/There are, to the best of my knowledge, ten accounts of people being brought back to life in the Bible. It is one of the most obvious displays of God’s power, and bears looking at.
The Widow’s Son - I Kings 17:17-24
-God working through a human agent (note the physical contact and prayer)
-God’s power is what raised the son
-Glory is given to God for the miracle
The Shunammite’s Son - II Kings 4:8-37
-God granted the woman a son for her service to God’s prophet
-Once again, God works through a human agent (physical contact and prayer)
-Notice, the woman recognizes the power of God throughout the story
A Dead Man - II Kings 13:20-21
-This is an obvious display of God’s power, and of His favor towards Elisha
-Once again, there is physical contact
-The glory could only belong to God, as Elisha could not have done this, being dead
The Widow of Nain’s Son - Luke 7:11-17
-Christ (God) simply speaks, and the boy is raised
-The people recognize it is the power of God, and praise Him
-It is also a display of God’s mercy and love for man (v 13)
Lazarus - John 11:1-44
-Jesus hears that Lazarus is sick, and knows he will die. He allows this to happen for the greater glory of God (God’s will comes first, as He possesses infinite wisdom and knowledge).
-We have another example of Christ’s love (vv 35-36)
-Once again, Jesus simply speaks, and the dead rise up. Being God, He does what others have had to pray and request.
The Ruler’s Daughter - Matthew 9:18-26
-Once again, Jesus raises a dead person
-He does not even speak, just causes it to happen
-News spreads of the event
Saints -Matthew 27:50-53
-No human was involved: it was directly the action of God
-A great display of God’s power that must have made a difference, as they appeared to many
Dorcas - Acts 9:36-43
-Peter prays to the Lord, before telling her to get up (implication is that he invokes Christ’s name in this - v 34)
-The result is that people believe and the word is spread
-Even Peter, an apostle and recipient of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, had to ask the Lord for this miracle
Eutychus - Acts 20:7-12
-Once again, we see physical contact
-Although no prayer is mentioned, it seems unlikely that there was none, as it is there in the other accounts of resurrections
-The people were comforted in this - it is a sign of God’s power, and a sign of God’s mercy
Christ - Mark 15:33-41, 16:1-8
-Fulfilled prophecies made (Psalm 16:10, Psalm 49:15)
-Showed the power of God
-Was resurrected to display the power of God over death
And of course, it is Christ’s resurrection that has the most meaning to us today:
I Peter 1:3-6 -Living hope through the resurrection
I Corinthians 15:12-32 -The Resurrection: without it, teaching and faith is futile
I Peter 3:21-22 -Saved through the resurrection, baptism
-Parallel of baptism:
He died - the “old man” dies
Burial - submerged
Resurrected - arise anew
Romans 6:5 -United with Him in death and in resurrection
Philippians 3:10-11 -Know Christ & His resurrection so we can attain ours
Acts 24:14-15 -Resurrection of the righteous and the wicked
Revelation 21:6-8 -The second death. If we serve God, we can avoid this and be with Him for eternity, possessing life everlasting.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
The Bible: The Word of God - 3/30/08am
The Bible: The Word of God
Let us take a few minutes to consider the Bible. It is a book that we refer back to for answers from God. It is a book that we believe contains the words of life, and the teaching of salvation. It is the book that we believe is the only book that does so. So I think it is worth our time to consider it, and to look at what it really should mean to us.
~Written so that we might believe~
John 20:30-31 -These things were written…
The Bible was written so that we would have something base our faith on. It exists so that we can believe that Christ came to earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, was buried, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and that through Him we can have access to eternal life.
Romans 10:17 -Faith comes by hearing
II Peter 1:3 -Given us everything
The Bible contains everything we need to know about how to serve God. Everything we need to believe and everything we need to obey is included in its pages.
~Written to be our source of authority~
Jude 1:3 -The word is complete
We don’t need to look outside of the Bible to find what we need to do to serve God. The message has been delivered, once and for all.
Deuteronomy 4:2 -Do not add or subtract
Revelation 22:18-19 -Do not add or subtract
Any additions or removals from God’s word attempts to make man’s authority equal to that of the Bible. The complete message was given, and as we saw earlier, contains everything we need. If we add or subtract, we try to negate that authority.
II Timothy 3:16-17 -The word of God is God-breathed
The Bible comes from God. If God says something is so, then it is so. And since the Bible is God’s word, then it is so.
II Peter 3:16 -”other scriptures” - Paul’s letters, and the NT, are scripture as much as the ones that Paul himself referred to.
II Peter 1:20-21 -Prophecy came about by God, not man
If it came about by God, we must be sure to use it wisely, and as God wants it used, not twisting it to serve our own wants.
~The Bible is still relevant today~
Some people make the claim that the Bible is simply an old book. Yes, an interesting book, but not really binding after 2000 years! The Bible, and reason, tells us otherwise.
II John 1:1-3 -The truth is in us forever
I Peter 1:23-25 -The word of the Lord stands forever
The word of God will always be true, and will always be accurate. It is just as valid today as it was centuries ago. The truth of how to live a godly life, of salvation, and of God is all as true today as it was when it was written.
I Corinthians 10:1-11 -These things are an example
1500 years after these events took place, Paul writes that they are an example and should be studied. Much had changed in1500 years, but that did not negate the truth and necessity of studying those same things. Do we expect it to be any different for us?
II Timothy 3:1-5 -Types of people Timothy will encounter
Are these people, described here, any different than the people we encounter today?
~It is written to lead us to salvation~
Romans 1:16-17 -The gospel is the power of God that leads to salvation
The only way to salvation, the path to spending eternity with God, is through the gospel of Christ. Not the Qur’an, not the various catechisms, and not the Book of Mormon. The gospel.
Luke 11:28 -Blessed is the one who hears and keeps the word
What greater blessing is there than to spend eternity with Christ?
John 12:47-50 -The words of God will judge us in the last day
Listening to, believing, and obeying the word of God leads to salvation. Not doing so leads to condemnation. And we will face the final judgment, and we will be judged by the word.
II Timothy 4:1 -Christ who will judge
But I thought Christ was going to do the judging? Just so. The Word and Christ cannot be separated.
