Beauty From Ashes

For the band and in memory of Charles Bush

Please keep all our kids in your prayers. They are all so busy, doing so much and we easily forget how things can turn so quickly. I posted this on my Thought Have Wings after their UIL competition. They go to compete at Area in Longview today.

Eye make-up washed off by tears - $10.00

Lotion for hands sore from clapping - $ 3.99

Cough drop for throat raspy from yelling - $1.98

Heart full of pride - PRICELESS!

I’m scribbling this in the car on the way home from the UIL band competition. We made it in time to see the Paris Blue Blazes Band take the field and their show was just beautiful and graceful. We stayed til after the North Lamar Panther Band finished playing and until we knew both bands had made ones!

I yelled and clapped for both bands and it made me incredibly proud that I work with these wonderful creatures who overcome so much everyday. Band teaches a sense of community, responsibility, accountability, and that practice really DOES make perfect.

Today, it taught them that beauty can come from ashes, that you can move and work through grief, and you can create meaning from senseless loss.

They proved to themselves that you can step up and do what needs to be done even when it is painful, and that the beat is still in your heart and head even when the drummer stops playing. I am humbled.

What We As The Church Are To Be Doing

8/10/8
What We As The Church Are To Be Doing
Even 100 years out the church was flawed
A good model for us is the early church in acts
Peter preached and 3000 souls were added to them
The priorities for the New Testament church are
1. Number i priority is to study the Word
2. Fellowship - basic to the early church Koinonia
Connection - we are connected through many different things
We divide over even more - we divide over what church - the question should be are you going to church - we divide over baptism - are you sprinkled or immersed - the question should be are you walking in the spirit?
We major in the minors - does Jesus ever look down and think "how Sad"?
God doesn't see denominational lines
Inward things are more important than outward differences
Sharing - kinship - share with one another
all had everything in common was how sharing worked itself out in this particular early church - this was not universal or forever
Is god calling us to sell everything - communism? No - scripture is usually one of two types - prescriptive - something we should follow, or descriptive - something God is reporting.
Prescriptive - prayer, communion, baptism
There were some problems, Paul was taking up offerings for them - they were in trouble partly because of persecution and partly because they had sold everything.

Prescriptive - they saw their stuff was not their own but tools to use for the kingdom 1 Timothy 4:32
no one in their midst had any need - as they saw the need they filled it
our stuff is to be used to honor God in any way He wants.
God becomes for us the living God because that is sharing
Partnership - We are not made to survive alone - parts of the body cannot survive alone. The body can survive but there will be limitations
If you leave the body - it wil survive but there will be limitations because God has a roll for everyone to play.
Hebrews - stir one another up
Protection against an unGodly culture
Early church saw Koinonia as critical

2nd timothy 7 Pictures of Encouragement

Leadership or pastoral epistles (letters)
1 Timothy was more a nuts and blots how it is all to run kind of letter
2 Timothy more personal - Paul pours out his heart to his son in faith and protege

May have been Paul's last letter
Paul is in prison again. The first time he was in prison in Rome it was house arrest - people could pretty much come and go as thye pleased. He makes his appeal and probably preached the gospel to caesar nero. Some scholars think that Nero's insanity could be attributed to him rejecting the gospel. Paul was released and went to Spain to preach and Nero got crazy and starting burning the place down. Paul was arrested again and this time he was in a dungeon awaiting execution. As he writes this letter to Timothy it is probably getting close to the end for him. We need to be aware of his situation and perspective as we read the 7 examples he gives Timothy who from past reading seems to be sickly, afraid, and a bit of a cry baby
1. HImself - how he trusts God though trials
For I know who I have believed and and persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed until that day 2 Timothy 1:12
Even in his situation he tells Timothy he is not ashamed - thanks God for Christ who abolished death

This is the heart of the apostle even though he is getting close to death
He prayed - he saw his prison as an opportunity to pray and be used in a different way

2. A teacher - be strong in the grace that is Jesus Christ - to be strong or good at your relationship with the Lord, This matters for eternity.
The word BE in be strong is passive - it doesn't come from you.
doesn't mean work harder (do more Jesus push-ups?)
Be in Jesus - depend on His strength, abide in Him, yield to Him
Peter says to cast your cares on Jesus - you push them up to him and just like anything you push uphill, gravity brings it back down. You keep pushing it up to Jesus and you develop muscles (or a habit) of pushing things up to Jesus - you get strong from being found more and more in the Lord.

Then - give it away - pour into others.

The teacher is a link in the living chain that stretches all the way back to Jesus Christ.

We pour into others what God has entrusted to us.
"Milk many cows, make your own butter"

3. Soldier - a good soldier on active service - ready to serve at a moments notice. Don't entangle ourselves in the things of this life. This doesn't mean it is wrong to have things - it is wrong for our things to have us.

We are in a battle - the enemy is trying to take us and our kids out.

if we have hang-ups, secret sins we don't want to let go of.
Be ready to please the one who has enlisted you - The Lord is who we are to live for.

4. Athlete - compete according to the rules. from athleo - struggle/contend
this is a marathon - a life time commitment to the Lord
We need to be willing to put out a little spiritual sweat for the Lord
Eternity is at stake - what God wants to do through us matters - according to the rules
Breaking the rules can negate 2 Timothy 2:11-13
11 This is a faithful saying:

For if we died with Him,
We shall also live with Him.
12 If we endure,
We shall also reign with Him.
If we deny Him,
He also will deny us.
13 If we are faithless,
He remains faithful;
He cannot deny Himself.

If you don't want to love Him or have Him rule over you He won't - He won;t push Himself on you, but even when we are faithless, He is faithful.

Blessings continually flow from the Lord when you show up - you draw near to Him and He will draw near to you

5. Farmer - gets up early, stays late. Doesn't wait for it to be convenient. The farmer is also patient to wait for God to do the work. He plants and cares for the crops but waits for God to cause them to grow. Be obedient but then wait for the Lord to work

Farmer is the first to partake - be the first to do the spiritual things - don't just exhort others - do it yourself - lead by doing

6. Workman - rightly dividing the Word of truth - not the body of Christ
a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. 16Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly. 17Their teaching will spread like gangrene

Don't waste time arguing about things that have no eternal value

The answer is always in the Word - the answer is always the Word

story about 2 young men. One wants the other to smoke pot with him and says hey, it was made by the Lord - how can it be bad?
possible answer: All things were good before sin came into the world
What day is the sabbath? Romans 14:5-6
5 One person esteems one day above another; another esteems every day alike. Let each be fully convinced in his own mind. 6 He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it.

"Not essential to my salvation"

7. Like a vessel of honor - an instrument for noble purposes in this life.
20In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for noble purposes and some for ignoble. 21If a man cleanses himself from the latter, he will be an instrument for noble purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.

Cleanse yourself - flee from youthful lusts
Everyone - even old folks struggle with youthful lusts
pursue righteousness
With those who call out, we lock arms, become vessels of honor, prepared for every good work
Know WHOM you believe and trust that WHOM because He went to the cross for you.

Tuesday Night Handout Beatitudes Part 4

Beatitudes Part 4

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied. Matthew 5:6

I. Introduction
Satan was not satisfied living in God's glory
Isaiah 14:13-14 tells what he wanted, verse 15 – what he got

Nebuchadnezzar lusted for praise just as Lucifer lusted after power
Daniel 4:29-30 What he wanted
Verse 31 – 32 What he got

The rich farmer in the parable Luke 12:16-21

Because they hungered for the wrong things and rejected God's good things, they forfeited both.

