Tag Archives: Grace

Itty Bitty Bible Study Ephesians 2: 20-22 living stones and the temple

My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook. (join if you’d like to get these in fb!)

For review – here is IBBS Ephesians 2:1-10 and IBBS Ephesians 2:11-19

 

A review from IBBS Ephesians 2:11-19, which you can skip if you are up to date:

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This section brings to mind the hymn “How Firm a Foundation” and “On Christ the Solid Rock I stand”.

How God created the body of Christ

Ephesians 2:20-22 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
21 The whole building, being put together by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord.
22 You also are being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

LIVING STONES! stones are dead until God breathes life into them!

1 Peter 2:4-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
4 Coming to Him, a living stone—rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God— 5 you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it is contained in Scripture:

Look! I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and honored[a] cornerstone,[b]
and the one who believes in Him
will never be put to shame![c][d]

At the beginning of this passage we are told to remember! What are we supposed to remember? On one side, we’re supposed to remember the we are nothing special apart from God. Apart from God we can do no good thing(John 15). In God we can do all things(Phil 4:13).

As we discussed in Chapter 2: 8 – 9 it’s by grace that we are saved through faith and that not of ourselves but it’s the gift of God! Not of Works lest any man should boast. (IBBS Ephesians 2:1-10) We cannot do anything to earn our salvation except to put our hands out and believe and receive from the hands of God!

What else is this that he’s talking about?

  • That we are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens that we are of the household of God.
  • That we are living stones.
  • That we are built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets that Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone.
  • We’re being built together into a holy Temple unto the Lord

 

Ephesians 2:22 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
22 You also are being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How is this temple built?

Ephesians 2:20-22 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. 21 The whole building, being put together by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord. 22 You also are being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

What does this mean for us, and how do we apply it?
1st Corinthians 3 talks about the foundation and he who Waters and he who plants and he who harvests.

1 Corinthians 3:11 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
11 For no one can lay any other foundation than what has been laid down. That foundation is Jesus Christ.

Then it goes on to talk about building with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay and stubble and that every man’s work will be judged by fire.

THIS IS NOT SALVATION BUT EVIDENCE OF OUR LIFE COMMITMENT TO THE LORD JESUS CHRIST!

1st Corinthians 3:16 know ye not that ye are the temple of God and the spirit of God dwells in you

That makes a very pretty little song but here is the second half, it’s following in our previous contrast and compare of the Flesh and the spirit

1 Corinthians 3:17 King James Version (KJV)
17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.

To know how serious God is about his dwelling place, just read the old testament about the tabernacle, the temple, or for that matter, his response to ones who touched the ark of the covenant that were not qualified. Jehovah God takes his dwelling place very seriously. Life and death seriously.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 King James Version (KJV)
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

If you read 1st Corinthians 6 Paul’s talking to us about making sure that we walk sanctified and that we should walk in righteousness. He talks about what will be in the kingdom and what won’t be in the Kingdom. He’s also talking that there’s a difference between what you eat as in legalism and the actual sins of the heart and the spirit if you start in verse

12 “Everything is permissible for me,” but not everything is helpful.
“Everything is permissible for me,” but I will not be brought under the control of anything.
13 “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will do away with both of them.
The body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
14 God raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.
15 Don’t you know that your bodies are a part of Christ’s body?
So should I take a part of Christ’s body and make it part of a prostitute? Absolutely not!
16 Don’t you know that anyone joined to a prostitute is one body with her? For Scripture says, The two will become one flesh.
17 But anyone joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

I’m not talking about legalism and rules.
I’m talking about glorifying God in our bodies!
This is NOT Old Testament laws…this is new testament response!

Ephesians 2:10 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

Remember that we are bought with a price…we OWE HIM EVERYTHING!!!
We owe him our lives!

Our choices can link us to God or the enemy.
Our choices indicate flesh or spirit guidance.
Our choices can bring us life or death!

Proverbs 18:21 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
21 Life and death are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.

James 3:6 KJV
And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

Deuteronomy 30:15-20 New International Version (NIV)
15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess.

Back to the garden…they had a choice to choose life or death!

Genesis 2:16-17 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, 17 but you must not eat[a] from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”

Jeremiah 21 speaks judgement to Zedekiah, and yet, God gives the people a choice – life or death.

Jeremiah 21:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible
“But you must say to this people, ‘This is what the LORD says: Look, I am presenting to you the way of life and the way of death.

It’s all about choosing life or death, flesh or spirit!

Romans 6 talks about the fact that we are slaves to whomever we bind ourselves to…BUT IT’S A CHOICE!

Romans 6:16-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
16 Don’t you know that if you offer yourselves to someone[a] as obedient slaves, you are slaves of that one you obey—either of sin leading to death or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were transferred[b] to, 18 and having been liberated from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness.

The truth is, we are slaves.
BUT WE GET TO CHOOSE TO WHOM!!!

and then, the most beautiful thing happens when we choose Christ:
Galatians 4

Galatians 4:6-7 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba, Father!” 7 So you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.

If that’s not special enough, Jesus said, in John 15:15:

I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn’t know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father.

There is an understanding that a son of someone can represent their father, for good and for bad.

Ambassadors represent the nations for which they are elected. for good and for bad.
The same is true for us.

I’m trying to keep these shorter…so, I’ll talk about the HOW in the next section. For now, let’s worship!

For review – here previous sections:

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Itty Bitty Bible Study – Ephesians 2:11- 19 flesh and spirit

My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook. (join if you’d like to get these in fb!)

For review – here is IBBS Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:11-17

Ephesians 2:11 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
11 So then, remember that at one time you were Gentiles in the flesh—called “the uncircumcised” by those called “the circumcised,” which is done in the flesh by human hands.

 

REMEMBER!
Lent day 11 we are called to remember what Christ did for us. This blog talks about the importance that God gives to remembering. Here we are, being told to remember something again!

What is Paul telling us to remember here in Ephesians?
That we have two natures.
That we are delivered from the old one, into the new one.
That we have responsibilities because of this great gift.

Romans 5:12 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Death through Adam and Life through Christ
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things[a] have come.

Galatians 5:16-17 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Spirit versus the Flesh
16 I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.

I want to try to compare the flesh to the spirit.

flesh is  Adam….. spirit is Christ Romans 5:12

flesh is Judas (Lent day 9 and Lent day 15 )…..spirit is Peter (Lent Day 16)

flesh is worldly and old….. spirit is Christ and new 2 Corinthians 5:17

flesh loves not….. spirit loves 1 John 4:7-8

flesh listens to the world….spirit listens to the Word 1st John 4 5 & 6

flesh is of below and has died…..spirit is from above and is alive Colossians 3:1-3

flesh is  an Earthly nature(Colossians 3:5-11) ….. spirit is we put on new clothing of the Spirit (Colossians 3:12- 17)

flesh is baptized into death….. spirit walks in New Life Romans 6:1-4

flesh is Laws and death….. spirit is life with no condemnation Romans 8:1-2

flesh desires fleshly desires….. spirit desires spiritual desires Romans 8:5

flesh is death and carnally minded….. spirit is life and peace Romans 8:6

flesh is hostile to God, …..by implication the spirit is not Romans 8:7
 
flesh cannot please God….. spirit is in Christ   Romans 8:8-9 and Hebrews 11:6

flesh is dead and sin…..spirit is life and righteousness Romans 8:10

Romans 8:11 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
11 And if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, then He who raised Christ from the dead will also bring your mortal bodies to life through His Spirit who lives in you.

THIS IS WORTHY OF WORSHIP AND PRAISE!!!

THIS IS THE MIRACLE OF SALVATION! we who were dead in our sins…which is everyone ever…when we ask the Lord Jesus into our lives, we are raised from the death of sin into the life of righteousness! HALLELUJAH!!!

Ephesians 2:12-15 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
12 At that time you were without the Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Israel, and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
13 But now in Christ Jesus, you who were far away have been brought near by the blood of the Messiah.
14 For He is our peace, who made both groups one and tore down the dividing wall of hostility. In His flesh,
15 He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace.

Here is the huge result of God’s gift to us through Christ:
The separation from the garden has been removed!
Our sinful selves have been brought near!
Our old dead flesh has been made new and alive!

HE BOUGHT US PEACE WITH HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS!
HOW CAN WE NOT BE GRATEFUL AND FULL OF WORSHIP????

