One Year Bible - October 14, 2010

JEREMIAH 23:21 - 25:38                                                                                                      

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE UNDER JUDGMENT:  Accept God's hand of judgment as the very best hope for you. TWO BASKETS OF FIGS: One good, one rotten.  The good figs will go into slavery in Babylon.  Once they are cured of idolatry, they will come back to the Lord.  If you are not enslaved to Babylon, and stay in the land, you are a rotten fig - good for nothing, and destroyed.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS - SEVENTY YEARS: They had lived in the land 490 years, that would be 70 Sabbaths that they had failed to let the land lay dormant and rest.   So, now the land would get all 70 years at once, while they were in Babylon as slaves.

CLEANSING:  This takes place in ever-widening circles, beginning with Judah (25:29-32). When you see God judging little things in your life, be assured that everyone around you is going through the same thing! It will finally turn into a big storm encompassing all your life. It just builds and builds. But it begins in the House of the Lord (individually) (1 Pet 4:7).

RESPONSE:   They didn't have much to choose from: cleansing or certain death.  Either way would be difficult.  It appears that sinning doesn't have a very good payoff.  "The wages of sin is death" (Rom 6:23).  And for sure, if you belong to God (are not a rotten fig), you WILL be cleansed and it will feel confining (slave-like).    All sin is deceptive.  We can't "handle" any of it.

Whenever I feel vengeful and want God to judge my "enemies", He always lets me know that judgment begins in "the House of the Lord" - and that's me.  I will be judged first - then my enemies.  That makes me soften my approach. Then I pray He will withhold judgment and bless them.  I want mercy for myself.

2 THESSALONIANS 2:1-17                                                                                               
PREPARING FOR BATTLE AGAINST THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS: How do we prepare ourselves against the powers of darkness? What is our best defense AND offense? Why do some people do better than others at not being IMPACTED by evil?   We must NEVER allow our circumstances to IMPACT us - to come inside, to do other than remain external.

(1.) 2Th 1: Persecution and tribulation are opportunities for God to be manifested and glorified in us.  "Patience and faith" are what it takes to go thru these things.  We don't escape, we can't go around, we can rebuke it away, or insulate ourselve from trouble.  Our "patience and faith" are expressed by instructing our hearts to "believe and trust God, that He is manificent and in charge, God is faithful and full or mercy, He will show us what He expects from us, etc." 

(2) 2Th 2:"Stand fast" (hold onto) for the Truth of the Gospel.  This means to take your stand for", "do not give way or compromise" the Truth.  The "Mystery of iniquity" is that we can be deceived and are our own worst enemy.   You see, unrighteousness always leads to self-deception.  And then we believe "the lie".  The original language suggests that this is speaking of a particular lie.  And that lie is that Life is man-centered.  When we get into that lifestyle, then we start assigning degrees to sin.  We think some sins aren't important - "no big deal".  We are deceived.  When we walk in any sin, we are walking in UN-truth, UN-reality.  When we cling to Truth, we won't be led away by selfishness and self-interest.

Who is "the son of perdition" ?  He sums up all the antichristian thought, reasonings, logic, feelings and opinions.  He believes things that are "contrary to sound doctrine" (1Ti 1:10).  He is also called "the man of sin". (2:3)  He manifests the real nature of sin to usurp God's throne and God's authority in our lives.  He is the "carnal mind".   (Rom 8:7) HOW DO WE KNOW?  Because the word "Temple" is the Greek: "naos" which refers to the Most Holy Place, the spiritual sanctuary - and after the Book of Acts, NEVER REFERS TO A PHYSICAL BUILDING.  It's root word, (naio) means "to dwell".  God's dwelling-place is the human heart.  The "son of perdition" mentioned in the Bible, Judas (John 17:12), is a metapho for how our hearts can betray Jesus because of willful ignorance or selfishness.  The "Retrainer" is the spirit of antichrist who suppresses the Truth.  When Truth is revealed to me, God swallows up the "restrainer" - my own carnal mind-set. 

RESPONSE:  In what way does holding to the Truth prepare me to confront the powers of darkness?  For one thing, Truth is the "belt" that all other weapons hang from (Eph 6:14).  Satan is the great deceiver and all sin leads to deception - it says that deceived people "perish".  "Holding to the Truth" means that we live what we say we believe.  Truth does not shift around - it is not relative - it is absolute.  Living that way gives us integrity and emotional stability.  We are less vulnerable to demonic attack.  Knowing the Truth keeps us from being deceived and hopefully, from deceiving ouselves.  A changed life is the best defense and offence against the devil!

PSALM 84:1-12                                                                                                                     
LIVING BY THE LIFE OF GOD:  When God comes into our lives, He fills us with His "dunamis" - His inherent "life-force".  By faith, we live from His Presence in us. 
(1) There is inner beauty created by His Presence (see also Job 26:13).  He created a compelling hunger for more and more of Himself and gives us a joyful vitality.  "At Thine altars" we are content and find rest. 

(2) The secret of our strength and usefulness:  Our strength comes from being "in Him" - it is an impenetrable hardness that comes from our lives and His life being mingled.  Our tears of affliction and repentance become a well of supply in the hands of the Holy Spirit.  Moving AWAY from God, people grow weaker and weaker and die.  But we move TOWARD God, getting stronger and stronger - able to "man up" - be courageous and bold.  Our strength comes from being fully satisfied by the life of God in us.  As we learn to satisfy our thirst in Him, we become stronger and stronger, no matter what gets thrown at us!

(3) The secret of Life:  (9-12) God gives bountiful gifts of being our "shield", satisfying our hungry hearts, giving us "grace and glory", whatever "good thing" we need or want.  Life with God is incomparably better than anything else.  Life with God is inexhaustibly complete.  Life with God is empowering (blessed). 

PROVERBS 25:15                                                                                                             
Long patience and a soft voice will break through hardhearted people.  And being short on patience and too passionate escalates the situation.  That much I know. 