The American Declaration of Independence asserts that “Citizens have the right to the pursuit of happiness. Sadly most US citizens like people through history, have chosen to pursue the wrong kind of happiness in ways that provide no kind of happiness.”

II. Necessity For Spiritual Hunger
Hunger and thirst represent physical needs. Food and water are required for physical life and righteousness is required for spiritual life.

A starving person has a single all - consuming passion for food and water.

Those who are without God's righteousness are starved for spiritual life.

We are all created with a heart that has a sense of inner emptiness and need but without God we do not recognize what the need is or what will satisfy it. Like the prodigal son, we will eat pig's food because we have nothing else.

Isaiah 55:2 Jeremiah 2:13

We are warned not to “love the world or the things of the world” 1 John 2:15-17

Those who belong to the King hunger and thirst for the King's righteousness. They desire that sin be replaced with virtue and disobedience with obedience. They are eager to serve the Word and will of God.

The first three beatitudes are essentially negative. Poverty of spirit, turn from self-seeking; Mourning, turn from self-satisfaction; Meekness, turn from self-serving

The fourth beatitude is more positive and is a consequence of the other three.

When we put aside self, sin, and power and turn to the Lord, we are given a great desire for righteousness. We want to obey God while still struggling with flesh.

III. Meaning of Spiritual Hunger

Moses - over and over Moses sought and saw God's glory Exodus 33:11

Burning bush
Miracles and plagues
Parting of the sea
pillar of cloud, pillar of fire
God's Glory over the Holy of Holies in the tabernacle


Because Moses continually longed for God, he found favor.

David - Psalm 63:1
Paul - Philippians 3:9-10
Peter - 2 Peter 3:18

John Darby wrote " To be hungry is not enough, I must be really starving to know what is in God's heart for me. When the prodigal son was hungry, he went to feed on the husks. When he was starving, he turned to the father.

IV. Object of Spiritual Hunger
For the unbeliever - salvation
For the believer - sanctification

Salvation - The Jews' greatest obstacle to receiving the gospel was their self-righteousness, their confidence in their own holiness and purity, which they imagined was created by good works. The Messiah told them however, that the only way to salvation was hunger and thirst for God's righteousness to replace their own self-righteousness, which was really unrighteousness.

Isaiah 51:5
Daniel 12:3

Sanctification - For believers, the object of hunger and thirst is to grow in the righteousness received from trusting in Christ. That growth is sanctification.

Philippians 1:9-10
Matthew 5:48
1 Peter 1:15-16

Jesus speaks of the only true righteousness - that which comes from God - God's own righteousness which He has in Himself

Because it is God's own righteousness, we can't ever have our longing satisfied in this life, so we continually hunger and thirst (more and more) until the day we are clothed in Christs' righteousness.

V. Result of Spiritual Hunger

Being Satisfied chorazo~ was frequently used of the feeding of animals until they wanted nothing more.

Jesus pronouncement is that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be given total satisfaction. Our part is to seek, His is to satisfy.

"Paradox - because though saints continually seek God's righteousness, always wanting more and never getting all, they nevertheless will be satisfied. We may eat steak or our favorite pie until we can eat no more, yet our taste for those things continues and ever increases. It is the very satisfaction that makes us want more.

God's satisfying those who seek and love Him is a repeated theme in the Psalms.
Psalm 107:9
Psalm 34:10
Psalm 23
Jeremiah 31:14
John 4:14
John 6:35

VI. Test of Spiritual Hunger

There are marks of genuine hunger and thirst for God's righteousness

1. Dissatisfaction with self - Romans 7:24
2. Freedom from dependence on external things for satisfaction. A hungry man cannot be satisfied by an arrangement of flowers or beautiful music. These things are good, but they don't have the ability to satisfy hunger. Neither does anything but God's own righteousness satisfy the person who has spiritual hunger and thirst.
3. Craving for the Word of God, the basic spiritual food He provides for His kids. A hungry man does not have to be begged to eat. Jeremiah 15:16
4. The pleasantness of the things of God Proverbs 27:7 Hebrews 12:6
5. Unconditionality - When spiritual hunger and thirst are genuine we will make no conditions; they will seek and accept God's righteousness in whatever way He chooses to provide it and will obey his commands no matter how demanding they might be. The least of God's righteousness is more valuable than the greatest of anything we posses in ourselves or that the world can offer.

The Rich young ruler wanted only the part of God's kingdom that fit his own plans and desires, and he was therefore unfit for the kingdom. His conditions for God's blessings barred him from them.

The spiritually hungry want only Christ and what God in His wisdom and love sovereignly provides through Christ - whatever that may or may not be.

Psalm 119:20
Isaiah 26:9

What The church is to Do

What is the Church Series continued

Review
Purpose of the church
1. Body in-reach
2. Believers out-reach
3. Bride up-reach

Leaders
Head of the church is Christ
Elder/Bishop/Pastor
three words meaning same position, elder speaks of the man, bishop speaks of the ministry, and pastor speaks of the method
Deacon/deaconess (servant)
Saints (minister to each other)

What are we to be doing as a church Acts 2:40:47

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need.
46 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

There were 2 to 3,000 people meeting in the newly born church and there are 7 things listed that they were doing and their numbers were added to.

The first thing mentioned was
1. They studied the apostles doctrine.
Getting into the Word was to be the number one priority of a congregation. The contemporary expression of this is bible study - both corporately and privately.

Public - preaching is central Acts 6
3Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word."

They were not saying that they were too good to serve - they wanted everything taken care of and the Word needed to be their priority. (my question - do we in the traditional churches set ourselves and our pastors up for failure because we expect their priorities to be everything BUT the teaching of the Word?)

Bringing the Word of God to the flock of God is still the greatest need of the church today.

"If the Spirit of God takes a man of God and opens the Word of God, then people will attend.

*If emphasis is not on the Word then there will not be fuel for sustained revival.

Even Charles Spurgeon said that his pulpit was more influential than the King of England.

A Pastor has to have "the burden of the Lord"
Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel
awesome responsibility - taking the very Word of God to the people of God

no light thing - costly thing
integrity and humility to go through the scriptures - all of them
teach the bible simply

Why study privately?
*Protection
Psalm 119:11
11 I have hidden your word in my heart
that I might not sin against you.
When Jesus was tempted in Matthew 4 He answered each time "it is written"

The Word is for protection and
*Direction
Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path.
Psalm 23:3 3 he restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
The Word is our guide, not fortune cookie, not Oprah

How to begin? Pick a translation you can read.
It doesn't have to be the King James version. someone once told Jason that the King James Version was good enough for Paul, it was good enough for him???
Buy a notebook and a pen

There are different ways you can read. Cover to cover, section by section - the key is to read it and read it consistently. Like you would exercise. Like you would eat physical food. If we ate physical food the way we eat spiritual food we would be dead. That is why we have spiritual death.

In 2 Kings 3 When Elisha told Jehoshaphat to dig ditches and he obeyed, a great victory was won - because they were faithful to dig ditches. We need to be faithful to dig ditches (do the work - read the Word)

Read expectantly - expect the Lord to speak to you. Not a chore - but a privilege. Does the Lord want to speak to people who don't want to hear?

Read conversationally. Blessed is the man who meditates (speaking to yourself)
1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

Worship is interactive - bible study should be too. Ask the Lord - how does this aply to me? Bible study becomes interactive. Reading about the tabernacle cubits might be boring but it tells you that God is into details - He wants to be involved with every detail of your life.

