I Chronicles 21:1-6 - David's Census

I Chronicles 21:1-6

1 Then Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to count Israel. 2 So David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, “Go, count Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring me word so that I may know their number.” 3 But Joab said, “May the Lord add to His people a hundred times as many as they are! My lord the king, are they not all my lord’s servants? Why does my lord seek this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt to Israel?” 4 Nevertheless, the king’s word prevailed against Joab. Therefore, Joab departed and went throughout Israel, and came to Jerusalem. 5 Then Joab gave the number of the census of the people to David. Israel was 1,100,000 men in all who drew the sword; and Judah was 470,000 men who drew the sword. 6 But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, because the king’s command was abhorrent to Joab.

Message: David's Census

Time: 1 Chronicles has a mystery writer and focuses on David's reign though doesn't repeat David's sin with Bathsheba. It was written in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah or 538-333 BC while the Jews were dispersed throughout Persia, some having returned from Israel. The book lists genealogies, priests, Levites, armies, temple officials, and other leaders of various ministries and devotes significant attention to proper worship of Yahweh and adherence to the regulations of the Law. It focuses on obedience that results in God’s blessing, the priority of the temple and priesthood, and the unconditional promises to the house of David.

What the Lord is Saying: In the last 2 issues of Tabletalk, I have been skipping these passages from I Chronicles. Maybe it is because I am so far behind and I am just trying to get through 1 and 2 Samuel now and through these passages. But today I thought I would try and do it. 

In this passage, David is being influenced by Satan. It is rare in Scripture that Satan is named. Satan opposes God and any reliance on him. In this instance the reliance is on man's understanding of how many people are available for an army. The danger reported here is a reliance on human strength. It seems interesting because I don't think many would object to what David is doing. 

David solicited the help of Joab, but Joab thought it a bad idea. Up to this point I haven't thought Joab to always be a man of integrity. He is one that seems to want to be in control. Granted, he has confidence in himself. He defeated and killed Amasa when David started to put him in charge of the army. And he has been responsible for other deaths as well, such as Absalom, David's son. But here Joab sees the spiritual consequences David is potentially bringing upon himself. 

But he did not prevail and went through the land and made a count, though he would not go along and include Levi among the counts. 

This action is paralleled in 2 Samuel 24:1 though there God is mentioned as inciting David to perform the census. Though in that verse the anger of God is mentioned and with the explanation that, "God can use even the actions of adversaries to accomplish His purposes (Genesis 50:20 - "you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good"). Ephesians 1:11 says, "He works all things after the counsel of his will." Everything is under God's sovereign will, even the incitement to not rely on God. But though the outcome of this is under God's will, the act itself is the responsibility of David and Satan. As Tabletalk records, "God ordained this sin but He did so without committing sin Himself."

That's a hard idea to wrap oneself around. And I imagine there are many opponents of this idea in our world. God cannot sin, but God allows sin to achieve His good purposes. 

There is a purpose here. This sin would eventually lead to the building of the temple. 

Summary: Under God's sovereign will, Satan incites David to count his people to prepare his army. Joab objects but this counting will result eventually in the building of the temple. 

Promise: From Tabletalk, "the Lord can use anything—even sin—to accomplish His holy purposes."

Prayer: Lord, in these texts is your will revealed though it is carried out in ways that oppose your perfect plan. You can use any circumstance and you can work all things together for good. I take this to mean that even when I disobey you, though I am accountable and responsible for this and will many times bear consequences, those consequences and results are a part of your means to work things out for good. Lord, I am a child of God now for almost 42 years and this is still hard for me to comprehend its complete meaning. There is no excuse for sin and still I must stand against it but no sin is greater than your plan and you can use it still to accomplish your good purposes. I praise you God for making this work and forgive even my words that often maybe do not frame this correctly. 

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

Various Scriptures - What it Means to Grow in Holiness

Luke 16:16

The Law and the Prophets [were proclaimed] until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.

Message: Life Coram Deo

What the Lord is Saying: Now to study sanctification—setting us apart as God’s holy people, pleasing God and enabling us to do what He approves of. Grace dominates and fuels the Christian; the Christian life is a race (Hebrews 12:1-2); and we are to fight against the spiritual powers of the devil. Protestant reforms described to live Coram Deo as "before the face of God." We are to be intense in our desires and acts of service in committing to follow God. We are not trying to earn any favor from God, but instead have a love of gratitude for God always for sacrifice of Jesus and the work of the Spirit in our lives to make us like Christ. 

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Matthew 5:20

For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.

Message: True Righteousness

What the Lord is Saying: As we live, we must value righteousness. In life there is a legal righteousness which meeting the perfect standard of God's justice. This righteousness meets all of the demands of the law - and is imputed to us when we believe in Jesus, his righteousness or perfect obedience is put on our record and in the heavenly courtroom we are declared perfectly righteous. Practical righteousness however is a daily work to love God, obey Him and repent when we fall short. This could be what is talked about in today's passage, as the scribes and Pharisees were more concerned of keeping the law while the follower of Jesus is focused on the heart and doing good out of the gratitude of the heart - and this moves us toward sanctification.  

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John 7:7

The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because I testify of it, that its deeds are evil.

Message: Our Enemy the World

What the Lord is Saying: As Christians, we need to have a single minded desire for Holiness. A desire to live in practice to have a desire each day for obedience but also internally, a love for God and neighbor. We need to fight each day as well to fend off the foes in our lives that are wanting to take our desires off of Christ - the world, our flesh, the devil. The world represents the people in the world that because of the Fall have been infected with pride, lust, and all manner of godliness. These people hate Christ and those united to Him by faith alone. They may not necessarily persecute us but they do want to infect us with its values. Thus, the world does not have a love for God and the things of God, but there is a non-biblical ideal they have. So we as Christians are called to preach the message of the Gospel, the good news, to this fallen world. We live in the world, but we are not of the world. We resist it by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

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Romans 8:1-11

1 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.

9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

Message: Our Enemy the Flesh

What the Lord is Saying: There is a lust that we have somewhat instinctively for the flesh and the desires of the flesh. God gives us an affection for godliness, but still we are drawn ourselves to sin - temptation that the world offers to us so freely and easily. Often Christians or religious people will being to outlaw behaviors of the flesh such as movies, dancing, alcohol, cards, and other things such as public schools. But their are harder works of the flesh such as envy, covetousness, discontentment, unjust hatred, and other inward affections that are often just as difficult, if not more to avoid. This lust grabs me I know. Even the old movies I watch can pull me away. I think it is hard at times to differentiate between the lust of the flesh and good things that I could simply do with my time. 

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2 Corinthians 11:14-15

14 No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

Message: Our Enemy the Devil

What the Lord is Saying: Satan, the devil is a fallen angel who has rebelled against God and sought to enlist others in his cause. Satan is not mentioned much today as a cause for opposition to God's ways. Others in the past have spoken of Satan like Martin Luther wrote often of his battles with the devil. The word says they disguise themselves as angels of light. Satan will twist the truth. We need to remain focused on God's truth and His word. 

