One Year Bible - October 19, 2010

JEREMIAH 33:1 - 34:22                                                                                                    
RESTORATION PROCESS: In the face of imminent disaster and destruction, God is offering Jeremiah more proof of His plan to restore everything after the nation (and its individuals) is CLEANSED.

(33:7-8) It (we) must be sifted, the evil destroyed and the city cleansed. Like a farmer burning over a field with fire, he is cleansing it before a new planting, not just destroying the field.

(33:9-12) Cleansing leads to JOY of salvation and deliverance.

(33:12-13) Joy permits Kingdom peace and prosperity. When we are cleansed and contented, it leads to peace and prosperity.

(33:14-18) This will come to pass via the Righteous Branch, "the Lord is our Righteousness". JESUS!!!

GOD'S UNBREAKABLE PROMISE: The establishment of restored order is associated with "the Righteous Branch", Jesus - Who brings FORGIVENESS and "a cure":  cleansing, joy, deliverance, peace - all are the results of restored order.

LOOKING BACK: This is the time of the SECOND invasion by Nebuchadnezzar, after Jehoichin had been taken captive to Babylon, and Zedekiah was made puppet-king of Judah. The Babylonians are coming, and Zedekiah tried to placate God by decreeing that all the bonded slaves had to be released. TOO LITTLE, TOO LATE! When Egypt saw what was happening and swept up to take on the Babylonians, the Babylonians left Jerusalem and went out to meet them. When Zedekiah saw that, he rescinded the decree to release slaves. Here's Jeremiah's response to that: (34:15-17) "You profaned My (God's) Name."  Blaspheme!  God expects obedience.

UNDER SIEGE: Chapters 34-38 cover the siege of Jerusalem.  Nebuchadnezzar is banging at the door, there is no food left in the city, and the royal family (puppets of Neb) are quaking in their boots because Jeremiah has threatened them with extinction because of their sin. 2 Kings 25:1-9 tells the story. When Zedekiah tried to escape, the Babylonians captured him. The Babylonians killed Zedekiah's sons in front of him, then put his eyes out, so that the last thing he ever saw was the death of his sons. Then they took Zedekiah in chains to Babylon.

RESPONSE:   I don't do well when I feel pressured. I have been known to get real cranky! Is it fear? Is it unbelief? I know what it is NOT: peace, joy, deliverance, etc.  I like things to be orderly, in order.  When we are "under siege", there is "perceived chaos", and that makes me crabby.  Of course, I know that real, true chaos is not possible because God is in control. There is some kind of order in my chaos, but I sure don't see it when it is happening. It is like that old game, "fruitbasket upset".  Remember that?  While we (fruits) stood in a circle, the called-out fruits would trade places.  BUT, "fruitbasket upset" meant that everyone ran for a new spot.  It looked like confusion and violent churning.  Sometimes I feel like someone has called "fruitbasket upset" at my house.  The pressure I feel is that things are out of control, and it is my job to "fix it".   When things feel out of control, take our cues from Jeremiah - "Ah, Lord God....there is nothing too hard for You."

1 TIMOTHY 4:1-16                                                                                                                 
"PURSUE GODLINESS AND FIGHT THE FIGHT OF FAITH":  Timothy may have been overwhelmed by the church at Ephesus. He was probably young, about 30-35 years old, and some of the oldtimers in the church were teaching false doctrine. This was a large church, probably close to 25,000 people in a city of 500,000. So this letter has firm, concise advice for standing strong. (Chap 1) Ministry to ALL people of every race is legitimate, ALL can be saved, regardless of their background - so keep going strong!  (Chap 2) The lifestyle that pleases God is quiet and peaceable, in godliness and integrity, so be bold and tell those who oppose you to sit down and be quiet!  (Chap 3) The Church is the foundation for truth and God's witness in the earth, so the leadership must reflect the purpose and mission God set out.

CHAPTER 4: Here's how to be an "excellent servant" of God. (4:6)
(V.1-6) Warn people of error. "Seducing spirits and doctrines of devils" can cause people to "depart from the faith".   The problem with being deceived is that we don't know it when it happens! And so we need to be warned by an "excellent servant".   BUT....I will say this: most of the time, we get deceived when we ignore the warnings of our conscience.

(V.6-9) Study and Understand the Scriptures, the "words of faith and of good doctrine". Stay away from unholy teaching and be submitted to the Word of God and disciplined in personal godliness.  Avoid the unholy and pursue the holy.  This is a relentless pursuit of God and of understanding in the Scriptures.  Just like building up physical muscle and stamina, It requires repetition and self-denial.  It also takes discernment and judgment.

(V.10) Work hard, often without any thanks.

(V.11) "Command and teach" - Passing on information from the Word comes in the form of a command. Confront sin, unbelief, disobedience, and lack of commitment, with authority.  So, tell them what Scripture expects of them, and then teach them how to do it.  "Command and teach...."

(V.12-13) Live as an example to believers, "in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity." This is the most powerful tool of the ministry.   In fact, if you don't back up your words with the life, you authority and teaching lack credibility.  In Phil 4:9 (and several other references) Paul said, "Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice." The way to gain respect is in living the godly life.   And as part of your example, continue to study and learn for your own growth.   Be relentless in your pursuit of excellence as a believer.  Study and dig into the Word, then explain it, apply it, and exhort people to DO it.   Systematically learn, explain, exhort - the whole process.

