TABLETALK - December 2017

I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional, though I am now working through 2017 devotionals. Each month of 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines celebrating the 500th year of the Reformation. 

• December - To God Alone Be The Glory (June 12, 2023 - July 3, 2023)
• November - Vocations (March 8, 2023 - June 11, 2023)
• October - Sacraments (December 16, 2022 - March 7, 2023)
• September - The Reformation of Worship (July 20, 2022 - December 15, 2022)
• August - The Body of the Lord - the Church recovered in the Reformation (April 14, 2022 - July 19, 2022)
• July - The Right Use of God's Law (May 23, 2021 - April 13, 2022)
• June - Justification by Faith Alone (February 14, 2021 - May 22, 2021)
• May, Christ Alone (September 3, 2020 - February 13, 2021)
• April, Salvation by Grace Alone (March 6, 2019 - September 2, 2020)
• March, The Sovereign Providence of God (January 28, 2019 - March 5, 2019)  
• February, The Doctrine of Revelation, Scripture (January 8, 2019 - January 27, 2019)
• January, The Doctrine of God (December 16, 2018 - January 7, 2019). 

The Divine Angle of Glory

The Primacy of Divine Glory - Everything God does is for His Own Glory and to be a true servant of God is to seek His glory. The Light of Glory - One of the central aspects of divine glory is bright, shining brightly, light. The Glory of Divine Beauty - There is a divine beauty that God bestows on His children, clothing me with perfect righteousness. The Eternal Weight of Glory - The Glory of God is to be of high value in my life and therefore He is what I focus on more than anything else in my life.  Glory and Purity - In God's glory is holiness and purity or light. God is light. Jesus is light. Light exposes darkness. Jesus is holy and pure. The Sovereign Glory of God - God, in his control, establishes Himself and thereby His glory over everything in heaven and earth (His creation). God's Glory and Our Joy - Our greatest joy will be found when we glorify God. God's Consuming Glory - God's glory is a consuming fire which means we cannot see it until we are in heaven, like Him, without sin. 

The Human Angle of Glory

God's Glory as Creator - God possesses great Glory as the creator of all things. He is worthy to receive glory from us. God's Glory in Salvation - God's Glory is evident in salvation as His glory is shown both on those He shows mercy and those that receive wrath. God's Glory in Judgment - God's glory in judgment will be clearly seen in the end. Christ the Glory of God - We can know God's divine glory by knowing Jesus and reading about Him in God's word. The Church as the Glory of God - We receive a derived glory from Jesus and we the Church are to be a light to our world, all in unity. Ascribing Glory to God - In the way I live - speak, look, act - my life is to ascribe to God the glory due Him. The Coming Knowledge of God's Glory - Glory is seen by all people as creation testifies of the knowledge of God's Glory and is also seen as people turn their lives over to following Jesus.  Seeing God As He Is - Nothing is more satisfying than God Himself and our satisfaction will never be greater than when we see the beauty of divine glory face-to-face. 

The Doctrine of Last Things: Eschatology

Death and the Immediate State - Before we arrive in the presence and glory of God, Christians, after death will be in an intermediate state in the presence of Christ. The Resurrection of Our Bodies - At Christ was raised from the dead, so we in Christ are linked to Him by the Spirit living in us after receiving and trusting in Him - and so we will be resurrected to a new imperishable life with Christ for eternity. The Millennial Reign of Christ - Christ is ruling and reigning now and despite different views of the Millennial, we must remain united in Christ. The Glorious Return of Christ - We can all agree that Jesus Christ will return. In the meantime, we are to focus on being His witnesses by the power of the Holy Spirit in us. Eternal Punishment - Eternal punishment for all that are resting on their own righteousness, yet the degree of their sin and the extent of revelation will impact the type of punishment they receive. 

Immanuel - Buck Parsons (editor of Tabletalk magazine, copastor of Saint Andrew's chapel in Sanford, FL) - Man was made to be with God. As Isaiah prophesied to Israel of the coming of Jesus, he called him Immanuel, "God with us." God established an earthy tabernacle and temple as the place He dwelt with His people. By bringing God to us, in Jesus, means that In Christ we are in Him, in the Temple, per se. God chose to dwell with us. Revelation 21:3 - And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them." 

What is the Mind - R C Sproul (founder of Ligonier Ministries, founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., and first president of Reformation Bible College) - We think, have ideas, but what is the source? We think it is in our head. Injuries to the brain can affect thinking. At all times we are thinking, even when we sleep and dream. We think and behave and hopefully, as Christian, behave in a way that is obedient to the law of God. We believe that we possess a will. Jonathan Edwards said, "The will is the mind choosing." The mind is vital to the Christian life. Scripture tells us to renew our minds so that our thinking conforms to the will of God and pleases God. 20th century psychologist B.F. Skinner concluded that all of our responses are determined by our environment and by our physical makeup. Where is the accountability in this? 