October 13, 2010

JEREMIAH 22:1 - 23:20                                                                                                       
WHAT HAS GONE WRONG: God has sent the prophet for a face-to-face with the king, to tell him all that has gone wrong in Judah.   Chap 22 - 47 spell it out.   (1)  (23:1-3) Rulers are supposed to work for God, not themselves!  Rulership is not so much about privilege as it is about responsibility.   They are shepherds, not landowners.  First they set the example of what is just and right, as God's agents.  Second they are not to oppress the vulnerable and the weak. (22:15-16)  Do you think you are a big shot because you live in a big house?  Look what happened to the last three kings who thought that (all dead or slaves).  (2) (23:9-10)  The prophets and preachers were leading the King (and everyone else) astray (v.15-18) and would be judged.   Trusted advisors were telling them what they wanted to hear.   They haven't sat and listened for the word of the Lord at all! (v.31-32)   And they are saying that "God told them" this wrong information, using God's authority. (v.21-22)  God did not send them.

WHAT ABOUT JESUS?  (22:30) ends the line of Solomon.  Mary, Jesus' mother, was descended from Nathan, a brother of Solomon, giving Jesus throne rights.   Jesus is the "Righteous Branch" raised up from David (Nathan's father).  He Himself "is our righteousness".  (23:5-6) God's remnant (the Church) will be re-gathered by King Jesus. Zionism without King Jesus is idolatry.  To reject this King is to reject all hope of righteousness before God.   Zionism without Jesus is self-justification and self-righteousness and is foul.  It is insubordination against God and His righteousness and rebellion against King Jesus.  Jeremiah's words do not fall to the ground: the King has come!  We abandon our self-justification and self-righteousness and cling to Him and are saved.

RESPONSE: When we were born again, and were seated in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus, (Eph 1:20; 2:6), that means we are now connected to eternity past and eternity future.  Jeremiah was told about us!  We are a fulfillment of prophesy.  The Scriptures are accurate and complete.  That gives me confidence.

2 THESSALONIANS 1:1-12                                                                                                 
PURPOSE: To prepare us for battle against the powers of darkness. The church in Thessalonica was still being persecuted and hindered by the Jews (Acts 17) and these young believers need courage. The purpose of this letter is not to satisfy our curiosity about an "any-minute rapture", but in fact is written to "comfort and establish" their hearts. (2:17)  If anything, this letter REFUTES an "any-minute rapture" as being man-centered and willfully ignorant (2:11; 3:10-11).

AN EARTH-BURNING, TIME-ENDING EVENT?  If you were to compare 2Thessalonians with Matthew 24, you would find many startling parallels.  In fact, some would say that 2 Thessalonians is a FULFILLMENT of Matthew 24.   2Thess 2:1 speaks of our "gathering together unto Him", as does Matt 24:31.   2Th 2:2 speaks of a premature appearance of Christ, as does Mat 24:23-27.   2Th 2:3 tells of "the" apostasy. Which one is that? The "falling away" of Matt 24:10-12.  And finally 2Th 2:3-4 speak of false prophets and signs like Mat 24:24-34.  If these refer to the same event (very likely), then Paul is speaking of the soon destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple - an event referred to as "the vengeance of our God" (Isa 61:2 et al).

WHAT DOES IT SAY TO US? Since such a cataclysmic event is not on the horizon, how does this letter prepare us to fight against the powers of darkness, as it was intended? Things are not much different now.  People hate us for no reason other than our beliefs in Jesus and the Bible.  I think it appeals to their pride, that if we are right, then they must be wrong!  After all the antichristian spirit is manifested in lawlessness.

(1.) God's righteousness and justice CANNOT co-exist with evil, and so when we are persecuted it is "evidence of the righteous judgment of God that we may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God."  (2Th 1:4-5) When Jesus is "manifest" (revealed) - when the Truth is known, our persecutors are punished "everlastingly", while our suffering is only temporary.

(2.) Jesus wants to be glorified "in His saints and admired in all them that believe". (2Th1:10-12)  Imagine that!   God wants to manifest Himself in us!  This is revealed here to be His call on us, His purpose and His power, and by our faith.

RESPONSE:   Many years ago when I worked at a Medical School, I put a note to myself on my computer that said, "Don't make Jesus look like a jerk!" Everyone knew I was a Christian and whatever I said and did, it was assumed that everyone at my church was like me! Or anyone who claimed to be a Christian was like that! I wanted to represent Jesus accurately, but I know now that I didn't do a very good job. At the time, I was a self-righteous prude who never smiled. I wasn't trying to be that way. It was just the only way I knew to be as a Christian! Now I know that I can live by His compassion, His kindness, His wisdom, His mercy, His patience.  My job isn't to try harder, it is to cling tighter to His Presence in me.  Our warfare against the powers of darkness is not an aggressive prayer issue as much as it is a character issue.  Are you like Jesus?  Does His love come through you?  Learning to live by the faith of God and by His energy IN us, is the smartest move we can make as a Christian. Trying to do it ourselves is just arrogant!  We are just not - that - good. Let Him be glorified IN YOU.  Don't cover Him up with your fleshly needs, your fleshly desires, your fleshly habits.  Living in God's Presence and by His Presence is not dependent at what we DON'T DO.  It is a new habit we build to REPLACE our old independent habits.  Always be talking to God. Always be rejoicing in Him for His goodness and greatness. Always be thankful in everything. Always bring everything to God.  When He becomes the center of your life (your life is oriented around God), then He will be glorified IN you, too!

PSALM 83:1-18                                                                                                                  
HATERS OF GOD: The antichristian world-spirit is proud and arrogant, crafty, aggressive, and doesn't want to be reminded that God is in control. But anyone who will not seek God and acknowledge His rulership will be overthrown and will perish - maybe not in this life, but for sure, throughout eternity.

PROVERBS 25:11-14                                                                                                        

WHAT WE SAY: The right word at the right time is like silver and gold. A "wise reprover" isn't trying to prove he's right and you're wrong - he's after true repentance.  He is gentle, compassionate, and his timing is impeccable.   A person who promises what he will give and what he will do, but actually does nothing because he doesn't have the skills or the money or the intensions, is like a cloud that promises rain, but is actually empty. I call him a liar.