(V.14-16)  "Give yourself completely" - be totally committed to the work God gave you, and so avoid distractions. Continue to make progress, thru strenuous effort (Gr: prokope) and by the power of the Spirit (thru laying on of hands).  Thru right conduct and right teaching, you will attain the goal of the ministry: to save yourself and those who hear you.  When pressure comes from the outside to defect from what God told you to do, "take heed to yourself" - remember that you were anointed to do what God asked of you. You have what it takes to complete your assignment!

RESPONSE:   We can gauge what the pastor is REALLY all about by looking at what he has reproduced in the people around him.   Is the church clique-ish and hard to "break into"?  The pastor is probably standoffish and elitist too.  Are the people real soul-winners?  The pastor is probably an outspoken witness also.  Is everyone friendly and accepting?  The pastor probably "smells like sheep" from being AVAILABLE and approachable.  The pastor ALWAYS reproduces himself in the people around him. I thank God that our pastor has set a wonderful example.

PSALM 89:1-13                                                                                                                   

GOD'S FAITHFULNESS: The word, "faithfulness" or "faithful" is used 7 times in this Psalm describing the results or effects of God's faithfulness. The word for "faithfulness" is from a word that means fulcrum: a fixed point that supports and sustains, the weight rests on it. God is our "fixed point of support and sustenance".  He is absolutely reliable.   God's "mercy" is His covenant obligation to His elect,  God perpetually keeps repairing and building on His mercy; it is "new every morning".  God's "mercy" is also translated "lovingkindness" and refers to God's full and free flow of affectionate response to us.  It is like the response in a mother that causes her milk to let down when the baby cries.  It is as if God is so faithful that He can't help Himself! Psa 89:3-12 tell us that God's rule in the cosmic order is Absolute Ruler, with Absolute Power and Absolute Ownership (v.11).  The earth was NEVER the devil's; the devil is a usurper, if anything.  The rigor and vitality with which God binds Himself to the relationship He has entered with us, causes great joy and a confident, assured walk.   The "joyful sound" (v. 15) is the sound of freedom because of our all-sufficient God.  The words "You have...." in reference to what God has done because of His righteousness and justice, in faithfulness to us, is used 18 times in this Psalm!

PROVERBS 25:23-24                                                                                                       
A quarrelsome and scolding wife is so awful, a man would rather take his chances on the roof!
If you do not listen to, but frown on, the backbiter, you put him to silence. The receiver of gossip encourages and shares the guilt of the "busybody".

RESPONSE:   I love what my sister-in-law does when she senses "gossip" about to be spoken: she puts her fingers in her ears and sings! I guess she'd rather not hear it.

One Year Bible - October 18, 2010

JEREMIAH 32:1-44                                                                                                               

(please note: I changed the range of verses because this makes more sense. Chap 32-33 are actually verse 2 of the Song in chap 30-31.)

IS ANYTHING TOO DIFFICULT FOR GOD? This song refers first to Jeremiah himself and to the 70th-year generation. BUT . . . you will notice verses here that could ONLY refer to Jesus and the Kingdom of God.  This song telescopes to the Church.  It refers to God's unrelenting purpose to have a people who express His heart, who manifest His glory in the earth. That has never changed. The "return" is the OT word for "repent".  When we "come out of Babylon" (repent of our idolatry - substitutes and counterfeits for God), we are being redeemed from being a prisoner of war, in the war between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of darkness.  What took us captive and made us slaves is sinning (Rom 6:16).  Jesus instituted a New Covenant in His Blood (Mat 26:27) that brought forgiveness of sins.  They were not just COVERED, but they were REMOVED.

"We have been delivered, we are being delivered, and we shall be delivered" (2Cor 1:10).  Yes, we go thru dire circumstances. Yes, our hair is going to get messed up. But thru it all, God is faithful, and God is sufficient. God toughens our faith (Luke 22:32), Jesus prays for our faith, the Holy Spirit gives us might in the inner man - and we are changed.  God has offered proof of His Word to Jeremiah.  Jeremiah was locked up below-ground in the palace prison-hole. When his cousin came to see him, he offered to let Jeremiah redeem one of his fields. God told Jer to buy it, and right in front of everyone, hand the title deed to his trusty secretary Baruch, and have him seal it up in an earthen vessel so it wouldn't get destroyed. When the Jews returned to Jerusalem 70 years later, one of his descendants would get that title deed and claim the field!  I'm sure his cousin thought he was taking advantage of Jeremiah.  This was a chance to get money for this field before the enemy took over and occupied it.  But Jeremiah committed himself to what God promised (32:1-15).  This was no "shot in the dark" - this was FAITH that what God said was absolutely reliable, despite appearances to the contrary.  They would be back in 70 years.

AH! LORD GOD: (32:16-20) Jeremiah set his mind on things above (Col 3:2) and NOT on things on the earth. He reassures his heart that it is safe to believe and obey God. The "siege mounds” are already built against the city walls and the Chaldeans are about to pounce. But "There is nothing too hard for Thee."  We don't know how God will do this thing, but He said He would.  Sometimes I feel like I've made such a mess of my life that I don't know how God will ever clean it up! (32:27) The "God of all flesh" specializes in difficult people.

