I have made a very important typo. Brethern should be Brethren. I will move my posting from this blog to the new one here. Hopefully now Google should be able to understand my site name a little better. ;)
God Bless!
Friday, February 23, 2007
Is there anything left we can trust?
This is a post in progress, as most of mine are. This post will talk about ways in which we can show the Bible to be true.
The Bible is true to itself - when rightly understood it has no contradictions, no conflicts of statement.
The Bible is true when it speaks about the natural and physical world - it was scientifically accurate far before the secular science "discovered" the things the Bible already stated. Examples: The world is round; the wind circles the earth in courses (that is the atmosphere) Ecc; others... Health principles
The Bible is true in it's prophetic statements - Every one of the Bible's time prophecy's have been fulfilled on time. All of it's prophecy's of the Messiah, of Christ, have been fulfilled right on time.
The Bible is true because of the change that it says will occur in the life will occur in the life when someone follows Christ.
The historical statements of the Bible can be verified by non-religious sources - cf. Michael Hasel's presentation at GYC 2005
The problem with proving the Bible is that the Bible says it can't be proved. It's a little like creation in the Bible: it doesn't prove creation, it states it. The Bible doesn't prove itself; it states that it is.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb 11:6
This brings up something that those of modernity often throw at Christians in particular and those of a religion in general: that Christianity requires faith and science doesn't. I just want to say here and now, "read my lips: they both require faith." For you to believe the Bible with all of it's proofs is as plausible and possibly more so than to believe science with all of it's proofs.
Communism was the acid test of secularism. One of it's basic philosophies was that there is no God. But it failed! It came to the test and it could not provide the utopia that the rationalist said it could. Not that I have anything against rationalists or thinking, Christianity is not a religion of bury-your-head-in-the-sand people. But the principles of thinking found in the Bible, those very principles are being used in a non-religious way and that is a recipe for disaster.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
I will continue this post on further mornings.
God Bless!
The Bible is true to itself - when rightly understood it has no contradictions, no conflicts of statement.
The Bible is true when it speaks about the natural and physical world - it was scientifically accurate far before the secular science "discovered" the things the Bible already stated. Examples: The world is round; the wind circles the earth in courses (that is the atmosphere) Ecc; others... Health principles
The Bible is true in it's prophetic statements - Every one of the Bible's time prophecy's have been fulfilled on time. All of it's prophecy's of the Messiah, of Christ, have been fulfilled right on time.
The Bible is true because of the change that it says will occur in the life will occur in the life when someone follows Christ.
The historical statements of the Bible can be verified by non-religious sources - cf. Michael Hasel's presentation at GYC 2005
The problem with proving the Bible is that the Bible says it can't be proved. It's a little like creation in the Bible: it doesn't prove creation, it states it. The Bible doesn't prove itself; it states that it is.
But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Heb 11:6
This brings up something that those of modernity often throw at Christians in particular and those of a religion in general: that Christianity requires faith and science doesn't. I just want to say here and now, "read my lips: they both require faith." For you to believe the Bible with all of it's proofs is as plausible and possibly more so than to believe science with all of it's proofs.
Communism was the acid test of secularism. One of it's basic philosophies was that there is no God. But it failed! It came to the test and it could not provide the utopia that the rationalist said it could. Not that I have anything against rationalists or thinking, Christianity is not a religion of bury-your-head-in-the-sand people. But the principles of thinking found in the Bible, those very principles are being used in a non-religious way and that is a recipe for disaster.
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6
I will continue this post on further mornings.
God Bless!
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Philippians 4:11 - to be content
Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Philippians 4:11
My eyes focused this morning on the words "therewith to be content." What does it mean to be content? Are we who live in this western culture ever content? Consumerism runs rampant and for the most part is almost unnoticed because it is so common. We have all heard the statistics on how much the richest countries in the world spend compared to the poorest. There is a wide gap between those two numbers.
This discrepancy is mostly the fault of the marketing industry which has done a masterful job of promoting anything and everything to the point that we can never be content. It is ingrained in us from the time we first see an ad promoting whatever in their enticing way. Because of that we have become a nation and a society of unsatisfieds, people who are never happy with what they have.
It reminds me of Isaiah chapter 55, the second verse:
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
What is more concerning than the fact that people are unsatisfied is what they are unsatisfied with. It is not a life filled with physical hunger or a an abusive situation or a lack of spiritual life. It is the lack of things that do not matter, the things that are only temporary and non-essential. In Maslow's hierarchy of needs the items people are seeking today are very high. This is not the food, water, shelter things that every requires. People are seeking for that that does not satisfy.
Ultimately, what the world needs is Jesus, as the song says. "Just a glimpse of Him," a view that God has something better to offer. Something that does not pass away, something that is of eternal consequence, something to make a person content.
"I have learned in whatsoever state I am in" - "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?. . . Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35, 39
When we know that God loves us we can have that peace that passeth understanding (Philippians 4:7) and be truly content in the Lord
God Bless!
My eyes focused this morning on the words "therewith to be content." What does it mean to be content? Are we who live in this western culture ever content? Consumerism runs rampant and for the most part is almost unnoticed because it is so common. We have all heard the statistics on how much the richest countries in the world spend compared to the poorest. There is a wide gap between those two numbers.
This discrepancy is mostly the fault of the marketing industry which has done a masterful job of promoting anything and everything to the point that we can never be content. It is ingrained in us from the time we first see an ad promoting whatever in their enticing way. Because of that we have become a nation and a society of unsatisfieds, people who are never happy with what they have.
It reminds me of Isaiah chapter 55, the second verse:
Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.
What is more concerning than the fact that people are unsatisfied is what they are unsatisfied with. It is not a life filled with physical hunger or a an abusive situation or a lack of spiritual life. It is the lack of things that do not matter, the things that are only temporary and non-essential. In Maslow's hierarchy of needs the items people are seeking today are very high. This is not the food, water, shelter things that every requires. People are seeking for that that does not satisfy.