Read obediently
You say God never speaks to you - was there ever a time when He did? Did you obey?

Hebrews Hebrews 5:12

12In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid
food!

Wordle

http://wordle.net

Tuesday Night Handout Beatitudes 3

Beatitudes 3

Blessed are the gentle for they shall inherit the earth Matt 5:5

"The Jews rejected Jesus as the Messiah because he didn't fulfill their messianic expectations. He even preached against the means in which they put their hope. They first rejected, then hated, and finally killed Him because instead of approving their religion, He condemned it, and instead of leading them to independence from Rome, He disdained revolutionary acts and offered a way of even greater subservience.

Deuteronomy 21:22-23 anyone hanged on a tree is "accursed of God"

This was a stumbling block to the Jews 1 Corinthians 1:23

They ignored Isaiah pictures of what the Messiah would be like.
Isaiah 53:2
He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.

Isaiah 53:6-8

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth.

8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away.
And who can speak of his descendants?
For he was cut off from the land of the living;
for the transgression of my people he was stricken.
Isaiah 53:9
He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Meaning of Meekness

Matthew 21:5
2 Corinthians 10:1

Difference between meek and poor in spirit?
poverty of spirit focuses on our sinfulness
meekness focuses on God's holiness
The sequence of the Beatitudes

1. Poverty of spirit is negative and results in 2. Mourning. We are comforted by and our attention is now directed towards God which produces 3. meekness. Meekness is positive and results in 4. seeking righteousness.

Blessings of the Beatitudes are for those who are
1. Realistic about their sinfulness
2. Repentent of their sins
3. Responsive to God in His righteousness

The proud Pharisees wanted a miraculous kingdom
The proud Saducees wanted a materialistic kingdom
The Essenes wanted a monastic (live like a monk) kingdom
The proud Zealots wanted a military kingdom

The humble Jesus wanted a meek kingdom

Job 5:11
Psalm 25:9
Numbers 12:3
Ephesians 4:1-2
Colossians 3:12
Titus 3:1-2

Meekness is not weakness
the word refers to the breaking of an animal - power under control, God's control

Proverbs 25:28 and 16:32 Hebrews 10:34

"The spirit of meekness is the spirit of Christ, who defended the glory of His father, but gave Himself in sacrifice for others."

Leaving us an example to follow.
1 Peter 2:21-23

He was the only human being who did no wrong, always had a perfect defense, but never defended Himself (He had the right)

He made a scourge of cords and drove out the money changers and sacrifice sellers from the temple (He had the power)

Meekness is not weakness, but it doesn't use it's power for it's own defense or selfish purpose. Meekness is power and rights completely surrendered to God's control.



Manifestation of Meekness

Abraham Genesis 13:5-9
Joseph Genesis 45:2 5,8 Genesis 50:19-20
Moses Numbers 12:3 Exodus 3:11 and 4:10
David 1 Samuel 24:5-6 2 Samuel 16:5-12
Paul Philippians 3:3 4:13
Contrast what happens to King Uzziah in 2 Chronicles26:4-5 and verses 16-21

Result of Meekness

inherit the earth Genesis 1:28

Most Jews believed that the coming great kingdom of the Messiah would belong to the strong, of whom the Jews would be the strongest. The Messiah himself said that it would belong to the meek, Jew and Gentile alike

Psalm 37:11 1 Corinthians 3:21-23

Unrighteous will not inherit 1 Corinthian 6:9 Psalm 149:7-9

Necessity for Meekness

Required for salvation
-Only the meek will inherit the earth, because only the meek belong to the King who will rule the future kingdom on the earth.

Psalm 149:4 Matthew 18:2-4

-It is commanded Zepaniah 2:3 James 1:21

-Because we cannot witness effectively without it
1 Peter 3:15

"Pride will always stand between our testimony and those to whom we testify - they will see us instead of the Lord, no matter how orthodox our theology or how refined our technique."
Only meekness gives glory to God - pride seeks it's own glory, but meekness seeks God's.

Meekness is reflected in our attitude towards other children of God

Humility in relation to other Christians gives God Glory

Romans 15:5-7

Biblical Description of the Church Part 3

Biblical Structure of the Church

1. Jesus is the head
Ephesians 5:23
23For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.

- Because HE died for us - not the pastor, not anyone else. He made all the rest possible
-He is the image of the invisible God
Col 1:15-20
15He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

2. God gives elders, bishops, and pastors
-these are actually three names for the same thing.
Elder comes from presbyter (hope I spell these correctly)
speaks of the man - one who is mature in the Lord
1 Timothy 5:17-20
17The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18For the Scripture says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain," and "The worker deserves his wages." 19Do not entertain an accusation against an elder unless it is brought by two or three witnesses.
-Deuteronomy 25:4 Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.
- Luke 10:7 Stay in that house, eating and drinking whatever they give you, for the worker deserves his wages. Do not move around from house to house.
Bishop comes from episcopus or overseer
speaks of the ministry
1 Timothy 3 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer,[a] he desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.
Pastor comes from feeder
Speaks to the method
1 Peter 5:2-4 2Be shepherds of God's flock that is under your care, serving as overseers—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not greedy for money, but eager to serve; 3not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Feed the lambs, equip the saints

Titus contains a basic job description for a pastor
preach
raise up leadership
protect the congregation from false teaching

There are other needs in the congregation
3. For those needs God gives deacons

Comes from one diakonos which means one who serves
hupereteo "to do the service of a huperetes", properly, "to serve as a rower on a ship,"
To serve the Lord - be an under rower - get the ship where it needs to go

Deacon can be male or female

4. Saints One who is set apart
Philippians 1:1-2 1 Paul and Timothy, bondservants of Jesus Christ, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops[a] and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are a living organism, a body, knit together by many joints
Romans 12:3-13

3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

"If a pastor is expected to do all things then his bible studies will be undercooked and he will be fried"

Acts 6 1 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business; 4 but we will give ourselves continually to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” 5 And the saying pleased the whole multitude. And they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, and Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas, a proselyte from Antioch, 6 whom they set before the apostles; and when they had prayed, they laid hands on them. 7 Then the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith.

At first reading you might wonder who Peter thinks he is - too good to wait tables? But if you remember this is the same Peter who asks to be turned upside down at his crucifixion because he doesn't think it right he should die the same way as his savior.

It is not good for the church, and because they put their priorities in the teaching of the Word, Word of God spread, revival broke out, disciples increased, and the most unlikely people came to Christ.

SOAP: Habakkuk 1

I guess I'll kick things off for Habakkuk.

Habakkuk is one of my favorite books of the Bible. For a small bit of background, it's a theodicy which simply a branch of theology dealing with reconciling God's goodness and justice in the face of the existence of evil. It was written around 606 BC by the prophet Habakkuk in anticipation of the coming of the Babylonian invasion.

I am listing the whole first chapter below, and this is the NASB version.

