.</div><div><br /></div><div>I was at a training yesterday where a few hours were spent trying to decide how a successful release from prison could be measured and evaluated, over a 5-year period. We could have used some of Neb's <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">statisticians</span>!</div><div><br /></div><div>Not only that, Neb was <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">generous </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(if you overlook the fact that they were exiles!).</span> He was willing to give king's food and wine to entice them to be the best that they could be...for him! </div><div><br /></div><div>And if that were enough for a busy man, who was the CEO of Business Babylon...he <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">took the time</span> to individually interview these young men! </div><div><br /></div><div>And with no apologies, he declares <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">"that these here f'r'ners"</span> were ten times wiser than all else he had interviewed. He had <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">discernment </span>on top o fit all!</div><div><br /></div><div>He just seems to be a man who plays his cards well, surrounds himself with a knowledgeable support staff, has lofty vision, and actually follow throughs on it. Let's just say...I'm a bit jealous!</div><div><br /></div><div>Then there is the second guy in this story who awakens any jealousy that remained dormant! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Daniel </span>was indeed a man of wisdom, understanding and discernment...from the very beginning!</div><div><br /></div><div>Even though he could have justified violating his conscience <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">(or his gut, or his convictions, or whatever you want to call it)</span> due his station in life as a prisoner, he wisely presented his case. There is <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">no default living</span> with this guy!</div><div><br /></div><div>He knew to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">respect </span>those over him. He <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">knew </span>exactly what he wanted. He clearly <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">articulated </span>it. And he came up with a proposal that would help him and his three friends, as well as protect the chief eunuch, Ashpenaz.</div><div><br /></div><div>Daniel set a <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">boundary</span>, went through all the added hubbub, put himself to the test, just so he could keep his <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">self-respect</span> and honor God. </div><div><br /></div><div>He learned it was so worth it. I want to too!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Lord, make me a Daniel...wise, discerning, articulate, daring, convicted, clearheaded, willing to pay the cost, diplomatic and yet truthful. I know it is because of You (verse 9) that Daniel prospered in favor and goodwill. Lord, give me strength and resolve to <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">"Dare to be a Daniel!"</span></span></blockquote></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: -webkit-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/d/a/daretobe.htm">Dare to be a Daniel,</a></span><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: -webkit-serif; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; "><div style="text-align: center;">Dare to stand alone!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dare to have a purpose firm!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Dare to make it known.<br /></div></span></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-58051946096096436162008-09-13T19:00:00.004-05:002008-09-13T21:01:37.760-05:00They looked, but never Looked to Him!I picked a few good chapters to miss as <a href="http://www.stphilipsfrisco.org/education/3yrbiblereadplan.doc">St. Philip’s </a>goes skipping through Isaiah two chapters at a time! It’s been Isaiah declaring the <strong>Lord’s assessment of the enemy nations</strong> that surround His people. Not a very pretty evaluation.<br /><br />But then we come to <strong>His own people</strong>, Jerusalem of Judah in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isa%2022;&version=50;">Isaiah 22</a>. They aren’t measuring up either. This chapter personifies how we can look to every scheme and tactic to deliver us from a problem and yet not look to the very One who put us in that situation to provoke us to repent.