The House of God - L. Michael Morales (Professor of biblical studies at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary) - The tabernacle - One, it was the house of God and the place of His dwelling. Two, it was the way to God with sacrificial rituals providing the atonement and cleansing needed to dwell with God. Three primary sacrifices: One, purification offering focused on blood to be forgiven and cleansed before God. Burnt offering, burning the entire animal apart from skin shows us a total consecration to God. Third, Peace offering was a feast with family and friends in God's presence. Thus its meaning can be seen through the Creation, the Covenant and Christ. Originally, the entire cosmos was the house of God, but once polluted by sin, a secondary house or tabernacle arose. God in creation builds a 3 story house (heaven, earth, and seas) and then God takes up residence in it, followed by resting on the Sabbath. Seven days parallels seven speeches about the tabernacle (Exodus 25-31). The tabernacle reaffirms God's call from Genesis to dwell with His people. There is also a 3-fold sentiment in scripture echoed, "I will be your God, you will be My people, and I will dwell in your midst.” Mount Zion was God's permanent dwelling place, but David wanted a place for God - a temple, but it was Solomon who equipped to build it. And yet in 2 Samuel 7:11 is the remark that God will make the house - "The Lord also declares to you that the Lord will make a house for you." But then it is Jesus who becomes flesh and tabernacles among us (John 1:14). The temple arrives again at Christ in the form of the church where Christ dwells through His Spirit. 

The Altar of Burnt Offering - Dr. T. Desmond Alexander (senior lecturer in biblical studies and director of postgraduate studies at Union Theological College in Belfast, Northern Ireland) - The altar of burnt offering is the most visible feature of tabernacle and temple. It is located outside of the sanctuary (one must be consecrated before entering sanctuary). Before ascending to the Mount of Sinai, the dwelling place of God, sacrifices had to be offered, thus the tabernacle. 3 parts to tabernacle - Most Holy Place (the top of the mountain), Holy Place (side of the mountain), and Courtyard (foot of the mountain). The Priests were made holy before entering the Holy Place. Being daubed with blood from sacrifices, they were cleansed from defilement of sin. Even after initial, twice a day they had to be re-consecrated. This shows us that people must be clean before seeing God and they are cleansed through multiple sacrifices or Jesus, once for all. But annually on Day of Atonement priest would taking blood to apply to mercy seat on top of the ark. 

The Bronze Basin - Justin E. Estrada (senior pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Kingsville, Maryland) - In the courtyards, sacrifice was messy. To clean oneself for worship, the bronze basin of the tabernacle and molten sea of the temple were there. Not specific details given of the basin other than where it resides and yet the proclamation significant, "So they shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they will not die (Exodus 30:21)." Solomon with the molten sea erected a the temple a sizeable receptacle (I Kings 7:23-26). The frequent washings shows their defilement, it did not purge them of sin. Like the church, we are presented before God, washing by His word. It gets the people ready for what is to come. And so it is like baptism, showing they have broken from their old lives and are presented before God for sanctification. 

The Lampstand - John D. Currid (Chancellor's Professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary) - One of 3 objects standing in the Holy Place of the tabernacle is a lampstand. It's purpose is to give light. It is to be made out of pure gold. It looked like a tree and symbolizes life and blessings God has given his people. It looks back to the tree of life (eternal life) in the garden and forward to the tree of life in new heavens and earth. It had 7 branches (completeness; 7 day creation week). Jesus is now our light and lamp - Rev. 21:23 - "And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb." To Aaron he was told the lamp must always be luminating (Exodus 27:21); God's light is everlasting. 

The Table of Showbread - Michael G. McKelvey (Associate professor of Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Miss.) - Located at the right side of the Holy Place, made of acacia wood and overlaid with gold, it can be similar to our dining room table and how we gather there in our homes. It could be moved, to carry. It's purpose to hold the bread of the face set before the presence of Yahweh. Each Sabbath, 12 loves sat on table for 12 tribes of Israel. Table emphasizes God's provision for His people. He provides us daily bread. Also highlights our intimate fellowship with God. These are shadows of what we have in Christ. Jesus is the bread of life. Also points to the Lord's Supper and Marriage Supper of the Lamb. 

The Altar of Incense - Iain Duguid (professor of Old Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia) - At the holy place all of our God created senses were used - sight (Lampstand), smell (Incense), taste (show bread), and hearing (bells on priests). Incense only offered by priests, the mediator between God and man. Also incense connected with sacrificial rituals - sin offerings for priest and people and burnt offerings. Smoke from incense rising symbolized people’s prayers constantly ascending to God. Incense essential for temple and tabernacle but now Jesus is our advocate and Jesus has taken His blood and cleansed His people forever. May our thankful prayers rise daily like incense. 

The Curtain - Benjamin Shaw (professor of Old Testament at Reformation Bible College in Sanford, Florida) - After sinning in the garden, the cherubim separated people from God’s presence. The curtain or veil was between the Holy Place and Most Holy Place in the temple to divide the two. The Holy Place was where God spoke to Moses and where the ark with mercy seat resides. Once a year the priest could enter. At the point of Jesus’ death the Synoptic gospels the curtain torn from top to bottom. Jesus entered not just the Holy place of the temple but heaven itself and entered permanently. Hebrews 10:19-20 days we enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus. The guarding cherubim removed. 