Habakkuk 1

1The oracle which Habakkuk the prophet saw.
2How long, O LORD, will I call for help,
And You will not hear?
I cry out to You, "Violence!"
Yet You do not save.
3Why do You make me see iniquity,
And cause me to look on wickedness?
Yes, destruction and violence are before me;
Strife exists and contention arises.
4Therefore the law is ignored
And justice is never upheld
For the wicked surround the righteous;
Therefore justice comes out perverted.
5"Look among the nations! Observe!
Be astonished! Wonder!
Because I am doing something in your days--
You would not believe if you were told.
6"For behold, I am raising up the Chaldeans,
That fierce and impetuous people
Who march throughout the earth
To seize dwelling places which are not theirs.
7"They are dreaded and feared;
Their justice and authority originate with themselves.
8"Their horses are swifter than leopards
And keener than wolves in the evening
Their horsemen come galloping,
Their horsemen come from afar;
They fly like an eagle swooping down to devour.
9"All of them come for violence.
Their horde of faces moves forward.
They collect captives like sand.
10"They mock at kings
And rulers are a laughing matter to them
They laugh at every fortress
And heap up rubble to capture it.
11"Then they will sweep through like the wind and pass on
But they will be held guilty,
They whose strength is their god."
12Are You not from everlasting,
O LORD, my God, my Holy One?
We will not die
You, O LORD, have appointed them to judge;
And You, O Rock, have established them to correct.
13Your eyes are too pure to approve evil,
And You can not look on wickedness with favor
Why do You look with favor
On those who deal treacherously?
Why are You silent when the wicked swallow up
Those more righteous than they?
14Why have You made men like the fish of the sea,
Like creeping things without a ruler over them?
15The Chaldeans bring all of them up with a hook,
Drag them away with their net,
And gather them together in their fishing net.
Therefore they rejoice and are glad.
16Therefore they offer a sacrifice to their net
And burn incense to their fishing net;
Because through these things their catch is large,
And their food is plentiful.
17Will they therefore empty their net
And continually slay nations without sparing?

Verse 1-4
Observation: Habakkuk is upset that God has not punished the wickedness of Judah.

Verse 5-11
Observation: God reveals to Habakkuk that He is going to use the wicked nation of Babylon (the Chaldeans) to punish Judah.

Verse 12-17
Observation: Habakkuk is now upset with God's plan. He does not understand how God can let the evil in Babylon seemingly go unpunished.

Application: I pretty much had the same application for this whole chapter. We cannot see the "big picture" like God can, so we should trust God's actions and plans. He is the only one who is omniscient. We need to remember that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Even if it doesn't make sense to us, God has is under control. He knows what He is doing and is working things to His glory.

Prayer: I pray that God would teach me to trust Him more. Even when things are hard and difficult to understand, I pray that I would cling to His promises.

The Church Part 2

Bible Study Notes The Church Part 2

I''m having a hard time with this but I am going to study and pray about it. You will understand later as I finish the notes.

We are doing a series on What Is The Church and right now we are in 1st Timothy

Just some introductory information. Romans through Philippians were all epistles or letters written by Paul to pastors. They were directed at pastors but there are blessings for all of us.

1st Timothy is not just a pastor epistle - it's a prison epistle.
Paul was in prison - not for anything we would consider a crime - he was in prison for preaching the gospel.
"He wasn't pouting - he was penning"
He worked for the glory of God's kingdom in the situation he found himself in.

Timothy was saved in Paul's first mission journey
On the second mission journey, Paul meets up with him again and asks him to go with him.
five months later a church is born is Ephesus which was a significant church. It was pastored by Paul, Timothy, and John. Jesus would write a letter to the church (Revelations)

1st Timothy could be divided into four parts
The Church
1 - Church message
2 - Church members
3 & 4 Church ministers
5 & 6 Church ministries

1. We are to preach the pure unchanging Word of God
there was then and is now - false teachings
OT law is supposed to be a guide that drives us to Jesus
we have to be careful that we don't become "sin-sniffers" happy to catch people in false doctrine
The best thing for us is the bible - the more familiar we become with the Word, the less apt we are to fall for false doctrine
The bible has always been the bible
"If it's new - it's not true. It it's true, it's not new"

2. Love of Christ
God desires that ALL men be saved
The world knows a lot about what we are against as Christians.
We are entrusted with the gospel - the Good News! We are to share with the world that Jesus loves you, wants to forgive you and change your lives - because He is FOR you!

3. Walk in Faith
We, just like Timothy, walk in warfare - there is false teaching
you keep going, not in your own power but in faith
In Timothy's case, he was prophesied over and that had to be a comfort
1st Timothy chapter 2
Church Members
Exhortation for embers of the body
Prayer - priority - we are to pray for everybody. It's easy to pray for ourselves and our loved ones. We even need to pray for our political leaders.
We complain about our leaders but as Paul tells us this - their political leader was Caesar Nero.

God can use even the most evil leaders sometimes. Caesar Augustus had a thought - after he had promised he wouldn't tax the people he decides hey, I'm going to count the people and tax them. In the mean time a very pregnat young girl who on her own would never have gone to Bethlehem, travels there to be counted in the census and a prophecy is fulfilled - the Messiah is born in Bethlehem.

we are to pray
we are to pray for everyone
the posture - holy hands lifted up

the posture can communicate something
sometimes - surrender
Sometimes - receiving
Sometimes - reaching up as to our Father to be lifted up and held

Jeremiah in Lamentations with our hands we lift up our hearts

Women are to dress modestly - modest comes from cosmos which literally means bringing order out of chaos
Jokingly said there is nothing biblical about no cosmetics and quotes mckee - if the barn needs painting, paint it.

A woman's dress - order? is she driving people around her closer to the Lord?
no shame, no blushing
moderation, sanity, self-control

women are not to teach or have authority over men

there is the hard part. I need to study and pray about this

11A woman should learn in quietness and full submission. 12I do not permit a woman to teach or to have authority over a man; she must be silent. 13For Adam was formed first, then Eve. 14And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner. 15But women[a] will be saved[b] through childbearing—if they continue in faith, love and holiness with propriety.

These are the reasons that were laid out
It is biblical
Women are created more emotional creatures
divine design - not about ability
men need to be in a position of spiritual leadership or they will never mature spiritually
(not sure where that is found in the bible)

Adam sinned - he knew what he did
Eve was deceived
The serpent that appeared to Eve was not like the snakes of today but was a beautiful creature (?) and the way he tempted Eve? He asked her if she wanted to be more like God.
Women are already praying, already worshiping
Women will be saved in childbearing - this does not mean that you are not saved if you have no children - there are children you can pour into - "spiritual children" you can come along side

I am confused and hurting. If anyone has some biblical wisdom to help clear some of this up for me - I will be glad to hear it. I didn't post this last night because I thought it would help to sleep on it. It didn't.

What Is the Church?

What Is the Church?

I am sorry it has taken so long to post here. I have completely neglected Habakkuk and it has been awhile since I got any notes up here. We have been studying Beatitudes on Tuesday nights and to me that is all about walking around and taking apart what it is to be a Christian. What does God want of me as one person. These notes are from the beginning of a series on what the church is. I think it is key to look at this. For me personally I have been critical of "church" and the biggest thing for me in this study is to know that my attitude is offensive to God. This fits though with the Beatitudes look at the individual - To be poor in spirit - realizing my complete spiritual poverty, mourning my own sin, and turning to God's holiness, seeking His righteousness. The Holy Spirit does not need me to judge any individual or even more important any group of believers. This will be hard but I believe that I prayerfully need to be moving in this direction so here I humbly submit:

Bible Study notes 07/20/08

If you ask most people what is the church they might respond - the building. A white building with a steeple and double doors is a picture that most of us might identify with.
Some would say it is a social place where relationships are built.
Some would say that it is like a government relief agency spending every dime to help every person in need who comes through the door and then, when a disaster happens spend the rest of their money flying to where they are needed.

While church should have aspects of all those things if you look to the bible for what church is supposed to be you will find three main pictures.