<br /><br />I’m just baffled by the 40-50,000 people who opted to stay in Galveston and other coastal areas while the National Weather Service officials were promising “certain death”. <em>(thankfully, their <strong>guarantee</strong> for death was inaccurate!)</em><br /><em></em><br />But, it was somewhat similar in Jerusalem’s day. While Isaiah was tearfully telling them that <strong>Babylon would overthrow Jerusalem</strong> with arrows and chariots, they instead opted to fortify their homestead and hunker down. No wonder Isaiah said, <em><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isa%2022:4;&version=50;">“I will weep bitterly”</a></em> when he saw God’s warning being outright ignored.<br /><br />So instead of preparing Jerusalem for an attack <strong>depending on their own plans</strong> and schemes, they should have turned their hearts in humble repentance to the Lord. Instead of humbly seeking the Lord, the people of Jerusalem had both<br /><ul><li>a confidence in their own preparation<em><br />(<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isa%2022:13;&version=50;">joy and gladness</a>),</em> and </li><li>a fatalistic outlook toward the future<br /><em><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isa%2022:13;&version=50;">(“Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die!”</a>).</em> </li></ul>It’s more than the addict who lives in denial!<br /><br />A good specimen of <strong>the scoffer is Shebna.</strong> Shebna was a servant of good King Hezekiah, both a steward . . . over the house and a scribe (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2018:18;&version=50;" name="4"></a><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2018:18;&version=50;">2 Kings 18:18</a>, <a name="5"></a><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2037:2;&version=50;">Isaiah 37:2</a>). These were both positions of honor and responsibility. Shebna was one of King Hezekiah’s chief assistants.<br /><br />Isaiah <strong>prophesies</strong> that the people of Judah and <strong>Jerusalem would</strong> <strong>be carried away into exile,</strong> but Shebna didn’t believe it. He built this elaborate tomb to himself in Jerusalem, as if to say, <em>“I will never be carried away in exile. I am so certain that I will die here that I will build my tomb here.”</em><br /><br />It is a very interesting description of how the Lord stripped Shebna of his office <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%2022;&version=65;">(especially in the Message translation)</a> and gave it to Eliakim the son of Hilkiah. God will get His work done! The question for me is whether or not I want to be a part of it by faith, or to <strong>miss the opportunity due to my unbelief!</strong><br /><br />So while Shebna’s peg came crashing down, Eliakim was being established.<br /><br />Interesting that <strong>the Lord </strong>uses this passage to speak of Himself in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%203:7;&version=50;">Revelation 3:7</a>:<br /><em><blockquote><em>These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.”</em> </blockquote></em><br />Jesus is the one with the keys of Hades and of Death (<a name="15"></a><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation%201:8;&version=50;">Revelation 1:8</a>), who has all authority both in heaven and on earth. I want to hang the all of my hopes on <strong>my Tent Peg, Jesus Christ</strong> (<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Zechariah%2010:4;&version=50;">Zechariah 10:4</a>).<br /><br />And I need not fear what kind of vessel I am that hangs on that peg, for there are many different vessels in the Lord’s house, with many different sizes and purposes. But they all must hang on the same peg! All are equally wrecked if they drop from the peg. <strong>The safety isn’t in the size or the quality of the vessel, but in its attachment to the peg.</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />Judah and Shebna saw the prophecy given to Isaiah all of this come to pass, <strong>just as God had said.</strong><br /><em><blockquote><em>Divine Tent Peg, be my surety, my stability and my confidence. May I be like Eliakim, one who can help hold others up because of believing in You and Your word. Keep me from being a Shebna and trusting in my own power. I want to live a life where I can hear from You and believe it and move forth with confidence. Thank You for Your clear and faithful warnings. In Jesus' name, Amen.<br /></em></blockquote></em>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-84463901255816325692008-09-03T14:33:00.004-05:002008-09-03T17:32:41.353-05:00The Lord Invites ALL to Trust<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGc3p8eXXnDpuIHHlT8v8NbGGxgaCd-JV-37i_qWgfYgfPCa_3AtjcDo6ElyLoLBBDqAw38YmWCWi0okkpjJyu8nZ5MaezquskbzjNpvf-6V7iowDG_bxFVDSLCOqedqJbbKsJ21F8RgO/s1600-h/maps-divided-kingdom.