John 8:56-59 - The Incarnate I Am

John 8:56-59

56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad.” 57 So the Jews said to Him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?” 58 Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was born, I am.” 59 Therefore they picked up stones to throw at Him, but Jesus hid Himself and went out of the temple.

Message: The Incarnate I Am

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus continues to speak and the Jews and those around him continue to listen and things remain tense. Jesus is proclaiming who He is to these people, sharing He is sent by God and believing in Him is the same as believing in God. People are missing the point, His point. He is offering them freedom, but they say they are not enslaved (v. 32-33). They are claiming allegiance to Abraham as their father, but because they do not see that Jesus is indeed the work of Abraham-- Jesus therefore says their allegiance is to Satan, the father of lies (v.44) (conclusion: if you don't accept Jesus you are living by Satan's ways).  Jesus states He is greater than Abraham, greater than the prophets. They died, but he infers that he will not die. And now he mentions that Abraham knew also that Jesus would be here, at this time. And then Jesus exclaims that before Abraham was born, "I am." And immediately the Jews knew this to be blasphemy and took up stones to throw at him.  

Verse 56 could be referring to the belief that Abraham died in faith, looking forward to the deliverance of the Messiah, the complete fulfillment of God's promises -- Hebrews 11:13 - "All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth." But there was probably also among the rabbi's and religious leaders that the secrets of the Messiah had been revealed to Abraham. Clearly Jesus knows more of the story than even these leaders. This is the point that he continues to make over and over. He is to be believed in and He is to be seen as coming from the Father and equal with God. 

This is the culmination of the past 2 chapters. That Jesus is proclaiming that before Abraham existed that He existed. Sent from the Father. Equal to the Father. I Am. 

Summary: Jesus culminates His deity now by announcing that before Abraham was born, I am, igniting the leaders to stone him for blasphemy. 

Promise: Christianity and Jesus' claim that He is God incarnate separates itself from all other world religions. We are to declare it. 

Prayer: Lord, it has taken me a while to get through this text after getting sick last week and struggling to concentrate myself on Your Words. Thank you for bringing me through that and then we spent Thanksgiving time in Atlanta with Sherry and Aron and once again, out of my element, I also struggled to make the time to be with You, and one day turns into two and three and more. You are there. You are present. Your Word is alive. Thank you for the conversations that I could have, namely with Aron and his desire to help out those that are in need that I know. Thank you for this message that You continue to put forth that people everywhere are to accept You as I am and sent from the Father. Lord, help us all to make you known. Thank you for repairing things with Pamela and Sherry yesterday morning and help my wife to be confident in herself. Help Derek now to stop smoking and be encouraged to not do this to help his stomach be normal. Lord, give me strength this week as I get back into the swing of things. Direct my path. Thank you for health and being able to feel well again. Give me compassion on those who are struggling. Please help Harris to find work that will sustain him and his future. Give me wisdom on how to encourage him. I praise You Lord and I do want to make your name known. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

John 8:48-55 - The One Who Seeks Christ's Glory

John 8:48-55

48 The Jews answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan and have a demon? 49 Jesus answered, "I do not have a demon, but I honor My Father and you dishonor Me. 50 But I do not seek My glory; there is One who seeks and judges. 51 Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he shall never see death." 52 The Jews said to Him, "Now we know that You have a demon. Abraham died, and the prophets also, and You say, "If anyone keeps My word, he shall never taste of death." 53 Surely You are not greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets died too, whom do You make yourself out to be?" 54 Jesus answered, "If I glorify Myself, My glory is nothing; it is My Father who glorifies Me, of whom you say, 'He is our God'; 55 and you have not come to know Him, but I know Him; and if I say that I do not know Him, I shall be a liar like you, but I do know Him, and keep His word. 

Message: The One Who Seeks Christ's Glory

Time: John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing was, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name (John 20:31)." 

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus has just stated that those who are of God are the ones that hear the word of God. Jesus is stating this because the Jews that are speaking to Him (in Jerusalem) are not believing in Him. In verse 43 He says, "You cannot hear My word." In some of my previous studies I have seen that the only way people can hear of God is if God awakens them to be able to hear. In John 6:44 Jesus says, "No one came come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him." It seems we are drawn by the Father, awakened by the Spirit or born of the Spirit (3:6). And yet the Jews are stating that because of being the offspring of Abraham, they are not enslaved (3:33) and do not need to be set free (3:32) and yet Jesus makes known that everyone is born of sin is a slave of sin (3:34). But the Jews continue to focus on their relationship to Abraham. And because they do not accept Jesus and His words, Jesus also states they are of the devil (3:44). Strong words. Confrontational words. Sort of attacking words. 

Because following Jesus stating that they don't hear from God, the Jews now (v. 48) follow up by stating Jesus is a Samaritan and a demon. These words by the Jews are I think more of an assertion that Jesus is a heretic. Jews believed the Samaritans were the worst of the human race. And the confrontation that He is of the devil or Satan is more that he has an evil spirit. 

Jesus continues in his conversation to state that He is only interested in advancing the Father - honoring Him. He is not even focused on His own glory (v. 54). These are necessary words as well toward His audience. Jesus is unselfish and while He wants people to Believe in Him this is because the Father has sent him for this purpose - to believe in Him and not perish, but to have eternal life. And then in the process people will do great things (7:38). 

Jesus is also speaking that people that believe in Him will not perish and will not taste death, but will truly live. As He has been speaking of eternal life. The Jews understood what He was saying as they mention that Abraham and the prophets died (v. 52). And so the Jews see that Jesus is asserting that He is indeed greater than Abraham and the prophets (v. 53). Jesus is consistent. He has been stating this message throughout John and this is the message John wants to present to us. 