1. Biblically the church is the Body. Ephesians 4:11-16 tells us:

11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Everyone in the body has a different purpose but they are ALL in ministry. The ministry is not just the pastor or worship team but God wanting to use the life of each and everyone of us right where we are at - in our family, our job, our school, wherever we may be. The pastor can't be everywhere we are so we are to be like 007 secret agent Christians. Pastors take the Word and pour into us to equip us to minister to a lost and dying world. If the congregation has the mentality that only the pastor, staff, worship team are in ministry then many times those churches die. In those situations the congregation becomes the watchers or audience.

So the first purpose of the church is to equip the body for ministry - "In Reach".

2. Believers - the Church is a group of believers.

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

This is known as the Great Commission but in many churches it is treated as the great Omission. As the church we are commanded by Jesus to do this corporately as the church. We are to come along side and put a "spiritual arm" around others and pour into them.

To do this we again, need to be equipped.

In 2 Timothy 2:2 Paul tells Timothy:
2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.

The second purpose is Out Reach - when we are given the opportunity we should always be asking the Lord how we can meet that particular need. We are to be equipped by the church to go out and come along side, pour into, and minister to a lost and dying world.

3. The Bride
John 3:29
He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is fulfilled (John the Baptist is speaking of Christ)

As the Bride of Christ the church has a special relationship with the Lord. Does the Lord like it when people are critical of the bride? The Lord is into church. He is there in the midst, the bible tells us.

Whatever opinions we have about different churches Matthew 18 tells us :
"For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
It doesn't say anything about the building, the style of worship, how everyone including the pastor dresses, or any of the other petty things we say and think abut each other.

In Revelations 1 we are told that Jesus walks among the churches
And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, 13 and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man,"dressed in a robe reaching down to his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. 14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. 15 His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.

17 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: "Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. 18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and behold I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

To each of the seven churches He writes a letter that gives them a little picture of Him. Notice that no one church has the whole picture. The whole Body gives a more complete picture.

God wants to be worshipped

John 4 says

But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Jesus is the seeker - he is seeking believers

1 Corinthians 6:19

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

Psalm 73

28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;

Worship means to turn and kiss

There are different kinds of kisses - there is blowing a kiss - casual and keeping your distance

There is the grandpa kiss - get in and get out quick

Then there is the kiss that lingers - the bride

What kind of worship?

The third purpose of the church is Up Reach!

The Triangle

Well, its been awhile since I logged on. I have missed the blog and blogging. Haven't twittered yet or defragged but maybe one day. I have missed seeing everyone. Hope things are well. Hope everyone is doing good. I would like to share with you a devotional that I have read regarding an author's use of geometric shapes to remind us of our relationship to GOD and others. The first one is on the triangle. This is not anything new, the triangle is used widely in Christian art to symbolize the Trinity. But I thought I would share this little spin on it with you none the less.

Jesus would frequently retreat to "lonely" places to pray during his earthly ministry. There he was able to totally focus on The Father, and who he was, who Jesus was within The Father, and what he (Jesus)was supposed to do in this world.

Jesus also had disciples and friends. Those he trusted, those he loved, those he taught before his ultimate sacrifice.

Jesus also ministered and served others in the world. He was not exclusive. He was inclusive. He did not come into the world to condemn it but to save it.

So in summary: We recognize the triangle as a symbol of the Holy Trinity. "The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit". Thru faith in the Son, we have access to the Father, and are sealed with the Holy Spirit. Now, tweak the triangle just a little and lets recognize that part of "conforming to the image of the Son" is to rest within the Father, know who the Father is, know what the Father is about, know what characteristics the Father has, and then we will know who we are, and what we are supposed to do in this world. Then, we have to ask, do we treat our friends and family like Jesus treated his? Then, do we emulate him by being a ministering presence to others and serve others as Jesus would have us do? The triangle: a symbol of the Holy Trinity, but also a symbol of our relationship with GOD and others.

Next SOAP Book

The next SOAP bible study book will be Habakkuk. Habakkuk is all about a conversation between Habakkuk and God. Habakkuk sees so much injustice and wonders why God allows it to happen. Habakkuk is a short little book - only three chapters and it is located very near the end of the Old Testament.

If you are new to this study method and would like to join us, we will start with chapter one. Read the chapter, think it through, pray it in. Then your post can consist of the following elements - S - scripture, O - observation, A- application or assessment, P- prayer.

If you prefer not being quite so locked in to a format that's no problem - comment anyway. There is not a hard and fast rule - we are just using this framework to become more focused on more in depth study.

We hope you will join us!

My Philippians 4

I'm actually reading a book on verse 11 right now called The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs. I just haven't gotten very far into it yet though.

Scripture

vs 10-19

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last you have revived your concern for me. Indeed you were concerned before but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means and I also know how to live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless you have done well to share with me and my affliction and you yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel after I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone, for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs, not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance, I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice well pleasing to God and my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Observation

After becoming a Christian, Paul had a pretty rough life. Beatings, shipwrecks, disease, being thrown in jail. But he learned something that made him be able to endure all those hardships. He learned to be content. How was it that he learned this? I think it is that Paul understood God's sovereignty and providence and trusted that whatever he was experiencing at the moment was exactly what God had planned for him. Paul knew God was in charge and would orchestrate events in order to fulfill His purposes.

Application

If anything, I think it is an encouragement to me that Paul learned contentment. If Paul could learn it, maybe I can, too. It might be hard, but I know it would be worth it to be content in the Lord. I know it isn't something I can learn on my own though, but through study and prayer, hopefully God will provide me with more contentment.

Prayer

Father, teach me to be content like Paul. Let me not be swayed by my circumstances but fully put my trust in You. I ask that you would use the book I am reading on contentment to help me in this area of my life.

Phil 4 SOAP

Sorry this took so long - between business and feeling like crap, I've been occupied. Anyway, here goes:

vs1: This should reall belong to the previous chapter, so I'll skip it.

Scripture: vs2-3
Observation: It seems these two ladies were at one time working together with Paul, but had a falling out.
Assessment: Dissension in the body of Christ is an oxymoron - or it should be. One body with many parts - that is how Paul describes us many times throught his epistles. When that unity is fractured, our work for Christ suffers as we focus on the dissension itself, taking sides against members of the body. I am thinking specifically about what happened recently.
Prayer: Father, give me a spirit of forgiveness for theones who hurt me - just as Jesus forgave those who hurt Him. Replace my animosity with mercy, my ill-will with love, towards those whom I feel have "done me wrong".

Scripture: vs 4-7
Observation: Paul is exhorting us to rejoice in the Lord, and he ties that spirit of rejoicing to presenting our requests to God, and not worrying, and looking for God's peace.
Assessment: When we refuse to give our concerns to God, when we waste time worrying about problems which we may not have any control over whatsoever, when we forget the Lord is near, both in His second coming AND His proximity to us as believers, when we don't pray with thanksgiving (very important to always start prayers off with thanks to God for His blessings, even when we may not feel them to be present), when we forget all those things or refuse to do them, then we forgo the peace of God. And we thereforehave no cause nr ability to rejoice.
Prayer: Jesus, let me never forget to always praise you in thanksgiving for your work on the cross, whatever my circumstances. My joy is in You - keep that always in the front of my mind.

