Romans 15:4 "For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."
13-16 So roll up your sleeves, get your head in the game, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”
The Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Training to become a pilot involves hours and hours of intense preparation.
Some of this training takes place in flight simulators where the intensity is high enough to induce sweating and stress. Why are pilots subjected to such rigorous training? So they can learn to make the right decisions when it really matters!
When it comes to our Christian purity, it is too often the case that people will fall into sin because they try to make vital decisions in the heat of the moment.
That, under no circumstances, just won’t cut it. If we are going to maintain purity, we need to pray for choices in advance and on the basis of God’s word.
This is why Peter tells us to prepare our “minds for action … being sober-minded.”
The King James Version translates this verse, “Gird up the loins of your mind.”
In other words, we are to prepare ourselves to keep control of our minds—to get a grip of our thought processes—figure out what Paul calls – Self Control so that we’re able to run wisely after what is good and flee, far from what is evil.
If we do not prepare our minds for action, then we will be easily seducible and prone to highly questionable impulse control, poor decision making, tragedy.
We will tend to make difficult, life-altering decisions in the heat of the moment when our emotions are engaged, our lustful worldly desires are shouting at us.
But a life of purity does not happen by accident; it is a conscious act of absolute determination prompted by God’s Spirit, guided by His word, prayed for over and over again, being patient with the Holy Spirit, then enabled by His power.
We need to make a commitment to purity, as the psalmist did when he said,
“I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules” (Psalm 119:106).
Psalm 119:105-112 The Message
105-112 By your words I can see where I’m going; they throw a beam of light on my dark path. I’ve committed myself and I’ll never turn back from living by your righteous order. Everything’s falling apart on me, God; put me together again with your Word. Adorn me with your finest sayings, God; teach me your holy rules. My life is as close as my own hands, but I don’t forget what you have revealed. The wicked do their best to throw me off track, but I don’t swerve an inch from your course. I inherited your book on living; it’s mine forever— what a gift! And how happy it makes me! I concentrate on doing exactly what you say— I always have and always will.
I sincerely pray that you will make your commitment before it’s too late.
And here’s a suggestion for the kind of commitment to make: determine to live in the center of the narrow way, not on the edge.
The young man in Proverbs 7 who fell prey to the temptation of a “forbidden woman” was living on the edge; he was “passing along the street near her corner, taking the road to her house in the twilight” (Proverbs 7:5, 8-9).
Proverbs 7:5-12 The Message
Dressed to Seduce
7 1-5 Dear friend, do what I tell you; treasure my careful instructions. Do what I say and you’ll live well. My teaching is as precious as your eyesight—guard it! Write it out on the back of your hands; etch it on the chambers of your heart. Talk to Wisdom as to a sister. Treat Insight as your companion. They’ll be with you to fend off the Temptress— that smooth-talking, honey-tongued Seductress.
6-12 As I stood at the window of my house looking out through the shutters, Watching the mindless crowd stroll by, I spotted a young man without any sense Arriving at the corner of the street where she lived, then turning up the path to her house. It was dusk, the evening coming on, the darkness thickening into night. Just then, a woman met him— she’d been lying in wait for him, dressed to seduce him. Brazen and brash she was, restless and roaming, never at home, Walking the streets, loitering in the mall, hanging out at every corner in town.
The Bible’s lesson is clear:
yield not to the obvious temptation
don’t get yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
There is nothing to be gained from living on the edge when it comes to purity.
Make your commitment before the temptation confronts you, so that when the evil day comes, you will be ready to say, “No, I already made that decision.”
Keep your life in the center of the narrow way and determine to stay there.
On the day when Christ Jesus returns and by grace His people stand around His throne, none of us will say that the pursuit of holiness was not worth the effort.
Transformation Takes Our Effort and Perseverance
Romans 5:4-5 The Message
3-5 There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we’re never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!
We often prize the wonders of ability.
The decathlon, marathon and triathlon athlete have amazing physical abilities.
The Ivy League scholars have phenomenal capacities, learning, mental abilities.
But if they don’t stick to it, put abilities to work, they won’t accomplish much.
If we want change, we have to be willing to work hard, harder, hardest hardcore for it. If we don’t put in enough effort, we won’t bring any truly positive change.
Authors who have written a stack of books will tell you that the very top secret ingredient was the effort it took for them to get up earlier each day to write.
Great inventors will boast of, relate to, the failed efforts it took to bring an idea to its finished product. Sports figures will tell you to practice, practice, practice.
The Christian life is 100 percent God’s work. The resurrection of Savior Christ runs through our veins. But the Christian life is also 100 percent human effort.
Peter urges us to first gird ourselves, prepare our minds for action. The Greek expression here literally means to pull up one’s robe and get ready for action.
Then Peter instructs us to persevere all the way to the end through self-control.
We have to set aside very strongest of armor that does not, and never will fit us, set our prayers upon Jesus, continue to be obedient through responsible effort.
The Christian life is absolute hard work from beginning to end.
Transformation takes our disciplined mental powers, willpower, and our steadfast and authentic and genuine commitment 100 octane to our bibles.
Galatians 5:22-24 The Message
22-23 But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
But thankfully even our best finite, temporary, human efforts, are a gift of God.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 1 The Message
1 How well God must like you— you don’t walk in the ruts of those blind-as-bats, you don’t stand with the good-for-nothings, you don’t take your seat among the know-it-alls.
2-3 Instead you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom.
4-5 You’re not at all like the wicked, who are mere windblown dust— Without defense in court, unfit company for innocent people.
6 God charts the road you take. The road they take leads to nowhere.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
8 Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, descendant of David, according to my gospel, 9 [a]for which I suffer hardship even to imprisonment as a criminal; but the word of God is not imprisoned. 10 For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, so that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. 11 It is a trustworthy statement:
For if we died with Him, we will also live with Him; 12 If we endure, we will also reign with Him; If we [b]deny Him, He also will deny us; 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself.
An Unashamed Workman
14 Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. 15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Way back, just before I graduated from Senior High School, I remember an old saying from my final meeting with my guidance counselor about mentoring and being mentored, then mentoring and apprenticeships goes something like this:
“first we meet, then I do, you watch; I do, you help; You do, I help; You do, I watch.”
Rabbi Jesus called, trained his disciples in much the same way as this, and they passed along to others what they learned from him. An apprentice commits to learning from a master and then becomes experienced and able to teach others.
In our Scripture reading for today, Apostle Paul urges Timothy to remember his training and to teach it, pass it along, to reliable people who can teach others.
By his grace, God wants to be in relationship with us in Christ, to fill us with his Holy Spirit, and to show us how to live fully, lie impactfully, edifyingly, so that we share all this with generations of others. God wants us to be his apprentices.
A powerful image in TheScrewtape Letters by C.S. Lewis illustrates this well.
This unusual book is written from the perspective of a demon (or devil) who is attempting to explain God’s great plan for humankind:
“One must face the fact that all the talk about [God’s] love for men, and His service being perfect freedom, is not (as one would just gladly believe) mere propaganda, but an appalling truth. [God] really does want to fill the universe with a lot of loathsome little replicas of Himself—creatures whose life, on its miniature scale, will be qualitatively like His own . . . because their wills freely conform to His.”
What does 2 Timothy 2:9 mean?
8 Remember Jesus Christ [the ever-living Lord who has] risen from the dead, [as the prophesied King] descended from David [king of Israel], according to my gospel [the good news that I preach], 9 for that [gospel] I am suffering even to [the point of] wearing chains like a criminal; but the word of God is not chained or neither is it imprisoned![Amplified Version]
Verse 9 continues Paul’s sentence from verse 8, noting that it is the gospel “for which I am suffering.” He had done nothing illegal except to proclaim Christ. Yet he was “bound with chains as a criminal.”
Paul has already mentioned his chains (2 Timothy 1:16).
In this particular case, this likely means literal chains on his hands and/or feet, similar to Peter in Acts 12:6.
Unlike Paul’s 1st Roman imprisonment, in which he lived in his own apartment for two years under house arrest, this imprisonment was much more serious.
Paul expected he would not live much longer, that at any time Emperor Nero will summarily remove his head, but rather would suffer till the end for Christ.
In contrast to Paul’s situation, he expresses his joy in knowing that the truth of the gospel, under no circumstances could not be restrained! Even from his cell and in heavy chains, Paul communicated God’s truth that influenced Timothy, his congregation, other early churches, and became part of the New Testament.
Today, If we were the one’s bound by the heaviest chains, being imprisoned in the most inescapable of prisons, would we be able to say Paul’s message here is a continued cycle-“that Great Cloud of Witnesses leading generations forward?
Exodus 13:20-22 Easy-to-Read Version
The Lord Leads His People
20 The Israelites left Succoth and camped at Etham. Etham was near the desert. 21 The Lord led the way. During the day, he used a tall cloud to lead the people. And during the night, he used a tall column of fire to lead the way. This fire gave them light so that they could also travel at night. 22 The cloud was always with them during the day, and the column of fire was always with them at night.
As millions of Jews were led forward out of bondage in Egypt by a continuous line of clouds to the Mountain of God where they would receive their teachings?
“first we meet, then I do, you watch; I do, you help; You do, I help; You do, I watch.”
