Week 11
The Lords Day, week 11!
Thoughts on 1 Corinthians 5&6:
- 1 Corinthians 6 - this is a hard passage, in that it tells us exactly how to deal with unrepentant believers, those who continue in blatant sin and attempt to partake in the gathering, in worship. Paul’s focus is the sexually immoral, but the application can be passed on to any severe blatant unrepented sin. What do you do? Put them outside the body, hand them over to Satan, to the world! Why? two reasons: first, that they would repent, that their souls would be saved on the last day. Second, because it’s dangerous for the rest of the body, others may see their sin and begin to follow in that pattern. Church discipline is a necessary part of church life. Without it, you are not a church. The reason churches don’t practice it, because it won’t gain you many friends and people don’t want to be held accountable. But it doesn’t get much clearer than here. Let us not be ashamed to purge the evil from among us.
- 1 Corinthians 6 - this chapter starts with the mandate for believers to rightly judge each other! Yes, we must judge, but we do so according to Gods standard, in love, with grace, that we would see each other confirmed to the image of Christ. Then we come back to sexual immorality and why it is so wicked, it is a sin against the very temple of the Holy Spirit, guard the temple, remember your identity and that you are not a thief, a murderer, an adulterer, so stop acting like one! You are a child of God. So glorify Him in your body.
I pray that you all are still able to obey Hebrews 10 today, if you are sick or elderly it’s understood, remain safe, let others pray for you, but for the rest, let us not forsake the gathering! We come together to worship Him, so let us worship. God bless!
Monday, week 11!
Thoughts on Genesis 40-44:
- I have to keep it short again, I have a house full of kids not going to school and I had an empty fridge!!! Smh
- Joseph is faithful to God from prison, and Gods plans is seen unfolding. He becomes second in command of Egypt, and prepares for the coming famine. The famine arrives and his dream comes to reality! Consider this, do you think Joseph would have chosen to go through what he did to get where he did? The prize that awaits us at the end of life is greater than second in command of any nation. We are children of the living God, and you don’t know what God is doing to get you there, but keep your eyes on Him. He is working, shaping, conforming you to the image of Christ, it could mean worse times than even Joseph experienced. But the prize that awaits on the other side of this life is worth it all.
God bless you and stay safe in these crazy times!!!!
Tuesday, Week 11!
Thoughts on 1 Samuel 1-5:
· 1 Samuel 1 - Hannah, a faithful woman devoted to the Lord, only longed for one thing, a child, and she prayed to the same Lord her had closed her womb, to open it. She worshiped Him regardless of the answer, baby or no baby, but she did pray and ask. In her case, she receives, but even receiving didn't come at no cost. The baby that came from the Lord, as do all children, was given to the Lord. I can't imagine how hard this was, but she trusted God, and did as she was supposed to.
· 1 Samuel 2 - Hannah's prayer, just read it, pray it, and if you don't have the faith to pray it, ask god for that too! Then we have the antithesis to Hannah, the sons of Eli. Wicked men who served the house of the Lord for their own selfish gain. This is, unfortunately the status of many of those who sit in the pastors or elders seat today. They mock God, they do not believe His judgment will come upon them, if they did, they wouldn't do such things. But they take the Lords name in vain, claiming that He has said things that He has never said. Refusing to say the things that He has said, they take the offerings that were meant for the house of the Lord and use it for to build houses for men. They claim to know Him, but they do not know Him, they claim to worship Him but only worship themselves, refusing to humble themselves they allow pride to lead them to destruction... God will judge those who behave this way. In the meantime you and I must be vigilant, pray and stay clear of those who would act like this. For they are everywhere...
· 1 Samuel 3 - Notice that Samuels call begins with, the Word of the Lord was rare in those days. These are the days of the Judges of Israel, when every man did what was right in their own eyes. When God does call Samuel, He doesn't come to Him with great news either... Why is it, that those who claim to hear from the Lord only hear how God will bless, and how God will prosper? Why is God no longer speaking to individuals of the punishment that He will bring down on a house forever? I don't know, but it seems to me that the answer is simple. It's because they aren't actually hearing from God. If God were to speak in this way again, we have every reason to believe it will be about judgement, not prosperity for the times we live in are as wicked as the times that Samuel lived in.
· 1 Samuel 4 and 5 - The Judgement on Eli, his family and the nation of Israel ends with the capture of the ark of the covenant. But God doesn't finish there, though God uses the Philistines to punish His people, they too are punished. They don't know God, the are idolaters, and are not free of judgement. God can use the wicked to punish, without removing the guilt of their actions, we've seen this before and will see it again and again.