Summary: We are to be intense in our desire to follow God, valuing righteous living and to resist the schemes of the flesh, Satan and the world. 

John 14:29-31 - Sovereign over Satan

John 14:29-31

29 And now I have told you before it comes to pass, that when it comes to pass, you may believe. 30 I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing to Me; 31 But that the world may know that I love the Father, and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go from here.

Message: Sovereign over Satan

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: In my study, I have continued to see a summary of the Christian life and even the gospel: (1) Believe, (2) Ask/Pray, (3) Obey, (4) Help. 

(1) I think Jesus is asking us to believe in Him, believe in the Gospel which is about repenting or turning from your sin. (2) This is followed by asking or praying to God continually in our lives, asking him for help, calling on His name. (3) At the same time we are to obey the commandments He has given us - though I don't right now have what I would call a list of those, but I think this is more of a general statement of the obedience we need to exemplify in our lives. (4) Throughout this process He sends to us a Helper. We have help through the Spirit of Truth to make all of this happen. The Spirit draws us to faith and also sustains our faith and is constantly speaking to us the truth of Jesus and His Words. It is God working in us that makes him willing to come to Christ. John 10:27, "My sheep hear my voice." 

Yet the story throughout these verses of 14 is Jesus asking his disciples to trust Him. He is going away. He will return again, but He is going away. 

Jesus also tells them of events that will happen. He predicts Judas' betrayal. He predicts Peter's denial. He predicts His own death. In these predictions He reminds us that this is for their benefit, so that they will further believe. Just as when Lazarus rose again, it was to confirm faith in the disciples/followers (11:15). 

Verse 29 Jesus says He has spoken these things to us, letting us know about the future and what will occur. He has given prophecy - future information about future events. As we witness those events coming to pass - we may continue to believe. He asks us to believe and in the process of us seeing Him work, we continue to believe. God's work in our lives causes us continually to believe in Him. 

Verse 30 acknowledges the ruler of the world coming. In this gospel, the ruler of the world I don't think has been mentioned much. But the ruler of the world would have much to say to God's people, to tempt them - to seek to pull people away from the truth of Jesus' words - from God the Father. Satan would get a hold of Judas and even Peter for a moment and even Jesus' followers and enemies for a moment in helping send Him to His death. Though the decree of God would remain through all of this. Jesus says this, "he has nothing to Me." Though the ruler of the world is coming and will be present and will work to thwart His work, Jesus makes it clear - Satan has no claim on Jesus. 

Jesus wants this to be clear, because as He is subdued, beaten, shamed, ridiculed, crucified - the appearance will be that He has lost and that Satan has won - but Jesus reminds His people that Satan has no claim on Him. 

Verse 31 feels like a summary of what He has been saying or voicing since 13:31 - "that the world may know that I love the Father." Interesting. In this book of John I continue to see the themes of "believe" "for eternal life" "I am sent by the Father" and now "I love the Father." His love for the Father has been apparent but maybe not explicitly talked about but present, but now He speaks it. And possibly what He is saying is his impending death on the cross, though it looks like Satan will be the victor in this, in fact, His death will prove once again His Love of the Father. All we know in His crucifixion His Love for the Father. Luke 23:46 says upon his last breath, "Father, INTO THY HANDS I COMMIT MY SPIRIT." His death is for God's glory. 

Jesus does commandment and this commandment is singular. Interesting. He does the commandment. I don't think this commandment is necessarily the same as the commandments He mentioned in 13:34 or 14:21. I think the commandment the Father gives to Jesus is more specific to Him and His purpose. This is Jesus' purpose and that is to redeem all of mankind, once and for all, through his death, burial and resurrection.  

To his disciples and followers He says now, "Arise, let us go from here." Perhaps this is simply Jesus telling His disciple to arise or leave the supper room which started his discourse in John 13:2. The entire time of John 13 and 14 has been teaching speaking and teaching at the Table, at the meal. All His disciples have been present for this, even Judas. 

Summary: Jesus comforts His disciples, assuring them of His ongoing commitment to them and His decree to die for man, once for all. The ruler of the world is coming, but God's purposes are still clear.

Promise: God is sovereign over even the devil, the prince of the world. There may be times that we think the power has shifted, but it is clear Jesus remains the victor and Satan has no claim on Him. 

Prayer: Lord God, what a Joy it is continually to read and study Your word. How wonderful it is to know that this book of history includes me and includes your love for me. Even for the disciples at this time it may have looked confusing and scary, but you remind them and me of the importance of listening to You and trusting Your words. You are sovereign over all and You know the future and You know me.  I will follow You wherever You go, Wherever, Lord, You lead me, I surrender my will for the love of Thee.  

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

John 13:21-30 - The Betrayal of Christ

John 13:21-30

21 When Jesus had said this, He became troubled in spirit, and testified and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, that one of you will betray Me.” 22 The disciples began looking at one another, at a loss to know of which one He was speaking. 23 There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved. 24 So Simon Peter gestured to him, and said to him, “Tell us who it is of whom He is speaking.” 25 He, leaning back thus on Jesus’ bosom, said to Him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus then answered, “That is the one for whom I shall dip the morsel and give it to him.” So when He had dipped the morsel, He took and gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 After the morsel, Satan then entered into him. Therefore Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.” 28 Now no one of those reclining at the table knew for what purpose He had said this to him. 29 For some were supposing, because Judas had the money box, that Jesus was saying to him, “Buy the things we have need of for the feast”; or else, that he should give something to the poor. 30 So after receiving the morsel he went out immediately; and it was night.

Message: The Betrayal of Christ

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: This selection of scripture in study today has mention in the other 3 gospels:

Matthew 26:21-22 - As they were eating, He said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me.” Being deeply grieved, they each one began to say to Him, “Surely not I, Lord?”

Mark 14:18-19 - As they were reclining at the table and eating, Jesus said, “Truly I say to you that one of you will betray Me—one who is eating with Me.” They began to be grieved and to say to Him one by one, “Surely not I?”

Luke 22:21-23 - "But behold, the hand of the one betraying Me is with Mine on the table. For indeed, the Son of Man is going as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom He is betrayed!” And they began to discuss among themselves which one of them it might be who was going to do this thing.

There isn't anything real different in the words stated in the other gospels to the account in John though John goes much more in depth. 

In the previous words Jesus had been talking of those He chose and yet also speaking of those that will not receive Him. He talks of the feet washing and the importance of being a servant. And then in verse 21 He makes the bold prediction, though it is stated more as a fact, that one will betray Him and He knows who it is and identifies Him (v. 26). I find these words interesting because the betrayal, as I have already discussed, becomes part of God's story or plan for the entire crucifixion story. Yet those present at the time did not understand the significance of it (v. 28). Jesus tells Judas to act quickly (v. 27). And remarks that Satan has now entered Judas, as if he had not up to that point. 

