REMINDED, REMINDING

REMINDED, REMINDING

Tuesday, January 31, 2017

2Timothy 2:14-15 Remind them of these things, and charge them before God not to quarrel about words, which does no good, but only ruins the hearers. Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

  The word is usually “remembrance” in KJV. In ESV it is 9 times “remind”: Ps.71:16; 1Cor.4:17; 15:1; 2Cor.10:7; 2Tim.1:6; 2:14; Tit.3:1; 2Pet.1:12; Jud.1:5

  I’m sure you’ve noticed that lately I’ve repeated some topics. Some pulled from files and redacted. Others newly written from scratch. Why remind, be reminded? Because we need to be reminded, something I am well aware of in myself.

  One of my personal facilitating methods is having Pastor Bob e-mail me his sermon text after Sunday. Why so? To be reminded, and then there is the fact that I’m hearing impaired. Utilize dual hearing aids costing thousands, I do. Listen intently, I do. Focus on countenance and body language, I do. Not fiddle with bulletin or cell phone, I do. But I still don’t catch all that is being said. Plus there is the matter of my primarily being a reader benefiting from pausing and pondering, which of itself is in conflict with listening.

  Today I share Pastor Bob’s Sunday morning lesson reminding us of the sovereignty of Jehovah God Almighty.

EBB4

Who’s Really in Charge?

Job 38:1-38; 42: 2-6

Introduction

  My pathway to become a senior pastor was very convoluted. And I’m grateful for each and every twist and turn. For the first ten years of my professional career, my full-time job was as a music specialist for kindergarten through middle-school aged children. Later I would also teach first and fourth grades in the public schools during a season of disillusionment with the church.

  Though teaching is one of my natural gifts, I had never intended to become a school teacher. In fact, during the first seven years of my teaching career, I never signed a contract because I wanted to be in full-time church ministry. I’m amazed now that my principal put up with me. His patience is all the more amazing because for the first two years I could not control a classroom. Everyone who has taught pre-school through high school knows that classroom control will make or break a teacher. Many leave the profession because they cannot control their children. It was a tough journey for me. It was when my principal assigned lunch duty to me alone with ninety kids that I finally gained the confidence to make them do what I expected. It was “sink or swim, baby.” It was a turning point in my teaching career.

  Every effective teacher is the unquestioned sovereign in their classroom. Nothing happens without a consequence unless the teacher wants it to happen. It is in that kind of environment – where there is unquestioned authority – that children thrive and learning takes place.

  The perfect classroom environment is a very poor reflection of God’s rule and sovereignty over his entire Creation. But the effect is instructive for us. When heaven and earth submit to God’s good rule, there is peace and blessing. It is when God’s authority is refused that everything falls apart. The sovereignty of God runs through both the Old and New Testaments like a golden thread. We read this morning what is repeated throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, “The Lord is king! Let the earth rejoice!” After his resurrection, Jesus claims the sovereign scepter before giving his final commission, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given unto me…” (Matt. 28:18). Indeed, the assertion that “Jesus is Lord!” is the first creed of the church. At the unveiling and conclusion of time, Jesus is called the “King of kings and Lord of lords.” The sovereignty of God – the idea that he is the unquestioned authority in the whole cosmos - is the re-bar that ties the whole foundation of our faith together.

  The Book of Job stands as a masterpiece in the ancient annals of writings about wisdom and suffering. Job probably lived around the same time as Abraham. He loved God and lived a righteous life. He was blessed with a large family and many material possessions. You may know the story. In a great cosmic drama of good vs. evil, God allows Job to be severely tested by Satan. All of his possessions are destroyed and his children are killed. His dignity dissolves with oozing boils that cover his skin. His wife emotionally deserts him, telling Job to “curse 2

God and die.” But in all of this, he is a man of integrity. He refuses to curse God and still praises God in the depth of his loss. Most of the book is a dialogue with his so-called friends who insist that Job must have sinned to have experienced such difficult suffering. Along the way, Job becomes increasingly embittered and begins to accuse God of treating him unjustly. When all have had their say, God confronts Job. Here is just a portion:

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind: 2 “Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? 3 Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. 4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell me, if you know so much. 5 Who determined its dimensions and stretched out the surveying line? 6 What supports its foundations, and who laid its cornerstone

7 as the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? 8 “Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, 9 and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness?

10 For I locked it behind barred gates, limiting its shores. 11 I said, ‘This far and no farther will you come. Here your proud waves must stop!’ 12 “Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and caused the dawn to rise in the east? 13 Have you made daylight spread to the ends of the earth, to bring an end to the night’s wickedness? 14 As the light approaches, the earth takes shape like clay pressed beneath a seal; it is robed in brilliant colors. 15 The light disturbs the wicked and stops the arm that is raised in violence. 16 “Have you explored the springs from which the seas come? Have you explored their depths? 17 Do you know where the gates of death are located? Have you seen the gates of utter gloom? 18 Do you realize the extent of the earth?

Tell me about it if you know! 19 “Where does light come from, 3 and where does darkness go? 20 Can you take each to its home? Do you know how to get there? 21 But of course you know all this! For you were born before it was all created, and you are so very experienced! 22 “Have you visited the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of hail? 23 (I have reserved them as weapons for the time of trouble, for the day of battle and war.)

24 Where is the path to the source of light? Where is the home of the east wind? 25 “Who created a channel for the torrents of rain? Who laid out the path for the lightning? 26 Who makes the rain fall on barren land,

in a desert where no one lives? 27 Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground and make the tender grass spring up? 28 “Does the rain have a father? Who gives birth to the dew? 29 Who is the mother of the ice?