Ultimately, what the world needs is Jesus, as the song says. "Just a glimpse of Him," a view that God has something better to offer. Something that does not pass away, something that is of eternal consequence, something to make a person content.
"I have learned in whatsoever state I am in" - "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?. . . Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:35, 39
When we know that God loves us we can have that peace that passeth understanding (Philippians 4:7) and be truly content in the Lord
God Bless!
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Philippians 4:10
But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Philippians 4:10
Paul here is praising the Lord for people of action. Not just people of belief but people of beliefs that motivated them to action. Too many people today believe that all God wants is a mental assent to a knowledge of Him. That is not enough; He wants more from you.
Anyone who has a real burden, a mission, for someone or something will work toward that end. Political groups know this and they campaign to get people more burdened, more conscious of their issue and then those people will get involved. People are willing to act for something they truly believe in.
It is the same with Christianity! People are willing to work when they truly believe.
God Bless!
Paul here is praising the Lord for people of action. Not just people of belief but people of beliefs that motivated them to action. Too many people today believe that all God wants is a mental assent to a knowledge of Him. That is not enough; He wants more from you.
Anyone who has a real burden, a mission, for someone or something will work toward that end. Political groups know this and they campaign to get people more burdened, more conscious of their issue and then those people will get involved. People are willing to act for something they truly believe in.
It is the same with Christianity! People are willing to work when they truly believe.
God Bless!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
Throughly furnished unto all good works
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2Timothy 3:17
This verse was the study of this morning. I chose it because what I am attempting to do by going to college is to be thoroughly furnished. To be thoroughly furnished is to be equipped completely, to have the knowledge and the skills to tackle what tasks you will face in your life. It has the connotation or being able to accomplish a task or to be able to see how to accomplish it, at least as best I can find not knowing greek.
The question I had this morning is what all do you need to be equipped for? How much is enough? And what are the most important things to be equipped with?
I will consider the answer to that today and will post again tomorrow morning.
God Bless!
This verse was the study of this morning. I chose it because what I am attempting to do by going to college is to be thoroughly furnished. To be thoroughly furnished is to be equipped completely, to have the knowledge and the skills to tackle what tasks you will face in your life. It has the connotation or being able to accomplish a task or to be able to see how to accomplish it, at least as best I can find not knowing greek.
The question I had this morning is what all do you need to be equipped for? How much is enough? And what are the most important things to be equipped with?
I will consider the answer to that today and will post again tomorrow morning.
God Bless!
Monday, February 19, 2007
Why I don't listen to Hip Hop...Rag music
Full title: Why I don't listen to Hip Hop, Rap, Rock, Blues, Jazz, or Rag music
This is only meant to be a summary not a complete reference. It is the larger principles behind my decision not the actual way in which those principles apply to the music. I have limited myself to three principles that I believe apply here. Each is based on a Bible verse. They are:
1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2
2. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8
3. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1John 2:15
The three areas that I feel those kinds of music are incompatible with are, respectively:
1. They denigrate the image of God in humanity particularly in the mental and physical aspects.
2. They tend toward impurity of mind which leads toward impurity of action.
3. They lead away from God rather than toward Him by suggesting untruth. These lies are spread through the music even without lyrics. Additionally, the lyrics are often indifferent to religion at best and anti-Christian at worst.
Remember, this is not an exhaustive explanation merely a Cliff Notes type of summary of my views. We all need to be good Bereans and study for ourselves what to believe. I pray we "may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2Tim 3:17
God Bless!
This is only meant to be a summary not a complete reference. It is the larger principles behind my decision not the actual way in which those principles apply to the music. I have limited myself to three principles that I believe apply here. Each is based on a Bible verse. They are:
1. I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. Romans 12:1-2
2. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Matthew 5:8
3. Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 1John 2:15
The three areas that I feel those kinds of music are incompatible with are, respectively:
1. They denigrate the image of God in humanity particularly in the mental and physical aspects.
2. They tend toward impurity of mind which leads toward impurity of action.
3. They lead away from God rather than toward Him by suggesting untruth. These lies are spread through the music even without lyrics. Additionally, the lyrics are often indifferent to religion at best and anti-Christian at worst.
Remember, this is not an exhaustive explanation merely a Cliff Notes type of summary of my views. We all need to be good Bereans and study for ourselves what to believe. I pray we "may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works." 2Tim 3:17
God Bless!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
The Sign of the Fleece: Update 3/Conclusion
I left my last update to The Sign of the Fleece in a rather precarious state. This is the conclusion to that last post and the conclusion of my study of signs/fleeces.
The conclusion that I have come to is that while the Lord may reveal something to you in special revelation He will never reveal something to you in personal revelation. Personal revelation is where I receive "light" that is new, but not just new, but "light" that contradicts the old. Whereas special revelation is the belief that a knowledge of God and His will and ways can be know through supernatural means, such as miracles, experiences, or speaking to the conscience. Special revelation while personal is not the same as personal revelation in that special revelation never contradicts existing truth.
Example: Judy ask the Lord for guidance as to which job she should apply to. She asks that whichever one she should apply to would contact her without her contacting them. The one company calls her and she accepts that as the Lord's will for her life. That is special revelation, albeit perhaps a poor example.
Example: Joe is wondering whether he should rob this house or that one. He asks the Lord that whichever one he should rob would have their lights off when he goes by that night. One does and he robs it. That is personal revelation, revelation that clearly disagrees with a Bible truth. This is a poor example as well but you get the point.
Now, when Gideon asked for a fleece I believe that he was asking out of a lack of faith. When David asked the Lord "shall I go up" 2Sam 2:1 that was a personal revelation through the priest, I believe it was Abiathar. David was asking in honest faith of the Lord what he should do. This is a different type of sign. One is in faith, living up to all the light that you have; the other in doubt, is disregard to the light you have been given.