Scripture: vs 8-9
Observation: Paul tells us what to think about, AND to put it into practice.
Assessment: If we merely think about the things of God, and don't actually work on them, make them part of our lives, then we are making an exercise in futility. All the Bible study in the world is empty if one doesn't live the Word.
Prayer: Father, let my mind dwell on the things of you - the true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable things of You. And I pray that you will give me the strength to put those things into practice in my life - to live your Word, not just read it.

Scripture: vs 10-23
Observation: Paul goes from talking about rejoicing in the Lord to showing the Philippians that he is rejoicing - putting his words into practice. Then he goes on to explain how he can rejoice even though his circumstances weren't that great. Whatever the circumstances, God will give him the strength to overcome and to rejoice in them.
Assesment: I still have a LONG way to go before I resemble Paul in this regard. It is easy to rejoice in the Lord when things are going well, but during the hard seasons, I can find it difficult to pray with joy - which is the time I should be praying the most, thanking God for the things that are going right at the time.
Prayer: Father, I pray that you would give me the same spirit Paul has, wher I can rejoice in You regardless of my condition. My joy is in You - nothing else in this world compares. Let me remember when things are bad, that You strengthen me to overcome all things.

The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer

This resonated with me this morning.

In this hour of all-but-universal darkness one cheering gleam appears: within the fold of conservative Christianity there are to be found increasing numbers of persons whose religious lives are marked by a growing hunger after God Himself. They are eager for spiritual realities and will not be put off with words, nor will they be content with correct `interpretations' of truth. They are athirst for God, and they will not be satisfied till they have drunk deep at the Fountain of Living Water. This is the only real harbinger of revival which I have been able to detect anywhere on the religious horizon. It may be the cloud the size of a man's hand for which a few saints here and there have been looking. It can result in a resurrection of life for many souls and a recapture of that radiant wonder which should accompany faith in Christ, that wonder which has all but fled the Church of God in our day. But this hunger must be recognized by our religious leaders.

Current evangelicalism has (to change the figure) laid the altar and divided the sacrifice into parts, but now seems satisfied to count the stones and rearrange the pieces with never a care that there is not a sign of fire upon the top of lofty Carmel. [See 1 Kings 18 for the allusions.-ccp] But God be thanked that there are a few who care. They are those who, while they love the altar and delight in the sacrifice, are yet unable to reconcile themselves to the continued absence of fire. They desire God above all. They are athirst to taste for themselves the `piercing sweetness' of the love of Christ about Whom all the holy prophets did write and the psalmists did sing.

There is today no lack of Bible teachers to set forth correctly the principles of the doctrines of Christ, but too many of these seem satisfied to teach the fundamentals of the faith year after year, strangely unaware that there is in their ministry no manifest Presence, nor anything unusual in their personal lives. They minister constantly to believers who feel within their breasts a longing which their teaching simply does not satisfy. I trust I speak in charity, but the lack in our pulpits is real. Milton's terrible sentence applies to our day as accurately as it did to his: `The hungry sheep look up, and are not fed.'

The entire book is available to read online. Here is one link to it. The Pursuit of God

"During a train trip from Chicago in the late 1940s, A.W. Tozer began to work on The Pursuit of God. He wrote all night long, the words coming to him as fast as he could put them down. By the next morning, when the train pulled into McAllen, Texas, the rough draft was done" (wikipedia)

The language may be old fashioned but the meaning is so very much what I have felt. Isn't this why we keep studying, why we keep singing, and why we continue to search for a place where we can not only gather with other believers but where we can FIND GOD!

The problems aren't unique to our time or to a particular place. This man wrote words 68 years ago that reach into me today and make me want to stand up and shout AMEN!

We want fellowship, study, teaching, prayer, all of the things that we do to try to reach the one goal that sometimes we lose sight of in the middle of all the attempts to get there. More than that - it isn't just a goal - it is the very thing we were made for! God created us for Him. We are knit together in ways that make us from birth to grave - long for closeness with our Father and all of life is nothing but one (usually very crooked) line of pursuit of that one end.

We are made with a hunger that we try to fill with everything the world has to offer but in the end, we find that it all rots, it all leaves us, and if we are lucky - we find ourselves on our knees, reaching out for the one thing that will make us whole - we just need God!

I wish Mr. Tozer was still around. I would like to have sat in the pew in his church. I pray that all of you find God somewhere today, and feel that irresistible pull that draws us near and has us crying out Abba - Daddy! Amen!

Encouragement Quotient Devotion

I clicked a random link in my feed reader today and ended up here:
You've Been Chosen to Clap and Cheer - Hebrews 10:24-25
I'll share some of the highlights but it is worth a read - it was just what I needed this morning and there were things in it that made it seem like a little nudge from God.

And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews By Birth And Christians By Faith

To be Hebrews by birth meant that they had entered into the world of Old Testament ritual. They knew and obeyed the Law of Moses. They kept the dietary laws. They sang the Psalms of David. They observed the feast days and tithed their income. They read the prophets and kept the Sabbath day holy. They were Jews from first to last.To be Christians by faith meant that they had heard and believed the Gospel message. They had seen that Jesus was the promised Messiah and they had trusted in that great fact. They now believed that all of the Old Testament pointed toward the coming of Christ. And having made that step of faith, they identified themselves with the fledging congregation of Christians.It was not an easy step to make. Their Jewish friends accused them of treason against Moses. Their families urged them to come back to the synagogue. Their faith was on the firing line every day. Compromise was easy, convictions hard to hold.They were tempted to give up their open identification as Christians and lapse back into Judaism. Many of them had already done it. Many others were thinking about it. For these Jewish believers in Jesus, spiritual warfare was a daily reality. And many of them had become casualties. More:

Needed: A Few Good EncouragersI could summarize by saying that encouragement is fundamental to the Christian faith. It is one of the reasons we come together on Sunday morning. It is one of the most important spiritual gifts. And it is one of the sacred promises we have made to each other. These are the words of our church covenant: We do, therefore, in His strength promise … that we will be careful to encourage each other in the faith and service of our Lord Jesus Christ. And More:

This week I ran across these words: "If you treat a man as he is, he will stay as he is. But if you treat him as if he were what he ought to become and could be, he will become that bigger and better man." That strikes me as an entirely true statement. People tend to become what we think them to be. They either live up to or down to our expectations. And Still More:

That's what encouragement is all about. That's the ministry God has called us to. That's something you can do this very week. The E.Q. TestBack at the beginning I promised that I would take your E.Q.—your Encouragement Quotient. Here are 10 questions to ask yourself:

1. Do my words of encouragement easily outweigh my words of criticism?

2. Am I generally uplifting to be around?

3. Do words of praise come easily to me?

4. Would those who know me best consider me an encouraging person?

5. Do I pass along only the good news and swallow the gossip?

6. Do I think more about opportunities to give praise or more about my need to receive praise?

7. Do I tend to focus on the positive qualities of other people?

8. Is it easy for me to be critical of those who frustrate me?

9. When I pray, do I pray for those who frustrate me?

10. Have I been diligent to encourage those closest to me—my children, my husband or wife, my students, my co-workers, my close friends?

Grade yourself this way. If you answered "yes" to eight or more, you are probably an encouraging person. If you answered "yes" to seven or less, you've been drinking too much vinegar and you need to switch over to Gatorade!

And if you go read it you find EVEN more!

Good stuff and stuff I'm not very good at. I need work and I need prayer - and I need to be encouraged to encourage!

Philippians 4 SOAPY suds

Scripture

Three Exhortations

2I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 3Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

4Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

8Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Observation

Paul is giving instructions to the church at Philippi as a whole, but also to some specific member who he names. He brings church down to a personal level. The church at Philippi is not just a far off group of believers but people with names and problems and lives that effect the others who belong to church with them as well as outsiders looking in who may base their opinions on Christians on one little view.

