Proverbs 16:32 - Exercising Patience

Proverbs 16:32 (NLT)

Better to be patient than powerful;

Better to have self-control than to conquer city. 

Message: Exercising patience

Time: Proverbs records multiple individuals as its author with Solomon as the principal author. Solomon died in 931 BC though most think the book was likely in its final form sometime before the end of Hezekiah’s reign in 686 BC. It is a book that instructs people on the path of wisdom. It speaks to all of life and living our lives under the authority and direction of God.

What the Lord is Saying: In the NASB which I normally read it says, "He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and who who rules his spirit, than he who captures a city." Our Sunday School teacher offered this text from the NLT with the word patience. From slow to anger to patience. Most one-verse proverbs have one contrast within them, but this one has two. 

Patient > Powerful; Self-control > Conquer

Slow to anger > Mighty; Rules his spirit > Captures a City

In the class, (1/18) the teacher asked for examples of situations in life where in which we struggle with patience. Responses mentioned driving, waiting in lines, other people that don't meet our expectations. I also think of the ways in which we are trained to not be patient - like the internet that allows to get on line in a moment. I am reminded of Europe in which it is also mentioned meal time takes a while. I think often times we have sat down to eat and other people sit down, eat and leave so quickly it seems. Even in other things in life, like the availability of TV shows to watch, able to watch any sporting event, live stream events. There is so little patience available or waiting or delayed gratification. And so we tend to be quick to be bothered. 

Someone once said, "Patience is a virtue we value in others, but ignore in ourselves." I think this could be said about a lot of things we want in others. I think even our claim that we are always busy is an issue of impatience in that we don't take time to reflect on other things. 

In this verse, patience is contrasted with being powerful or mighty. Power is on great display in our world today as many people want to be powerful. War is a significant problem in our world today as many people have a desire for control over others. So to say patience is greater than this or being slow to anger or slow to conflict means we take the time to consider others and not simply what we want. The second part of the verse also mentions conquering a city. 

The verse also links patience with self-control. Self-control is delaying gratification and focus on what matters. It is foregoing immediate desires. Like an adolescent waiting for marriage rather than engaging in sex. Or waiting for marriage rather than living together now. It is interesting how new phones or something new comes out and people line up to be the first one to have one. We want it now. We want our news now. We have fast internet and we want things now. We aren't willing to have self-control. Self-control seems needed but why do we need patience? 

Romans 5:3-4 says that suffering produces patient endurance. Patience decreases negative feelings because things often do not work out in the way we would like. It improves our mental and physical health by reducing stress, fostering resilience, and enabling decision making. Again, setbacks will happen. 

Prayer: Lord, I see how often I am trained to not be patient or slow to things. There can be a constant rush to get to the next item and conquer the next problem. At times I do not stop at work to evaluate or think more about why I am doing what I am doing. It is hard Lord and I feel like little is being accomplished at times. Lord, train me to be patient in my life. Train me to ponder because there are many things that have to wait. I need my stress to reduce. Thank for the joy of reading and studying Your word. Help me to get to all of the things in my life that mean something and be there for others. It is hard Lord to make this happen. It is hard for me to be consistent. 

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

2 Peter 1:3-8 - The Right Tools

2 Peter 1:3-8

3 His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, 6 knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, 7 godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Message: The Right Tools

Time: Written by Peter, he being influenced by the writings of Paul to Ephesus (Ephesians) somewhere between 62 and 63 AD. 

What the Lord is Saying: We had a guest speaker this morning at church and he did a message from 2 Peter on Right Tools. He used an example of fly fishing throughout his message to basically talk about the fact that God has given us Christians all the right tools that we need to carry out godliness in our lives. 

As is my pattern, I looked at the text and went back to verse 1 to understand a little bit better the context of this passage. Peter's message is written to those Christians that have the same understanding of faith or belief that he does. 

I noticed verse 1 says this faith is "by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ." I wondered with that verse if Peter is linking God and Jesus or if God and Jesus are separate. On one hand, it sounds like he is stating that Jesus the Savior is God. But could he be stating that faith is of the righteousness of God and the righteousness of Jesus Christ?

In verse 2, he asks that "Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord." Here again, Peter is mentioning grace and peace because of those (verse 1) having a knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. 

Even if Peter is not stating that Jesus is God, he is linking characteristics that are the same of the two - righteousness, grace, peace - all found in the knowledge of God and Jesus. 

Verse 3 - "His divine power." When I read this, that's what made me go back to verse 1 and 2 and think about who's divine power He is speaking about for His is singular and yet so possibly it lends itself to think that verse 1 and 2 and the words of God and Jesus are unified rather than separate. Yet, His divine power could be the last name spoken in verse 2 (remembering that punctuation and verse divisions were added later). But also here we then have Jesus being the one with divine power and God also has divine power. Thus, there is another linkage here with Jesus and God having the same attribute of divine power. 

This here is the point of the pastor's message yesterday morning and initially the first point of the text of 2nd Peter. That to the Christian, the fellow believer and Peter - that through Jesus, his righteousness and our knowledge, those Christians have "everything pertaining to life and godliness." The everything we have is because of the faith we have, the grace, and the peace. This is indeed a compelling statement. We have everything pertaining to life because we have faith "through the true knowledge of Him." 

And later in the text it states therefore, with the qualities mentioned in verse 5-7, namely "moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love -- we are neither useless nor unfruitful." Thus we have everything we need for life an godliness and because of that we will be fruitful and useful. 

This sounds like a promise. This takes me back to verse 4 - "For by these" where these seems to be "everything pertaining to life and godliness." Peter says, "these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature." 

Again, we have everything we need pertaining to life and godliness. We have qualities that we will supply to others and throughout life to be of use and fruitful. Thus, we become divine-like. 

But in this text then is a mysterious statement to me - "He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises." Promises. What are these promises? 

2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness..." There is a promise. 

2 Peter 3:13 says, "But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth." 

We have everything we need for life and being Godly. We are those that have faith and knowledge of God and Jesus. We have been given qualities. We will be useful and bear fruit. We will be divine. And this is all according to His precious and magnificent promises. 

I find this interesting because Peter explains all of these outcomes which we have because of our faith, but doesn't specify the promises, and so his audience must have understood these promises. 

I don't know exactly what these promises are right now. I could look at commentaries and review the different ideas. I suppose for now I will focus on what I know - I have everything I need.

Prayer: God, you have done it. Through faith, I have everything I need to do everything pertaining to life and godliness. I want to discover this Lord. And believe this and trust in this. And help me to share this with others to encourage them. Give us all hope. 

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

I Samuel 5 - Yahweh Versus Dagon

I Samuel 5

But when they got up early the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen on his face to the ground before the ark of the Lord. And the head of Dagon and both palms of his hands were cut off on the threshold; only the torso of Dagon was left. - verse 4

Message: Yahweh Versus Dagon

Time: This book is a biography of Samuel's life and career up to his death. It took place over a period of about 110 years, stretching from the closing days of the judges, when Samuel was born (ca. 1120 BC) through the death of Saul (1011 BC).

What the Lord is Saying: After Eli dies and Phinehas wife and new husband give birth to new son Ichabod, the text now moves back to the ark being with the Philistines. They have taken the ark to the city of Ashdod, bringing it into the house of Dagon (a god of the city). Dagon was found falling on his face before the ark of the Lord. Then the next morning Dagon was found on his face again before the ark, but this time his head and hands were cut off and only the torso remained. No one steps on the threshold to this day in Dagon's house. 

