One Year Bible, August 6

EZRA 3:1 - 4:24                                                                                                                  
WORSHIP RESTORED:  BEFORE the city was built, and BEFORE the Temple was built, the ALTAR was built. It was for BURNT OFFERINGS. This is significant because a "burnt offering" was 100% consumed by fire - and it represents our return to the Lord. Burnt offerings delivered the worshipper of selfishness.  Zerubbabel and Jeshua were king and priest, and together represent the Believer.

FOUNDATIONS: This is foundations for the "new thing" - the new man in Christ being built into God's Temple.  So it is accompanied by trumpets, singing, shouting, praising. The old order is gone - toss the wineskin in the trash, it is full of holes.

FAITH TESTED: "The adversaries of Judah and Benjamin".... These Samaritans are a MIXTURE - (spirit and flesh - the "carnal mind") and have "nothing to do with us".  So they became leaven in the camp to discourage the workers. This is because the "carnal mind" hates the submission of worship.  Their offer to "help" was a snare because they actually represented COMPROMISE.  We cannot be yoked with the world-spirit.  HOWEVER, they ultimately succeeded and the work stopped for 16 years. Their fear is that the Kingdom of God will take over!   And so the world-spirit of antichrist gathers forces to intimidate and control. THEIR PLOT: To destroy from within by compromise and from without by accusation.

RESPONSE:   Doesn't this just make you mad? The devil is such a liar! He is mean and hateful. And those under his control are ignorant.  It is human nature to be uncomfortable with anything we can't control or predict.  No one said that "returning to God" would be easy.   In fact, we fight our own thoughts and desires, as well as accusations made by other people.  BUT, if we compromise, the Temple won't be holy.  We don't want sand mixed into the gold.

1 CORINTHIANS 2:6 - 3:4                                                                                           
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE "CARNAL"?  It is the Greek word, "sarkikos" which means "fleshly".  It means sensual, controlled by animal appetites, governed by human nature, instead of by the Spirit of God, according to Vine's.  Add to that the weakness of being human and you've got it.  It is the opposite of "the Spirit".   It is the "natural", unrenewed man, living by the energy of the soul (self).  According to Galatians 5:19-21 the "works of the flesh"  include everything wicked that is found in man.   In addition, we find it includes anything that does not find its source in God, so it could be "good works".  Anything that is self-interested, self-centered, selfish, self-preserving, self-defensive, and all the other hyphenated "self" words - is "of the flesh" and "carnal".

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE "SPIRITUAL"? That is what 1 Corinthians is about - what it means to be spiritual, because like many modern-day Christians, these people had a mixture going. They had blended being Christian right in with their secular behavior! God wants us to know Him in the context of our daily lives - but with Him in the center, and not just on the periphery. His Presence in our lives is what makes us different from everyone else!

WISDOM & POWER OF GOD: The MAIN THING that makes us different from everyone else is that we have access to "wisdom and power of God".   It's foundation is the Cross and the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This is a MYSTERY to the "wisdom of this world" and so they went ahead and crucified Him....not knowing they were releasing ultimate "power and wisdom" to "those that love Him."

TWO SPIRITS: "SPIRIT OF GOD" and "SPIRIT OF THE WORLD".  They are contrary to one another and cannot co-exist.  What is important to know is that "spirit of the world" does not have access to the wisdom of God or the power of God.   It cannot know or understand holy things at all. The "spirit of the world"  is antichristian in nature, hinting of substitutes for God, and is what rests on "carnal" or "natural" people.   So, if you want access to holy things ("spiritual things"),  you must SUBMIT to the "Spirit of God" and give Him prompt obedience.

WHAT IS "THE MIND OF CHRIST"?  It is God's thoughts, attitude, intention, purpose, understanding, discernment.   If you want more understanding, read Philippians 2.   His orientation on life was that of a SERVANT - with no rights, no reputation, and no dignity.

YOU BIG BABY: Divisiveness, bigotry, jealousy, in-fighting - are all marks of IMMATURITY. Soooooo, perhaps MATURITY is marked by Unity, cohesiveness, peacemaking - Christlikeness.

RESPONSE:   I have heard people BRAG that they "had the mind of Christ" - and had no idea what they were saying!   The "mind of Christ" doesn't brag, doesn't insist on its own way, is not self-seeking.   In fact, I believe the "mind of Christ" is a foot-washing mind.  It looks for ways to serve without getting credit for it. This is how he escapes man's judgment.

PSALM 28:1-9                                                                                                                   
If God doesn't answer our prayers, then we are no better off than anyone else! BUT...."He hath heard the voice of my supplications .... I am helped..."

PROVERBS 20:24-25                                                                                                        
We are necessarily dependent on God. The way of a "strong man" (lit) is of the Lord, so an ordinary man is even more dependent.  We don't take what should be given to the Lord for our own use (Bible study, tithes, prayer times, offerings.) If we make a vow to God (to lose weight, etc.) and then break the vow, that is a snare, a trap. Ask Ananias and Sapphira. (Acts 5)

RESPONSE: Psalm 28 is a Song in the Night.  When we aren't sure God can hear us.  Maybe He has lumped us in with the wicked.  But, my heart can be taught to trust God. When I drive my heart TOWARD GOD, get into His Presence, acknowledge my desperate need, and keep praising and thanking Him for His help, my heart rejoices! Anything can be turned around!