The Ark of the Covenant - Bryan D. Estelle (professor of Old Testament at Westminster Seminary California) - 20 different designations given of ark in the Bible. Made of gold-plated acacia wood with 2 winged cherubim facing one another and under wings the mercy seat. High priest yearly on day of atonement sprinkled blood to propitiate and expiate sins. Included inside 10 commandments, Aaron’s rod and a bowl of manna. 

The Church as the Temple of God -

Conflict in Light of Eternity - Rev. Jason Helopoulos (senior pastor of Reformed Church in East Lansing, Michigan) - As a pastor, he mentions that a lot of what He does as a pastor is help people that have been injured by other people, and often those are other people in the church. Much can be done to help, but one that is overlooked often is to remind people of eternity. We often stare at our circumstances, caught up in our own fights amongst ourselves, and yet ultimately we need to see that as His children, anchored in Him, our ultimate goal is eternity. 

When you want Someone Else's Gift - Melissa Kruger (Women's ministry coordinator at Uptown Church in Charlotte, NC) - It is easy to look at one another and think other people have more value than ourselves because of a position they have or possessions they have. Paul speak to us of spiritual gifts and reminds us, "there are many parts, yet one body (I Cor. 12:20)." We need one another. We are all vital. Yes, we all are different and look different, but we all glorify Him. 

Scattering Seed - Kevin Gardner (Associate editor of Tabletalk and graduate of Westminster Theological Seminary) - You can't predict how people's spiritual journey will turn out. Recalls working iwht a student in youth ministry. Young man good-natured, attended events but not interested in gospel. Then after going to college, discovered him at one of our camps in leadership, having come to faith. Reminded of Paul's words in Ephesians 1:15 when he says he "heard of [the Ephesians] faith" and some critics have thought this meant Paul didn't write Ephesians because he would already know of their faith and not simply heard of it. But it could have been 5 years since he visited Ephesus and wrote the letter to them. There is time often in preaching the gospel and people coming to faith. There is no set time table. The sower in Jesus' parable reminds us we are called to scatter seed (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23). We hope it bears fruit and that one day the sower and reaper will rejoice together (John 4:36-38). But we never know. 

Being a Goer and a Sender - Jonathan Leeman (editorial director at 9Marks and an elder at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC) - Am I goer and sender? I am called to be both. I am to be on mission in my local area, but I am also to be a sender and help those that have been called into missions. The church sent Paul and Barnabas to places the gospel had never been preached (Acts 13:3). And elsewhere there are similar statements of sending out people on mission (Col. 4:3-4, 3 John 6-8, Titus 3:13). Work locally and send out. 

Instruments of Revelation - Aaron L. Garriott (production manager of Tabletalk magazine and student at Reformed Theological Seminary) - How does God speak to us today? Heb. 1:2 said, God, ...in these last days has spoken to us in His Son. Chosen men wrote the Bible, commissioned by Jesus. God speaks to us through His apostles as recorded in scripture. 

As I Imitate Christ - Tom Ascol (senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Cape Coral, Florida) - Our goal is to be like Christ and so in discipleship we need to tell others and show them what it means to be a follower. Paul said, "“Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). Jesus' example is perfect for us. We are to pattern our love for others after His love for us, to also be a servant and to suffer as He did. Paul not only instructed but lived it out (Phil. 4:9). 

Teaching Children about the Lord's Supper - Don Bailey (Associate pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Florida) - The understanding is a child taking the Lord's Supper needs to have a personal understanding of the sacrament having had a profession of faith. I Corinthians 11:23-29 gives this idea when it acknowledges we are to "take", "eat", "drink", and "proclaim" (v.26) and "examine oneself." Toward our children, we are to teach them to repent daily and trust Jesus, reminding them we are also sinners. 

Our Grounds for Supporting Capital Punishment - 

Thank you 

Scriptures Call to Christian Living - John Calvin - Call to Christian Living. I love simplicity - 2 main parts - a love of righteousness must be implanted and poured into our hearts - and we need a model so as to not lose our way in our pursuit of righteousness. 1. Be holy as He is Holy. We cling to His holiness to be holy. We follow him. 

Revelation 20:1-6 - The Millennial Reign of Christ

Revelation 20:1-6 

Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 2 And he laid hold of the dragon, the serpent of old, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years; 3 and he threw him into the abyss, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he would not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were completed; after these things he must be released for a short time.

4 Then I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their forehead and on their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

Message: The Millennial Reign of Christ

Time: John mentions himself 4 times as author. It was written around the year 95 on John's exile to the island of Patmos after preaching the gospel to Asia. Revelation comes from the Greek word for apocalypse and refers to an unveiling. The book is about the tribulation period with symbolic language, giving us the end of the story -- Jesus will once and for all heal the wounds of sin, reign for a thousand years on earth, then re-create the world into a place that represents God's original design.