THE EVERLASTING COVENANT: (32:37-42) "Everlasting" means without end, to be in effect forever.  These covenants express God's will and God's purpose for man.  A true marriage covenant is an earthly illustration of what covenant means. The "everlasting covenant" was made in eternity with the Godhead. It is the all-inclusive covenant, of which all other covenants are fragments.  The New Covenant pertains to God's redemptive purposes in Christ Jesus to restore man to God's original purpose.  The Everlasting Covenant was originated by the Father, the Son was its sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit is the seal and the token. This covenant is the fulfillment of the "everlasting" portions of all the other 8 covenants in the Bible. The external, temporal parts of those other covenants are fulfilled and abolished on the Cross, and the everlasting elements flow into the New Covenant.

PROMISES: Everlasting life, confirmed in the New Covenant. Immortality, the Everlasting Kingdom, Eternal inheritance (Heb 9:15), everlasting love, everlasting mercy, everlasting righteousness, everlasting joy....etc, etc. etc. TERMS: Faith, love, and obedience.

RESPONSE:   Is there any situation that is too hard for God?  Lifestyle changes are difficult, that I know.  God planned to take a city that had been burned to the ground, left for wild animals to inhabit, and then build it back up better than before.  That pretty much says it all.  My job is to trust Him, believe Him, and do what He says.  When my flesh tells me I can't do it, I can fast to bring it under control.  Or I can "watch and pray" (Mark 14:38) as I cling to God.  I take my mind captive to the Word  (2Cor 10:4-6) and punish it when it strays to wrong thinking (by putting more Word into it).  Run to Jesus!  Don't delay.  I can instruct my own heart to believe God or die.

1 TIMOTHY 3:1-16                                                                                                                 
"PURSUE GODLINESS & FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH":  And we do this by living to please God in everything we say and do. The best monitor we have for our faith-walk is our "conscience", which tells us when we are acting or thinking OUTSIDE of faith (Rom 14:23).

CHAPTER 1: The law is for law-breakers, not for salvation or deliverance. Salvation of even the "chief of sinners” - that old "blasphemer" himself - is by grace alone.

CHAPTER 2:  The lifestyle that pleases God: "a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and integrity." (2:2-3).  This requires that we know and believe that, if we are saved, we are accepted by God as His elect, and therefore can come to Him without "wrath or doubting" - God receives us and we can know it.   BUT, some proof or evidence of the pursuit of "godliness and integrity" are required before you can instruct others in the faith.

CHAPTER 3:  The Church is the "pillar and foundation of the Truth". (3:15)  There are requirements of leadership that protect that truth. While we are looking at this, please note that the word "man" is actually the Greek: ei tis and means "anyone" or "whosoever" - male OR female.  We know from other passages that there were men and women who were called as "overseers" (bishops, elders). There are no Biblical gender-based restrictions on ministry in the church.  There is no place in the Bible where women are denied the right to teach, preach, speak in Church (other than the inappropriate use of her "feminine wiles" to convince). Just the same, women rightfully held church offices.

Church offices: There are only two: elders and deacons. The pastor is really the "chief elder".  At first glance, it appears that elders must be married AND have children to qualify. (HOW COULD THAT BE! Paul himself wasn't married!)  What it actually means is that elders must not be adulterers and to be one who disciplines his children appropriately (if he has them).  The Bible lists elders and deacons who were women. The most well-known deacon would be PHOEBE , who was trusted to deliver the letter to the Romans, after having ministered TO and WITH Paul for a time. Priscilla, Paul's "fellow-worker" would have been recognized as leadership, probably an elder with authority.  Junia was an apostle, thereby also an elder.  There was the "elect lady" of 2 John 1, a pastoral title.  There were a large number of "house churches", pastored by women.  ELDERS, the overseers, give direction to the church ("rule") and take responsibility for its welfare. DEACONS, do the "manual labor" - organizing, planning, serving where needed, taking care of physical needs. (3:11)  The word "likewise the wives", is better translated "likewise the women" and links it back to verse 10. The women had the same qualifications as the men.

"GREAT IS THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS": (3:16) THE "great mystery" is that the indwelt Church carries on the life and ministry of Jesus. Eph 5:32 states it like this: "This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the Church ."  1 Tim 3:16 actually summarizes the "mysterious" aspect of the purpose and witness and mission of the Church!!!  This verse is not just tacked onto the discussion of church life.  It is the KEY of church life. Jesus said in John 20:21, "As my Father hath sent me, even so send I you." And in John 17:18, "As thou hast sent me into the world, even so have I also sent them into the world."  The Church has been sent into the world the same way that Christ Jesus was sent into the world.  The Gospel isn't a mystery, but the indwelt Church is!