RESPONSE: I have had times in my life where I actually READ Psalm 83 out loud to God! I inserted names in there - v.10 says they should become like "dung" - poop!  Let God terrorize them, burn them, persecute them and make them afraid and ashamed, and by all means "let them...perish".  God reminded me in my prayer time that the antichristian world-spirit is the "carnal mind" (the natural, fleshly mind) that "hates God" and "is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be." (Rom 8:7) That it influences the person who has formed "friendship with the world (that) is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God". (Jam 4:4-5)  When we get born again, Jesus comes with a sword (Mat 10:34) to persecute and drive out these evil tendencies in us.  So that we will know that Jehovah God is "the Most High over all the earth."  Yes, the flesh is dedicated to destruction.  It is called "dying to SELF". 

One Year Bible - October 12, 2010

JEREMIAH 19:1 - 21:14                                                                                                        
HELL: Jeremiah was told to go back to the potter's house and purchase a pot, then take some elders and priests to the Valley of Hinnom (the OT type for HELL). God renamed Hinnom the "Valley of Slaughter" because He planned to kill them all right there, and leave their bodies to be eaten by predators (those that they didn't' kill and eat themselves!). Then, Jeremiah crashed the pot against the rocks and crushed it to powder. Judah was to be crushed and God would start over. Hell is coming, but we know the Potter will restore and rebuild.

WHEN I'M IN TROUBLE: Pashur, a priest and governor, beat Jeremiah and put him in stocks for foretelling Jerusalem's desolation.  When he was released, Jeremiah renamed him.  Pashur, whose name means "largeness on every side," was to become "terror on every side." He didn't know who he was messing with!

What was Jeremiah thinking while in stocks? (Jer 20:7-18) "I quit!"   He couldn't decide whether God took advantage of him and lied to him, he heard wrong, or this is all part of the burden of a prophet.    God said he would deliver me, and here I am in stocks!   Define "deliver":  It means to be kept IN time of trouble, not FROM trouble.   Now he's a laughingstock.  In chapter 15 God's words were "delicious" and now he wishes he had never heard God!   BUT...(20:9) There is an inner tension when we want to give up and quit. There is no person we can trust with a decision like this - not one! (20:11-12)  We must fight back.   We can be sure that the way we see things is not the way that it really is. Only God has the whole view, beginning and end.  When our minds go crazy on us, we have to rely on what God has already told us. V 13 says, "Sing to the Lord; praise the Lord!"  But, then we're back in the pit, wishing we'd never been born.  This is us,  being a spiritual schizophrenic.   But during the "dark night of the soul", God comes through.

GOD'S ABSOLUTE SOVEREIGNTY:  Jehoiakim was executed by Babylon, then Jehoiachin reigned for 3 months.  He was taken captive to Babylon, and then his uncle Zedekioah (weak, wishy-washy) became Nebuchadnezzar's puppet king.  When Nebu laid siege against Jerusalem, Zedekiah sends word to the prophet to pray. (Jer 21:1-2)  "Maybe God will be His sweet, kind Self and let us go."  But God moves according to His own purposes. God actually orchestrated their defeat (21:3-10)!   As if that weren't enuf, God sent Jeremiah to do a face-to-face! (chap 22)  There follows a 25-chapter message from God as He tells them all that has gone wrong!

RESPONSE:  I've been there! I have wanted to quit things that I know God told me to do.  My excuse was that maybe God didn't really tell me to do it.  Maybe I just thought that God said it.  Things get so tough that I must be doing something that God didn't tell me to do.  It never occurs to me that maybe God is bringing me to the end of myself.  God's purpose and God's will  are where all His power is.   Cause-and-effect have nothing to do with anything. STICK TO MY CALLING.   Yes!   I have felt the inner tension when I am thinking of quitting.  The misery stops when I repent and go on.   Stick with my assignment and be happy.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:4-28                                                                                            
MORE - "LIVING TO PLEASE GOD" (practical holiness): (5:4-8) Don't grow lax or indifferent in your spiritual life. Here the word "sleep" describes carnal indifference to spiritual things.  If we let down our guard, we end up in darkness and chaos - which is Job's definition of "death" (Job 10:21-22). (Our definition of "death" is "alienation from God", therefore dark and chaotic.)  Our "default" is not always God - it is most often ourselves.   We must keep up an aggressive march forward toward God.  Spiritual "sobriety" is when we don't allow our minds to speculate. "What if...." "Well, I heard...." "I think..." "I feel...."  These are deadly and lead to destruction and "wrath".  (5:9-11) Our escape "from" circumstances is into Christ. Therefore, whether we live or die, we remain with Him.  Our circumstances can't rule us because we are beyond them.  Our future is secure. We can never be separated from God. (5:12-15)  Be patient in bearing the offences and injuries of others. Don't be easily riled up by someone else's behavior.  Give recognition and pay attention to those who are responsible for you (pastors, teachers, elders, parents, etc.).  Warn those who are disrespectful.  Comfort and encourage and support those who aren't doing very well in their Christian life, whether it is from being immature, or from being under attack.   Always look for ways to be good and kind to everyone. (5:16-18) God's will for us is that we be ALWAYS joyful, CONTINUALLY praying, and thankful in ALL circumstances.   This will keep us from our old habits of complaining, and being negative.   Sometimes we won't FEEL like it, but we do it anyway, and our feelings will catch up with us.   It's not "faking it"; it is practice.  Rejoicing, praying and giving thanks require us to focus on God and His goodness, greatness, and glory. This is how we enter the REST of faith, spoken of in Hebrews 3 and 4.  When everything around us is "going to pot", we don't have to lose our faith or our peace or our joy. Instead, we rejoice, we pray, and we give thanks.  If we focus on our circumstances, we become complainers and whiners. (5:19-28)  Cooperate with God in your sanctification:  Don't do things that "quench" - extinguish or smother - the Holy Spirit.  Such things as bitterness and unforgiveness, disobedience, unbelief - put Him in the position of being disregarded.  It is the Spirit of God Who is tasked with our transformation!  "Prophesying" here is referring to whoever is speaking by the Spirit of God TO YOU.  It may be the pastor in the pulpit, it could be a little child with a comment, a billboard, some show on TV - but it is a word given life by the Spirit because it pertains TO YOU.   Don't disregard it as unimportant or foolish.   And if something even looks bad, stay away from it! Bottom line: It is God Who is in charge of our transformation but we must cooperate with Him. 

RESPONSE:   I am always reminded of a Pastor who told this story: It is the middle of the night. The phone rings and it is a prostitute who got your name out of a phone book. She is going to commit suicide and wants you to come right away and help talk her out of it. What do you do? His answer?  "Take your wife and go." "Abstain from the appearance of evil."