What the Lord is Saying: Over the years, my study of Revelation has been brief. I listened to my favorite pastor, Tom Nelson, did a series on Revelation in 1990. And what stood out to me always was Revelation 2 and 3 and the message to the 7 churches for it had application, but the rest of the book has an almost fantasy or future feel to it that I have always struggled finding application in today. But, I also admit I haven't devoted much time to its study. It seems to be a text that has a lot of controversy and different interpretations as well and today's idea of the Millennium is probably chief in disputes. 

3 main views of the Millennium have been:

1. Premillennial - The 1,000 years mentioned is literal and actual and after this 1,000 years following Christ's return a new heavens and earth will arrive.  

2. Amillennial - The 1,000 years is figurative and represents the time between Christ's ascension and His return, thus we are living in the 1,000 years now. Once he returns, the new heavens and earth will arrive. During this time the gospel will be preached and many converted, but also many will resist.  

3. Postmillennial - The 1,000 years will also occur before Christ's return, but there will also be widespread peace and prosperity as a result of the preaching of the Gospel. Society will be transformed and people converted and then Christ will return. 

It is hard to say what is right, but it can be agreed that Christ will reign - I Corinthians 15:25 -- For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.

Summary: Christ is ruling and reigning now and despite different views of the Millennial, we must remain united in Christ. 

Promise: No matter our views, we should all work together to proclaim the present reign of Christ and His command for all people to repent and bow to His lordship. 

Prayer: God, you are great and Your words are true. Thank you for the future and what You have in store for us. I am confident it is great and at the minimum I will see You one day. May lives continue to be changed for the Gospel and to Your Glory. Draw people to yourself. May hope remain in You and what You are doing. Thank you for the power of Your Word and Your Spirit to live in us and equip us for every good work. 

My Utmost for His Highest - May 1st - Insight Not Emotion

I have to lead my life in faith, without seeing Him. - 2 Corinthians 5:7 (Moffatt)

    For a time we are conscious of God's attentions, then, when God begins to use us in His enterprises, we take on a pathetic look and talk of the trials and the difficulties, and all the time God is trying to make us do our duty as obscure people. None of us would be obscure spiritually if we could help it. Can we do our duty when God has shut up heaven? Some of us always want to be illuminated saints with golden haloes and the flush of inspiration, and to have the saints of God dealing with us all the time. A gilt-edged saint is not good, he is abnormal, unfit for daily life, and altogether unlike God. We are here as men and women, not as half-fledged angels, to do the work of the world, and to do it with an infinitely greater power to stand the turmoil we have been born from above.

 
    If we try to re-introduce the rare moments of inspiration, it is a sign that it is not God we want. We are making a fetish of the moments when God did come and speak, and insisting that He must do it again; whereas what God wants us to do is to "walk by faith." How many of us have laid ourselves by, as it were, and said--"I cannot do any more until God appears to me." He never will, and without any inspiration, without any sudden touch of God, we will have to get up,. Then comes the surprise--"Why, He was there all the time, and I never knew it!" Never live for the rare moments, they are surprises. God will give us touches of inspiration when He sees we are not in danger of being led away by them. We must never make our moments of inspiration our standard; our standard is our duty.

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

Highlights and Underlines are courtesy of Mom from her print edition.

My thoughts

Right when God wants to use me, I start talking of the trials I am going through and difficulties. Basically, I am saying to Him, it is the wrong time. I must remember that I am here to do His work. That is my purpose. Walk by faith is my creed. I speak to often of wanting God to appear and then I will work, but He wants to work in my life in the obscurity. Be content with the now.   

Revelation 1 - Jesus and His Servant John

Revelation 1

The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show to His bond-servants, the things which must soon take place; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, who testified to the word of God and to the testimony of Jesus Christ, everything that he saw. Blessed is the one who reads, and those who hear the words of the prophecy and keep the things which are written in it; for the time is near.

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits who are before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— and He made us into a kingdom, priests to His God and Father—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. So it is to be. Amen.

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

I, John, your brother and fellow participant in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus. I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet, saying, “Write on a scroll what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea.”

Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And after turning I saw seven golden lampstands; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and wrapped around the chest with a golden sash. His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like burnished bronze when it has been heated to a glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters. In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.

When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things. As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

Message: Jesus and His Servant John

Time: John mentions himself as writer of this book 4 times. He wrote it from the island of Patmos around AD 95. It is a book of eschatology (last things), first writing to 7 churches John had been involved with. It then deals with the specifics of the tribulation (4-18) and then Christ's dominance over the forces of evil and a re-creation of a place for the redeemed (19-22). 

What the Lord is Saying:

So after spending much time looking at Jesus, Christ alone and what it meant that Jesus came. I've spent the last remaining lessons looking at the encounters Jesus had with people. Nathanael, Samaritan Woman, Pontius Pilate, Two men on the road after his resurrection, Saul, and now John the Revelator (as Phil Keaggy would say). 

These words giving to John are events which must soon take place. John received visions or was in the Spirit of what would happen and he records what he sees in these writings. He speaks to the seven churches who released us from our sins by His blood. 