The life of Jesus is manifested through His Body, the Church ("manifest in the flesh"). The Holy Spirit seals and baptizes His church in vindicating and validating us.  As for the "angels seeing us", Eph 3:10 says, "To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God."   It is clearly the mission of the Church to preach the Gospel to the nations and to see men believe on Jesus.  And Col 3:4 states, "When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

RESPONSE:  I don't know about you, but verse 16 is probably one of the most thrilling verses in the whole letter! "without controversy" means "beyond all question" - "everyone agrees that..."  when we submit to the Truth of God's Word, in the fear of God, this is our life and mission too!

PSALM 88:1-18                                                                                                                     
WHEN GOD DOESN'T ANSWER: This is a common experience to anyone who is intimate with God, but this chapter is still one of the saddest chapters in the book of Psalms.   This is about a person whose circumstances contradict the promises of God.  He is groaning, but not complaining or bitter, because even in the bottom of the pit, life is still all about God.  Our greatest fear in times of "darkness" would be that God has cast us off.  Even is this, the Psalm does not speculate about God's silence. Everything in life that we go through should drive us to God, not drive us away.

PROVERBS 25:20-22                                                                                                    

"Heaping coals of fire on his head" is to bless.   How could it be anything else?  It is defined as feeding your enemy if he is hunger, or giving him water if he is thirsty.  When we do that, "the Lord will reward you."  "Burning coals on the head" is a figure of self-accusing repentance.  It makes the "enemy" stop and think about his relationship to you, who have just blessed him.   On the other hand, trying to cheer up a person who is heavy-hearted, just makes things worse.  Give comfort first. (I am speaking of someone who is actually sad or hurt, not someone in self-pity.) Rom 12:15 tells us to "weep with those who weep."

RESPONSE: How we treat our "enemies" tells a lot about our character. There are two reasons given for performing acts of kindness and aid to someone who hates us: he might repent because of our kindness, and God will be pleased that we have done the deed.

One Year Bible, October 17, 2010

JEREMIAH 30:1 - 31:40                                                                                                   

A BOOK FOR RETURNING CAPTIVES: (Repenting Believers):   Although these next chapters point to some degree to Ezra and Nehemiah's return to Jerusalem, it is obvious that this actually telescopes to refer to Jesus and His Church, and the New Covenant in His Blood. God is determined to accomplish His purpose in His people (believers by faith).  In spite of all our waywardness and foolishness, God still loves us.  God sets us free so that we can freely become His servants.  When we use our freedom for ourselves, we end up back in bondage, miserable, disappointed, and unfulfilled. When we submit to God, we are truly free because we have identity, purpose, meaning, and fulfillment.  We feel complete and alive.  Romans 8:21 calls it "glorious liberty of the sons of God".  This is because the people who are living free have the inward assurance that they are pleasing God, manifesting His glory to the earth.  A train that jumps the tracks to be free, is not free, it is ruined.  It has missed its function and has "come short of the glory of God".  Those who want their OWN freedom to enjoy boundless direction soon discover that that becomes the way of limitations.  Thinking that God would confine them, they run from Him, only to be locked up in the prison of their own selfishness.  When we accept dependence on God and the "narrow" lifestyle (Mat 7:14), we find that God enlarges us.

FREEDOM FROM BONDAGE: (30:1-3; 8-11, 17-18)  Israel went through five captivities: Egypt, Wilderness (to fear), Canaan (to do what was right in their own eyes), Babylon (to idolatry) and the Dispersion (indifference to her calling).   Each time God delivered them, the people used their freedom to serve themselves and ended up in bondage again.  This is because they failed to understand God's ultimate purpose for us to manifest His heart to the earth.  Now Jer 30:3 tells us God's intention is to "return us".  God's grace is demonstrated in freeing from bondage to sinning, especially to compulsive habits.  This same grace makes a way for us to function under God's control.  BUT, man must either submit to God's purpose, or become captive to some other "god" (law).  God does not allow us to live long apart from Him.  His plan is not "spurts" and "sprints", but a consistent walk, a long-distance marathon, leading to an unfolding of His plan.   Deliverance is ALWAYS through obedience to God's methods and is ALWAYS miraculous.  Deliverance is never by might, power, alliances, human wisdom, determination and grit, willpower.  It is through submitting to the "foolishness of God".

P.O.W.'s: The Kingdom of Darkness, called "Babylon" in both Jeremiah and Revelation, is at war with the Kingdom of God, which is Light.   When we sin, Rom 6:16 says, "Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?"  When the people of Judah got carried off to Babylon to be their slaves, they became prisoners of war.  Thank of that.  When we get trapped in sin, after we have already been saved, we are prisoners of war (enslaved by our own lust).  We need to be "redeemed" or "purchased back".  1 John 1:7-9 describes BELIEVERS being washed by the blood.  Bringing the Jews back to Jerusalem is a picture of that process.  Redeemed prisoners of war coming back to the Kingdom of God.  Through redemption, I belong to God, not to myself. He paid the price.

"JACOB'S TROUBLE":  The day of judgment for the Jews.  Keep in mind that what feels like judgment and punishment to the enemy, serves to release God's people from bondage. Babylon will be destroyed, but Jacob  (God's elect by faith in Him) will be saved. In Jacob's own "day of trouble" (Gen 32) he received his name change to Israel.  It is a day of life-change, a day of repentance and cleansing.