Still today, the Word of God given through Paul impacts lives around the world.
Hebrews 4:11-13 Amplified Bible
11 Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest [of God, to know and experience it for ourselves], so that no one will fall by following the same example of disobedience [as those who died in the wilderness]. 12 For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged [a]sword, penetrating as far as the division of the [b] soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And not a creature exists that is concealed from His sight, but all things are open and exposed, and revealed to the eyes of Him with whom we have to give account.
Hebrews 4:12 clearly teaches, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”
Kingdom Transformation Through Excellence
We are highly motivated when reaching toward a goal. Our adrenaline flows, our creative juices churn, and our mind works overtime at solving the problems that stand higher than sky high in the way of achieving God’s vision for our life.
In our biblical text today, Paul sternly instructs his apprentice Timothy,
“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed.”
Paul was not content, nor satisfied, with anything but the best. He highly valued repetition, instructing Pastor Timothy to “just keep reminding” his listeners.
Repetition really works for me.
There are certain messages I must hear over and over again.
The saying “the early bird gets the worm” nudges me out of bed each morning to feast on God’s manna.
A worn out, torn card in my wallet said, “Prayer changes things,” reminds me to pray before I attempt to fix a problem in my own strength. A sign on my wall, “God is forever, Hallelujah!” calls me to put God first before projects no matter how inconvenient it may seem at times. God + Repetition produces excellence.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 18:31-32 Complete Jewish Bible
31 (30) “As for God, his way is perfect, the word of Adonai has been tested by fire; he shields all who take refuge in him.
32 (31) “For who is God but Adonai? Who is a Rock but our God?
Psalm 119:1-16 Complete Jewish Bible
א (Alef)
119 How happy are those whose way of life is blameless, who live by the Torah of Adonai! 2 How happy are those who observe his instruction, who seek him wholeheartedly! 3 They do nothing wrong but live by his ways. 4 You laid down your precepts for us to observe with care. 5 May my ways be steady in observing your laws. 6 Then I will not be put to shame, since I will have fixed my sight on all your mitzvot. 7 I thank you with a sincere heart as I learn your righteous rulings. 8 I will observe your laws; don’t completely abandon me!
ב (Bet)
9 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. 10 I seek you with all my heart; don’t let me stray from your mitzvot. 11 I treasure your word in my heart, so that I won’t sin against you. 12 Blessed are you, Adonai! Teach me your laws. 13 I proclaim with my mouth all the rulings you have spoken. 14 I rejoice in the way of your instruction more than in any kind of wealth. 15 I will meditate on your precepts and keep my eyes on your ways. 16 I will find my delight in your regulations. I will not forget your word.
Psalm 139:23-24 Complete Jewish Bible
23 Examine me, God, and know my heart; test me, and know my thoughts. 24 See if there is in me any hurtful way, and lead me along the eternal way.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
3 Not many [of you] should become teachers [serving in an official teaching capacity], my brothers and sisters, for you know that we [who are teachers] will [a]be judged by a higher standard [because we have assumed greater accountability and more condemnation if we teach incorrectly]. 2 For we all stumble and sin in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says [never saying the wrong thing], he is a perfect man [fully developed in character, without serious flaws], able to bridle his whole body and rein in his entire nature [taming his human faults and weaknesses]. 3 Now if we put bits into the horses’ mouths to make them obey us, we guide their whole body as well. 4 And look at the ships. Even though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the impulse of the helmsman determines. 5 In the same sense, the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.
See [by comparison] how great a forest is set on fire by a small spark! 6 And the tongue is [in a sense] a fire, the very world of injustice and unrighteousness; the tongue is set among our members as that which contaminates the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life [the cycle of man’s existence], and is itself set on fire by [b]hell (Gehenna).
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Doesn’t it seem at times, that modern life has become a three ring circus?
Sometimes we’re the clowns making people laugh, juggler, trying to manage all the family, career and life responsibilities, or the tightrope walker, trying to walk that line between living for Christ and the constant pull of the world.
Other times we are the strongman, muscled, wrestling with heavy burdens and temptations that are never-ending. And don’t forget the clowns that surround us everywhere with their colorful make-up, their clumsy, and too goofy antics!
Their insanity drains our time and energy, but we simply must deal with them.
Yet, against this backdrop, God is there as ring master,orchestrating the whole thing, making order out of all the chaos – to the extent we turn it over to Him.
“Ladies and Gentlemen and boys and girls, young and old Children of all ages”
Deuteronomy 6:4-7 Amplified Bible
4 “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one [the only God]! 5 You shall all love the Lord your God with all your heart and mind and with all your soul and with all your strength [your entire being].6 These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be [written] on your heart and mind. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your [a]children [impressing God’s precepts on their minds and penetrating their hearts with His truths] and shall speak of them when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road and when you lie down and when you get up.
In the more contemporary sense we should add “drive your cars, trucks, busses, motorcycles, atv’s, recreational vehicles, 18 wheelers, fly your planes, private jets.
Let’s not forget those who make their livings and take their vacations upon the vast oceanic seas, rivers, and waterways, in their fishing boats and their yachts,the row boats and motor boats, our Navies, the Navy’s of the world, the gargantuan tankers and container ships, tug boats, cruise ships of all sizes and elegance and luxury.
The Lord God desires that all may come to know Him and share a relationship.
Psalm 46:10 Amplified Bible
10 “Be still and know (recognize, understand) that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations! I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 100:3 Amplified Bible
3 Know and fully recognize with gratitude that the Lord Himself is God; It is He who has made us, [a]not we ourselves [and we are His]. We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Psalm 139:1-6 Amplified Bible
God’s Omnipresence and Omniscience.
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
139 O Lord, you have searched me [thoroughly] and have known me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up [my entire life, everything I do]; You understand my thought from afar. 3 You scrutinize my path and my lying down, And You are intimately acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before there is a word on my tongue [still unspoken], Behold, O Lord, You know it all. 5 You have enclosed me behind and before, And [You have] placed Your hand upon me. 6 Such [infinite] knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is too high [above me], I cannot reach it.
And one of the best ways we can experience victory with Him is to become a big cat tamer and take control of that most vicious of beasts – the human tongue!
We know how difficult it is to tame a real lion, even one raised from a cub.
Just remember the tragic account of Siegfried and Roy, the famous Las Vegas magic act featuring white tigers.
In 2003 one such tiger, Manticore, suddenly bit Roy in the neck and dragged him offstage, ending his career and nearly his life. Which makes us ask – can a lion, or tiger or the human tongue, really be tamed even by “trained experts?”
James 3:2-6 Disciples’ Literal New Testament
2 For we all stumble many[a] ways. If one does not stumble in speech, this one is a perfect man able to bridle[b] also the whole body. 3 Now if we put bridles into the mouths of horses so-that they obey us, we also guide their whole body. 4 Behold also ships being so large and being driven by hard winds— they are guided by a very small rudder where the impulse of the one steering wants. 5 So also the tongue is a small body-part, and boastfully-declares great things. Behold how-small a fire kindles how-great a forest!
An Untamed Tongue Stains And Burns And Poisons Life
6 And the tongue is a fire! The[c] tongue is made[d] the world of [e] unrighteousness among our body-parts— the thing staining the whole body and setting-on-fire the course of our existence, and being set-on-fire by Gehenna[f].
Lions and tigers are strong, magnificent creatures, but dangerous. They can turn on you suddenly, in a split-second, cause untold damage or kill you. Yet when they are under the control of the lion tamer, they are beautiful to behold.
Just like our tongues …
Proverbs 18:17-21 Easy-to-Read Version
17 The first person to speak always seems right until someone comes and asks the right questions.
18 The best way to settle an argument between two powerful people may be to use lots.
19 An insulted brother is harder to win back than a city with strong walls. Arguments separate people like the strong bars of a palace gate.
20 Your words can be as satisfying as fruit, as pleasing as the food that fills your stomach.
21 The tongue can speak words that bring life or death. Those who love to talk must be ready to accept what it brings.
Matthew 12:33-37 Easy-to-Read Version
What You Do(say) Shows What You Are
33 “If you want good fruit, you must make the tree good. If your tree is not good, it will have bad fruit. A tree is known by the kind of fruit it produces. 34 You snakes! You are so evil. How can you say anything good? What people say with their mouths comes from what fills their hearts. 35 Those who are good have good things saved in their hearts. That’s why they say good things. But those who are evil have hearts full of evil, and that’s why they say things that are evil. 36 I tell you that everyone will have to answer for all the careless things they have said. This will happen on the day of judgment. 37 Your words will be used to judge you. What you have said will show whether you are right or whether you are guilty.”
Our taming the tongue is vital so we don’t stumble, experience unnecessary relationship damage, or get pushed off the course that God set for our lives.
Indeed, what comes out of our mouths in an absent-minded moment can cause severe, irreparable damage.
Our “oops” words can have unintended consequences: weakening our marriage relationship, creating division between friends and distrust among colleagues, and alienating our children. They can cost us our jobs, our reputations, and our families and our homes, untold opportunities to keep ourselves out of prison.
What comes out of our mouth can cause us to experience a lifetime of regret, especially if they are so severe, knock us off the course God has for our lives.