Summary: Jesus is all about the Father's glory, though the Jews believe he has an evil spirit. 

Promise: We can conquer death, but only by believing in Jesus, agreeing with the Father, who glorifies Jesus. 

Prayer: Jesus you are Lord. You are the only way for me to have eternal life. I do believe in You and agree that the Father sent you to be glorified. Father, draw people to You. Transform lives. Help people to discover the real meaning of the Gospel. Thank you for the clarity of Your Word and how it penetrates me. And brings life to me. 

Note: If you are interested in other studies/devotions, check out my index of Bible Study's. 

My Utmost for His Highest - March 19 - Abraham's Life of Faith

By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he left, not knowing where he was going. - Hebrews 11:8

In the Old Testament, a person's relationship with God was seen by the degree of separation in that person's life. This separation is exhibited in the life of Abraham by his separation from his country and his family. When we think of separation today, we do not mean to be literally separated from those family members who do not have a personal relationship with God, but to be separated mentally and morally from their viewpoints. This is what Jesus Christ was referring to in Luke 14:26 (If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.)

Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading. It is literally a life of faith, not of understanding and reason -- a life of knowing Him who calls us to go. Faith is rooted in the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest traps we fall into is the belief that if we have faith, God will surely lead us to success in the world. 

The final stage in the life of faith is the attainment of character, and we encounter many changes in the process. We feel the presence of God around us when we pray, yet we are only momentarily changed. We tend to keep going back to our everyday ways and the glory vanishes. A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soaring on eagles' wings, but is a life of day-in and day-out consistency; a life of walking without fainting (Isaiah 40:31 - Yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.) It is not even a question of the holiness of sanctification, but of something which comes much farther down the road. It is a faith that has been tried and proved and has withstood the test. Abraham is not a type or an example of the holiness of sanctification, but a type of the life of faith--a faith, tested and true, built on the true God. "Abraham believed God . . ." (Romans 4:3). 

Oswald Chambers -From My Utmost for His Highest Updated Edition

A Decision that Led to Disaster - Abraham, Friend of God, Charles Swindoll Study Guide

Genesis 13

In my own words - Abram and Lot separate. They were traveling together and both had become very wealthy with many flocks and many tents. Seeing this, Abram mentions they should separate. Abram gives Lot first choice as to where to settle. Lot went to east, possibly because of the fertile, well-watered land, but he also ended up close to Sodom - a very evil place; the land was attractive, the people were evil. Abram went to the west, to Canaan. Following their separation, the Lord speaks to Abram, giving him a blessing of this land to Abram as far as his eye can see. His descendants, God says, will be numerous, as far as the eye can see. Abram followed this up by building an altar to the Lord. 

Wealth tests our decisions

The text says "and the land could not sustain them while dwelling together." Lot and Abram were between Bethel and Ai and as they grew in property something caused them to struggle being together. In our world, our borders are clearly defined - property lines do this to denote the separation of property and land. Where I grew up was at first an open area (Sandia Heights at the base of the Sandia Mountains) but as people came more in abundance, settled property lines were present but not clearly marked and I saw some people feeling a need to build walls while others left the open space as long as there was a clear distance between their area and others. 

Consequences follow our decisions

The text states that Abram stopped to spend time at the altar of the Lord (13:4). At times Abram has not made wise decisions but here the text brings attention to the fact that Abram goes to the altar of the Lord. He stops and spends time with God. Following this and the anxiety that he sees tells Lot he can choose the land he desires. And even after Lot chooses his land (looks good, but is near Sodom which will be an evil city), Abram then goes the other way and settles there and once again builds an altar to the Lord (13:18).  Application - I am encouraged to go to God when I am a crossroads and after sensing God's provision. Start with Him. End with Him. 

The title of this lesson is 'a decision that led to disaster' which speaks of the decision that Lot made in choosing the abundant that looked good to the eye. The decision he made on his own led to disaster. But Abram sough the Lord several times, before decisions and after decisions and God blessed him. In this text, both parties were already wealth with possessions. But what Abram received from God was a blessing of descendants and that the land that he would dwell would be fruitful. Abram received something that went beyond wealth. And again, what is most important to me in this passage is he went to God. 

Start with Him. End with Him.   

When the Godly slump - Abraham, Friend of God, Charles Swindoll Study Guide

Genesis 12:10-20

This is a familiar passage to me. Abram leaves the land where he is at because there is a famine there and it is severe and so he goes to Egypt. Prior to entering Egypt and because he knows his wife is very beautiful, rather than entering Egypt with her as his wife and his fear that leaders will simply kill him to get to his wife, instead he tells Sarai that she should act as his sister. As they enter Egypt the people in Pharaohs court see that she is beautiful and bring her to Pharaoh and Abraham receives gifts – sheep, cattle, donkeys, servants, camels. But then Pharaoh‘s house receives a disease and Pharaoh learns that Sarai is Abram’s wife, summons Abram to ask why did he say this and then tells him to leave/go. 

Failure is a part of life. It is not something we enjoy. We try to limit our mistakes. We like to always seem like we are better than this. There are certain people in life that we place on a pedestal and yet they are still human. They still make mistakes. 

I’ve noticed that society places people on pedestals and then write stories about their mistakes. WE prefer to be the one seeing a person's mistakes than on the other end. There is an idea I think that God blesses only those who are obedient and therefore when the media sees a Christian failing, people are alarmed and yet I think feel good about finding the evil because there is the feeling the Christian sees themselves as better than others. But, they do the same thing with movie stars or others we view with high regard, as if we somehow expect them to be perfect.

