Sunday, June 29, 2008

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!

Saturday, June 28, 2008

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.

Monday, June 23, 2008

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.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

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!

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

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

Sunday, June 15, 2008

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

Thursday, June 12, 2008

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.

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

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.

Monday, June 9, 2008

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.

Sunday, June 8, 2008

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

Saturday, June 7, 2008

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

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Philippians Ch. 3

The past is the past

Scripture: vs 5-11 (Paul outlines his pedigree to show that if anyone has a starting point to brag on themselves, then it is him. He goes on to say, that once he valued his lineage, traditions, religious practices, etc . but now he doesn't really care about it. He cares about the cause of Christ and wants to really know him. Greg Laurie said it best. Some want to know about him, but a true Christian wants to KNOW HIM. To Fellowship with HIM, to suffer for HIM, and the Christian knows that there will be a ressurrection and we will live in eternal glory with GOD (the prize) based on our faith in HE who has the power that enables HIM to bring everything under his control, and will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body (vs 21).

Observation: I confess, I have been thru a phase in my journey where it seemed like I was just trying to know about HIM rather than really know HIM deeply. Have you been there? Are you there? What is the key to starting to really know HIM deeply and fellowshipping with HIM?

Assessment: I think the key is to take a step back from a hectic pace, take a deep breath, and pray that GOD shows me how he wants me to fellowship with HIM more, how he wants me to love HIM more, and how he wants me to share with others about the love that he has for humanity and what is purpose and plans are for them.

Prayer: I don't know all the answers to those topics, but my prayer is that he shows me the answers somehow, someway, somewhere. I was fortunate to share with one of my coworkers the other day in a brief, loving, gentle way the plan of salvation thru Christ. We were able to discuss the beginning of the sacrificial system in the Old Testament to the culmination of the cross and the ressurrection in the New Testament. GOD gave me an opportunity to share his plan of redeeming the world and I felt grateful for the chance. I hope that the seed was planted and it starts to take root. I see more and more that GOD works in those short quiet moments. I hope there are more of those to come. What a powerful prayer Paul had, Do I have it in me to pray like that?: "I want to know Christ and the power of his ressurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somewhow, to attain to the ressurrection from the dead." I like the know Christ part and the ressurrection of the dead, but what about the suffering and like him in his death? Something to think about.

What was that all about???

So I don't know what was going on Tuesday. Whatever was there, it's not there today, so maybe I was wrong and it wasn't something from God, just something from my own brain, which is a scary thought. So just ignore that post from Tuesday - it wasn't anything after all.

Tuesday, June 3, 2008

Some Sudsy Philippians 2

Okay, I'm going to try and focus on something else right now - some SOAP in Philippians chapter 2.

Scripture:1If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3Do 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:How high and noble this is, and how far short I come from fulfilling it in my life. Unity, thinking of others BEFORE myself, and more importantly, thinking of others as BETTER than myself. Ouch.
Asessment: Uhh, I guess the above was really more of an assessment.
Prayer: Pray for God to change my heart so that I put others ahead of myself.

Scripture: (alot) 5Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: 6Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Observation: This is a short summation of the nature and purpose of Christ. It clearly speaks of His divinity - those who say that Christ never claimed to be God are just wrong. He IS God, but He did not hold onto His Goodhood - He gave it up to become one of us, one of His creations, in obedience to the Father. And because of that, His name is exalted above everything else.

Assessment: My attitude should be the same as Christ. Make myself nothing, be a servant, humble myself to the Father. Which ties in to the earlier SOAP - think of others as better than yourself (Jesus put His creation ahead of His own divinity, and became one of us). Jesus' obedience glorified the Father. Our obedience glorifies Jesus.

Prayer: Jesus, I want to glorify You. I pray you would give me the mind of Yourself - that I could humble myself to others, become a servant, and live my life in obedience to You.



More to come later!