According to Tabletak devotional, "extrabiblical sources as well as biblical accounts such as 1 Samuel 17:54, ancient Near Eastern peoples frequently cut off the heads and hands of defeated foes. For Dagon to lose his head and hands in the presence of the ark of Yahweh meant that Yahweh had conquered Dagon." 

The Ashdodites were struck by the Lord with tumors. The people recognize it is not good for them to have the ark. Bad things are happening and not good that it is in the house of their god - Dagon. All the poeple were gathered together to make a decision about the ark and it was sent to the city of Gath. But the same thing occurred in Gath and tumors arrived on the people. So the Ark was sent to Ekron. But those people knew it was bad to have the ark, but still many died or got tumors and they sent the ark away. 

Don't mess with God and don't mess with the ark of God. 

Summary: The Philistines took the ark to Dagon, their god as a sort of victory but Yahweh conquers Dagon and other cities for possessing the ark of God. 

Promise: Let us take care not to mix our faith with falsehood.

Prayer: O God, you are over all. I lean on you. You are to be revered in our world. We need to be a people that take you seriously and trust you and respect you. I think of how important respect is to me and I need to be one that respects you. You want our respect and our devotion. 

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

Joshua 3 - Israel Crosses the Jordan River

Joshua 3

And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan (v.17)

Message: Israel Crosses the Jordan River

Time: Joshua "Yahweh saves" led Israel, under God's command, to victorious conquest of the Promised Land. The book spans about 25 years, beginning about 1406 BC. The conquest of Canaan, numerous military campaigns and regathering of the nation are major components. 

What the Lord is Saying: 

Ch. 1 - Moses has died and now his assistant Joshua has been called by the Lord to lead the nation of Israel across the Jordan and into Canaan. The Lord calls Joshua to be strong and courageous and confirms He will be with him. He is to be careful to do according to the Law. Joshua passed on this promise to the people of Israel and they respond that they will obey Joshua as they know the Lord God is with him. 

Ch. 2 - Joshua sends out two spies to Jericho and Rahab, the harlot, provides them shelter and hides them from the authorities of Jericho. There is fear from the Canaanites of the Israelites. Rahab knows the Lord has given Israel the land of Canaan. She hides the spies and a promise is given to her that she and her family will be protected by tying a cord of scarlet thread in the window. 

Ch. 3 - Joshua and sons of Israel went to the Jordan to lodge there for 3 days before crossing – upon seeing the Ark of the covenant carried by the Levitical priests then they shall follow it, keeping a distance of 2,000 cubits. The Lord promises to exalt Joshua and promises to still the waters of the Jordan as the ark goes across it. Take 12 men, each from a tribe of Israel, stand in the waters of the Jordan and it will be stilled. And all the nation crossed the Jordan, again on dry ground. 

Additional thoughts - The ark of the covenant normally was carried by non-priestly Levites (sons of Kohath). The ark was the presence of God as it says in Exodus 25:22, it is there that God will meet with his people. Thus, God would be going before them, leading them as they crossed the Jordan and came into the land of Canaan, the land that was indeed promised by God for them. And God would also show his power to the people, similar to when they crossed the Red Sea. Once the priests carrying the ark stood in the water, the water stopped and the people crossed over on dry land. Also, 2,000 cubits is about 3,000 feet or 0.57 of a mile and is also the distance that Jews are allowed to travel on Sabbath days. It is also the distance from the Mount of Olives to Jerusalem. 

What I learn and apply - God communicates truths through Joshua about what He will do but then He also shows us through examples in our lives that He has power and He is in control. He demonstrates His power to us. H reminds us He is present. He achieved something here that only he could have done, but he took them through an obstacle in life. Surely they would know the power of God to rescue them in the future. 

Summary: The Lord sends the ark of the covenant (His presence) ahead of Israel in crossing the Jordan to Canaan and stills the water of the Jordan to show them His power now and in the future. 

Promise: God begins and ends our salvation - parting the red sea, but then also stilling the water of the Jordan to take us to our promised land. He is faithful.

Prayer: Lord, you are faithful. You give me promises and You come through. I can trust in You that You will do what You say. You led Israel through the Jordan into the land you had promised to them. And you will lead me through the storms and trials of life that are present and you will bring me home to heaven. Thank You for the peace that is only found in You. Help me to be one that helps others see the peace of You. 

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

John 11:36-44 - Lazarus Resurrected

John 11:36-44 

36 So the Jews were saying, “See how He loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not this man, who opened the eyes of the blind man, have kept this man also from dying?” 

38 So Jesus, again being deeply moved within, came to the tomb. Now it was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39 Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” Martha, the sister of the deceased, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there will be a stench, for he has been dead four days.” 40 Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they removed the stone. Then Jesus raised His eyes, and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 I knew that You always hear Me; but because of the people standing around I said it, so that they may believe that You sent Me.” 43 When He had said these things, He cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth.” 44 The man who had died came forth, bound hand and foot with wrappings, and his face was wrapped around with a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Message: Lazarus Resurrected

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: My journey continues through this passage of scripture about Jesus encountering Lazarus. He had left Jerusalem, but then based upon a request from his friends - Mary and Martha - returned to Bethany near Jerusalem despite the disciples not thinking this was the best move for Jesus. And yet Jesus knows his purpose in raising Lazarus and doing what he was going to do. He has a confidence in what He will do. And He has a mission in confirming the disciples faith. He seems to know that they need what He will be doing. And yet He isn't really revealing what He will do. Mary and Martha wished he was there sooner, prior to Lazarus dying to heal Lazarus and yet Jesus seems a little bothered that they would think there was a limit to how he can help. 

Jesus shows emotion and now here in verse 36 the Jews who are on hand make a remark. Lazarus, we have already identified, is an important person, and Mary and Martha are even people of distinction. "See how He loved him!" was the comment by the Jews. And they make a remark about how Jesus should be able to do something as remarkable as healing a blind man he didn't even know. It seems the Jews understand something here about Jesus. That He is a great healer. 

Jesus comes to the tomb and tells them to move the stone. Martha remarks that it will smell. Perhaps the stone was in place to keep the smell in the tomb. Either way, Martha doesn't understand yet what Jesus will do. He remarks that Martha will see the glory of God. 

And then Jesus speaks to the Father. He has mentioned his relationship to the Father prior but here he actually speaks to the Father - thanking that the Father hears Him. And He is making this remark for the benefit of the people standing around Him - "so that they may believe that You sent Me."

Then Jesus calls Him back from the dead. And tells them to unbind him and let him go. 

Summary: Jesus calls Lazarus to life from the grave as Martha and other Jews are watching. 

Promise: Jesus has authority over life and death. 

Prayer: Lord, you are Holy and True and your ways are always right. You are indeed sent from God and through You we believe. help those in unbelief to know You and become more serious about their love for You and their life living for You. I pray for the man Travis I saw yesterday and that He would get involved in church and get closer in His life with You. Make yourself real to Him. Help my son oldest son Tyson to do his job well and be consistent in making it to work on time. Help these people. Be glorified. 