A divine test 

The first test Abram received was famine. In this passage we only see Abram acknowledge the famine and leave the land to go some place else. What we don’t know or see in the text is whether he prayed or consulted God. All we read is that He left. 

Life is difficult. Being a Christian still means life is difficult. Challenges like a famine test us. Right now we are tested in this life with this famine. It seems alarming to me and I too seem to think I know better that the decision makers - that maybe they have another motive. Am I really willing to trust the process or be grumpy through it? I see good outcomes from it. Don’t fight it. Live with it and continue to encourage others through it. 

Fear and sin 

Abram experiences fear and his focus is on himself. Sarai has to start living in deceit as well. She had to pretend to be something she isn’t. But the scriptures focus is Abram trying to safe his life because he fears the truth. 

Lying is not new to me unfortunately. I often in my life have lied and altered who I am ever so slightly because I don’t believe in my life as it is. Often I tried to make myself out to be better that I was. Sometimes I did things with little reason so I created a bigger reason. I often just didn't think my life as it was sounded good enough. I wanted it to look better. The problem is the lie has to be fed with more lies. 

Abram is found out

Abram's sin is discovered. This is my greatest fear: discovery of sin. Sin is a caper and we fear it’s discovery. Pharaoh found out his sin and this was a good thing for Abram as he needed to embrace the truth. In some ways Abram was fortunate. Though it hurts - once the sin is out in the open we can be restored. 

When the Godly Slump

• I remember one time in college and there is a Christian band that showed up on our campus and I was involved backstage with them and I was having a meal with some of the performers in the band and one of them was not present and was off to himself. I was bothered and I looked at his not being there is selfishness. Instead I should just accept him is different.
• God gave Jonah a task to do to preach because of the wickedness of the people. Instead Jonah ran away and by doing this others he was affected and others also experienced hardship. Once he listened to God things were not as bad as he thought. 
• My father often tells me that the reason he left the church we were at in high school and he would never return to the Christian church was the lead pastor made a comment about a patient he was seeing that was inappropriate. 
• Many pastors and leaders in the church have been exposed with having committed sexual sin outside their marriage. 

Do the right thing. It sounds simple. But that's it. But also, admit your mistakes. 

Maintaining Vital Contact - Abraham, Friend of God, Charles Swindoll Study Guide

In Genesis 12:1 “the Lord said to Abram, ‘Go forth from your country, and from your relatives, and from your father’s house, to the land which I will show you.’”  

Paul Tournier says - Man needs a place. To exist is to occupy a particular living-space to which one has a right. 

In this time I am living in - we are told to stay ‘safe at home.’ At this time we are encouraged to not leave but remain. The Lord told Abram to leave. Their is comfort in remaining where you are - I think moreso as I age. Granted I think that once retirement hits - it might propel me to leave and go some place different and yet leaving friends and family would be difficult. Perhaps instead the idea is to leave temporarily on vacation or even live some place else for a season. But always with the thought of returning. 

In moving Swindoll remarks on some challenges. 

- Rootlessness: when a plant separates from its soil it misses its nourishment and often has a hard time continuing. Familiar support systems are absent. 

- Loneliness: distance separates friends. It takes time to cultivate new friendships. We all knew one day we would leave college and graduate and yet most of those friendships are never as close as they once were. New relationships must be watered. 

- Insecurity: a new environment means learning new ways of getting around. Only the rare breed finds this exhilarating. 

- Uncertainty: what will things now be like? 

Key: Maintain vital contact with the Master Gardener. Regular contact with God will foster our courage and hedge us against the perils of moving. 

I can’t help but think of my dad right now and the angst he is experiencing after the loss of my mom. Granted there is much that he has kept that is familiar: family, his surroundings - yet all are different now. 

Abram was confident in God’s strength 

The good news about Abram is he was leaving with a promise - that blessing would continue by him, land will be divine. 

Altars built became visual reminders of God’s presence and the path promised. Our churches today are our altars: a designated place to worship God. 

I learned from my mom about having specific places to meet alone with God. Right now I’m on the porch - away from people - in a quiet place. It is morning while things are still awakening. This is my favorite time as the distractions haven’t yet started. 

I try to be regular in this time. But it is always hard. I go to bed at different times and wake up at different times. Right now during this pandemic I haven’t had to make food for Pamela so this time is more mine. 

Early on in my faith I was encouraged to have tbese quiet times. I spend time writing down my thoughts. I also keep a journal but this is often separate from this time or I try to keep it separate. Each day I seek to start afresh and start with Him. I like to study and I admit I have a hard time doing other things like praying - singing. I’m okay with the TV on at other times of the day but hate it on now. 

Going...Not Knowing - Abraham, The Friend of God, Charles Swindoll Bible Study Guide

The walk of faith consists of going...not knowing.

How secure are the tent pegs in my life? How deep are they in the ground? How easy is it for me to move? Even as i think of building a pergola and working in the yard and doing something I am not comfortable doing, my problem is often that I am so firmly rooted in other things - in other ways of living, in my habits and my normal motions of life. I default into saying I'm a number guy not a construction worker, but life gets more of a routine.

Acts 7:2-7

2 And he said, “Hear me, brethren and fathers! The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham when he was in Mesopotamia, before he lived in Haran, 3 and said to him, ‘Leave your country and your relatives, and come into the land that I will show you.’ 4 Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living. 5 But He gave him no inheritance in it, not even a foot of ground, and yet, even when he had no child, He promised that He would give it to him as a possession, and to his descendants after him. 6 But God spoke to this effect, that his descendants would be aliens in a foreign land, and that they would be enslaved and mistreated for four hundred years. 7 ‘And whatever nation to which they will be in bondage I Myself will judge,’ said God, ‘and after that they will come out and serve Me in this place.’