The bottom line I have come to is that you shouldn't need a sign. In most cases, if you have to faith of a mustard seed, the Lord has revealed enough light to illumine your path no matter your current circumstances.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1John 1:7
God Bless!
The conclusion that I have come to is that while the Lord may reveal something to you in special revelation He will never reveal something to you in personal revelation. Personal revelation is where I receive "light" that is new, but not just new, but "light" that contradicts the old. Whereas special revelation is the belief that a knowledge of God and His will and ways can be know through supernatural means, such as miracles, experiences, or speaking to the conscience. Special revelation while personal is not the same as personal revelation in that special revelation never contradicts existing truth.
Example: Judy ask the Lord for guidance as to which job she should apply to. She asks that whichever one she should apply to would contact her without her contacting them. The one company calls her and she accepts that as the Lord's will for her life. That is special revelation, albeit perhaps a poor example.
Example: Joe is wondering whether he should rob this house or that one. He asks the Lord that whichever one he should rob would have their lights off when he goes by that night. One does and he robs it. That is personal revelation, revelation that clearly disagrees with a Bible truth. This is a poor example as well but you get the point.
Now, when Gideon asked for a fleece I believe that he was asking out of a lack of faith. When David asked the Lord "shall I go up" 2Sam 2:1 that was a personal revelation through the priest, I believe it was Abiathar. David was asking in honest faith of the Lord what he should do. This is a different type of sign. One is in faith, living up to all the light that you have; the other in doubt, is disregard to the light you have been given.
The bottom line I have come to is that you shouldn't need a sign. In most cases, if you have to faith of a mustard seed, the Lord has revealed enough light to illumine your path no matter your current circumstances.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1John 1:7
God Bless!
The Sign of the Fleece: Update 2
I have decided that for the length of this update to put it into a new post.
Update 2: I have learned some more about the use of a fleece or as it is sometimes called casting a fleece. One powerful thing I learned was he was casting the fleece on the threshing floor. Now, what does a threshing floor symbolize?
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord Matt 4:4.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 6:51
Bread is a symbol of the "Word that was made flesh and dwelt among us" John 1:14. I believe that the grinding of that grain, that wheat is a symbol of the study of the Bible. The fleece that was cast was cast in the context of Bible study. When the Lord has clearly revealed his will in the Bible it is our duty to accept that and not to ask for a sign.
In that vein, Jesus rebuked the Priests and Pharisees for asking for a sign:
Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: Matthew 12:38-39
It is interesting to note the phrase "evil and adulterous generation" because the covenant with Israel was represented a marriage contract; As believers in the new covenant we become the bride of Christ. Here, when evil and adultery are used it signifies their denial and rejection of that covenant and their sin caused blindness. John 9:41 They were asking for a sign because their sin blinded them to the truth that was right in front of their eyes.
This again points out that unless you are following all the revealed will of God that you have no business asking for a sign.
When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Luke 7:9
Another story that I thought of is the centurion with the sick servant. He didn't ask for a sign because he had faith that Jesus could make his servant well even at a distance.
I have come to the conclusion that there are several different "signs" that you can ask for. The first, and the one that I have been focusing on the most, is the sign showing which way should I go, sort of the "right or left" sign. The second is what I am increasingly believing was the sign that Gideon asked for and that is the "are you truly with me" sign. That sign is asking "is it really you calling me to do this or is it another." That sign already has a direction to go and just needs confirmation and assurance. The first sign has no direction and is asking for direction. The sign of Jonah that Jesus gave the Priests and Pharisees was the second kind of sign. The first type of sign is exemplified in a story which I found in 2Samuel 2:
And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron. 2Samuel 2:1
I will comment more on this later, I have run out of time.
God Bless!
Update 2: I have learned some more about the use of a fleece or as it is sometimes called casting a fleece. One powerful thing I learned was he was casting the fleece on the threshing floor. Now, what does a threshing floor symbolize?
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of the Lord Matt 4:4.
I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. John 6:51
Bread is a symbol of the "Word that was made flesh and dwelt among us" John 1:14. I believe that the grinding of that grain, that wheat is a symbol of the study of the Bible. The fleece that was cast was cast in the context of Bible study. When the Lord has clearly revealed his will in the Bible it is our duty to accept that and not to ask for a sign.
In that vein, Jesus rebuked the Priests and Pharisees for asking for a sign:
Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: Matthew 12:38-39
It is interesting to note the phrase "evil and adulterous generation" because the covenant with Israel was represented a marriage contract; As believers in the new covenant we become the bride of Christ. Here, when evil and adultery are used it signifies their denial and rejection of that covenant and their sin caused blindness. John 9:41 They were asking for a sign because their sin blinded them to the truth that was right in front of their eyes.
This again points out that unless you are following all the revealed will of God that you have no business asking for a sign.
When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. Luke 7:9
Another story that I thought of is the centurion with the sick servant. He didn't ask for a sign because he had faith that Jesus could make his servant well even at a distance.
I have come to the conclusion that there are several different "signs" that you can ask for. The first, and the one that I have been focusing on the most, is the sign showing which way should I go, sort of the "right or left" sign. The second is what I am increasingly believing was the sign that Gideon asked for and that is the "are you truly with me" sign. That sign is asking "is it really you calling me to do this or is it another." That sign already has a direction to go and just needs confirmation and assurance. The first sign has no direction and is asking for direction. The sign of Jonah that Jesus gave the Priests and Pharisees was the second kind of sign. The first type of sign is exemplified in a story which I found in 2Samuel 2:
And it came to pass after this, that David enquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go up into any of the cities of Judah? And the LORD said unto him, Go up. And David said, Whither shall I go up? And he said, Unto Hebron. 2Samuel 2:1
I will comment more on this later, I have run out of time.
God Bless!
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Striving After the Wind - Lesson 7
"All the labor of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not satisfied” Ecclesiastes 6:7 Memory Verse
You can get the lesson quarterly in pdf form for this weeks lesson here or here for the teacher's version.