~Christ is the Word~
John 1:1-18 -Christ is the word
Jesus is the Word. The written word is also the Word. How can this be? It is easiest to think of it as Christ being the perfect example of what the Bible is talking about. He fulfilled the Old Testament, and his life and teachings were exactly what the New Testament encourages us to be. More over, as He is God, He gave the word.
Matthew 5:17 -The fulfillment of the law and prophets
Christ was the fulfillment of the Old Testament. He was the completion and pinnacle of the old covenant, and the creator of the new.
I Peter 2:21-22 -Follow Christ’s example
I Timothy 6:11 -Follow after righteousness, Godliness, etc.
We have already read that the words in the Bible contain the way to righteousness and godliness, and we are told to follow after it. We are also told to follow after Christ. These are not two separate things we are to chase after, but one solidified truth. You cannot follow the Bible without following Christ, and you cannot follow Christ without the Bible. We must strive to follow the word.
Matthew 3:13-17 -Baptism of Christ and fulfilling all righteousness
Luke 8:4-8 -The parable of the sower
Luke 8:11-15 -The parable of the sower is explained
What will we do with the Word of God? Will we reject it outright? Will we follow it for a little while? Or will we let it govern our lives and bring forth good fruits? The choice is ours: follow the word and receive the gift of eternal life, or reject it and stand condemned by the word.
Let us take a few minutes to consider the Bible. It is a book that we refer back to for answers from God. It is a book that we believe contains the words of life, and the teaching of salvation. It is the book that we believe is the only book that does so. So I think it is worth our time to consider it, and to look at what it really should mean to us.
~Written so that we might believe~
John 20:30-31 -These things were written…
The Bible was written so that we would have something base our faith on. It exists so that we can believe that Christ came to earth, lived a sinless life, died on the cross, was buried, rose from the dead, ascended to heaven, and that through Him we can have access to eternal life.
Romans 10:17 -Faith comes by hearing
II Peter 1:3 -Given us everything
The Bible contains everything we need to know about how to serve God. Everything we need to believe and everything we need to obey is included in its pages.
~Written to be our source of authority~
Jude 1:3 -The word is complete
We don’t need to look outside of the Bible to find what we need to do to serve God. The message has been delivered, once and for all.
Deuteronomy 4:2 -Do not add or subtract
Revelation 22:18-19 -Do not add or subtract
Any additions or removals from God’s word attempts to make man’s authority equal to that of the Bible. The complete message was given, and as we saw earlier, contains everything we need. If we add or subtract, we try to negate that authority.
II Timothy 3:16-17 -The word of God is God-breathed
The Bible comes from God. If God says something is so, then it is so. And since the Bible is God’s word, then it is so.
II Peter 3:16 -”other scriptures” - Paul’s letters, and the NT, are scripture as much as the ones that Paul himself referred to.
II Peter 1:20-21 -Prophecy came about by God, not man
If it came about by God, we must be sure to use it wisely, and as God wants it used, not twisting it to serve our own wants.
~The Bible is still relevant today~
Some people make the claim that the Bible is simply an old book. Yes, an interesting book, but not really binding after 2000 years! The Bible, and reason, tells us otherwise.
II John 1:1-3 -The truth is in us forever
I Peter 1:23-25 -The word of the Lord stands forever
The word of God will always be true, and will always be accurate. It is just as valid today as it was centuries ago. The truth of how to live a godly life, of salvation, and of God is all as true today as it was when it was written.
I Corinthians 10:1-11 -These things are an example
1500 years after these events took place, Paul writes that they are an example and should be studied. Much had changed in1500 years, but that did not negate the truth and necessity of studying those same things. Do we expect it to be any different for us?
II Timothy 3:1-5 -Types of people Timothy will encounter
Are these people, described here, any different than the people we encounter today?
~It is written to lead us to salvation~
Romans 1:16-17 -The gospel is the power of God that leads to salvation
The only way to salvation, the path to spending eternity with God, is through the gospel of Christ. Not the Qur’an, not the various catechisms, and not the Book of Mormon. The gospel.
Luke 11:28 -Blessed is the one who hears and keeps the word
What greater blessing is there than to spend eternity with Christ?
John 12:47-50 -The words of God will judge us in the last day
Listening to, believing, and obeying the word of God leads to salvation. Not doing so leads to condemnation. And we will face the final judgment, and we will be judged by the word.
II Timothy 4:1 -Christ who will judge
But I thought Christ was going to do the judging? Just so. The Word and Christ cannot be separated.
~Christ is the Word~
John 1:1-18 -Christ is the word
Jesus is the Word. The written word is also the Word. How can this be? It is easiest to think of it as Christ being the perfect example of what the Bible is talking about. He fulfilled the Old Testament, and his life and teachings were exactly what the New Testament encourages us to be. More over, as He is God, He gave the word.
Matthew 5:17 -The fulfillment of the law and prophets
Christ was the fulfillment of the Old Testament. He was the completion and pinnacle of the old covenant, and the creator of the new.
I Peter 2:21-22 -Follow Christ’s example
I Timothy 6:11 -Follow after righteousness, Godliness, etc.
We have already read that the words in the Bible contain the way to righteousness and godliness, and we are told to follow after it. We are also told to follow after Christ. These are not two separate things we are to chase after, but one solidified truth. You cannot follow the Bible without following Christ, and you cannot follow Christ without the Bible. We must strive to follow the word.
Matthew 3:13-17 -Baptism of Christ and fulfilling all righteousness
Luke 8:4-8 -The parable of the sower
Luke 8:11-15 -The parable of the sower is explained
What will we do with the Word of God? Will we reject it outright? Will we follow it for a little while? Or will we let it govern our lives and bring forth good fruits? The choice is ours: follow the word and receive the gift of eternal life, or reject it and stand condemned by the word.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Romans 16 - 3/23/08pm
Romans 16:1-16
We often skip over the various personal greetings in Paul’s epistles. However, if we take the time to look at these verses and consider what is being said, we gain insight into not only the individuals of the first century church, but into how we should be living today. The same things that were commendable then are commendable now. And we can ask ourselves, “does this describe me?”
1 I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church that is at Cenchreae: 2 that ye receive her in the Lord, worthily of the saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever matter she may have need of you: for she herself also hath been a helper of many, and of mine own self.
