Inquiring Of The Lord--Every Time

Joshua 5:13-6:21

Before the Battle of Jericho, the Commander of the Lord's Army appeared to Joshua to give him specific instructions. Joshua had the men follow these detailed plans, and they gained the victory.

Then, before each battle, when they inquired of the Lord, they obeyed and won.

But when a different situation arose (in Joshua 9:1-19), they forgot to inquire of the Lord (v. 14) and made a treaty with people who turned out to be their neighbors. So they had to keep their word, and not attack them. So they were aware of the principle of Psalm 15:4b, Who keeps his oath even when it hurts, written by King David many years later.

So I must never forget to pray before opening my mouth, or typing and email, or sending a text--every time!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

God's Promises To Us

II Peter 1:3-4

His Divine power -- Jesus' power.

has given us -- Given to us as a free gift.

everything we need -- Nothing is left out.

for life and godliness -- To live our lives here on Earth with the attitudes and strength of God.

through our knowledge of Him -- The deeper we go in our study of His written Word.

Who called us -- He is the One who sought us and found us and called us by name to Himself.

by His own glory -- Jesus' own shining, authority, credit.

and goodness. -- Right-ness, beauty, accurateness.

Through these -- His glory and goodness.

He has given us -- A free gift, not earned by us.

His very great and precious promises, -- What He has said He would do for us is worth more than all the riches of this world, and more certain to be fulfilled than that the Sun will rise tomorrow morning.

so that through them -- Through His promises.

you may participate -- Take part in, be a part of.

in the Divine nature -- God's own Nature, which He gave us when we were born into His own family, the New Birth, Birth from above.

and escape -- avoid, get away from.

the corruption -- twistedness, decay, rottenness.

in the world -- In this Earth, the World System, human society and government.

caused by -- Resulting from.

evil desires -- What we naturally want: selfish, vengeful, prideful wants to have more earthly possessions, more admiration and worship from other people, more comfort and pleasure to our physical bodies; all against the good and glorious that God wants for us.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Resurrection

I Corinthians 15:1-58 (the whole chapter)

This whole chapter is about Resurrection: Jesus Christ's Resurrection (vs. 1-34), then our own Resurrection (vs. 35-57). How, because Jesus was raised, we will be, too. And about the Resurrection body we will receive at that time, the time of, the last trumpet (v. 52). That's when our perishable body, that is vulnerable to death, will put on the imperishable body, that cannot die; our mortal body will be changed into an immortal body--that's the Day that the prophesy in Isaiah 25:8 and in Hosea 13:14 will come true, that, Death will be swallowed up in victory; O Death, where is your victory? O Sheol, where is your sting?

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory (over death) through our Lord Jesus Christ (vs. 54-57)

Our response to this Truth (v. 58): We are to stand firm. Let nothing in this world's philosophy move us away from this Truth. Then give our lives fully to the furtherance of God's Kingdom, that His will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven, knowing our rewards will be eternal!

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Life: Spiritual Versus Carnal

Ephesians 4:17,20-24

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. 

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him in accordance with the Truth that is in Christ Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

This is essential. Paul insists in the Lord, that we, as Christians, no longer live our lives by our own thought processes, and our desires for earthly things and pleasures. These are all of our physical flesh and the thinking in our own minds. Our earthly desires are corrupting us, as food left out becomes rancid, spoiled. Real life is not physical, but spiritual. And God's thoughts of us and His words are also spiritual.

So we are to train ourselves to think His thoughts, instead of our own; to see through His eyes, not our own; to live our lives in His righteousness, not carnality. Put off the old, carnal self, and put on that new self, that God has made for us, spiritual life that is pure, separate from the world, and just right for each of us.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Pangea And The Tower Of Babel

Genesis 10 and 11

This is the genealogical record of the generations of Noah's three sons Shem, Ham and Japheth. There are some interesting notes here, on how Nimrod began to build great cities, beginning with Babylon (10:8-12). Then we are told about the tower they built there, in Babylon, on the Plain of Shinar (11:1-9). Several generations later, we are told that Eber named one of his sons Peleg (which means "Division") because, in his time the Earth was divided (10:25). 

So we see that God had told Mankind to spread out over the whole Earth, when all the land was one mass (called "Pangea"). But they decided instead to, make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole Earth (11:4). When God came down to see this city and tower, He was not pleased, so He confused their languages so that they would scatter (10:4). Then in the days of Peleg Pangea broke apart into the separate continents we still have today, evidenced by Continental Drift.

When we read it correctly, putting all the parts together, God's Word makes perfect sense, because it is His Truth for us.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Body Parts

I Corinthians 12:21-22

The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.

This whole passage, verses 12 to 30, is about how every body is made up of different parts, as is the body of Christ, which is us. So each church, each congregation, needs to have a diverse mix of Christians who have different gifts, different personalities, different backgrounds, races and nationalities, all having the same worldview, basic beliefs (faith) and love for one another. So every assembly is responsible to welcome every Christian who has the same faith, outlook and love for others, regardless of their race, nationality, background, gifts or personality. 

Dear Father, please work in Your church, teach us to love with Your love; and You will receive all the glory for all You are doing in Your church and in the world.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

Fit For Service

Luke 9:61-62

Still another said, "I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back and say good-bye to my family." Jesus replied, "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God."

This man wanted to put off following Jesus to party one last time; he wasn't ready to forsake everything else for Him. Jesus' answer to him uses the imagery of the farm: if you start to plow, then turn to look back, the furrow will not be straight. You must look at what you're doing to plow a straight furrow. So if I desire to follow the Lord, I must be willing to "turn my back" on any other relationship or endeavor that would interfere. If I'm still trying to divide my time and attention, then I'd be double-minded, and not succeed at either one. If I have affairs to wrap up, I need to take care of that business before I "put my hand to the plow." Then I'll serve single-heartedly.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!