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5241925154095858994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQGc3p8eXXnDpuIHHlT8v8NbGGxgaCd-JV-37i_qWgfYgfPCa_3AtjcDo6ElyLoLBBDqAw38YmWCWi0okkpjJyu8nZ5MaezquskbzjNpvf-6V7iowDG_bxFVDSLCOqedqJbbKsJ21F8RgO/s320/maps-divided-kingdom.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Daily-Bible-International-Devotional-Insights/dp/0736901981"><strong>The Daily Bible in Chronological Order</strong></a> 365 Daily Readings with Devotional Insights to Guide You Through God’s Word published by Harvest House in the New International Version (NIV) has been very helpful in putting Isaiah’s prophecies in their historical context.</div><div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong></strong> </div><div><strong>For example,</strong> here is the history listed for <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%206-12;&version=50;">Isaiah 6-12</a>.</div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%202:1-5;&version=50;">Isaiah 2:1-5</a> The Last Days</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2015:19-28;&version=50;">2 Kings 15:19-28</a> <em>In Israel</em> (742-741 BC)</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2015:6-7;&version=50;">2 Kings 15:6-7</a>, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2015:32-35;&version=50;">32-35</a> & </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chron.%2026:22%20-%2027:8;&version=50;"><span style="font-size:85%;">2 Chron. 26:22-23; 27:1-2, 8</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> <em>In Judah</em></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%206:1-13;&version=50;">Isaiah 6:1-13</a> Isaiah’s Mission Told in a Vision</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2015:35;&version=50;">2 Kings 15:35</a>; &</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chron.%2027:3-6;&version=50;"><span style="font-size:85%;">2 Chron. 27:3-6</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Jotham’s reign in Judah</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=micah;&version=50;">Micah</a> (the whole book dedicated to Judah)</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2015:29;&version=50;">2 Kings 15:29</a>; &</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Courier New;"><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Chron.%205:23-26;&version=50;"><span style="font-size:85%;">1 Chron. 5:23-26</span></a><span style="font-size:85%;"> Early Beginnings of Captivity in Israel</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2015:37;&version=50;">2 Kings 15:37</a> War between Syria, Israel & Judah <em>(In Judah)</em></span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2015:30-31;&version=50;">2 Kings 15:30-31</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2017:1-2;&version=50;">17:1-2</a> <em>(In Israel)</em></span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2015:36%20-%2016:4;&version=50;">2 Kings 15:36, 38; 16:1-4</a>; <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2027:7-9;%2028:1-4;&version=50;">2 Chronicles 27:7, 9; 28:1-4</a> <em>(In Judah)</em></span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%207:1%20–%2012:6;&version=50;">Isaiah 7:1 – 12:6</a> Isaiah’s Prophesies about a Saviour</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> 7:1-2 Ahaz Learns of Alliance</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> 7:3-9 God’s Message to Ahaz</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> 7:10-12 Ahaz Refuses a Sign From God</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> 7:13-15 Isaiah Foretells Savior to be Immanuel</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> 7:16-25 Assyria to Destroy</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> 8:1-10 Syria and Israel to Fall</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> 8:11-18 Isaiah Calls them to Trust God</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> 8:19-22 Others Cannot be Trusted</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> 9:1-7 Savior’s Kingdom Coming</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> 9:8-21 God’s Wrath Against Israel</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> 10:1-4 Anger Against Injustice</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> 10:5-19 Assyria’s Punishment</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> 10:20-23 Remnant to Be Saved</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> 10:24-34 Captivity will be Overcome</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> 11:1-9 Savior’s Lineage from David</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> 11:10-16 Savior to Gather Remnant</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> 12:1-6 Praise for Deliverance</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2016:5-6;&version=50;">2 Kings 16:5-6</a>; &</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"> <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chron.