Women are valuable in the church:
Titus 2:3-5 -The roles of older and younger women
We can, and should, help each other:
II Corinthians 9:1-5 -The Corinthian eagerness to help stirred up others
Philippians 2:25-30 -Epaphroditus risked his life to help
3 Salute Prisca and Aquila my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles:
Couples working together:
Acts 18:24-28 -Aquilla and Priscilla
Willingness to be faithful, regardless of cost:
Hebrews 11:30-40 -Faithful men and women who risked it all
5 and [salute] the church that is in their house. Salute Epaenetus my beloved, who is the first-fruits of Asia unto Christ.
First fruits or last fruits, the reward is the same:
Matthew 20:1-16 -Laborers in the vineyard
How long will we be faithful?
Revelation 2:10 -Be faithful unto death
6 Salute Mary, who bestowed much labor on you.
Are we willing to bestow much labor on others?
II Corinthians 9:8 -Full of ever good work
I Corinthians 15:58 -Ever giving of yourself for the Lord
I Corinthians 3:6-9 -Paul planted, Apollos watered
7 Salute Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also have been in Christ before me.
More apostles than just the 12
I Thessalonians 1:6 -Paul, Timothy, and Silas
Acts 1:23-26 -Replacing Judas
Hebrews 3:1 -Christ as apostle
Paul’s kinsmen, who were Christians before Paul:
Acts 8:1-3 -Paul persecutes the church…and kinsmen?
8 Salute Ampliatus my beloved in the Lord. 9 Salute Urbanus our fellow-worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
Are we “fellow-workers”?
I Corinthians 3:1-9 -All Christians should be workers, each has a part to fulfill
Philippians 4:2-3 -Should be able to rely on each other to help carry the load
Are we close enough to the brethren to call them “beloved?”
Matthew 22:34-40 -Should love ALL men
Romans 13:8-10 -Have love for one another
10 Salute Apelles the approved in Christ. Salute them that are of the [household] of Aristobulus. 11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Salute them of the [household] of Narcissus, that are in the Lord.
Families supporting each other:
II Timothy 1:5 -Timothy’s mother and grandmother
The difference between “in the Lord” and not in the Lord:
I Corinthians 7:39 -In remarriage of widows
Acts 2:47 -Lord adds those who are saved
Philippians 4:2 -Of the same mind in the Lord
12 Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.
We see two of our earlier points brought out and raised again:
Laboring for the Lord: are we doing so?
Are brethren “beloved?”
13 Salute Rufus the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
Hospitality and “mothering:”
Romans 12:9-21 -Look at the list that hospitality is included in!
I Peter 4:7-11 -Another list that includes hospitality
14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brethren that are with them. 15 Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints that are with them.
We have no specific details of these people in this place. Yet they are included as being brethren worth noting. Just because we do not know what someone is doing does not mean that they are doing nothing to further the cause of Christ:
Matthew 6:1-18 -Public vs. private service
Philippians 4:3 -Names of the “fellow-workers” are not named
16 Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you.
We are all in this together: all Christians. Although we may be relatively few when compared to the world, we can take courage in knowing that we are not all one, and that we have a bond with others in the church established by Christ.
Colossians 2:1-3 -Colossi and Laodicea
Matthew 7:13-14 -Wide and narrow gates: are you among the few or the many?
We often skip over the various personal greetings in Paul’s epistles. However, if we take the time to look at these verses and consider what is being said, we gain insight into not only the individuals of the first century church, but into how we should be living today. The same things that were commendable then are commendable now. And we can ask ourselves, “does this describe me?”
1 I commend unto you Phoebe our sister, who is a servant of the church that is at Cenchreae: 2 that ye receive her in the Lord, worthily of the saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever matter she may have need of you: for she herself also hath been a helper of many, and of mine own self.
Women are valuable in the church:
Titus 2:3-5 -The roles of older and younger women
We can, and should, help each other:
II Corinthians 9:1-5 -The Corinthian eagerness to help stirred up others
Philippians 2:25-30 -Epaphroditus risked his life to help
3 Salute Prisca and Aquila my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus, 4 who for my life laid down their own necks; unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles:
Couples working together:
Acts 18:24-28 -Aquilla and Priscilla
Willingness to be faithful, regardless of cost:
Hebrews 11:30-40 -Faithful men and women who risked it all
5 and [salute] the church that is in their house. Salute Epaenetus my beloved, who is the first-fruits of Asia unto Christ.
First fruits or last fruits, the reward is the same:
Matthew 20:1-16 -Laborers in the vineyard
How long will we be faithful?
Revelation 2:10 -Be faithful unto death
6 Salute Mary, who bestowed much labor on you.
Are we willing to bestow much labor on others?
II Corinthians 9:8 -Full of ever good work
I Corinthians 15:58 -Ever giving of yourself for the Lord
I Corinthians 3:6-9 -Paul planted, Apollos watered
7 Salute Andronicus and Junias, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also have been in Christ before me.
More apostles than just the 12
I Thessalonians 1:6 -Paul, Timothy, and Silas
Acts 1:23-26 -Replacing Judas
Hebrews 3:1 -Christ as apostle
Paul’s kinsmen, who were Christians before Paul:
Acts 8:1-3 -Paul persecutes the church…and kinsmen?
8 Salute Ampliatus my beloved in the Lord. 9 Salute Urbanus our fellow-worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
Are we “fellow-workers”?
I Corinthians 3:1-9 -All Christians should be workers, each has a part to fulfill
Philippians 4:2-3 -Should be able to rely on each other to help carry the load
Are we close enough to the brethren to call them “beloved?”
Matthew 22:34-40 -Should love ALL men
Romans 13:8-10 -Have love for one another
10 Salute Apelles the approved in Christ. Salute them that are of the [household] of Aristobulus. 11 Salute Herodion my kinsman. Salute them of the [household] of Narcissus, that are in the Lord.
Families supporting each other:
II Timothy 1:5 -Timothy’s mother and grandmother
The difference between “in the Lord” and not in the Lord:
I Corinthians 7:39 -In remarriage of widows
Acts 2:47 -Lord adds those who are saved
Philippians 4:2 -Of the same mind in the Lord
12 Salute Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Salute Persis the beloved, who labored much in the Lord.
We see two of our earlier points brought out and raised again:
Laboring for the Lord: are we doing so?
