Problem of Unrighteousness

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Today’s Reading Romans 1-3

Two Christians were talking about the president of a corporation who died recently. The executive had been a moral man and a philanthropist, but an avowed atheist who had made no pretense of believing in Jesus Christ as his Savior. One friend mused, “It’s hard to believe he won’t be in heaven. He was such a good man, so thoughtful of his employees, so generous.” To which the other gently responded with the words of John 3:18, He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Perhaps you, too, have difficulty coming to gripes with the lost condition of sinful people… or with you own lostness apart from Christ. Read Romans 3 again thoughtfully, until the solemn truth of human depravity sinks in. Humanity’s only hope – and yours – is faith in Christ’s finished work. It’s simple as accepting God’s offer of “salvation to every one that believeth” (1:16). Will you in believing faith come to Jesus Christ right now?

Tomorrow we will be looking into Romans 4-5 “Provision of Righteousness”

Bridge builders

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Today’s Reading Isaiah 58-66

Have you ever built a bridge? (Probably not) Have you ever built a spiritual bridge? (Hopefully so.)
The priest in the Old Testament was instructed to do precisely that: build a bridge between holy God and sinful mankind. He did it through the offering of endless sacrifices, the blood of animals to cover the sins of a nation.
The nation of Israel was selected by God to be a bridge builder to surrounding nations, to show by her lifestyle of faith that God rewards those “that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
And the same job description has been passed down to you! As a Christian, you are to be salt in a bland world, light in the midst of darkness, and a priest bringing people back to God (Matthew 5:13-14; 1 Peter 2:9).
Think of today as a unique opportunity to build a bridge between a lost sinner and his loving God. Perhaps you can’t build an entire bridge in a single day, but you can begin that all-important process by your speech, conduct, and genuine concern in the life of another. Bridge-building. It’s time-consuming, costly – and worth whatever it takes!

Tomorrow we will have a lesson that will bring us back to Vacation Bible School days or for some AWANAs.
We are going to get a lesson in how to memorize verses. I’m thinking of have a memory verse for each week. Don’t worry no one is going to quiz you on it BUT it is a good idea to commit some verses to memory. That will be in the lesson.
Also we will be starting another book of the Bible, Romans

Suffering on Behalf of God’s People

Posted on by shannonrainwater

Today’s Reading Isaiah 52-57

The passage you will read for today contains the single most important piece of good news you will ever hear! I can be summarized in just three words: incarnation, redemption, invitation.
INCARNATION: Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came in the flesh (53:2-3), becoming all ofGod in a human body.
REDEMPTION: He came to suffer and to die, to “make his soul an offering for sin” (53:10), to bear “the sin of many” (53:12)
INVITATION: He stands ready to provide mercy and forgiveness for all who will respond. “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters” (55:1)
What have you done with the invitation of the Suffering Servant? Have you ignored it, rejected it, or accepted it? If you have never done so, take Him at His word today. Say yes to the One who died that you might live eternally.

Suffering Servant

Posted on by shannonrainwater

Today’s Reading Isaiah 49-51

Take a sheet of paper and divide it in half. Now pretend for a moment that you can afford to hire a servant to do all the tasks you normally perform but find unpleasant. On the left side of your paper, list those tasks. (Think of it as writing your personal servant’s job description.) On the right side, list the tasks you presently do that you would want to keep for yourself, even if you had a servant.

Chances are, the tasks you listed on the left side are menial and repetitive. They require fitting your schedule to someone else’s; they demand time, money, and inconvenience.

The remarkable thing about Isaiah’s depiction of the coming Messiah is this: Through Christ could have come with swords flashing and armies marching to impose His righteousness upon mankind, He chose instead to come as a Suffering Servant, allowing people to smite Him to a similar lifestyle of servanthood, demonstrating God’s love in action.

It’s easy to be served; it’s difficult to serve. But with God’s help, even the activities on the left side of your paper can become joy (rather than drudgery) in your life. Look around for creative ways to do those mundane tasks, and thank God for the opportunities He gives you each day to be a servant to others.

Impotent Idols and Omnipotent God

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Today’s Reading: Isaiah 44-48

Idolatry is such a harsh- sounding word. It’s a good thing God’s people today don’t struggle with idolatry – or do they?