%2028:5-8;&version=50;">2 Chron. 28:5-8</a> Judah Defeated by Allies</span></div><div><span style="font-family:courier new;font-size:85%;"><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chron.%2028:9-21;&version=50;">2 Chron. 28:9-21</a> Captives’ Release Secured</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Courier New;font-size:85%;"></span></div><br /><div>When you read it in the book itself with its historical notes and easy reading layout...it's a real joy!<br /></div><div> </div><div>Anyway, today we are looking at <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%207;&version=50;"><strong>Isaiah 7</strong></a><strong>,</strong> and hopefully we will write about <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%208;&version=50;">chapter 8</a> later on tonight.</div><div></div><br /><div>The northern nation of <strong>Israel</strong> <em>(referred to by the dominant tribe of Ephraim)</em> and <strong>Syria</strong> combined to attack Judah <em>(the southern kingdom).</em> The <strong>alliance</strong> between these two nations and their ultimately unsuccessful attack on Jerusalem is described in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20kings%2016;&version=50;">2 Kings 16</a>. </div><br /><div></div><div>But the war against <strong>Judah took a great toll </strong>against the southern kingdom. <a name="3"></a><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2028:6;&version=50;">2 Chronicles 28:6</a> documents the damage: </div><br /><div><blockquote><em>For Pekah the son of Remaliah killed one hundred and twenty thousand in Judah in one day, all valiant men, because they had forsaken the Lord God of their fathers.</em> </blockquote></div><div><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2028:5;&version=50;">2 Chronicles 28:5</a> says that the Syrian army <em>carried away a great multitude of them as captives.</em> The king of Israel also captured <em>200,000 men, women and children as captives</em>, but sent them back to Judah at the command of the prophet Oded (<a name="5"></a><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2028:8-15;&version=50;">2 Chronicles 28:8-15</a>).</div><div></div><br /><div><strong>Ahaz was a wicked king of Judah,</strong> worshipping other gods and even sacrificing his son to Molech (<a name="2"></a><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2016:1-4;&version=50;">2 Kings 16:1-4</a>). The only good thing Ahaz seemed to do was father Hezekiah, who became a good king of Judah.</div><div></div><br /><div>And still <strong>the Lord invited this evil king </strong>to trust in Him to give Judah the victory against the Israel/Syrian alliance. What a mercy of God, that even to such a rebel, He offers His grace and care.</div><div></div><br /><div>But instead Ahaz prefers to enter into an <strong>ungodly alliance</strong> with <em>Tiglath-Pileser king of <strong>Assyria</strong>,</em> and even gave Tiglath-Pileser <em>silver and gold that was found in the house of the Lord</em> as a present to win his favor and protection (<a name="6"></a><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2016:7-9;&version=50;">2 Kings 16:7-9</a>).</div><div></div><br /><div>If the king of Judah and the people of Judah had put their trust in the Lord, they would have had the peace of God in this conflict, instead of <strong>shaking like a leaf</strong> in the wind.</div><br /><div></div><div>Why would Ahaz find it so <strong>hard to trust in the Lord</strong> instead of looking to a cruel enemy to become allies with him? Perhaps the devastation that had wracked Judah thus far had made Ahaz stop trusting in God. <em>“If God loves me, why am I in this mess at all? Trust Him now, after all He has allowed to happen? Are you crazy?”</em></div><div></div><br /><div>Ahaz was <strong>unable to see the situation the way the Lord did.</strong> Ahaz looked at Israel and Syria and saw a terrible threat. God looked at Israel and Syria and saw two stubs of smoking firebrands. To the Lord, they were all smoke and no fire! </div><div></div><br /><div>God gives a <strong>promise with a warning:</strong> <em>If you will not believe, surely <strong>you</strong> shall not be established.</em> </div><div></div><br /><div>So Ahaz has a challenge. God has promised, now the king of Judah must believe. If he will not believe, it will <em>not</em> affect the outcome of the attack against Jerusalem. God has already decreed that their attack would not succeed. But it would <strong>affect the course of Ahaz’s life</strong> and reign as king <em>(surely <strong>you </strong>shall not be established).