In other words, our lives follow the direction of our words.
If we are always saying things like: I’ll never…I can’t…my life is over…I won’t recover…I don’t get any breaks…
Don’t be surprised if that is exactly how your life turns out!
Just as absent-minded words spoken to others can damage the course of that relationship, what we continuously, constantly say about ourselves and our lives has a profound effect on our own decision making minds. And these self-imposed limiting beliefs and crippling mindsets can completely alter the course that our lives take, far away from God’s intent. Which, by the way, is amazing.
But if the masters Siegfried and Roy ultimately failed in taming their lion, well-fed, well-treated, and raised from a cub, how can we hope to master, to take control of the wildest of all wildest of beasts we have called the human tongue?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 19 Easy-to-Read Version
To the director: A song of David.
19 The heavens tell about the glory of God. The skies announce what his hands have made. 2 Each new day tells more of the story, and each night reveals more and more about God’s power.[a] 3 You cannot hear them say anything. They don’t make any sound we can hear. 4 But their message goes throughout the world. Their teaching reaches the ends of the earth.
The sun’s tent is set up in the heavens. 5 It comes out like a happy bridegroom from his bedroom. It begins its path across the sky like an athlete eager to run a race. 6 It starts at one end of the sky and runs all the way to the other end. Nothing can hide from its heat.
7 The Lord’s teachings are perfect. They give strength to his people. The Lord’s rules can be trusted. They help even the foolish become wise. 8 The Lord’s laws are right. They make people happy. The Lord’s commands are good. They show people the right way to live.
9 Learning respect for the Lord is good. It will last forever. The Lord’s judgments are right. They are completely fair. 10 His teachings are worth more than pure gold. They are sweeter than the best honey dripping from the honeycomb. 11 His teachings warn his servants, and good things come to those who obey them.
12 People cannot see their own mistakes, so don’t let me commit secret sins. 13 Don’t let me do what I know is wrong. Don’t let sin control me. If you help me, I can be pure and free from sin. 14 May my words and thoughts please you. Lord, you are my Rock—the one who rescues me.
Psalm 139:23-24 Easy-to-Read Version
23 God, examine me and know my mind. Test me and know all my worries. 24 Make sure that I am not going the wrong way.[a] Lead me on the path that has always been right.[b]
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
14 So he sent horses, chariots and a large army there; they came by night and surrounded the city. 15 The servant of the man of God got up early in the morning; on going outside, he saw an army with horses and chariots surrounding the city. His servant said to him, “Oh, my master, this is terrible! What are we going to do?” 16 He answered, “Don’t be afraid — those who are with us outnumber those who are with them!” 17 Elisha prayed, “Adonai, I ask you to open his eyes, so that he can see.” Then Adonai opened the young man’s eyes, and he saw: there before him, all around Elisha, the mountain was covered with horses and fiery chariots. 18 When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to Adonai, “Please strike these people blind”; and he struck them blind, as Elisha had asked. 19 Next, Elisha told them, “You’ve lost your way, and this isn’t even the right city. Follow me, and I’ll take you to the man you’re looking for.” Then he led them to Shomron. 20 On their arrival in Shomron, Elisha said, “Adonai, open the eyes of these men, so that they can see.” Adonai opened their eyes, and they saw: there they were, in the middle of Shomron.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Prophet Elisha’s servant was looking but not seeing. He saw only hopelessness. He saw the army of Aram surrounding their town, but he did not see the host of the angel Army protecting God’s people. He was walking in spiritual blindness.
We can be the same way.
We might see only disappointments, or discouragements, or hopelessness, our spiritual enemies descending with all their might, all around us, our dark souls.
We might fear the stranger, complain about the lazy, and point fingers at those who disagree. We might fear that the world is lost to the devil, and we are the ones who suffer. We might be baited, shackled to the idea of putting God aside so we all can earn our fortune and have fun, only to experience everlasting loss.
Elisha’s prayer is a great way to address our blindness to God’s sovereignty. We can pray, “Open our eyes, Lord, that we may see.” When our eyes are opened, we see our sin as the chief of sins and the lust of the flesh as rebellion against God.
And we finally see that Jesus has already won the victory. Christ already rules in heaven. This world is all in his hands. Have no fear, for we know that God wins.
When the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, “he looked up and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” All these angelic heavenly hosts were surrounding and protecting them. The servant’s fear melted away. If there is an Elisha warrior praying for us, God is on our side, who can stand against us?
Ephesians 1:15-21 Amplified Bible
15 For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people, 16 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers; 17 [I always pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may grant you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [that gives you a deep and personal and intimate insight] into the true knowledge of Him [for we know the Father through the Son]. 18 And [I pray] that the eyes of your heart [the very center and core of your being] may be enlightened [flooded with light by the Holy Spirit], so that you will know and cherish the [a]hope [the divine guarantee, the confident expectation] to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the [b]saints (God’s people), 19 and [so that you will begin to know] what the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His [active, spiritual] power is in us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength 20 which He [c]produced in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion [whether angelic or human], and [far above] every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and world but also in the one to come.
In order to go deeper in God, we must allow him to open the eyes of our hearts to see him as he truly is.
So often we settle in our relationship with him for that which can only be seen with our physical eyes.
We settle for community apart from unity in the Spirit, God’s word apart from revelation from the Spirit, and look to “open” or “closed” doors as our guide rather than making space to ask for the Holy Spirit’s leadership.
It’s time for us as the body of Christ to truly live in the fullness of relationship afforded to us by his sacrifice.
It’s for this reason, in Ephesians 1:16-19, Paul told the Church in Ephesus,
I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe.
We need the “eyes of our hearts” to be enlightened today.
We need the Holy Spirit to come and do a mighty work that we might no longer live only for that which is seen, but by faith pursue the unseen.
Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
God longs for us to pursue the deeper things of him in faith. He longs for us to grow in our relationship with the Holy Spirit and learn to live life with his presence, leadership, voice, and love as the foundation for everything we do.
To live only by the things we can physically see is to live only for that which is temporal and fleeting.
Psalm 101:3 says, “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.”
God has worthwhile work in store for us. He has a plan to bring heaven to earth through our lives every day. But in order to make an impact on eternity we must be able to see, know the heart of God. We must become, as Elisha, increasingly aware of exactly how God feels and what he wants to do moment-by-moment.
Growing in our relationship with the Holy Spirit is the foundation of seeking the deeper things of God.
Learning to live by and with him is the only way to advance his kingdom.
Take time in guided prayer today to ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your heart. Ask him to lead, guide and direct you into a deeper, far more connected relationship with him. And choose Elisha’s prayer today, to pursue a life marked by deep connection with your heavenly Father and powerful works of his Spirit.
17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “Lord, please, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servants eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha.
Guided Prayer:
1. Ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your heart. Meditate on Scripture and take time to rest in his presence.
“Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.” Ephesians 1:18
“Then Elisha prayed and said, ‘O Lord, please open his eyes that he may see.’ So the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.” 2 Kings 6:17
“The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both.” Proverbs 20:12
2. Where have you been doing life apart from connectivity to the Spirit? Where have you been living temporally instead of for eternity?
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” John 14:16-17
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6:19-21
3. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you live connected to him today.
“Be filled with the Spirit.” Ephesians 5:18
“For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.”1 Corinthians 12:13
“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own” 1 Corinthians 6:19
Jesus promised us in Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
When we authentically seek all the blessings which God has to give such as being loved, being known, being provided for, and being filled with the Spirit, we can know that we will find what we seek.
The door to going deeper in God will always be opened whenever we come to it and knock.
God will never withhold himself from us when we purely desire more of him.
Have faith today in the perfect goodness of your heavenly Father and deeply pursue the deeper things of him that you might live in greater union with him.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Sprit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 42 Complete Jewish Bible
Book II: Psalms 42–72
42 (0) For the leader. A maskil of the descendants of Korach:
2 (1) Just as a deer longs for running streams, God, I long for you. 3 (2) I am thirsty for God, for the living God! When can I come and appear before God?
4 (3) My tears are my food, day and night, while all day people ask me, “Where is your God?” 5 (4) I recall, as my feelings well up within me, how I’d go with the crowd to the house of God, with sounds of joy and praise from the throngs observing the festival.
6 (5) My soul, why are you so downcast? Why are you groaning inside me? Hope in God, since I will praise him again for the salvation that comes from his presence. 7 (6) My God, when I feel so downcast, I remind myself of you from the land of Yarden, from the peaks of Hermon, from the hill Mizar. 8 (7) Deep is calling to deep at the thunder of your waterfalls; all your surging rapids and waves are sweeping over me. 9 (8) By day Adonai commands his grace, and at night his song is with me as a prayer to the God of my life. 10 (9) I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, under pressure by the enemy? 11 (10) My adversaries’ taunts make me feel as if my bones were crushed, as they ask me all day long, ‘Where is your God?’ ”
12 (11) My soul, why are you so downcast? Why are you groaning inside me? Hope in God, since I will praise him again for being my Savior and God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
6 But now that Timothy has come back to us from [his visit with] you, and has brought us good news of your [steadfast] faith and [the warmth of your] love, and [reported] that you always think kindly of us and treasure your memories of us, longing to see us just as we long to see you, 7 for this reason, brothers and sisters, during all our distress and suffering we have been comforted and greatly encouraged about you because of your faith [your unwavering trust in God—placing yourselves completely in His loving hands]; 8 because now we really live [in spite of everything], if you stand firm in the Lord. 9 For what [adequate] thanks can we offer to God for you in return for all the joy and delight we have before our God on your account? 10 We continue to pray night and day most earnestly that we may see you face to face, and may complete whatever may be imperfect and lacking in your faith.