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

My Utmost for His Highest - June 7th - Don't Slack Off

And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. - John 14:13

    Am I fulfilling this ministry of the interior? There is no snare of any danger of infatuation or pride in intercession, it is a hidden ministry that brings forth fruit whereby the Father is glorified. Am I allowing my spiritual life to be frittered away, or am I bringing it all to one centre--the Atonement of my Lord? Is Jesus Christ more and more dominating every interest of my life? If the one central point, the great exerting influence in my life is the Atonement of the Lord, then every phase (?) of my life will bear fruit for Him. 

    I must take time to realize what is the central point of power. Do I give one minute out of sixty to concentrate upon it? "If ye abide in Me"--continue to act and think and work from that centre--"ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. (John 15:7)" Am I abiding? Am I taking time to abide? What is the greatest factor of power in my life? Is it work, service, sacrifice for others, or trying to work for God? The thing that ought to exert the greatest power in my life is the Atonement of the Lord. It is not the thing we spend the most time on that molds us most; the greatest element is the thing that exerts most power. We must determine to be limited and concentrate our affinities. 

    "Whatsoever ye shall ask in My name, that will I do." The disciple who abides in Jesus is the will of God, and his apparently free choices are God's fore-ordained decrees. Mysterious? Logically contradictory and absurd? Yes, but a glorious truth to a saint. 

- From Oswald Chambers, "My Utmost for His Highest" - Classic Edition

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition

My thoughts

Frittered - waste little by little. 

Romans 7:14-25 - The Law and Our Powerlessness

Romans 7:14-25

14 For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. 15 For what I am doing, I do not understand; for I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate. 16 But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, confessing that the Law is good. 17 So now, no longer am I the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me. 18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. 19 For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. 20 But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me.

21 I find then the principle that evil is present in me, the one who wants to do good. 22 For I joyfully concur with the law of God in the inner man, 23 but I see a different law in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin which is in my members. 24 Wretched man that I am! Who will set me free from the body of this death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, on the one hand I myself with my mind am serving the law of God, but on the other, with my flesh the law of sin.

Message: The Law and Our Powerlessness

Time: Paul wrote to Rome, a city he had never visited, from the Greek city of Corinth in AD 57. He writes to a church that he believes needed to hear basic gospel doctrine. The city was a hotbed of sexual immorality and idolatry. 

What the Lord is Saying:

In some circles, the Law is the Old Covenant and since Christ came with a new covenant there is the thought that the Law does not have any relevance to us today and no place in Christian discipleship. 

Romans 7:4 gives the idea that we die to the Law through the body of Christ and in verse 6, we have been released from the law. And then also is this idea that sin itself is alive outside of the Law, as recorded in verse 9 - I was once alive apart from the Law; but when the commandment came, sin became alive and I died. 

But as always we must keep reading scripture and remember to tie principles together and look at the whole matter in context. It is not that the Law is Bad, what is bad is we are sinful creatures and the Law simply awakens us to our understanding and gives us clarity of our sin. Verse 13 says that sin produced death in me. And in verse 14 the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh. And in verse 18 nothing good dwells in me. 

The Law simply prescribes obedience, but not the power to obey. People obey the law mostly out of a fear of punishment or consequence. I'm reminded of the radar detector that seeks to remove the notion of getting caught so that we can sin more freely. The Law cannot correct us. In verse 21 is the words that evil is present in me. 

Sin is a lifelong struggle that does not simply disappear when Christ comes into our life. The law still does not make us obey. This is really the essence of Paul's words in this passage today. Paul says that nothing good dwells in me. I want to do good, but I don't often because of that evil present in me. This should make us have more compassion on those that are Christians and yet still struggle with sin. So many do. I do. But we remain so quick to find the offense in others. Our compassion should be more centered in our lives, in my life, because the only thing that has changed is Jesus in me. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord (v.25) we are set free from the body of this death (v. 24) from being a prisoner of the law of sin which in my members (v. 23). Jesus has freed me from the punishment and from being a prisoner to sin. This must be realized that the non-Christ bearer is a prisoner. 

Therefore, what the Law does is it reveals the death of our depravity and show us how we cannot obey it. It shines a spotlight on sin, describing it, and helping us see it more clearly and in that seeing is the inability to do it. As Paul says we go back and forth - serving the law of God, but also serving with my flesh the law of sin. Thus, we are powerless over sin. We have no power. Only God can give us this power. 

Promise: We are powerless over the Law and Sin revealed. It is in Christ that we receive forgiveness and the power to resist sin. Then daily, when we sin, and we will, we seek His forgiveness (freely given) and the grace to grow in holiness. 

Prayer: Lord, I am powerless over sin. You changed me; you set me free Jesus and I am praising You daily that I am free indeed. Your forever mercy has forever changed me. Thank you for keeping me rooted in these principles. Thank you for the freedom I have in Christ. 

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 July is about the right use of God's Law; June was justification by faith alone; May about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

The Restraint of the Law - the law is given for lawless, unholy, disobedient people, to restrain us from acting on our sinful thoughts. Restraint and Guilt - the law is meant to restrain Christians and non-Christians alike; so that others may see Christ. The Law's Revelation of Sin - The Law reveals sin, at times making it more desirable, and show the sin which people commit and the complete standard it expects. 

Titus 3:4-6 - God's Initiative in Justification

Titus 3:4-6

But when the kindness of God our Savior and His Love for mankind appeared, He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior. 

Message: God's Initiative in Justification

Time: Paul wrote his letter to Titus from Nicopolis in AD 63, after the apostle’s release from his first Roman imprisonment. Paul identified himself as the author of the letter to Titus. Titus accompanied Paul on his third missionary journey. Paul accompanied Titus to the island of Crete, where he intended Titus to lead and organize the island’s churches in their early years of existence. 

What the Lord is Saying:

There are different ways that Scripture talk of salvation. In Romans 10:1, Paul writes, "Brethren, my heart's desire and my prayer to God for them is for salvation." This is his appeal to Israel to be redeemed by Christ and enjoy all that salvation offers in Christ -- justification, adoption, sanctification, and glorification. In other ways, like I Corinthians 1:18, Paul speaks to the ongoing purification that occurs in the believer, "For the word of God  is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." Titus 3:4-6 explains how we are declared righteous, "when the kindness of God....appeared, He saved us not on the basis of deeds...but according to His mercy..."

The chief need of everyone is to be saved. Everyone is perishing. Everyone needs the power of God displayed in his kindness to save us. Salvation is not by our deeds, but according to His mercy. 

Paul also in these verses refers to "the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit."  Some have argued that this speaks of the act of baptism ("washing") in order to erase the original sin born onto man or baby. And some say that this is another example of baptism being a part of the conversion process of a believer. Yet, Paul mentions in places like Romans 4:5 faith is the instrument of righteousness - "...not work, but believes in Him ...his faith is reckoned as righteousness." Galatians 2:15-16 repeats this, "even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ."  Thus the idea I think is that anything beyond faith could be construed as a work although some may argue that acts of obedience follow faith and baptism is one of those acts of obedience that should follow faith in every believer. 

So what did Paul mean when he wrote these words -- "the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit?" To wash is to remove dirt. The only other use of this word washing is found in Ephesians 5:26, "that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word." This verse provides a parallel act of husbands loving wives just as Christ loved the Church (Eph 5:25) that loving and Christ giving Himself up for the church marks an act of cleansing her by the washing of water with the word. This seems to not be a literal washing but rather Christ's act of giving Himself for the church is so that the church is covered, as in a washing, with the Word of God. So does this help us with Titus 3:5? 