This is a tough start to the book of 1 Samuel, but it's a reminder of the Holiness of God. He is Holy, He will not be mocked and is not to be taken lightly. This same God is gracious, full of mercy and Love for His children. Trust Him, cling to Him, know Him and speak of Him often, to all who will listen... God bless, stay safe, and share your thoughts below. Let us learn from one another here, especially given the possibility that we will not be able to gather for some time under the teaching of the word, let us be taught here...
Wednesday, Week 11!
Thoughts on Psalms 30-32:
· Psalms 30 & 31 - These two psalms ministered to me so deeply this morning. Only in the Lord can we find safety, refuge, and protection, only in the Lord can we be refreshed, only in the Lord can our sorrow and despair be turned into Joy in the morning. My wife and I were discussing somethings yesterday, and questioning why it seemed that so many things were going "wrong" at one time in our life. In two months things turned upside down, and all while we are trying to follow Him and be obedient to HIs call. Well, the answer is right there, we are trying to follow Him and be obedient to His call! lol but more than that, the fact is that though our lives have been so crazy, feeling like a bit of an emotional roller coaster, He has been steadfast in His love. He will turn our mourning into dancing, He is our strong fortress that saves us, He has redeemed us in His blood, that though: I have been forgotten like one who is dead: I have become like a broken vessel, for I hear the whispering of many-terror on every side!- as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life... But I trust in you, O Lord, I say You are my God, My times are in your hand, rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors, Make your face shine on your servant; save me in your steadfast love. O Lord, let me not be put to shame, for I call upon you! Ps. 31 Verses 12-17
· Psalm 32 - Yes, blessed are we who are forgiven! Confess, repent, believe, repeat!!!!!
There are changes coming to CICC, be on the lookout for them, we, the leadership of CICC are excited about these changes and feel that it is what needs to be happen to follow His call faithfully and without distraction. God bless!
Thursday, Week 11!
Thoughts on Job 21-22:
· Job 21 - Job is getting angry and frustrated both with his friends and with God. He looks at his circumstances, his sickness, pain, and loss, recognizing rightly that this is all the doing of God. Yes, Satan is the one who inflicted him directly, but God was the one who allowed him to. Job looks at everything and begins to recognize, rightly, that the wicked still prosper, that the wicked don't suffer the way he is. They live long lives, with their families by their side, they should feel the pain of their iniquity! At the same time God lets one person die with everything, and others die with nothing, who can challenge Him? He knows everything! Only God can spare a man and rescue them from the day of wrath... Therefore, Job concludes, you have nothing to offer me, you (his friends) speak nothing but lies, they don't know what they are talking about.
· Job 22 - Eliphaz responds, and here's what He is saying, Job if you were really righteous God would prosper you, look at your life, you are a wicked person, you don't help the poor, or the widows, God sees everything you do, and this punishment is the result of your sin. Just admit it and turn to God, just stop trying to cover up your evil deeds and God will restore you to your prosperity. Just turn to Him and all will be made right and you'll get everything you want...
· Thoughts - There's some truth, and there's a lot of falsehood in both Job and Eliphaz. With Job, his complaint is that the wicked prosper, and he is angry with a touch of self-righteousness as if he doesn't deserve this punishment. His frustration is understandable of course, but it reveals his ignorance also on the full character of God. Truth be told most of us know even less then Job though. I can stub my toe sometimes and immediately think, why God???? of course my theology knows better, but in the moment my emotions get the better of me. With Eliphaz, he is a classic legalist, thinking that it's all black and white, if you do these things then God will bless you, and if you don't then you will be punished. This way of thinking doesn't account for the sinful nature of man and the fact that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. In the garden if Adam obeyed, yes he would continue to prosper. But once he was disobedient the wrath of God was revealed against all of creation. Both rain and sun fall and shine on all people. But it doesn't do so in some sort of random order, rather God is working throughout His creation to bring about His glory. There is none that is righteous, so whenever the sun shines its all of His marvelous grace, and when the storms come... well, that's His mercy too... Not being quick to punish but, but being patient that all should reach repentance!
God bless you in all this madness, if you get infected, blessed be the Lord, and if you don't, blessed be the Lord, in everything Blessed be the name of the Lord...
Friday, Week 11!
Thoughts on Isaiah 56-61:
· Isaiah 56 - The salvation of the Lord is available for all, it was never intended to be a monolithic salvation, meaning of just one people group. But the least of these, outcasts, and foreigners all were always to be included. Many of the leaders of Israel were ignorant of Gods plans, they were lazy and had a desire only to see themselves lifted up, being more concerned with pleasure than Holiness and the glory of God.
· Isaiah 57 - The righteous man has nothing to fear, but the wicked will be punished. The wicked have made gods for themselves, they make offerings to these gods, they make covenants with them and serve these idols instead of the God of Jacob. They have no fear of God and think their righteousness will profit them, but it won't. Only he who takes refuge in God shall inherit the holy mountain. The one who has a broken and contrite heart, who stands guilty in himself but trusts in the Lord for His righteousness, only that person will be healed, led by the Lord and receiving His peace.