It is clear from this first chapter that Jesus spoke to John and he received a special experience from Jesus that has now been relayed to us. It reminds me that Jesus is involved in our lives. He is still speaking to us, through the Holy Spirit. We are really enamored and enthralled by this text. It has been a controversial text and many different people walk away from it with many different interpretations. To me, that seems fine. It is fun to understand the text but understanding it is not crucial I believe to my salvation. But, I do believe Jesus had this encounter with John and he is passing on that understanding through these words. 

Conclusions - I have spent a lot of time on this particular issue of Tabletalk. I started looking at in January, reading through the articles and providing a synopsis of them. I suppose I decided to be thorough in looking at the issue since I was taking so long to go through it and it wasn't until the end of March that I started my first post on the Divine Nature of Christ. The issue is about solus Christus - Christ alone. It has been very illuminating to me. It seems too small to simply say that Jesus has had a significant impact on my life and the life of us all. But, it also seems necessary to say that Jesus and His mission completes the story of our lives and faith. He is divine and this is significant though remains quite controversial. But, in addition to being divine he had a human nature, needing to eat, needing rest and being tempted, as I am daily. 

The lesson on Jesus as our Federal Head is an interesting one to me for Jesus makes us all alive as Adam ushered in sin to all men. It makes sense and yet it is truly a message that is difficult to understand for those that have not been given divine understanding of it by God. And it was followed up by saying that Jesus is the True Israel, the true Messenger from God and the one as our Messiah that will rescue and deliver His People. O how rich is this understanding of God and His word. 

These lessons were followed with understanding further Jesus obedience. For Him to be our Messiah, and Messenger and final substitute, he must have been completely obedient in every way - as he grew up and He also showed us the importance of baptism and how we are to respond to temptation and how Jesus fulfilled the Law. I am incapable of being obedient to the Law so the Law means something a little different to me, it first and foremost reminds me that I can't obey it but it was meant to be obeyed and Jesus did this. Therefore, I always return to Him for having saved me and done this. And in saving me He suffered. Sin has consequences and Jesus took on all of those consequences for me. 

Then there were lessons about Jesus' titles - Prophet, Priest and King. Again, what I see in Jesus is completeness and finality. He is the only Prophet that is needed. He spoke for God and He always accomplished God's purposes. He did it all so there is no reason for anyone else. He is our High Priest, clearing the way for us to approach the Father. And He intercedes for me. He is all I need. He is King. he is King of Kings. 

It is his atonement that makes me whole. He paid the penalty of sin for me, once for all, but also for all he has called. The reality is that not every person will be drawn to Him. And so while he can save all, he only saved those that He has called. And it is only by Him rising from the dead that I can rise from the dead. He conquered death and it is through my faith in Him that I share this resurrection. 

This lesson ended with Jesus and his encounters with people, reminding me that He is encounters us and meets us and what a joy this is to me, to all of us. 

Promise: Everything changes in our lives or should change in our lives when we encounter Jesus. 

Prayer: O God, thank you for these lessons. They've taken me a lot of time to get through but getting through them has been an absolute joy. It has reminded me Jesus how you have done it all for me. And that life is always about You. O forgive me for shying away sometimes from speaking of You. Help me to be a light for you and to encourage people as I can about You. Thank you for speaking so clearly to me through these words. Thank you for giving me new life and that life is all about You. Continue to give me discernment and knowledge of You and Your word. Bring to mind these truths in my life, as I live life, as I engage with people. I want to be like you Jesus and think and do the way you think and do. I praise your name and thank you for changing my life for not just now, but for all eternity. 

Luke 24:13-35 - Two Men See Jesus

Luke 24:13-35

And behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was about seven miles from Jerusalem. And they were talking with each other about all these things which had taken place. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus Himself approached and began traveling with them. But their eyes were prevented from recognizing Him. And He said to them, “What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?” And they stood still, looking sad. One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, “Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?” And He said to them, “What things?” And they said to Him, “The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.” And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.

And they approached the village where they were going, and He acted as though He were going farther. But they urged Him, saying, “Stay with us, for it is getting toward evening, and the day is now nearly over.” So He went in to stay with them. When He had reclined at the table with them, He took the bread and blessed it, and breaking it, He began giving it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized Him; and He vanished from their sight. They said to one another, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He was speaking to us on the road, while He was explaining the Scriptures to us?” And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

Message: Two Men See Jesus

Time:  Luke, a non-Jew, written in Theophilus, by a physician, is a careful chronological rendering of the events of Christ's life. Luke takes his writing from primary sources - those people who had witnessed the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Luke wrote this probably from 58-60 AD as he accompanied Paul. His second volume was Acts. He writes of salvation to all men. 

What the Lord is Saying:

In this passages the past several days, I have been reading now about the Jesus that encounters us, His people. He revealed himself to Philip who told Nathanael so that Nathanael could see Jesus. And then a Samaritan woman, unexpectedly, just going to get water, meets Jesus and discovers He is the Living Water and He is all she really needs. As Jesus gets closer to the cross, He wants to do the Father's will at whatever cost. He submits to the authority and yet He is still our King, the King of Kings with all authority given to Him by God and He will be our ransom, fully man. 