I was prophesied to by a billboard once. My husband and I were travelling by car to the Gulf Coast for a vacation. As we got further south, away from the Omaha, NE weather, we started discussing what it would be like to live down there. We both wanted to live near the beach, no more snow, no more winter coats and boots.  So, we stopped at a coastal town and got job applications.  As we continued toward our motel, we saw a billboard. Well, I should say this first: the week before we left for vacation, I was whining to God about having to live in Nebraska and He told me that I was a Christian, I am free to live WHEREVER I WANT!  Oh wow!  BUT....if I insist on doing what I want and it is outside God's will, God will allow it, but send "leanness of soul" with it.

Ps 106:14-15, (in referring to their desire for quail) "But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul."

The billboard was outside a restaurant and it said: "Quail! All you can eat!" Would you call that a "word from the Lord"? We did!


PSALM 82:1-8                                                                                                                  
God is the Supreme Judge, so our appeal is always to Him first. But it is the duty of those in authority on earth to protect the weak from the strong. So what is wrong with the world? "They know nothing, they understand nothing, they walk in darkness."  They walk in darkness because they have destroyed their own conscience. And so they don't administer justice and the world is unstable. These rulers will fall like everyone before them.

PROVERBS 25:7b-10                                                                                                 
Don't be hasty about bringing action in court, without trying to settle it face-to-face first. Do not, in trying to bolster your argument, disclose anything that should be held in secret (that someone else told you). Two really good reasons for caution: (1) You could be wrong and you will be embarrassed. (2) When people find out, your reputation will be ruined, maybe for life.

RESPONSE:  There is nothing worse than trying to talk to someone who is SURE they are right about something, and they aren't and can't be persuaded because their mind is darkened. I think that state is reached by the progression of "know nothing, understand nothing," and then the darkness. But how does a person become so stupid?   Because they are governed by self-interest. They don't want to know about injustice, and so they can't possibly understand their responsibility. They aren't interested in the poor or the disenfranchised because it won't add to their own importance, and so they can't possibly think they have a part in making things right.

Yesterday I was at Wal-Mart (again.  It's the only big store in my little town.) While I stood in line, a grubby-looking, middle-aged man, who needed a shave, a haircut, and a bath, waited right behind me.  First I tried to ignore him, turning my back on him, looking like I was real busy.  I didn't want anyone to think I would associate with someone who looked and smelled like that! But he was someone God steered to my lane, someone who probably always got ignored.  With my biggest smile ever, and not wanting to sound condescending when I spoke, I made a funny remark about our groceries. Of course, he jumped right on it, and laughed and talked and talked and talked! I had a hard time getting away! I know what it is to feel invisible.  I have committed to myself to NEVER make ANYONE feel insignificant, stupid or dirty.  Justice - it's a beautiful thing. 

One Year Bible - October 11, 2010

JEREMIAH 16:16 - 18:23                                                                                                
WORSE THAN YOUR FATHERS:  No one can blame their parents for the path they choose.  These people took what their parents had done, and spiraled downward from there.  They "inherited lies", embroidered on them, and now trust in vain things (empty, worthless, impotent).  Their evil is so deeply entrenched, that God will cause them to experience His power when He topples it all.  Nothing short of His judgment is going to break them loose.

THE SECRET OF LIFE:  There are only two ways to do anything: God's way and the wrong way. The wrong way is to "trust in man" and you will be "cursed". (17:5-6)  Your life will dry up and shrivel.  Nothing temporary has any value or worth.  God's way is to "trust in the Lord" (17:7-8) and be "blessed".   To be "blessed" is to be "empowered".  When everyone else is giving up, you stay strong because you have a hidden reservoir (you are "watered").

MISERY EXPLAINED:  Why? Why am I so miserable?  Why is everything always so hard? (17:9)  Because your heart has two things wrong with it:  It is desperately corrupt.   It has a fatal disease and cannot be cured.  There is only one way to cure what ails you - death.   Your heart is deceitful above all else and so you have a poisoned well.   Don't just paint the pump! (hiding the poison that is in your heart)  There is no hope for man without God.

HOW CAN I RUN MY OWN LIFE?  If my heart is diseased and is hiding its poison, then how does God expect me to run my life? (17:10)  God will allow you to manifest what is in your heart so that you can see it for yourself.  It's like that game, "Whack-a-mole" - stuff just pops out, and you whack it with Truth. (v.11-12)  Your well will produce water according to its nature. (James 3:10-11)  You discover that you can't trust natural wisdom or natural goodness (like the partridge).   BUT...(17:12) Here is where you will find answers: "the glorious throne...our sanctuary".  Authority and Life.  God is the Source of both.

SABBATH REST:   This is the picture of the "rest of faith" - trust in God.   Keep your circumstances on the outside, and YOU enter into your sanctuary of rest.  And when everything dries up, you will be "watered" (17:19-27).  Our hope is in God.

THE POTTER'S HOUSE: We are the clay being shaped.  We have no choice.  Our only decision is to cooperate with God or to harden ourselves against Him.  The potter is God.  He shapes His vessels according to His "eternal purpose". (In Jeremiah's case, he understood the clay to be Judah, the nation, being shaped to fulfill God's purpose.)  The pressure and the "letting up" are to mold the clay, forcing it UP into the shape God's wants. When it yields, God sighs, and when it needs more pressure, God does what He has to.

GOING AGAINST NATURE: (18:12-15) Judah responds with stubbornness.  Even snow melts in the sun, and even water runs in the meltdown.   It would be contrary to nature otherwise.   But, "my people have forgotten Me".  Instead of repenting, Judah decides to kill the messenger. So, what does God do?  He smashes the clay down to a lump and starts again.  

RESPONSE: What is it going to take to get us to repent?  We can come easy, or we can come hard.  In a way, that's good - God doesn't give up on us.  On the other hand, when we try to live independent of God, we are miserable.  All the apples in our basket rot until we pull God out of the periphery of our lives and get Him into the center of our focus again.  We must orient our lives around God.  Anything else is wasted effort and a wasted life.