Abraham left where he was, with no promise of anything good, for himself, for his descendants - for 400 years. He was comfortable where he was - in Ur - his birthplace and Sarai’s. But God said to leave. And he left. God said something to him - and he listened. And he did it. 

Listening to God when he speaks to me is something I need to do. The Holy Spirit, I know, is speaking to me at many times. I need to listen when he speaks. My problem is I start thinking.  

As i go back and look at the text from Genesis, that the words of Acts were based upon, what stands out to me is that God’s leading or God’s words to Abram were not always immediate. In Chapter 12, he leaves Ur with the promise: I will bless you and I will give you much. Providence came to Abraham but so did unrest, so did problems. He went, but there was still a lot of 'not knowing.' There were promises, but not always the connecting of dots. But Abraham kept going forward and God kept speaking to him. But to go so far and then to be told that Abraham’s descendants would be enslaved and oppressed for 400 years.  

I Peter 2:11 -  Beloved, I urge you as aliens (pilgrims KJV) and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul. Use a concordance to come up with more references of these two words thinking about the verses and their meanings. 

Exodus 18:3 - Moses said, “I have been an alien (sojourner NAS) in a strange land.”

Deuteronomy 14:21 - Alien is someone that is not part of the chosen people. 

Job 19:15 - Job sees himself as an alien in contrast to those in his household. 

Ps 69:8 - The Psalmist feels like an outcast

Heb 11:13 - Those who died in faith, when the lived on the earth, they were seen as aliens and strangers

Abraham would have identified with these words. The follower of God is seen as a stranger or alien from the rest that are in society. A person that listens to God is different. In a way, we as Christians are aliens to those around us.  

Do I seek God’s will or my own? - I live in comfort. I am in a season now of serving my dad and my wife while I continue to serve God in ministry. Overall, these lines are blurry and it is hard for me to see a difference. But, i think overall i am serving God as his child. I'm active with GMO, reaching out to Scott D and responsive to friends. Sure, I'd love to get back to the mall with Bobby. And perhaps take on another guy that Doug might have at Next Steps.

Am I as willing to stay as I am to leave? - I don’t feel right of leaving, but I know Pamela would like to one day. I feel obligated now to stay, to support my dad. I don’t feel how leaving is an option, albeit a very selfish one. But overall, this is hard. I enjoy the conversations with the folks in Africa. Right now, that is the only slight pull I have. Yet, I like my status of communicating with them. With everyone I talk to, sure there is the thought that maybe I could accomplish more face to face, but God is in control as well.

Is my decision to stay or leave become more or less complicated? - It remains the same.  Well, I feel more lodged here at home because of my dad, to be honest. Will that change? I am not sure.

The Man Who Pioneered Faith - Abraham, The Friend of God, Charles Swindoll Bible Study Guide

The Man Who Pioneered Faith

This Abraham study is about him being a friend of God. And it begins talking of Abram as being a pioneer of faith. His life was one of faith and simplicity. Colossians 2:6 -- Therefore as you have received (by faith) Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him (by faith). “Walk by faith, not by sight” the song goes. What does this look like? I trust Jesus Christ by faith. Faith is to trust or believe in God. This is simple and should be simple in our lives. Our lives begin in Christ with simplicity. 

I saw this text: Psalm 37:1-5: 

Do not fret because of evildoers,

Be not envious toward wrongdoers.

For they will wither quickly like the grass

And fade like the green herb.

Trust in the Lord and do good;

Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the Lord;

And He will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord,

Trust also in Him, and He will do it.

Let my life be about faith and living by faith and cultivating a life of faithfulness. 

Prayer: Oh Lord, I got started today on a journey with you and Abraham and his life to better understand you and better understand my life with You. I pray that my life is lived by faith. Help this to transcend me and in turn, help me to encourage others - here at home, online, everywhere. But I want to live by faith. And I want to know what this means each day to live a life by faith. 

The point is made that ‘faith expands understanding.’ God gave Abram promises - 

Now the Lord said to Abram,

“Go forth from your country,

And from your relatives

And from your father’s house,

To the land which I will show you; 

And I will make you a great nation,

And I will bless you,

And make your name great;

And so you shall be a blessing;

And I will bless those who bless you,

And the one who curses you I will curse.

And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” [Genesis 12:1-3]

Abram followed God before the promises seemed attainable. He followed. He loved the promise of land, but he loved more the promise of an heir. He didn’t know how it would occur as Sarai was barren. He thought it might be his servant that would be the heir, but God corrected him and said it would be “one who shall come forth from your own body.”

Prayer: Lord, I do want to follow You first. Not follow then wait for rewards. Let’s face it, you have already given me so much. 

Children follow - with a simplicity. Jesus made mention of this - “unless you are converted and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Abraham (“father of a multitude”) and Sarah (“princess”) seem to have this type of faith - throughout their lives. They would have a son, Isaac (“he laughs”) after God promises to them. 

Q: In whom or in what are you placing your trust? 

• It is supposed to be ‘in God’ but it feels more likely that my trust wallows back and forth between wanting to be in God and more likely in His blessings. I wonder if that is the same thing. At times, it is, but am I only happy and content if I have what I need and want? If I am in want - am i still trusting? 

Q: And what kind of eternal dividend will that investment yield? 

• The eternal dividend of trust in God yields peace with God and life with Him. Heaven should not be a surprise but should echo the life I am living now toward God. 

The faith that Abraham displayed in offering his son as a burnt offering, only to be stopped by the angel of the Lord prior, is a faith that very few have duplicated. One is the appearance of an audible intercession by the Lord that I do not encounter today. The other is sometimes not feeling like I experience these kind of tests. But also Abraham, while following God, anticipated God to intercede - so he seemed to anticipate God interceding. 