Are brethren “beloved?”
13 Salute Rufus the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
Hospitality and “mothering:”
Romans 12:9-21 -Look at the list that hospitality is included in!
I Peter 4:7-11 -Another list that includes hospitality
14 Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brethren that are with them. 15 Salute Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints that are with them.
We have no specific details of these people in this place. Yet they are included as being brethren worth noting. Just because we do not know what someone is doing does not mean that they are doing nothing to further the cause of Christ:
Matthew 6:1-18 -Public vs. private service
Philippians 4:3 -Names of the “fellow-workers” are not named
16 Salute one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ salute you.
We are all in this together: all Christians. Although we may be relatively few when compared to the world, we can take courage in knowing that we are not all one, and that we have a bond with others in the church established by Christ.
Colossians 2:1-3 -Colossi and Laodicea
Matthew 7:13-14 -Wide and narrow gates: are you among the few or the many?
Christ's Model Prayer - 3/23/08am
Christ’s Model Prayer
We often discuss how we should pray and what we should pray about. It can be useful to look to our ultimate example, Christ, and see what He taught on prayer. And of course, a good place to start with that is the example prayer that He showed to his disciples.
Matthew 6:5-15 -Christ’s model prayer
This prayer, and the context surrounding it, helps us to understand how we are to pray, and what we are to pray.
How to Pray:
Matthew 6:5-6 -Not for public acclaim
Matthew 6:7-8 -Not babbling or using many words
-God knows what we need before we ask
The Model Prayer:
This prayer shows us different aspects of prayer, and different types of prayer
Matthew 6:9 -Pray to God the Father
Matthew 6:9 -Praise to God
James 3:9-12 -With the tongue we praise the Lord
I Peter 1:23-9 -Why we praise God
A Form of praise is offering thanksgiving to God for the things He has done. This is the recognition of who has provided for us all that we need, and a recognition of where the glory for it belongs.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 -Pray continually, giving thanks
Philippians 4:4-7 -Present all prayers with thanksgiving
Matthew 6:10 -The kingdom is already here, now
Matthew 16:28 -The kingdom came in the 1st century
Colossians 1:12 -The kingdom
Matthew 6:10 -The Lord’s Will, not our own
Matthew 26:42 -Let this cup pass from me…
Matthew 6:11 -Asking for what we need in life
Ephesians 6:17 -All kinds of prayers and requests
I Timothy 5:5 -Putting reliance on God
James 4:1-3 -Asking with the right motives
James 5:13-16 -Prayer for when in trouble or sick
I John 5:14-15 -When we ask, God hears us
Matthew 6:12 -Asking for forgiveness
Acts 8:18-24 -Simon the Sorcerer
Psalm 51 -David’s Psalm/prayer of repentance
Matthew 6:13 -Asking for deliverance from temptation
James 1:13-15 -Tempted by evil desires, not by God
I Corinthians 10:13 -God will provide a way of escape
God Answers Prayers
Genesis 25:21 -God answers Isaac’s prayer
I Chronicles 14:10 -God answers David’s prayer
We often discuss how we should pray and what we should pray about. It can be useful to look to our ultimate example, Christ, and see what He taught on prayer. And of course, a good place to start with that is the example prayer that He showed to his disciples.
Matthew 6:5-15 -Christ’s model prayer
This prayer, and the context surrounding it, helps us to understand how we are to pray, and what we are to pray.
How to Pray:
Matthew 6:5-6 -Not for public acclaim
Matthew 6:7-8 -Not babbling or using many words
-God knows what we need before we ask
The Model Prayer:
This prayer shows us different aspects of prayer, and different types of prayer
Matthew 6:9 -Pray to God the Father
Matthew 6:9 -Praise to God
James 3:9-12 -With the tongue we praise the Lord
I Peter 1:23-9 -Why we praise God
A Form of praise is offering thanksgiving to God for the things He has done. This is the recognition of who has provided for us all that we need, and a recognition of where the glory for it belongs.
I Thessalonians 5:16-18 -Pray continually, giving thanks
Philippians 4:4-7 -Present all prayers with thanksgiving
Matthew 6:10 -The kingdom is already here, now
Matthew 16:28 -The kingdom came in the 1st century
Colossians 1:12 -The kingdom
Matthew 6:10 -The Lord’s Will, not our own
Matthew 26:42 -Let this cup pass from me…
Matthew 6:11 -Asking for what we need in life
Ephesians 6:17 -All kinds of prayers and requests
I Timothy 5:5 -Putting reliance on God
James 4:1-3 -Asking with the right motives
James 5:13-16 -Prayer for when in trouble or sick
I John 5:14-15 -When we ask, God hears us
Matthew 6:12 -Asking for forgiveness
Acts 8:18-24 -Simon the Sorcerer
Psalm 51 -David’s Psalm/prayer of repentance
Matthew 6:13 -Asking for deliverance from temptation
James 1:13-15 -Tempted by evil desires, not by God
I Corinthians 10:13 -God will provide a way of escape
God Answers Prayers
Genesis 25:21 -God answers Isaac’s prayer
I Chronicles 14:10 -God answers David’s prayer
Psalm 40 - 3/16/08pm
The Fortieth Psalm
A Psalm of David, a Psalm of God
1 "I waited patiently for Jehovah; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."
Talking to God:
Often we take prayer for granted, even when we remember to pray. But think about what prayer entails. We are speaking to God, the almighty, the creator of all things. We are speaking to the very definition of Good and Power. In fact, He is so awesome, Christ serves as the intermediary for prayer. Think about it, the Son, who was sacrificed for our sins, who led a sinless life of perfection, serves as an intermediary for the Father. Now that’s rank. And even more amazing, He listens to us. When we speak to Him, it is not ignored. It is not scoffed at or forgotten. Jehovah listens. We may not always get the answer we think we want, but He listens and responds. I can’t call up customer support and have them listen to me, yet the Almighty will.
2 "He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay; And he set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: Many shall see it, and fear, And shall trust in Jehovah. 4 Blessed is the man that maketh Jehovah his trust, And respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies."