What is the purpose of our life? That is the main question of this weeks lesson.
The operative word in Ecclesiastes 6 is the word man. It occurs ten times in this chapter. "What is the duty of man," etc
I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil. Ecc 6:1-2
Two examples of this:
2Kings 5:1 - He had all these things BUT he was a leper. It didn't matter that he had all those things because he had leprosy.
2Kings 15:5 - He was a good King for the most part. He decided not to remove the High Places and for that the Lord smote him with Leprosy. He lived the rest of his life in isolation.
John D Rockefeller - "Mr. Rockefeller your fortune is rolling up, rolling up like an avalanche! You must keep up with it! You must distribute it faster than it grows! If you do not, it will crush you and your children and your children's children" - Frederick T. Gates in 1906, quoted in the PBS documentary: American Experience, The Rockefellers (Part 1).
His money was destroying him until he started giving it away.
Proverbs 10:22 - The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he-- Ecc 6:3
for it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness. Though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man, Ecc 6:4-5
Rich fool - I will build bigger barns, . . . this night is your soul is required of thee. Did he get to enjoy his treasures?
Even if he lives a thousand years twice--but has not seen goodness. Do not all go to one place? Ecc 6:6
All the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied. Ecc 6:7
Matt 6:25-26 - Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Can you permanently satiate your appetite? Ecc 1:8 - ". . . The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing."
Until Thomas Edison you only had a couple of choices: You could listen to someone else play or you could produce it yourself. "The ear is never full of hearing" People go around today listening to music all the time, their ear is never full of hearing. It makes you wonder whether the devil is purposely making this noise so that when the Lord speaks in a "still small voice" 1Kings 19:12 they do not hear Him.
For what more has the wise man than the fool? What does the poor man have, Who knows how to walk before the living? Ecc 6:8 All of the basic needs were the same for Solomon and the fool. Was the reward of their life different? Possibly. This verse is not to say that you should be a fool because your needs are the same. What it is saying is that unless your relation to God is different than the fool your end is the same as his.
If you want to know the point of Ecclesiates go the last verse: Ecc 12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
We are not saved by intellect. We are saved by Christ. There are some very bright, successful people in the world whose end will be the same as someone who is unsuccessful because they haven't made God their priority. Solomon is seeing these issues at the height of his prosperity when he has made everything else the priority.
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. Ecc 6:9
Loose translation: A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush - Benjamin Franklin. So many people are unhappy because they don't really enjoy what they have. The are consumed by a desire for something else. We should have a desire for the better, for improvement. A pig is perfectly contented wallowing in the mud and a dog to it's vomit 2Pe 2:22. So there should be a desire for the better and yet a contentment that if I am in the center of the Lord's will I can be content.
Whatever one is, he has been named already, For it is known that he is man; And he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he. Ecc 6:10
Again we see "there is nothing new under the sun" Ecc 1:9. God knows us before we are born. The prophecy concerning Cyrus was made almost 200 years before he was born. Josiah would burn the bones of the false prophets 1Kings 13:2; fulfillment: 2Kings 23:16.
"He is man" that is he is Adam. Adam means earth, ruddy; Adam came from the earth. Adam is similar to Edom. Edom means red earth. Man is made from the earth. We are nothing special in building materials.
"mightier than he" - God knows all about our lives. He is the creator, we are the creation. we should find the good.
Mark 10:18 - And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
That verse unlocks this chapter. We should seek what is truly good. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17
If man doesn't have God n his possession and he doesn't have the good it would have been better had been a stillborn child. The good in life is God and without the good your are left with the temporary, the striving after the wind.
Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better? Ecc 6:11
So many things in life that poeople pursue are vain. Most people are chasing after the wind. Seek ye first the kingdom of God Matthew 6:33.
Also I have learned in "Whatever state I am therewith to be content" and to let my requests be made known unto God." "And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:11, 6-7
For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun? Ecc 6:12
In summary: Go after that will last after you have gone!
You can get the lesson quarterly in pdf form for this weeks lesson here or here for the teacher's version.
What is the purpose of our life? That is the main question of this weeks lesson.
The operative word in Ecclesiastes 6 is the word man. It occurs ten times in this chapter. "What is the duty of man," etc
I have seen another evil under the sun, and it weighs heavily on men: God gives a man wealth, possessions and honor, so that he lacks nothing his heart desires, but God does not enable him to enjoy them, and a stranger enjoys them instead. This is meaningless, a grievous evil. Ecc 6:1-2
Two examples of this:
2Kings 5:1 - He had all these things BUT he was a leper. It didn't matter that he had all those things because he had leprosy.
2Kings 15:5 - He was a good King for the most part. He decided not to remove the High Places and for that the Lord smote him with Leprosy. He lived the rest of his life in isolation.
John D Rockefeller - "Mr. Rockefeller your fortune is rolling up, rolling up like an avalanche! You must keep up with it! You must distribute it faster than it grows! If you do not, it will crush you and your children and your children's children" - Frederick T. Gates in 1906, quoted in the PBS documentary: American Experience, The Rockefellers (Part 1).
His money was destroying him until he started giving it away.
Proverbs 10:22 - The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.
If a man begets a hundred children and lives many years, so that the days of his years are many, but his soul is not satisfied with goodness, or indeed he has no burial, I say that a stillborn child is better than he-- Ecc 6:3
for it comes in vanity and departs in darkness, and its name is covered with darkness. Though it has not seen the sun or known anything, this has more rest than that man, Ecc 6:4-5
Rich fool - I will build bigger barns, . . . this night is your soul is required of thee. Did he get to enjoy his treasures?
Even if he lives a thousand years twice--but has not seen goodness. Do not all go to one place? Ecc 6:6
All the labor of man is for his mouth, And yet the soul is not satisfied. Ecc 6:7
Matt 6:25-26 - Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?
Can you permanently satiate your appetite? Ecc 1:8 - ". . . The eye is not satisfied with seeing, Nor the ear filled with hearing."