Encoutering death is something Abraham did when Sarah died and then he prepared for his own death. 

Q: How would I respond if I was told I had very little time to live? 

• I would want my family to be prepared for my passing. To be ready to go on without me. 

Q: If this was my last day, how would I live it? 

• Saying goodbye to those I have loved and have loved me. 

The Life of Abraham - Genesis 11-25

11 - Terah is his Abram’s father; Abram takes Sarai as wife and they settle in Haran with Terah and Sarai

12:1-3 - Abrahamic Covenant - “a great nation, I will bless you, and all the families shall be blessed.” Abram departs from Haran (w/ Lot - his nephew) at age 75 - possibly in Southern Turkey and now Harran and arrives in Shechem - 14 hours drive south of Harran today; Lord “I will give you this land” and Abram built an altar, then he went to Mountain east of Bethel, then to Negev; then to Egypt.

12:11-20 Encounters Pharaoh and misleads him, saying Sarai (beautiful) is his sister, leading to the Lord striking plagues onto Pharaoh, and his men escorted them away; Pharaoh, tho he does not follow God knows the plagues are from God. 

13:1-14 - They leave Egypt (w/ Lot) to the Negev, b/w Bethel and AI - Lot and Abram each had lots of flocks, herds, tents and so they decide it is best to separate for the land cannot sustain them both - Lot goes east to Sodom (valley of Jordan); Abraham settled in Canaan

13:15-18 - Lord says, “Look, all that you see is for you and your descendants” and he went to Hebron and built an altar

14:1-12 - Lot is removed,  he and his possessions, from Sodom; Abram rescues Lot

14:17-24 king of Salem, Melchizedek, blesses Abram; Abram takes nothing in return

15:1-5 - Abram receives a message from God through a vision; Eliezer, his servant will not be his heir, but one born of him. Your descendants will be counted like the stars. 

15:6-11 - Abram believe in the Lord and He reckoned to him as righteousness

15:12-15 - Your descendants will be strangers, enslaved and oppressed 400 years, but God will judge the nation they serve and they will come out with many possessions; Abram will live a long life.

15:18 - Lord made a covenant with Abram - “i have given this land to your descandants”

16:2 - Sarai tells Abram to go into Hagar (maid) to obtain children, 10 years after living in Canaan

16:5 - strife exists now b/w Sarai and Hagar

16:9-12 - Angel says to Hagar, “Return to Sarai and submit to her and I will greatly multiple your descendants. Your child will be called Ishmael. He will live to the east.”

16:16 - Abram is 86

17:1 - Abram is 99

17:2-8 - The Lord gives covenants to Abram - “I will multiply you exceedingly” and “You shall be the father of a multitude of nations.” Your name is now Abraham which means father of a multitude. “I will make you exceedingly fruitful” and “I will make nations of you” and “kings shall come forth from you” and “everlasting covenant between Me and you and your descendants” and “I will give you and your descendants the land of Canaan” 

17:9-14 - The Lord says, “You shall keep My covenant”; “You shall be circumcised as a sign of the covenant” and this includes servants

17:15-27 - Sarai is now Sarah (princess) and I will give you a son by her and bless her and Abraham laughed as he wondered how this would happen to Sarah who is 90. Lord said, “his name will be Isaac and I will also establish my covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.” Ishmael will be blessed and made fruitful and become the father of 12 princes. BUT, my covenant will be with Isaac. Then Abraham circumcised himself, and all in his household.  

18:1-15 - Three appear before Abraham, thought to be 2 men and the Lord and Abraham prepares food for them. They are looking for Sarah to tell her that a son will be born to her at this time next year. Sarah laughs at this and then denies it for “Is anything too difficult for the Lord” is what is said

18:16-33 - Abraham intercedes for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah and with God he sort of bargains for the fate of those in the city stating that if there are 50, then 40, then 30, then 20, even 10 righteous ones in all the city, then all the city will be spared. Before this God said that he is going their to decide the fate of those in the City. 

19:1-29 - 2 angels come to Sodom, and Lot welcomes them into his home, but the men of the City want those men in order to have relations with them. Lot pleads with them to not act in this evil manner, even offering his virgin daughters, but they insist. The angels intercede and strike these wicked men with blindness and then ask Lot to gather him and his family to spare them for the Lord has sent these men to destroy this city because of its wickedness. The angels say to Lot and his family to escape to the mountain, but Lot bargains with them and asks instead to go to the town of Zoar. Fire and brimstone then fell on Sodom and Gomorrah. After being told to not look back, Lot’s wife does indeed look back, and became a pillar of salt. It is said that God remembered Abraham in allowing Lot and his family to live.

19:30-38 - Lot’s daughters think that there are no men left to have children so they get their father drunk and lie with him in order to preserve the family. The first born gives birth to Moab (father of Moabites) and the younger to Ben-ammi (father of the sons of Ammon).

20 - Abraham goes to land of Negev, then to Gerar where he comes up king Abimelech and once again says Sarah is his sister. The Lord spoke to Abimelech and he called Abraham wondering why he would say this to him. Abraham thought there was no fear of God in this place and would kill him. Following this Abimelech gave Abraham sheep, oxen, male and female servants. Previously, having been made barren Abimelech’s wife because of this incident, Abraham intereceds for Abimelech and his wife and maids now bore children. 