</em></div><div></div><br /><div>As it happened, Ahaz did not believe. He did not put his trust in the Lord. He put his trust in his <strong>own scheming and logical methods</strong> and allied himself with the king of Assyria. </div><div></div><br /><div>Jerusalem was spared, and Ahaz no doubt believed he was successful, and his plan worked. <strong>But if</strong> he would have just trusted in the Lord, Jerusalem would have been spared, and Ahaz would have been blessed.</div><div><br />Even when God invited this wicked king to ask Him for a sign, Ahaz refused, knowing that he would be held accountable for what God spoke. So Ahaz <strong>cloaks his rebellion</strong> in the words of humility and spirituality. But God saw right through it!</div><div></div><br /><div>This <strong>sounds very <em>spiritual</em></strong> from Ahaz. He almost seems to say what Jesus said in <a name="9"></a><a href="http://www.blueletterbible.org/kjv/Mat/Mat004.html#7">Matthew 4:7</a>:</div><div><em><br /><blockquote><em>You shall not tempt the Lord your God.</em></blockquote></em></div><div>Though the <strong>words are similar,</strong> the <strong>hearts are far apart.</strong> Ahaz refused to ask for a sign, because when God fulfilled the sign, he would be “obligated” to believe.</div><div></div><br /><div>This was not tempting or testing God in wrong way. It is <strong>never testing God to do as He says,</strong> and if the Lord invites us to test Him, we should.</div><div></div><br /><div>In <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%207:14;&version=50;">Isaiah 7:14</a> we have one of the most famous prophecies regarding the birth of Jesus the Messiah in the Bible. It also illustrates a <strong>principle of prophecy,</strong> that prophecy may have both </div><ul><li>a <em>near fulfillment</em> and </li><li>a <em>far fulfillment.</em></li></ul><div>The <strong><em>near fulfillment</em></strong> of this prophecy centered around Ahaz, Jerusalem, and the attack from Israel and Syria. For Ahaz, the sign centered around <strong>a time span.</strong> Simply put, God would give Ahaz a sign that within a few years, both Israel and Syria would be crushed. This was a sign of deliverance to Ahaz.</div><div></div><br /><div>The <strong><em>far</em></strong> or <strong><em>ultimate fulfillment</em></strong> of this prophecy goes far beyond Ahaz, to announce the miraculous virgin birth of Jesus Christ. We know this passage speaks of Jesus because in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew%201:23;&version=50;">Matthew </a>it says regarding Him: </div><div><em><br /><blockquote><em>Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, which is translated, <strong>“God with us.”</strong> </em></blockquote></em></div><div>So for us, <strong>the ultimate fulfillment is good news</strong> giving us abundant life!</div><div></div><br /><div>But for Ahaz, who had been foolishly trusting in Assyria instead of the Lord,<strong> the near fulfillment was bad news. </strong>It is as if the Lord is saying, <em>“It will seem to you like trusting in Assyria is a clever move, because the armies of Syria and Israel will be defeated. But the Assyrians will end up defeating you also.”</em><br /></div><div><em><blockquote><em><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=hebrews%202:10;&version=50;">Captain of my soul,</a> thank You for fighting on my behalf, even when the circumstances of life seem to mount up against me. Immanuel, thank You for Your ever-present company. That You are there in the beginning of the day, throughout the events of the day during my waking hours, as well as when my head hits the pillow at night. Lord, remind me to always attribute <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=James%201:16-18;&version=50;">every good and perfect gift to You</a> and not to some scheme or strategy that I have implemented. All victories come from You! We love You, Lord. In Jesus’ name. Amen.</em><br /></blockquote></em></div>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-69209810701509668442008-09-01T22:46:00.004-05:002008-09-01T23:14:40.757-05:00God is on the Throne<p><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%206;&version=50;">Isaiah 6</a> is strawberry-jam-pack-full! I’m going to just jot down a variety of notes, without much continuity.