What really is idolatry? One commentator defines it this way:

“Idolatry is anything that comes between you and God.”

Using that definition, an uncomfortably long list of things could potentially fall into the category of becoming idols:

Television
Clothes
Your job
Your car
Your sweetheart
Your spouse
Your child
Your ambition
Eating
Golfing
Skiing
______ing ( You fill in the blank)

Pick one item from the above list, and ask yourself the question: “Is this thing drawing me toward God or away from Him?” Then do what Isaiah 46:8-9, 12 suggests!

Finding Comfort in an Uncomfortable World

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Today’s Reading: Isaiah 40-43

What would need to happen for you to feel totally comfortable? Would you need to change some things concerning your finances? What about your job? Relationships with other people? Your Health? Your appearance? Or perhaps your academic performance? What would you need to change before you were able to be at total ease and peace and not have a worry in the world?

“I’d have to have all my bills paid!” I can hear all the Dave Ramsey fans shouting “AMEN!!” and “I’m debt freeee!!!”
 But then reality sets in and you know that you’ll have bills tomorrow.

“I’d have to have a fortune in the bank!”
But what if the bank went bankrupt and you lost it all?

“I’d have to enjoy perfect health!”
But what if you were in an accident and lost your ability to work?

Some of us might have in place measures to absorb some of these life’s blows but most have not. Suppose you are going through a tough time right now. And chances are if you are reading this you are going through some sort of life’s discomforts. How do you find comfort?
The measure of your comfort will always be the measure of your confidence in God. For Isaiah to declare “Comfort ye” after 39 chapters of judgement would seem ludicrous! Unless you recall who is providing the comfort! Write out the first five verses of chapter 40 on a notecard, and put it under your pillow, by your bedside, on top of your glasses, or somewhere you first look in the morning when you wake up. Let it be the first thing you look at and thought for thte day!
God will go before you all day — so relax and enjoy His presence!

Standing Up, Isaiah 36-39

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Isaiah 36-39

Everyone who likes to be ridiculed, please stand up.

That is one invitation that you would probably just as soon ignore! After all, no one likes to be mocked or ridiculed for taking a stand. But as Paul warned young Timothy, “All that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Timothy 3:12). As a Christian called upon to stand for God in a godless world, you may find yourself asked to swallow the bitter pill of ridicule – and swallow it regularly.

Dan Cathy has taken this pill for his stand against gay marriage. This was probably not the first time that he faced ridicule for his beliefs and probably will not be the last. He is not afraid of these people that are calling him a “hater” and “homophobe”. He is simply more afraid of God.

It happened to Hezekiah and his countrymen. Taunted at by the Assyrian hordes and belittled for their faith in God, the people of Judah had the last laugh. Through it all they learned that ridicule means little when you know the great God of heaven!

Has the thought of ridicule or verbal abuse stopped you from taking a stand for God? Have you avoided suggesting an office Bible study or evangelistic opportunity because of the fear of what others might say? Take a tip from Hezekiah: You are on the winning team!
Prayer today is for boldness in the face of ridicule. God promises that He will give us words to say when we are to speak out.

Uncompromising Businesses

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It seems that the hot subject in the news has been about the Gay and Lesbian community. An article in the LA Times talks about my favorite fast-food restaurant, Chick-Fil-A. Those who know about this wonderful restaurant can tell you about either about their stance or about that special sauce. YUM! CEO Dan Cathy, who inherited the business from his dad, who received it from his dad, keeps the tradition alive that it is a business who “operates on biblical principles.” The Times report that this business was asked the question in order to clear up the rumors if they were “Anti-Homosexual and against Gay Marriage”. Cathy’s response? “Well, guilty as charged.’.” He goes on to say, “We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives” referring to the biblical view of marriage as being one woman to one man. So the question is, what is the big deal on CFA’s policy on gay and lesbians? Although they take a moral stand against it they do not turn away nor discriminate their customers. It is not a civil issue but rather a moral one. Who can be against someone or a business with moral standards and not afraid to stand for them unwavering in the midst of opposition?