21 - 3 things happen in this chapter. First, the birth of Isaac is mentioned and Sarah laughs because she and Abraham have bore children at an old age. Second, she sees Hagar, the mother of the child that was bore with Abraham and she wants Hagar to leave, stating that the offspring blessing is now reserved for Isaac. But the Lord says that while Hagar needs to leave, her offspring will still be blessed. So she leaves. Third, a treat is made between Abimelech and Abraham. Abimelech is the leader of the army and a covenant between him and Abraham is established. There is an episode of his servants seizing water from a well, but Abraham provides an offering for this it would seem to provide a sign that all is well between he and Abimelech. 

22 - This is the story of the offering of Isaac whereby God calls thim to make this offering. He must journey several days to the place of the offering, taking his son, a donkey and servants, and wood. The son wonders what the sacrifice will be and Isaac assures him that an offering will be provided. He leaves the servants once he arrives at the place and just as he is ready to slaughter his own son, God intercedes and perhaps Abraham hears the lesson that was needed hear - that Abraham is willing to forsake all for following the Lord. Immediately, a ram instead is provided for the sacrifice and Abraham builds an altar saying, “God will provide” and remains living in Beersheba. At the end fo the chapter, the offsprings of Abraham’s brothers is mentioned. 

23 - This chapter is about the burial place for Sarah, who has died at the age of 127. Abraham mourns for her, but spends time picking a burial place that is then promised to Abraham as a burial place. It is a cave.

24 - Abraham tells his servant where they are to go to find a wife for Isaac. After a long journey, and wanting to make a right decision, Abraham’s servant says that upon a woman coming who says to him, “Let down your jar that I may drink” will be the one. Immediately, Rachel appears and provides her jug for the servant to drink from. Rebekah had a brother Laban who provides a place to rest for Abraham’s servant. Rachel is a daughter of one of Abraham’s brothers - Nahor. Nahor hesitates in letting Rebekah go back with the servant, asking for her to stay 10 days, but then asks Rebekah and she says it is fine, so Rebekah then leaves and arrives at home and upon seeing Isaac in the field they are immediately wed. 

25 - After Sarah’s passing, Abraham takes another wife, Keturah and has more children. Abraham lived to the age of 175. Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave that I believe Sarah was also. 

Can I identify some of the struggles that Abraham faced? What is going on in my life right now and what struggles am I facing? 

Abraham: The life and times of Abraham is from age 75 to 175. Much of that is written about Abraham isn’t necessarily what he experiences but what others experience around him (Lot, Sarah, his servant) and besides this God bestows on Abram great gifts and providence. I suppose Abraham is challenged to listen to God and do what he says in offering his son Isaac. He also can’t believe that he can enter a town without lying. So he struggles with lying at times. He also sees his friends struggling and intercedes for them (christians living in Sodom and Gomorrah). He also has a wife that tells him to do a sin and he goes along with it.  

Me: So far my Christian life has been from 14 to 52. In that time one of the big things I’ve struggled with is anger. And I’ve also noticed I struggle with feeling a need to please others. And also feeling like I am never doing enough. In my walk with God, I often struggle wondering what more I can do. I feel that like God has provided me with alot and I’m not sure I’m taking care of others the way I need to do; so like Abraham what am I doing with the gifts He provides. The Lord will provide and does provide. I know I do good things and people tell me so, but still I wonder.  

John 8:31-38 - The Truth Shall Make You Free

John 8:31-38
31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; 32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33 They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

34 Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. 35 The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. 36 So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37 I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. 38 I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.”

Message: The Truth Shall Make You Free

Time: Throughout church history, Christians have consistently attributed this gospel to Jesus' disciple John, the brother of James, the son of Zebedee. John was one of the inner circle of Jesus' most trusted companions. It's most likely that John wrote his gospel while he was in Ephesus, and that he wrote it for an audience that lived outside Palestine, perhaps in Asia Minor. John appears to have had in mind members of a Jewish community who had come to believe that Jesus was the Messiah, but who had continued to worship in the synagogue. John most likely wrote between A.D. 85 and 90. John's purpose in writing he was to confirm the belief that Jesus was both the Christ and the Son of God

What the Lord is Saying:

In this study of grace, I have been looking at a lot of passages from Paul, though Paul reiterates much of what is said in the Bible. This entry today is based upon a teaching series that RC Sproul did called Willing to Believe. As I studied the book of Mark, it seems apparent that much of what Jesus was doing as he ministered was responding to critics from the Jewish community. As he did this he was teaching and preaching to his disciples as well as others on the gospel, the good news of God and his love for people and our need to trust God and only God. We are not to trust in our own good deeds, but trust in God. God is calling all of us, Jew and Gentile alike.

Thus, in this passage Jesus is speaking now to those Jews who believed Him, "If you continue in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth and the truth will make you free." On the surface this sounds like an innocuous statement. It sounds like a message of good news. We are free as we continue to listen to the Words of Jesus. Yet, the response of the Jews was one of alarm as Jesus was insinuating that they had a need to be set free, that they had a need to be rescued. And this can be an offensive statement to people. People instead like to think that their life and the way that it is being lived is good. These individuals Jesus was speaking to were not presently in captivity and yet there seems to be a captivity that Jesus is referencing.  Thus, their response to him was therefore -  We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?”

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. I know that you are Abraham’s descendants; yet you seek to kill Me, because My word has no place in you. I speak the things which I have seen with My Father; therefore you also do the things which you heard from your father.” 

The response of these Jews is that they are Abraham's descendants and as his descendants are recipients of blessings through covenants that God has made. As recipients of blessings they are therefore not captive and as such, do not need to be set free. This is their contention. Our non-Jewish world may not say they have a blessing from being Jewish today, but they might say that their good works have paid off over the  years and through their good deeds and hard work and learning from mistakes and living a fairly pain-free life that they also are not captive. We do live in this free land of America.