Ephesians 2:15-17 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
15 He made of no effect the law consisting of commands and expressed in regulations, so that He might create in Himself one new man from the two, resulting in peace.
16 He did this so that He might reconcile both to God in one body through the cross and put the hostility to death by it.
17 When the Messiah came, He proclaimed the good news of peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near.

This is how God repaired the separation in the garden!

Ephesians 2:18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

This is how God brought us into his family!

Ephesians 2:19 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
19 So then you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with the saints, and members of God’s household,

And this is how God created the body of Christ

Ephesians 2:20-22 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.
21 The whole building, being put together by Him, grows into a holy sanctuary in the Lord.
22 You also are being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

LIVING STONES! stones are dead until God breathes life into them!

1 Peter 2:4-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
4 Coming to Him, a living stone—rejected by men but chosen and valuable to God— 5 you yourselves, as living stones, are being built into a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it is contained in Scripture:

Look! I lay a stone in Zion,
a chosen and honored[a] cornerstone,[b]
and the one who believes in Him
will never be put to shame![c][d]

At the beginning of this passage we are told to remember! What are we supposed to remember? On the one side, we’re supposed to remember the we are nothing special apart from God. Apart from God we can do no good thing(John 15). In God we can do all things(Phil 4:13).

As we discussed in Chapter 2: 8 – 9 it’s by grace that we are saved through faith and that not of ourselves but it’s the gift of God! Not of Works lest any man should boast. (IBBS Ephesians 2:1-10) We cannot do anything to earn our salvation except to put our hands out and believe and receive from the hands of God!

What else is this that he’s talking about?

  • That we are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens that we are of the household of God.
  • That we are living stones.
  • That we are built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets that Jesus Christ is the Chief Cornerstone.
  • We’re being built together into a holy Temple unto the Lord

Ephesians 2:22 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
22 You also are being built together for God’s dwelling in the Spirit.

We are the Temple of the Holy Spirit! I’m going to go into that more about those last few verses in the next blog!

To conclude this blog, we have two natures that fight, and we need to choose which one will win.
There is a story about a native american father:

A fight is going on inside me,” said an old man to his son. “It is a terrible fight between two wolves. One wolf is evil. He is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego. The other wolf is good. He is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you.” The son thought about it for a minute and then asked, “Which wolf will win?” The old man replied simply, “The one you feed.

In the next blog, we’ll also talk more about how to feed the spirit within us! Psalm 37 will give you a heads up!

but for now…let’s remember that God has given us power to make this choice!

For review – here are the previous sections:

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Itty Bitty Bible Study – Ephesians 2:1-10 The situation

My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook. (join if you’d like to get these in fb!)

For review – here are the chapter 1 sections:

In the IBBS Ephesians Introduction, I shared my thoughts on Ephesians 1:1-2.
And here are the others up to this point:
IBBS Ephesians 1:3-6
IBBS Ephesians 1:7-14
IBBS Ephesians 1:7-14

Ephesians 2

Ephesians 1 is all about God’s love for us. At least, that is what Ephesians 1 speaks to me.
Ephesians 2 speaks to me of Grace. First, though, we need to see WHY we need Grace!

Ephesians 2 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
2:1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins
2 in which you previously walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler who exercises authority over the lower heavens, the spirit now working in the disobedient.

  • Dead
  • trespasses
  • sins
  • ways of the world
  • according to…well, the devil

Who did we begin as dead in our sins??? In order to understand the greatness of God’s grace, we have to understand the WHY about the need.

We have to begin at the beginning, which is Genesis.
I wrote about this in Advent #6

For good measure, let’s start with Genesis chapter 2

  • God created a garden and it was good
  • God created man and he was good, except that it was not good that he was alone…
  • so God created woman, and she was good.
  • God created tress in the garden, and they were good…because the garden was good, creation was good, etc., etc.

There were two special trees…knowledge of good and evil, and the tree of life.
One they were not to eat of…the knowledge of good and evil, because in that day they would die. Only ONE rule.

Genesis 2:10-17
16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, 17 but you must not eat[g] from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die.”

They knew no shame or guilt:

25 Both the man and his wife were naked, yet felt no shame.

Then came the enemy:
Genesis Chapter 3

There was ONLY one rule, ONLY one requirement, and everything else was paradise. Yet, their flesh got in the way!
Ephesians tells us that this applies to us as well.

Ephesians 2:3 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
3 We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and we were by nature children under wrath as the others were also.

So does the rest of the Bible. The bible agrees with itself.

Romans 3:23 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the[a] glory of God.

Isaiah 64:6 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
6 All of us have become like something unclean,
and all our righteous acts are like a polluted[a] garment;
all of us wither like a leaf,
and our iniquities carry us away like the wind.

Genesis is the Old Testament. In the New Testament in Romans 5, we have at the example of how this applies to us today. read verse 1-11 for hope, then, here’s how God planned it.

Romans 5:12 through one man came sin through one man came salvation

Romans 5:12 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned.

This is the problem – this is how genesis 3 applies to us!

Romans 5:14 through one man death reigned and through the other we have life
Adam was the protype of Christ

Romans 5:14 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam’s transgression. He is a prototype[a] of the Coming One.

Romans 5:15 in the transgression of the one, many died but the free gift from the One is Grace to many
Romans 5:16 out of the transgression of one came condemnation and judgement, but because of the transgression of many, through Christ and his obedience we have the resulting justification – the gift.
Romans 5:17 from the transgression of one, death reigned. From the gift of Grace of One, Jesus Christ, we reign in life
Romans 5:18 through transgression of one came condemnation for many, but through the righteousness of the One came justification for everyone.
Romans 5:19 through Disobedience of one many were made sinners but through the obedience of the ONE many were made righteous

There will be an account made, and paid.

2 Corinthians 5:10 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
10 For we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or worthless.

Romans 3:4-5 let God be true and every man a liar. God has a right to pronounce judgement!

The Gift of God

Ephesians 2:4-10

Ephesians 2:4-5 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us,[a] 5 made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!

Ephesians 2:8-10 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—
9 not from works, so that no one can boast.
10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

The judgement is real.
The effect is real.
The gift is real.
Simply put, there are “buts” to this situation!

Romans 5:8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
8 But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us!

Romans 6:23 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:13 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
13 for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.

How do we obtain this gift of God?

Some thoughts on choice from Lent day eight
Thoughts on Repentance from Jonah chapter 3
and, here’s one of my confessions as an example!

Now, I want to worship!
Grace by the Martins
Grace that is Greater than all our sins by Don Moen
Your grace still amazes me Phillip, Craig and Dean
and my favorite:

Ephesians 2:11-22 will touch on our two natures, and why we cannot do it, and why the gift of god is infinite in it’s worth

Josh Groban sings this…and many faith’s have put their own spin on this, but for me…this is my song of thanks to God, through Jesus Christ…because without Him, I am nothing!

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Itty Bitty Bible Study – Nahum – Introduction

Nahum

My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook. (join if you’d like to get these in fb!) The conversation starts Monday, August 20.

Nahum is preaching destruction to Nineveh.

Where have we heard that before? Oh, right…Jonah!
So, did God want to redeem Nineveh or not?

Here’s a couple things that I’ve learned looking at Nineveh…

It was the capital of Assyria.

Our prophet Jonah was told to go and preach to them…to give them the opportunity to repent…and they did…and he got angry.

According to my research, Nahum prophesied between 600 and 740 BC.
Jonah was written in the 8th century BC.

There could be 200 years between Jonah and Nahum!
Just look at the effect 200 years has had on the United States in our focus on faith.

The First Great Awakening was in the mid 1700’s.

Second Great Awakening was in the 1800’s

Then, the third great awakening….1900’s

And the latest was the Pentecostal Awakening:

The most recent Great Awakening (1904 onwards) had its roots in the holiness movement which had developed in the late 19th century. The Pentecostal revival movement began, out of a passion for more power and a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In 1902 the American evangelists Reuben Archer Torrey and Charles McCallon Alexander conducted meetings in Melbourne, Australia, resulting in more than 8,000 converts. News of this revival travelled fast, igniting a passion for prayer and an expectation that God would work in similar ways elsewhere.

Torrey and Alexander were involved in the beginnings of the great Welsh revival (1904).

In 1906 the modern Pentecostal movement was born in Azusa Street, in Los Angeles.

I have to mention the Brownsville Revival – Because it has effected many…though I’m not sure it has had the effect on calling to Godliness that the previous awakenings did. What I mean by this, is that this revival did not have an effect on the culture of our society in the way that the previous awakenings did.