Paul tells the Philippians three important things

1. Agree in the Lord
2. Rejoice in the Lord
3. Think on things of the Lord

Assessment/Application

All three of those things are interrelated and important for there to be fruit in our lives and for us to have a strong Christian witness.

Prayer

I read that exhortation means to encourage or come along side. I pray that the Lord will show me how and when to be more encouraging to my brothers and sisters in Christ. We make it more complicated than it should be – all we have to do is love You enough that there is no room for disagreement, there is no need to think on anything else, and we can’t help but rejoice. Amen

2 Kings 3 “Sing and Sweat”

2 Kings 3

Up til now Elisha had done great things but his ministry was mainly local. In 2nd Kings 3 he bursts onto the national scene. Jehoram is now the king – he is the son of Ahab and Jezebel (which means literally dung heap?)

In the past the land of Moab has had to pay a huge tribute of lambs and rams to the king of Israel and when Jehoram takes over the Moabite king says enough is enough – we are not paying any more.

Jehoram calls on Jehoshaphat, king of Judah to gang up with him to defeat the Moabites. They decide to attack through Edom, which is hot dry dead sea area - desert.

Jehoshaphat is a Godly man but he has a history of making alliances with evil people. He had made an alliance with Ahab that didn’t go so well for him. Back in the time of Ahab he allowed himself to be persuaded to go to battle with Ahab, disguised as the leader in Ahab’s place because it had been prophesied that Ahab would be killed. When the Syrians realized that he was not Ahab he ran away and they killed Ahab anyway. Alliances with evil cause pain, trial, and embarrassment every time and evidently Jehoshaphat doesn’t learn.

Do we learn?

Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.

1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner—not even to eat with such a person.

For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

We are to be in the world but not let the world be in us.

My personal observation

It is easy sometimes to see that we are walking in the wrong direction, hanging on to wrong relationships. At those times it would be clear and we could extricate ourselves. I think it is often not so clear and maybe it happens a little at a time.

Back to Jehoshaphat – they attack through Edom. After seven days they ran out of water for themselves and their animals.

We run out of water – our time with God in the Word is dry and especially when we are in wrong alliances.

Jehoshaphat tells them that they need to go to the Lord and they ask Elisha what to do. Elisha tells them to do 2 things. Sing and sweat. He tells them to bring him a musician. While the harpist was playing he tells them that the Lord says to dig ditches. This area is near the Dead Sea which is the lowest point on earth. When it rains in Jerusalem the water pours down the mountains onto the plain. God wants them to dig ditches to use this water. They will have plenty to drink. This water and the sun created an optical illusion that made the Moabites think it was blood so, thinking that the kings had fought and killed each other they came down and were defeated.

I Sing - Worship

* There is victory is worship in 2 Chronicles God won the battle without a single sword being drawn

2 Chronicles 20

So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.” 21 And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:

“Praise the LORD,
For His mercy endures forever.”^[c]
22 Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon

God won the victory but it began with praise.

James 4:7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

* Hard to maintain a bad attitude when you are singing

You come to worship and you are angry – you start singing and your heart starts to soften

* The Lord does some of His best work to background music

Job 38:4-7

4 “ Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.

5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?

6 To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,

7 When the morning stars sang together,
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?

Acts 13

1In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."

- After they worshipped the Holy Spirit spoke

The bible tells us to wait upon the Lord. Not wait as in sit on the couch eating potato chips – wait as in how a waiter ministers to diners. What does the Lord want from us. Does He want us to worship? To fall on our knees and pray? Be in the Word?

II Sweat - Dig ditches

2 Kings 3: 20 The next morning, about the time for offering the sacrifice, there it was—water flowing from the direction of Edom! And the land was filled with water.

We have hindsight – we know that the optical illusion would win the battle but all Jehoshaphat knew was that he was tired and thirsty and God said – dig ditches! Begin with the morning sacrifice and keep digging.

When our time in the Word is dry we have to keep digging ditches – not physical, but spiritual ditches. Keep reading and praying and worshipping. Keep digging ditches and you will see that as the sacrifice of praise is made – God will send water and fill those ditches with His presence in accordance with the depth of the ditches.

Think about: God was obeyed and the ditches were dug and the enemy ran into the trap set by the Lord. If the Moabites had gotten closer they would have seen that it was water.

Some folks don’t read the bible because they say it is nothing but a book about blood and killing, or whatever reason they may give, if they got closer and deeper they would fall deeper and deeper in love with the Word of God.

Depth of ditch – depth of relationship

Interesting find in northern Jordan!

Heard about this yesterday on Fox News Channel.

JERUSALEM: Archaeologists believe they have found the world's oldest church, dating from shortly after Christ's crucifixion. If tests confirm that it dates back to between AD33 and AD70, as the archaeologists claimed this week, it would make it the earliest known place of Christian worship by about 200 years.

A report in The Jordan Times on Tuesday said a very early underground church had been found beneath the ancient St Georgeous Church, which itself dates back to AD230, in Rihab, northern Jordan, near the Syrian border.

"We have uncovered what we believe to be the first church in the world, dating from AD33 to 70," said the head of the Rihab Centre for Archaeological Studies, Abdul Qader al-Husan.
"We have evidence to believe this church sheltered the early Christians - the 70 disciples of Jesus Christ."

A mosaic found in the church describes them as "the 70 beloved by God and Divine". Mr Husan said they were believed to have fled persecution in Jerusalem and founded churches in northern Jordan.

He cited historical sources that suggest they lived and practised religious rituals in the underground church and left it only after Christianity was embraced by Roman rulers in the fourth century.

There is no clear holder of the title of oldest Christian church: various sites claim the honour without definitive evidence.

The bishop deputy of the Greek Orthodox archdiocese, Archimandrite Nektarios, described the Rihab discovery as an "important milestone for Christians all around the world".
Researchers recovered pottery dating back to between the third and seventh centuries, which they said suggested that those first Christians and their followers lived in the area until late Roman rule.

Inside the cave are several stone seats which are believed to have been for the clergy, and a circular shaped area, which is thought to be the apse.

SOAP for Phil 3

Scripture: 7But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ

Observation: After telling the Phil church to rejoice, and rejoice again, Paul is telling them how they may live that rejoicing - only through Jesus Christ, because nothing else can compare to knowing Him. In fact, he says that though he has lost everything else, knowing Christ surpasses that so much that it doesn't matter about his loss - Christ is everything and more.

Assessment: Do I consider the things I have lost for Christ as rubbish? Have i given up that much for Him? If not, why not? Would I be willing to give up more and count it all as gain if I have Christ?

Prayer: I pray that I will focus my life on Jesus, on who He is and what He has done for me, remembering that nothing else can compare to Him. I pray that I would gladly lose all things for the sake of knowing Christ.



Scripture: vs 12 through the end of the chapter.

Observation: Paul uses athletic imagery, making the Christian life as a race to be run. Live up to what you already have attained, and strive mightily for more. Plumb the depths of what it means to know Christ. He speaks to those who are mature (peeps who have been Christians for along time) and tells them that THEY need to think this way. Younger Christians are very passionate, but older ones (not speaking of age) can lose their zeal for Christ, their first love. Paul warns against that, and very emphatically says God will reveal their error to them. Then he tells the Phillipians to follow his example. We all need people to model our behavior on (mentors in Christ) - so follow Paul's example and the example of other people who live accordingly. And always remember that we await something glorious - our Savior, who is working in us to transform us so we resemble Him. And someday, we will be transformed completely.