In verse 21, Jesus remarks that this announcement of Judas betraying Him is troubling. That troubling description could mean multiple things. (1) It could refer to the simple trouble of Judas and his betrayal despite Jesus having invested time in him. (2) But much is written that the troubling of His Spirit is anticipating now the journey Jesus will take toward the cross, and Jesus ultimately bearing the sin of the world. (3) And then another application is the offense of false teachers or those who speak a contrary word about Jesus. 

Summary: Jesus identifies the one who will betray Him, though the disciples don't understand the significance of this at the time. 

Promise: From Tabletalk -- Jesus was troubled at the trial that lay ahead of Him, but He was able to persevere in obedience because of His unwavering trust in His Father.

Prayer: O Lord my God you are awesome and your name is to be magnified. You are eternal in your ways and complete in your purposes. Thank you for the standard you have shown that we are to live our lives against, namely to honor You with our lives and give glory to You all of our days. Help us to be a people that honors you always and does not seek after selfish means to please ourselves. Though this happens thank you for your hand of forgiveness. Lord, allow me to remain grieved over the truth of the cross and the need for sin to be expelled at the cross, my sin which so often is a disappointment to me when I commit it, and should remind me always of the suffering you took upon to make my place right with God for eternity. Draw people to yourself Lord. May people be revived in their souls to seek You and turn their lives over to You. 

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

John 12:31-32 - The Moment of Judgment and Salvation

John 12:31-32

31 Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. 32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

Message: The Moment of Judgment and Salvation

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

What the Lord is Saying: Jesus is teaching, possibly the Greeks from verse 20. Jesus speaks about his future death and how He will die and we need to lose our lives to find fruit and abundant life. Jesus admits he is troubled about future judgment before God and yet God has a purpose for people, to give them assurance and Jesus submits to this. 

Jesus has heard the voice of the Father from heaven. Jesus remarks in verse 31 that "judgment is upon this world." It is certain. 

"The ruler of this world will be cast out." Jesus announces the ruler of this world, Satan, will be cast out upon being judged. 

And Jesus will be "lifted up from the earth" and "draw all men to Himself (Myself)." 

As such, Charles Ellicott (1819-1905), an English theologian, writes this summary:

(1) the judgment (condemnatory) of this world; (2) the casting out of the prince of this world; (3) the establishment of His spiritual kingdom. 

(1) Jesus has mentioned this judgment back in John 3:17-18 - "For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God." Natural man rejects Jesus. Judgment is certain for all. But there is a different result for those that have believed in Jesus. John 5:29 states, "those who did the good to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil to a resurrection of judgment."

(2) Satan's title of "the prince of the world" was the Rabbinic title of Satan, the ruler over Gentiles. But Satan more completely is the ruler of the unbelieving world. Unbelief crucifies Jesus. Joseph Benson (1749-1821) comments that "the devil, who has so long reigned in the hearts of the children of disobedience, is about to be dethroned." At the time of the resurrection and ascension is the declaration that Jesus is indeed the Son of God and Satan's control of the minds of the disobedience would begin to vanish. His kingdom begins to decline. He is cast out. At the cross, Satan throws everything at Jesus but Jesus passes through death and is resurrected, defeating death and Satan. 

(3) And as Satan is cast out, conversely Jesus is "lifted up," drawing men to Himself in setting up His kingdom on earth and in heaven. Up to this point, the ruler has drawn all people to himself, but now Jesus will draw all men to Himself. Some have been believing up to this point (like in John 10:42). Jesus has been speaking his message and some have believed. His message has been primarily to the Jewish people. But once resurrected, in contrast, all will the opportunity to believe. The resurrection and ascension will signal a huge birth of the Church. And now people from all kinds of backgrounds, from every tribe and tongue, from every culture, will now come to Jesus and the kingdom will grow. 

Summary: The Father has a purpose at judgment and that is to cast out the prince of this world, Satan, and Jesus by his resurrection and ascension will draw men to Himself at an alarming rate. 

Promise: There is no longer any distinction in the people that will be drawn to Him upon the resurrection and ascension of Jesus. All will have an opportunity. 

Prayer: Lord, you have taught me something today, that brings some truths together, regarding how through your resurrection and ascension all people will be drawn to you. In your time walking this earth,  your mission was primarily to Jews though some Greeks slipped in, but following your death, burial and resurrection all will come to know You Jesus as Savior and Lord. All will believe in You. The Truth of You will be more clearly seen. Thank you for this lesson and walking me through it. Help us to continue to be confident and excited about those that are coming to know You, maybe not simply on our American soil but many throughout the World still, in other parts of this world. Lord, be glorified. 

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

John 8:41-47 - Children of the Devil

John 8:41-47

41 "You are doing the deeds of your Father." They said to Him, "We were not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God." 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me; for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on my own initiative, but He sent Me. 43 Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar, and the father of lies. 45 But because I speak the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which one of you convicts Me of sin? If I speak truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears the words of God, for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God." 

Message: Children of the Devil

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: These are hard truths that Jesus is conveying in these verses I have been reading. He continues (from chapter 7, verse 14) to communicate the base teaching of:

• believing in Him, 
• he being the one sent from the Father, and 
• by believing we have eternal life and we will minister to people. 
• We will be a light to the world. 
• Your sins will be forgiven. 
• We are to abide in His word and we will be free. 
• Love Me. 

He is hammering theses truths home to them. Jesus only wants what is best for us. And yet the blinders of our being are being held up. We are accustomed to believe and think about life a certain way and in a way, throughout all of those moments, I think Jesus is communicating that we are missing the point. 

As I study scripture and these passages, I continually see these contrasts of thought. And today is one of those contrasts as Jesus compares His words and what He wants to the desires and ways of the devil. He makes it clear that if we are not of the Father and if we are not believing in Jesus, then that person is of the devil and abides by the devil's ways (verse 44). 

I also see in verse 47 how those who are not of God do not hear the words of God. This reminds me that I should not be so surprised when the world is not practicing spiritual truths. Because Scripture tells me that people who are not of God will not hear the words of God. 

I have been reading Bono's (from the musical group U2) biography of sorts called Surrender. And in the most recent chapter he remarks that he does not have much patience for people that preach towards him. He thinks rather that the preaching that we should do in our lives should be more about how we are living our lives. And in a way that is true, for people do have a hard time hearing God's words that are not of Him, and so yes, our lives should be lived in a Godly manner and those lives then will be a witness. But, I don't agree completely in this. I think in ways we need to find more palpable ways to communicate truth. And yet there are many that are zealous in their proclamation and have success. So maybe what is important is that we need to communicate repeatedly, in many different ways and forms. 

Coming back to this text, it is on the heels of the Jews commenting in verse 33 that they are Abraham's offspring and so being made free is something that they don't think they need. And so it is important to communicate to them, and that is what Jesus does, to help them see that they can't simply defend their lineage as the means to gain God's acceptance. The reality is they are sinners. And in Jesus they are made free (verse 36). And like Abraham, we need to align ourselves with God and Jesus is from God so we need to accept Him. 