According to Foxnews.com (July 17, 2012) another organization willing to take a moral stand is known as the Boy Scouts of America. Recently they upheld their decision to exclude gays in leadership. The LGBT quickly answered back with disdain claiming unfairness and “a missed opportunity of colossal proportions”. The BSA have always stood for moral character and building up boys self esteem. This is nothing new for the BSA. They faced a similar situation when it went before the Supreme Court. The ruling in 2000 was that the BSA may in fact exclude gays and lesbians. So when the question of asking another organization to change or even compromise what they stand for, it isn’t for a good cause. It is asking the organization to go against good morals and it is a unethical business  practice.

What Christians are asked to do more and more is to compromise their belief system. When a Christian businessman opens a business that services the public, he has taken in consideration that he will not be able to service everyone. He would like to but reality is that not everyone will chose his business.
For example, if you were to go to a Middle Eastern Restaurant. The waiter has just finished his afternoon prayer and he is putting away his Koran and prayer mat. He come over to take your order. You don’t see it on the menu but you really want a juicy Bar B Que pulled Pork sandwich. So you try and order one. After you wake the waiter up from fainting on the floor. He tells you that his restaurant does not serve pork products because they believe it is an unclean animal and therefore can not touch it. Let alone serve it to someone else. Wouldn’t it seem silly and disrespectful to demand that the establishment change it’s menu to feature something that it is obviously against? Is it being intolerant? Do I have the right to be served pork in this restaurant? Do I have to call the National Pork Producers Council to lobby and picket to get them to change their menu? No, I simply go to another restaurant that serves that which I desire. You cant get a pork sandwich in a middle eastern restaurant!

Some would scream that it is inequality. They claim that businesses should offer all services to all peoples. It sounds great and noble. Besides everyone should have the same opportunities as everyone else. If you don’t then you are being intolerant or biased. How dare you only have items targeted toward certain customers. Or worse yet, HOW DARE YOU CLOSE YOU DOORS ON SUNDAY!!! THE BIGGEST SHOPPING DAY OF THE WEEK AT THE MALL!!! Thanks Cathy! Sounds ridiculous right? I do not think that the question in these situations is a matter of equality but of liberty.
Isn’t it the store owners right to make it’s own policies? Isn’t it the same for real businesses and organizations to be based on morals and principles and then hold to them?
American businesses seem to be choosing sides and usually the side with the popularity vote to get business. Case in point, Oreos have sparked controversy on its Facebook fan page by paying homage to the LBGT organization by having rainbow colored stuffed cookies. They claim it to be a good business strategy.
What does this all mean? As for CFA, they will still make money selling those wonderful Chicken sandwiches even if the LBGT boycotts it. At least they can boycott them on Sunday too. And BSA? What better example of manhood than from one who is one.

So the real issue is not whether a group of people with certain lifestyle choices are being discriminated against but the REAL issue is the freedoms of businesses and organizations. They should not be asked to change their policies to cater to a group. If it is in the business model to exclude or be exclusive then they should be allowed to stand by their choice. Yes it may mean that some may fail at business but it is better to fail at a business with your standards and morals intact than to compromise them.

___________________

The Pre-existent Savior

Posted on by shannonrainwater

The book of John is perhaps the most read book in the New Testament. It is often referred to when a person is a new convert or to someone who is seeking to find out who this Jesus really is. The book of John is unique from the other Gospels by acting like a supplemental gospel a sort of extra information. Not extra information as you would get from outside sources but rather from an eyewitness to Jesus’ life and work. John’s account contains about 92 percent of information that is not in the others. It provides not only Jesus’ existence before He became flesh but contains some of the acts and teachings of Jesus’ life and ministry starting with his baptism.
The first chapter is so chocked full of truths that one must take the time to fully understand them in order to fully appreciate the rest of the book. Although you may take a lengthy time to absorb all of what the Holy Spirit has for you, you may wish to read the book within a weeks time to gain insight on what to look for in the passage that is being examined.


Today we are looking at John 1:1-5

In the beginning was the Word ,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2. He was with God in the beginning.
3. All things were created through Him,
and apart from Him not one thing was created
that has been created.
4. Life was in Him,
and that life was the light of men.
5.That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.

 In the first verse John established that the Word is connected to the Word that God spoke in Genesis 1:1 in creation. The Greek work used here is logos which literally means “word”. By using logos in this context, John establishes that the Word had an existence before creation. The name Jesus is not used here because He had not become flesh yet but existed before creation.