Who gives birth to the frost from the heavens? 30 For the water turns to ice as hard as rock, and the surface of the water freezes. 31 “Can you direct the movement of the stars— binding the cluster of the Pleiades or loosening the cords of Orion? 32 Can you direct the sequence of the seasons or guide the Bear with her cubs across the heavens? 33 Do you know the laws of the universe? Can you use them to regulate the earth? 34 “Can you shout to the clouds and make it rain? 35 Can you make lightning appear and cause it to strike as you direct?

36 Who gives intuition to the heart and instinct to the mind? 37 Who is wise enough to count all the clouds?

Who can tilt the water jars of heaven 38 when the parched ground is dry and the soil has hardened into clods?

(Job 38:1-38 NLT)

God’s challenge goes on for two more chapters, in eloquent language describing the beauty, power and complexity of God – the Creator’s – world. Humbled and overwhelmed, Job replies in our text for this morning… 4

Prayer

“I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my plans without knowledge?’

Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know.

“You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’

My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you.

Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job.42:2-6)

The Nature of God’s Sovereignty

  OK. Put on your thinking hat. We’re going to contemplate things that must be true about God. Remember what we said last week: “what comes to mind when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” And this will take some effort on your part. But let us worship God with our minds as well as our heart and our bodies.

  To say that God is sovereign is to say that he is the absolute ruler of his entire creation. To be sovereign, God must be all-powerful and all-knowing. If there was anything that God could not do, then that thing would be the sovereign ruler of the universe. Of course, there are things that God won’t do and those are the actions that would make him inconsistent with himself. God will not and cannot lie. He is the source of all truth. God will not and cannot be unjust. He is the righteous judge. God will not and cannot act in an unloving way. His very nature is love. God cannot condone any sin. He is perfect in his holiness. But within the consistency of his Divine Character, there is nothing, absolutely nothing that God cannot do. If it were otherwise, he would not be sovereign.

  God must also be all-knowing. If there were some small speck of knowledge somewhere in the universe that God did not know – in the past, in the present, or in the future – that bit of knowledge would leverage power against God. He would not be sovereign. A.W. Tozer says it so much better than me:

Were there even one datum of knowledge, however small, unknown to God, His rule would break down at that point. To be Lord over all the creation, He must possess all knowledge. And were God lacking one infinitesimal modicum of power, that lack would end His reign and undo His kingdom; that one stray atom of power would belong to someone else and God would be a limited ruler and hence not sovereign. (Knowledge of the Holy, p. 108.)

  To be sovereign, God must also be totally free, free to do whatever he wills to do in any place at any time to carry out his eternal purpose without any interference. If that were not so, He would not be the sovereign Lord. In other words, God cannot be manipulated or forced to do anything outside of his will.

Of course, none of us possess or can even fully contemplate that kind of freedom. The most capable classroom teacher does not command that kind of absolute freedom and power. No military ruler, no president, no king could ever make that claim. Only God is absolutely sovereign.

God’s Sovereignty and the Problem of Evil

  But God’s sovereignty presents real challenges for us as we try and make sense of our world. Like Job, we wonder how a sovereign good God could allow evil in this world. If he is the absolute ruler of everything, does that not also mean he must be the author of evil? The question has existed since the beginning of time. And the answer will be the same that Job and his friends received. God, in his eternal decrees, allowed a free moral choice to men and to angels. That some have chosen evil rather than good does not invalidate God’s rule and reign in everything. God is still working out his purposes. In fact, he will even cause the evil moral choices that men and angels make to eventually accomplish his purposes. The power and blood-lust of ancient nations often brought the discipline necessary to bring the people of God to repentance. The greed of Caesar Augustus brought Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem. The demon-inspired hatred of Jewish religious leaders led Jesus to the crucifixion hill where he would conquer evil once and for all and purchase our salvation. God is not flummoxed. God is not frustrated. God always wins. God is sovereign.

God’s Sovereignty and Free Will

  There is another question regarding this issue that has vexed the church during the last five hundred years. You know it well. It is the seemingly contradictory biblical concepts of God’s sovereign election of the saved and man’s free will. Scripture affirms both. They must both be held in tension with each other. When we emphasize one over the other, we fall into error. Like Job, we must surrender our efforts and belief in the sovereignty of human reasoning before the mystery of God’s eternal purpose. It is not mental laziness. It is godly wisdom.

  Tozer offers this helpful, if limited, illustration. The sovereign will of God is like an ocean liner passing from New York City to Liverpool, England. The liner will arrive as scheduled. But along the way, the passengers have the freedom to rearrange the deck furniture, eat whatever they choose, and set their own schedule. Though it is only a feeble attempt to explain, both sovereignty and freedom are present in the picture. In the same way, in God’s world, he retains full sovereignty while giving a free choice to man.

Reign in Me

  Like the rule of a classroom teacher, the sovereignty of God is necessary for order and peace in this world. Someday, when sin has run its course, there will be no more heartache, no more war. What is ultimately true in the created order is also true in our personal lives. Christians find peace only through surrender to God’s will. This is the theme of countless songs. Bill and Gloria Gaither have written:

All of my conflicts, all my thoughts, Jesus is Lord of all. His love wins the battles I could not have fought, Jesus is Lord of all.

Jesus is Lord of All by Bill and Gloria Gaither

© 1973 by William J. Gaither

Earlier this morning, we sang:

Over all the earth you reign on high,

Ev’ry mountain stream, ev’ry sunset sky.

But my one request, Lord my only aim

Is that you reign in me again.

Lord, reign in me, reign in your power,

Over all my dreams, in my darkest hour;

You are the Lord of all I am

So won’t you reign in me again?

Lord, Reign in Me by Brenton Brown

© 1998 Vineyard Songs

It is always true. The only pathway to peace is repentance and alignment with God’s will.

Reflections on America…

  Friends, we just came through a very bruising election season. Divisions run deep in our American culture. But this is not unfamiliar territory for us as a nation. We’ve known troubles and division before. Nevertheless, the sovereign hand of God has been very evident in the founding and preservation of our nation. From the beginning of Plymouth Colony in 1620 to the Great Awakenings that stirred and transformed the soul of our nation, we have been given many spiritual blessings. We need to be aware of and affirm God’s providence in our nation’s history.