Perhaps Paul is communicating that the washing occurs by way of God regenerating and renewing the follower of Christ through the Holy Spirit. So in both instances it could simply be talking about washing being a symbol or emblem to provide the picture of how the power of the Holy Spirit converges upon us by way of God's mercy -- the Holy Spirit washes us or bathes us or renews us. We are renewed in a bath. From this standpoint, it does not seem like a literal baptism is being spoken. But, I went to the commentaries and saw that Charles Ellicott (19th c Church of England) states that God has put us in the state of salvation by the laver of regeneration which is the baptism ordinance or sacrament. Then Albert Barnes (19th c Presbyterian Church) states it is not the laver but rather a symbol or emblem of regeneration. And the other commentaries have the differing views. 

Thus, where are we at the end of the day? I believe the text can have only one meaning, and yet we do not have Paul here with us and so we sit as detectives trying to figure out what it is that it says. Because of the differing views, my conclusion is we can't know and so this issue is non-essential to our salvation and can result in debate. And yet, if I had to choose an interpretation, I would say washing is a symbol or emblem of regeneration rather than speaking of the act of baptism as an ordinance for salvation. 

Promise: What I know is that Jesus has saved us by His mercy and not by our deeds and we must have faith.

Prayer: Lord, it is fun to take time to look at your word, examine it and study it to see what it says. Lord, in this passage I understand that faith is clear and I thank you for giving me that faith in You and confirming yourself to me over and over. I am not righteous and yet you have made me righteous by the life and work of Christ Jesus and me believing in Him. I thank you that I have been baptized and you showed me the importance of this. God, there are places in your Word that I must admit I have questions and I do not have an overwhelming conclusion of what is meant. Help me Holy Spirit to walk in truth and reveal to me what is the right way, but keep me strong in You and studying and focusing on those things that matter most. Help me God to speak to others about your truth and respect people that may have a different conviction. You speak to me and use me and for that I will never understand but thank you for this. 

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 June is about justification; May was about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April, salvation by grace alone; March, the sovereign providence of God; February, the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve; January, the doctrine of God.

 - The Sins of the Gentiles - Though born with God being evident, Gentiles do not honor God or give thanks, look to their selves for truth, and God gives them over to their sin, and in the process God's wrath is sin which will culminate on the Day of the Lord. The Sins of the Jews - Jews thought their status meant only Gentiles were true sinners. Romans 2 and 3 explains that Jews are just as guilty before God. The Law and Accountability - the Law reminds us we are sinners and doing good will not outweigh this bad; I am condemned. Righteousness According to the Law - The Law can make one righteous if obedient to all. Our sin keeps us from this. Human Inability - the simple reminder that man cannot make himself righteous because he is a sinner. The Obedience of One - with Jesus all obedience was completed in Him which resulted in Him taking on all sin; we trust only in His words, not ours. 

My Utmost for His Highest - November 6 - Programme of Belief

Believest thou this? —John 11:26

Martha believed in the power at the disposal of Jesus Christ; she believed that if He had been present He could have healed her brother. She also believed that Jesus had a peculiar intimacy with God and that whatever He asked of God, God would do; but she needed a closer personal intimacy with Jesus. Martha’s programme of belief had its fulfillment in the future; Jesus led her on until her belief became a personal possession, and then slowly emerged into a particular inheritance — “Yea, Lord, I believe that Thou art the Christ….”

Is there something like that in the Lord’s dealings with you? Is Jesus educating you into a personal intimacy with Himself? Let Him press home His question to you — “Believest thou this?” What is your ordeal of doubt? Have you come, like Martha, to some overwhelming passage in your circumstances where your programme of belief is about to emerge into a personal belief? This can never be until a personal need arises out of a personal problem.

To believe is to commit. In the programme of mental belief I commit myself, and abandon all that is not related to that commitment. In personal belief I commit myself morally to this way of confidence and refuse to compromise with any other; and in particular belief I commit myself spiritually to Jesus Christ, and determine in that thing to be dominated by the Lord alone.

When I stand face to face with Jesus Christ and He says to me — “Believest thou this?” I find that faith is as natural as breathing, and I am staggered that I was so stupid as not to trust Him before.

My Thoughts

• Have I moved into an intimacy with Jesus
• Mental belief - personal belief - particular belief - eventually believing I am dominated by the Lord alone

Isaiah 55:10-11 - The Power and Infallibility of Scripture

Isaiah 55:10-11
10 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
11 So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.

Message: The Power and Infallibility of Scripture

Time: Isaiah prophesied from 739–681 BC to a nation that had turned a deaf ear to the Lord. He wanted to see the nation of Judah return to serving God with humility and love for their neighbors. But he was called to pronounce judgments to on a people offering meaningless sacrifices in the Temple and committing injustices throughout the nation. It provides the most prophetic picture of Jesus in the entire Old Testament.

What the Lord is Saying:

Scripture is God-breathed meaning that it is inspired by God and this means that He actually spoke through each writer and the words penned in Scripture are considered the words of God. Yet each Word still represents the personality of the author. Scripture speaks to man and provides him with everything that he needs in life. It serves as the foundation for every situation man may find himself in and it equips man for every good work. This Word completes man. Without, we are incomplete.

Scripture has the highest authority in life. I think many understand this and this is why interpreting scripture has become such a big deal and defines many religions today. But the Word of God is consistent. Scripture holds a greater authority than any man-made structure.

In these verses in Isaiah he records that Word will not return void. The Word of God has no chance of failing. It is 100% useful each time. This doesn't mean that every person achieves salvation because many hearts are hardened toward the Word of God and God. But even that hardening is complete. It is true that God loves the world, but the entire world does not accept the things of God. And God makes this clear in His word.

Isaiah 55 is an entire chapter chronicling the promises of God. It provides an invitation to the feast and the promise to Israel and then the preparation of the feast, namely repentance and the encouragement to it because of God's faithful promises. It makes mention that man can come to God and receive what He needs. What He needs most of all is to be restored to God. In verse 3 - Incline your ear and come to Me. Listen, that you may live; And I will make an everlasting covenant with you. God promises a promise to His people to be their God. He tells us to come to Him and this promise will be realized.

The wicked have the promise that God will restore them. Let the wicked forsake his way And the unrighteous man his thoughts; And let him return to the Lord, And He will have compassion on him. We are all fragile in our sin. We are all ashamed of our mistakes and the results those mistakes have on our lives. We know we are being disobedient. God makes it clear that if we forsake our way and admit our sin then the Lord will return to us and have compassion. When we are sorry, he forgives us. I think this is hard for us to accept many times because we are deep in our own thoughts of who we are and we think who we are is too great of a problem for God. But God then declares - My thoughts are not your thoughts,Nor are your ways My ways. Again, we are to trust for God's ways are not man's ways.

In all of these truths of God rescuing us, God restoring us, God declaring to us that we are loved and we are His as we come to Him, He makes it known that His word is complete. My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. It will accomplish its purpose. People always want a visual of God, but God has given us a visual in His word. The written word provides us what we need, all that we need. It is complete.

Promise: While the Word of God is spoken to fallible humans it was spoken by an infallible God, so that it does not teach falsehood. It is either all right or all wrong, but there is no middle ground.