Summary: If we are not of the Father and if we are not believing in Jesus, then that person is of the devil and abides by the devil's ways.

Promise: For those that reject Christ, our response should be not to hate them but to pray and plead with him to believe. 

Prayer: Thank you Father for the understand I have of You being the Father of all and for sending Your Son to be my Savior and Lord. I believe in You Jesus. And I am confident of the salvation I have in Christ and the peace that this brings. Make me humble and help me to always be a light to those that are in the darkness. Give me patience and understanding. Help me to never condemn. Help me to look down upon, but to simply live my life and plead for people to come to know You. 

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

John 6:66-71 - Persevering Disciples

John 6:66-71

66 As a result of this many of His disciples withdrew, and were not walking with Him anymore. 67 Jesus said therefore to the twelve, "You do not want to go away also, do you?" 68 Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. 69 And we have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God." 70 Jesus answered them, "Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?" 71 Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for he, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him. 

Message: Persevering Disciples

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: I still am amazed by the last lesson and the acknowledgement that the Spirit gives life and opens people's minds and many do not respond in faith and people may profess a faith in God but there life needs to have works in it and when it doesn't people will leave eventually as it now says they have done in verse 66. 

And then Jesus turns to the 12 making sure through a question that they do not want to also go away. This reminds me that the people that were following Jesus was many more than 12 as "disciples" are mentioned and then also "multitudes." Within these groups, these followers, there were some that Jesus acknowledged were not part of His kingdom. So following Him did not guarantee that they would be part of His kingdom. This is important and yet also sobering even today to realize that simply going to church or attending regularly and having the appearance of being a follower of Jesus does not guarantee that someone is indeed a follower. 

For example, yesterday, I was remembering a study from Mark in which Jesus speaks about people who follow Jesus with wrong motives. Some people come to Jesus for motives of their own, to be seen by other people or for selfish reasons. 

And yet, here, it seems odd that Jesus would ask the question to the 12 - "You do not want to go away also, do you?" And yet perhaps God is also asking me, "Will you go away?" When the going gets tough and when the questions come up that you don't like the answer, will I go away? Jesus does not answer every one of my prayer requests for His sovereign reasons and so when this happens, what is my response, to turn away or will I continue to follow. Peter responds, "Where else shall we go?" Jesus is the only to offer eternal life. And He is the Holy One of God. 

Gill's Exposition states here: 

He was promised by God of old, spoken of by the prophets, and expected by the Jews; that anointed prophet Moses had spoken of, that should arise out of Israel, like unto him that anointed priest, who, according to the oath of God, was to be priest for ever, after the order of Melchizedek; and that anointed King, whom God has set over his holy hill of Zion.

He is the Holy One. He is the Messiah, the Christ. And yes, Jesus confirms as well, just as He is the Chosen One from God, the disciples are also chosen and yet among these chosen one will not respond in faith. There will be one that will turn away. God chooses but some do not respond. One will betray him. One is of the devil, the accuser, is actually against Me. One who is following Me will at some point not follow Me. 

Jesus is intending for all to check themselves, to examine themselves. We need to do this often and regularly always and not ever assume we have made it. And yet I have questions about this one betrayed: Does Jesus choose some that don't respond in faith and believe Him all of their days? It makes me wonder again the process of salvation among these disciples as there is a calling but at what point did they become part of His kingdom? Can one be saved and then turn away later? 

Summary: After some have left following Jesus, Jesus turns to the 12 for them to examine themselves as he knows one will betray Him at some point and will they all continue to follow Him. 

Promise: Daily, I need to commit myself to Christ and His teaching, to persevere in faith and show that He has chosen me. 

Prayer: Father God, your ways are right and true. You choose people to be Your vessels, to be Your people. You ask Me to follow You but I also need to respond in faith to You and follow You all of my days. You show yourself as the One, the One who gives eternal life and the Holy one of God. I am thankful for those that surround me that remain faithful and I pray Lord that You will continue to bring back many to that saving faith. I think of friends who start out in this way of following You but have not always continued for various selfish reasons. Bring them back to the joy of their salvation. And Lord guide me to never give up and to continue to follow You all of My days. 

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

My Utmost for His Highest - April 5th - His Agony and Our Fellowship

Then Jesus *came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and *said to His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 

Then He *said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me.”

Matthew 26:36,38

     We can never fathom the agony in Gethesemane, but at least we need not misunderstand it. It is the agony of God and Man in one, face to face with sin. We know nothing about Gethsemane in personal experience. Gethsemane and Calvary stand for something unique; they are the gateway into Life for us.

 
     It was not the death on the cross that Jesus feared in Gethsemane; He stated most emphatically that He came on purpose to die. In Gethsemane He feared lest He might not get through as Son of Man. He would get through as Son of God--Satan could not touch Him there; but Satan's onslaught was that He would get through as an isolated Figure only; and that would mean that He could be no Saviour. Read the record of the agony in the light of the temptation: "Then the devil leaveth Him for a season. (Matthew 4:11)" In Gethsemane Satan came back and was again overthrown. Satan's final onslaught against our Lord as Son of Man is in Gethsemane.

   
     The agony in Gethsemane is the agony of the Son of God in fulfilling His destiny as the Saviour of the world. The veil is drawn aside to reveal all it cost Him to make it possible for us to become sons of God. His agony is the basis of the simplicity of our salvation. The Cross of Christ is a triumph for the Son of Man. It was not only a sign that Our Lord had triumphed, but that He had triumphed to save the human race. Every human being can get through into the presence of God now because of what the Son of Man went through.

Oswald Chambers - From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

- Underlines and highlights are courtesy of Mom from her Print Edition

My Utmost for His Highest - March 21st - Interest or Identification?

I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. -- Galatians 2:20

The imperative need spiritually is to sign the death warrant of the disposition of sin, to turn all emotional impressions and intellectual beliefs into a moral verdict against the disposition of sin, viz., my claim to my right to myself. Paul says -- "I have been crucified with Christ"; he does not say -- "I have determined to imitate Jesus Christ," or "I will endeavor to follow Him" -- but -- "I have been identified with Him in His death." When I come to such a moral decision and act upon it, then all that Christ wrought for me on the Cross is wrought in me. The free committal of myself to God gives the Holy Spirit the chance to impart to me the holiness of Jesus Christ. 

"... nevertheless I live ..." The individuality remains, but the mainspring, the ruling disposition, is radically altered. The same human body remains, but the old satanic right to myself is destroyed. 

"And the life which I now live in the flesh...," not the life which I long to live and pray to live but the life I now live in my mortal flesh, the life which men can see, "I live by the faith of the Son of God." This faith is not Paul's faith in Jesus Christ, but the faith that the Son of God has imparted to him--"the faith of the Son of God," It is no longer faith in faith, but faith which has overleapt all conscious bounds, the identical faith of the Son of God. 