My point for discussing these, is not for a history lesson, but for comparison.

2018 back 200 years is 1818 – the second great awakening, the camp meetings.
This was the time of Charles Finney

Then we look at the 50’s, the 60’s…and the downward spiral of our social culture towards what even the writers of our constitution expected as the moral code of the common man.

Here’s some other information about Nineveh, and Assyria…if you look at that Wikipedia link above, you will see that Nineveh was where current Mosul is now. Mosul is in Northern Iraq…and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant destroyed much of the history of this city in 2010s and the Iraqi military recovered this city in 2017.

ISIL is a very cruel group.
The responses of the then current allies of Nineveh were very casual towards Nineveh’s destruction…because of the cruelty.

In Itty Bitty Bible Study – Jonah, I talk about Jonah having prophesied during a time when the Hebrews were under extreme curel oppression.

2 Kings 14:25-26 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
25 He restored Israel’s border from Lebo-hamath as far as the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word the Lord, the God of Israel, had spoken through His servant, the prophet Jonah son of Amittai from Gath-hepher. 26 For the Lord saw that the affliction of Israel was very bitter. There was no one to help Israel, neither bond nor free.

In the introduction to Jonah, some of the theories to which I link mentioned that Jonah may have been a victim of the cruelty of Sennacherib.

Whatever the truth is about the timing of Jonah, we do have a historical evidence that there was a great fall!

Wikipedea on Nineveh

Biblical:
The Prophet Jonah before the Walls of Nineveh, drawing by Rembrandt, c. 1655
Nineveh was the flourishing capital of the Assyrian Empire[28] and was the home of King Sennacherib, King of Assyria, during the Biblical reign of King Hezekiah (יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ) and the lifetime of Judean prophet Isaiah (ישעיה). As recorded in Hebrew scripture, Nineveh was also the place where Sennacherib died at the hands of his two sons, who then fled to the vassal land of `rrt Urartu.[29] The book of the prophet Nahum is almost exclusively taken up with prophetic denunciations against Nineveh. Its ruin and utter desolation are foretold.[30][31] Its end was strange, sudden, and tragic.[32] According to the Bible, it was God’s doing, His judgment on Assyria’s pride (Isaiah 10:5–19). In fulfillment of prophecy, God made “an utter end of the place”. It became a “desolation”. The prophet Zephaniah also[33] predicts its destruction along with the fall of the empire of which it was the capital. Nineveh is also the setting of the Book of Tobit.

Historical
After Ashurbanipal
Nineveh’s greatness was short-lived. In around 627 BC, after the death of its last great king Ashurbanipal, the Neo-Assyrian empire began to unravel through a series of bitter civil wars between rival claimants for the throne, and in 616 BC Assyria was attacked by its own former vassals, the Babylonians, Chaldeans, Medes, Persians, Scythians and Cimmerians. In about 616 BC Kalhu was sacked, the allied forces eventually reached Nineveh, besieging and sacking the city in 612 BC, following bitter house-to-house fighting, after which it was razed. Most of the people in the city who could not escape to the last Assyrian strongholds in the north and west were either massacred or deported out of the city and into the countryside where they founded new settlements. Many unburied skeletons were found by the archaeologists at the site. The Assyrian empire then came to an end by 605 BC, the Medes and Babylonians dividing its colonies between themselves.

My point is that even the pagans were given a chance to repent(via Jonah), and centuries later, their repentance was not in evidence in their children’s children.

My story….
I was a United States Sailor.
When I watched the towers fall, I KNEW it would be war…and I demanded it…from my military heart, while my spiritual heart was praying for those I knew in the area, and even for those I didn’t.
I grieved for those that went into eternity that day, not knowing Jesus.
and I wanted revenge.

Recently, we received a letter from one of our old pastors, that he and his wife were being brought into a ministry to share the gospel with Muslims that were coming into our country. I am disgusted and ashamed of my initial reaction…they are the enemy, and ….well, at that point, thank God, my Christian heart stopped me!

What I realized was that I would have difficulty committing to a ministry with this sole focus.
Yes, I have shared with Muslims that God has brought into my life…because, I share one on one with anyone.
Jim took a photo of me talking, and serving water to runners with a Muslim woman whose son was running.
I have never had any negative reaction to anyone based on their evident, or even nonevident faith, when I’ve met them.
I have sat and spoken with every type of faith, sharing what we believe, and finding common ground.
This is who I am…I don’t even think about it.
I’m not saying this to be prideful…I’m saying this to share how I thought I had my heart in a good place…until the possibility of going to Muslim Immigrants was presented…and ugliness in my heart reared up! It was racist, and whatever judging someone by the actions performed by their people group is called. I was stereotyping all and I hated seeing that in my heart!

That is what Jonah was feeling! All in Nineveh deserved to die for the atrocities. And yet, God gave them the grace to repent.
Years later, Nahum preaches the destruction…and there is no repentance as a nation/city/area.

As we, as Christians, know, God does not see people groups…He sees hearts…and there is a revival within Muslim peoples…I guess it’s not a revival if it’s recognition of Jesus as Lord for the first time. Their lives are at stake when they choose Christ. They must count the cost. God is giving the Muslims the opportunity to repent, and to believe, and who am I to stand in His way> (as if I could…duh!)

I could also talk about the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah here…as Abraham was a prophet, and the angels that were to destroy those cities spoke to him before hand, and Abraham interceded for those cities…more clearly, for the righteous within them. His concern WAS his nephew, who had left his guidance and moved to this area.

Genesis 18 and Genesis 19.

Abraham prays for the deliverance of the cities for 50, 45, 40, 30, 20, 10 righteous men.
When the angels get there, they don’t even find 10.
Lot recognizes the angels, invites them in…and then, the angels have to PULL him from the city!
His wife turns to look back…an indication of her heart?…and she is destroyed.
His daughters have some crazy concepts about what they should do…and become pregnant by their father…and they birth the Moabites and Ammonites…two groups that cause problems for years to the Hebrew people! There is no evidence of repentance in this family, just that they were saved because of God’s promise to care for Abraham’s nephew – based  upon Abraham’s faith!

Given a chance to repent, in the midst of seeing everything they knew destroyed…and, possibily, because of being raised in such a deplorable place, the girls created children that would be written about throughout the Bible!

There were sins in Nineveh.
There were sins in Sodom and Gomorrah.
There are sins in the United States of America.
And God has called out man times for us to repent.

God promised Noah that he would never destroy the earth with a flood again.

Yet, we have Jesus letting us know that there is another judgement coming…and Peter writs about it. And we need to be aware!

2 Peter 3:3-7 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
3 First, be aware of this: Scoffers will come in the last days to scoff, living according to their own desires, 4 saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? Ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they have been since the beginning of creation.” 5 They willfully ignore this: Long ago the heavens and the earth were brought about from water and through water by the word of God. 6 Through these waters the world of that time perished when it was flooded. 7 But by the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

The churches around the world are having revival in huge numbers.
The churches in the United States are not showing the power of the end time age.
I confess, I am not walking in the power of the end time age!

The main thing that Nahum is speaking to me is that, in light of the opportunities we are given as Christians to repent…do we? Do we get lazy?

There’s also the point of view of the Hebrews…God has decided that they have suffered enough, and He brings judgement upon their enemies, and speaks life to Judah.

another bit from Wikipedia:

Hezekiah (/ˌhɛzɪˈkaɪ.ə/)[a] was, according to the Hebrew Bible, the son of Ahaz and the 13th king of Judah.[1] Edwin Thiele has concluded that his reign was between c. 715 and 686 BC.[2] He is considered a very righteous king by the author of the Books of Kings.[3] He is also one of the most prominent kings of Judah mentioned in the Bible and is one of the kings mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew.[4]

According to the Bible, Hezekiah witnessed the destruction of the northern Kingdom of Israel by Sargon’s Assyrians in c. 722 BC and was king of Judah during the siege of Jerusalem by Sennacherib in 701 BC.[5] Hezekiah enacted sweeping religious reforms, including a strict mandate for the sole worship of Yahweh and a prohibition on venerating other deities within the Temple of Jerusalem.[1] Isaiah and Micah prophesied during his reign.[1]

Hezekiah brought spiritual reform to Judah…repentance, and a change of their hearts.
God heard, and answered.

We can be ministers of peace, by preaching repentance…but only if we are repentant and not lazy about our walk with Christ.

Philippians 2:12 King James Version (KJV)
12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

The warnings of Jonah, and the promises of Nahum are to help us to be more like Christ in our world.