  But we are not Israel. Americans are not the chosen people of God. Our founding documents put the power of governance in our hands. We are a democratic republic. In our political system, ultimately, “we, the people” are sovereign. Of course, that truth flies in the face of what the Bible teaches. Only God is sovereign.

  Along the way, we have been blessed with some very wise leaders. Though his admonitions were not specifically Christian – he did not generally invoke the name of Jesus Christ in his public statements – the “father of our country,” George Washington warned us that we must rely on God and that religion and virtue must be promoted among the people or our republic will fail.

  During the Civil War, “In God we trust” was added to our currency. The phrase, “under God” was added to the pledge to the flag in the 1950’s. These phrases have been instituted in the spirit of George Washington and our founders and they represent critical wisdom if our nation is to flourish and survive.

But such notions of reliance and acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty have come increasingly under attack in our courts. We are told that we are a secular nation. We cannot impose our faith and religion on others. Instead, it seems we are all forced into becoming practical atheists, except on Sundays, if we choose. Friends, because of the inherent fallen nature of men, a truly secular democracy – one that will not acknowledge the sovereignty of God - will implode under the weight of its own sin. If God is increasingly pushed to the sidelines, we will witness the sure demise of our nation.

  The psalmist writes: Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.

He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” …Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Psalm 2:1-6, 10-11 8

The Scriptures further remind us that “righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (Proverbs 14:34). Our folly does not escape God’s notice. He has not lost control. The President is not Lord. Neither is the Congress. The Supreme Court does not have the final word. Even “We, the people” are not Lord. Only God is Lord. Though we loath it, the increasing wickedness of our culture presents an opportunity for us. It is in the darkness that light truly shines. We who live under the Lordship of Christ have the opportunity to demonstrate the power of the life-changing Gospel.

Let us be grateful for the many blessings of our land, but pray and work for repentance. Recognize that it must begin with us. But do not despair. God is still on the throne.

Do you remember the words to the great hymn?

This is my Father’s world, I rest me in the thought:

That though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the Ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world, the battle is not done,

Jesus who died shall be satisfied and earth and heav’n be one.

Prayer

©BMyers2017

THE WORD IS NOT A BARRICADE

THE WORD IS NOT A BARRICADE

Monday, January 30, 2017

Deuteronomy [MKJV] chapter 30 … you shall listen to the voice of Jehovah your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the Law, and if you turn to Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul. For this commandment which I command you today is not hidden from you, neither is it far off. It is not in Heaven, that you should say, Who shall go up for us to Heaven, and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and do it? Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, Who shall go over the sea for us to the region beyond the sea, and bring it to us, so that we may hear it and do it? But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may do it. Behold! I have set before you today life and good, and death and evil, in that I command you today to love Jehovah your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, so that you may live and multiply. And Jehovah your God shall bless you in the land where you go to possess it. But if you turn away your heart, so that you will not hear, but shall be drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish; …

Joshua chapter 24 … Now, then, fear Jehovah, and serve Him in sincerity and truth. And put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt, and serve Jehovah. And if it seems evil to you to serve Jehovah, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served Beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live. But as for me and my house, we will serve Jehovah. …

  I stopped saying “stoplight” decades ago when Dad, my # 1 driving instructor, repeatedly firmly told me to never think of the traffic signal as a barrier to careless stupid drivers. “A red light or stop sign won’t brake any vehicles. Only a foot attached to common sense will do so.” Dad didn’t just believe this. He carried scars from being t-boned by a Lincoln while driving a Baltimore Yellow Cab Plymouth Cranbrook as one of his extra income part time jobs.

  After trusting Christ as age 27 I soon discovered that so it is with God’s Word. God’s signals are easily read, but they will not of themselves make me travel sensibly. Interesting the same is true of Satan. As God will not make us do good. Satan cannot make us do evil. As with Adam and Eve it is a matter of personal choice, our thoughts leading to deeds that result in consequences delightful or disastrous. (Rom.12:1-3)

  God gave Adam and Eve free will. Our ancestors, you, I, children, babies, and all to come are endowed with free will. We decide what to do . . . and then live with the results.

  A final thought: The above is true even if we never leave our home and garden.

EBB4

WHO DA SMART ONE HERE?

Friday, January 27, 2017

Psalm 14:1-2 The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds, there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God.

  There are questions I prefer not to answer. Why? Not because of any mortification on my part. My reluctance is because I know that some hearers will close their heart and mind to any further listening and discussion. This is not about audience statistics. It is all about charity in caring for one another.

  I awoke this morning to memory of old friend now gone. He often saying in the midst of lively group discussions, “Who da smart one here? Huh! Who?!” What was he asking? More correctly, what was he stating?

  The above waking memory was likely the result of my being asked “Are Christians smarter than non-believers?

  Yes and no.

  First I must answer my old friend’s provocative question: He meaning the wisdom of Omniscient Sovereign God Almighty, His Word, was not being included in the discussion.

  The answer is yes, Christians are smarter if their world and eternal view with liveliness is grounded in the Word Living and written. How do we know this?

1Kings 4:29-30 [ESV today] And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding beyond measure, and breadth of mind like the sand on the seashore, so that Solomon's wisdom surpassed the wisdom of all the people of the east and all the wisdom of Egypt.

                Job 28:12-13; 28:28 "But where shall wisdom be found? And where is the place of understanding? Man does not know its worth, and it is not found in the land of the living. … And he said to man, 'Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'"

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Pro 9:10; 10:13; 32-33; 17:24 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. … On the lips of him who has understanding, wisdom is found, … The ear that listens to life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise. … Whoever ignores instruction despises himself, but he who listens to reproof gains intelligence. The fear of the LORD is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor. … The discerning sets his face toward wisdom, but the eyes of a fool are on the ends of the earth.