Assessment: Sometimes i run out of steam in this race. But I am filled up again when I go to Jesus - I need Him more and more. I've been a Christian for almost 9 years now, and I find myself lately WANTING to know Christ so much more. As for examples to follow, I have several, but not only that, I think it should be my goal to be an example for someone else to follow - i want to be able to say in truth, like Paul, that someone should follow my example. Is my walk worth following? Many times, not so. But i want to keep my eyes on the prize, so to speak. the prize being Jesus Christ - our ultimate goal in life.

Prayer: Revive me, Jesus. Give me the want, the hunger for you. Make me conform to you so that someone may look at me and see Christ Himself. I pray that in times of discouragement you would remind me that this world is not everything - the prize, the goal, the Life is yet to come. But You will come. I have faith in that.

Soapy Philippian 3

Philippians 3

Scripture: 1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

Observation: This just speaks of Paul's love of this church and his heart for making sure that they keep the truths that they first learned.

Assessment: I love this because it reminds me that no matter how much we study or how good a teacher we have - even Paul thought it was good for us to hear these truths over and over - a safeguard for us.

Prayer: I just ask Jesus to make my learning and my life a prayer. If I spend the rest of my life doing that I will still not get enough, understand enough, love enough, BE enough.

Scripture: 2 Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation! 3 For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

Observation: Paul is talking about the legalists and reminding the Philippians against believing in salvation through works and the warning against the Jewish legalists who were saying that someone needs to become a jew before they can become a Christian.

Assessment: What kind of expectations do we put on each other as Christians?

Prayer: I am just praying for discernment on this because I have trouble with this one.

Scripture:
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

Observation: Paul speaks with authority and I think if we were able to hear him preach we would think that he was already halfway to heaven. He is telling the church that he is on his way just like them and that he can't turn back and neither can they.

Assessment: This encourages me on two levels - one that all of us as Christians are on the same journey - no matter what point we may be at we are none of us perfected yet. The second is that Jesus has already "taken hold of us" We get distracted, we stumble, but the love of Jesus Christ is so compelling that we are forever brought back to Him, His cross, and His resurrection.

Prayer : I just pray to always feel that pull that Christ has on me and that He keeps my feet, my hands, my mouth, and my spirit moving in His direction.

2 Kings 2 Notes

2 Kings 2 Notes

When Elijah asked Elijah what he could do for him before he was "caught up", Elisha asked for a double portion of Elijah's spirit. This would allow him to be twice as effective in his generation as Elijah was in his.

Both men saw the need to live extraordinarily in an extraordinarily dark time. They were also just like us - they didn't have supernatural power on their own - they trusted in God

4 principles at work with Elisha

1. He replicated what his master did

In 2: 12 Elisha takes Elijah's cloak and strikes the water with it and the water parts - just as he had seen Elijah do. He emulated the very last thing he had seen his master do. One thing this tells us is that his eyes were focused on his master. If we look at Luke 22:47 we see the last thing OUR master and savior did.


47 And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. 48 But Jesus said to him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”
49 When those around Him saw what was going to happen, they said to Him, “Lord, shall we strike with the sword?” 50 And one of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear.
51 But Jesus answered and said, “Permit even this.” And He touched his ear and healed him.

Jesus last earthly miracle (obviously ascending up to heaven was miraculous but we are talking about about the last miracle Jesus perform in his ministry) was healing someone who opposed him and was wounded by one of his own disciples who was misusing the sword.

How often do Christians "HACK" someone with the sword of the Word. How do we share the gospel with someone who responds by saying the last time someone shared with them they lost their ear"

All we can do is apologize and keep our eyes fixed on Jesus so that we can begin to minister to people about Jesus love and grace.

Told a story about his four year old not wanting to eat his dinner. Noticed that when he would scratch his head, his son would scratch his head. When he touched his chin his son would copy - everything he was doing his son was doing. He laughed and his son laughed and he picked up his fork and took a bite and so did his sone. This went on until his son had finished his supper.

"Because his eyes were on his dad he was able to accomplish something his dad desperately wanted him to do."

2. Believe in God's miraculous power

The sons of the prophets kept asking Elisha if he knew that his father would be caught up that day and he kept saying yes he knew and be silent. After the first thing they did was ask if they could go look for Elijah. They didn't believe that he could have been taken up to heaven by God while still alive.

Genesis 5:24 And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him.

1 Thessalonians 4:13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18Therefore encourage each other with these words.

rapturo : caught up

1 Corinthians 15:51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed

we can comfort one another in this - that as servants of God we will one day be caught up

1 John 3:2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.

Story about Saturday being chore day - mom would leave to go to work or run errands and there would be a list of chores. At the beginning of the day tv was more interesting and laziness set in but as the day went on previous experience caused different behavior. Things got done because MOM WAS ON HER WAY. We as believers know that "dad" is on His way. We have to know that we can't hang out with the world thinking we have years to change our behavior .

3. He remembers the power of salt

The city of Jericho where they are when Elijah is taken, is in a good place but the water is poison and the ground is barren. (like a lot in this world - looks great on the outside but fruitless and devastating inside) Elisha tells them to bring him a new bowl and he puts salt in it and "heals" the water.

a. salt makes people thirsty (aaah thirsty for living water - we can be salt and cause others to thirst as well)

b. salt preserves

c. salt unifies (in adverse conditions the crystals adhere to each other creating larger crystals)

d. salt heals

Our speech should be salt that creates thirst, preserves, unifies, and heals

according to some study men use about 25000 words a day and women 35000. What are we doing with our words? Our speech should be edifying, healing, and building people up. We live in a society that is poison and devastating and fruitless and needs a dose of salt.

4. Don't mock God or the things of God

2:23 the youth mock Elisha and he puts a curse on them and bears maul them. the word for youth here is nahar which is the same term used to describe Jacob at age 28 and Joseph at 39 - these weren't little kids - when they say go up baldy they do not mean for him to climb a hill. They want him to be "caught up" or be gone - die?
Elisha makes things unBEARable for them

Update and Catching Up With Philippians 2

School is officially out for me and the last week was typically crazy plus we are having issues with how and where Kinsey will go to college so I'm running behind.

For those of you that have been praying for Sondra I wanted to share with you that she got the new job she was hoping for and starts the first of July. This will mean she can support herself and John Michael and there will be insurance, retirement and vacation so this really is an answered prayer.

Dale has tests Tuesday and we will be gone most of the day so we hope bible study can be on another night as it will be a very long day.

Philippians 2 SOAP

Scripture: Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Observation: Paul is addressing division in the church at Philippi and if people could really be this way then division would cease might happen from time to time but if it was settled in the spirit of Christ then I think the result would always "defend or confirm" the gospel

Assessment: It seems pretty simple but I think the whole pride/humility thing is so tricky. The minute I become aware of being humble, I become proud. Not sure but maybe the key is to pray that we will be emptied of ourselves and so filled with God's spirit that we will be "unconsciously" humble.

Prayer: Lord you know that we want to do good but unless you clean us out and fill us with your spirit we are nothing but flesh and we have no effectiveness in our witness. The minute we take our eyes off you and place them on ourselves it all falls apart and this happens time and time again as you prepare us to finally surrender to your will. I ask that you come in and shine your light in all the corners and do your work in me so that you can be glorified. Amen