Strange Prayer Request

I know I've asked you guys to pray for Colby before, but this is different. From the moment I woke up this morning, all I could think about was that I needed to be praying for him, for his salvation. It's been really weird - I haven't listened to the radio at all, nor my mp3 player at work. I've heard people say that sometimes God has "put something on their heart" - I don't know if this is it, but I am trying of late to be more open to listening to the Spirit, and I think this is from Him. Specifically, there has been a verse floating through my mind all day long - "Today is the acceptable day of salvation" - I'm not sure what's going on, but I have been remembering Colby constantly in my prayers today (ahh, just like Paul said, referring to the church in Philippi - this is Scripture, Observation, Application and Prayer all rolled in to one!) and my mind isn't concentrating on anything else, not even work! This is something new for me - I don't know about you guys. Have you ever had something "put on your heart by God so much that your mind focuses on that to the neglect of everything else? I'd like other peeps views on intercessory prayer, but mostly, I want to get as many other "prayer warriors" involved as I can. I don't really think of myself as a warrior, in any form or fashion, but where Colby is concerned, especially his eternal destiny, then I will fight like a mighty Jedi warrior for that kid (but I want Mace Windu's purple light saber - it takes a real Jedi to use a purple one).

I don't know why God is doing this - or if this is truly from Him, but I feel it is. I hope my discernment hasn't let me down. If this isn't from God, then I ask Him for forgiveness, but I think it is. So I am feeling led to pray that today is the acceptable day of salvation for Colby. Over and Over again I have been praying that today - I don't know why. It's not something I would expect to happen - but for the fact that God has given people Damascus Road Xperiences before, so He can do it again.


Have any of you guys ever just gotten the need to pray for somebody, out of the blue? This is what it feels like, and I have been praying without ceasing pretty much all day. Maybe I'm just going crazy(er) - I don't know, but I honestly feel like getting down on my knees in supplication to the LORD for Colby, in front of everyone here at work. They would definitely think I am crazy, but I don't give a rat's behind about the opinion of Man right now. This is really weird - don't think I'm going Pentecostal on anybody (let's try speaking in tongues tonight, ha ha - well, it IS scriptural.....) but it's like the Holy Spirit isn't letting me think about anything else today, other than praying for Colby, that today is the acceptable day of salvation for him. So I ask you all to pray the same - we'll talk more tonight. Perhaps a little session about prayer, and what your prayer life is like, might be in order? Just thinking.....

And thanks for your prayers - I couldn't ask for any better Prayer Jedis than you guys!

May the Spirit be with you!

Monday, June 2, 2008

Update

Not sure how we will decide but I am ready to move on to Philippians chapter 2 whenever everyone else is. I can also wait a bit if anyone has anything else to add. Whatever - I'm cool either way.

Sondra's appointment went fine and she headed back for Louisiana. She has a chance at a better job in July and we are really hoping that works out for her. She and John Michael (her little boy) could really use a break. Thanks for all your prayers!

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Here's my SOAPy Philippians 1

Scripture: whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God's grace with me.

Observation: it strikes me that in order to make disciples for Jesus Christ that our main focus whether it be in what we say or how we live should be just that - defending or confirming the gospel.

Assessment - I think that study of the Word is the most important tool for that and that's why I wanted to be more intentional about studying.
Prayer - I pray that God will show me how to discern HIs will in my life to bring HIm glory, through studying His Word, seeking Godly council, and prayer.

Scripture: And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Observation - I think there is something important here, in that Paul connects the growth of love with knowledge and depth of insight and the ability to discern what is best. It seems to me that he is saying that there is a natural progression here - as you gain knowledge and deeper perception you grow in love and as you grow in love, you gain discernment and as you gain discernment the natural outcome is fruit in your life.

Assessment - I am a believer and I know I will one day go home to be with Jesus, but if fruit is the yardstick that I am to use to measure my growth as a Christian then I need to work harder at learning more and not just once a week but everyday.