· Isaiah 58 - Fasting and Sabbath, I preached on Sabbath, not to long ago, and here's what Isaiah says and I repeated, both fasting and Sabbath are about God. They point to what God has done, they are about our utter dependence on Him and need for Him to do absolutely anything. That apart from Him there is no rest, apart from Him we have no sustenances we are weak and useless apart from Him. They are all about Him, not you or I.
· Isaiah 59 - This is about all of us in our natural condition, apart from the grace and mercy of God. Without one who would intercede on our behalf we are hopeless, and will have to pay for our wicked deeds. But there has come a Redeemer, one who calls us to turn from our transgression and only through Him are we united through an everlasting covenant to our Creator God. Repent and trust in Him, Jesus!
· Isaiah 60&61 - There a couple of ways to take these and I think depending on your eschatology you may read these different. So rather than get in a debate, I'll just say that a Glorious time in the full presence of God awaits us, and yet in this present time we experience His Spiritual presence within us!
God bless you all! I hope and pray that you are growing during this time, in the Lord. Don't allow it to go to waste!
Saturday, Week 11!
Thoughts on Mark 1&2:
· Today we started the Gospel of Mark, it's a much shorter Gospel and much more direct in its presentation. Mark doesn't give us much background, and is just focused on what Jesus did, making the case for Him being the Messiah.
· Mark 1 - He begins with a clear presentation of Jesus, the good news of Jesus the Son of God. There's no waiting to find out who He is, there's no building up, it's just here you go and now here's what He did that points to who He is. Starting with Isaiah, Mark shows us that the ministry of the Messiah started with one who prepared the way, John the Baptizer. Quickly we move from Baptism, to temptation to the inauguration of Christ's ministry with the statement, "the Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the gospel." Then we have the disciples called, Jesus healing and then Jesus preaching! Whew... you get all that? So many places I'd like to camp out at, but I'll just reflect on the statement Jesus makes to kick off His ministry and the calling of the disciples, because in it I think there's a pattern for us. Repent, Believe, Follow... This is the Christian life, it starts with repentance, if you've never repented, you aren't a Christian, if you haven't turned from your sin, if you haven't seen your sin for the filth that it is and stopped looking to it for comfort, stopped trusting in it and running towards it then you are not a Christian, I don't say that lightly but I say it because I don't want you to be confused! But if you haven't believed in Jesus, you are not a Christian, there's a turning away from sin and a turning to and trusting in Christ. I've met many people who turn away from their sin and turn to moralism, to legalism, where it's all about all the things that I don't do anymore and because I don't do them, I am now a good person. NO, you are not! You're the same sinful person you were before, only adding the sin of self-righteousness to your account. Jesus must be your righteousness... But then you must follow Him, so there is a holiness that comes with this, but it's not our own holiness, it's Christs which transforms us and conforms us to His image. The follow part, I won't speak as sternly on, there are confused Christians out there, who perhaps have a simple faith in Christ, but lack discipleship, they have never been taught what it truly means to follow Christ and if that's you I'd pray that you begin to seek to follow Him today. Reach out to me, to your pastor, to any mature person of faith in your life that they would guide you in following Him. (sorry for the length, imagine if I would have spoken on all the parts I wanted too! lol)
· Mark 2 - The crowds are following Jesus, but notice the reason why, they are following Him because of His signs and wonders, they follow Him because of what He is able to do... Why do faith healers and prosperity teachers have such big followings? Because people are just as wicked as we were in the 1st Century. They want signs, they want the wonders. Now, some of these people had true faith, as told to us in the passage, but many if not most will walk away as His teaching becomes to hard. We see this still happening today, see my blog below! Point being, don't be discouraged if you go to a church that doesn't have thousands in attendance. The church isn't a source of entertainment, it's the people of God who gather to worship Him and be transformed by Him. If God heals in our midst, we praise Him, and if He doesn't, we still praise Him, because He is God.
Tomorrow many of us will be providentially hindered from attending a live service, as much as this is not ok, we also recognize that God is sovereign over even this virus. So we must be wise, protecting each other, and doing the best we can to honor God in every way. So, for those unable to worship with a gathered church, worship in your homes, you don't need to watch an online sermon to do this either. You can listen and sing along to some songs and then just open your bible, start here, start in 1st Corinthians where we will be tomorrow for our study. Read, ponder, encourage, rebuke and correct, all for the glory and honor of God. If you aren't sure about something then don't say it! Spend much time in prayer, for our leaders, churches, and world, that in this time God would grow us in holiness to be a blessing to our nation, states, cities and towns. May the Lord bless you and keep you, conforming you by His power to the image of Christ that it would be visible to those around you for His glory and Name. Amen.