1 THESSALONIANS 4:1-5:3                                                                                             
LIVING TO PLEASE GOD (Practical holiness): The opposite would be living to please ourselves. A life that pleases God is "sanctified".  "This is the will of God."  "Sanctification" is re-orienting your life around God and to form a new way of living by the Life of Jesus within.  We form a new series of habits that become our NEW "normal".  When we make it a new habit to always go to God about everything, we will begin to change.  This comes about through growth and maturity of the New Creature, and the weakening and death of the Old Nature.  So sanctification is two-sided: the growth and maturity of the "new man", and the weakening and killing of the "old man".

PRACTICALITIES:  Abstain from sexual immorality (Gr. word "porneia"). Sexual immorality is also called "uncleanness" (4:7) and included all sorts of behavior, thoughts, and speech. "Possess your vessel" means "control yourself!".  When we belong to God, our bodies are not ours to use however we choose.  Sexual immorality "defrauds" (takes advantage of, oversteps personal boundaries), because without a marriage covenant in place, you are just exploiting one another. Rom 13:8-10 says it puts you in the position of "owing" the other person.

Mind your own business: (4:9-12) To really love one another, we have to necessarily stop being self-involved and self-serving, without getting into someone else's "business". This is "leading a quiet life" - one that is unhurried, not anxious, not obnoxious; just powerful and unnoticed. "Minding our own business" means to quit criticizing and DO SOMETHING.  Oftentimes we use criticism as a form of "participation" .   Instead, "work with your hands".  When we are busy doing what we are supposed to do, we don't have time to mind someone else's business!

The goal is to have integrity with "outsiders" (non-believers).   Non-believers need to know that we genuinely care, and that we don't need to be noticed. Our lifestyle should not draw criticism because of being UNholy. Our lifestyle should not draw criticism because we have "co-dependent" behaviors: are emotionally NEEDY, panic when things go wrong, give up when we meet hindrances, are critical and unloving, form unclean relationships that benefit us in some way.

THE ELEPHANT IN THE LIVING ROOM:  At the end of each chapter in 1 Thessalonians, the "coming of the Lord" is mentioned.  WHY?  The overall theme of 1 Thessalonians is definitely NOT about "end times", or even about death and resurrection.   Also NOTE: It doesn't say that we are GOING, but that He is COMING.  This letter, probably Paul's first, is actually to help these young believers to know "How to Live for God", especially when they were being persecuted and jailed by the Jews (because they were Gentiles and because they weren't even converting to Judaism!) The effect of the "coming of the Lord" should be holy living, new values, sanctification, the fear of God, hope beyond death.   And so, in this letter about living holy in an UNholy world, the "coming of the Lord" gives us COURAGE.

RESURRECTION, NOT RAPTURE: (4:13-18) refers to the dead as being "asleep".  THIS DOES NOT REFER TO "SOUL SLEEP".  Dan 12:2 tells us they "sleep in the dust of the earth" , so they aren't just taking a nap! The metaphor "sleep" is used because a person does not cease to exist when the body sleeps, and just so, a person does not cease to exist when his body dies either!   When Lazarus, Jesus' friend, died, in John 11:11 Jesus said he was "sleeping".  In fact, his body had already begun to decompose and it "stinketh".   2 Cor 5:1 says that our earthly body will "dissolve" (destroyed, come to nothing, disintegrate), but ALL of Scripture says that we DO NOT CEASE TO EXIST WHEN WE DIE.   Ecc 12:7 says that  "Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it."  Paul reiterates that in 2 Cor 5:6-9 where he declares that "whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord:" and "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."  Add to that, Philippians 1:23 where he said that when he died he would be "with Christ".  In fact, when our bodies die, return to the dust, EVERYONE goes on living, either with Christ in heaven, or in hell (Dan 12:2; Rev 20:12-15).

"THE DAY OF THE LORD":  When it talks of coming "as a thief in the night", it doesn't mean SNEAKY, because just 3 verses earlier it says there will be trumpets and shouting, and John 5:28 says it will wake the dead. The thief comes unannounced - suddenly, unexpectedly.  It is with "sudden destruction".  In other places, it is described as "great and terrible". But in ALL accounts, "the day of the Lord" was brought on by our own sin, it was local, inescapable, and not always the same identical event in history.   It was so-named because it identified the day when the Lord intervened in judgment and vengeance. So what is the occasion referred to here?   I believe that the occasion is referred to back in 2:14-16 as "the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost." :  the destruction of the Jews, their Temple, and their glorious city, the earthly Jerusalem.   At the same time, the elect (believers in Jesus), the martyrs and those who suffered wrongly will be avenged and proven to be the real sons of God - the true Temple of the Holy Spirit, and the heavenly Jerusalem.

PERSONALLY, this refers to our own "day of the Lord" when our rebellion is shown up for what it really is, and the fear of God comes on us.  It is our SALVATION DAY!  Thank God for it!  It is a day that comes on us unexpectedly and unannounced.  We don't escape, and either repent or harden our hearts.

RESPONSE:   The fact of our resurrection to eternity either with Jesus Christ or in hell, is only one motivator for holy living. Our true motivation is the love of God and wanting to please Him.  We have been CALLED to live holy, to manifest God's glory to the earth.  Making new habits takes time, though, and it takes a renewing of the mind (Eph 4:23). In fact, Rom 12:21 says (Amp), "Do not let yourself be overcome by evil, but overcome (master) evil with good." This means we must form a NEW habit to REPLACE the OLD habit.  It is not possible to "break" habits.  Try it sometime!  BUT, habits are not who we are.  They are not an inherent part of us. So they can be REPLACED!   We replace complaining and criticism with THANKS! Thanks to God first, and then appreciation for others. We replace uncleanness with WORSHIP of God for His goodness and greatness, becoming accustomed to filling our great hunger with Him and with His benefits. We could go on and on, but you get the picture.  Over time, the Holy Spirit will talk to us about what needs to be "crowded out" with godliness.  We focus on Jesus and what He is doing - not on our sin and failure.

PSALM 81:1-16                                                                                                                      

All the Psalms teach us to worship and to be honest with God, but Psalm 81 tells us WHY we praise Him (other than for His goodness and greatness and glory). (v.1-4) It's the law of God. (v.5) It is our testimony to God.  (v.6-7) It brings deliverance from bondage. (v.7-8)  It expresses gratitude that God answers our prayers. (v.14) It subdues our enemies. (v.15) God fights our battles. (v.16) God abundantly satisfies our hunger and thirst. The most fearful punishment for rebellion: (v.11-12) being "given up" (Rom 1:24,26,28) in bondage to our own appetites, which can never be satisfied.