Oswald Chambers - From My Utmost for His Highest Classic Edition

- Underlines and highlights are courtesy of Mom from her Print Edition

• imperative - indicating authority or command, necessary, urgent
• death warrant - an official order for the execution of a condemned person
• disposition of sin - the authority to settle or control sin 
• viz (namely)

- 

Luke 4:1-13 - Obedience in Temptation

Luke 4:1-13

And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days; and when they had ended, he became hungry. And the devil said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread." And Jesus answered him, "It is written, 'Man shall not live on bread alone.'" And he led Him up and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil said to Him, "I will give You all this domain and its glory; for it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore if You worship before me, it shall all be yours." And Jesus answered and said to him, "It is written, 'You shall worship the Lord your God and serve Him only.'" And he led Him to Jerusalem and had Him stand on the pinnacle of the temple, and said to Him, "If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down from here, for it is written, 'He will give His angels charge concerning You to guard You.' and 'On their hands they will bear You up, lest You strike Your foot against a stone.'" And Jesus answered and said to him, "It is said, 'You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.'" 

And when the devil had finished every temptation, he departed from Him until an opportune time. 

Message: Obedience in Temptation

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:

Christ Alone or He alone saves. In this we have studied that Jesus is the God incarnate creator, has a human nature, is the last Adam according to the principle as our Federal Head and that of being in Christ, is the True Israel, Messiah or God's anointed, rescuing or delivering us from the discord between God and Man, and always obeyed His Father and never failed, discharging our debt before God and paying the penalty for our sins. This obedience included baptism. And now this obedience included resisting temptations. 

All of Jesus' days He kept the commandments of God. Hebrews 5:8-10 says, "Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, being designated by God as a high priest according to the order of Melchizedek." 

Paul called Jesus the new Adam, and as we have discussed He is the last Adam. Like Adam, Jesus faced temptations. Adam, in the garden, was tempted by Satan. God had given Adam the command of all that he was in charge of in the garden but not to eat of one tree. Satan came to Adam to tempt him to be like God. The alternative is to trust God. 

It is clear and obvious that after not eating, we are at our weakest. In my lifetime, I have only gone without food I can think of, for 1 day. Jesus went without food for 40 days. The danger when facing temptation is to try combat it alone. The model Jesus has given us is to resist it by looking to scripture. God's word is the only thing that can shield us or protect us from temptations that we experience. We must stand on the authority of scripture, as Jesus did. In resisting temptation, Jesus quoted scripture and succeeded where Adam had failed. 

Only looking at Jesus' answers is (1) we need food, but we need God to live, (2) we shall worship God and serve Him only, (3) you shall not put God to the test. Take God as He is. 

Promise: If we want to grow stronger against sin, we must grow in our understanding of God's Word. 

Prayer: Lord God, thank you for helping me return to Your word and rest in it. I need you Jesus and thank you for saving me and saving me alone. You are perfect and lived a perfect life. You paid the penalty I have incurred, discharging my debt before God. Thank you for showing me what it means to be obedient and resist what Satan throws at me and he continues to do this. He continues to try to forge an opening in my life, but keep me closet to You and Your word, reminding me of truths that I need. 

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.

- The Divine Nature of Christ, The Human Nature of Christ, Jesus the Last Adam, Jesus the True Israel, Jesus the Messiah, Obedience in Childhood, Obedience in Baptism, Obedience in Temptation

Genesis 3:15 - Covenantal Intervention

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her seed;
He shall bruise you on the head,
And you shall bruise him on the heel.

Message: Covenantal Intervention

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:

I have always tried to look at the gospel in a very simple way. The basic idea that I see is God created order, man broke that order, and God fixed it. Rather than God fixing it alone most of religion and life think that man is the one who fixes things. The problem I see with this is there is never any peace for man on earth because man is always trying to figure out which formula will result in things getting fixed. It also assumes that man can fix it on his own and eventually goodness will outweigh all of the bad's committed. On the contrary, when God is the one who fixes it, he does it completely and without any error.

Thus the idea of God's grace or rather God delivering man is quite foreign to man's thinking. As a reminder, the first covenant of the Bible between God and man marked the idea that man's works would inherit eternal life. But, this was a covenant that came about before man ate from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. Thus, the covenant of works was possible when there was no knowledge of good and evil. But when Adam and Eve broke the covenant of works, pain and futility entered the picture and men and women face great sorrow and hardship.

Man became bent toward disobedience. Before Adam and Eve ate from the tree they had a desire to do those things pleasing to God, but sin twisted this and on our own we can't ever truly seek truth. So we need God to intervene. God's intervention is now known as God's grace. God redeems His creation. God does the work. God intercedes for man. This verse in Genesis 3:15 marks what is known as the first gospel or the protoevangelion. It is the first revelation of the covenant of grace. Under works, blessings come from doing good works. The problem is God's acceptance is based upon perfect obedience, not simply doing more good than bad. Grace is focused instead on faith not obedience. When people understand this grace and the gift of God, they naturally want to live good lives, but all the time they are forgiven by God whenever they sin.

Paul speaks of this in Romans 4 where he talks about Abraham becoming righteous apart from the work of circumcision. He was credited with righteousness while uncircumcised. We are made righteous apart from works.

In Genesis 3:15, God is in the middle of addressing the serpent (v. 14) and he remarks a conflict between the serpent and the woman. The serpent has a conflict with mankind, but it is most clearly seen toward the woman. I think this is evident as we see the power men often have over women and the damage of things like pornography which has convinced the woman the value she has is not who she is but what she looks like. And the difficult she has to work with the man instead of being independent of the man is a chore. We in society, we as men have not done a good job in this either.

But the point of this message is that the seed of the serpent or wicked man will be bruised by the seed of the woman. Thus, the seed of the woman is to be the Christ child. God will bruise the head of Satan through Jesus. God will provide grace to man through the work of His Son on the Cross. He pronounces to Satan the work that He will do.

Promise: The Lord graciously intervened to give His people the will to resist Satan and God pledged to send the Savior to do all the work needed to save us.

Prayer: Thank you God for the salvation that you have given to me this day. I pray that You would strengthen me against the world, the flesh, and the devil.

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 April being about salvation by grace alone and how the Lord never fails to save the one whom He has purposed to save.

I Chronicles 16:25-26 - Yahweh and the gods of the peoples

I Chronicles 16:25-26
25 25 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
He also is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
But the Lord made the heavens.

Message: Yahweh and the gods of the peoples

Time: 1 Chronicles has a mystery writer and focuses on David's reign though doesn't repeat David's sin with Bathsheba. It was written in the time of Ezra and Nehemiah or 538-333 BC while the Jews were dispersed throughout Persia, some having returned from Israel. The book lists genealogies, priests, Levites, armies, temple officials, and other leaders of various ministries and devotes significant attention to proper worship of Yahweh and adherence to the regulations of the Law. It focuses on obedience that results in God’s blessing, the priority of the temple and priesthood, and the unconditional promises to the house of David.