Until Thomas Edison you only had a couple of choices: You could listen to someone else play or you could produce it yourself. "The ear is never full of hearing" People go around today listening to music all the time, their ear is never full of hearing. It makes you wonder whether the devil is purposely making this noise so that when the Lord speaks in a "still small voice" 1Kings 19:12 they do not hear Him.
For what more has the wise man than the fool? What does the poor man have, Who knows how to walk before the living? Ecc 6:8 All of the basic needs were the same for Solomon and the fool. Was the reward of their life different? Possibly. This verse is not to say that you should be a fool because your needs are the same. What it is saying is that unless your relation to God is different than the fool your end is the same as his.
If you want to know the point of Ecclesiates go the last verse: Ecc 12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, Including every secret thing, Whether good or evil.
We are not saved by intellect. We are saved by Christ. There are some very bright, successful people in the world whose end will be the same as someone who is unsuccessful because they haven't made God their priority. Solomon is seeing these issues at the height of his prosperity when he has made everything else the priority.
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of desire. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind. Ecc 6:9
Loose translation: A bird in the hand is better than two in the bush - Benjamin Franklin. So many people are unhappy because they don't really enjoy what they have. The are consumed by a desire for something else. We should have a desire for the better, for improvement. A pig is perfectly contented wallowing in the mud and a dog to it's vomit 2Pe 2:22. So there should be a desire for the better and yet a contentment that if I am in the center of the Lord's will I can be content.
Whatever one is, he has been named already, For it is known that he is man; And he cannot contend with Him who is mightier than he. Ecc 6:10
Again we see "there is nothing new under the sun" Ecc 1:9. God knows us before we are born. The prophecy concerning Cyrus was made almost 200 years before he was born. Josiah would burn the bones of the false prophets 1Kings 13:2; fulfillment: 2Kings 23:16.
"He is man" that is he is Adam. Adam means earth, ruddy; Adam came from the earth. Adam is similar to Edom. Edom means red earth. Man is made from the earth. We are nothing special in building materials.
"mightier than he" - God knows all about our lives. He is the creator, we are the creation. we should find the good.
Mark 10:18 - And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.
That verse unlocks this chapter. We should seek what is truly good. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. James 1:17
If man doesn't have God n his possession and he doesn't have the good it would have been better had been a stillborn child. The good in life is God and without the good your are left with the temporary, the striving after the wind.
Since there are many things that increase vanity, How is man the better? Ecc 6:11
So many things in life that poeople pursue are vain. Most people are chasing after the wind. Seek ye first the kingdom of God Matthew 6:33.
Also I have learned in "Whatever state I am therewith to be content" and to let my requests be made known unto God." "And the peace of God which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:11, 6-7
For who knows what is good for man in life, all the days of his vain life which he passes like a shadow? Who can tell a man what will happen after him under the sun? Ecc 6:12
In summary: Go after that will last after you have gone!
Friday, February 16, 2007
The Sign of the Fleece
Judges chapter 6 was the study of this morning, particularly the portion of the chapter talking about Gideon's use of a fleece. I was interested to see if the use of a sign is a valid Biblical test of the Lord's will.
And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. Judges 6:36-40
The test was very simple: Gideon would place the fleece on the ground and if it was wet he would know that that was a sign from the Lord to go forward. If it was dry he would know that he shouldn't go forward. The fleece was wet. Gideon being the practical logical sort immediately thought of the principle of the dew being naturally drawn to the fleece and he asked the Lord to reverse the sign. The Lord agreed and again showed Gideon that it was God's will for him to go forward.
So what does this tell us? I thought about that a long time, and to be truthful I am not sure yet. Here are some other texts that may help answering that question:
Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." Acts 5:9
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. Mal 3:10
The first text would suggest that to test the Spirit of the Lord is wrong; the second would suggest that to try the Lord in that area is encouraged. I am not very sure at all at this moment what the Biblical thing to do is. . .
I must stop for now, but I will post some updates when I have a good answer.
God Bless!
PS: Any comments that anyone has would be appreciated!
Update 1: I am for sure that you must be in complete compliance with the know, revealed will of God. So if you are setting a fleece to see whether you should go kill someone, forget it! If the Lord has already revealed His will in the Bible on the issue in question you have no need to ask the Lord to reveal His will. 1The 4:2-3
Update 2: See separate post here.
God Bless!
And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water. And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground. Judges 6:36-40
The test was very simple: Gideon would place the fleece on the ground and if it was wet he would know that that was a sign from the Lord to go forward. If it was dry he would know that he shouldn't go forward. The fleece was wet. Gideon being the practical logical sort immediately thought of the principle of the dew being naturally drawn to the fleece and he asked the Lord to reverse the sign. The Lord agreed and again showed Gideon that it was God's will for him to go forward.
So what does this tell us? I thought about that a long time, and to be truthful I am not sure yet. Here are some other texts that may help answering that question:
Then Peter said to her, "How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out." Acts 5:9
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it. Mal 3:10
The first text would suggest that to test the Spirit of the Lord is wrong; the second would suggest that to try the Lord in that area is encouraged. I am not very sure at all at this moment what the Biblical thing to do is. . .
I must stop for now, but I will post some updates when I have a good answer.
God Bless!
PS: Any comments that anyone has would be appreciated!
Update 1: I am for sure that you must be in complete compliance with the know, revealed will of God. So if you are setting a fleece to see whether you should go kill someone, forget it! If the Lord has already revealed His will in the Bible on the issue in question you have no need to ask the Lord to reveal His will. 1The 4:2-3
Update 2: See separate post here.
God Bless!
Thursday, February 15, 2007
But our eyes are upon thee!
For my devotions this morning I looked at the story of King Jehoshaphat in 2Chronicles 20. I will just give a brief summary of the story before I focus on what spoke to me today.