Isaiah 50 gives us a picture of Christ…but also, some instruction for our own lives, to be like Christ.

Isaiah 50:4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Obedient Servant
4 The Lord God has given Me
the tongue of those who are instructed
to know how to sustain the weary with a word.
He awakens Me each morning;
He awakens My ear to listen like those being instructed.

This is why I study the Bible.
This is why I share what the Lord speaks to me, through His word and prayer, and study guides, and yes, even Wikipedia!

I want to make sure that I, and anyone who reads this, prepare our hearts, and that we have the blessing of the Lord fighting for us…not the curse of being destroyed for being an enemy of God!

I hope you will join me for Nahum!

 
Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links.

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

RESURRECTION SUNDAY! HE IS RISEN! 4/1

He is risen INDEED!

I cannot do more than share scripture and to Sing Praise! Hallelujah! I do have a video message to share He Is Risen

THE LIGHT HAS COME BACK INTO THE WORLD! DEATH COULD NOT HOLD HIM!

My traditional Resurrection Sunday:

My Now Resurrection Celebration!

In Christ Alone – Worship Video
Up From the Grave He Arose

For Your Pleasure and Worship:
A collection of Resurrection Scriptures from Bible Study Tools!
My Easter YouTube Channel

Jesus Rainbow – a gift to you!

Jesus Rainbow Poem

Let’s worship!

Luke 24:1-12 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)Resurrection Morning
24 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they[a] came to the tomb, bringing the spices they had prepared. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb. 3 They went in but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men stood by them in dazzling clothes. 5 So the women were terrified and bowed down to the ground.[b]

“Why are you looking for the living among the dead?” asked the men. 6 “He is not here, but He has been resurrected! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, 7 saying, ‘The Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men, be crucified, and rise on the third day’?” 8 And they remembered His words.

9 Returning from the tomb, they reported all these things to the Eleven and to all the rest. 10 Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them were telling the apostles these things. 11 But these words seemed like nonsense to them, and they did not believe the women. 12 Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. When he stooped to look in, he saw only the linen cloths.[c] So he went home, amazed at what had happened.

Let’s Sing Praise!

John 20:11-18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Mary Magdalene Sees the Risen Lord
11 But Mary stood outside facing the tomb, crying. As she was crying, she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 She saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet, where Jesus’ body had been lying. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“Because they’ve taken away my Lord,” she told them, “and I don’t know where they’ve put Him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not know it was Jesus.

15 “Woman,” Jesus said to her, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Supposing He was the gardener, she replied, “Sir, if you’ve removed Him, tell me where you’ve put Him, and I will take Him away.”

16 Jesus said, “Mary.”

Turning around, she said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!”[a]—which means “Teacher.”

17 “Don’t cling to Me,” Jesus told her, “for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and tell them that I am ascending to My Father and your Father—to My God and your God.”

18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them what[b] He had said to her.

I’ve just seen Jesus – Sandi Patty and Larnelle Harris

Devotion
Phyllis Sather shares a John Piper Sermon on The Most Spectacular Sin Ever Committed. WOW! You can read more from Phyllis at Write the Vision.

My Friend Patty Hessler Scott shares some very inspiring thoughts about Good Friday – Please take a listen. You can see more of Patty at Hearts Homeward.

Early Sunday morning, God spoke to me as I prepared for my own sunrise service at home. He Is Risen!

This year, the Resurrection Sunday occurs very close to the Jewish Celebration of Passover…similar to the year Christ was crucified. I explained the Sabbaths surrounding Christ’s death on Maundy Thursday. In honor of the Jewish roots of our Resurrection Sunday – here’s a bit of Jewish flavor!

Yeshua – Messianic Passover Song!
Yeshua HaMashia

You can Print this off to color!

Let’s Rejoice!

God was not surprised…He had a plan!
He was born to Die – Shane and Shane

There is purpose for all ofus!
If that isn’t Love – the Nelsons

If you have never had the Risen Christ come into your life and make you new….PLEASE check out these links!
Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation

And then, you can join in with this song, and KNOW that it is REAL for YOUR!
It is Well With My soul – Worship Video

THIS IS CHRISTIANITY! THIS IS SALVATION! THIS IS JOY UNSPEAKABLE!
That My God would die for me, while I was yet a sinner.
And He did the same for you, and you, and YOU, and YOU!

May You be filled with Jesus Christ today!
Because He Lives – Matt Maher
He Lives – Chris Tomlin

He Is Risen!
He is Risen, Indeed!

I Serve a Risen Savior – Adam Jackson

In Christ I Rise!
Resurrection Power – Chris Tomlin

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

2018 Lent day 31 – court affairs with the Sanhedrin

Lent Devotions

Lent Week five started March 11.
Lent Week Six started March 19
These will be updated as the blogs are posted.

Lent Day 31
Court of Sanhedrin

Music

Take my life – Chris Tomlin

Scripture
There is a lot of scripture here – and, I understand that. Please read the story!

Luke 22:66-71 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
66 When daylight came, the elders[a] of the people, both the chief priests and the scribes, convened and brought Him before their Sanhedrin. 67 They said, “If You are the Messiah, tell us.”

But He said to them, “If I do tell you, you will not believe. 68 And if I ask you, you will not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the Power of God.”

70 They all asked, “Are You, then, the Son of God?”

And He said to them, “You say that I am.”

71 “Why do we need any more testimony,” they said, “since we’ve heard it ourselves from His mouth?”

Mark 14:53-65 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
53 They led Jesus away to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders, and the scribes convened. 54 Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the high priest’s courtyard. He was sitting with the temple police,[a] warming himself by the fire.[b]

55 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but they could find none. 56 For many were giving false testimony against Him, but the testimonies did not agree. 57 Some stood up and were giving false testimony against Him, stating, 58 “We heard Him say, ‘I will demolish this sanctuary made by human hands, and in three days I will build another not made by hands.’” 59 Yet their testimony did not agree even on this.

60 Then the high priest stood up before them all and questioned Jesus, “Don’t You have an answer to what these men are testifying against You?” 61 But He kept silent and did not answer anything. Again the high priest questioned Him, “Are You the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

62 “I am,” said Jesus, “and all of you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming with the clouds of heaven.”

63 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “Why do we still need witnesses? 64 You have heard the blasphemy! What is your decision?”

And they all condemned Him to be deserving of death. 65 Then some began to spit on Him, to blindfold Him, and to beat Him, saying, “Prophesy!” The temple police also took Him and slapped Him.

Matthew 26:57-68 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Jesus Faces the Sanhedrin
57 Those who had arrested Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders had convened. 58 Meanwhile, Peter was following Him at a distance right to the high priest’s courtyard. He went in and was sitting with the temple police to see the outcome.

59 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false testimony against Jesus so they could put Him to death. 60 But they could not find any, even though many false witnesses came forward. Finally, two who came forward 61 stated, “This man said, ‘I can demolish God’s sanctuary and rebuild it in three days.’”

62 The high priest then stood up and said to Him, “Don’t You have an answer to what these men are testifying against You?” 63 But Jesus kept silent. Then the high priest said to Him, “By the living God I place You under oath: tell us if You are the Messiah, the Son of God!”

64 “You have said it,” Jesus told him. “But I tell you, in the future you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of the Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

65 Then the high priest tore his robes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? Look, now you’ve heard the blasphemy! 66 What is your decision?”

They answered, “He deserves death!” 67 Then they spit in His face and beat Him; others slapped Him 68 and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah! Who hit You?”

Devotion

On Day Thirty, I talked about Jesus being mocked and smitten.
Still, he was silent, until he proclaimed Who he was.

There is a passage in Matthew, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God”

This is something that the Jews revered as a had to answer type of thing.
Once they forced him to say Who he was, they condemned him.

They could not find two witnesses to agree to condemn him!!!
Until two came up and twisted his words!

Jesus was convicted for being the Son of God. Period.

And then, the beating…and the taunting…the out right bullying.

And then, Peter denies him.

What a horrible time – unfathomable.

And yet, I wonder…do I judge Christ?

Do I say that He is the Son of God, and then not give Him the preeminence to which that position requires?
Do I demand that He prove himself to me, with fleece and miracle, rather than believe because HE IS?
Do I demand that He speak, when He has already spoken in volumes?
Yes.

My sins condemned him.
If I continue in sin, I trample his sacrifice underfoot.

Hebrews 10:26-31 King James Version (KJV)
26 For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins,

27 But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.

28 He that despised Moses’ law died without mercy under two or three witnesses:

29 Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?