Now, in this passage, Jesus has died on the cross and He meets two men, though he is not recognizable immediately by them (this is on purpose by Jesus). Initially, my impressions from this passage is these men are walking in sorrow, stuck in the moment. Even after the women had seen that no one was in the tomb, they continued to not really believe that Jesus was coming back. Yet Jesus had said to his followers previously, several times, that he would suffer, be rejected, be killed, but then rise again (see Jesus Reveals His Purpose in Coming). It is almost like the words of Jesus are echoing, "O ye of little faith." Like the disciples with him in the storm and he calms the sea, Jesus is still present. He is still with us. What He said, He will do. 

This is a message we need even today - as we stare at our world and all of its uncertainties, I wonder if we begin to question or have less faith in our God because the problems seem large. But Jesus is still Lord and He still does the impossible and we are still doing and to do greater things. God can work through any situation.   

Eventually, Jesus reveals Himself to these two men so that they can see that He is in fact alive. But then he vanishes. 

The other message here is that Jesus is true only to people when He reveals Himself to them. Despite the overwhelming evidence and even His words up to this point, some people simply will not believe. I admit that this can be discouraging. It is hard in life to present the truth and yet people remain darkened. Jesus said in John 3:5 -- “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God." To see the Kingdom of God, one must be born again. When Jesus is seen, like He was seen by these two men, the light bulb gets turned on and what do they immediately do? And they got up that very hour and returned to Jerusalem, and found gathered together the eleven and those who were with them, saying, “The Lord has really risen and has appeared to Simon.” They began to relate their experiences on the road and how He was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread. In other words, they told others. 

Promise: We need to pray that the Spirit will move in people's lives and they will know the truth. It is only by God working in a person's life that they come to know Him. Yet, our mission remains. Pray and share and sharing is automatic for great news must be shared. 

Prayer: Lord, I heard that song yesterday, O Lord You're Beautiful, and it reminded me of that Joy that I have of you and the joy of my salvation sometimes is fleeting. Sometimes it is not as alive as it was when I first discovered that You had saved me and called me to be yours. Wake Me Up Lord. I want to stay excited and thrilled and sharing You with others. I am too often dealing with my life and all that it presents and getting sidetracked. Give me rest Lord. I don't want to lose sight of You and want to stay Fired Up. Thank you Jesus for saving me, for choosing me. Be glorified. 

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 May is about solus Christus - Christ Alone; April was about salvation by grace alone; March 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 was about the doctrine of God.

- His Encounters - Jesus called Philip and then he told Nathanael to come and see so he could see that Jesus reveals himself to Nathanael. Then when Jesus meets a Samaritan woman, we see that Jesus knows everything about us and loves us still and wants us to drink of the living water that He offers that will give us eternal life. And Jesus is our King, but also the Man, who like Adam will atone for our sin as Jesus stands before Pontius Pilate. 

Ecclesiastes 1:5 - Science and Hermeneutics

Ecclesiastes 1:5
Also, the sun rises and the sun sets;
And hastening to its place it rises there again.

Message: Science and Hermeneutics

Time: Solomon's authorship is not stated. Solomon's reign as king of Israel lasted from around 970 B.C. to around 930 B.C. The Book of Ecclesiastes was likely written towards the end of his reign, approximately 935 B.C.

What the Lord is Saying:

As has been discussed previously, God is the first cause of all motion in our universe. Aristotle, a Greek philosopher and scientist, who lived from 384 BC to 322 BC spoke of the idea of an "unmoved mover" in life and he said the unmoved mover in life is God. He said that to be this mover, the mover can not include the contingent affairs of individual human beings. Thomas Aquinas, an Italian friar and Catholic priest, who lived from 1225-1274, took Aristotle's idea of an unmoved mover and expanded on it to describe God as prima cause or first cause. Thomas Aquinas asserts that God is the first cause of all things. He said that nothing can cause itself, but there must be a first cause. Thus, God is eternal. Conversely, atheism believes the universe is eternal and things can happen with a cause or things can just happen. To the atheist, it could be that the universe began with a big bang or it simply began.

I would say that both atheism and theology don't have complete understanding for all of the events and things and causes of life. We don't know how God works, but we trust that He works. The atheist also doesn't have complete understanding of all of life, but they believe that as time marches on, it will be discovered how things work.

For me, as I study God's sovereignty and look at life, I see a very complex life. The human body is so complex and to believe that it simply evolved or came together over the years is hard for my brain to fathom. Yes, man is fallible and therefore, has not always done a good job in managing life and even religious thought. Yet, I can also understand how someone might think that life is somewhat ordered by chance or that there is determinism or the thought that today's actions occur because of yesterday's actions.

Many believe that scientists are all atheists as science and theology are often stated to be at odds with one another. This is not so as many of our greatest scientific discoveries have come from those that believe in God as creator and first cause. Scientific discoveries are thus secondary causes which quite simply is how God goes about in accomplishing his work.