John 3:1-10 Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. This man came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do unless God is with him." Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God." Nicodemus said to him, "How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, 'You must be born again.' The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?

1Corinthians 2:13-14; 3:19 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. … For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness,"

Colossians 3:14-17 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

James 1:4-5; 3:17 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. … But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere.

  So we see the Word says that those who trust Him for wisdom and its life-application do most smartly think and live. And yes that includes me, but with no cause to boast on my part, for in my old ego-centric nature I am but a fool. Every day I must strive to not rely on self lest I suppress the all-wise Spirit within me. (Jn.14:26; Rom.12:1-3; 7:18; Eph.2:1-3; 1Thes.5:19)

  Dear brother and sister in Christ, so now you know that depending on our reliance on the Word Living and written, we are smarter than the foolishness of the world not knowing the Lord. Now let us not cease to pray for one another, asking that we may be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding. (Rom.12:2; Col.1:9)

EBB4

TO ALIGN WITH THE WORD SMARTLY

TO ALIGN WITH THE WORD SMARTLY

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Proverbs [ESV] 22:1-6 A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold. The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the maker of them all. The prudent sees danger and hides himself, but the simple go on and suffer for it. The reward for humility and fear of the LORD is riches and honor and life. Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them. Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

  It is very easy to buy into party lines. Consider the “Must go to college to be successful and live a fulfilling purposeful life.” that I first starting hearing in one form or another when in public school an eon ago. I am not against higher education. I am all for it in all areas. I do not see college degree as the ultimate panacea. I started saying so while still in high school, my opinion met by knowing smiles for the most part.

  Every individual is smart in their own way. God’s Word tells us this is very important to understand in raising children, otherwise we may direct them to a frustrating stumbling path.  And when this truth is comprehended I believe it should be applied to self, for the fulfilling of our 2Corinthians 5:16-21 ambassadorship is proportionate to our being aligned with our smarts.

  On page 42 of 8 GREAT SMARTS, Kathy Koch PhD explains “Does your son keep his eyes glued to his book when you ask him to help with the dishes? He may be word smart. Does your daughter always struggle with obedience because she’s always asking “Why?” She may be logic smart. Does your daughter doodle all over rather than studying her notes? She may be picture smart. Does your son irritate others with his constant humming and finger tapping? He may be music smart, Do your children constantly move and touch everything? They may be body smart. Does your daughter pay so much attention to her cats that she doesn’t finish her homework? She may be nature smart. Does your son interrupt you constantly because he needs to know what you think about his ideas? He may be people smart. Does your daughter get lost in her thoughts and ignore your input? She may be self smart.”

  (Suggest reviewing 8 smarts chart I shared in 1/24/17 DT. Better yet, acquire Koch’s book, read, underline, notate, ponder, apply to understanding self and helping others.)

  On page 55 there’s something she often says in seminars, “Raise the children you were given and not the ones you wish you had.” How many children are raised in the latter way Koch states? (My Dad was of “given” status. Mom was of “wish” status.) Regardless of a person’s smart set college may be the perfect fit for them, or not. OTR behind their name may be the healthiest fit.

  How many of you were raised wishfully, followed the wishers’ desires and later discovered their choosing was not the way you should go? I have met and continue to meet many people in this class.  Have you? Do you? Please share your history and encounters and I will publish them next week.

  Got smarts! Understand and live accordingly for it is God’s design.

EBB4

PS. Most recently I met an MBA that worked at it stressfully. He quit a few years ago and acquired his CDL. He now drives a semi on a daily weekday loop making more money, with benefits, and enjoys the employment. He testified that his family does also. I have also been told reverse stories. One this year from a 40+ year old lady in the day-old bread store.

   

OPTIMIZING GREAT SMARTS

OPTIMIZING GREAT SMARTS

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. [1Cor.11:7a]

Psalm [NLT] 139:13-16 You [O Lord] made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
 and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
 Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born.

  Depending on our level of interest in maturation pleasing, honoring, and glorifying God; therein more readily discerning distinctions between good and evil; consequently becoming more whole, productive, and a better family participant and neighbor . . . we acquire, read, and ponder edifying writings such as 8 GREAT SMARTS.

  Having read and pondered such edifying writings, then in prayerful reflection deciding our Creator endowed smarts operative order in our life, we then implement our education with the desire to optimize our God-honoring sainthood.  We do so because of our Christian being and with hope for others whether friend or foe: For so it was and is with Jesus Christ our Lord and example.

  Desiring our smarts to function at their most 1Corinthians 13 charity-centered effective requires studious connection with and application of the Word written and Living. Without such knowledgeable personal devotion we function little differently than or exactly as do people without God’s indwelling Holy Spirit.

  Got smarts! Get smarter: “For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain. Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; Whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours;

And ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's.” (1Cor.3:9-23)

EBB4

WORD SMART

WORD SMART

Monday, January 23, 2017

Genesis 1:27-28 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

  Though all are not the children of God, as trust resulting in rebirth is required to enjoy family kinship, all humans are nonetheless created by Him in His image. (Jn.1:12; 3:3; Gen.1:27-28; 9:6; 1Cor.11:17; Jam.3:9) Being created in His image we are all endowed with great smarts whether we agree with this truth of endowment or not.

  As with spiritual gifts, some smarts are not ordered in accordance of man’s concept of superior versus inferior, they do however have individual personal operative responsibility differences. Simply put: I am not per se smarter than you except in one or more particular ways, you are not per se smarter than me except in one or more particular ways. And as with the example of spiritual gifts, though one or more smarts are individually dominant, none should be exalted as ego-centric socially dominant. We must understand, accept, and practice charity (love) in the use of gifts and smarts. (Rom.12:1-3; chapters 12 & 13 of 1Corinthians)

  For whatever reason, peer pressure or what we may have been labeled by “smart people” et al, it is a serious mistake to buy into the idea that we are not gifted or smart. The fact is that when doing so we are scorning Jehovah God Almighty, our Creator.