PROVERBS 25:6-7                                                                                                             
Self-denial and humility is the life of the servant of God. Jesus gave up His rights, reputation, and dignity (Philippians 2) to live among us. We must do the same if we want to successfully manifest God to the fallen world.

RESPONSE: One humbling experience that stands out in my mind whenever I read these verses is this: Our church (about 30 years ago, not where we live at this time) was having "special meetings" with a great speaker.  My husband and I got there real early and sat in our accustomed seats.  Granted, they were in the fourth row, on the center aisle.  Just before the meeting started, a couple we didn't know, walked up the aisle to where we were sitting and told us that we had to move because they wanted our seats!  They then proceeded to tell us "who they were". When our pastor saw what was happening, he was very embarrassed because of the other couple, and asked us to please let them have our seats.  I found out later that the woman had a local "Christian" radio program and felt she deserved to be honored with a front seat.  But I have never forgotten her behavior that night.  I committed to NEVER act like that -  - - - no matter how famous I get! (ha-ha)

One Year Bible - October 10, 2010

JEREMIAH 14:1 - 16:15                                                                                                 
THE KING IS DEAD:  King Josiah is dead, and now Jeremiah's troubles have really started! Josiah's first son was deposed by Egypt, and now evil brother Jehoikim is in charge.  Jeremiah was not allowed to pray for Judah because prayer delays judgment.  And now, just like the nation drinking from "broken cisterns" instead of satisfying their thirst with the Lord, everything has dried up and there is drought in the land.   When he finally prays, (14:19-22) he eloquently pleaded with God: if You won't save us for our own sake, then save us for Your sake!  When someone strikes one of us, God takes it personally.   Why not now?   When Jeremiah finds out that God won't budge in His judgment, he prayed for himself.

WHEN MY FAITH IS WEAK BECAUSE OF PROLONGED OPPOSITION:  When God doesn't answer prayer with what we want, it feels like He doesn't even hear us.  Will He prove false?   Am I believing a myth? (15:19-21)   God's tender answer: "YOU repent and I will restore you."   Everything around you will collapse, but GOD won't.   He will prove sufficient and stable and strong.   God is reliable.   BUT.... you have to separate "the precious from the vile". You dig out what is precious and meditate on that, and just leave the MAD, SAD OR BAD thoughts where they lay.  AND STICK TO YOUR CALLING.   God's promises concerning you are still in effect.

FORBIDDEN:  The ban on marriage could be one of two things:  (1) God was sparing him greater pain because of the threats of war, famine, disease, and his family members would suffer.  (2) His marital state illustrates Judah, God's "virgin daughter" with no hope of marrying God.   He was also forbidden to mourn the loss of Judah or to feast with them either.  He had only God now.  He wasn't to encumber himself with anything or anyone.  It is all ripe for judgment.

RESPONSE: When I feel persecuted or victimized, I know my husband will always hold me and speak softly to me.  I can run to him for comfort and encouragement.  Jeremiah didn't have kind words, soft touches, and a place to "let down".  It was God or nothing.  He had to pursue his calling with an all-or-nothing attitude.  It must have felt like pressing to the goal with the whole opposing football team hanging from your ankles!

1 THESSALONIANS 2:10 - 3:13                                                                                              

MAKING A DIFFERENCE: If we want to impact the world around us, it will take sacrifice on our part. Big-shot leaders can't connect with people over the long-haul, but we see people every day that we can influence for Jesus. How?

(2:10) Consistency. What we say is how we live. We don't just "believe" the Gospel, but are committed to obedience. Because we are consistent (we "walk the walk, and don't just talk the talk"), people know what to expect from us and can trust us. We can be counted on to do or say the right thing.

(2:11-12) Encouraging, comforting, urging. A good parent never gives up on his children. God has called us to "His kingdom and glory". We need to be people who will urge everyone forward in that calling. Whatever it takes, we will sacrifice to help them. What is that "worthy walk" ? It is a life that appropriately manifests what God is doing on the inside in producing "His kingdom and glory" in us. So we are positive, as opposed to negative, people - letting others know that they can do this!

(2:13) Submission to the Word of God. This means that we don't just read it, but we think about it, we think about the implications, we think about how it will manifest in our lives. Because it is, indeed, the Word of God, then it is the final authority. It is our "bottom line". When the Bible says that it "works" in us who "believe", it means that the Word of God is able to manifest itself in our lives because it has power and the ability to achieve results. We don't apply the Word of God like paint on the outside. We put it in us, and it changes us to reflect what we are reading! (Like a "funky" mirror - James 1:22-25).

(2:14-16) Endurance. The transforming power of the Gospel manifests itself under pressure and persecution. This is when our faith really has an impact. This persecution and pressure was a real threat; and notice where it came from!   It doesn't come from out-and-out heathens, but from so-called "good" people, religious leaders, the defenders of the status quo, in this case, the Jews.  (Here we have the Word of God telling us that they "killed the Lord Jesus, their own prophets, and persecuted Paul, pleased not God, opposed the Gospel, forbid preaching to the Gentiles, fill up the measure of their sins." And as we know from history, the Jews finally managed to martyr all the original 12 apostles except for two: Judas and John.)  But these circumstances did not change the message, or stop the preaching of the Gospel!  We must hold to our faith in God and endure no matter that the world throws at us. God was about to destroy His enemies, Jerusalem, and the Temple.  He would no longer inhabit a city or a building, but His dwelling-place would be with His elect: those by faith in Jesus Christ.  But in order to impact others for Jesus that they would be saved, our lives must manifest "God in us".   We can be unshakeable in crisis because God is in us.

(2:17-3:10)  The heart of God. Paul called these people his "glory and joy".  They were important to him and dear to his heart.   He was "torn away from" them - reluctant to leave them behind. The "heart of God" is a "fatherly or motherly" heart.  To have this kind of concern for people, will bring us into conflict with Satan and bring "tribulations". Life gets difficult.  When we see people struggling like that, we must "strengthen, comfort and encourage" when at all possible.  That's the heart of God.  The greatest accomplishments of our lives will be the people that we have influenced for the Kingdom of God.  Our greatest joy and "comfort" is in seeing others stand in their faith.