What the Lord is Saying:

Contrary to other belief systems, Christianity (as well as Judaism and Islam) hold to a belief of one God. But, other religions one God is different from the biblical God. So it begs the question are there other gods? This verse in 1 Chronicles states that the Lord is to be feared above all gods for all the gods of the peoples are idols. It seems that there are other gods that people to try to worship. Idols are images such as wood or a statue that people worship. But these are not to be worshiped as God. It is true that people do recognize other gods but these gods are not real.

I Corinthians 8:4-6 states - Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the world, and that there is no God but one. For even if there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many gods and many lords, yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we exist through Him.

It seems clear that on one hand there is only one true God and the other gods mentioned in history are another sort of supernatural being, a pretender to the throne of the Almighty. There may be other gods mentioned but they are not the same as the one God. So if there is only one God and yet these other gods are mentioned then what are these other gods? They are demons. I Corinthians 10:20 - the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God; and I do not want you to become sharers in demons. So demons are worshiped under such names as Krishna, Baal, and even Allah. Thus Allah is not God. It may be touted as the same god just with a different name but it is in fact a different god. There is no god equal to the God of the Bible.

While the Bible does acknowledge other gods that man attempts to worship, these gods are not real because they are not the one true God. They are instead impostors and instead demons. The worship of idols is actually the worship of devils. The devil has set up these alternate forms of worship in order to distract people from the one true God. Again, our culture often doesn't view this. In the name of tolerance in our day and age, we therefore think that all of the gods of this world are equally valid and all end up in the same place. But, the God of the Bible is unique and set apart and therefore separate from all other claimed gods and in face those gods are not gods in the same sense because again there is only one God. It's really a sobering truth because I think I have a hard time seeing all of these people and there are millions, if not billions in history that worship these other gods. Even in the world of Catholicism that seems to add physical people and rise them to the level of an idol.

But there is only one creator. And that creator is to be worshiped. People everywhere are caught up in the supernatural. It is a hard line to stand at times because we struggle more and more stating that so many people have false beliefs.

Couched in these verses are the words For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised and the Lord made the heavens. These verses represent a Psalm of David found here in I Chronicles 16:8-36.

Promise: As Christians we serve the only true God and need never fear the enemy.

Prayer: God, you are it. You are the only God. I give thanks to You and I call upon Your name. Lord, I want to make known your deeds, your work to all. I sing to You and sing Praises to you. What you have done I sing. I glory in Your holy name. I see You and therefore am glad. I see you Lord. You are strong. I look to You continually. Lord, remove the blinders that are on so many people. So many have been trained to think a way that is not true. As I sat in church yesterday I thought of how many came come to church, go through confession and worship and yet never really look inward and see that the Christian is not simply worship but it is admitting a need for life change. We come to You Lord to get a right understanding of who we are. We need You. I need to change. I need daily to be different. Lord, there is such a danger today of people thinking they don't need change. But when we see Love as it is, we see that we are not true people of love. O God, you are the only God and I worship You. Help me be true to Your name as I live in this world.

Note: I follow the readings from the Tabletalk Magazine devotional. 2017 is a study of key biblical doctrines with January being about the doctrine of God.

Mark 8:32b-33 - Peter Corrects Jesus

Mark 8:32b-33
32b And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33 But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and *said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” 

Message: Peter Corrects Jesus

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 - Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ - the promised Messiah. He ordered the disciples to not tell anyone about it. Jesus provides more information about himself on the journey they are taking, remarking that he has a mission of suffering, rejecting, death, and resurrection. These things must happen in their time. Jesus has a greater purpose. In the meantime, keep listening to his message and seeing that he is different, radically different.After this is said, though, Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke him. 

Peter rebukes Jesus, but Peter, in front of the disciples rebukes Peter and *said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” Thus, to resist Jesus' teaching is to act as a disciple of Satan, and this is true regardless of whether the person making the objection understands what he is saying. Peter was correct that Jesus was the Messiah, but wrong about what that would mean. Some say Jesus' response was harsh, but obviously Jesus thought it was necessary. And today, as people make errors and paint a Jesus that fits their ideals rather than the Jesus that is presented in the Bible, we should be just as harsh. 

I tend to not be harsh, only because maybe I don't understand it well and so as I see preachers harsh toward different sects of Christianity, I think it is sometimes too tough. But, maybe they see themselves acting in this same way as Jesus rebuking Peter. For example, we are not just justified by faith, but justified by faith alone. Jesus is of the same nature as the Father, not simply a similar nature. Sometimes we are a little careless with out use of words. I think we are lazy at times and don't make things a big deal. But, we do need to be precise. 

Summary - After Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ - the Jewish Messiah - Jesus states his mission of suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection. Peter rebukes Jesus over this, wanting to correct him. But Jesus sees that Peter misunderstands and exhibits tough love in rebuking Peter, calling him out as Satan because his words are motivated by man's interests instead of God's.   

Promise: We must be careful to be precise in our understanding of doctrine and capture all of the nuances of the Bible. If we don't know, it should not be a problem to state this.  

Prayer: Holy Spirit, as you confirm truth to me, I pray that I would accept that truth into my life. There are multiple views that I hear each day, but I want to be guided by Your Spirit so that you are defining my beliefs. Direct me on this path, so that I walk the straight and narrow, but also help me to know when I need to extend grace to people and when I need to be tough in upholding truth. I know you have given me a specific type of personality. May I continue to have wisdom in navigating all that is in this world today.

Mark 5:6-10 - Jesus Confronts Legion

Mark 5:6-10
6 Seeing Jesus from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him;7 and shouting with a loud voice, he *said, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!” 8 For He had been saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he *said to Him, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”10 And he began to implore Him earnestly not to send them out of the country.

Message: Jesus Confronts Legion and Legion makes requests to Jesus

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 I learned in the previous lesson, Satan is real and active and was attacking Jesus through a man. He did this in his day and there is no reason to not think that he doesn't do this today. I think he does. There is just too much in our world that is not friendly to the things of God. We are getting further away and getting more distracted.

Now to the text:

The man that was not about to be bound ran up and bowed down before Him (Jesus). The Power of Satan in this world, in people's lives, is still subject to Jesus. God still has control. The KJV states that he worshiped Him. The man could have been conflicted in his being, realizing who Jesus was and yet the demon also didn't want to be tormented. In this man is dueling spirits. The demon spirit in the man knows that he is under the Lord's control, while the man may see that he desires to be under God's control. As the man and the demon within him approach Jesus, the man says Jesus, Son of the Most High God. 

John Gill (1697-1771), English baptist pastor and theologian said:

Devils believe there is one God, and tremble at him; and they confess that Jesus of Nazareth, who was born of the virgin, according to the human nature, is the Son of God, according to his divine nature: and whereas they had no interest in him, as a Saviour, they desired they might have nothing to do with him as God; and since they had no share in the blessings of his grace, they beg they might not feel the power of his hand.