THE NEW COVENANT: (31:31-34) This passage is quoted word-for-word in Hebrews 8:8-12 and 10:9, 16-17 showing us that this is a promise to THE CHURCH - not just Israel.  There is no difference between Jew and Greek any more, Jesus died to break down the "dividing wall" (Eph 2:14) and all are saved the same way, - thru the New Covenant of His Blood.   We know God by revelation in our "inward parts", accurately and completely (v.34).  Here we learn that God was a "husband to them", covenanted to His people like a marriage.  Judah broke the marriage up, not God.(v.32) So, God took away the first covenant that He might establish the second covenant. This time God will remake us from WITHIN, giving us the power to do His will (Rom 8:1-6).  This is not an EXTERNAL covenant, but a SPIRITUAL and INTERNAL covenant, based on intimately and accurately knowing God.

CONTRASTS: The Sinai covenant demanded perfect obedience; the New Covenant offers forgiveness of sins.  The Old Covenant was written on stone, the New Covenant is written on our hearts. The Old Covenant was with the physical descendants of Jacob; the New Covenant is to all who come by faith to God.  The Old Covenant COVERED SIN once a year, the New Covenant REMOVED SIN.  The heart of a man is changed from the inside, out.  We live for God because we WANT to.

FROM HORRIBLE TO HOLY: The most abominable piece of real estate on earth (The Kidron Valley) "Valley of Dead Bodies and...ashes") beginning at the Kidron (2 Sam 15:22-30, John 18:1ff) all the way to the "horse gate", also called "dung gate" for obvious reasons - "shall be Holy to the Lord". There shall be no uncleanness in the New City of God (see Heb 12:22), but it shall all be the holy dwelling-place of God-in-the-midst-of-us. The battle against uncleanness: sin and iniquity and transgressions, is won through Blood and forgiveness.

RESPONSE:  Some people go thru life getting results, others get consequences. The fear of God is what keeps us aware that our choices have consequences. When we keep God in the center of our lives and stay dependent on Him, (I didn't say "CO-dependent"), then we reap RESULTS.  When we go our own way, thinking we are "free" - then we reap CONSEQUENCES.  Like a train that has jumped the tracks.  We won't get anywhere with our lives, and most of all, we won't live with purpose or with joy.

1 TIMOTHY 2:1-15                  ______                                                                               
"PURSUE GODLINESS & FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH": And we do this by living to please God in everything we say and do; AND "wage the fight of faith".  Faith is a lifestyle of living God-centered, trusting God in everything. The best monitor we have for our faith-walk is our "conscience", which tells us when we are acting or thinking OUTSIDE of faith (Rom 14:23).

CHAPTER 1: The law is for law-breakers, not for salvation or deliverance. To say that we must submit to "other doctrine, fables and endless genealogies” (for example, thinking we have to pray against "generational curses", etc.), the Bible calls this "blasphemy", and put the people teaching this OUT OF THE CHURCH!

CHAPTER 2: The lifestyle that pleases God: "a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and integrity." (2:2-3)  What is "good and acceptable" (pleasing) to God?

(1) (2:4-8) God wants "all men to be saved and know the Truth", as evidenced by their "testimony".  The "testimony" spoken of here is not a speech.  It is a lifestyle of death-to-self, and living-to-God, thus the Greek word for "testimony" is "martus", from which we get the English word martyr.  As proof that the Gospel is for ALL MEN, not just law-keeping ones, Paul was called to be a preacher, apostle and teacher of the Gentiles!  The emphasis in that verse is "all men".  So, go ahead! Pray, worship, rejoice "without wrath and doubting" - because you are God's chosen, His elect!

(2) (2:9-15) "All men" includes all women, too!  God doesn't want women believing that they can depend on their "feminine wiles" to get somewhere in the church.  Godly behavior is expected of them, too.  This is because women have SO MUCH POWER over men already (God made females that way), so we must "sit and learn" before we teach (v.12 reads as a temporary measure). "Usurp authority", look it up, means "to use our feminine wiles". That wily power does not give us the right to rule!  Eve (or woman) was NOT the enlightened originator of life - - - Adam was.  Eve was totally deceived and fell into death. HOWEVER, she is "saved" from her deceived condition and saved from perishing, because of "the childbirth" - (Gen 3:15) - JESUS. In fact every child of the Kingdom produced by woman is a threat to the devil, as long as we walk in "faith, holiness, and good judgment".

RESPONSE: People who use this chapter of Scripture to say that woman can't preach or teach in a church where men are present MAKE ME MAD!  They are reading it opposite of what it actually says! In fact, the author, Paul, respected women and ministered alongside them. (eg. Priscilla, Phoebe, the woman of Romans 16, et al) He even gave rules for WHEN, not if,  women prophesied (1Cor 11:5). Jesus set us ALL free!  Gal 3:28 says "There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."  This means there is no ethnicity (race), no class system, and no gender in the Church.  Gender was given to us for procreating, for completion and for godly role assignments.  If it weren't for the women, a lot of churches wouldn't even exist!  Paul started the church at Philippi with women (Acts 16:12-13).  The problem in the church both here and today is, that some women practice the same behavior they had in the world to "get ahead" - in the church!   THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE!  "Shut up! Sit down! And learn!”