Prayer: Thank you Lord for the truth of Your Word and thank you that I can see you in this word. I can know about a person by reading words written by him. I do this throughout my life. I don't need pictures, but the words make a picture. You have given me all that I need, my need is simply to trust in You and trust that You are complete, and God's word is complete. I love discovering the Word because it often surprises me of the clarify of it when I read it. Like on Sunday at church, and studying a simple passage and how it comes alive and we all walk out of the service amazed of the clarity of the Word of God. It is because God we have met You and we have seen you and experienced You and know you better. We have received what we need. We thank you for this and how you speak through fallible men your perfect ways. You are great Lord, great indeed and we praise Your name.

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 with February being about the doctrine of revelation and the various aspects of the doctrine of Scripture that sola Scriptura seeks to preserve.

Mark 9:1 - Witnesses to the Kingdom

Mark 9:1
And Jesus was saying to them, “Truly I say to you, there are some of those who are standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.”

Message: Witnesses to the Kingdom

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-  Mark continues to be a book of action. Thus far, the messages have been "repent and believe" and "Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow me." Interspersed is lots of examples of Jesus healing, casting out demons, and teaching his disciples about the power of God. Along the way, the Pharisees and Scribes question his mission as it is contrary to the traditions they know. Jesus is concerned of the heart. He desires to teach and preach.


Prior to verse 1 of chapter 9 Jesus has remarked to his disciples and the multitude that to follow Him transcends their old school and old self way of thinking. And the end of chapter 8 speaks of an entire life and how Jesus will see a person's life.

This is a puzzling verse as it says that some of them will not die before the seeing the kingdom of God come in power. It is believed by many that this verse belongs in chapter 8 and the division of chapters should have come after this verse.

Yet, there is discussion among scholars as to what event here is being spoken about. Mark 8:38 was about Jesus' coming, but it was also about God's power, a common theme in the book. Here, the verse is speaking of the kingdom of God coming in power before the death of the disciples or within 50 years of Jesus' words. Many have thought it was the transfiguration, an event that would however occur in less than 10 days from these words. More likely, is it referred to the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem in AD 70 when the Roman general conquered the City. That event was a prelude of the destruction and end of the world.

Summary - Jesus continues a message following his Return to letting his disciples know that before many of them die the temple in Jerusalem will be destroyed (see the Kingdom of God; an allusion to the end of the world).

Promise: The Kingdom of God will come in power in the 1st century.

Prayer: Lord, I'm not completely sure I understand this text, but I understand that your power is being mentioned and it is that power that I need to trust in and believe in. I can trust in You even as it goes beyond my understanding. My understanding of things is not always necessary. Your purposes continue to be more my good. Help me to depend on You more each day. 

Mark 5:30-34 - The Compassion of Christ

Mark 5:30-34
30 And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” 31 And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” 32 And he looked around to see who had done it. 33 But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. 34 And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Message: The Compassion of Christ

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:

As Jesus is headed to Jairus to see his daughter, in the crowds a woman suffering from a bloody hemorrhage condition wants to get to Jesus, just to touch him. She knows that this is all she needs, to touch Jesus and she will be healed. This section of the passage provides further detail to the compassion of Jesus in healing this lady.

On this day, I continue to think about the horrific act of violence that happened the other day, in our country, at a high school in Parkland, Florida, where a young man, with firearms, went to a school he attended and had been expelled, with the purpose of hurting others. He had been hurt and had felt like he had been failed. His livelihood, evidently, was that school and being there, and I'm guessing that since he couldn't be there anymore, he wanted the administration and other people to experience his pain and anger. So, in an effort to achieve the most deaths, he shot and killed 17 people. What a huge number and yet not the biggest school shooting, but rather the 2nd biggest in deaths.

We are a people struggling to know how to deal with issues when they don't go as we had planned. My son is in the process of coming off of a drug that has controlled him for many years. He is struggling right now with anger issues and seeing how little things can set him off. He has no outlet for his anger anymore or he has no way to harness it as the drug was calming himself down and providing him relief. O God, help our country, our young people, us, to find comfort and solace and peace in You. Peace is found nowhere else.

This woman in the crowd had complete confidence in Jesus and him being the one that could bring comfort and healing to her. You rescued her God and you can rescue others. I hurt for this community, these families that now will have to experience their lives without a child that meant the world to them. Bring comfort to the families for their pain will not be momentary, but will be lifelong. Help people to heal. Thank you for the police chief that called on the community, the nation to pray. Help us to be a nation that does pray. As a nation, after 9/11 we did so much to guard ourselves from the terrorists that would come into our country and yet, we now continue to struggle with terrorists within.

And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?” At first, I see this as an odd statement, like the power that enveloped Jesus, he had no power for the way it left him. Yet, I think Jesus knew what had happened, but his question was for the benefit of the woman who thought that perhaps she go unnoticed by Jesus. And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” The disciples look at it from my perspective - how could Jesus single out one touch when multiple touches were occurring. The question seems strange and unnecessary by Jesus.

And he looked around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. Jesus, in looking around for the woman, had compassion and interest. But the woman, at that moment, almost like the fear that Eve might have had in the garden when she and Adam hid themselves with loin cloths, realizing for the 1st time that they had done something wrong -- this woman, at this moment, wonders if she also has done something wrong. She has been noticed. Perhaps she thought she could just anonymously grab a hold of a garment and then get away, be healed, and no one would notice. But, she didn't flee from him when she saw Jesus looking around, instead she came before him, fell down and told him the truth. Does not Jesus have this effect on people? IT is like a child not running from his parent, but instead falling down before them. Yet, this woman had not done anything wrong, but she didn't know that. But perhaps her appearance in public, due to her uncleanliness and the rules related to that, was her fear. There needed to be an acknowledgement from Jesus. She told him the truth. It is not enough for her to steal a touch, her lips must acknowledge before Jesus her condition and what she requests. Her words are not detailed, but it is said she told him the whole truth. She confessed to him.

And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” And Jesus remarks to results: one, that her faith has made her well. But, this is mentioned separate from the healing of her disease. He also calls her daughter, a word of affection. He wants to show all these people that this unclean woman is a not simply another woman, but Jesus has affection for her. Who saved her? Jesus. How did this happen? Through faith. And now she can go forth in peace. There is no more stain on her, no more blemish, no more uncleanness. She is clean and healed.

Promise: God is all-powerful. Yet, he is tender to those who trust Him. He is powerful, but also a loving Father. He has tender care for His children.

Prayer: Lord God, I love this story. I love the faith that this woman has and shows us. She has confidence in You, a confidence that I want to have daily in my life. Thank you for caring for me and desiring to be close to me and showing me continually that you do want what is best for me. Sometimes that best hurts, but in the long-term you are growing me. Help me to continually trust You no matter what occurs. And help me to encourage others. We are a people in need of grace, your grace. Thank you for healing me and making me whole.

Mark 5:1-5 - The Gerasene Demoniac

Mark 5:1-5
1 They came to the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gerasenes. 2 When He got out of the boat, immediately a man from the tombs with an unclean spirit met Him, 3 and he had his dwelling among the tombs. And no one was able to bind him anymore, even with a chain; 4 because he had often been bound with shackles and chains, and the chains had been torn apart by him and the shackles broken in pieces, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Constantly, night and day, he was screaming among the tombs and in the mountains, and gashing himself with stones.