30 For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people.

31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

The above with the following passage cause me to work out my own salvation with fear and trembling:

Hebrews 6:4-8 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
4 For it is impossible to renew to repentance those who were once enlightened, who tasted the heavenly gift, became companions with the Holy Spirit,
5 tasted God’s good word and the powers of the coming age,
6 and who have fallen away, because, to their own harm, they are recrucifying the Son of God and holding Him up to contempt.
7 For ground that has drunk the rain that has often fallen on it and that produces vegetation useful to those it is cultivated for receives a blessing from God.
8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is worthless and about to be cursed, and will be burned at the end.

I cannot judge the judges that judged Jesus – for they were blinded by their love of the Law and their inability to accept the grace that God’s love provides.
I have been a little levitican, and given myself rules to follow – rather than embrace God’s grace.
I have been a little rebel, and rebelled at the need to seek God’s face, and just believe, rather than SEE for myself.
I have been a sinner, that has chosen to sin, when I knew that it was not what God’s best was for me.
I have need of a savior! and I will always need a savior! And I thank God that I always have a savior!

1 John 1:5-10 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Fellowship with God
5 Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him.
6 If we say, “We have fellowship with Him,” yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing[a] the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say, “We don’t have any sin,” we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.

I can see myself in the Sanhedrin.
I wish I didn’t see myself in those that taunted Him…though I know that I question him, and his workings in my life.
I wish I couldn’t see myself in those that whipped him – but it’s by those stripes that I am healed…

Isaiah 53:5 King James Version (KJV)
5 But he was wounded for our transgressions,
he was bruised for our iniquities:
the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and with his stripes we are healed.

I am seeing myself in the Holy Week story so much, and it’s not in ways that I would like.
I am no different than Peter, who denied Christ.
I am no different than Judas, who betrayed Christ.
I am no different than the Sanhedrin, who condemned Christ, because they wanted to keep their religion pure.

And yet, Peter obtained forgiveness – and shows me how to fall at the feet of Jesus and be blessed by HIS Amazing Grace! I am so grateful that God continues to work with me! I’m so grateful that God is NOT finished with ME!

Worship and Gratitude
That’s How you Forgive – Shane and Shane
Drops in the Ocean – Hawk Nelson

Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road way to salvation.
Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Lent Week Five – upper room talks, and then the Garden (TBD 2024)

What is LENT? (a link to all of the LENT devotions)
Wikipedia has a very complete explanation for many of the Christian denominations that observe LENT.
Short and simple, it’s making oneself prepared through humility to celebrate the resurrection of the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is the Christian equivalent to Passover for the Jews.
We’ve created a facebook group to follow and discuss, please join us! – 40 days of Lent!

Lent Week Five – Upper Room Talks, and then the Garden

TBD – by Lent 2024
23 – (3/20) Spirit of Truth – John 16:5-16
24 – (3/21) Sorrow to joy – John 16:17-33 smiley face sad face flipper
?? – Upper Room – Advice – to Simon, to all Lk 31-38; John 16, maybe John 16:1-4
25 – (3/22) Jesus’ prayer for Himself – John 17:1-5
26 – (3/23) Jesus’ prayer for disciples John 17:6-19
27 – (3/24) Jesus’ prayer for believers John 17:20-26
28 – (3/25) Gethsemane – Lk 22:39-46; Mt 26:36 – John 18:1

(3-26) 4th SUNDAY WORSHIP – REMEMBER THE RESURRECTION “it is finished” guest post

Lenten Cross Instructions
Our Lenten cross in progress.

I want these to be family activities, therefore, I’m going to list a few free coloring page websites here:

 

~~~~~~~

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links:

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Older woman with shades of coral in jewelry and sweater, glasses, silver and brown hair.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

2018 Lent Day Sixteen – 3/3 Dear Peter

Lent Devotions
Lent Week Two for catch up.
Lent Week Three – this week.

We have created a facebook group to follow and discuss, please join! – 40 days of Lent!

Lent Day Sixteen
Peter Warned and falls.

Music
Peter walked on water!
Save me – Peter’s Song – Ian Calk

Matthew 26:31-35 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Peter’s Denial Predicted
31 Then Jesus said to them, “Tonight all of you will run away[a] because of Me, for it is written:

I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.[b]

32 But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

33 Peter told Him, “Even if everyone runs away because of You, I will never run away!”

34 “I assure you,” Jesus said to him, “tonight, before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times!”

35 “Even if I have to die with You,” Peter told Him, “I will never deny You!” And all the disciples said the same thing.

Matthew 26:69-75 Denial

Mark 14:27-31 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Peter’s Denial Predicted
27 Then Jesus said to them, “All of you will run away,[a][b] because it is written:

I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep will be scattered.[c]

28 But after I have been resurrected, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.”

29 Peter told Him, “Even if everyone runs away, I will certainly not!”

30 “I assure you,” Jesus said to him, “today, this very night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny Me three times!”

31 But he kept insisting, “If I have to die with You, I will never deny You!” And they all said the same thing.

Mark 14:66-72 denial

Luke 22:31-34 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Peter’s Denial Predicted
31 “Simon, Simon,[a] look out! Satan has asked to sift you[b] like wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you[c] that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

33 “Lord,” he told Him, “I’m ready to go with You both to prison and to death!”

34 “I tell you, Peter,” He said, “the rooster will not crow today until[d] you deny three times that you know Me!”

Luke 22:54-62 Denial

John 13:36-38 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Peter’s Denials Predicted
36 “Lord,” Simon Peter said to Him, “where are You going?”

Jesus answered, “Where I am going you cannot follow Me now, but you will follow later.”

37 “Lord,” Peter asked, “why can’t I follow You now? I will lay down my life for You!”

38 Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for Me? I assure you: A rooster will not crow until you have denied Me three times.

John 18:15-18 and John 18:25-27

Devotion
Peter’s loyalty tested

I love Peter! I see myself in some of Peter, and there are parts of Peter that I wish I saw in myself. I see myself in Peter in the ways that his mouth opens up and says things before he really thinks it through! I wish that I saw in myself the courage to step out of the boat by just asking Jesus “call me” and I will come walk to you on the water. Peter was willing to take up a sword to fight for Jesus.
Peter was willing to argue with Jesus about whether or not he should died in Jerusalem and whether or not he should have his feet washed or his whole body washed. Now those aren’t necessarily things that I would like to have as part of my walk except that Peter had this courageous faith. Yes, sometimes he was off in his application, but he was wholeheartedly following the Lord. I think that pleased the Lord!

It’s easier to steer a ship that is moving, than one that is standing still!

With this background, when Jesus says that there’s someone here who will betrays him and whatever and Peter says
“no not me”,
it had to take him a back to be told
“oh Peter, before the cock crows twice you will have denied me thrice.

Jesus loved Peter so much, even though he was impetuous and kind of a wild kind of guy. when Jesus knew that the devil was asking to attack Peter so Jesus prayed specifically that the devil would not prevail against Peter.

Luke 22:31-32 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
Peter’s Denial Predicted
31 “Simon, Simon,[a] look out! Satan has asked to sift you[b] like wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you[c] that your faith may not fail. And you, when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

  • Peter walked on water! Matthew 14:22-33
  • Peter declared Christ was the Son of God! Matthew 16:13-17
  • Peter was one of the chosen three, Peter, James and John, that went with Jesus to the Mount of transfigurarion. Matthew 17
  • Peter was the one Jesus went up to and specifically made a point of asking him to feed his sheep. John 21:15-17

He was warned!
I don’t know about you but sometimes I think if I’m told I’m going to mess up in the area, I’m going to do all I can to not mess up!. I am sure that Peter was preparing to not do anything that could set him up for denying him. Wouldn’t you? Peter had lifted a sword and cut off the ear of one that came to take Jesus away (Mt 26:51-54, lk 22:50;Mk 14:47; John 18:10-11)! Yet, when he was face to face with accusations, he crumbled.

In John 18, we hear that Peter got into the courtyard because John(who always referred to himself as “a disciple”) knew the high priest and was able to get Peter in, though he would stay in the courtyard. Apparently those guys from Nazareth had as unique of an accent as folks that we here in America recognize as from New York, Boston or let’s say those that come from Jamaica.

As far as I’m concerned all the southern types of accents have started rolling together for me, though many years ago, when I knew which cousins were from what state, I could differentiate between the southern states. Not anymore.

Peter didn’t keep his mouth shut, or at least when someone else said “hey I saw you with that man Jesus!” he said no not me. He was exposed because of his accent. On the other hand, if you want to see this a different way, this was Passover. Everybody from Israel, every Jew that could make it, was in Jerusalem for Passover. He could have hidden amongst all the visitors! He just denied it.

“No, not me!”
Cockadoodledoo

Then another denial.

And another, which is stated he started to curse, which is the third

Cockadoodledoo

I’m just combining the different gospels….

As it would happen, Peter looked up and saw Jesus being marched off and Jesus looked into his eyes and their eyes met. Peter realized what had happened. Luke 22:61. All of the gospels says he went off and wept bitterly.

How does this relate when you look at Judas?

Judas was certain that Jesus was on the wrong path, and he turned him over to the high priest.

I don’t think Peter was questioning Jesus’s path, but he was finding out that he wasn’t so quick to want to die for Jesus.

Judas was willing to take money to turn Jesus over. It doesn’t say that they were going to kill him, but that they were going to take Jesus into custody.

Peter was not willing to put his life on the line and pay the cost to be associated with Jesus.

When both men realized what they had done, they went into deep despair.
Peter went back to fishing, figuring he was unworthy to serve the Lord. He may have not known anything else to do, because his whole plan was to walk with Jesus and now Jesus was dead. “Now what do we do?” He did what he needed to do, he went back to fishing.
Judas tried to get rid of the “blood” money he had gotten for turning Jesus in, and the Pharisees basically said “it’s not our problem that’s your problem”. Judas took his own life.

I have to wonder, like I said in the blog about Judas,
did he miss the concept of forgiveness?
Did he miss the concept that there was going to be a price to be paid and that then there would be grace?
Did he miss that Jesus allowed him to participate even though Jesus knew that he was a thief?

Then I wonder, what did Peter know the Judas didn’t?
Did Peter have some basis of Faith like David in Psalm 22, Psalm 23, Psalm 51 and Psalm 55(to list a few) that somehow God was a loving God and fully intended to forgive?

When I get to the itty bitty bible study on 1st and 2nd Peter I’m going to be looking at what theme does Peter have, in order to see where his understanding about Jesus is.

Then again, his understanding changed dramatically when he and Jesus stood on the beach after Jesus rose again.
It also probably changed in the upper room, both when Jesus came to see them, and the wonderful story in Acts 2 and Peter preached the whole BIBLE!

I wonder what Peter learned from his experience with JESUS. When Peter stepped out of the boat in faith and walked on the water, and then he looked around at the storm and he took his eyes off Jesus, and said “Lord Jesus save me”, and Jesus reached out his hands and caught him. I wonder, did that impact Peters understanding that Jesus knows we’re going to mess up, and Jesus would forgive. This experience had to be enormously impactful to this fisherman!

There is only one way that we will know. That is when we stand before Jesus and we start celebrating with all the saints that have gone before us, and we can look at Peter and say “hey what’s up? What did you know the Judas didn’t?”

The next thing that I think of every time I talk about what I’m going to ask God about when I get to heaven is this; will I care?

So there’s a couple of points that I take from Peters confession of loyalty, denial, an ultimate forgiveness and call to walk in his calling.

1. Never be so arrogant as to assume that I cannot stumble and fall. Pride does go before a fall and a haughty spirit Before Destruction(Proverbs 16:18). There’s a reason this and other Bible verses exist! Humility! Christ was humble. Humility is one of the key character qualities God wants in our lives. 2nd Chronicles 7:14 says if my people who are called by my name shall humble themselves and seek my face and turn from their Wicked Ways then I will hear them and then I will heal their land. There’s a few stops in that verse.

    1. MY People
    2. Humble themselves
    3. Seek my face
    4. Turn from their Wicked Ways

    How did Peter do?

    • Peter walked with Christ, and was counted as one of ‘them’.
    • Peter humbled himself, weeping bitterly in repentance.
    • When he heard that Jesus had risen from the dead he didn’t just seek him, he ran. as much as he could. to the Grave.
    • Then when Jesus confronted him, Peter turned from his Wicked Ways.
    • God healed his relationship with Jesus.


    2. Short accounts
    Of course I’m not going to hold anything against Peter for going off and going back to fishing or whatever, because, come on! Jesus was dead! Peter didn’t have 1st John to explain that he could go to Jesus for forgiveness.

    But we can recognize once we realize that we have sinned that we need to go to Jesus and ask for forgiveness. That’s in 1st John 1:9 – 2:3. The longer we wallow in despair over sin, the longer it takes for us to be forgiven.

    Peter’s letter talks about “if you humble yourself under the mighty hand of God he will lift you up in due time.”

    1 Peter 5:6-7 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
    6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that He may exalt you at the proper time,[a] 7 casting all your care on Him, because He cares about you.

    Then, there’s this verse:

    Proverbs 3:11-12 King James Version (KJV)
    11 My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction:
    12 For whom the Lord loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.

    It shows that chastisement confirms that we are his children, and we can rejoice because we know that we’re being taught a lesson! That goes with James!

    James 1:2-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
    Trials and Maturity
    2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials,
    3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
    4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

    I believe that this is the key difference between Peter and Judas. I’m not sure Judas ever made the full transition into being adopted as a child of God. Whereas Peter knew something was going to happen, he just didn’t understand what. Also, this became part of Peter’s testimony and teachings!

    3. Another part of this test is be ready to be confronted and convicted. Here’s another difference between Peter and Judas.

    Peter was convicted,
    Judas was condemned.

    The Holy Spirit Will convict us of sin and that is our chastisement to teach us to turn away from sin.
    The enemy condemns us and that turns to self-destruction. “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” Romans 8:1!

    There is conviction,