11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and Jesus our Lord guide our steps to you [by removing the obstacles that stand in our way]. 12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and excel and overflow in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; 13 so that He may strengthen and establish your hearts without blame in holiness in the sight of our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His [a]saints (God’s people).
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
When reading this chapter, the firmness of the joy Paul had stood out to me.
During his entire Apostleship, Paul faced challenge after challenge, obstacle after obstacle as he walked worked to spread the gospel, yet he’s still full of joy.
Paul starts the chapter by talking about how he feared that the Thessalonians would be led astray by the temptations and afflictions they would face.
He says that for this reason, he asked someone to report on their faith, hoping that all his ministry and mission work there wouldn’t have been done in vain.
But when Timothy returned with a report about the Thessalonians, it became clear they had stood firm in their faith through all the persecution they faced.
In verse 7, Paul writes that he and his companions were comforted by the news that Timothy brought.
The good news about the Thessalonians was so great that it provided comfort in the midst of their bodily and spiritual afflictions!
Paul states they now really live if the Thessalonians stand firm in their faith.
The Thessalonians provided so much magnitude of joy to the lives of Paul and his companions that it feels like they had just started to really live in Christ!
In verse 9, Paul asks what expressions of thanks they can extend to God for all the joy he has about the steadfast faith and perseverance of the Thessalonians.
There is so much joy running through his heart and through their spirits that he a man of many words, doesn’t even know how to put it to words to thank God.
This magnitude of joy is so overwhelming that he can’t even start to understand or comprehend completely just exactly how much thanks he needs to give God.
Are we filling others with as much joy as Paul is full of from the Thessalonians?
Are those who taught us the Bible filled with that self same magnitude of joy from the way it has changed their lives and id now firmly working your life?
Paul’s joy came from his spirit seeing that he was able to make this impact on the Thessalonian followers and that they were able to continue standing firm.
We each need to be firm in God’s immutable truths like the Thessalonians, providing encouraging joy to our teachers, our neighbors, others like the non believing souls as we are encouraged continue to walk in the way of the Lord.
Are you filled with joy like Paul?
God has provided each of us with much more than we ever deserved.
None of us deserve salvation, but God offered it to each one of us.
Our lives should be full of joy because of this great gift.
I can’t even begin to thank God enough for everything that He has given me!
I have to stand up and firmly echo Paul’s response to this joy shown in verse 10.
He says that he and his companions are earnestly praying that they may see the Thessalonians again and that they may yet continue to strengthen their faith.
He doesn’t claim that his job is now done, as the Thessalonians were able to stand up to opposition. Instead, he says that he wants to visit to teach them even more, to make them even firmer, stronger, lacking nothing in their faith.
Paul thanked God for his Thessalonian friends, who, despite knowing they would suffer imprisonment, persecution and even a very painful death in the arena’s for their faith in Jesus, were sure of the security they would find in him.
What a witness they were to the Savior!
The Thessalonians were persecuted, they were arrested, tortured and killed but they remained steadfast in their faith to the end—and that is not always easy.
It can be difficult to remain faithful, especially when life presents unexpected challenges. When Paul sent Timothy to check on the Thessalonians, he was encouraged and filled with joy that their faith had remained strong. He said, “For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.”
Remaining firm in Christ is not always easy when you know you will be hurt—both physically and spiritually but God tells us about the peace, comfort, and redemption he provides when we stay near to him despite our challenges.
No matter what year it is, no matter the culture or society, life can bring grief, instant worry, fear, and a host of other difficult and uncomfortable emotions.
It can be hard to accept circumstances that are unpredictable and far outside of our own control, especially when our hearts, souls, yearn to make things better.
But when we draw near to God as He draws near to us, he promises to give us his peace that surpasses all understanding.
Psalm 73:28 Amplified Bible
28 But as for me, it is good for me to draw near to God; I have made the Lord God my refuge and placed my trust in Him, That I may tell of all Your works.
Ecclesiastes 5:1 Amplified Bible
Your Attitude Toward God
5 Guard your steps and focus on what you are doing as you go to the house of God and draw near to listen rather than to offer the [careless or irreverent] sacrifice of fools; for they are too ignorant to know they are doing evil.
Hebrews 7:18-20 Amplified Bible
18 For, on the one hand, a former commandment is cancelled because of its weakness and uselessness [because of its inability to justify the sinner before God] 19 (for the Law never made anything perfect); while on the other hand a better hope is introduced through which we now continually draw near to God. 20 And indeed it was not without the taking of an oath [that Christ was made priest]
James 4:1-10 Amplified Bible
Things to Avoid
4 What leads to [the unending] [a]quarrels and conflicts among you? Do they not come from your [hedonistic] desires that wage war in your [bodily] members [fighting for control over you]? 2 You are jealous and covet [what others have] and [b] your lust goes unfulfilled; so you [c]murder. You are envious and cannot obtain [the object of your envy]; so you fight and battle. You do not have because you do not ask [it of God]. 3 You ask [God for something] and do not receive it, because you ask [d]with wrong motives [out of selfishness or with an unrighteous agenda], so that [when you get what you want] you may spend it on your [hedonistic] desires. 4 You adulteresses [disloyal sinners—flirting with the world and breaking your vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend [that is, loving the things of the world] is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose [e] that the [human] spirit which He has made to dwell in us lusts with envy? 6 But He gives us more and more grace [through the power of the Holy Spirit to defy sin and live an obedient life that reflects both our faith and our gratitude for our salvation]. Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but [continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away from self-righteousness].” 7 So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people]. 9 Be miserable and grieve and weep [over your sin]. Let your [foolish] laughter be turned to mourning and your [reckless] joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].
Drawing nearer, and nearer still to God’s presence strengthens our weary storm battered hearts through our firmest perseverance through hardcore challenges, persecution, and unforeseen circumstances—and for that we must praise him!
What is our response to being filled with joy, with above beyond exuberant joy?
We need to be constantly giving thanks for all that we have been given, night and day praising God.
Are you asking God that we can continue to do the hard work of ministry and the hard work of mission which He has prepared for us or are you saying that we have reached or exceeded our definition of our limits, that our job is done?
This Spirit ignited joy should cause us to want to do even more, spreading the good news to all those around you so that they too might experience this joy.
Questions for Reflection and Discussion
Spend an extra ten minutes in prayer today thanking God.
What is the biggest challenge you face in standing firm in the Lord?
How can you ask for help from your brothers and sisters in Christ? (If you don’t have a church family yet – make it your first priority to find one!)
Are there brothers and sisters or children in the faith that give you great joy when you see how they are standing firm in the faith even in the midst of trials?
Let them know.
Look to make friends with them as Christ made friends with you. John 15:15-16
John 14:11-14 Amplified Bible
11 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me; otherwise believe [Me] because of the [very] works themselves [which you have witnessed]. 12 I assure you and most solemnly say to you, anyone who believes in Me [as Savior] will also do the things that I do; and he will do even greater things than these [in extent and outreach], because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in My name [[a]as My representative], this I will do, so that the Father may be glorified and celebrated in the Son. 14 If you ask Me anything in My name [as My representative], I will do it.
Do you wishy washy, firmly, believe in Jesus Christ as you One and Only Savior?
Do you wishy washy, firmly, believe in Jesus’ words to His disciples of their firm ability of accomplishing “greater things?” What are those “greater things?”
There is much to pray about – how firm is our foundation in Savior Jesus Christ?
In the name of God the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 19 Amplified Bible
The Works and the Word of God.
To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David.
19 The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And the expanse [of heaven] is declaring the work of His hands. 2 Day after day pours forth speech, And night after night reveals knowledge. 3 There is no speech, nor are there [spoken] words [from the stars]; Their voice is not heard. 4 Yet their voice [in quiet evidence] has gone out through all the earth, Their words to the end of the world. In them and in the heavens He has made a tent for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber; It rejoices as a strong man to run his course. 6 The sun’s rising is from one end of the heavens, And its circuit to the other end of them; And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect (flawless), restoring and refreshing the soul; The statutes of the Lord are reliable and trustworthy, making wise the simple. 8 The precepts of the Lord are right, bringing joy to the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true, they are righteous altogether. 10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. 11 Moreover, by them Your servant is warned [reminded, illuminated, and instructed]; In keeping them there is great reward. 12 Who can understand his errors or omissions? Acquit me of hidden (unconscious, unintended) faults. 13 Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous (deliberate, willful) sins; Let them not rule and have control over me. Then I will be blameless (complete), And I shall be acquitted of great transgression. 14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm, immovable] rock and my Redeemer.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
15-17 Don’t love the world’s ways. Don’t love the world’s goods. Love of the world squeezes out love for the Father. Practically everything that goes on in the world—wanting your own way, wanting everything for yourself, wanting to appear important—has nothing to do with the Father. It just isolates you from him. The world and all its wanting, wanting, wanting is on the way out—but whoever does what God wants is set for eternity.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
What the World Says
Some people belittle the Christian faith by dumbing it down to a list of dos and don’ts. They find religion to be too rule based, restrictive and punitive. Funny how the world launches such a criticism of the faith when the world itself has a significantly longer, significantly more comprehensive list of dos and don’ts.