I believe that God cannot err and so the Bible is infallible and all true. Psalm 12:6 says - The words of the Lord are pure words;as silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times. I have seen that the truth of God and His attributes is revealed through His creation.

The Bible can help is interpret science and science can help us to interpret the Bible. The text that is mentioned today is from Ecclesiastes 1:5. Currently, people who believe in a flat earth state that this verse supports that view - the sun rises and the sun sets; and hastening to its place it rises there again. Yet, Galileo helped us to see that this language is simply what it looked like to Solomon at the time. The Bible is not necessarily a scientific book.

In addition, Scripture can help illuminate creation and show the err in science in attempting to view science, the universe from only an atheistic or naturalistic worldview.

Promise: We need to be slower to speak and quicker to learn from all the disciplines of life. We need to better understand each other's area of study.

Prayer: Lord, illuminate my thinking. Help me to see value in what other people think. I get so caught up in my bubble sometimes and think life can only be defined narrowly. Often when I speak to people this is the perspective they give. Lord, help me to not be a chameleon and look like whatever I hear. But, instead help me to be defined by Your Holy Spirit and what information you are giving me. Lord, in our world there is such a quest to be right and correct. Thank you that we can have faith and believe in You. Keep us close to this thinking. Thank you for your truth and that it can be understood and that it makes sense always. Keep my mind open and other people's minds open to Your truth and Your ways.


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 March being about the sovereign providence of God and looking at how the Bible reveals His control over all things.

Genesis 40 - Special Revelation

Genesis 40:8
Then they said to him, “We have had a dream and there is no one to interpret it.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell it to me, please.”

Message: Special Revelation

Time: Genesis is the first book and Moses is credited as authoring. The book spans 2400 years of time. It was originally written in Hebrew.

What the Lord is Saying:

As I think more about this doctrine of scripture and what it teaches me and all of us. I've been pondering revelation and looking at natural and now special. Natural is what we see through the created order. Words are spoken, not actual words, but the creation testifies of who God is. It reminds us that there is in fact a God. We see God through the order of our human bodies and the intricacy of how we are made. We see God through the creation, the sky above (the heavens) and the land beside and the sea. These things are evident to man. They are not often enough to save man, but they show man that there is God. And then man can look inward and see the frailty of his own human condition.

Our world thinks if it can explain away this creation then it defends it's notion that there isn't any created order but instead small, gradual changes over time.

The Westminster Confession of Faith states that natural revelation is insufficient "to give that knowledge of God, and of his will, which is necessary unto salvation." I am reminded of the message last Sunday and the idea that John came to prepare the way of the Lord and to help people see the wilderness that we live in. So there was special revelation needed to help man see his condition.

The idea here of special revelation is God speaks and God speaks to man. Our reading of scriptures testifies that God spoke to man for the words of the Bible have been identified as the texts that speak forth this special revelation. But how did it come about? Special revelation is necessary so that God can reveal the way of salvation and what it means to truly live in a manner that pleases Him.

Genesis 40 is about Joseph interpreting dreams. In response to a dream, Joseph responds that interpretations belong to God and Joseph has been given the means to interpret dreams. Dreams do speak to us. I had a dream speak to me in my life about Pamela. I'm confident in that. But, I haven't been able to interpret anyone else's dreams and yet many others have dreams and so sometimes it seems that dream interpretation is left to the person having the dream.

I think this idea of special revelation is hard because different men like Muhammad, Joseph Smith, and others have claimed receiving this special revelation. And through those revelations other belief systems have sprouted up. The problem was that the revelation given to the Bible writers is thought to be incomplete or not sufficient. The traditional Christian view is that this special revelation ceased by the end of the first century. Although dreams can still speak to us today, they are personal revelations rather than revelations for all mankind. The death of the apostles ceased this special revelation.

Promise: We have all the revelation from God that we need. We must study the Old and New Testaments to know His will.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for speaking through men of the past and thank you that I can trust Your revelation and that it is complete for all time. You are great God and your ways are great. Thank you for the order of your creation and how it speaks of You and thank you for sending a man, your son, Jesus, to earth, because man needed to see God and hear from him more directly. This occurred and we praise You God for helping us see this special revelation of You. Lord, I want to trust in You and trust in this revelation all of my days.

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.

Romans 1:18-32 - The Limits of Natural Revelation

Romans 1:18-32
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Message: The Limits of Natural Revelation

Time: Paul probably wrote Romans between A.D. 57-58 while he was at Corinth in the home of his friend and convert Gaius. He planned to go first to Jerusalem to deliver a gift of money from the Gentile churches to the poor in Jerusalem. Then he hoped to visit Rome on his way to Spain. His hopes were later realized, but not as he had expected. When he finally arrived in Rome in early A.D. 60, he was a prisoner under house arrest (Acts 28:11-31).

What the Lord is Saying:

Paul here in these verses records the beliefs very often of those who don't believe. God is made himself evident within themselves. Each person has a knowledge of God within him. However those that did not honor Him as God or give thanks basically are fools - they are futile in their speculations, their foolish heart is darkened, they profess to be wise. Is this not the state of affair of the atheist? Does not God's word reveal the nature of the fallen person? God's revelation of himself through creation or natural revelation is meant to help people see the truth of themselves.