(3:11-13)  Prayer: The most powerful way to use our influence is with prayer - is that too obvious?   It should be to us, but most of the time we forget or just don't take the time.  But look how prayer works: first of all, we want the will of God and so we submit ourselves to His plan and schedule, asking God what He wants. There are things we really desire, but our "bottom line" is to desire the will of God. Then second  we must pray that our love would increase. Our love should overflow from our Infinite Source inside.  We want to grow in our ability to love others. Third, pray for hearts to be "stablished .. .unblameable".  That we would have higher standards than those who don't love God. That we would have no regrets because of what we "could have" or "should have" done because of the love of God.

RESPONSE: Paul can sure pack a lot into a few short verses! I must admit that I usually just read right over stuff without really seeing it. That's not how we should read a personal letter like this one.  Paul congratulated them on the fact that they got saved and didn't revert back to their heathen behavior when he left and the pressure began.  They pressed on to know God and were growing, even under terrible opposition.  Their actions were heroic.  They were making a reputation for themselves and were impacting the whole world!  When Paul was there, he was accused of "turning the world upside down" (Acts 17:6) and now it seems that the Thessalonians were carrying on his tradition!!!  Which leads me to this question:  Are we turning anyone's world upside down?  If our influence isn't strong enough to get a reaction, maybe we need to look at how to make an impact:  consistency, being a person who encourages, comforts and urges forward, being submitted to the Word of God, endurance in crises, having God's heart for people, and praying.


PSALM 80:1-19                                                                                                                   
"TURN US":  Cause us to repent, to turn away from our substitutes and turn toward God. Unless God draws us to Himself, we will be castaways.  "Cause Thy face to shine" means for God to have mercy on us and act to bring us to Himself. We are obstinate and will self-destruct if God doesn't intervene. So we ask Him to "visit us" to restore life and purpose to us. And in turn, (v.18-19) we will be obedient and never allow our circumstances to drive us from God again.


PROVERBS 25:1-5                                                                                                             
THE HEART OF A KING: The glory of God consists of making a mystery of things; and the king's glory is to figure them out. The king's heart is impossible to predict - and he can change his mind without preamble. (So don't flatter yourself if the king favors you today.) Wicked men are the dross and scum of any nation. Reform the court and you reform the nation.

RESPONSE: "Our enemies laugh among themselves."  When we behave shamefully, our enemies mock us.  Being vulnerable to that kind of attack is pure misery.  It can even get physical, as noted in v. 12-13.  God didn't save us, only to let us languish in failure.  And so, we promise to "be good", if He will just bring us back to Himself again.  Until we learn that we truly can't help ourselves, try harder, fight longer, or whatever we think will help - - - until we learn those things, we are destined to fail.  It is only in KNOWING GOD and believing what He has said, that we can find our way out of our mess. If we think it doesn't take all that, then we are naive about our true condition.  WE NEED GOD.  And we must re-orient our lives around Him at the center - forming new habits of sanctification - meditating on the Word, giving thanks to God IN EVERYTHING, rejoicing because God is in control, serving wherever the Spirit takes us.  This is the formula for being happy.

One Year Bible - October 9, 2010

JEREMIAH 12:1 - 14:10                                                                                                        
WHY DO THE WICKED PROSPER?  And why does God allow some of them to be happy? God favored them and was very indulgent with them.  They cared nothing for God, but talked like they knew Him . But God is just fattening them up for the slaughter!  But why are they allowed to take the whole country with them?  The whole creation is groaning under the curse of vanity (Rom 8:19-23).

GOD'S ANSWER - apples and oranges. Rather than address what was actually asked, God says, if you are discouraged by this little detail, what will you do when the going gets really tough!  There is worse to come!  By letting yourself get "down" and your faith weakening, and not wanting to go on, you actually weaken yourself for what's ahead!  If we patiently bear the trouble we are in, we strengthen ourselves for greater trials. If your relatives can discourage you, what will you do when the chief priest and the King come after you?  This life is not a sprint, but a marathon.  It is also called a war zone.  We should expect trouble.  Expect to "contend with horsemen".  Keep our integrity and peace in small things - in order to prepare for further and greater trials.  Hold fast to the promise of God, keep our eyes on the prize.   Little things matter.  What we REALLY need is not an answer to our questions, but an answer to our needs.  We must learn to overcome ever-increasing difficulties.

DIRTY, HOLEY UNDERWEAR: The white linen underwear (worn next to the skin) symbolized the closeness OF Jehovah, in clothing Himself with Judah, once beautiful and glorious, as close as anyone could get to Him.   Jeremiah was told to wear the loincloth for a period of time without taking it off or washing it.  Then Jeremiah wore it up north - to the far side of the Euphrates River (which symbolized Judah going there in captivity) and hid it in the cleft of a rock.  After a considerable length of time God told the prophet to retrieve the loincloth.  When Jeremiah found it, it had become filthy dirty, full of holes, and was fit for nothing, least of all to be worn.  Judah (the loincloth) had made herself unfit and God loosed her and cast her off, defaced her beauty, destroyed her excellency.  God dealt with Judah's pride - pride of place, pride of Temple, pride of being "chosen".

FILLED TO THE BRIM: Wine jars filled to the top represented the country's drunkenness and ruin. Drunk with pride, drunk with deceit, drunk with hypocrisy. Pride is the ultimate ruin of anyone before God, when he is too proud to humble himself and repent. Meanwhile the minister "weeps in secret" for those who will not weep for themselves.

CAN A LEOPARD CHANGE ITS SPOTS?   A "confirmed sinner" who is held by his habits, cannot get free by himself.   But that is no obstacle for the Holy Spirit of God!

THE DROUGHT:  NOW Judah is ready to pray! NOW they cry out to God to help them, send rain and save them.   Don't leave us, we are called by Your Name!   BUT, they still "love to wander".   They still sin willfully and intentionally.   God won't compromise His holiness.  If they won't repent and pray for themselves, then Jeremiah better not pray for them either.

RESPONSE: I am as close as my underwear to God!  When I am prideful and arrogant and independent, I am like dirty, holey underwear!  Ewwww!