In verse one we find the "children of Moab, the children of Ammon, and besides them the other Ammonites" coming out to battle against Jehoshaphat. By verse 3 the King is fearful, but He does this thing right: He "set himself to seek the Lord." That is what I am going to focus in on today: He "set himself to seek the Lord."
How many other kings of Israel set themselves to seek the Lord? How many times do you find the record "He did evil in the sight of the Lord?" Many more times the latter than the former. This act of seeking the Lord is one that the Lord delights in.
But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deu 4:29
Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore! 1Ch 16:11
"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. 1Ch 28:9
And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD. 2Ch 12:14
To seek the heart of the Lord is active, not passive. You are taking the initiative to find the will of the Lord. The Lord "is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb 11:6 The will of the Lord is not an opinion as a friend or family member might give you. It is a definitive, a directive, a counsel second to known and knowing no others. The Lord is never wrong, He never has to take back anything He says, He perfect will never changes: "For I am the LORD, I change not; . . ."
Just on that note, what does it mean when God repents? When God repents it means a change of circumstances and relations. When Saul offered the burnt offering without waiting for Samuel the Lord repented that he had made Saul king 1Sam 15:35. This was not a change of God but a change of Saul, a change of the relation of Saul to God. Saul was showing his true character and it brought the Lord to repent that he had made Saul king.
Take the example of the antediluvian man: And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. Gen 6:6 Had God changed or had man? No, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Gen 6:5 It was the changing of man and his relation to God, not the changing of God.
Saul's disobedience changed his relation to God; but the conditions of acceptance with God were unaltered--God's requirements were still the same, for with Him there "is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17. Man may change his relation to God by complying with the conditions upon which he may be brought into the divine favor, or he may, by his own action, place himself outside the favoring condition; but the Lord is the same "yesterday, and today, and forever." Heb 13:8 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent. 1Sam 15:29
So what does Jehoshaphat do? He prays one of the great prayers of the Bible:
And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. 2Chr 20:6-12
That last phrase is so powerful! "Neither know we what to do; but our eyes are upon thee." I don't know what to do. I have many options before me. The Lord has blessed with many abilities and now I have a great response-ability to use them wisely. Responsibility is the response to the gifts that the Lord has given. Knowing that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" I must use those gifts in the way that best serves the Lord.
The Lord is my maker, my redeemer, and my savior. His love for me kept Him on the cross. I was on His mind, as the song says. The Lord knows what the future holds, He knows the plans He has for me. But I don't know the plans He has for me, which is why I am keeping my eyes upon the Lord!
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11
In verse one we find the "children of Moab, the children of Ammon, and besides them the other Ammonites" coming out to battle against Jehoshaphat. By verse 3 the King is fearful, but He does this thing right: He "set himself to seek the Lord." That is what I am going to focus in on today: He "set himself to seek the Lord."
How many other kings of Israel set themselves to seek the Lord? How many times do you find the record "He did evil in the sight of the Lord?" Many more times the latter than the former. This act of seeking the Lord is one that the Lord delights in.
But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. Deu 4:29
Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore! 1Ch 16:11
"As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever. 1Ch 28:9
And he did evil, because he did not prepare his heart to seek the LORD. 2Ch 12:14
To seek the heart of the Lord is active, not passive. You are taking the initiative to find the will of the Lord. The Lord "is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Heb 11:6 The will of the Lord is not an opinion as a friend or family member might give you. It is a definitive, a directive, a counsel second to known and knowing no others. The Lord is never wrong, He never has to take back anything He says, He perfect will never changes: "For I am the LORD, I change not; . . ."
Just on that note, what does it mean when God repents? When God repents it means a change of circumstances and relations. When Saul offered the burnt offering without waiting for Samuel the Lord repented that he had made Saul king 1Sam 15:35. This was not a change of God but a change of Saul, a change of the relation of Saul to God. Saul was showing his true character and it brought the Lord to repent that he had made Saul king.
Take the example of the antediluvian man: And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. Gen 6:6 Had God changed or had man? No, "And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually." Gen 6:5 It was the changing of man and his relation to God, not the changing of God.
Saul's disobedience changed his relation to God; but the conditions of acceptance with God were unaltered--God's requirements were still the same, for with Him there "is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." James 1:17. Man may change his relation to God by complying with the conditions upon which he may be brought into the divine favor, or he may, by his own action, place himself outside the favoring condition; but the Lord is the same "yesterday, and today, and forever." Heb 13:8 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent. 1Sam 15:29
So what does Jehoshaphat do? He prays one of the great prayers of the Bible:
And said, O LORD God of our fathers, art not thou God in heaven? and rulest not thou over all the kingdoms of the heathen? and in thine hand is there not power and might, so that none is able to withstand thee? Art not thou our God, who didst drive out the inhabitants of this land before thy people Israel, and gavest it to the seed of Abraham thy friend for ever? And they dwelt therein, and have built thee a sanctuary therein for thy name, saying, If, when evil cometh upon us, as the sword, judgment, or pestilence, or famine, we stand before this house, and in thy presence, (for thy name is in this house,) and cry unto thee in our affliction, then thou wilt hear and help. And now, behold, the children of Ammon and Moab and mount Seir, whom thou wouldest not let Israel invade, when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them, and destroyed them not; Behold, I say, how they reward us, to come to cast us out of thy possession, which thou hast given us to inherit. O our God, wilt thou not judge them? for we have no might against this great company that cometh against us; neither know we what to do: but our eyes are upon thee. 2Chr 20:6-12
That last phrase is so powerful! "Neither know we what to do; but our eyes are upon thee." I don't know what to do. I have many options before me. The Lord has blessed with many abilities and now I have a great response-ability to use them wisely. Responsibility is the response to the gifts that the Lord has given. Knowing that "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights" I must use those gifts in the way that best serves the Lord.
The Lord is my maker, my redeemer, and my savior. His love for me kept Him on the cross. I was on His mind, as the song says. The Lord knows what the future holds, He knows the plans He has for me. But I don't know the plans He has for me, which is why I am keeping my eyes upon the Lord!