  Indeed without argument you and I do dumb things. (In spite of my smarts I’ve already done several this year.) We are not however dumb.

  Please do trust God as he has wondrously created you and me.

EBB4

PS. I’ll soon be sharing more thoughts on this topic. Also, 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd John with Albert Barnes Notes on the Bible interspersed are now available upon request at no charge.

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8 GREAT SMARTS

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

  Genesis 1:27-28 is very clear on “God created man in His own image”, His endowing us with great smarts (i.e. multiple intelligences).

  I’m continuing to read and ponder 8 GREAT SMARTS by Kathy Koch, PhD, founder and president of Celebrate Kids Inc. (http://www.celebratekids.com/kathy-koch-ph-d-bio/ ) Her faith and desire is to serve and glorify God. This old kid is learning much from her. Today , from Koch’s book, I give you a further taste of her summations in the hope that the knowledge will edify you first of all, equip you as God’s servant however and wherever you are, help others young to elderly, and definitely increase your ability to serve God unto His glorification. 

  Kathy Koch defines 8 intelligences as;

Word smart = Thinks with words.

Logic smart = Thinks with questions.

Picture smart = Thinks with pictures.

Music smart = Thinks with rhythms & melodies.

Body smart = Thinks with movement & touch.

Nature smart = Thinks with patterns.

People smart = Thinks interpersonally

Self-smart = Thinks intrapersonally

  There is much more to be learned from Koch’s writings. But I shall stop here lest I be arrested for going beyond basic endorsement and be arrested for copyright violation. In closing today’s thoughts I ask:

·         Has further understanding being created in God’s image been personally helpful?

·         Do you recognize the 8 smarts within you?

·         Do you identify which smarts are predominately yours?

·         Are you now honoring God’s endowment in order instead of dis-order?

·         Do recognize the smarts in others by listening and observing? (and reading J)

·         Are you now working in concert with your and others smarts?

  I encourage you to acquire 8 GREAT SMARTS (Those with a certain smart recognize this as a play on words.) Please do, read and incorporate in your life so as to personally mature further, help others realize their potential, honor and glorify God . . . . and possibly even understand our CIC.

EBB4

WE ARE NOT GOING THERE!

WE ARE NOT GOING THERE!

Friday, January 20, 2017

1Chronicles 28:9 [David exhorting] "And you, Solomon my son, know you the God of your fathers, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the Lord searches all hearts,
 and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek Him, He will be found of you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever."

1Corinthians 9:16-27 [KJV, Paul stating] For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you. Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain. And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible. I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. [Also note 1Cor. Chapters 12 & 13]

  Let it be known that the penman of the New Testament, as did those of the Old Testament, relied on the direction of God’s Holy Spirit. Also let it be known that Jesus, the Word Incarnate (Jn.1:1), frequently spoke, referred to and explained OT writings. Additionally let it be known that the writers of the NT as they were led of God’s Holy Spirit very much reflected on OT truth. OT and NT are written in their personal style, but definitely is His truth: “Every Scripture passage is inspired by God. All of them are useful for teaching, pointing out errors, correcting people, and training them for a life that has God's approval. They equip God's servants so that they are completely prepared to do good things.” (GW 2Tim.3:16-17) “First, you must understand this: No prophecy in Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation. No prophecy ever originated from humans. Instead, it was given by the Holy Spirit as humans spoke under God's direction.” (GW 2Pet.1:20-21)

  How many of you remember that when certain topics were brought up in social or business settings someone in the group adamantly reacted “We are not going there!”? Trusting Lord Jesus Christ as personal redeemer and becoming a John 3:3 born-again saved individual doesn’t automatically erase this or other immature natural inhibitions. (Ours the Defensive Offendable Society?) In God’s Word there are numerous warnings against our not candidly facing the realities of our inherent introversion pertaining to reflection upon and examining self in the mirror (Jam.1:1-27) of Scripture as opposed to righteously shining the Light on others. Even when examining self we may easily fudge by saying things like “I’m not so different from others you know.”

  Paul did not do so. He grievously stated what he knew and detested about himself. (Rom.7:1-25)

  Paul feared what could be the result, that which Solomon was warned of that applies to one and all of us unto this day. (1Chron.28:9; 1Cor.9:27)

  These matters, along with God’s mercy and grace, on my awakening mind this morning.

EBB4

PROVERBS 27:17

PROVERBS 27:17

Thursday, January 19, 2017

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens the wits of another.

  That we are to teach others is a clearly stated precept in the Old and New Testament. Recorded in 2Timothy 2:2 Paul urges that we teach others that will in turn teach others and so on. The writer of Hebrews uses strong provocative language to make the point: “Although Jesus was the Son of God, he learned to be obedient through his sufferings. After he had finished his work, he became the source of eternal salvation for everyone who obeys him. God appointed him chief priest in the way Melchizedek was a priest. We have a lot to explain about this. But since you have become too lazy to pay attention, explaining it to you is hard. By now you should be teachers. Instead, you still need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word. You need milk, not solid food. All those who live on milk lack the experience to talk about what is right. They are still babies. However, solid food is for mature people, whose minds are trained by practice to know the difference between good and evil. (GW 5:8-14; also note the familiar Rom.12:2) following with a stern warning recorded in chapter 6.

  Does this mean each and every Christian should be in a church pulpit, teaching Sunday School or Catechism or instructing in some other such formal way?

  No.

  What it does mean is that whether pulpit, teaching desk, or any other position we are to” dedicate your lives to Christ as Lord. Always be ready to defend your confidence in God when anyone asks you to explain it. However, make your defense with gentleness and respect.” (GW 1Pet.3:15) In my life this at times involves “I don’t know but I have resources and I will get back to you.”