</p><p>First, the <strong>history of King Uzziah</strong> and his reign can be read about in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2026;&version=50;">2 Chronicles 26 </a>& <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2015;&version=50;">2 Kings 15</a> (btw: Azariah = Uzziah). He was 16 years when he came to the throne and reigned for 52 years. </p><p>Overall, he was a good strong king. But later in life there was a <strong>downfall</strong> that occurred summarized succinctly in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Chronicles%2026:16;&version=50;">2 Chronicles 26:16</a>:</p><em><blockquote><p><em>But when Uzziah was strong his heart was lifted up, to his destruction, for he transgressed against the Lord his God by entering the temple of the Lord to burn incense on the altar of incense.</em></p></blockquote><p></em>So Uzziah remained a leper until his death as a result of violating the <strong>Lord’s temple.</strong> And yet, in the year that he died, Isaiah has a holy vision somewhat parallel to the very sin that caused Uzziah’s downturn. </p><em><blockquote><em>The train of His robe filled the temple…above it stood seraphim…house was filled with smoke…live coal taken from the altar…iniquity is taken away.</em></blockquote></em><p>Just something I hadn’t seen before. It is interesting that when <strong>God directs</strong> you to do something, it leads to blessing<em> (iniquity taken away)</em> while if God has not directed you to it, or has even commanded you NOT to do something that negative consequences occur <em>(leprosy for the rest of your life, even after a long faithful reign).</em></p><p>Another truth I’m struck by is the idea that the Lord often reveals Himself in the <strong>time of crisis:</strong></p><blockquote><p><em>In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on the throne, high and lifted up.</em></p></blockquote><em><blockquote><p><em>High King of Heaven, I pray you will grant me the kind of eyes Isaiah, that could see You even in the midst of calamity.</em></p></blockquote><p></em>Isaiah may have been depressed or <strong>discouraged</strong> because a great leader of Judah was no longer on the throne. God in heaven now shows Isaiah, <em>“Don’t worry about it, Isaiah. Uzziah may not be on his throne, but I am on My throne.”</em></p><p>Another point is that Isaiah may have been a righteous, godly man by all outward appearance. Yet when he saw the enthroned King, the Lord of hosts, perhaps even King Jesus Himself, he saw how <strong>sinful he was in comparison</strong>. </p><p>But when we see <strong>Jesus face to face</strong> <em>(and not merely in a vision)</em> we shall be <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20john%203:1-3;&version=50;">pure even as He is pure</a>!! I guess Isaiah got a little of that from the coal taken from the altar and applied to his lips.</p><p>So why the <strong>burning coal?</strong></p><ol><li>to burn away the sin, especially sins of the mouth</li><li>and to put such a heavenly flame of desire in him that he burned with passion to serve God and tell others about Him</li></ol><em><blockquote><em>O Holy Spirit, let Your fire burn in me. First to purge me of my sin, and secondly to have Your light so shine through me that people will turn to You and give You the glory.</em></blockquote><p></em></p><blockquote>God said, “I will <strong>light a fire in you</strong>!” That is why a burning coal was used to purify Isaiah. “Jehovah, who is a consuming fire, can only fitly be served by those who are on fire, whether they be angels or men.” (Spurgeon)</blockquote><p>I wonder sometimes if I have gone to <em>“the nations”</em> before being <em>“sent”.</em> Notice Isaiah’s prayer <em><strong>“Send me”</strong></em> which meant Isaiah was submitted to the Lord in all his service. He didn’t even say, <em>“Here I am, I will go.”</em> Isaiah would not go at all unless he knew he was <strong>sent</strong> by the Lord. </p><em><blockquote><em>Lord of the harvest, I pray that I will be patient, and not run headlong saying, “Here I am, I will go” but rather I will wait for the directive from You Yourself to send me.</em></blockquote></em><p>Isaiah was a <strong>missionary</strong>:</p><ul><li>First, he had a heart that had been in the presence of God. </li><li>He had a heart that knew its own sinfulness. </li><li>He had a heart that knew the need among the people, the need for God’s word. </li><li>He had a heart that had been touched by God’s cleansing fire. </li><li>And he had a heart that heard God’s heart to reach the nations.</li></ul><p><br />An outline jotted down from a <strong>preacher’s sermon:</strong><br /><em>Woe is me!</em> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Confession of the sinner<br /><em>Lo, your iniquity is taken away! - - </em>Cleansing from sins<br /><em>Go and tell!</em> - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Commission from the Sovereign</p><em><blockquote><p><em>Sovereign King, no matter what crisis we may find ourselves in I pray You would give us eyes to see Your glory and Your sovereignty. But not only to see it, but to be affected by it, cleansed by it, and then to go and tell others about it. Thank You for purging our sins by pouring out the fire of judgment on Your Son, Jesus, for our sake. In His name I pray, Amen.