Blessings from God:
God can, and does protect us. He provides us stability in an otherwise unstable world. He is trustworthy, we can trust in the promises of our Lord. For those that live for Him, those who follow His Son, the Messiah, there are blessings beyond measure. Peace in this world. He will not make all our roads straight, but he provides us with strength to overcome obstacles. And through it all, we have the peace of knowing we have an eternity assured, so long as we follow Him. For those that fear and trust the Lord, there are many blessings. Peace. Fellowship and brotherhood. Strength. Protection. Stability.
5 "Many, O Jehovah my God, are the wonderful works which thou hast done, And thy thoughts which are to us-ward; They cannot be set in order unto thee; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered."
The Power of God:
Can you name every great thing God has done? Of course not! Mankind has not even scratched the surface of what God has done for us, I don’t think. Creating the world and everything in it. Creating life. This is the God who has given each and every one of us life. Every heartbeat, every breath is His. He is the God who opened the Earth to swallow Korah and his followers. He is the God who divided the Red Sea. He is the God who stopped the sun for Joshua. Just think of the power involved in that, for a moment. He stopped the planet from moving. Try to do that sometime. And, most importantly for us, He gave His Son in our place, as a final sacrifice for our sins. Your sins. My sins. Because of God’s works, we are free.
6 "Sacrifice and offering thou hast no delight in; Mine ears hast thou opened: Burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required."
Obedience to God:
Does this mean that when God ordered sacrifices that he was wrong or mistaken? No, I do not think that is what David is speaking of here. I think this is a similar passage to when the prophet confronted Saul about making an unauthorized sacrifice. God expects obedience. Not what we think is best, or what we determined He wants, but rather what He says He wants. We are to worship Him in spirit and in truth, according to the things He has told us. And really, it’s not too difficult (at least, it shouldn’t be). He no longer does ask for burnt offerings and sacrifices from us. He does not ask for great feats of strength or wisdom. He does not demand that we do great things to earn a place among His faithful. Rather, we are simply to humbly and obediently submit ourselves to Him, and His simple commands. To love Him above all else.
7 "Then said I, Lo, I am come; In the roll of the book it is written of me: 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God; Yea, thy law is within my heart."
Delight in God:
David delighted in doing God’s work, and in knowing and obeying the law. Think about this. He did not grudgingly do what God asked him to do. He delighted in it. He enjoyed it. He wanted to do it. And, David knows that God knows this. Will it be written in the roll of the book that we delight to do God’s will? Do we always have God’s word in our hearts and minds, and look for ways to obey and do what God would want us to do? Or do we make excuses, and feebly try to get out of doing what we know we should be doing? Do we truly delight in God’s will?
9 "I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly; Lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Jehovah, thou knowest. 10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great assembly."
Teaching of God:
Do we have to force ourselves to speak of God, and our faith in Him? Do we hide our faith? Do we hide the righteousness of the Lord? Do we neglect speaking of the things God has done for us? Or are we boldly teachings others? Do we commonly speak of God? Do we teach others as we go about the day? Are we concealing and hiding God from others? Will we be responsible for not letting others know of God? I hope not. I hope we are all, throughout each day, teaching of God, Christ, and the hope that is within us. I hope that we can all say, at the end of the say, that we have not concealed His truth.
11 "Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Jehovah; Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. 12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about; Mine iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head; And my heart hath failed me.13 Be pleased, O Jehovah, to deliver me: Make haste to help me, O Jehovah. 14 Let them be put to shame and confounded together That seek after my soul to destroy it: Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor That delight in my hurt. 15 Let them be desolate by reason of their shame That say unto me, Aha, aha."
Strength in God:
David felt beset on every side by those who would do him harm, from those who mocked him and his faith, and by those who lived sinful lives. Yet he found his strength in God. He begins by telling God of his troubles, and then asks for strength and justice. Which is interesting. In asking these things of God, there is the implicit belief and trust that God can deliver. The belief that God can, and will, support those who follow Him. The belief that God can, and will, deal justly both with the righteous and the unrighteous. God can give you strength, if you put your trust in Him. The knowledge that God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear is great. After all, any temptation you encounter…you already know you can escape it! And the knowledge that God cares, and will deal justly with the ungodly, makes it easier to deal with the daily grind. God will give us strength to carry on, if we just ask Him.
16 "Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: Let such as love thy salvation say continually, Jehovah be magnified."
Joy in God:
Those who follow God, those who seek His word, those who strive to keep His will can find joy in God. So there’s two parts to this simple statement. The first part is the who, the second part is the what. The who is simply those who follow God. Those who actively and diligently seek Him. Those who love God, Christ, and the salvation He offers. The what is joy. Happiness. If you are consistently following and praising God, you will find happiness in Him. So, conversely, if you are not finding joy in God, perhaps you need to reevaluate whether you are truly following Him or not.
17 B"ut I am poor and needy; [Yet] the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; Make no tarrying, O my God."
Relationship with God:
What a clear picture of our relationship with God! We are lowly. We are merely human. We are unworthy. Yet God, in His infinite mercy, has seen fit to allow us salvation, and the opportunity to spend eternity with Him. He has seen fit to deliver us from hopelessness and sin. Our relationship with God is one of reliance. We rely on Him for strength, for protection, for salvation. All good things come from Him, and we are to know it. Although we are undeserving, God blesses us. And we pray for speediness on the part of the Lord. We long for Heaven and eternity with Him. To be in the presence of the Almighty, someone so much greater than we can ever be. Our relationship is clear. We are the created, and we are to worship our creator. Not only on the first day of the week in a formal service, but also every moment of every day of our lives. We must have that personal relationship with the Lord. We must trust Him, rely on Him, and know that He cares for us - not because we have earned it, but because He is merciful.
Do you have this relationship with God? Have you come to Christ? Can you find your strength in Him? Are you joyously serving Him? Do we pray to Him and are we obediently serving Him?
If you have not become a part of His body, you are not. None of that applies to you. You lack the relationship with God. Or perhaps you’ve begun your walk with God, but have ceased to serve Him as you once did. Or maybe you simply want prayers for strength to be a better servant of His.
A Psalm of David, a Psalm of God
1 "I waited patiently for Jehovah; And he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."