  A closing thought this morning, actually a memory: Teaching for most of us involves dependable availability to mentor, most often informal, quite often in passing moment of opportunity. The moment I recall was not pulpit or instruction class given. After a church service I was politely carping to Bill Harrington (Still my living elder.) about the lack of recognition other people did not receive. Being a perceptive experienced person, he quietly responded “You would be surprised what can be accomplished if you don’t expect recognition.” The brief sentence was one of the turning points in my life that I often have occasion to thankfully rejoice therein.

  Axe, strop, velvet, or something in between, we may sharpen the life of another.

EBB4

6:12 IS GREEK TO ME!

6:12 IS GREEK TO ME!

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

  I still hear the old explanation of not comprehending, “It’s Greek to me!” This for me being quite true about calculus, jazz, and more. Once upon a time it was totally true about Scripture, but that changed when I believed God’s Word. With the personal realization of John 1:12 and 3:3 my vision changed. Then it increased when I was introduced to Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries and Thayer’s Greek Definitions in hard copy volumes. Then a few years ago friend and brother in Christ Mark Welch introduced me to free wonderful e-Sword software (http://www.e-sword.net/downloads.html ), it containing Strong’s and Thayer’s to use with quick ease of move-to cursor.

  A bit of prudent advice: If you’ve been using regular dictionaries to define words in Scripture, please stop doing so. Such definitions may be strictly English and may have little or nothing in common with true original meaning. Also consider that English word meanings change over time. Have some not done so in your lifetime? (For you KJV fellows, consider the “gay” of James 2:3.)

  We elders well know of this issue as we speak English to English and at times due to vocabulary changes or lacks we are not understood by those younger or culturally different.

  Why am I writing on this topic? I’ve discovered individuals misinterpreting or confused about some Scripture, the underlying reason being they used current English dictionaries to define words in verses.

  For those interested I share several words from recent study of Ephesians 6:12.

“For^G3754 we^G2254 wrestle^{G2076 G3823} not^G3756 against^G4314 flesh^G4561 and^G2532 blood,^G129 but^G235 against^G4314 principalities,^G746 against^G4314 powers,^G1849 against^G4314 the^G3588 rulers^G2888 of the^G3588 darkness^G4655 of this^G5127 world,^G165 against^G4314 spiritual^G4152 wickedness^G4189 in^G1722 high^G2032 places.”

wrestle: G2076 ἐστί; esti; es-tee'   Third person singular present indicative of G1510; he (she or it) is; also (with neuter plural) they are: - are, be (-long), call, X can [-not], come, consisteth, X dure for awhile, + follow, X have, (that) is (to say), make, meaneth, X must needs, + profit, + remaineth, + wrestle.

principalities: G746 ἀρχή; archē; ar-khay'  From G756; (properly abstract) a commencement, or (concrete) chief (in various applications of order, time, place or rank): - beginning, corner, (at the, the) first (estate), magistrate, power, principality, principle, rule. 

powers: G1849 ἐξουσία; exousia; ex-oo-see'-ah  From G1832 (in the sense of ability); privilege, that is, (subjectively) force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (objectively) mastery (concretely magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence: - authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.

rulers: G2888 κοσμοκράτωρ; kosmokratōr; kos-mok-rat'-ore  From G2889 and G2902; a world ruler, an epithet of Satan: - ruler.

  Okay, no great surprises on “principalities” or “powers”, but aha! on “rulers” as Greek soubriquet for Satan. Also liked seeing that to “wrestle” is constant in this life, and can be profitable instead of weakening and destructive. Hopefully my English today is not Greek to you. Sometimes notes in response to DTs assert I speak a different language.

EBB4

For further study on topic, go to: http://www.gotquestions.org/Greek-Hebrew-Bible.html  

O' TO BE LIKE HIM

O’ TO BE LIKE HIM

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

  Grandmother McGee and others informed me that I began questioning about the time I began speaking. I still do so publically and privately for it is how I think and get answers. I contend that questions and answers, even non-answers, serve us well in realizing edification. I also soon discovered that there are those that do not like questions, at times Grandmother McGee and others. More than once did I hear “We don’t ask questions like that!” or “You don’t need to know.”

  When the religious hierarchy sent temple guards to arrest Jesus, they returned empty-handed. Facing the dismay of the chief priests and Pharisees "Why didn't you bring Jesus?" The temple guards answered, "No human has ever spoken like this man."  (Jn.7:45-46)

  And how did Jesus speak?

  Quite often with pointed questions; many times responding to a question with a question.

  Knowing this presents a whole different meaning to singing “O’ to be like Him”, doesn’t it?

EBB4

Go to: https://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/398

PREDICTABLE THOUGHTS

PREDICTABLE THOUGHTS

Monday, January 16, 2017

  Our USA is divided in several ways at this time. “Not my president!” is one large looming division, including professing Christians of various religious factions.  The friction is generating continuing social heat.  I awoke this morning with several interconnected thoughts in mind. Now I work at confining them to one page or less:

  Paul wrote “Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen. And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. “ (NLT Rom.11:33-12:3)

  Paul soon thereafter gives representative explanation of 12:1-3 in action; the Word that is just as applicable now as then was under Roman dominance.  “Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God.  So anyone who rebels against authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and they will be punished. For the authorities do not strike fear in people who are doing right, but in those who are doing wrong. Would you like to live without fear of the authorities? Do what is right, and they will honor you. The authorities are God’s servants, sent for your good. But if you are doing wrong, of course you should be afraid, for they have the power to punish you. They are God’s servants, sent for the very purpose of punishing those who do what is wrong. So you must submit to them, not only to avoid punishment, but also to keep a clear conscience. Pay your taxes, too, for these same reasons. For government workers need to be paid. They are serving God in what they do. Give to everyone what you owe them: Pay your taxes and government fees to those who collect them, and give respect and honor to those who are in authority. Love Fulfills God’s Requirements. Owe nothing to anyone—except for your obligation to love one another. If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill the requirements of God’s law.” (13:1-8)

  Abraham Lincoln, 16^th president of these United States of America, lost the national popular vote, but gained the executive office by the Electoral College. And how did that turn out for a man considered a redneck rail-splitter buffoon by many? Isn’t he touted as one of these nation’s greatest leaders, the man that preserved our blessed Union? What would life be like today if then “Not my president!” faction had reversed the election and put Stephen Douglas in the oval office? (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_A._Douglas )

  For me as a Christian to allow personal angst and angry action over USA elections results would be the product of my not trusting God’s wisdom. God selects. I agree, or not. He has the master plan. I do not.