</em></p></blockquote></em>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-83142154391014255752008-08-31T00:33:00.002-05:002008-08-31T00:52:36.611-05:00Importance of Good ChoicesWell, I’ve been torn as to whether I should stay my own course of Bible reading and blogging, or let St. Philip’s <a href="http://www.stphilipsfrisco.org/education/3yrbiblereadplan.doc">3-year-bible-reading-plan </a>dictate what passage I should read for the day. I’ve decided to follow <a href="http://www.stphilipsfrisco.org/"><strong>St. Philip’s </strong></a><strong>reading plan. </strong><br /><br />So you may get a few missed chapters along the way <em>(especially when they ask for more than one chapter a day!).</em> Otherwise, if I fall one or two chapters behind, I have tendency to just skip it all together. So, God and I shall rendezvous around the <strong>chapter given by </strong><a href="http://www.stphilipsfrisco.org/"><strong>St. Philip’s</strong> </a>for the day.<br /><br />So today I am sacrificing the hope-giving story of <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=esther%203;&version=50;">Esther 3</a> for the <strong>fierce warning of judgment</strong> against Judah and Jerusalem in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%203;&version=50;">Isaiah 3</a>.<br /><br />God, in no uncertain terms, is letting them (and us) know that obsessing over extreme luxury while stealing from the poor shall NOT be tolerated. No wonder He responds with a <strong>shortage competent leaders.</strong><br /><br />He shall <strong>give the people what their wicked hearts desire, </strong>ungodly, incompetent leaders. Things can become so bad, that in the minds of the people, the smallest achievement will qualify a man for leadership. <em>(you can read <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2%20Kings%2024:14%20;&version=50;">2 Kings 24:14 </a>for the fulfilled account of God’s warning…guess He wasn’t kidding).</em> The lack of strong godly leaders will lead to shortage of water, food and justice.<br /><em><blockquote><em>Governor of the Universe and hearts of mankind, I pray for the United States and the upcoming election. May your choice (and not our own) be elected. Grant us a person who will lead us on in righteousness.</em><br /></blockquote></em><br />I’m struck, that if Jerusalem and Judah could have sinned against God in what they <em><strong>say</strong></em> and in what they <em><strong>do</strong></em>, does that necessarily mean that we can glorify God by what we <em><strong>say</strong></em> just as much as by what we <em><strong>do?</strong></em> <br /><em><blockquote><em>Guardian of my Life, I pray that You would set up a centurion over my mouth and lips so that I will only say that which glorifies You and edifies others. May my deeds and words be pleasing to You.</em><br /></blockquote></em><br />It seems to me as if <strong>God is rather passive in judgment</strong><em> (though we know He is always in control). </em>For example, in today’s passage all He does is leave Judah alone, and they end up <strong>bringing evil upon themselves.</strong> Often times we choose pain and heartbreak rather than follow His guidance.<br /><br /><em><blockquote><em>Great Shepherd, I pray that where You lead, I will follow. I know if left to myself I will surely fall headlong into evil, so I pray, keep close to You and Your flock.</em></blockquote></em><br />Wow! When you look at the <strong>list of accessories</strong> that the women devoted too much of their lives too, you can’t help but imagine the size of the <strong>malls</strong> they must have had in Jerusalem! Though it is often argued that the fact these accessories are mentioned in regards to judgment, that they are wicked in and of themselves, that doesn’t seem to be the case.<br /><br />Isaiah tells them this is for <strong>oppressing the poor and making them pay for your luxuries.</strong> You might say even in their day, there were the <em>‘have’s’ and the ‘have-not’s’</em> with the rich taking from the poor more and more.<br /><ul><li>In one sense, God has given us <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=61&chapter=6&verse=16&end_verse=18&version=31&context=context">all things richly to enjoy</a>, </li><li>yet in another sense, <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=47&chapter=19&verse=20&end_verse=22&version=31&context=context">go, sell all that you have and give it to the poor.