Talking to God:
Often we take prayer for granted, even when we remember to pray. But think about what prayer entails. We are speaking to God, the almighty, the creator of all things. We are speaking to the very definition of Good and Power. In fact, He is so awesome, Christ serves as the intermediary for prayer. Think about it, the Son, who was sacrificed for our sins, who led a sinless life of perfection, serves as an intermediary for the Father. Now that’s rank. And even more amazing, He listens to us. When we speak to Him, it is not ignored. It is not scoffed at or forgotten. Jehovah listens. We may not always get the answer we think we want, but He listens and responds. I can’t call up customer support and have them listen to me, yet the Almighty will.
2 "He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay; And he set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 3 And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: Many shall see it, and fear, And shall trust in Jehovah. 4 Blessed is the man that maketh Jehovah his trust, And respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies."
Blessings from God:
God can, and does protect us. He provides us stability in an otherwise unstable world. He is trustworthy, we can trust in the promises of our Lord. For those that live for Him, those who follow His Son, the Messiah, there are blessings beyond measure. Peace in this world. He will not make all our roads straight, but he provides us with strength to overcome obstacles. And through it all, we have the peace of knowing we have an eternity assured, so long as we follow Him. For those that fear and trust the Lord, there are many blessings. Peace. Fellowship and brotherhood. Strength. Protection. Stability.
5 "Many, O Jehovah my God, are the wonderful works which thou hast done, And thy thoughts which are to us-ward; They cannot be set in order unto thee; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered."
The Power of God:
Can you name every great thing God has done? Of course not! Mankind has not even scratched the surface of what God has done for us, I don’t think. Creating the world and everything in it. Creating life. This is the God who has given each and every one of us life. Every heartbeat, every breath is His. He is the God who opened the Earth to swallow Korah and his followers. He is the God who divided the Red Sea. He is the God who stopped the sun for Joshua. Just think of the power involved in that, for a moment. He stopped the planet from moving. Try to do that sometime. And, most importantly for us, He gave His Son in our place, as a final sacrifice for our sins. Your sins. My sins. Because of God’s works, we are free.
6 "Sacrifice and offering thou hast no delight in; Mine ears hast thou opened: Burnt-offering and sin-offering hast thou not required."
Obedience to God:
Does this mean that when God ordered sacrifices that he was wrong or mistaken? No, I do not think that is what David is speaking of here. I think this is a similar passage to when the prophet confronted Saul about making an unauthorized sacrifice. God expects obedience. Not what we think is best, or what we determined He wants, but rather what He says He wants. We are to worship Him in spirit and in truth, according to the things He has told us. And really, it’s not too difficult (at least, it shouldn’t be). He no longer does ask for burnt offerings and sacrifices from us. He does not ask for great feats of strength or wisdom. He does not demand that we do great things to earn a place among His faithful. Rather, we are simply to humbly and obediently submit ourselves to Him, and His simple commands. To love Him above all else.
7 "Then said I, Lo, I am come; In the roll of the book it is written of me: 8 I delight to do thy will, O my God; Yea, thy law is within my heart."
Delight in God:
David delighted in doing God’s work, and in knowing and obeying the law. Think about this. He did not grudgingly do what God asked him to do. He delighted in it. He enjoyed it. He wanted to do it. And, David knows that God knows this. Will it be written in the roll of the book that we delight to do God’s will? Do we always have God’s word in our hearts and minds, and look for ways to obey and do what God would want us to do? Or do we make excuses, and feebly try to get out of doing what we know we should be doing? Do we truly delight in God’s will?
9 "I have proclaimed glad tidings of righteousness in the great assembly; Lo, I will not refrain my lips, O Jehovah, thou knowest. 10 I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation; I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great assembly."
Teaching of God:
Do we have to force ourselves to speak of God, and our faith in Him? Do we hide our faith? Do we hide the righteousness of the Lord? Do we neglect speaking of the things God has done for us? Or are we boldly teachings others? Do we commonly speak of God? Do we teach others as we go about the day? Are we concealing and hiding God from others? Will we be responsible for not letting others know of God? I hope not. I hope we are all, throughout each day, teaching of God, Christ, and the hope that is within us. I hope that we can all say, at the end of the say, that we have not concealed His truth.
11 "Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Jehovah; Let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. 12 For innumerable evils have compassed me about; Mine iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head; And my heart hath failed me.13 Be pleased, O Jehovah, to deliver me: Make haste to help me, O Jehovah. 14 Let them be put to shame and confounded together That seek after my soul to destroy it: Let them be turned backward and brought to dishonor That delight in my hurt. 15 Let them be desolate by reason of their shame That say unto me, Aha, aha."
Strength in God:
David felt beset on every side by those who would do him harm, from those who mocked him and his faith, and by those who lived sinful lives. Yet he found his strength in God. He begins by telling God of his troubles, and then asks for strength and justice. Which is interesting. In asking these things of God, there is the implicit belief and trust that God can deliver. The belief that God can, and will, support those who follow Him. The belief that God can, and will, deal justly both with the righteous and the unrighteous. God can give you strength, if you put your trust in Him. The knowledge that God will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear is great. After all, any temptation you encounter…you already know you can escape it! And the knowledge that God cares, and will deal justly with the ungodly, makes it easier to deal with the daily grind. God will give us strength to carry on, if we just ask Him.
16 "Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: Let such as love thy salvation say continually, Jehovah be magnified."
Joy in God:
Those who follow God, those who seek His word, those who strive to keep His will can find joy in God. So there’s two parts to this simple statement. The first part is the who, the second part is the what. The who is simply those who follow God. Those who actively and diligently seek Him. Those who love God, Christ, and the salvation He offers. The what is joy. Happiness. If you are consistently following and praising God, you will find happiness in Him. So, conversely, if you are not finding joy in God, perhaps you need to reevaluate whether you are truly following Him or not.
17 B"ut I am poor and needy; [Yet] the Lord thinketh upon me: Thou art my help and my deliverer; Make no tarrying, O my God."
Relationship with God:
What a clear picture of our relationship with God! We are lowly. We are merely human. We are unworthy. Yet God, in His infinite mercy, has seen fit to allow us salvation, and the opportunity to spend eternity with Him. He has seen fit to deliver us from hopelessness and sin. Our relationship with God is one of reliance. We rely on Him for strength, for protection, for salvation. All good things come from Him, and we are to know it. Although we are undeserving, God blesses us. And we pray for speediness on the part of the Lord. We long for Heaven and eternity with Him. To be in the presence of the Almighty, someone so much greater than we can ever be. Our relationship is clear. We are the created, and we are to worship our creator. Not only on the first day of the week in a formal service, but also every moment of every day of our lives. We must have that personal relationship with the Lord. We must trust Him, rely on Him, and know that He cares for us - not because we have earned it, but because He is merciful.