    There is chastisement, and just like the 2 Chronicles 7:14 verse, the point is to cause us to turn away from sin so that God can heal our land.

    In James’s explanation of prayer for the sick it says “if any has committed any sins let him confess their sins and they will be healed.” Peter didn’t need to confess to Jesus, because he was looking eye-to-eye at Jesus just as the cock crowed. Jesus still confronted him “Peter do you love me? Then feed my sheep.”

    There are some teachings about which Greek word was used each time Jesus said Peter do you love me as in which word love whether it’s agape or whether it’s phileo. Thoughtco.com has a great explanation of the four types of love in the Bible.
    In John 21, Jesus asked do you agape love me and Peter said Lord you know I phileo love you. Jesus wanted Peter to say I agape love you, Yet Jesus gives up, and simply asks Peter the third time, do you phileo love me?

    Jesus would not allow Peter to wallow in his sin.
    Jesus would not allow Peter to be crippled by the sin.
    Jesus made sure in the time he had between his resurrection and his Ascension that he got Peter pointed on the right path.

    I have no idea how things may have been different for Judas if he understood a little bit more about mercy and Grace. Someone had to turn Jesus in I suppose, otherwise there wouldn’t have been the fulfilled prophecy about the 30 pieces of silver. I don’t know.

    I do know that
    I depend on the faithfulness of God’s love, Mercy, Grace, and forgiveness, as taught by Jesus Christ before he died on the cross for my sins.
    I depend on Jesus Christ as my Advocate with the father.
    I depend on Jesus Christ understanding what I’m going through so that he can help me and give me leading and give me guidance.
    I depend on the Holy Spirit dwelling Within Me to teach me and to guide me and to comfort me and to cause me to grow into the fullness of God.
    I depend on my father God to keep his promise the by my believing on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ I am a new creation all things all old things are passed away and all things are created new and by leaning on God, I can become more and more like Jesus everyday.

    That is what I see from the life of Peter. He goes from the older fisherman, to a teacher, miracle worker, being sent forth by Jesus to an apostle that helps start the very Foundation of the Christian Movement. He also was part of the leadership the interactive with Paul.

    At the end of Peter’s life we’re told that not only did he give his life for Christ, but that he chose to be hung on a cross upside down. He said he was not worthy to be hung in the same manner as his Lord. He did have the opportunity to give the ultimate sacrifice for his Lord.

    I can’t imagine the gospel story without Peter.
    I am so thankful he said yes to follow Christ.
    I am so thankful that in the gospels we see him as such an exuberant follower. And
    I am so thankful that we have the story of his denial followed by the story of Christ specifically calling him to feed his sheep because we all in some way, big or small, everyday, deny Christ.

    All of us rise from some fantastic spiritual high and say “Yes Lord call me to walk on the water”.
    All of us have seen the storms we take our eyes off Christ and we start to sink and we need to cry out “Save Me Lord!” At least I think everyone.
    I know I do.
    And I am thankful that the apostles, the disciples, the leaders of the beginning of the Christian church, were not perfect. Looking at their lives gives me hope!

    My question to you is, again, are you at Judas or a Peter?

    Do you know about the forgiveness of sins for those who seek God and desire to be a child of God?

    Got Questions provides a detailed explanation of The Roman’s Road.
    Billy Graham’s version of the Plan of salvation

    My other question, in light of Judas from the previous day of Lent, are you despairing?
    Do you feel that God has given up on you?

    For the third Sunday in Lent I’m talking about Jesus crying out “my God my God why has Thou forsaken me?” I suggest you read that and if you need more help with despair and depression that causes you to consider harming yourself, please go to my post about suicide, or call 1-800-273-TALK for help right now. Once you have taken your own life, there is no hope to be changed, healed, delivered, empowered, and set free. The time for that is before suicide.

    Prayer and Worship
    I have decided to Follow Jesus – Elevation Worship
    Give me Faith – Elevation Worship
    Give My Life to YOU/Our King has Come – Elevation Worship
    You make me Brave – Amanda Cook and Bethel Music
    No longer a Slave – Bethel Worship

  2. ~~~~~~~Hi!
    My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links:

    Thanks for joining me in this journey,
    In His hands and under His wings,
    ~Christi
    Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

    Older woman with shades of coral in jewelry and sweater, glasses, silver and brown hair.

    M. Christine Wildman

    “The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
    If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
    If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” –     from My Utmost for His highest

    Copyrights and Legal-eze
    There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

2018 Lent Day Nine – Judas’ betrayal – 3-3-2023

Lent Devotions
Lent Week Two
We have created a facebook group to follow and discuss, please join! – 40 days of Lent!

Lent Day Nine
Are you a Judas?

MUSIC –
Hymns Mash Up by anthem Lights

Scripture:

Luke 22 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
The Plot to Kill Jesus
22 The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is called Passover, was drawing near. 2 The chief priests and the scribes were looking for a way to put Him to death, because they were afraid of the people.

3 Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, who was numbered among the Twelve. 4 He went away and discussed with the chief priests and temple police how he could hand Him over to them. 5 They were glad and agreed to give him silver.[a] 6 So he accepted the offer and started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him to them when the crowd was not present.

Matthew 26:14-16 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
14 Then one of the Twelve—the man called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” So they weighed out 30 pieces of silver for him. 16 And from that time he started looking for a good opportunity to betray Him.

Mark 14:10-11

Devotion
This comes after the woman anointing Jesus.

Mark 14:4-5 (HCSB)
4 But some were expressing indignation to one another: “Why has this fragrant oil been wasted? 5 For this oil might have been sold for more than 300 denarii and given to the poor.” And they began to scold her.

Matthew 26:8-9(HCSB)
8 When the disciples saw it, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. 9 “This might have been sold for a great deal and given to the poor.”

Matthew 26:14(HSCB) Then one of the Twelve—the man called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests

John calls out Judas:

John 12:4-6 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
4 Then one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot (who was about to betray Him), said, 5 “Why wasn’t this fragrant oil sold for 300 denarii[a] and given to the poor?” 6 He didn’t say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He was in charge of the money-bag and would steal part of what was put in it.

Here’s an interesting picture of Judas.
He’s known to be a thief…and he’s put in charge of the money bag.
Was Jesus surprised? NO!

John 6:70-71 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
70 Jesus replied to them, “Didn’t I choose you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is the Devil!” 71 He was referring to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son,[a][b] one of the Twelve, because he was going to betray Him.

Satan entered Judas…how does that happen?
In studying Romans, I’ve watched a teaching by Tommy Nelson, Romans, the letter that changed the world. In Romans 3, he points out the progression of the clean man to devolve into the degenerate man.

Romans 3 HCSB
The Whole World Guilty before God(PROGRESSION OF DEGENERATION – note and emphasis mine)
9 What then? Are we any better? Not at all! For we have previously charged that both Jews and Gentiles are all under sin,

(ESTATE OF MAN)
10 as it is written:
There is no one righteous, not even one.
(EXTENT OF SIN-MIND, WILL AND HEART)
11 There is no one who understands;
there is no one who seeks God.
(EFFECT OF SIN – WHOLE BODY IS CURSED)
12 All have turned away;(FEET)
all alike have become useless.
There is no one who does what is good,(HANDS)
not even one.
(EXPRESSION OF SIN)
13 Their throat is an open grave;
they deceive with their tongues.
Vipers’ venom is under their lips.
14 Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
15 Their feet are swift to shed blood;
16 ruin and wretchedness are in their paths,
17 and the path of peace they have not known.
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Another part of this goes with Romans 1 – another progression into degeneration:
Romans 1:18-32

The keys in both are these:

Romans 1:21 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
21 For though they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God or show gratitude. Instead, their thinking became nonsense, and their senseless minds were darkened.

Romans 3:18 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.[a]

I don’t believe that Judas was aware of the progression going on in his heart…but Jesus was.

  • Adam and Eve – did Eve realize that her heart had gone from fully relying on God…to listening to the enemy? Genesis 3
  • Cain – God gave him the opportunity Genesis 4
  • Samson – didn’t even realise that the Spirit of God had left him….Judges 13
  • Ananias was asked by Peter -what has gotten into you? Acts 5

Jesus KNEW that we would be tempted…JESUS KNOWS that we have a tendency to fall backwards if we are not specifically choosing to move forwards.
We just completed a series preached by Pastor Jimmy Knott on Spiritual Growth.
Pastor Jimmy’s Ministry Page
I wish I could make available to you the booklet he and his wife created for figuring out why we are stuck in our walks, what we need to do to get unstuck, and how to MOVE FORWARD in our Spiritual Walk with Jesus.
He explained that we grow on a spiritual continuum – from

  • Exploring Christ(Seeking) to
  • Growing in Christ(Little Children) to
  • Close to Christ(Young Adults) and onto
  • Christ Centered (Spiritual Fathers and Mothers).

Yes, we move forward, slip back, move between areas…but the movement must be forward, or, we actually we are slipping backward.
Bill Owens – We know that, when it comes to technology and the economy, if you’re not constantly moving forward, then – without a doubt – you’re moving backwards.

Gorbachev – “If you don’t move forward, sooner or later you begin to move backward.”

The progression in Romans 1 & 3 would confirm these quotes.

Jesus pled with the disciples at Gethsemane to Watch and Pray that they not fall into temptation! Matthew 26:41
Jesus told Peter that Satan had a target on his back! Luke 22:321
Paul wrote much about being aware of the enemy’s schemes.

I think the point I take from today’s study is that we have to be watching out to whom we are listening. We’ve looked at making sure we hear God’s voice, and making sure we respond with a yes. Judas had Jesus RIGHT THERE WITH HIM and somehow he got lost in the money.
There’s two more parts to Judas’s story – the betrayal, and then, his total despair ending in suicide. From a trusted disciple, sent out with power to heal, and whose feet were washed by Jesus, to the betrayer of the Lord of Light and Life, to a victim of his own suicide. A sad progression.

Listening to the enemy is death.
It’s what happened to Adam and Eve, they began to die, and an animal had to be slain on their behalf.
It’s what happened to Cain and Abel – Abel dead, and Cain sent away.
It’s what happened to Ananias and Saphira – both struck dead for lying to the Holy Spirit.

Even worse, it’s what happened to Samson – not even knowing the Spirit had left him – and his life was destroyed. I do not ever want to be so blind that I don’t even notice that the Spirit of God is no longer with me!

Proverbs 4:18-19 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
18 The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,
shining brighter and brighter until midday.
19 But the way of the wicked is like the darkest gloom;
they don’t know what makes them stumble.

Jesus begs us to believe in The Light – as I wrote in Lent day Eight.
Jesus doesn’t want us to stumble, and fall, and die.

Prayer and Worship
Come Thou Fount – by Chris Rice

 