Do be diverse, equitable, body-positive, and sex-positive. Don’t be against abortion, homosexuality, and transgenderism. Be Politically not Biblically correct. The Bible was never meant to make an impact beyond its own times.
If you aren’t steadfast, strong in your convictions, then being name-called or challenged by the world in any way will more than likely be too intimidating. You’ll be left with a fear of cancellation, being ostracized, or something worse
The truth is, much like our flesh is at war with the spirit, the Word of GOD, our faith is constantly being scorned and mocked, ridiculed, at war with the world.
That’s why in the length and breadth of Scripture, we see time and time again how there is a contrast between God’s people and the surrounding cultures.
God has called us to live in a certain way, and the world feels enmity toward that ideal. That’s always been true. And as always, the temptation we face as staunch believers is neglecting what God wants, instead opting to fit in with the world.
That’s normal.
We’re sinful by nature and likewise, we each desire to be a part of a community.
Sometimes, fellowship with the world just looks more appealing, prosperous, significantly less stressful, much simpler to manipulate and shape in our image.
However, we can’t call ourselves Christian and still live like those around us.
We can’t choose to follow God only when convenient, in those moments when the world isn’t watching because God is continually watching, investigating us.
Not if we’re a believer, because being a Christian means something specific.
But how exactly do we ensure that we ascribe to God and not unto the world?
Psalm 29 Complete Jewish Bible
29 (0) A psalm of David:
(1) Give Adonai his due, you who are godly; give Adonai his due of glory and strength; 2 give Adonai the glory due his name; worship Adonai in holy splendor.
3 The voice of Adonai is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, Adonai over rushing waters, 4 the voice of Adonai in power, the voice of Adonai in splendor.
5 The voice of Adonai cracks the cedars; Adonai splinters the cedars of the L’vanon 6 and makes the L’vanon skip like a calf, Siryon like a young wild ox.
7 The voice of Adonai flashes fiery flames; 8 the voice of Adonai rocks the desert, Adonai convulses the Kadesh Desert. 9 The voice of Adonai causes deer to give birth and strips the forests bare — while in his temple, all cry, “Glory!” 10 Adonai sits enthroned above the flood! Adonai sits enthroned as king forever! 11 May Adonai give strength to his people! May Adonai bless his people with shalom!
How can we be in the world, but not of the world?
To answer that, we turn to Scripture.
Intersecting Faith and Life:
Within Scripture, we find a multitude of ways to separate ourselves from the surrounding culture, but here are three we can implement in our lives today.
Find the Right People
The Bible talks about being unequally yoked, a principle which we often apply to marriage, but one that relates to all of our relationships.
When we decide to follow Christ, we are explicitly agreeing to become like Him.
That applies to the way we talk, dress, act, and think. Certain people will not appreciate this growth and will want us to be more like them, less like Christ.
This isn’t the right kind of company to keep.
Ultimately, believers should not try to fit in with the culture, not if it calls for us to forfeit our values. Instead, choose to find a godly community that will not ask you to give up what’s good, but rather the things holding you back from God.
Focus on Heaven
With all the chaos, division, bills, relationships, and commitments here on Earth, we can naturally find ourselves distracted from what matters most.
When that happens, we may find ourselves preoccupied with the world and forgetful of God.
The solution is not to fill our heads with worldly things but instead, focus on the things above.
Know Your Worth
Another reason we find ourselves gravitating towards the world’s approval is that we falsely believe our worth comes from people.
We tell ourselves that if we get married, then we’re worthy; if we have a ton of friends and money, then we’re worthy, and on and on.
Biblically, None of that is true.
Our worth comes from God, and our worth has existed since He first created us.
All of the relationships we have on this Earth will one day end, whether through conflict, separation or death. The things we do for people and what they do for us will one day cease. What never ends is God’s authentic love for His children.
1 Corinthians 15:57-58 Amplified Bible
57 but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory [as conquerors] through our Lord Jesus Christ.
58 Therefore, my beloved brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord [always doing your best and doing more than is needed], being continually aware that your labor [even to the point of exhaustion] in the Lord is not futile nor wasted [it is never without purpose].
Recall that the next time you believe the world has your best interest at heart.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray.
Psalm 15 Complete Jewish Bible
15 (0) A psalm of David:
(1) Adonai, who can rest in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain?
2 Those who live a blameless life, who behave uprightly, who speak truth from their hearts 3 and keep their tongues from slander; who never do harm to others or seek to discredit neighbors; 4 who look with scorn on the vile, but honor those who fear Adonai; who hold to an oath, no matter the cost; 5 who refuse usury when they lend money and refuse a bribe to damage the innocent.
Those who do these things never will be moved.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
(1) Adonai, who can rest in your tent? Who can live on your holy mountain?
2 Those who live a blameless life, who behave uprightly, who speak truth from their hearts 3 and keep their tongues from slander; who never do harm to others or seek to discredit neighbors; 4 who look with scorn on the vile, but honor those who fear Adonai; who hold to an oath, no matter the cost; 5 who refuse usury when they lend money and refuse a bribe to damage the innocent.
Those who do these things never will be moved.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
“Who shall dwell on your holy hill?”
Though these questions were inspired by God, running deep through the very heart and soul of David, asked, spoken and recorded 3000 years ago, were not edited out of the canon centuries later by scholars and scribes, the questions which David poses in the first verse of this psalm are of utmost importance.
They may strike us as questions that are tied only to times of worship in ancient Israel, but as they have survived and inspired for thousands of years, in His own truth they take us to the very doorstep of heaven asking, Who will enter these gates?Who will enter the Tabernacle of the Lord, Who will rest upon His mountain?
While the answer is explained in the rest of Psalm 15, the general point is one we find throughout New Testament Scripture.
Matthew 5:1-12 Complete Jewish Bible
5 Seeing the crowds, Yeshua walked up the hill. After he sat down, his talmidim came to him, 2 and he began to speak. This is what he taught them:
3 “How blessed are the poor in spirit! for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
4 “How blessed are those who mourn! for they will be comforted.
5 “How blessed are the meek! for they will inherit the Land![a]
6 “How blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness! for they will be filled. 7 “How blessed are those who show mercy! for they will be shown mercy.
8 “How blessed are the pure in heart! for they will see God.
9 “How blessed are those who make peace! for they will be called sons of God.
10 “How blessed are those who are persecuted because they pursue righteousness! for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
11 “How blessed you are when people insult you and persecute you and tell all kinds of vicious lies about you because you follow me! 12 Rejoice, be glad, because your reward in heaven is great — they persecuted the prophets before you in the same way.
Matthew 11:27-30 Complete Jewish Bible
27 “My Father has handed over everything to me. Indeed, no one fully knows the Son except the Father, and no one fully knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.
28 “Come to me, all of you who are struggling and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.[a]30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Mark 2:13-17 English Standard Version
Jesus Calls Levi
13 He went out again beside the sea, and all the crowd was coming to him, and he was teaching them. 14 And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.
15 And as he reclined at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners were reclining with Jesus and his disciples, for there were many who followed him. 16 And the scribes of[a] the Pharisees, when they saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors, said to his disciples, “Why does he eat[b] with tax collectors and sinners?” 17 And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
John 17:22-26 Complete Jewish Bible
22 The glory which you have given to me, I have given to them; so that they may be one, just as we are one — 23 I united with them and you with me, so that they may be completely one, and the world thus realize that you sent me, and that you have loved them just as you have loved me.
24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am; so that they may see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25 Righteous Father, the world has not known you, but I have known you, and these people have known that you sent me. 26 I made your name known to them, and I will continue to make it known; so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I myself may be united with them.”
In addition, The anonymous writer of Hebrews advised his readers to “strive for … the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
The Lord Jesus similarly instructed that “the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few” (Matthew 7:14).
Those who stand on the holy hill of the Lord, enjoy His presence for eternity, then, are those who arrive there by the narrow way, striving after holiness.
Philippians 3:12-21 New American Standard Bible
12 Not that I have already [a]grasped it all or have already become perfect, but I press on if I may also take hold of that [b]for which I was even taken hold of by Christ Jesus. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not regard myself as having taken hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore, all who are [c]mature, let’s have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that to you as well; 16 however, let’s keep [d]living by that same standard to which we have attained.
17 Brothers and sisters, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their [e]appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things. 20 For our [f]citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with [g]His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
The sad truth is that too many assume they will dwell on God’s holy hill because they once said a prayer, tithed, walked down an aisle, are a member of a church.
It is a grave mistake to think that those acts on their own will merit eternal life if they are accompanied with living a way of life which gives no evidence of our knowing Christ as Lord.
Matthew 6:1-4 Amplified Bible
Giving to the Poor and Prayer
6 “Be [very] careful not to do your [a]good deeds publicly, to be seen by men; otherwise you will have no reward [prepared and awaiting you] with your Father who is in heaven.