Message: The Gerasene Demoniac

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:

I have often felt this past week that my life was in chaos. There were multiple things coming at me during the week. My mind was overloaded yesterday especially. As I sit here and read the word of God and think about the lessons from this past week, I remember that Jesus calmed the storm while the disciples were in the boat. And Jesus can calm my life. I wish I could figure this out because my countenance lowers when I feel stressed with more to do and not enough time. I want to keep my confidence in Him. I want to trust Him more. Jesus takes the forces from the outside and calms them. As I skim this chapter and read through it I see Jesus doing the same thing, but this time to demons are invisible spirits inside of a man. The writer Mark, through the work of Jesus, is reminding me that there are invisible forces going on in our lives as well, in people's lives, perhaps aiming to disrupt my content ways and yet Jesus continues to bring order to this chaos. If this was real in Jesus' day, I must think it is also real today.

My world is not perfect and on earth it never will be. All evil can be tied directly or indirectly to the devil. The devil introduced wickedness into creation by rebelling against our Creator. We saw this clearly in the garden as he confused and allured Eve to focus on something God wanted them to trust him on and that they didn't need to understand. At this point, Eve started questioning God and in the end to sin, doing what God said not to do.

In this passage, a man is possessed and not in his right mind. It says that no one was able to bind him and the chains had been torn apart by him and no one was strong enough to subdue him. He was screaming...and gashing himself. He was out of control. He didn't have control of himself. No one could bind him. No one could subdue him. And he was hurting himself.

One thing is clear, Satan has rebelled against God and therefore hates anything of God and will try with all his might to distraught the ways of God. Jesus had just come from a slew of teaching moments. He had spoken to his disciples and followers about the Gospel and the mission of those that He calls good. And upon landing on the sea, this violent possessed man runs up to him. I must realize that unrest and chaos is what Satan wants in my life. He wants questions.

I've been talking to a man this week who does not have a wife any more because she died and he can no longer see anything of value in his life. He raises a son and still wants the best for him, but only sees a less than perfect world now. I'm trying to reason and point him to Christ and God's word, but he is a hard sell and has already been brainwashed by other teachings that appeal to his pain. Also, this week I had lunch with a co-worker who shared that she and her husband live in the same house but are rarely together. He sleeps on the couch, his choice. They keep separate lives monetarily, at her choosing, for she is concerned about the bills. They share parenting but this is often tough and out of control. She loves him for he and her brought these children into the world, but she is not in love with him right now. They are dueling without speaking. 

What an interesting contrast that I saw this week. One man doesn't have his wife and is miserable without her. And then two people are married and are miserable together. Could there be demon possession? I think so. People have been lured away and living lives not yielded to Him. This isn't simply apathy but outright rebellion.

So my conclusion today is there are forces, demonic forces that want to lure us away from God and disrupt the peace that we have. They are at work everywhere and they are real.

Promise: Satan goes after human beings because he hates God. If we are united to Christ, God will put Satan finally under our feet.

Prayer: O Lord, how we need you, every day, every hour, every moment. Satan is real and has taken over so many people and he desires to make my witness less so he can defeat you. Lord, I pray for your protection and ask Lord that these people that I've spoken to this week would come under your control and then you would set up a hedge of protection around their lives so nothing can come against them. Restore relationships. Give people hope. Center them on You. Help people to submit and surrender to You. You God are in control. You are our creator and Lord. There is peace only in You. I praise and glorify Your Name.

Mark 4:35-40 - Jesus Ceases a Storm

Mark 4:35-40
35 On that day, when evening came, He said to them, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd, they took Him along with them in the boat, just as He was; and other boats were with Him. 37 And there arose a fierce gale of wind, and the waves were breaking over the boat so much that the boat was already filling up. 38 Jesus Himself was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke Him and said to Him, “Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?” 39 And He got up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Hush, be still.” And the wind died down and it became perfectly calm. 40 And He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?”

Message: Jesus Ceases a Storm

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: 

This has been a comprehensive chapter, Mark 4, on the subjects of parables and their importance and significance in Jesus' ministry as he uses these stories to provide us with lessons he wants us to communicate. The most basic of which, the parable of the sower, leads off the chapter and is explained further, about the type of people or soil and surfaces that will receive the Word from God and how those people respond or not. Then there is a clear responsibility that the good soil recipients have to this planting and receiving of the Word, to live it out all the time realizing that God is in control and He takes care of the outcomes. We focus on the presentation, he takes care of the outcome. Our growth in the body is often slow and gradual but He is always working. Eventually, there will be huge dividends, far greater than anything we could ever realize or see. He is in control and He is working through His people.

Mark now in these verses - 35-40 -- retells an account he has heard from an eyewitness. (1) Peter was there and this is conveyed by the detail given (other boats were with Him, a fierce gale of wind, Jesus in the stern, asleep on the cushion).  (2) The storm itself was violent and significant. At least 4 of the disciples were fishermen by trade and had spent considerable time at sea, on the water and yet were nervous for their life (do you not care that we are perishing?). (3) Despite what they have seen by Christ thus far, overcoming demon possession and caring for the sick, they wonder still of his power, witnessed by their words (Why are you afraid?). Yet, I am no different. Despite what he has done in my life, I stare too often at my life, others, circumstances, and new situations and think, somehow that he isn't in control.

This is more about simply calming a storm. This is about our lives, that we bring before the Lord continually. We come to him and he rescues us from our eventual death, sealing us with Him for all time, giving us the assurance that we will live for eternity with Him (I John 5:11-12). He succeeds in our eternity, so we can now also see that he will succeed in our live on earth. He has already tried to comfort us with the knowledge that He is in control and will take care of the outcomes of our lives: the harvest will come (v. 29), the mustard seed will grow beyond our wildest dreams (v. 32), so however violent storms occur in our lives, He is there. He calms the storms. He rescues us from the perils of life. He brings peace to us.

This doesn't always mean that we win the game. In sports we consider the outcome of the game and that the winner walks off with complete peace, God does not work in this way. There is peace no matter the outcome, because He is in control of it. We can submit and surrender to Him and then He will give us strength through the outcome. Yes Jesus calms the storm, but He also makes a point that we need to have faith through the storms. Storms of life will continue. Things will happen in life we don't like and don't always understand, but Jesus tells us to continue to have faith. Faith needs to be present in our life no matter what comes our way. 

Promise: Our salvation is not based on the power of our faith but on the power of our omnipotent Savior. In this message, the power of the storm being calmed did not wait for the disciples to respond correctly. God resulted in His outcome no matter what. He isn't waiting for me, but Oh, how I want to walk with him in obedience.

Prayer: Lord, I do not want people around me to see unbelief in my eyes or worry or panic. Situations of life are unfortunate at times and uncertain, but I can still remain confident that you are working and teaching me. I want to roll with the punches and trust that You are calming the storm. Help me not to define what the outcome should be. You have grown me this far and you will continue to grow me. I want to be greater than these responses by the disciples. You have given me the Holy Spirit and so I do have the means to be greater in my response. Walk with me today Lord. I need your strength. I need Your power. I need You. Oh Lord, I need you.

Mark 1:7-8 - The Forerunner's Message

Mark 1:7-8
7 And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 8 I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

Message: The Forerunner's Message

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:

Mark's Gospel begins with the address that this is the gospel of Jesus Christ. John the Baptist will prepare the way for the Lord. John was dressed as a prophet and started with the subject of water baptism, confessing sin, and forgiveness. His purpose in speaking was not to elevate himself, but instead to elevate the One who is coming. 