"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end." Jeremiah 29:11
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Some must leave their work
And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." They immediately left their nets and followed Him. Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. Matt. 4:18-22
Last night I was thinking about this passage and how it relates to the work of the ministry. Peter and Andrew were at their work, "casting a net," when Jesus told them to leave it and follow Him. They had to leave their work to follow Christ.
I believe that there are some occupations that are completely incompatible for a Christian. Examples of such could be thief, prostitute, a cloak-and-dagger business, and some others I am not thinking of. There are also those occupations that are not wrong for everyone but for someone they are not right. Was there anything wrong with being a fisherman? No, but was it the right occupation for those men? No, it wasn't. Later when they were waiting for Christ after the crucifiction they went fishing to provide breakfast John 21.
What I am trying to say here is that while God can use you and me in any occupation, He may not want you in just any occupation. Also, it is interesting to note that the disciples were going to provide themselves breakfast and they ended up with no breakfast until Jesus provided it for them. Showing again that "all that we have, all that we are, all that we hope to do," is from God. I think God made the fishing bad that night to show the disciples that their calling was not fishing. Jesus had been crucified and now was talking about going back to heaven, and I think that they were thinking about what came next. Jesus, in causing there to be no catch, showed the disciples very clearly that they were no longer fishermen, they were fishers of men.
Yet Paul was a tent maker, even during his ministry years. He kept the manual occupation that his was trained in to support himself and the other laborers in the gospel with him. He used it to expand his work by witnessing to the other tent makers where he would set up shop.
I have to stop for this morning. Not that I want to but I have run out of time. I get my SAT scores tomorrow, so this study will be ongoing for the next several mornings. . .
God Bless!
Last night I was thinking about this passage and how it relates to the work of the ministry. Peter and Andrew were at their work, "casting a net," when Jesus told them to leave it and follow Him. They had to leave their work to follow Christ.
I believe that there are some occupations that are completely incompatible for a Christian. Examples of such could be thief, prostitute, a cloak-and-dagger business, and some others I am not thinking of. There are also those occupations that are not wrong for everyone but for someone they are not right. Was there anything wrong with being a fisherman? No, but was it the right occupation for those men? No, it wasn't. Later when they were waiting for Christ after the crucifiction they went fishing to provide breakfast John 21.
What I am trying to say here is that while God can use you and me in any occupation, He may not want you in just any occupation. Also, it is interesting to note that the disciples were going to provide themselves breakfast and they ended up with no breakfast until Jesus provided it for them. Showing again that "all that we have, all that we are, all that we hope to do," is from God. I think God made the fishing bad that night to show the disciples that their calling was not fishing. Jesus had been crucified and now was talking about going back to heaven, and I think that they were thinking about what came next. Jesus, in causing there to be no catch, showed the disciples very clearly that they were no longer fishermen, they were fishers of men.
Yet Paul was a tent maker, even during his ministry years. He kept the manual occupation that his was trained in to support himself and the other laborers in the gospel with him. He used it to expand his work by witnessing to the other tent makers where he would set up shop.
I have to stop for this morning. Not that I want to but I have run out of time. I get my SAT scores tomorrow, so this study will be ongoing for the next several mornings. . .
God Bless!
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
To every man is given "his work" BY GOD
For the next several mornings I will be diverted from Philippians to the study of knowing God's will for my life, particularly as it relates to college and higher learning.
What struck me this morning is that it is God's plan for every man; not my plan, not what I want to do, but what God wants me to do. The question then becomes what work has God given me to do, not what work do I want to do.
Yesterday I talked about a quote from the book Education page 138. Today I read some of the context for that quote. Here is some of it:
That which lies at the foundation of business integrity and of true success is the recognition of God's ownership. The Creator of all things, He is the original proprietor. We are His stewards. All that we have is a trust from Him, to be used according to His direction. Ed 137.4
I have to comment on this before I share the rest of the context. I titled this post "TO every man.. BY GOD" for a good reason: God has to be at the center of our life. He is the creator and there is no one as well qualified to show the creation it's path as the maker. It is only as we recognize our obligation to Him that we can truly become the men and women that he would have his creatures to be. Notice "true success:" that is what our life goal should be. We can have false success here on this world by using the business world to our advantage and using the bronze rule. But God says "there is a better way;" "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isa 55:9
"All that we have is a trust from Him" - When you are a banker, all you handle is a trust from others. It is not yours to use as it pleases you: you are to use that money to grow the money for others. It is the same with our talents: we are to use are talents to grow our talents for God. So that when he comes to collect accounts we may be regarded a wise and prudent servant for God.
Continuing on:
What struck me this morning is that it is God's plan for every man; not my plan, not what I want to do, but what God wants me to do. The question then becomes what work has God given me to do, not what work do I want to do.
Yesterday I talked about a quote from the book Education page 138. Today I read some of the context for that quote. Here is some of it:
That which lies at the foundation of business integrity and of true success is the recognition of God's ownership. The Creator of all things, He is the original proprietor. We are His stewards. All that we have is a trust from Him, to be used according to His direction. Ed 137.4
I have to comment on this before I share the rest of the context. I titled this post "TO every man.. BY GOD" for a good reason: God has to be at the center of our life. He is the creator and there is no one as well qualified to show the creation it's path as the maker. It is only as we recognize our obligation to Him that we can truly become the men and women that he would have his creatures to be. Notice "true success:" that is what our life goal should be. We can have false success here on this world by using the business world to our advantage and using the bronze rule. But God says "there is a better way;" "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts." Isa 55:9
"All that we have is a trust from Him" - When you are a banker, all you handle is a trust from others. It is not yours to use as it pleases you: you are to use that money to grow the money for others. It is the same with our talents: we are to use are talents to grow our talents for God. So that when he comes to collect accounts we may be regarded a wise and prudent servant for God.