PSALM 87:1-7                                                                                                                    
WHAT EXCITES GOD? ZION!  Psa 48 tells us that Mt. Zion is the "city of our God", the Holy Mountain, the City of David, the "mountain of holiness", and Hebrews 12:22-23 says that Zion (Sion) is in God's Presence and it is the dwelling-place of God's elect - the church both here and in heaven. Now we read that The Lord loves its gates more than any place else, because the gates access us to His Presence.  His love and pleasure are in Zion.  Psa 87:4-7 tells us that what makes Zion so "glorious" is that it is INCLUSIVE of all who come to worship freely and exuberantly. "All my fountains are in You" means that God abundantly satisfies every thirst. He is everything that I need.

PROVERBS 25:18-19                                                                                                    
A person who lies about someone else is like a SLEDGE HAMMER! They don't want to ruin you, they want to finish you off!   And there is nothing worse than a "broken tooth" or a "wobbly and unreliable foot".  They aren't just useless, but they are PAINFUL - they just make every situation worse. That's what an "unfaithful man" does.

RESPONSE:  I have unreliable feet - my knees sometimes "give way" and I stumble. One Sunday morning after church, I was going down the grand stairway leading out of the sanctuary - behind a large group of people who were also exiting the church. My unreliable foot gave way and I tumbled down the stairs, knocking people over like bowling pins! Of course, I was 240 pounds of magnificent woman at the time! If someone had been leaning on me at the time, they would have gotten hurt too. My physical stability wasn't reliable (faithful). That's humorous, but when someone needs me, I need to be reliable.

One Year Bible - October 16, 2010

JEREMIAH 28:1 - 29:32                                                                                                    

DON'T MESS WITH ME: A false prophet did a demonstration where he removed Jeremiah's ox yoke from his shoulders and broke it and said that the "yoke" of Nebuchadnezzar would be broken in two years and they would all be free! Just what they all wanted to hear! He said "God told me..."  Jeremiah had said 70 years, and now this guy says 2 years.  Jeremiah said that time would tell - if this came true.  Just wait and see.  So now the false prophets enlarges this and says "God told him" that ALL the nations would go free from Babylon in two years!  This is not Jeremiah's problem, so he walked away.  NOT SO FAST!!  God has a rebuttal!  He told Jeremiah to tell them that the new yokes will be made of iron!  You can't manipulate or debate with God! If you try, things just get worse! (28:14-16)  "You have made the people believe a lie!"  His judgment?  He would die within a year!

TO THOSE IN TOUGH SPOTS: There were already about 4000 exiles in Babylon, including the royal family, priests and prophets and skilled laborers.  They had false prophets talking to them too, and so they were confused and hurt.  Their message from God was: "you are going to be there a long time, so settle down, plant a garden. While you are there, pray for the welfare of Babylon."  When we are in a bad situation and cannot change it, we pray for the welfare of those around us.  In God's timing, He will "visit us".

"VILLAINY IN ISRAEL": (29:23)  Those adulterous, lying prophets will be slain where everyone can see it and then "roasted in the fire".  That should straighten out the confusion about what God has actually said!

WHAT GOD THINKS ABOUT ME: (29:11-14) He has plans for "peace and not evil". "Peace" is the Hebrew word "shalom" which means "wholeness with nothing missing and nothing broken, to be unimpaired."  "Evil" is the Hebrew word "ra'ah" which means "to be crushed, destroyed, useless and worthless."  It is the opposite of "shalom".  This means that "shalom" carries with it the ability for us to function in our purpose.  God has a good purpose and His purpose will stand.  Those who are "the called according to His purpose" (Rom 8:28) will experience God's "shalom".  When we come out of the world-systems and quit sinning, and seek Him with all our hearts, God will meet us with provision and will hear our prayers.  He will free us from slavery to addictions and obsessions, especially with ourselves, and strengthen us as we instruct our hearts to trust Him more and more.  As we become more and more dependent on Him, we get freer and freer. "So seek me! Trust me! Delight in me!”  In the middle of trouble, this is "shalom" for us.  John 16:33 says it too, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."  Here "peace" is the opposite of "tribulation" (which is "pressure" "antagonism")  We go THRU, not AROUND.  GOD IS IN CONTROL - thinking of me in terms of "shalom".

RESPONSE: Why is it that when we think of deliverance, we immediately think in terms of success or money?  Some translations actually wrote that God has plans for us to "prosper". But the Hebrew word doesn't even mean that!  And the opposite of "evil" is not success. The opposite of "evil" is "shalom.  Even where the word "prosper" is used in the Bible, it doesn't mean monetary success.  It just means "the ability to finish something" and is the opposite of "failure".  This is way better than being "roasted in the fire".

1 TIMOTHY 1:1-20                                                                                                          
"PURSUE GODLINESS & FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH":  The thing that makes this letter (and 2Tim, and Titus) different from the other NT letters is that it is written to a person rather than to a church. On Paul's last circle-tour of the churches, he left Titus on Crete, and Timothy in Ephesus, then travelled on to Macedonia.  Timothy had his work cut out for him!  False teachers had taken over the church at Ephesus, and so Paul instructs his spiritual "son" , Timothy, to "Follow after (relentlessly pursue) righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness, and fight the good fight of faith..."

