One Year Bible, July 12

1 CHRONICLES 12:19 - 14:17                                                                                          
"THE ARMY OF GOD": Adding up all the tribal soldiers comes to over 339,600 warriors and 1,222 chiefs. The marks of this great army was that they were committed, courageous, competent (skilled with weapons). David's style of leadership existed to enhance Jehovah's headship over all His people.

BRINGING UP THE ARK: David assigned 30,000 chosen men for this task. UZZA (whose name means "strength") was struck dead on the threshing floor for touching the Ark with his hands. This is an illustration of God breaking the strength of the flesh in His Presence. "And David was afraid of God that day...." (The ark was turned aside to Obed-Edom's house, where it stayed 3 months.)

THE KEY TO DAVID'S GREATNESS: (14:10) "And David inquired of God..." The Philistines panicked and ran, dropping their gods on the road! David gathered them up and burned them. (14:14) "Therefore David inquired again of God..."

RESPONSE:   Notice: You can't come up with a method or a list of how to get something from God. Each battle was different. One time there was a direct confrontation with the enemy and they ran them off. The next time they ambushed the enemy after God had set them up. What was key, was that David asked God each time. And each time God had a different plan.

ROMANS 1:1-17                                                                                                                 
ROMANS: Written by Paul from Corinth during his third missionary journey. This is Paul's longest and most doctrinal letter, and the only one that does not address any problems in the Church.  PHOEBE, a female deacon, was the bearer of the letter because she was sailing to Rome.  No one knows how or when the church started in Rome.

KEY:  The Gospel according to Romans promises a completely changed life to whoever will believe it.   Romans 1:16-17  The Gospel of Christ is the POWER of God unto TOTAL DELIVERANCE.

KEY PHRASE:  "Imputed righteousness" - It means that God accepts the Blood and the Cross of Christ Jesus to satisfy His holy and righteous demands on us if we receive it by faith. To be righteous means to conform to the expectations of our relationship with God.  The CHANGE that comes into us by faith is that imputed righteousness becomes acquired righteousness - worked in and walked out. It is when the Cross of Christ works IN me to deliver me from the FLESH. We learn from Romans that UNrighteousness and SELF-righteousness are both evil.  Religious people have made a god of their religion and people outside the church have made a god of themselves.  Although, even in the church, we make gods of ourselves when we set up our own standards of how to please God.

"PAUL'S GOSPEL": V. 1 says "Gospel of God" and 16:25-27 Paul calls it "my Gospel".  The revelation of the mystery made known to all nations for obedience to the faith.   Thus, Paul documented all his writing with OT references. The OT (Law, Psalms, Prophets) gave us the Gospel in the form of types, signs, symbols, prophecy, promises. The Four Gospels gave us the Gospel in the form of fulfillment and practical application.  Paul's Gospel is the Gospel interpreted with the conclusions drawn out.  Paul's motive for preaching the Gospel was a love of the Truth and compassion on the uninformed (Rom 1:11-15; 2 Cor 5:14; 1 Cor 9:16)

"THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH": There is no other way for man to satisfy God's righteous demands except by faith.   To live by the flesh and by sight is to die.

RESPONSE:   I am overwhelmed.  Romans is so magnificent and contains so much of God.   I feel like I am just dipping my toes into a giant lake, because if I try to swim out a ways, I will surely be overcome.  But that won't stop me from trying!  Romans is a favorite with many people because it takes a man from being under God's wrath because of his own rebellion and independence from God --- all the way to being on a mission WITH God by His Spirit and by obedience --- and liking it!

PSALM 9:13-20                                                                                                                    
God takes us from "the gates of death" to "the gates of the daughter of Zion".   What a glorious lift! The WICKED (man of earth) will be caught in their own traps and are thrown headlong into hell, along with "all the nations that forget God."

PROVERBS 19:4-5                                                                                                              
It seems that a lot of people choose friends based on utility to SELF.

"false witness" is public. "lies" is private.  BOTH are self-destructive.

RESPONSE:  Let's face it.   It's hard to like a poor man.   We have to teach ourselves to overlook outward appearances and look into people's eyes.   Be receiving of everyone.   Be happy to see everyone.   Really listen to everyone.   Be like Jesus.