Also extracted form this passage is the glimpse of two parts of the Trinity. If “the Word was with God” and “was God”. The conclusion has to be that the Word is another person in the presence and existence of God. The doctrine of the Trinity is not the point of this study although a necessary one. It will be explained later in detail here.


Next John gives the role of the Word in creation. He explains that there is nothing created that the Word did not create. In other words, the pre-existent Jesus (the Word) created everything. Go through the creation story in Genesis and picture Jesus doing the “work” of creation. This is not to say the God the Father delegated the work of creation to the Son. Only it means that God is the creator.


In verse 4, John connects the Word to the person of Jesus in that the Word created all things then gave life to them namely to man. It is interesting to note that while John just established that the Word created all things, including man, gave life to them and then became the light for them He makes the reader think about the purpose of Jesus’ ministry. It is understood that darkness exists in the world through sin. The very One who created man despite the sin of man establishes a restoration process. In other words, the pre-existent Jesus created man knowing that man would turn to sin. Even though this happened, Jesus loves us so much that He became one of us to restore the fellowship we once had before sin entered the world.


Like I say, there is much Theology in this short passage and so many rabbit trails that could be taken. This is not one of my best writing pieces but I think it starts some conversations and thinking.

Chapter 2 Christ is Superior to Angels

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Chapter 2 “Greater Than Angels”
Hebrews 1:4-2:18
I.                   Angels were important to the Jewish religion.
A.      Deu 33:2  He said: The LORD came from Sinai and appeared to them from Seir; He shone on them from Mount Paran and came with ten thousand holy ones, with lightning from His right hand for them.
B.      Psa 68:17  God’s chariots are tens of thousands, thousands and thousands; the Lord is among them in the sanctuary as He was at Sinai.
C.      Act 7:53  You received the law under the direction of angels and yet have not kept it.”
D.     Gal 3:19  Why the law then? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise was made would come. The law was ordered through angels by means of a mediator.
Divided into three sections: an Affirmation, an Exhortation, and an Explanation
II.                Affirmation: Christ is Superior to the angels
7 quotations from the Septuagint (literally means the Seventy) (Tradition has it that the Septuagint was named so because it was translated from the Hebrew into Greek by seventy men. It is known as the LXX
A.      He is the Son vv. 4-5
Jesus is called the Son while the angels were called the sons of God (Job 1:6)
                                                            1.      First quote is from Psalm 2:7- I will declare the LORD’s decree: He said to Me, “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.
                                                            2.      Second quote- 2 Samuel 7:14- I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to Me. When he does wrong, I will discipline him with a human rod and with blows from others.
i.        This is applied to Christ, the antitypical Solomon, who was, in an higher sense, the Son of God
ii.      The Greater Solomon- Matthew 12:42
B.      He is the Firstborn who receives worship. V. 6
                                                            1.      The term “first born” is meant in the sense of rank and honor
a.      Solomon was listed tenth in birth order but given the “rank” of firstborn. Ps. 89:27, 1 Chron 3:1-5
b.      Christ was “Firstborn over all creation”- Col 1:15
                                                            2.      The angels MUST worship Him
a.      Ps. 97:7 the angels were called Elohim (HB literally means “power”)
i.        “all the gods must worship him.”
ii.      The angels would never worship a mere creature.
                                                                                                                                i.      They were the highest of creation in rank
b.      The quote Weirsby uses is from the LXX and is not explicitly in the modern versions. The point was that the writer of Hebrews was familiar with the LXX and quoted from it.
C.      He is served by Angels v. 7
1.      Quotes Ps. 104:4
a.       Pneuma- translated “wind” could also be “spirit”
2.      After He fasted in the desert Mat. 4:11
a.       After He asked that the “cup be removed from him” Luke 22:43
D.     He is God enthroned and anointed vv. 8-9
                                                            1.      Quotes Psalm 45:6
a.       Angels do not sit on the throne but rather minister before the throne
                                                            2.      Jesus refers to Himself by quoting Psalm 110 (Mark 12:35-37)
a.      Interesting because whenever you see LORD capitalized in OT it refers to Christ, this is known as a Christophany
E.      He is the eternal creator vv. 10-12
                                                            1.      Quotes Ps. 102:25-27
a.      Ascribes that Christ is there at the beginning
                                                            2.      Jesus created everything and angels were part of that creation. John 1:3
F.       Christ is the Sovereign; angels are the servants vv. 13-14