EBB4

SECULAR OR SACRED

Question: "Does the Bible make a distinction between the secular and the sacred?"

Answer: We tend to categorize things, and two categories often spoken of are “secular” and “sacred.” By “sacred” we usually mean “Christian-themed” or “suitable for church use,” and by “secular” we usually mean “worldly” or “not having a Christian theme.” We speak of “secular” music versus “sacred” music, for example. “Sacred” music has overt Christian themes, and “secular” music is everything else.
  Does the Bible distinguish between secular and sacred realms? In a sense, yes. The Bible does speak of those who are “set apart” (“sanctified”) for special use. The very word for “church” in the New Testament, ekklesia, means “a called-out assembly.” The people who comprise the church are “sacred”; that is, they are called out of the world and set apart for God. They are “called to be saints” (Romans 1:7, ESV). They are salt and light in the world (Matthew 5:13–16).
  But, in another sense, no, the Bible does not distinguish between secular and sacred. All creation is God’s, and one day all creation will be restored (Romans 8:22). We know that “God placed all things under [Christ’s] feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (Ephesians 1:22). He did this “so that God may be all in all” (1 Corinthians 15:28). In other words, all peoples, cultures, and authorities will one day be brought completely under the lordship of Jesus Christ (see Philippians 2:10–11 and Isaiah 2:2). Christians engaging the culture should do so with a view to that end.
  For the Christian in the workplace, it should not matter whether or not he is in vocational Christian ministry. Even a secular job can be a sacred ministry for the Lord. “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” (Colossians 3:23–24). Everything we do, from work, to relationships, to hobbies, to eating and drinking, is to be done for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
  When we compartmentalize our lives into secular and sacred categories, we risk relegating “church stuff” to Sundays and thinking the rest of the week belongs to us, to live as we please. But this is not biblical. We are to love the Lord with a whole heart. We are to serve the Lord with all our strength, not just what’s left over after we take care of the “secular” activities. This means that, even as we move through our daily routines, we can honor the Lord and perform our mundane tasks for His sake. The “secular” can be infused with the “sacred.”
  A word of wisdom here. Some categorization is good and necessary in life. We must not confuse the purposes of the various institutions in society. God has tasked the church, for example, with spreading the gospel, discipling believers, and blessing the culture it is immersed in. The church has the sacred purpose of gracefully, lovingly, and patiently pointing society to Christ. God has tasked the state, on the other hand, with restraining evil, punishing wrongdoers, and rewarding the righteous through the execution of justice (Romans 13:1–5). The state, too, has a sacred purpose, since “the one in authority is God’s servant” (Romans 13:4). Church and state operate in different spheres, by God’s design. But, if both entities do their jobs well, each benefits from the other.
  We do not want the church setting tax code and judging criminals; nor do we want the state determining the church’s missionary budget or choosing its pastors. These two entities are to be separate, biblically, but this necessary separation can lead to a dangerous secular/sacred rift in our thinking. To consign all “secular” matters to the state and cloister anything “sacred” inside the church is to create a false dichotomy in society. The church can and should be involved in society at large, and the state can and should be concerned with morality and other “sacred” or “religious” matters. Where questions of ethics and morality are concerned, the church must have the state’s ear and the ability to articulate the biblical viewpoint on any given moral issue. When the state is hostile to the church (or vice versa), both are at a disadvantage and society suffers.
  The common designations of “secular” and “sacred” are overused. A Christian artist will create art to the glory of God: there is nothing overtly “sacred” about a still-life of a bowl of pears, but there’s nothing “secular” about it, either. A Christian musician will create music to the glory of God. A Christian homemaker will bake cookies to the glory of God. A Christian mechanic will fix cars to the glory of God. The possibilities are endless; as we walk in the Spirit, the line between secular and sacred becomes increasingly blurred.

© Copyright 2002-2017 Got Questions Ministries

CAIN, JEHOVAH, YOU & I

CAIN, JEHOVAH, YOU & I

Thursday, January 12, 2017

Romans [ESV] 12:9-21 Love sincerely. Hate evil. Hold on to what is good. Be devoted to each other like a loving family. Excel in showing respect for each other. Don't be lazy in showing your devotion. Use your energy to serve the Lord. Be happy in your confidence, be patient in trouble, and pray continually. Share what you have with God's people who are in need. Be hospitable. Bless those who persecute you. Bless them, and don't curse them. Be happy with those who are happy. Be sad with those who are sad. Live in harmony with each other. Don't be arrogant, but be friendly to humble people. Don't think that you are smarter than you really are. Don't pay people back with evil for the evil they do to you. Focus your thoughts on those things that are considered noble. As much as it is possible, live in peace with everyone. Don't take revenge, dear friends. Instead, let God's anger take care of it. After all, Scripture says, "I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the Lord." But, "If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. If you do this, you will make him feel guilty and ashamed." Don't let evil conquer you, but conquer evil with good.

1Corinthians 2:12-14 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

  Exactly what do we know about Cain other than the common knowledge that he murdered Abel?

·         Cain is mentioned 20 times in 17 verses, 18 in OT, 2 in NT.