2 “So whenever you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not blow a trumpet before you [to advertise it], as the hypocrites do [like actors acting out a role] in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored and recognized and praised by men. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, they [already] have their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the poor and do acts of kindness, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing [give in complete secrecy], 4 so that your charitable acts will be done in secret; and your Father who sees [what is done] in secret will reward you.
Reverend Charles Haddon Spurgeon once preached,
“If the man does not live differently from what he did before … his repentance needs to be repented of, and his conversion is a fiction.”[1]
1“What Is It to Win a Soul?,” The Sword and the Trowel (December 1879), p 561.
So, who will ascend the hill of the Lord?
It is the one who “walks blamelessly,” in a way which cannot be confused with that of an unbeliever, whose life manifests the reality God has saved him or her.
It is the one whose talk is not marked by slander but who “speaks truth in his heart.”
This is someone who doesn’t merely say what is correct but says what is true, with no gap between what is said and what is lived.
The combination of reading Psalm 15 and looking honestly at ourselves will very likely be discouraging.
Only the Lord Jesus embodies the psalm’s portrayal of holiness to perfection; only He deserves to dwell on His Father’s holy hill, and only because He chose to die for His people’s sins and clothe them with His perfection are we invited, here and now, in this precise moment, in these seasons to live with Him there.
But it is good and right to let the light of God’s Word shine on our hearts and expose what is there, for it’ll move us to repentance, to gratitude to our Savior.
And those who know they will stand there because of Him will seek to be like Him. Consider your walk and your words, and pray that you would be ever more conformed to the image of Christ until you dwell with Him on God’s Holy Hill.
Dwelling in God’s Sanctuary
What is God’s sanctuary?
Probably too many of us think of it only as a church building.
In its widest, richest sense, God’s sanctuary is wherever we experience God.
It is the place where our heart is.
On Sunday, on whatever day meets to read, study, pray over God’s Word, a church building becomes a sanctuary as God’s people gather and make up the building blocks of God’s spiritual temple (2 Corinthians 6:16; 1 Peter 2:5).
There we are inspired, empowered, refreshed, strengthened for another week of work, another week of serving God—out in the sanctuary of God’s vast world.
Psalm 15 reminds us that what pleases God is not rituals but a life that seeks to live God’s way.
When we walk with God on a daily basis, we will do what is right, speak the truth, refuse to slander others, and not harm our neighbors in any way.
What’s more, we won’t be impressed by people who delight in doing wrong or act immorally, mocking God, and we will honor those who faithfully serve God.
We will keep our promises, even when it hurts. And we will help the poor and protect the innocent, taking no part in bribery, fraud, or other corruption.
When we live as the psalmist describes, we experience God’s presence.
This happens not only in church gatherings but also in our everyday activities.
Those who live God’s way are building a life that cannot be shaken—regardless of the way uninvited trials can try to shake up, shift the ground under our feet!
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 16 Complete Jewish Bible
16 (0) Mikhtam. By David:
(1) Protect me, God, for you are my refuge. 2 I said to Adonai, “You are my Lord; I have nothing good outside of you.” 3 The holy people in the land are the ones who are worthy of honor; all my pleasure is in them.
4 Those who run after another god multiply their sorrows; To such gods I will not offer drink offerings of blood or take their names on my lips.
5 Adonai, my assigned portion, my cup: you safeguard my share. 6 Pleasant places were measured out for me; I am content with my heritage.
7 I bless Adonai, my counselor; at night my inmost being instructs me. 8 I always set Adonai before me; with him at my right hand, I can never be moved; 9 so my heart is glad, my glory rejoices, and my body too rests in safety; 10 for you will not abandon me to Sh’ol, you will not let your faithful one see the Abyss. 11 You make me know the path of life; in your presence is unbounded joy, in your right hand eternal delight.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
(1) Adonai, you have probed me, and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I stand up, you discern my inclinations from afar, 3 you scrutinize my daily activities. You are so familiar with all my ways 4 that before I speak even a word, Adonai, you know all about it already. 5 You have hemmed me in both behind and in front and laid your hand on me. 6 Such wonderful knowledge is beyond me, far too high for me to reach.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Sometimes it may seem like we can’t see the path just ahead of us, and we’re afraid to take the next step which for us may just become the first step into the right direction to God. Rest assured and be encouraged knowing that God knows your path, He knows your lying down, and He is acquainted with all your ways.
The ancient words of the Psalmist from Psalm 119:105 tells us that God’s Word is “a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” If we’ve ever held a candle-lit lamp, along a dark rainy path at midnight, we understand it doesn’t provide a whole lot of light. Rather, provides just enough light for the steep steps in front of us.
That’s the beauty of having a relationship with God. We don’t need to see all the steepest steps waiting for us ahead in the dark; we can trust God’s in complete control, will provide the level of light we require. Just like we’re told in Psalm 139:3-4, God knows all our paths, He knows all our ways. We can rest in that.
“You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O LORD, You know it altogether.” Psalm 139:3-4
139 6 Such wonderful knowledge is beyond me, far too high for me to reach.
Psalm 139:3 in the King James Version reads, “Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.”
This verse comes from a larger passage known as “A Psalm of David,” in which David exuberantly sings, praises, the omniscience and omnipresence of God.
In this particular verse, David expresses awe and gratitude for God’s intimate knowledge, watchfulness and understanding of every single aspect of his life.
The theme of God’s omniscience is central to this verse.
To “compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways” suggests God is intimately familiar with every moment and aspect of one’s life.
The image of God “compassing” or surrounding one’s path and lying down indicates a continuous presence, encompassing every part of our existence.
This portrayal of God as all-knowing and ever-present is a #1 source of comfort and reassurance for believers, as it demonstrates God’s unceasing attentiveness and limitless resources for caring for His creation – 24 hours a day, everyday.
The context of this verse is also significant.
David, the author of this Psalm, was a man who experienced both triumph and tribulation throughout his life.
He was well acquainted with the lightning quick challenges and uncertainties of life, as well as the great faithfulness and great provision of God.
In this Psalm, David reflects on God’s unwavering presence and guidance, even in the midst of adversity. This verse serves as a reminder for us even today that no single aspect of our lives ever escapes God’s attention, and He is intimately involved in all details, whether in times of joy or sorrow or in deep background.
Additionally, the symbolism used in this verse emphasizes the depth of God’s knowledge and understanding of His people.
The imagery of God always being intimately acquainted with “all my ways” illustrates His profound familiarity with our thoughts, actions, and intentions.
This symbolizes not only God’s omniscience but also His deeply personal investment in the lives of His children.
This depiction of God as intimately involved in the intricacies of our lives underscores the intimacy of the relationship between God and His people.
In contemporary times, the message of Psalm 139:3 continues to offer us all encouragement and reassurance to believers. In a world filled with uncertainty and challenges, the knowledge that God is intimately acquainted with every aspect of our lives provides comfort and strength. It serves as a reminder that we are never alone, and God’s presence encompasses every step we take.
In conclusion, Psalm 139:3 in the King James Version encapsulates the profound truth of God’s never-failing presence and knowledge of His people.
This verse highlights the theme of God’s omniscience, the context of David’s exuberant reflections on God’s unrelenting faithfulness, and the symbolism of God’s intimate understanding of His people – from our conception unto death.
It continues to resonate with believers today, serving as a reminder of God’s unwavering care and 10000% involvement in the lives of all of His children.
God knows our ways, our condition, and our conduct. The Hebrew verb zarah, translated as “search out,” or “scrutinize,” is used of a farmer winnowing his crops to separate the wheat from the chaff. In other words, God examines our ways, 100% investigates our ways so thoroughly that he doesn’t miss a thing.
Thou compassest my path and my lying down
His walk in the daytime, and every step he took, and his lying down at night. It denotes his perfect knowledge of all his actions, day and night; surrounds every single path of man, wide and narrow that they can’t ever escape his knowledge.
1. What emotions or thoughts does God’s omniscience stir in you?
2. How does the omnipresence of God provide comfort in times of loneliness or hardship?
3. How do you respond to the concept of God knowing every detail of your life?
4. How does knowing you are “fearfully and wonderfully made” impact your sense of self-worth?
5. In what ways have you experienced God’s presence in your own life?
6. How does understanding God’s intimate knowledge of you influence your decisions and actions?
7. If God knows our every thought, why do you think prayer is important?
8. David invites God to search and test him. How comfortable are you with this idea and why?
9. What does it mean to be led in the ‘everlasting way’? How does this apply to your life?
10. How can you apply the self-examination David exhibits in your own spiritual journey?
11. David speaks of darkness not being dark to God. How does this alter your perspective of ‘dark’ times in your life?
12. How can you better recognize and appreciate God’s presence in all places and circumstances of your life?
13. How does acknowledging that God knew your unformed substance impact your view on the sanctity of life?
14. How does this Psalm encourage you to respond to those who are hostile towards God or His people?
15. How does understanding God’s omniscience influence your understanding of sin and forgiveness?
16. What can you learn from David’s attitude towards God in this Psalm? How can you adopt a similar mindset?
17. What steps can you take to ensure your words and thoughts are pleasing to God, knowing He is always aware of them?
18. How does the truth of God’s constant presence influence your actions when you’re alone or think no one is watching?
19. How can we apply the concept of being ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ in our interactions with others?