Prayer - I pray that God will keep me faithful to not just studying but being immersed in the Word and not just learning but doing so that here will be fruit and so that whatever my circumstances, others will see the gospel lived out in a way that it is confirmed or defended in my life.

Scripture: 15It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.[c] 18But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Observation: I am in awe of Paul's ability to feel this way. Maybe the lesson isn't about how and why others preach but in Paul's attitude about it. His attitude focuses Jesus and he doesn't let others' behavior divert his attention from that focus.

Assessment: I think that if I can have a tenth of that intense focus, then my life will be so much more than it is right now.

Prayer - I want to be so in love with Jesus Christ that I can't see the things that turn my attention away from the things of God. I want to study so that the words are in my heart and become a habit that I don't have to think about, and so that praise becomes like breathing. I pray that the Lord will walk me through it and teach me to live more joyfully and less whiny!

SOAP Breakdown of Phillipians Ch. 1 (are we supposed to do it this way?)

Scripture (that speaks to me):
vs 2: Grace and peace to you
Observation: Can't have peace without Grace
Assessment: In order to have more peace with situations, we need to extend more Grace
Prayer: I need to pray that I show more Grace in all situations

vs 1-6: Paul thanking GOD everytime he remembers the special people at Phillipi. GOD started a good work within the believers and is going to see it thru until Christ's return.
Observation: We need to take time to remember and thank GOD for those special believers that have played a role in our journey
Assessment: I do not take the time that I should during my prayers to think of those people
Prayer: I will plan on taking time to remember those people.

vs 9-11: love will be evident by your knowledge and insight as well as your discernment.
Observation: Those that seem to have good discernment about things tend to be more loving. That is at least my observation.
Assessment: I think if we as believers will study GOD's word more then we become more knowledgeable in GOD's ways and realize how much he loves us. Then we will be able to "tap into" spiritual discernment more and start to be able to "spread the love" more.
Prayer: We need to pray for more love, more fire to study his word, and more discernment.

vs 12-14: Paul was in prison for preaching the Gospel. The byproduct was people were becoming more bold in sharing their faith as well because of his example.
Observation: I have yet or do not know anyone that has had this type of persecution.
Assessment: Isn't it a blessing that this type of persecution does not happen to us here like it did in the early church.
Prayer: We should pray for the persecuted church world wide. It still is going on. We should pray that we Americans realize that our world is not the only world.

vs 15-18: Some people preach the Gospel to satisfy their ego. Paul basically says, that is unfortunate, but at least Christ is being proclaimed.
Observation: I have witnessed people speak in the pulpit that seem to pad their ego.
Assessment: It is a shame that some people view speaking for GOD more about speaking about themselves.
Prayer: As Paul says, either way, Christ is preached. But I wondered if he thought that those doing it out of envy, rivalry, or selfish ambition were stumbling blocks to people coming to know Christ.

vs 20: Paul hopes for courage within context of his situation that no matter what happens, he will exalt Christ in life or death.
Observation: Again, have you ever been presented with a situation that calls for life or death courage that could or could not exalt Christ?
Assessment: I do not know if I have the courage.
Prayer: My prayer is that if that ever happened, that I would have the courage to stand up for Christ.

vs 21-22: Paul says when I die, I will see Christ, if I live, I will bear fruit for Christ.
Observation: A good way to live your life.
Assessment: As a believer, I am sure that when I die, I am Glory bound. But I need to bear more fruit.
Prayer: My prayer is that GOD will direct me to ways in which I can bear fruit for him.

vs 28: he encourages the people to stand firm and to not be frightened of those that oppose the message.
Observation: Again. I have not been in that situation.
Assessment: Thank GOD, for the USA
Prayer: Can't say it enough, we need to pray for those Christians being persecuted worldwide.

vs 29: there will be suffering for the advancement of the Gospel
Observation: Do I need to say anymore
Assessment: Really? I haven't suffered like the early church.
Prayer: Thank GOD there are people laying it on the line for Christ.