Do you have this relationship with God? Have you come to Christ? Can you find your strength in Him? Are you joyously serving Him? Do we pray to Him and are we obediently serving Him?
If you have not become a part of His body, you are not. None of that applies to you. You lack the relationship with God. Or perhaps you’ve begun your walk with God, but have ceased to serve Him as you once did. Or maybe you simply want prayers for strength to be a better servant of His.
Paul: What he was and wasn't -3/16/08am
Paul: What He Was And Wasn’t
II Peter 3:15-16
Peter writes here that Paul has delivered in his letters the wisdom that God had granted him. He lets the reader know that some of it is hard to understand, yet in Paul’s letters are words that help lead to salvation. Paul was not one of the original twelve apostles. Yet he wrote about half of the books of the New Testament. There is much to be learned from Paul: not only from his message and words, but from his life.
Saul Persecutes the Church - Acts 8:1-3
Saul’s Conversion - Acts 22:3-16
Not Immediately Accepted - Acts 9:26-30
Was Eventually Fully Accepted - Galatians 1:18-2:10
Much as Paul came from the depths of sin and evil, so it is with many in the church. Everyone has opportunity to come to Christ. There is no one who we should overlook as being unworthy. And we should accept that although we have sinned in the past, we can push on and strive to live Godly lives, knowing that the Lord can, and will, forgive us.
It is also informative and motivating to look at what Paul was and was not. In the many ways that Paul is described, there are lessons that can be applied to our lives today.
Paul was not:
A Great Speaker - II Corinthians 11:6
Paul was evidently not a great orator, yet he was willing to teach others. Are we willing to step out of our comfort zones as we are needed? And we are all needed, in one capacity or another.
Physically Impressive - II Corinthians 10:10
Paul was apparently not impressive in stature or presence. We see that such is not necessary for being a servant of the Lord.
A Fool - II Corinthians 11:16-21
It is hard to be a valuable member of Christ’s body and a fool at the same time. Paul showed wisdom: a wisdom that we should all strive to exercise.
Boastful - II Corinthians 11:30
Sometimes it is hard to now crow about what great things we have done. To do so is to be overly proud, to do so it to step out of line, and to do so is at odds with the idea of doing things for spiritual reasons (Matthew 6:3). We must retain our proper focus.
Unhindered - II Corinthians 12:7-10
We often have things that occur in life that seem to prevent us from doing God’s work. Paul had a thorn in the flesh, and if he could continue on anyway, then so can we.
Sinless - I Timothy 1:15
Paul had persecuted the church. He had zealously striven against Christ. And yet, even so, he was able to repent and turn to Christ. We have all sinned, and we can all find repentance.
A Poor Example - I Corinthians 11:1
Paul strove to set an example. It is an example that we should all look towards and follow. Likewise, we need to be aware of the example we set for others around us: friends, coworkers, the brethren, children, etc. etc. etc.
Preaching for the profit - I Corinthians 9:3-18
Today we often see people who preach in such a way as to become wealthy. Paul, while understanding that payment was acceptable, did not preach in order to find riches.
Always in agreement with brethren - Acts 15:36-41
We may occasionally find ourselves at odds with other brethren. The question is this: how do we handle it? Do we permit it to cause dissension and prevent God’s work from being done? Or do we seek to resolve it and carry on with God’s will?
Non-confrontational - Galatians 2:11-21
Paul was willing to confront error when he saw it. We must be willing to show the same lack of tolerance towards sin in our lives. And sometimes, that does require confrontation.
Blind towards good deeds - Romans 16:1-15
Paul recognized those who strove to live Godly lives, and often sang their praises throughout his letters. Are we willing to look around and recognize the good that others do? Are we willing to encourage them as Paul did?
Paul was:
A Hebrew - II Corinthians 11:22
Being a Hebrew, and a well educated and trained one, he was familiar with the Old Law and prophecies.
A Servant of Christ - II Corinthians 11:23
Shouldn’t we all be servants of Christ? Are we truly serving the master?
Persecuted - II Corinthians 11:24-25
All Christians feel persecuted at times. Yet have any of us endured such as Paul? Are any of us willing to endure what Paul did?
Concerned for the Brethren - II Corinthians 11:28
Paul felt concern for the brethren in all the churches. Are we as concerned with one another?
An Ex-Pharisee - Philippians 3:5
Paul had been trained as a Pharisee: he was very knowledgeable about the Law, and as a Pharisee would have tried to strictly observe it.
A Roman Citizen - Acts 22:25-29
In addition to being a Hebrew, he was a Roman citizen, which opened doors to him. Are we willing to take advantage of the opportunities God has given us?
Familiar with Greek Writings - Acts 17:28
Paul had some level familiarity with Greek writings, and was able to use that to teach the gospel. Do we make spiritual connections to things in our daily lives?
A Preacher - Galatians 1:11-12
Paul taught what God taught. Not something made up of his own, but Christ’s message. Do we teach this same gospel in our lives?
A Bold Writer - II Corinthians 10:1
Paul was often blunt, and boldly proclaimed the truth. Are we willing to do the same, when it is necessary?
An Apostle - I Corinthians 1:1
Although we are not apostles in the sense that Paul and other 1st were, we can still be messengers. Are we?
Saved - II Timothy 4:6-8
Paul was confident in his salvation, having striven to serve the Lord. He had done his utmost to fulfill his role, and had done his utmost to carry out God’s will. Are we able to have his confidence in eternity?
II Peter 3:15-16
Peter writes here that Paul has delivered in his letters the wisdom that God had granted him. He lets the reader know that some of it is hard to understand, yet in Paul’s letters are words that help lead to salvation. Paul was not one of the original twelve apostles. Yet he wrote about half of the books of the New Testament. There is much to be learned from Paul: not only from his message and words, but from his life.