                                                            1.      Quotes Ps. 110:1
a.      Christ is right now at the right hand of God. It is a place of honor.
                                                            2.      Angels are ministering spirits. They also minister to us who are heirs of salvation.
III.             Admonition: Heed the Word and Don’t Drift 2:1-4
A.      This is the first of the 5 mentioned in chapter one.
                                                            1.      Purpose is to encourage readers to pay attention to God’s Word and obey it.
                                                            2.      It was written to believers. The writer included himself.
                                                            3.      The writer said “neglecting” NOT “rejecting”
a.      He was encouraging Chistians to pay attention to the great salvation they received from the Lord.
                                                            4.      In OT times people who did not heed the Word were punished.
a.      This word was given by angels
b.      How much better is the word from Christ
c.       “transgression refers to sins of commission
d.      Disobedience refers to sins of omission
                                                            5.      Neglect of Word of God, and prayer is the cause of Spiritual Drifting
IV.             Explanation: Why Jesus Christ is not inferior Because of His Humanity 2:5-18
Angels have no “body”- Christ has a glorified body and it is the same body that was here on earth.
A.      His humanity enabled Him to regain man’s lost dominion v. 5-9
                                                            1.      Quotes Ps. 8:4-6
a.      The first man and woman were initially in charge of creation but failed.
b.      Jesus restores this “glory and honor” and shares it with us.
i.        Referred to as the Last Adam
c.       Angels cannot die nor can they save lost sinners and restore man’s lost dominion.
B.      His Humanity enabled Him to bring many sons to glory vv. 10-13
                                                            1.      Quotes Ps. 22:22
a.      Christ calls His church as His brethren
                                                            2.      Also quotes Isaiah 8:17-18
a.      Words of Christ calls us children of God
                                                            3.      If Christ had not taken on human form He could not have called us brothers and therefore we could not have shared in His glory.
a.      The incarnation, crucifixion, and resurrection must go together
C.      His Humanity enabled Him to disarm Satan and deliver us from death vv. 14-16
                                                            1.      If angels cannot die and Jesus did not come to save angels but humans, it was imperative for Christ to take on human flesh.
                                                            2.      Satan is the author of sin. Sin brings death. So in this sense Satan exercises power in the realm of death.
a.      Satan uses the fear of death to gain control of the lives of people
                                                            3.      Jesus delivers us from this fear of death by His death, burial and resurrection. (So Great a Salvation)
a.      This gives significance to when it is said that He stooped lower than the angels and became a man!
b.      He stooped even lower by becoming a Jew, a despised and hated race.
D.     His humanity enables Him to be a sympathetic High Priest to His people vv. 17-18
                                                            1.      Angels cannot sympathize with human’s weaknesses and needs. But Jesus can
                                                            2.      Jesus “trained” to be a High Priest by experiencing  the infirmities that humans go through by;
a.      Being a helpless baby
b.      A growing child
c.       A maturing adolescent
d.      Experiencing weariness, hunger, thirst
e.      Being despised and rejected
f.        Being lied about and falsely accused
                                                            3.      Because He has defeated every enemy, He is able to give us the grace we need to overcome temptation.
                                                            4.      The word succor (2:18) literally means to “run to the cry of a child”
                                                            5.      Angels are able to help us but not able to succor us in our times of temptation. Only Jesus can do that because He became a man and suffered and died.
Questions for Personal Reflection or Group Discussion
1.  What kinds of jobs or roles do you think angels have in our world today?
2. If a child asked you, “How can Jesus be God and still be God’s Son?” how would you explain it?
3. In what ways do you, or people you have observed, neglect their salvation?
            Good book , So great a Salvation by Charles Ryrie
4. Why is it sometimes difficult to appreciate and pay attention to the Word of God as we should?
5. In what ways is being a human better than being an angel? In what ways do you think being an angel would be better than being a human?
6. In God’s infinite wisdom, He surely could have chosen a different way to redeem us. Why do you think he chose becoming a man and dying as a sacrifice?
7. Read Hebrews 4:15. What does it mean to you that Jesus actually experienced life the way you do?
8. Read Philippians 2:5-11. If your attitude is like Christ’s, what will our lives be like?