1 THESSALONIANS 1:1 - 2:9                                                                                          
GENERAL REMINDERS: Taken together, the Old and New Testaments are a self-interpreting volume.  It is one Divinely-contructed document.  The Old and New Testaments were not intended to be treated separately.  The Bible is one revelation, in unity and with One Author, the Holy Spirit.   We need both Testaments in order to fully understand either one.   Every important doctrine of the New Testament is found in seed form in the Old Testament.   To help us interpret Scripture, we compare one Scripture to another - not search out extra-Biblical materials.  We must gather from the Scriptures themselves, the meaning that the writers intended to convey.  And so, the meaning of verses in 1 Thessalonians are more easily arrived at when we know the purpose for the letter.   Not just that, but what does God want us to glean from there?

LIVING STRAIGHT IN A CROOKED WORLD: The founding of the Church in Thessalonica is described in Acts 17. Right from their beginning, they were persecuted, hunted down, arrested, and even killed by the Jews. The Jews accused them of "turning the world upside-down." (Acts 17:6) Paul must have made a huge impact on society! That church was characterized by three things that are foundational Christian living (1:3): (1) "faith which works" (2) "love which labors" (3) "hope which is persistent".   These points also serve as an outline of 1 Thessalonians.

(1) "faith which works".  Faith makes us turn from our false "gods" (counterfeits and substitutes for God), and turn toward God. This was manifested (v.9) when they turned toward God and away from their idols.  Their faith changed their lives.  Faith is ACTIVE and always provokes action. They "made their election sure" (v.5, 2Pet 1:10). The first work of faith was when they believed the Gospel and clung to God. 

(2) "labor of love".  First, love changes our attitude toward "affliction" to that of "joy of the Holy Ghost."  They bore suffering for His Name's sake.  They stopped complaining and started rejoicing!  Rejoicing in the Lord is a labor of love.  Secondly, when we love God like that, we spread the news.  Without fanfare, we just share at every opportunity.  Everyone around them knew about that Church!  And third, we must walk in our faith. We can't just talk about it.  No one should have to tell people that we are Christians - our walk should manifest it.

(3) "hope that perseveres".  Our hope is for resurrection (1:10).  Because Jesus lives, (John 14:19), we too, shall live.  Our ultimate victory is the resurrection in which we participate if we are born again.  "the wrath to come" probably refers to the fall of Jerusalem in AD 70.   Even death does not sway us or cause us to fear like some do.  "Hope" is not a strong wish.  "Hope" is the "anchor for the soul". (Heb 6:19)  Hope holds us in place when we are buffeted about by storms.  When life appears to be out of control, we know (are anchored by the fact) that God loves us, God is in control, and there is more to life that what we SEE. 

A FAITHFUL WITNESS:  (2:1-2) Does not give up when the going gets tough. Paul's preaching in Thessalonica provoked a riot and he had to sneak out of town!  (2:3-8) Loves people and deals with them honestly. If you truly love people, you don't scam them or flatter them to cover up your own greed.  In fact, love does not manipulate or coerce people at all.  Paul was not motivated by greed, but he truly loved people, "as a nursing mother cherishes her children". ("cherishes" - "thalpo" - to keep warm - like a dove brooding her nest).  A faithful witness who manifests Jesus, gives up their "rights" in order to serve people and give the Gospel credibility.  In fact, servants don't have rights; they have obligations.   (2:4) A faithful witness is motivated by one thing: pleasing God.  And God will even test those motives from time to time, seeing if you are staying on track, keeping your focus on God.

RESPONSE: A faithful witness genuinely manifests Jesus.  From the example of Paul and of Jesus, we can state that a faithful witness "mans up" when opposed or insulted.  We don't quit! Since we are not looking for "credit" or praise or popularity or payment of any kind, we don't have to be worried about pleasing people.  When we present the Gospel, we must never use deceitfulness, or trickery, or coercion.  Our only motivation is to please God and to love people.

PSALM 79:1-13                                                                                                                   
TRIALS THAT FORM CHARACTER: My mother always said, "What you are when you are offended, is what you are."  Affliction is an opportunity to die to SELF and live to God.  Self-preservation is a nasty dictator, and unfortunately, will cause us to betray the Lord if it isn't dealt with.  Its opposite is not to die to self, but to TRUST GOD in total abandonment. This takes a lot of instruction.  We must teach our hearts every day that God is worthy of our trust.  He is faithful, He is righteous, He is just, He is full of mercy and lovingkindness toward us, He loves us with overwhelming love.  Our best hope when everything is falling in ruins around us, is to cling to God, thank Him for His goodness and His greatness, and trust Him to work His purpose.  We need to repent continually - turning our hearts and our minds toward God in trust.  Verses 10-11 give reasons for God to avenge the elect: because the heathen have challenged God's authority, and because of "the sighing of the prisoners" (Rom 8:18-28) - all creation AND the Holy Spirit moaning for the revelation of who truly are the "sons of God".  (His elect)

PROVERBS 24:30-34                                                                                                         
A lazy man will be a poor man. Let's not get too proud here.  Our own souls and our "estate" (what we have influence over - home, family, church positions, communities, etc.) are our vineyard that we are told to "occupy until He comes".  "thorns and thistles",(evil habits) are the yield of fleshly fields and will be burned in the end.  "Broken down walls" are places where we are vulnerable to our enemies: unforgiveness, bitterness, envy, disarray.  Our world got that way from OUR "sloth" (laziness) and from being "void of understanding" (indecisive, disinterested, neglectful).  Eternal lack (NO righteousness, peace, or joy) and ruin comes on the whole vineyard. Matt 25:26-30 tells us that the "wicked and slothful servant" is cast into "outer darkness". He is ruined.

RESPONSE: The only way to die to SELF is to trust God totally.  And the only way to trust God totally is to renew our minds to the Truth about God. We have to replace our distrust with confidence in God. We can't break a bad habit of distrust and self-preservation.  We must REPLACE it with a sanctified habit of always looking to God.  We can FORCE our hearts to settle down, feel secure with God, be happy with just God.  We instruct our hearts with the Word of God.  We thank Him and praise Him at ALL times and IN everything (1 Thess 5:16-18) for all His goodness, all His mighty power and glory, all His kindness, His mercy, His love, etc. etc.