This is the best summation I've seen of this text. Devils knew who God was and Jesus but that they did not want to have anything to do with him. And they definitely didn't want to be under the power of God. Thus, the demon responds when Jesus is near - I implore You by God, do not torment me! He knows Jesus and knows his power and doesn't want to have anything to do with it. Like Jesus will just let him off. Come out of the man, you unclean spirit! And He was asking him, “What is your name?” And he *said to Him, “My name is Legion; for we are many.”  Jesus, by asking his name, wants to communicate to us that the unclean spirits, the demons are many. We must remember that Jesus is always teaching.

This passage is really about the Legion confronting Jesus as well as Jesus confronting Legion. The Legion really wants nothing to do with Jesus and wants to find a way to be clear from him. He doesn't want to be sent far because his desire is to impact pagans locally.

Promise: From Tabletalk- That Jesus could cast out so many demons shows that He was more than a mere man. Rather, He was—and remains—God. We can trust Him to break spiritual oppression and preserve us forever in His kingdom.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the power you have over the darkness. There are spiritual forces present in our world, around us. You are in control of them. I submit to You. Continue to protect me and bring order to this world of ours, so that more will know you and surrender to you. It feels sometimes that we are going backwards in our world and getting further from You. Change our ways and train us daily to be Godly. 

Mark 3:11-12 - Superior, Not Equal

Mark 3:11-12
11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!” 12 And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was.

Message: Superior, Not Equal

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 is an interesting placement of these 2 verses. In the preceding passage, Jesus was headed to a boat, partly ready to get away because the people were crowding in on him and he had instead a message to preach of repentance and believing to people. Back in chapter 1, verse 34 it states, And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was. What stands out in that passage is healing many with a large crowd around, but Jesus not letting the demons speak of Him. The demons knew something about Jesus and spoke this about Him - that others did not. 

And now here in Mark 3 is a similar scene with the unclean spirits or demons - Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!” And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was. 

It seems in our world today, there are still many that acknowledge Him and surrender their life to Him and yet also many that do not surrender. Yet, the idea of demons and demon possession and Satan living right now is not spoken and if it is, it is often belittled. The French poet Charles Baudelaire once said, "The devil's finest trick is to persuade you that he does not exist." There have been ways I have seen that the reality of Satan and his dominions and angels have been presented, like the "This Present Darkness" book series by Frank Peretti, TV Shows like "Touched by an Angel," a sermon series by Andy Stanley in Atlanta called "Twisted" in which he talked about there being more in this world than we can see. But overall, like the Holy Spirit that I have been thinking more about, I think Satan is also de-emphasized even in our churches. Perhaps it is the "unseen" dynamic that Satan has done a good job getting people to not emphasize. I admit, how often do I refer to Satan in my discussions and yet here in Mark, Satan and demon possession has already been mentioned several times by Jesus.

Tabletalk also mentions that there can be a danger in people to blame Satan for every sin and habitual sin in life, such as the demon of alcoholism. So, there must be a happy balance that is needed. But, good and evil are not equally powerful. Satan is still a finite being and not infinite like the Creator.

Son of God
In this passage, the demons call Jesus the Son of God. Traditionally, in Christianity is the belief that the term - Son of God - referred to the Messiah and it was a term believed to have been used by Jewish people. Psalm 2:7-8 states I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. Non-believers argue that the term never was used to refer to Jesus as the Messiah, but could the Jews and followers in the time of Jesus possibly had changed its usage? In this passage of scripture, is it noteworthy that the demons would simply be referring to Jesus as being like God or having a God-likeness. Thus, can a term change in history.

"When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”.
Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven." (Matthew 16:13-17)

"Jesus heard that they had cast him out; and when he had found him, he said unto him, Dost thou believe on THE SON OF GOD?
He answered and said, Who is he, Lord, that I might believe on him?
And Jesus said unto him, Thou hast both seen HIM, and it is HE that talketh with thee".
(John 9:35-37)

"Then the high priest said to him, “I demand in the name of the living God—tell us if you are THE Messiah, THE SON OF GOD.”
Jesus replied, “You have said it. And in the future you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God’s right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
(Matthew 26:63-64)

I think we can be clear from this that the Son of God, in the Gospels refers to Jesus. And this is the consistent message in the gospels and New Testament of Jesus.

Promise: Safe in the hands of Jesus, we need not fear anything Satan can throw at us.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for being who you are and showing me the way to true life in you. Thank you for protecting me from evil. You are the Son of God. I believe in you. Help me to understand that Satan is real and working in this world but my confidence and victory is in you.

Mark 1:23-28 - Casting out Demons

Mark 1:23-28
23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee.

Message: Casting out Demons

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 been mentioning that Mark has been brief so far in his re-telling of Jesus and his life following his baptism in the Jordan. However, he could be brief also because he didn't have complete information and he wanted to be true to re-tell what he knew rather than adding information that he wasn't clear on. As I turn to this passage, there is more information and the words of Jesus are given. Thus far, Mark has recorded these words of Jesus - verse 15 -  The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel and verse 17 - Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men. These verses are moving from an audience of everyone, to a smaller group of the disciples to now an individual.

In each of these statements, his authority is clearly on display. Exorcising demons from a person was not unusual, as Jewish leaders and rabbi's had done this, but they often relied on procedures to help people. Jesus however simply speaks and thus relies only on his words and his authority.

It is interesting that the demon is present here in the synagogue. I wonder how long he had been present and not cried out. It's a reminder that the church can still be a place where evil spirits are present. This spirit recognizes Jesus, recognizes his authority and that he has come from God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. There is power, power, wonderful working power in the name of Jesus. And they were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” Here, everyone, the demons and the scribes and religious leaders understand what is going on. This man has greater authority that even a rabbi as he speaks and it happens.

As I follow the story, there is clearly something different about this man Jesus.

1. Wonder, and what excited it:
1. What they had seen -- men delivered from the power of Satan
2. What they had heard - the all-powerful Word of Jesus
2. Inquiry, and to what end it was directed
1. Into the nature and reality of His works
2. Into the character of His doctrine
3. Popularity, and how it was extended
1. By the reports of wondering men
2. Swiftly spreading through the land.

Promise: Jesus sets people free from the devil's tyranny as the gospel goes forth. Evil powers can hold his creation hostage. Christ must deal with the evil powers.

Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the power that is in the name of Jesus. Thank you for dealing with the forces of Satan in our world and freeing us to be able to live for you. Keep doing this, for at times, the devil has a hold on people's lives. Keep us strengthened to live for you and glorify you. Thank you for being a personal God, concerned about each person's state of mind.