The One Coming
He begins to describe the One who is coming after him. He says he is mightier - in nature, in his office, in mission, in works, in deeds and in words. Mark speaks of the magnitude of this man by stating how unworthy he is to even untie his sandals. To stoop down and loosen the sandals was commonly the act of the servant who afterwards carried them. In essence, John is saying that he is not even worthy to be this man's servant. Mark I believe wants us to understand the greatness of this One coming. He has been baptizing people, but this One will baptize with the Holy Spirit. Again, he is so much more. 

The Holy Spirit
I picked up a book recently by Francis Chan called Forgotten God. It is about the Holy Spirit and his concern that the church today and Christians today, at least in the circles he is involved in, don't have a strong emphasis on the Holy Spirit. And as I look at this verse from Mark, I wonder the same thing as he points out the baptism or the picture of renewal is brought forth by the Holy Spirit. 

These verses speak of the significance of the pouring out of the Spirit: 

• Isaiah 44:3 - I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring and My blessing on your descendants; 

• Joel 2:28 - It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; 

• Acts 1:5 - for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now; 

• Acts 2:4 - And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit;  

• Acts 2:17 - ‘And it shall be in the last days,’ God says, ‘That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind;  

• Acts 10:45  - All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also;  

• I Corinthians 12:13 - For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit

1. The Spirit of God is promised by the Savior to convict the world of sin: John 16:8 - And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. 
2. The Spirit of God will enlighten or teach: John 14:26 - But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. John 16:13 - But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.
3. He will comfort in the absence of the Savior: John 14:18: I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. John 16:7 - But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.
4. He will change hearts: Titus 3:5 - He saved us, not on the basis of deeds which we have done in righteousness, but according to His mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,

Promise: That John in the wilderness foresaw the Spirit coming again also points to Jesus as the leader of a new exodus, one that will accomplish an even greater work of salvation on behalf of His chosen servants. 

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for the way in which you orchestrated the coming of Your Son and the sending forth of Your Spirit. Help me Lord to further embrace and understand the work of the Spirit in my life. Thank you that the Spirit works continually, convicting the world of sin, enlightening and teaching, comforting, and changing hearts, my heart. Thank you for being active and that you aren't waiting on me to be receptive. But, help me to acknowledge and praise You in the way you are meant to be praised. Keep me humble and deeply in Love with you each day. 

Study Question: Do you think your understanding of the Spirit of God or the Holy Spirit has changed over the years since you trusted in Christ as Savior? That he comes to convict the world of sin, enlighten or teach, comfort us, and change hearts. Have you thought about the fact that right now, today, the Holy Spirit is speaking to you and teaching you in your life?

Psalm 144:1-8 - God's Greatness and Man's Smallness

Psalm 144:1-8

1 Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
Who trains my hands for war,
And my fingers for battle;
2 My lovingkindness and my fortress,
My stronghold and my deliverer,
My shield and He in whom I take refuge,
Who subdues my people under me.
3 O Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?
Or the son of man, that You think of him?
4 Man is like a mere breath;
His days are like a passing shadow.
5 Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down;
Touch the mountains, that they may smoke.
6 Flash forth lightning and scatter them;
Send out Your arrows and confuse them.
7 Stretch forth Your hand from on high;
Rescue me and deliver me out of great waters,
Out of the hand of aliens
8 Whose mouths speak deceit,
And whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.

Message: God's Greatness and Man's Smallness

Time: Based upon authorship and subject matter, Psalms cover a range of centuries. David is mentioned 73 times, Solomon 2, Moses 1, and 50 designate no specific person. It is believed they were compiled around 537 BC. The psalms deal with such subjects as God and His creation, war, worship, wisdom, sin and evil, judgment, justice, and the coming of the Messiah.

What the Lord is Saying:

David's Source of Vitality: A Soldier
This Psalm begins with a praise to the Lord, recognizing that God is the reason for David's greatness. David acknowledges that the reason for his gifts is the Lord has provided. He does not attribute his greatness to himself but he thanks God and God is the one that is great, a rock - Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;

David's Source of Vitality: A Sovereign
As David attributes his greatness as a fighter, here he also attributes his greatness as a ruler to the Lord. My lovingkindness and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and He in whom I take refuge, who subdues my people under me. Everything about David points back to the Lord, "My rock." God is the strong one and however people want to view him or label him, it all points to the Lord.

The Vanity of Man's Person: How Insignificant is our existence
In verse 3 are two words for man -- adam and enosh. O Lord, what is man, that You take knowledge of him? Or the son of man, that You think of him? Adam denotes mankind in general. Enosh as son of man is a world that stands for man's frailty and weakness. It comes from the word that mean "to be sick" or "to be wretched or weak." Here is the question, given the greatness of God and his great power, how is it that he considers man. What a difference this statement is from society who thinks that God must not simply be thinking of man, but only wanting the best for him at all times. God is often set aside because man has not been made great. But, it is the greatness of God that we need to be about.

The Vanity of Man's Person: How Inconsequential is our experience
The question of why God would consider man is further foreshadowed in these words - Man is like a mere breath; his days are like a passing shadow. David survey's his life and looks at his temporary time on earth. If we are honest with ourselves and our existence, sure there are good moments when we think we are on top of the world and have done good things, but there are other times that we see our sin and see the evil of our ways. As I survey life, and the shortness of life, how is it that God takes account of me. This is a far cry from our world today where all the focus is on the greatness of man and the greatness of his existence and experience. We are all about enjoying life to the max, not praising our God on high. But, David sees it. He sees the insignificance of man and sees that man is nothing without God.

The Vanity of Man's Plans: Apprehending the Power of God
In verses 5 and 6 is the following: Bow Your heavens, O Lord, and come down; Touch the mountains, that they may smoke. Flash forth lightning and scatter them; Send out Your arrows and confuse them. David does not ask for his greatness to be manifested, but he asks for the Lord's greatness to be manifested. Lord, show your power throughout this world. He wanted to people to see the greatness of God and he asks God to work in this way.

The Vanity of Mans Plan: Appropriating the Power of God
Stretch forth Your hand from on high; rescue me and deliver me out of great waters, out of the hand of aliens whose mouths speak deceit, and whose right hand is a right hand of falsehood.  It is the power of God that will rescue David and will rescue man. Man cannot rescue himself and God recognizes this. All the saving that goes on in this world is attributed to God. It is just some people give him praise for it and some do not. David's confidence was in God.

Promise: David praised God and understand that his position in this world was due to the great God. God is so great, it makes us wonder why he would have anything to do with us at all. But, he does. So, our response is to call on him and ask him to intervene in our lives. His power needs to be manifested on this earth.

Prayer: O Lord, you are the Rock. You are the great One. You are all power. The roles I find myself in and who I am is because of you being so great. I don't comprehend why you see value in me. I don't comprehend why you chose me and saved me. But, you have and I am so thankful. Forgive me for not always showing this thanks. I need you God. I need your help. So send down your power O God and make it known in my world by rescuing me. You are great.

Psalm 110:4-7 - The Eternal Priest-King

Psalm 110:4-7

⁴ The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind,
“You are a priest forever
According to the order of Melchizedek.”
⁵ The Lord is at Your right hand;
He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath.
⁶ He will judge among the nations,
He will fill them with corpses,
He will shatter the chief men over a broad country.
⁷ He will drink from the brook by the wayside;
Therefore He will lift up His head.