Yet, Jesus remarks something that is still offensive to this day - everyone who commits sin is the slave to sin. I listened to this episode on Youtube from Living Waters and the atheist made that claim. The claim was that one person does one action and they are labeled a sinner. And yet I think Ray Comfort showed him later that he had actually done a lot of offensive actions. But, this is a statement by Jesus that people just don't like hearing. This is one reason why Jesus is a curse word. People don't want to be found out. And we are a culture that says, "I'm okay" not "I'm a sinner." We are about doing things that prove ourselves as worthy we believe, and then looking pass those things that are offensive. But, it is the offense that we still must deal with it each day.

Thus, people's beliefs are often humanistic which believes in an exalted view of the goodness of human nature. Thus, inconceivable to these people that they were held captive or in their own souls enslaved to sin. Thus, the basic view of humanism is however many times we may stumble or fall into evils of unrighteousness, at the core our default is goodness and these evils are external to us. Even in the church, among evangelicals we are grafted into this thinking. Thus, when defining free will one must look at where the definition is coming from. Meanings of words are different and they are different because of the context of those meanings. Thus, there is free will as it relates to the sovereignty of God and the operation of original sin which tells us what we have inherited from Adam and Eve as our first parents.

There is an external force that makes us free and that force's name is Jesus. John speaks of Jesus as being the Truth (John 14:6) and here in these verses he says the truth shall make you free and he says the Son makes you free. We need Jesus. We need to submit and surrender to Him to be free. We have this faith in Him. He makes us free and He draws us into this relationship with Him.

Promise: Let us cast aside our sin and look for life only in Jesus. He alone can satisfy us.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your Word. Thank you for gifting speakers like Ray Comfort and RC Sproul who examine your Word and the ideas of this world to show us that You God are the only true God. We need you and we thank you God for making us free. I thank you for making me free. I am free indeed because of Jesus. I have been made right with you God because of Jesus. Holy Spirit, continue to confirm this in my life each and every day. Continue to speak to me and help me to better understand it. Yet, help me to not sit in silence. Give me the voice to carry this message to the masses. Thank you for the online forums you have given me and the ability I have to use those forums, like GMO, to speak to others and help them with the understanding you have given me. O God you are a good God and this generation needs you more than ever. Remove the blinders that are on the eyes of many. Help people to see you as you really are and to recognize the evil that is present in this world.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am a little behind and working through 2017 devotionals. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. The month of April is about salvation by grace alone. March was about the sovereign providence of God; February was about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January is about the doctrine of God.

Mark 12:25-27 - The God of the Living

Mark 12:25-27
25 For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. 26 But regarding the fact that the dead rise again, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the passage about the burning bush, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I AM THE GOD OF ABRAHAM, AND THE GOD OF ISAAC, AND THE GOD OF JACOB’? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living; you are greatly mistaken.”

Message: The God of the Living

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is in Jerusalem. He has been questioned by the Sadducees on marriage after the resurrection. Though the people do not believe in the resurrection they are eager to see him apply one of the Mosaic laws about a brother's responsibility to marry a deceased brother who was not able to sire an heir. It is probably about the 3rd or 4th day of Jesus being in Jerusalem. Thus far, he has mostly answered questions from those of different belief systems. In the process, he has cursed the chief priests and scribes that uphold the Scriptures and yet did not uphold their intended purpose. Jesus will be the chief cornerstone, but his rejection by them is also necessary at this time. For others it was about our responsibility to God and government when it comes to taxes. These leaders wanted to catch Jesus probably in hypocrisy. But each time he brought them back to the Scripture and God's message. The central message is have faith in God and love your neighbor. Be focused on God and others.

Here is the continued response by Jesus to the Sadducees question. Jesus will answer the question as well as the belief of no resurrection from the Sadducees. For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. The first response is marriage is not an institution in heaven. This can be hard to fathom especially if you are someone like me and marriage on earth has been the greatest of human relationships and even has been greater than I could ever imaging. I love my wife and the closeness I have with her and the love I have for her is something so great and also something that I can't see ending. We have been married 27 years next week and each day seems still like a new experience with her. She gains in beauty and she gains in remaining captivating. I thank God for this picture of Him. For in Christ, he is new every morning. I read and enjoy the scriptures more and more each day and knowing Him is greater and greater each day. So in the way I experience my wife I see the same thing in my relationship with Him. But I also see the promise of being with him forever in paradise and if my relationship with Him is anything like my relationship with my wife then Yes, I can understand there being no marriage in heaven because I will have everything that I need in Him. Today, I need these human relationships.

Jesus says that I will be like angels. Angels simply surround God and bring praise to Him.

One of the reasons that the Sadducees did not believe in a resurrection is the assumption that life now here on earth will be the same in heaven. And if it is the same, then a woman cannot have multiple husbands. One would be true followed by the others being an example of adultery. And since adultery would not be right, then resurrection would not be right.

In addition, God shows that He keeps His promises. And His promises are not just for a specific time. His covenant ways continue. Here he quotes from Exodus 3 where God said to Moses, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. It is not that Jesus was the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, but he is. He states, "I am." It is a current tense not a past tense. Thus, it implies that they live on to worship Him. For he is their God all at the same time. Thus, they live together with Him in paradise. He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. 

Summary - Jesus answers the Sadducees question. Perhaps it is not what they want to hear, so perhaps because of this they will not believe what he has said and accept it. There is no marriage in heaven and God is the God of the living not the dead. This is the way God has spoken to His people. He says, "I am" and that phrase has most often been talking about his authority but it also speaks of his current and present state. It is not "I was" but "I am." He is the God of the Now.  