Continuing on:
This is an obligation that rests upon every human being. It has to do with the whole sphere of human activity. Whether we recognize it or not, we are stewards, supplied from God with talents and facilities, and placed in the world to do a work appointed by Him. Ed 137.5
There it is, "a work appointed by Him." This is a choice that He makes. But not to worry, He knows us better than we know ourselves. Also, stewards are not stewards without something to steward. God has given each talents to care for. There is no one who can say they have no talents for all are stewards.
Thus our business or calling is a part of God's great plan, and, so long as it is conducted in accordance with His will, He Himself is responsible for the results. "Laborers together with God" (1 Corinthians 3:9), our part is faithful compliance with His directions. Thus there is no place for anxious care. Diligence, fidelity, caretaking, thrift, and discretion are called for. Every faculty is to be exercised to its highest capacity. But the dependence will be, not on the successful outcome of our efforts, but on the promise of God. The word that fed Israel in the desert, and sustained Elijah through the time of famine, has the same power today. "Be not therefore anxious (R.V.), saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? . . . Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Matthew 6:31-33. Ed 138.2
I have run out of time this morning, so I will have to call that good for this morning...
God Bless!
Monday, February 12, 2007
Knowing the will of God
This morning I diverted from Philippians to study how to know God's will for my life. I found a quote this morning from the book Education page 138:
To every man is given "his work" (Mark 13:34), the work for which his capabilities adapt him, the work which will result in the greatest good to himself and to his fellow men, and in greatest honor to God. Ed 138
This is a very meaningful passage to me right now. I am considering what I should do with my life and how I should prepare for my work. What I learned from this passage is that to each is given his or her work; a work that they can do better than any other work. It is that work that will result in the greatest good to themselves as Christians, to others , and it is the work in which they will most honor God.
Further, that my work may be something that no one else does. In the past, the Seventh-day Adventist church has had the philosophy that the only professionals need where ministers, educators, and those in the medical field. That view has passed now to the point that almost any calling is valid if you can serve God in the field. Yet, those professions without the goal in mind of saving souls are of no value. The following is from Christ's Object Lessons pages 326-327:
To His servants Christ commits "His goods"--something to be put to use for Him. He gives "to every man his work." Each has his place in the eternal plan of heaven. Each is to work in co-operation with Christ for the salvation of souls. Not more surely is the place prepared for us in the heavenly mansions than is the special place designated on earth where we are to work for God. COL 326, 327
Pastor Mark Finley once said at an ASI convention that the Christ doesn't need plumbers and lawyers and store owners who evangelize, Christ needs evangelists that plumb and practice law and own stores. The focus is to be on evangelism, not the business or profession, even in the business and professional world. The principle is summed up aptly in the words of William Carey (1761-1834), missionary to India: “I cobble shoes to pay expenses but soul winning is my business.”
So what I am still wrestling with is the question of occupations: is every occupation a valid one provided that it is only to cover the expenses? And just how involved should you be? AFM has a neat little saying, "Some are players, some are payers, and some are prayers." Which one should I be? Should we all be players, working personally one the front-lines of some foreign field? Or can I simply pay my way, working full-time in America at a comfortable office job and yet sending generous donations to those on the front-lines? Or should I be a prayer, laboring on my knees for those who are the players?
I am still working on this question. I will post an update when I have an answer. . .
God Bless!
To every man is given "his work" (Mark 13:34), the work for which his capabilities adapt him, the work which will result in the greatest good to himself and to his fellow men, and in greatest honor to God. Ed 138
This is a very meaningful passage to me right now. I am considering what I should do with my life and how I should prepare for my work. What I learned from this passage is that to each is given his or her work; a work that they can do better than any other work. It is that work that will result in the greatest good to themselves as Christians, to others , and it is the work in which they will most honor God.
Further, that my work may be something that no one else does. In the past, the Seventh-day Adventist church has had the philosophy that the only professionals need where ministers, educators, and those in the medical field. That view has passed now to the point that almost any calling is valid if you can serve God in the field. Yet, those professions without the goal in mind of saving souls are of no value. The following is from Christ's Object Lessons pages 326-327:
To His servants Christ commits "His goods"--something to be put to use for Him. He gives "to every man his work." Each has his place in the eternal plan of heaven. Each is to work in co-operation with Christ for the salvation of souls. Not more surely is the place prepared for us in the heavenly mansions than is the special place designated on earth where we are to work for God. COL 326, 327
Pastor Mark Finley once said at an ASI convention that the Christ doesn't need plumbers and lawyers and store owners who evangelize, Christ needs evangelists that plumb and practice law and own stores. The focus is to be on evangelism, not the business or profession, even in the business and professional world. The principle is summed up aptly in the words of William Carey (1761-1834), missionary to India: “I cobble shoes to pay expenses but soul winning is my business.”
So what I am still wrestling with is the question of occupations: is every occupation a valid one provided that it is only to cover the expenses? And just how involved should you be? AFM has a neat little saying, "Some are players, some are payers, and some are prayers." Which one should I be? Should we all be players, working personally one the front-lines of some foreign field? Or can I simply pay my way, working full-time in America at a comfortable office job and yet sending generous donations to those on the front-lines? Or should I be a prayer, laboring on my knees for those who are the players?
I am still working on this question. I will post an update when I have an answer. . .
God Bless!
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Introduction
Hi,
This is a blog that I have created to talk about what I am learning in my morning study. I am just a devoted Bible student that likes to share what he has learned. I am currently studying in Philippians and memorizing the book at the same time. What I will post here are just my comments on what I am reading as I continue in the book. I am starting with Chapter 4 and then will proceed to Chapter 1 when 4 is done.
God Bless!
This is a blog that I have created to talk about what I am learning in my morning study. I am just a devoted Bible student that likes to share what he has learned. I am currently studying in Philippians and memorizing the book at the same time. What I will post here are just my comments on what I am reading as I continue in the book. I am starting with Chapter 4 and then will proceed to Chapter 1 when 4 is done.
God Bless!
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