Message: The Eternal Priest-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: I continue on, albeit slowly. The day doesn't have enough time in it. Or rather, I guess it does, but I end up spending it on other things. I like this quiet time in the morning. Lord multiply the richness of the time I do have with You. Thank you for Your Word. You are a priest forever.

As I mentioned previously, the consensus is that this passage is Messianic, but is it that alone? Going back to verse 1 is the address that, The LORD said to my Lord. Thus, the words are coming from the Lord and speaking to someone. The Messiah is one of several interpretations for this passage and so the beginning of verse 4 is repeating the address to this individual. The Lord has sworn and will not change His mind, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Notwithstanding, Melchizedek is a mysterious person in the Bible, coming in and out of scenes. He blessed Abraham in Genesis 14, thus he must have a special role. The Book of Hebrews expands on this. David refers also here to Melchizedek. But the greatness of Melchizedek is not limited to him, but engulfs the order of priests that follow after him.

It reminds me of Joseph Smith, who I believe created and established the faith of the LDS and in so doing hones in on this mysterious way of Melchizedek, expanding and creating a doctrine to ordain priests or rather apostles of the LDS movement throughout time (eternally). It was a leap, but one that has kept that faith movement extremely fruitful in its endeavors, though its footing is on terribly shaky, not holy, ground.

Yes, it is clear from Psalm 110 that Melchizedek and the order of priests after him do take on an eternal priesthood. Melchizedek is also a descendant of David. Jesus is our Great High Priest and thus, his sacrifices and atonement is for all people and negates the need for future priests after him.

But, back to Melchizedek. From Genesis 14:18 he was a priest of God Most High. And this priesthood is forever. And this priesthood is also a kingship for Melchizedek was both priest and king. If Jesus is our true intermediary, then why do we need someone else to show us the way. John the Baptist prepared the way. We are called to be disciples and preach the Word to all nations. It seems the priesthoods continued because people didn't have access to the Bible. Or the priests had the access and so they controlled somewhat what the people would hear.

Going back to verse 1, The Lord said to my Lord. There, it is -- adonai speaking to adoni. The second Adoni is one of respect, but the Lord, or God is speaking in the first adonai. And in verse 5 are the words -- The Lord is at Your right hand. Again, the Lord is Jehovah and Jehovah is at your right hand. God is our power and protector. He is our Leader and sustains all. He is our Rock and our fortress. He is the great I am. He is our God, watching over us. He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath.There will be a day of battle and at that time God will be the victor. But He will not only win, but He will shatter the powers of those seemingly in power. It is like an underdog beating the most favored foe. There are those powers that are completely against God and His ways and God will strike them down in this moment. These are heathen nations that God will oppose and have victory over. God is my lord and he at my right hand and he will shatter the heathen kings. 

In verse 6, He will judge among the nations. He will uphold right and wrong and he will decide who has been right or wrong. He instituted a Law for people and who has lived in accordance to it? God will be the judge and decide. The Law was there to point people back to God, showing them that are incapable of keeping it, as we see each day, but this always points us back to God for our help. Our help comes from the Lord. Lord, I admit there are things throughout my day that cause me to be unsettled. Right now, I am feeling down and neglected and not important. And my response is often to pout or to remain depressed rather than look to You for strength and to look to you for comfort. Lord, at times this type of thinking then takes me to discontent where I think that where I am is not right. My thought life Lord gets dark and I start assuming what people are thinking about me, all because I have not gotten some need met. I need to continue to trust You Lord.  

And continuing with the theme that he will judge, his judgment becomes more final through the rest of verse 6 - He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country. Benson commentary says that these words are not meant to be taken literally but figuratively. But it is clear that his wrath is complete; it is not simply a judgment but their is finality in it. There is a resting place for those that oppose God and it is separation from Him. He will shatter the heads of the leaders of those that oppose God. It is not centralized, but global.


And the Messiah here, if represented, Jehovah, my Lord, He will drink from the brook by the wayside; The victorious leader pauses, for a moment, at the brook by the wayside. Drinks often refer to sufferings. The Messiah on the way to be crucified, momentarily shoulders the sufferings of the world. There are different ways to look at this verse and different ways to interpret, but all see it as a pause. Therefore He will lift up His head. On the cross, Jesus took on the suffering of all mankind, breathed out and then lifted his head to conquer sin and death by resurrecting from the dead. The leader here pauses and then commences his task in the lifting of his head. 

I've been on this passage too long. I've had trouble getting through it. It's a passage that has been subscribed to Jesus but it also could be at the time a reference to a leader being led by the Lord.

Promise: God is in charge and sits at the right hand declaring his glory through victory He has over kingdoms and people that oppose Him. The bottom line is God is victorious.

Prayer: Lord, help me to understand Your Word continually and help me to see it as it is. Continue to help me to study it and stay in the practice of leaning on it. Lord, I want to be guided by truth.

Psalm 110:1-3 - The King's All-Encompassing Reign

Psalm 110:1-3
¹ The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at My right hand
Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
² The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying,
“Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”
³ Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power;
In holy array, from the womb of the dawn,
Your youth are to You as the dew.

Message: The King's All-Encompassing Reign

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: I've been having trouble getting through some of these passages of late. It is March 2017 and I'm still staring at the October 2015 Tabletalk. Granted, I take it slow, studying each reading myself and then seeing what Tabletalk says. It keeps me accountable to studying the Word, but bugs me at times I can't stay on track, now 15 months behind. But, for 6 months or so in 2016 I really had trouble getting through texts. I've been on this October issue late January, once again, going at a slower pace.

The reality is some of these texts are just hard for me to understand and I want to understand them. Plus, since the 1st of the year, I've been doing all the cooking for the family and eating out maybe once every couple of weeks. But, really, that shouldn't be a big deal for my guess is there are many women out there that have been doing all the meals for 10-20-30-40 years and I'm bothered because its been 2 months.

As I read this text, first looking at TableTalk, the magazine devotional states that this is a Messianic Psalm or a prophetic Psalm that Jesus even quoted as recorded in Luke 20:41-43.

The emphasis here is on the comprehensiveness of the reign on the coming Davidic king. To make your enemies a footstool is the idea that in the ancient Near East, conquering kings and armies would often put their feet on the necks of their foes after they had subjugated these enemies --

Joshua 10:24 When they brought these kings out to Joshua, Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the men of war who had gone with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” So they came near and put their feet on their necks.

-- and from this came the idea of making your foes into your footstool. This image is one of full authority -- Sit at my right hand -- that encompasses even those who in vain oppose the Lord's chosen regent. Thus, verse 1 is pointing to the day when the rule on David's throne enjoys total rest from his enemies and unopposed control over them.

Jesus then in Luke 20:41-43 applies this to Himself.

⁴¹ Then He said to them, “How is it that they say the Christ is David’s son? ⁴² For David himself says in the book of Psalms,

‘The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit at My right hand,
⁴³ Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’

The king who David speaks must be more than a mere descendant of the son of Jesse. David addresses the king as My Lord. So the son to whom David refers is greater not only by nature but also in the kind of reign he exercises. David's reign ended when he died, but Jesus's reign continues forever because all of the Messiah's enemies are defeated.

Promise: Let our foes do their worst, we are safe in Christ forever.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the truth of Your Word. Thank you for the ministry of Tabletalk that helps me to understand your truths and helps to keep me accountable to the studying of Your Word. Bless their ministry and continue to use it to strengthen and bring Glory to Your Body.