Matthew 12:22-32 - A Sin Unforgivable

Matthew 12:22-32
²² Then a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute was brought to Jesus, and He healed him, so that the mute man spoke and saw. ²³ All the crowds were amazed, and were saying, “This man cannot be the Son of David, can he?” ²⁴ But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man casts out demons only by Beelzebul the ruler of the demons.”
²⁵ And knowing their thoughts Jesus said to them, “Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and any city or house divided against itself will not stand. ²⁶ If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself; how then will his kingdom stand? ²⁷ If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? For this reason they will be your judges. ²⁸ But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. ²⁹ Or how can anyone enter the strong man’s house and carry off his property, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house.
³⁰ He who is not with Me is against Me; and he who does not gather with Me scatters.
³¹ “Therefore I say to you, any sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven people, but blasphemy against the Spirit shall not be forgiven. ³² Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man, it shall be forgiven him; but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it shall not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.

Message: A Sin Unforgivable

Time: The date of Matthew's composition is anywhere from 55-60 AD probably in Antioch of Syria. The writing is most likely to the Jews. His purpose was to show them that Jesus of Nazareth was the expected messiah and both his genealogy and his resurrection were legitimate proofs of this.

What the Lord is Saying: 

This is an interesting section of scripture and one that probably has been hotly debated regarding its meaning. The passage clearly is focusing on the Holy Spirit. Looking it over, I see that Jesus healed a blind and mute demon-possessed man. Afterwards, he spoke and saw. The Pharisees accused Jesus of casting out demons according to Beelzebul. The question was not whether or not a demon could be cast out, but by what authority. In order for the kingdom of God to reign then demons can only be cast out by the the Spirit of God. Jesus is saying that Satan has no reason to cast out his own demon from a man and therefore take down his own kingdom. Jesus says that the demon must be bound in a man before it can be cast out. If someone is not with Jesus, they are against Jesus, so the demon-possessed man is against Jesus. He then transitions to sin and blasphemy of the Spirit and the unforgivable sin.

In just talking about the sin issue here, it is of note that all sin is forgiven, except one, which means cursing God. rejecting God, denying Him, murder, adultery, or breaking any of the commandments -- these are all forgivable. There is great comfort in what God has done.

But something of great importance here is this particular sin -- blasphemy. Blasphemy is the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for a deity. If there is a sin that seems to be totally disregarded in our current society, it is not showing reverence to God's name. 

For the meaning of this passage I am looking at the words from Tabletalk for September 2, 2015:

The Pharisees see that Jesus has just freed a man from demonic oppression and that many people are thinking that He must therefore be the Christ. Some of these Pharisees attribute Jesus' ability to exorcise demons to Beelzebul (Satan). This error is significant because our Savior notes that the finger of God is behind His power in spiritual warfare. By the Holy Spirit He casts out demons, which should be evident to all. The Lord then teaches on the blasphemy of the Spirit, thereby indicating that it consists of attributing demonic activity to Jesus. In other words, calling a work of God the work of Satan is what is in view with respect to the blasphemy of the Spirit.

This is what the Pharisees did in relations to Jesus' healing of the demonic man's blindness and inability to speak -- asserting that Jesus was actually doing the work of Satan.

Promise: Those who blaspheme the Spirit are hardened against Him and have no fear of offending Him. 

Psalm 89:19-37 - God's Eternal Covenant with God

Psalm 89:19-37

 ¹⁹ Once You spoke in vision to Your godly ones, and said, “I have given help to one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people.
²⁰ “I have found David My servant; with My holy oil I have anointed him,
²¹ With whom My hand will be established; my arm also will strengthen him.
²² “The enemy will not deceive him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him.
²³ “But I shall crush his adversaries before him, and strike those who hate him.
²⁴ “My faithfulness and My lovingkindness will be with him, and in My name his horn will be exalted.
²⁵ “I shall also set his hand on the sea and his right hand on the rivers.
²⁶ “He will cry to Me, ‘You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.’
²⁷ “I also shall make him My firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth.
²⁸ “My lovingkindness I will keep for him forever, and My covenant shall be confirmed to him.
²⁹ “So I will establish his descendants forever and his throne as the days of heaven.

³⁰ “If his sons forsake My law and do not walk in My judgments,
³¹ If they violate My statutes and do not keep My commandments,
³² Then I will punish their transgression with the rod and their iniquity with stripes.
³³ “But I will not break off My lovingkindness from him, nor deal falsely in My faithfulness.
³⁴ “My covenant I will not violate, nor will I alter the utterance of My lips.
³⁵ “Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David.
³⁶ “His descendants shall endure forever and his throne as the sun before Me.
³⁷ “It shall be established forever like the moon, and the witness in the sky is faithful.” Selah.

Message: God's Eternal Covenant with God

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:

Lord, in the past, You spoke in vision, as was your normal way of speaking to the Holy prophets, Your godly ones, you have given help to one who is mighty, a singular one, whom you have properly qualified and exalted one chosen one from the people, for so great of an undertaking. There is scarce a man to be found among all men. I have found out of all the people, David My servant, and with My holy oil I have anointed him producing the Spirit of the Lord upon him. Thus, My hand will be established in him, constantly able to protect and assist him and support him in all that he does. He may be persecuted, but no advantage will be made against him.  The enemy will not deceive him, nor the son of wickedness afflict him or overthrow him. The enemy will not conquer him. There will always be enemies and adversaries before God's anointed ones, but God shall crush and strike those who hate him. And Lord, your faithfulness will be with your servant. You always make good on your promises. Your lovingkindness and mercy are present in that you always do more than you promise. You pardon our sins. In Your name your horn (power) will be exalted. You set your hand on the sea and your right hand on the rivers. You establish your dominion over the waters. The waters are vast but you are in charge. They are deep but you understand. You power is established farther than we can see. We cry to You, 'You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.'  You are a true and kind father, my father, my God, and you can complete salvation in me.Thank you Father for making me as a firstborn, the highest kings of the earth. The firstborn had privileges above all other sons. But David here is the highest of kings over the earth. For David, My lovingkindness (mercy) Lord God will keep for him forever nothing will alter your kind intentions. God you will establish his descendants forever and his throne as the days of heaven (without limit). Lord, if your sons forsake Your law and do not walk in Your judgments, if they violate Your statutes (rules) and do not keep Your commandments then you will punish their sin with the rod and their iniquity with stripes, but You will not break off Your mercy (lovingkindness from him, nor deal falsely in My faithfulness. Lord, your promises will continue. We can hold firm on this one and only promise. Your covenant You will not violate. You will not alter the utterance of Your lips. Your word remains true, no matter what. Yes consequences from sin will result, but Your word remains. Lord, you added a promise or oath or have sworn by Your holiness. You will not lie to David. Your descendants shall endure forever and your throne as the sun before Me. It shall be established forever like the moon and the witness in the sky is faithful. As the moon and sky never depart from our lives, we can be reminded that your merciful promises will remain. 


Promise: God's promises remain, forever, like the moon, like the sky, for he has made an oath, sworn that it would be so.