</a> </li></ul>And as it always seems to be, He drives us yet again to Himself for direction. We can’t get it from anyone else, or from headquarters to inquire just exactly where that <strong>fine</strong> <strong>balance</strong> is. We must get it for ourselves <strong>from the Creator</strong> and Designer.<br /><br />But there is one apparel that we can be confident that is pleasing to God as He commends it in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20peter%203:3-4;&version=50;">1 Peter 3:3-4</a>:<br /><em><blockquote><em>Do not let your adornment be <strong>merely</strong> <strong>outward</strong>—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel—rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.</em></blockquote></em><br />BTW: <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=isaiah%203:17;&version=50;">verse 17</a> makes me wonder if the last part of the verse refers to <strong>rape</strong>. It does make me wonder about that life-long question: <em>“where is God when something as atrocious as rape is occurring?”</em><br /><em><blockquote><em>Lord Jesus, thank You that You are in control, and thank You for taking the time to communicate with us Your ways. I pray that we will always find ourselves running to You, our Creator and Designer, for guidance and direction, rather than to some rule book or person or board of directors. We want to use our ignorance as just another excuse to come and rendezvous with You. Thank You for Your warnings. Strengthen us all to choose the way that is right in Your eyes. In Jesus' name. Amen</em></blockquote></em>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2298702200685719758.post-83291668833678600512008-08-26T22:15:00.002-05:002008-08-26T22:49:12.397-05:00Personalized Leadings from God!<a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%201:3;&version=50;">Esther 1:3</a> & <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%202:16;&version=50;">Esther 2:16</a> gives us indication that the <em>“After these things”</em> found in <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Esther%202:1;&version=50;">2:1</a> doesn’t just mean <em>“after the party that had a flopped-finale,”</em> but is broader than just the events of the previous chapter. <a name="2"></a>These verses show us that there was a <strong>four-year span between chapters</strong> one and two.<br /><br />During that time King Ahasuerus (Xerxes) made an unsuccessful invasion of Greece and he came home a defeated man, wanting to cheer his heart through sensual diversions. There was no Vashti to soothe his weary-worn state. So........let’s have a <em><strong>“Miss Persian Empire”</strong></em> contest.<br /><br />It seems that Esther didn’t really have a choice about whether she was going to a participant in this event or not. And yet we see how <strong>God can used the evil of man. </strong>God did not make Ahasuerus drunk, or make him demand that his queen present herself in an immodest way before the governors of the kingdom; <strong>yet God allowed</strong> this sinful action of man to fulfill a purpose in His greater plan.<br /><br />I find assurance in the truth that no other person, no matter how evil they are, can defeat <strong>God’s plan for my life,</strong> no matter what they have done to me or will do to me.<br /><br />Esther and Mordecai were part of the large Jewish community that was forced to relocate out of Judah, and then decided not to return with Ezra. I wonder how many returning Jews <strong>judged</strong> Mordecai and Esther for staying behind in “the world” and partaking in its system. And yet we see just how <strong>remarkable Esther’s life</strong> has been so far.<br /><br />She was the child of Jewish exiles, who both died <em>(or were they murdered as the <a href="http://www.8x.com/onenight/">movie </a>depicts it?); </em>she was raised by her cousin in a foreign and often hostile land; she was taken by compulsion into the king’s harem; she found favor with all whom she met; and she was finally selected to be the queen of the realm.<br /><br /><span style="color:#000099;">Is it possible that <strong>God could lead</strong> some to return to “God’s Country” and just as certainly, lead some to stay behind in “worldly Babylon”?</span><br /><blockquote><em>Great Shepherd, thank You that You are not just a book full of rules that we can turn to for guidance, but that we can come to You individually, personally and intimately. Thank You that You know exactly what we were made for, with our characteristics, our traits and sensitivities and You have a plan for us. I pray You would help me to walk in Your way for me and discover the joy of it all! Also, grant me discernment when to "judge" and when not to! In Your name, Amen.<br /></em></blockquote>Deborahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12502950952323926111noreply@blogger.com0