Purpose: God is the God of the living. God's relationship with His people does not end at their death, for they live on to worship Him in heaven. Because of this, we know that all His promises to us will be kept either now or in the world to come.

Prayer: O Jesus you are so clear on Your ways. Help our unbelief and our short-sighted thinking. We get too caught up in what we want instead of submitting to You for what you are. Help us to always trust in You even when it does not necessarily agree with what we want or desire on this earth. We get too wrapped up in today and we forget your promises for tomorrow. Keep our eyes focused on You always.

Psalm 102:15-28 - God Unchanging

Psalm 102:15-28
¹⁵ So the nations will fear the name of the Lord and all the kings of the earth Your glory.
¹⁶ For the Lord has built up Zion; He has appeared in His glory.
¹⁷ He has regarded the prayer of the destitute and has not despised their prayer.

¹⁸ This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord.
¹⁹ For He looked down from His holy height; from heaven the Lord gazed upon the earth,
²⁰ To hear the groaning of the prisoner, to set free those who were doomed to death,
²¹ That men may tell of the name of the Lord in Zion and His praise in Jerusalem,
²² When the peoples are gathered together, and the kingdoms, to serve the Lord.

²³ He has weakened my strength in the way; He has shortened my days.
²⁴ I say, “O my God, do not take me away in the midst of my days, your years are throughout all generations.
²⁵ “Of old You founded the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
²⁶ “Even they will perish, but You endure; and all of them will wear out like a garment; like clothing You will change them and they will be changed.
²⁷ “But You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end.
²⁸ “The children of Your servants will continue, and their descendants will be established before You.”

Message: God Unchanging

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: Yesterday I looked at this idea that is presented here where the Psalmist is asking God to intervene in his/her life. He doesn't understand what is going on his life. His enemies have reproached him all day long (v. 8). He is in distress (v. 2) and his bones are groaning (v. 5). He resembles now a lonely bird sitting on top of a housetop (v. 7). He is obviously experiencing pain. It could be an ailment, a sickness, a feeling of despair, losing a relationship, or a family member. I do not know the cause of the pain, only the pain. But even with all of that pain, there is the proclamation that God is there. You, Lord, abide forever (v. 12).

Now we shift to the nations will fear the name of the Lord to describe not only the writer praising God, but now the entire nation. And the language further shifts to shouts of praise remarking that the Lord has regarded the destitute, listening to their prayer. God is present. He hears us. The Lord will be praised over and over, not only in this generation, but for the generation to come. 

He hears us. He knows the pain that we are experiencing. And he is not simply in the hearing business, but he is in the business of saving those doomed to death. That is the condition of each of us. Apart from Christ, we are all doomed to death, to the grave, never to rise again. But God saves man and man in turn may tell of the name of the Lord throughout the land in which he lives. All of us are gathered together...to serve the Lord. We praise His name, we witness His redemption, and we spread His Name, serving the Lord as we go.  

He is the creator, the giver of life, the creator of this world. And even beyond what we can see it is the work of His hands. He is all we need. He endures. You are the same, and Your years will not come to an end. And then the promise of Abraham is continued as the children of Your servants will continue. 


Promise: Our stability is only in God. God is our rock, strong and stable. But God cannot be changed. He is fully dependable.

Prayer:O God, thank you for remaining the same and always being there. You are the creator and the sustainer of life. All centers on you. I praise Your name for all that you do. All the events of life surrender to You. Help me always to return to You and thank you for your grace. As hard times come, keep my eyes on You, trusting in You, bearing this present life. Thank you Lord for Your love.

Psalm 47 - Praising God the King

Psalm 47:1-9
O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy. For the Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth. He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet. He chooses our inheritance for us, the glory of Jacob whom He loves. Selah. God has ascended with a shout, the Lord, with the sound of a trumpet. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a skillful psalm. God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne. The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted. 

Message: Praising God the King

Time: The psalms were written by many different people across a period of a thousand years in Israel's history. They are thought to have been compiled and put together in their present form by some unknown editor shortly after the captivity ended about 537 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying: 

This passage is probably an ode to a victory celebration, like a military incident.

It begins with a proclamation to clap your hands and make a joyful noise because of the victory we have been given by God. O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy.

With our celebration is acknowledging that our God is to be feared and set apart. He has absolute power over all the nations. For the Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth.

God only has to speak and the nations are subdued and under His feet. We celebrate the triumph we have in God Almighty. He subdues peoples under us and nations under our feet.  

At this time, the people were rejoicing in the Land in which God had them dwell. This was the prophets' land. This was a land like any other.  He chooses our inheritance for us, the glory of Jacob whom He loves.The land came into the possession of the people at the time of Jacob's sons.

With poetic words, the Psalmist remarks that God has come to His people, to rescue them and then returned to the heavens with a shout, the sound of a trumpet. Almost like, "it is done." God has ascended with a shout, the Lord, with the sound of a trumpet.

The heart is full of praise. It is overcome with the work of God. I think at times I struggle with this or seeing that God has indeed worked and He is to be praised. It's hard to see sometimes in the world of "want" in which we live. Sing praises to God, sing praises; sing praises to our King, sing praises. 

For God is the King of all the earth; sing praises with a skillful psalm. We are to be instructed through these praises. He is King over all the earth. He is sovereign. He reigns. He is over all. We are amazed. All people should discover this.  

The idea here is that God is over all, not necessarily that he reigns over people that are not of faith, but God's dominion is over the entire world. God reigns over the nations, God sits on His holy throne. 

Everyone will come together under the throne of God. All people will be established under His dominion. Everyone will bow down one day. The princes of the people have assembled themselves as the people of the God of Abraham, for the shields of the earth belong to God

Promise: He is highly exalted.