·         Cain was the elder brother. Gen.4:1-2

·         Cain was a farmer/gardener. Gen.4:3

·         Cain liked to do things his way. Gen.45a

·         Cain had a problem with immature unreasonable anger. Gen.4:5b-6; 1Cor.13:11; Eph.4:26

·         Cain refused to hear, trust God and repent. Gen.4:7; Heb.11:1-4

·         Cain didn’t love or reverence Jehovah or man, in his egocentric wroth murdering Abel. Gen.4:8; 20:11; Eccl.12:13; Mt.22:36-40; ICor,13; Heb.11:1-4; 1Pet.3:17

·         Cain, unlike his parents, didn’t accept Jehovah’s absolute omniscience. Gen.4:9

·         Cain emulated his parents’ deceptiveness. Gen.3:7-13; 4:9

·         Cain was a childish whiner designing the event to be all-about-poor-little-me. Gen.4:10-14

·         Cain benefited from Jehovah’s compassionate wisdom, protection, and allowance to prosper. Gen.:15-26; Josh.15:57

·         Cain’s works were evil though not because fruit and veggies are bad, but because of emulating his parents’ flagrant knowledgeable disobedience. Gen.2:16-17; 3:1-3; Heb.11:1-4; 1Jn.3:12

·         Cain unto this day is held up before us as an example of evil greediness. Jud.1:4-13

  The life of Cain is a lesson to pass on to others. (2Tim.2:1-2, 12-13; Heb.2:10; 6: 5:11-6, 6:1-2)

  A closing thought question this morning: So, if God’s tells us not to besmirch ourselves by our acting in vengeance, why didn’t He execute Cain? And what does our answer tell us about us in association with God, or not?

EBB4

LAYING THE GROUNDS FOR MURDER

LAYING THE GROUNDS FOR MURDER

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Ephesians [ESV] 1:16 – 2:10 I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ [Rom.5:8]—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

  This morning using e-Sword concordance search I reviewed our beginnings and next read found verses on Cain and Abel in OT and NT. Then I began pondering ….

  From Eden on we are individually responsible before the Jehovah God Almighty for our thinking, decisions, and actions. This truth is found throughout His Word. This accountability includes evil  influencers, “the prince of the power of the air”, and others that present opportunities for thinking, deciding and acting contrary to honoring and glorifying the Lord by faith; loving Him and our fellow man. Environment perfect or otherwise matters comparatively little for it is individual in whatever circumstance that trusts God, or not. This truth is found throughout His Word.

  Adam and Eve lived as no others in man’s elapsed history. Eden was pleasant, safe, with simple clarity of purpose. Had Eve then Adam not, wanting more, deviated from trusting God I believe you and I may still be living in kind . . . unless of course we too decided for Satan’s sales pitch and then noshing on the bitter fruit of disobedience.

  Among the many results they suffered we are yet troubled with unto this day and shall experience until Lord Jesus Christ returns: pain physical and emotional, parental angst, male/female parity that became gender inequality, murder, and more as mankind has continued expansively in disobedient defiance against the King of Kings, our creator and sustainer.

  It would have been far better if the first family had trusted Jehovah, but that is done and past. What remains is our individual time to now think, decide, and act as did His Son, in accordance with the Father’s will, or not; autonomous self in opposition to God continuing to lay the groundwork for murder of every sort including the bits and pieces of Eden that we have remaining.

EBB4

THOU SHALT NOT MURDER

THOU SHALT NOT MURDER

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

1Corinthian [ESV] 2:12-14 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Jude 1:1-3 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you. Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

  In 1957 the USA homicide rate was 4.0 per 100,000, now 5+ according to cross referencing several statistical websites. “The number of homicides in the country's 50 largest cities rose nearly 17 percent last year, the greatest increase in lethal violence in a quarter century.” (https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/2015-homicides/ ) (These stats don’t include any increases in gunshot survivors as they are not recorded as a category.)

  In the past year murders in Chicago increased over 50%, to at least 762 victims, the highest count since 1996. St Louis rose from 85 last year to 136 so far this year. Baltimore shot up to 215 by the summer of 2015. Though some cities, typically smaller ones like Omaha, have decreased numbers, other towns have and are experiencing increased numbers.

  Why?

  The experts list a number of causes. I list in no particular order as the experts debate primary causes.

·         Heroin and other drugs, including widespread abuse of legal opiates.

·         Broken homes, single parents, gangs replacing family.

·         Deep social upheaval.

·         Conditioning by violent video games, movies, TV, rap music.

·         Lead poisoning contributing to developmental problems in adolescents.

·         Low unemployment rates in some communities.

·         Changes in sentencing, the death penalty not enforced.

·         Lax and/or fearful politicians and police departments.

·         Other causes.

·         Frank Zimring, law professor, Berkeley UOC, thinks the pattern can’t exactly be explained.

  Being a born-again follower of the Word living and written, having kingdom sight, I see differently. Consequently I think and decide unnaturally. (Jn.1:1; 3:3; Rom.12:1-3; 1Cor.2:14; 2Cor.5:17)

  What do I see as the major reason for murder whether the first (Gen.4:8), historically past unto the present, and the final murder yet to be?

  It’s not that the experts’ ideas are not contributing factors, for they can be but only as the individual or group murderers make use of them to justify their mindset and actions. I too have had such thought sans action in my history as a “natural man”. Possibly you also, as some have shared with me, have entertained such thinking sans implementation, or not?

  As God’s son (Jn.1:12), one of His priests (1Pet.2:1-10) and citizen of His kingdom (Phil.3:20), with His authority I contend that the reasons for murder are the lack of fearing God and the paucity of charitable love . . . and these being the two underlying reasons for what the natural-thinkers list. (Gen.20:11; Eccl.12:13; Mt.22:36-40; 1Cor.13; 1Pet.2:17)

EBB4