20. In what ways does the truth of Psalm 139 shape your approach to life’s challenges and opportunities?
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 121 Complete Jewish Bible
121 (0) A song of ascents:
(1) If I raise my eyes to the hills, from where will my help come? 2 My help comes from Adonai, the maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip — your guardian is not asleep. 4 No, the guardian of Isra’el never slumbers or sleeps.
5 Adonai is your guardian; at your right hand Adonai provides you with shade — 6 the sun can’t strike you during the day or even the moon at night.
7 Adonai will guard you against all harm; he will guard your life. 8 Adonai will guard your coming and going from now on and forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
28 “And the Lord heard your words, when you spoke to me. And the Lord said to me, ‘I have heard the words of this people, which they have spoken to you. They are right in all that they have spoken. 29 Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants[a] forever! 30 Go and say to them, “Return to your tents.” 31 But you, stand here by me, and I will tell you the whole commandment and the statutes and the rules that you shall teach them, that they may do them in the land that I am giving them to possess.’32 You shall be careful therefore to do as the Lord your God has commanded you. You shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. 33 You shall walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Where does Deuteronomy 5:32-33 Lead Us?
Deuteronomy 5:32-33 in the King James Version of the Bible says:
“Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left. Ye shall walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you, that ye may live, and that it may be well with you, and that ye may prolong your days in the land which ye shall possess.”
This passage comes from the book of Deuteronomy, which is the fifth book of the Bible and is attributed to Moses. Deuteronomy is a book of laws and guidance for the Israelites as they prepare to enter the Promised Land.
In this specific passage, Moses is reiterating the importance of explicitly following the commands and instructions of the Lord in order to live a prosperous and fulfilling life.
The themes present in this passage are obedience, guidance, and the promise of blessings. The overarching theme is the sheer importance of obedience to God’s commands in order to walk, to experience, a blessed, good and prosperous life.
The passage emphasizes the idea that following God’s instructions will lead to blessings and a fulfilling life.
The context of this passage is important to understand its significance.
The Israelites had been wandering in the wilderness for forty years, and they were about to enter the Promised Land.
Moses, their leader for the last 40 years, knew that they needed to be reminded of the importance of following God’s commands in order to succeed in their new land. The book of Deuteronomy is essentially Moses’ final speeches to the Israelites, and he is impressing upon them the importance of obedience to God’s laws as they enter the land that God had promised to their ancestors.
The symbolism in this passage lies in the instructions to “not turn aside to the right hand or to the left” and to “walk in all the ways which the Lord your God hath commanded you.”
This symbolism represents the critical idea of our staying on the path that God has set for us, not straying nor walking neither to the left or to the right from it.
It also symbolizes the idea of being disciplined, devoted, focused and 10000% committed to following God’s commands in order to experience the blessings and prosperity that he has promised.
The ancient passage can also be interpreted on a much deeper, spiritual level.
It can be seen as a metaphor for the Christian journey, with the “land we are promised” representing the spiritual promised land that believers are striving towards.
In this context, the passage emphasizes the over abundance of importance of following God’s commands, neither straying nor walking to the right or left in order to experience the fullness of life and His blessings in the spiritual realm.
Overall, this ancient biblical text from Deuteronomy 5:32-33 is a powerful reminder of the importance of straight line obedience to God’s commands.
It serves as a travel guide for living a fulfilling and prosperous life, both in the physical and spiritual realms. The passage carries a message of deep hope and a sure and true promise, reminding all believers by following God’s instructions, they will experience abundant blessings and a spiritually rich, meaningful life.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 1
The Two Ways
1 How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! 2 Instead, his delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams[a] that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.
4 The wicked are not like this; instead, they are like chaff that the wind blows away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand up in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.
6 For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to ruin.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
12 Watch out, brothers, so that there will not be in any one of you an evil heart lacking trust, which could lead you to apostatize from the living God! 13 Instead, keep exhorting each other every day, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you will become hardened by the deceit of sin. 14 For we have become sharers in the Messiah, provided, however, that we hold firmly to the conviction we began with, right through until the goal is reached.
15 Now where it says,
“Today, if you hear God’s voice, don’t harden your hearts, as you did in the Bitter Quarrel,”[a]
16 who were the people who, after they heard, quarreled so bitterly? All those whom Moshe brought out of Egypt. 17 And with whom was God disgusted for forty years? Those who sinned — yes, they fell dead in the Wilderness! 18 And to whom was it that he swore that they would not enter his rest? Those who were disobedient. 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of lack of trust.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Faith and belief unlocks the storehouse of God but doubt, unbelief locks it tight.
Are we hardcore stuck in doubt and unbelief – not walking in the land of Canaan and promise, where the Spirit of God, in all His blessing, falls and ignites?
We have a great number of churches in a great many wildernesses. We have a great many wilderness Christians in our churches – walking and stumbling and arguing and bickering and back biting and back stabbing humanities pettiness.
The wilderness is a place of death; a place of unrest; a place of aimlessness; and a place of dissatisfaction. They have never entered into Gods promises because they must enter by faith not by the sights and sounds of hardcore bitter debate.
Are we aimlessly wandering unbelieving churches, pews filled with aimlessly wandering, “don’t you dare think or pray over helping my unbelief” believers?
This devotion addresses the enemy of faith – doubt and unbelief, Hard, Harder, Hardcore, Hardened, Hardest Hearts of Stone immune to the best relief efforts.
Faith and Belief Comes by Hearing God’s Voice …
Romans 10:16-21 Disciples’ Literal New Testament
16 But[a] they did not all obey the good-news, for Isaiah says [in Isa 53:1], “Lord, who put-faith-in our report?” 17 So[b] the faith[c] comes from a report-hearing[d], and the report-hearing through a word[e] about[f] Christ.
But It Is Not As Though Israel Did Not Hear
18 But I say[g]— it is not that they did not hear[h], is it ? On the contrary: “Their voice went-out into all the earth, and their words to the ends of the world” [Ps 19:4].
And It Is Not As Though Israel Did Not Know
19 But I say— it is not that Israel did not know[i], is it ? First, Moses says [in Deut. 32:21] “I will provoke you to jealousy over what is not a nation. I will provoke you to anger over a nation without-understanding[j]”. 20 And Isaiah is very-bold and says [in Isa 65:1] “I was found by the ones not seeking Me. I became visible[k] to the ones not asking-for Me”. 21 But with-regard-to Israel He says [in Isa 65:2], “I held-out[l] My hands the whole day toward a disobeying[m] and contradicting[n] people”.
The Book of Hebrews was written to believers who were in a faith crisis – it was written to sternly warn them of the coming dangers of unbelief and doubt and to encourage them in their faith.
In our passage from Hebrews 3, we see God speaking – faith comes by hearing – but not just hearing – BUT 1hearing what God has to say and according to the scripture God is speaking!
The Father, Son and Holy Spirit Speaks
As the Holy Spirit says –– this passage draws attention to its Author the Holy Spirit – it links up with –
Hebrews 1:1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, and Hebrews 2:3 how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord – In the former it is God, the Father, who “spoke.”
In Hebrews 2:3, it is the Son – here in Hebrews 3:7 the Speaker is the Spirit; thus, by linking together these three passages we hear all the Persons of the Godhead.
How does God speak? – through various means – reading the word – hearing the word – the inner voice – the prophetic word – the word of circumstances and situations – but all is based on the inspired written word of God the Bible.
As the Holy Spirit says – the tense of the verb used here; it is not “the Holy Spirit said,” but “says:” it is an ever-present, continuing living message to God’s people in each succeeding generation.
“Whatever was given by inspiration from the Holy Ghost, and is recorded in the Scripture is for the use of the Church today” “he that has an ear to hear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto the churches” Revelation chapters 2 and 3
When does God speak?
Today – “Today” signifies the present time, and it includes a continuance of it.
It is not to be limited to twenty-four hours; instead, this term covers a present interval which consists of many days or years.
Hebrews 3:13 says exhort one another daily, while it is called Today.
In Hebrews 13:8 it says Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and for ever.
What does God speak?
His voice – The “voice” of God is the declaration of His will, which demands our obedience.
His will is made known in His Word, which is a living Word, by which the voice of God is now uttered. Psalm 19 and Psalm 29and Psalm 119 and Psalm 139.
The Response to His Voice
Psalm 95:6-11 Complete Jewish Bible
6 Come, let’s bow down and worship; let’s kneel before Adonai who made us. 7 For he is our God, and we are the people in his pasture, the sheep in his care.
If only today you would listen to his voice: 8 “Don’t harden your hearts, as you did at M’rivah, as you did on that day at Massah in the desert, 9 when your fathers put me to the test; they challenged me, even though they saw my work. 10 For forty years I loathed that generation; I said, ‘This is a people whose hearts go astray, they don’t understand how I do things.’ 11 Therefore I swore in my anger that they would not enter my rest.”
If you will hear, will listen To “hear” God’s voice signifies,
to diligently ponder, to readily receive, and to heed or obey it. Hearing then implies an action that follows the hearing.