The Gospel is about each person recognizing themselves as a sinner, in need of God. The atheists today don't make it about themselves but instead confront God. They ridicule God and ridicule people that worship God. They make it laughable that anyone would worship the God of the Bible.

Their creator is not God, their creator is man. They exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.This is the problem with man. They replace the God of the Bible with man, teaching that man evolves from man, from birds, from beast. This is what they worship. God has provided natural revelation but people instead choose natural selection. They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.

Romans 1 has always been an interesting text to me because it so clearly testifies of the person walking around the earth today. It was written 1930 years ago and yet it seems to be have written today. As Ecclesiastes says - there is nothing new under the sun. History repeats itself. This was a problem in Paul's day and nothing has changed it is a problem in our day. It simply speaks of the position of mankind. Chapter 2 of Romans will talk about the individual. Romans 1-3 Paul explains that the point of the natural revelation is to show people truth about the Lord so that they can see the truth about themselves - that they are sinners (For all have sinned and fallen short) in need of salvation (justification is a gift by His grace). The crazy thing about justification is that it isn't earned, it is simply recognized. Can people see the truth about themselves?

These texts never bore me. The key here though is something I don't think I've put together before and that is while nature reveals to people the truth of God as creator, each person must still see the truth of themselves as sinners in need of this God that has been revealed. Nature does not teach this. Our conscience does. God's revelation to man obviously does and this happens clearly through scripture.

Promise: Most people will not be saved only by looking at natural revelation. The Gospel must be preached: Repent and believe.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the truth of your Word. Your word is truth. Thank you for the revelation You have given me. I'm truly amazed. Now help me to show others that revelation. I'm a sinner and too often I don't share it as life is caught up in other ideals, other gods, other forms of idolatry. Thank you for your creation and the testimony it gives of you. May it lead people to realize their condition, their way apart from you. Lord, I pray that the message of repentance and belief would shine in this world. Help me to be an ambassador, a spokes person for you. I can do it because of You in me.

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.

Psalm 19:1-6 - Natural Revelation

Psalm 19:1-6
1 The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands.
2 Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge.
3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
Their voice is not heard.
4 Their line has gone out through all the earth,
And their utterances to the end of the world.
In them He has placed a tent for the sun,
5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber;
It rejoices as a strong man to run his course.
6 Its rising is from one end of the heavens,
And its circuit to the other end of them;
And there is nothing hidden from its heat.
Message: Natural Revelation

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:

The Protestant Reformation wanted to return the church to its commitment to Scripture as the only infallible authority. The problem that had occurred is human traditions had supplanted the revealed Word of God. The Protestant Reformation occurred about 500 years ago. This is the same time period in which the whole Bible began to be translated into Germany and English after the printing press was invented in 1436. Portions of the Bible had been translated previously from the Latin Vulgate.

Prior to this time, it was the charge of monks to copy Scripture and this process generally took 1000's of hours. As such, it was common for only certain people to have the scripture and therefore Scripture was often told to you rather than read yourself. This often resulted in interpretations and sometimes human traditions of what people thought the scripture meant to be applied.

Revelation from God is generally broken down as either natural revelation or special revelation. Natural revelation refers to revelation towards humanity in general. It is also called general revelation. Special revelation is wherein God speaks directly to his people through a prophet or an Apostle.

Natural revelation is referenced in Psalm 19:1 - The heavens are telling of the glory of God;
And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands. As one looks up to the sky, to see above, the heavens, the view of them declare God's glorious being or existence. It speaks to the work of God's hands. Each person upon seeing the expanse of the sky, the heavens, sees a vast and spacious expanse, richly adorned with stars and planets -- all of it declares the work of His hands. All people are left without excuse when they can see before their eyes the created work of God. 

I've always loved the words of Paul in Romans 1:19-20 - that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.

The changing of day to night, one after the other, continually means that there is a constant, daily, throughout the day communication by God of Himself. Day to day pours forth speech,
And night to night reveals knowledge. There is no voice to be heard, but the communication is still there. There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard.

Promise: As we speak truth, we can always appeal to creation as proof of His existence. We can use God's natural revelation to point to Him.

Prayer: Lord, I have always been partial to the fact that Your creation testifies to who you are. I've always loved the words of Paul that express this. It is the creation that we have before our eyes each day - before we even utter a word or hear a word - that expresses You. Perhaps it is the simpleton to me, the person that was adverse to learning growing up and reading, and the knowledge that springs forth without a word being uttered. I'm thankful for how you communicate to us through your creation. Thank you that the sky above, the heavens are telling of the Glory of God. It is sort of painful that people don't see this. It is painful that they don't realize what you are speaking right before their eyes. We see the creativity of each person and each person's appearance. And we see the creativity in our land and all the different places of beauty that there are throughout our world. There is uniqueness in each part of the World. Lord, thank you for the display of Your Glory in creation. 

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.