"GODLINESS":  UN-godliness is a defiant attitude toward God and God's Word. Godliness is an attitude of submission to Truth and the fear of God. The "power of godliness" is the ability to change lives.  Godliness is not a "fruit of the Spirit", but a strenuous pursuit on our part.  We must "train ourselves" (1Ti 4:7) so it requires commitment and repetition.  Godliness is a practical awareness of the sanctifying Presence of God in our lives.   Godliness is a lifestyle of pleasing God. 

CHAPTER ONE: "FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT" -  Perseverance and godliness are the answer to internal opposition. Two men were ex-communicated so they wouldn't infect the others. By being put out of the church, the men were out from the spiritual protection of the church, and so Satan was able to harrass them. And take it from an old blasphemer - Paul -  (1:13), mercy and grace will ALWAYS "trump" the Law. The law is for law-BREAKERS: for the disobedient, the unholy, the ungodly, sinners, murderers, whoremongers, etc., etc., for those who live "contrary to sound doctrine."  And so, God "made an example" out of Paul, that the "chief of sinners" can be and was saved by grace! Not law!

What is "good warfare"?  V.19 says it is "faith and a good conscience".  What is meant by "faith" here is a lifestyle of trusting God. It is a life that has been radically re-oriented toward God at the center, an absolute commitment. I give more loyalty to what God wants than to what my circumstances tell me. This is a clear-headed and relentless choice.  Faith is outwardly expressed as obedience ("works"). A "good conscience" is my inner monitor that judges me, then tells me  when God is pleased or displeased. It is that inner knowing that someone is watching you!  Our conscience is what makes us aware when we have gone outside the parameters of Scripture, and therefore outside of faith ("whatsoever is not of faith is sin" (Rom 14:23).  We can "sear” (scar over) our conscience by going against it over and over, until it becomes numb.  This is why our faith can be "shipwrecked" - the promptings of our conscience were rejected and we went ahead anyway and hit the rocks. Acts 24:16 says, "And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men."  An impure conscience hinders our faith. Try praying when you are bothered by something bad you have said or done. It is difficult.  If you continue to go against your conscience, it's "voice" gets softer and softer, until you don't know whether you are living by faith any more or not!

RESPONSE:  I LOVE Paul's song at the end: "To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory forever and ever Amen." When I need to calm my heart down from something upsetting, I sing this over and over. It anchors me to God and lifts me above it all.  It keeps me from damaging my conscience because I want to spout off.  It helps me enter into the "rest of faith" (Heb 3-4) and strengthens my faith. I think Paul inserted this ON PURPOSE.

PSALM 86:1-17                                                                                                     
IN THE TIME OF TROUBLE (86:7): We have to make up our minds whether or not we believe God if we are going to go through anything in faith.  Troubles can make us wonder if God is willing to help us, and even whether or not God can do anything.  This Psalm answers those questions: (v.5) God is "good, ready to forgive, and plenteous in mercy".  He is willing.  (v.10) God is "great and does wondrous things."  He is able.  So now "my help" pivots on this one thing: WALKING SINGLEMINDEDLY IN TRUTH.  "Teach me Thy way, O Lord, I will walk in Thy truth; unite my heart to fear Thy Name."  "God's ways" are the way of Truth, and redemption, and sacrifice.  Evidence of God's mercy toward me: (v.13) "You have delivered my soul from the lowest hell."

PROVERBS 25:17                                          See yesterday.

RESPONSE:  As long as I "sit on the fence" about whether or not God can be trusted to help me, I will fail.  It will leave me feeling guilty and inadequate, and every temptation to sin will create a war in my head, because I am still "doubleminded" - undecided about a radical commitment to God.  This is why the Psalmist cried out "unite my heart" - make me of one mind and one intent.  It means that my SELF must die, in order to release me from the desire to have things my way.  Then God can lead me and can show me His way.

One Year Bible - October 15, 2010

JEREMIAH 26:1 - 27:22                                                                                                     

WHEN THINGS ARE FALLING APART: There is resultant confusion, uncertainty and conflict in the land, especially concerning the prophets ("political advisor").  God sent Jeremiah to this weak, vain king to warn him of the coming destruction if they did not repent.  God wants them to repent.   And so, there is an official gathering with a trial. Priests, prophets, and princes hear him out.  There was some disagreement whether they should kill him or not.  But Jeremiah just talked louder, that if they put themselves in God's hands, He will withhold judgment.  But a fellow-prophet did not do as well - he was hunted down and killed.

TWELVE YEARS LATER: Zedekiah is vassal-king, serving Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon. Jeremiah was instructed by God to make and wear an ox yoke around his neck and shoulders - and then making matching yokes for the Heads of State of the surrounding nations, too!  The message that accompanied the yokes was that if they didn't get in that yoke and serve Nebuchadnezzar and his sons, that God would punish those nations that refused. (Nebuchadnezzar loved this, by the way.)