~~~~~~~

Hi!
My hope in the midst of despair and my joy in the face of depression is because of my relationship with Jesus Christ. If you do not have one, or are not sure you will join him in heaven, please check out these links:

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

Older woman with shades of coral in jewelry and sweater, glasses, silver and brown hair.

M. Christine Wildman

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

Copyrights and Legal-eze
There are many organizations that support children and families. Here are ones that we are blessed to be a part of. Please consider sponsoring a child – the life you change could be your own.

Itty Bitty Bible Study – Obadiah 1:1-9

My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook. (join if you’d like to get these in fb!) The conversation starts Monday, January 29th.

updated insert on the dating of the book – via J. Vernon McGee:

“Either this was written as prophecy before it happened or it is a historical record of what did happen. The natural interpretation, of course, is to accept it as history rather than prophecy, which places the date of Obadiah’s prophecy around 587 b.c., after the Babylonian captivity and during the ministry of the prophet Jeremiah.”

Another date suggested is 887 BC – which is much earlier, and would have it be prophetic. Either way, the message is just as important today as it was whenever God sent this prophet!

Many many moons ago, when I was still a semi young lass, I hopmeschooled my children. As their teacher, I taught them that the first thing to do when researching a project,is to look for the children’s books on said topic. WHY? Because the authors make it simple for the children to understand, and they also hit on the most important points! When I found this children’s bible study post for Obadiah, it was PERFECT !
Sometimes, when it is difficult to understand a particular topic, go to the children’s aisle!

Obadiah 1:1-9 AMP
Obadiah 1:1-9 The Message

Verse 1 means nothing if one does not believe that God,the creator of the universe, spoke to men and women in times past to speak His word.
I believe that is is true for today, as well, because of Acts 2:17-18

“‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.

I differentiate between someone prophesying and the cannon of scripture. The books we have in our Bible have been vetted, and challenged, and compared to the other books. We aren’t going to be adding words to the bible any time soon…in fact…Bible Gateway did the work to compile three verses: Deut 4:2, Deut 12:32 and Rev 22:18
Also, in the last days, the instructions to those that prophesy is that other prophets are supposed to test the spirits(1 Corinthians 14); – I would imagine that years ago, they didn’t just embrace anyone that said “thus sayeth the Lord” without doing their due diligence!

This prophecy is one that was vetted over centuries, and is considered worthy of being in the cannon of scripture.

Moving on, in my effort to find the simplest version, I read this in the Message:

The Message verse 2-4
“Listen to this, Edom:
I’m turning you to a no-account,
the runt of the godless nations, despised.
You thought you were so great,
perched high among the rocks, king of the mountain,
Thinking to yourself,
‘Nobody can get to me! Nobody can touch me!’
Think again. Even if, like an eagle,
you hang out on a high cliff-face,
Even if you build your nest in the stars,
I’ll bring you down to earth.”
God’s sure Word.

Yes, I do read the Bible from different versions. The Message just made me laugh!

The point is, in whichever version, that Edom(the descendents of Esau) had lifted themselves high, over their brethren, Judah.

There are three sins from the beginning of creation.

1 John 2:16
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Eve illustrated all f them for us when she open the door to sin in the world!

Genesis 3:6
So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate.

This passage(Obadiah) is talking about Edom boasting – pride of life…

James 4:16 warns:
As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.

King Nebachnezzar was brought down by his pride in Daniel 4 & 5.
The Devil was brought down by pride! Ezekiel 28:12-19 and
Isaiah 14:12-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

12 “How you are fallen from heaven,
O Day Star, son of Dawn!
How you are cut down to the ground,
you who laid the nations low!
13 You said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to heaven;
above the stars of God
I will set my throne on high;
I will sit on the mount of assembly
in the far reaches of the north;[a]
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’

Verse 3, of Obadiah 1 says The pride of your heart has decieved you,

Proverbs 8:13 King James Version (KJV)
13 The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

Proverbs 9:10
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.
(Proverbs 1:7 & 22)

Psalm 14:1
The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.”
They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds;
there is none who does good.
(Psalm 10:4, Psalm 53:1)

I looked up a few verses on pride, because:

PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL, OR DESTRUCTION:

Proverbs 16:18-19
18 Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.
19 Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.

Proverbs 11:2
Proverbs 18:12
Proverbs 29:23

Isaiah 2:11-12 King James Version (KJV)
11 The lofty looks of man shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down, and the Lord alone shall be exalted in that day.
12 For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up; and he shall be brought low:

And then, in the end times – the curse is proclaimed against Babylon – and this is not specific to Babylon the place…but Babylon the heart. Revelation 18

Pride is a horrible sin.
In my life, it seems that every sin I commit, I can trace back to pride.
I know that God said there were three sins…lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and the (boastful) pride of life….but, in my life, I’ve narrowed it down to PRIDE!
Lust of the flesh – I DESERVE THIS!
Lust of the eyes – I DESERVE THIS!
Boastful pride of life – I AM SO AMAZING THAT I DESERVE ALL THE GOOD THINGS, ALL THE WONDERFUL THINGS, ALL THE ACCOLADES, ALL THE CREDIT…etc., etc., etc.

Obadiah verses 5-9 talk about how BAD Edom was….
comparing their behavior(which is explained in verses 10-14) to the typcial run of the mill criminal…THEY WERE WORSE!
And therefore, God is going to judge them.

And, in my life…what about my pride?
Does it hurt others?
Probably, yes…in that I would lift myself above others.

Luke 14:11 English Standard Version (ESV)
11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Moses is honored for being humble:

Numbers 12:3 Amplified Bible (AMP)
3 (Now the man Moses was very humble (gentle, kind, devoid of self-righteousness), more than any man who was on the face of the earth.)
Exodus 33:11

It is not being Christlike!
When Christ offers us rest, he described himself as meek and lowly, or, in the Amplified Version:

Matthew 11:29 Amplified Bible (AMP)
29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me [following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls.

Christ promises blessings to those that are meek – which is translated humble in the AMP version.

Matthew 5:5 Amplified Bible (AMP)
5 “Blessed [inwardly peaceful, spiritually secure, worthy of respect] are the gentle [the kind-hearted, the sweet-spirited, the self-controlled], for they will inherit the earth.
Footnotes:
Matthew 5:5 Or humble, meek.

The Psalmists says God will lift up the humble!
Ps 147:6
Ps 149:4

God spoke to Solomon:

2 Chronicles 7:14
14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Isaiah calls out:

Isaiah 2:17
The arrogance of man will be brought low and human pride humbled; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day,

James – dear James says it this way:

James 4:6-10
6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[a] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

We are called to love everyone – even our enemies.
God loved us first so that we could love.

More concerning to me about pride is that it lifts us up above God. If we place ourselves above God, then what have we done? Idolotry.
God will not share his glory with another – Isa 42:8, and very clearly stated that we were not to set up anything gods before HIM!

Exodus 20:1-6 King James Version (KJV)
20 1 And God spake all these words, saying,
2 I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.
3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.
5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me;
6 And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

Once I recognize pride as the sin of idolotry – then, we have to look at Revelation for the final judgement for idolotry!

Revelation 21:8 English Standard Version (ESV)
8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

We’ve all heard the parable of the pharisee and the tax collector(publican) praying.
This is what Jesus had to say: Luke 18:9-14

13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.
14 I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

In my signature line is a quote from My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers:

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

I looked for the cure, and found one in 1 Corinthians 5:6-7

1 Corinthians 5:6-7 English Standard Version (ESV)
6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

This is how we ought to think:

Romans 12:3
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.

Oh Lord, I want to be delivered from the sin of Esau, and all others that are our examples of raising themselves above You! I want to confess the sin of Pride in my life, and ask that you help me to see clearly so that I can root out every seed.
I want to recognize not only who I am in Christ, but WHY I am in Christ, and that is by grace, and not of myself, but it is a gift of God – Ephesians 2:8-10

But, I also thank you Lord, for showing that you are strong on behalf of those that humble themselves under your hand, and that if we draw near to you, YOU WILL DRAW NEAR TO US. James 4:6-10

Lord, I pray:

Psalm 51:10-12 English Standard Version (ESV)
10 Create in me a clean heart, O God,
and renew a right[a] spirit within me.
11 Cast me not away from your presence,
and take not your Holy Spirit from me.
12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and uphold me with a willing spirit.

In Jesus’s name, AMEN.

Psalm 94 is an excellent parallel chapter to this section of Obadiah – and probably the whole book. In the ESV it’s titled, the Lord will not Forsake His People!

More information on Obadiah is available at Obadiah Introduction
next, Obadiah 1:10-16.

 

Jim & Christi 2017

 

Thanks for joining me in this journey,
In His hands and under His wings,
~Christi
Ps 63:7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings.

“The Lord does not give me rules, but He makes His standard very clear.
If my relationship to Him is that of love, I will do what He says without hesitation.
If I hesitate, it is because I love someone I have placed in competition with Him, namely, myself.” – from My Utmost for His highest

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