Notice where they strayed – In their minds?
No, in their hearts – God’s Word is addressed to the heart the center of our being out of which are the issues of life.
23 Above everything else, guard your heart; for it is the source of life’s consequences.
There may be conviction of the conscience, the assent of the intellect, the deep admiration of understanding, the realization of wisdom greater than our own is informing us, teaching us, but unless the heart is moved there is no response.
Here hardcore hardening of the heart is attributed to the person it is due to – neglect in not taking notice of the ways and means where God calls us to faith and obedience – forgetfulness and rejection of Gods Word and God’s works – a harder hardcore holding onto worldly pleasures preferring them to obedience
An unbelieving heart is an untrusting heart –
Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life –
Deuteronomy 8:1-3
8 “All the mitzvot I am giving you today you are to take care to obey, so that you will live, increase your numbers, enter and take possession of the land Adonai swore about to your ancestors. 2 You are to remember everything of the way in which Adonai led you these forty years in the desert, humbling and testing you in order to know what was in your heart — whether you would obey his mitzvot or not. 3 He humbled you, allowing you to become hungry, and then fed you with man, which neither you nor your ancestors had ever known, to make you understand that a person does not live on food alone but on everything that comes from the mouth of Adonai.
Ten times Israel tested God as a result of unbelief –
When the Egyptians were marching after them – Exodus 14:11
At the bitter waters of Marah – Exodus 15:24
In wilderness of Sin when they complained about their lack of good food – Exodus 16:2
At Rephidim (Meribah, Massah) when they were thirsty- Exodus 17:2, 3
When they made a calf – Exodus 32:1
When they became like those who complain of adversity – Numbers 11:1
When they had “greedy desires” at Taberah – Numbers 11:4
When they complained about Moses after he married the Cushite woman – Numbers 12:1
After the spies brought back their report – Numbers 14:2
When they were thirsty and Moses failed to regard the Lord as holy – Numbers 20:1-13
Ten in biblical numerology refers to testing and tribulation
– notice that in these contexts it was man testing God not God testing man –
this is a sin of rebellion
“Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me,” – the reference here is to what is recorded in the early verses of Exodus 17 – the congregation of Israel journeyed to Rephidim, where there was “no water for the people to drink.”
Instead of them counting on Jehovah to supply their need, as He had at Marah (Exodus 15:25) and in the wilderness of Sin – they murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?”
Though Moses cried unto the Lord, and the Lord graciously responded by bringing water out of the rock for them, yet God was greatly displeased.
In verse 7 we are told, “And he called the name of the place Massah (Temptation) and Meribah (Strife), because of the children of Israel and because they tempted the Lord, saying, Is the Lord among us, or not”.
Difficulties and trials of the way test us, this testing reveals the state of our hearts a crisis neither makes nor mars a person but it does manifest their real selves – while all is smooth sailing we appear to be getting along nicely – When the storm breaks, it is not so much that we fail under it, as that our habitual lack of leaning upon God, of daily walking in dependency upon Him, is made evident. Circumstances do not change us, but they do expose us as vulnerable.
The reason Israel murmured at Meribah was because there was no water; they were occupied with their circumstances, they were walking by sight. The crisis they then faced only served to make manifest the state of their hearts, namely, an “evil heart of unbelief.”
Had their trust been in Jehovah, they would at once have turned to Him, spread their need before Him, counted on Him to supply it. “What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works?” (James 2:14).
“When your fathers tempted Me, proved Me and saw My works forty years”
God showed them wonder signs: did they trust and follow in faith?
And if Israel was not faithful to Moses, and their unbelief brought ruin upon them, how much more guilty shall we be, and how much greater our danger?
If we are not faithful to the Lord Jesus –
Israel’s sins in the wilderness are here pictured under two terms: they are “tempted” and “proved” God – to tempt one is to try or prove whether he be such as he is declared to be, or whether he can or will do such and such a thing.
By tempting God Israel found out by experience that He was indeed the God He had made Himself known to be.
In this passage the tempting of God is set down as a sin which provoked Him, and so is to be taken in its worst sense scenario.
Instead of believing His declaration Israel acted in unbelief.
“And saw My works forty years”
This is the inexcusableness of Israel’s sin.
It was not that God was a Stranger to them; again and again He had shown Himself strong on their behalf.
“Works” of God mentioned here are the many and great wonders which He did from the time that He first took them up in Egypt until the end of the wilderness journey.
Some of them were works of mercy – in delivering them from enemies and dangers, and in providing for them – others were works of judgment – the plagues upon the Egyptians, their destruction at the Red Sea – others were manifestations of Himself, by the Cloud which led them by day and by night, the awesome proofs of His presence on Sinai, and the Shekinah glory which filled the tabernacle.
These were not “works” done in bygone ages, or in far-distant places, of which they had only heard of; but were actually performed before them, upon them, which they “saw.”
What clearer evidence could they have of God’s providence and power?
Yet they tempted Him!
The clearest evidences God grants to us have no effect upon unbelieving and obdurate hearts.
The generation that came out of Egypt doubted God, and because of their doubt they never entered the land of Canaan – they sang the song of Moses
Exodus 15:1 “I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea!”-“God has delivered us how great He is!”
They believed Him to come out of Egypt but they didn’t believe Him enough to enter into Canaan – after Sinai, an eleven-day journey could have brought them into the Promised Land. But they had to send spies in to search out the land. God had said He would take care of them, but they didn’t believe God.
God yielded to their wishes and let them send in spies. Although the spies did see the wonderful land, they were most impressed by the giants, and they saw themselves as grasshoppers.
They didn’t see God. Except Caleb and Joshua who insisted that God could handle the giants if they trusted Him.
They spent forty years on a journey that should have taken a few days.
What was the reason?
Unbelief!
In Numbers 13 we learn lessons that are applicable to us today – representatives from each of the twelve tribes of Israel were selected to spy out the land of the twelve who went out…10 came back with a majority report – 2 came back with a minority report – there is a lesson here it is that the majority is not always right.
– from this incident we find out –
Doubt looks through mans eyes – Doubt always sees the obstacles – Doubt speaks a bad report – Faith sees with the eyes of God – Faith always sees the victory – Faith speaks a good report – Doubt leads to discontentment, rebellion and fear – Faith produces a positive attitude and peace – Faith glimpses the future – Why did the spies fall prey to the “grasshopper complex? – Negative thinking – exaggerating the situation – ergo, their desire to return to Egypt
Rest in Scripture “They shall not enter into my rest”
The rest of salvation – Matthew 11:28 when He said in effect, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” –
that is, I’ll lift the burden of sin from you.”
you don’t have to do anything so that God will forgive you; Christ has already done it when He died for you. All you have to do is believe and receive Christ.
The rest of redemption – no longer slaves in Egypt – they came out by blood – they came out by power God delivered them.
The rest of obedience – Matt. 11:29“Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls”
We are now joined to a living Christ, and that is the only way we will enjoy Canaan – Canaan is not heaven it is the rest that believers are to have as they live on earth the only way to enter is to study and believe the Word of God.
Romans 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
The Result of Unbelief and Doubt
The generation of Israel who came out of Egypt were cited to the Hebrew believers as a warning not to repeat their sin.
They could not enter in because of unbelief – we do not recognize and I am sure they did not recognize that doubting God’s Word is a serious sin – because it leads to other sins.
For these Israelites in the wilderness it led to calf worship; it led to fornication, and it led to an absolute denial and rejection of God, as they turned their backs upon Him and even wanted to go back to Egypt
Matthew 13:58 Now He did not do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
The Antidote for Unbelief and Doubt
Exhort one another daily, while it is called – Today –
Exhort means to call near, i.e. invite, invoke by imploration, beseech, call for, pray – we have a responsibility to spur one another on in the faith – just as Caleb and Joshua attempted to do with the Israelites –we must obey Today because we will find that:
Immediate obedience is easier – Another opportunity may never come –
The desire to obey may fade – Time spent in sin is a waste
– Problems may arise to make obedience difficult if not impossible.
Procrastination will settle into the tillable earth …
Enough time passes, Procrastination will become the mighty Oak Tree …
Too many great and mighty Oak Trees eventually becomes a greater forest …
Then we spend too much time admiring the Greater Procrastination Forest.
Completely losing heart sight of the original call to obedience, belief and faith.
Then God, the Father and Son and Holy Spirit become hidden beneath the great canopy of Oak from the 11th world wonder Great Procrastination National Park.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Ecclesiastes 3:1-14 Complete Jewish Bible
3 For everything there is a season, a right time for every intention under heaven — 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to throw stones and a time to gather stones, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to discard, 7 a time to tear and a time to sew, a time to keep silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.
9 What does the worker gain from his efforts? 10 I have seen the task God has given humanity to keep us occupied. 11 He has made everything suited to its time; also, he has given human beings an awareness of eternity; but in such a way that they can’t fully comprehend, from beginning to end, the things God does. 12 I know that there is nothing better for them to do than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live. 13 Still, the fact that everyone can eat and drink and enjoy the good that results from all his work, is a gift of God. 14 I know that
whatever God does will last forever; there is nothing to add or subtract from it; and God has done it so that people will fear him.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost; as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 