WHEN THINGS ARE FALLING APART: (part 2)  So don't listen to people that are saying what you want to hear.  They are lying to you!  Submit to the King of Babylon (to be sifted and cleansed) and live.  Go outside and surrender and you'll survive.  Of course, Jeremiah was accused of being a traitor.  He was the only one telling the truth.  The others were prophesying good times ahead!   In times of pressure, false prophets come out of the woodwork!

RESPONSE:   Would you rather be enslaved and cleansed, or be dead?  That's not much of a choice.  I don't like either option. My answer is to repent and beg God for mercy, but ultimately to submit to God's hand.  Jeremiah went to jail.

2 THESSALONIANS 3:1-18                                                                                            
PREPARING FOR BATTLE AGAINST THE KINGDOM OF DARKNESS: One thing we learn at the outset from the Thessalonians, is that we can't allow our circumstances to get on the inside of us.  We internalize them when we react emotionally.  We internalize them when we accept the world's values and standards. So how do we prepare for this? How can we "guard our hearts" ? (Prov 4:23)
(1.) 2Th 1: Persecution and tribulation are opportunities for God to be manifested and glorified in us. 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.   Unrighteousness always leads to self-deception. 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.

(3.) 2Th 3: Choose carefully whom you emulate: your "mentor" must be a hard-working servant. Jesus said, "Whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Mat 20:27-28)  What this translates to is this: you give up your rights.  Paul had a right to expect the church to support him; he was a minister.  But he gave up his rights; servants only have obligations. Jesus had the right to act like God and receive God's service and worship while on earth, but He gave up all those rights (Phil 2).  People who won't work, claiming to be "living by faith"  are an embarrassment to the Gospel - and we shouldn't have anything to do with them. Notice what is called "disorderly" here: NOT working.  And when we don't work, we spend our time being "busybodies", getting into other people's business as a way of "participating" in their work.  It is self-righteous to expect others to wait on us or to contribute to our wellbeing.   It is self-preservation to refuse to wait on others or to contribute to their wellbeing.   Self-righteousness and self-preservation are what Satan uses to lead us around by the nose - because we are always being offended.   Look what Satan told God about us: "Skin for skin!" Satan replied. "A man will give all he has for his own life." (Job 2:4) He thinks we'll do what we have to in order to save our SELF-life. And so, Rev 12:11 says, " And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death."  THAT is the mindset that overcomes the devil - a hard-working servant.

RESPONSE:   My mom used to always tell us (when we complained about having to do chores, especially when we had to hoe corn), "If you don't like work, you're no good."  Remember yesterday's Psalm 84:7 says that the more we work, the stronger we get - we don't wear out!  I am talking about our hearts, of course - we get more and more courage, more insight, more delight, more joy, more peace - etc., just from working at what God put before us.  Sometimes it doesn't even feel like work! Besides, then the devil can't touch me!  I already "touched" myself!  I took the humble, self-denying path, and even if the devil kicks me, I have nowhere to fall!  I am a servant!

PSALM 85:1-13                                                                                                              
HOW GOD RESTORES US: Sometimes I ignore the Holy Spirit when He tells me to do something that I don't want to do! Sometimes I let my circumstances dictate how I FEEL - and get whiny and complaining. That is sin.  God doesn't just ignore sin. So, how does He restore me to His Presence when I am still struggling with my "issues"?  Here's the pattern: (Psa 85:1-3) God has forgiven me and I am freed from the spiritual consequences of sin. So He doesn't deal with me on the basis of "wrath".   (Psa 85:4-7) We ask God to "turn us" - bring us back to where we were with Him.  Jesus said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him:" (Jo 6:44) so being drawn and brought back is important.  Actually, the Greek word for "draw" means "to drag"!)  When we don't desire God, we ask Him to give us back our heart-hunger and to put spiritual vitality back in our lives ("revive us again")  (Psa 85:8-9)  And when God speaks, I will respond quickly with REPENTANCE.  I won't go back to my "foolishness".   (Psa 85:10-12) When we respond to God, heaven and earth come together in me. "Mercy and truth" and "righteousness and peace" bring the reconciliation I am seeking.  I am in His Presence once more!  Notice, it was not anything I did except seek it and repent. (Psa 85:13) "The way of His steps" is the pattern of righteousness that God lays out for us.  He has given us all we need to walk in obedience to His voice.  Now do it!

PROVERBS 25:16                                                                                                             
As good as honey is, too much honey will make me vomit.  Too much of a good thing - is a bad thing.  Just like the following verse - don't overstay your welcome.  Too much honey (sweetie-pie) will make me vomit.  Don't overload the mind or emotions either.

RESPONSE:  If we linger too long in our independence from God - because our circumstances "drove us" to having a fit, or being whiny - if we let it go on too long, we get dried out spiritually, and there comes a point where we just like our self-pity.  THEN, we must go to God, thank Him for forgiveness and for His faithfulness, and ask Him to give us back our hunger.  Ask Him to restore our spiritual vitality, so we can "rejoice in Him" (Psa 85:6) again. I had a pastor once who said, "Always keep short accounts with God".  In other words, don't allow yourself to grow a list of trespasses (overstepping our boundaries) - so that you don't know where to start, when you finally repent. You know you need to repent anyway - so do it quickly. Otherwise, it is too easy to repeat your foolishness and before you know it, a bad habit has formed.