Saul Persecutes the Church - Acts 8:1-3
Saul’s Conversion - Acts 22:3-16
Not Immediately Accepted - Acts 9:26-30
Was Eventually Fully Accepted - Galatians 1:18-2:10
Much as Paul came from the depths of sin and evil, so it is with many in the church. Everyone has opportunity to come to Christ. There is no one who we should overlook as being unworthy. And we should accept that although we have sinned in the past, we can push on and strive to live Godly lives, knowing that the Lord can, and will, forgive us.
It is also informative and motivating to look at what Paul was and was not. In the many ways that Paul is described, there are lessons that can be applied to our lives today.
Paul was not:
A Great Speaker - II Corinthians 11:6
Paul was evidently not a great orator, yet he was willing to teach others. Are we willing to step out of our comfort zones as we are needed? And we are all needed, in one capacity or another.
Physically Impressive - II Corinthians 10:10
Paul was apparently not impressive in stature or presence. We see that such is not necessary for being a servant of the Lord.
A Fool - II Corinthians 11:16-21
It is hard to be a valuable member of Christ’s body and a fool at the same time. Paul showed wisdom: a wisdom that we should all strive to exercise.
Boastful - II Corinthians 11:30
Sometimes it is hard to now crow about what great things we have done. To do so is to be overly proud, to do so it to step out of line, and to do so is at odds with the idea of doing things for spiritual reasons (Matthew 6:3). We must retain our proper focus.
Unhindered - II Corinthians 12:7-10
We often have things that occur in life that seem to prevent us from doing God’s work. Paul had a thorn in the flesh, and if he could continue on anyway, then so can we.
Sinless - I Timothy 1:15
Paul had persecuted the church. He had zealously striven against Christ. And yet, even so, he was able to repent and turn to Christ. We have all sinned, and we can all find repentance.
A Poor Example - I Corinthians 11:1
Paul strove to set an example. It is an example that we should all look towards and follow. Likewise, we need to be aware of the example we set for others around us: friends, coworkers, the brethren, children, etc. etc. etc.
Preaching for the profit - I Corinthians 9:3-18
Today we often see people who preach in such a way as to become wealthy. Paul, while understanding that payment was acceptable, did not preach in order to find riches.
Always in agreement with brethren - Acts 15:36-41
We may occasionally find ourselves at odds with other brethren. The question is this: how do we handle it? Do we permit it to cause dissension and prevent God’s work from being done? Or do we seek to resolve it and carry on with God’s will?
Non-confrontational - Galatians 2:11-21
Paul was willing to confront error when he saw it. We must be willing to show the same lack of tolerance towards sin in our lives. And sometimes, that does require confrontation.
Blind towards good deeds - Romans 16:1-15
Paul recognized those who strove to live Godly lives, and often sang their praises throughout his letters. Are we willing to look around and recognize the good that others do? Are we willing to encourage them as Paul did?
Paul was:
A Hebrew - II Corinthians 11:22
Being a Hebrew, and a well educated and trained one, he was familiar with the Old Law and prophecies.
A Servant of Christ - II Corinthians 11:23
Shouldn’t we all be servants of Christ? Are we truly serving the master?
Persecuted - II Corinthians 11:24-25
All Christians feel persecuted at times. Yet have any of us endured such as Paul? Are any of us willing to endure what Paul did?
Concerned for the Brethren - II Corinthians 11:28
Paul felt concern for the brethren in all the churches. Are we as concerned with one another?
An Ex-Pharisee - Philippians 3:5
Paul had been trained as a Pharisee: he was very knowledgeable about the Law, and as a Pharisee would have tried to strictly observe it.
A Roman Citizen - Acts 22:25-29
In addition to being a Hebrew, he was a Roman citizen, which opened doors to him. Are we willing to take advantage of the opportunities God has given us?
Familiar with Greek Writings - Acts 17:28
Paul had some level familiarity with Greek writings, and was able to use that to teach the gospel. Do we make spiritual connections to things in our daily lives?
A Preacher - Galatians 1:11-12
Paul taught what God taught. Not something made up of his own, but Christ’s message. Do we teach this same gospel in our lives?
A Bold Writer - II Corinthians 10:1
Paul was often blunt, and boldly proclaimed the truth. Are we willing to do the same, when it is necessary?
An Apostle - I Corinthians 1:1
Although we are not apostles in the sense that Paul and other 1st were, we can still be messengers. Are we?
Saved - II Timothy 4:6-8
Paul was confident in his salvation, having striven to serve the Lord. He had done his utmost to fulfill his role, and had done his utmost to carry out God’s will. Are we able to have his confidence in eternity?
Provoking Each Other - 3/9/08am
Provoking Each Other
Hebrews 10:24-25
We’ll be focusing on Hebrews 10:24-25, although oddly enough, we will not be focusing on the “assembling together” portion of this passage. Instead, I want to examine in this passage the brief outline for helping others develop in the Faith. We recognize that we are all at different points in our growth, but we can all help each other in developing into better Christians.
“and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.” (Hebrews 10:24-25 ASV)
1. Consider each other
2. Provoke each other
3. Exhort each other
4. As we see the day approaching
1. Consider – Is a deliberate, reasoned, thoughtful way of looking towards others.
We should always be looking for who needs help, support, or a little bit of prodding. Likewise, we should consider how best to do this for each other. And, of course, we also need others to consider us, and how to help us along. (In context, remember to think along spiritual lines.) This is all inclusive, and leave no one out:
Matthew 22:34-40 -Love your neighbor
Luke 10:25-37 -Good Samaritan (BE the neighbor)
Matthew 7:12 -Doing unto others
More specifically, we can look at people specifically mentioned who we should put above ourselves:
Colossians 3:18-21 -Family members
Colossians 3:22-25 -Our employers
I Peter 2:13-17 -Our rulers
I Peter 5:1-3 -To elders
I Peter 5:5-7 -To others
And, let us take it a step further. Not only should we consider what might help someone develop, or look to see who we can help, but we can look to make sure we do not become a stumbling block to that person.
I Corinthians 8:9-13
So look around you and think: is there anyone who can use a little help, spiritually? Of course there is! In fact, I’d imagine you don’t even have to look any farther than where you are sitting or where I am standing. We all have areas in which we need to grow and become stronger.
2. Provoke – Is inciting someone, or stirring them up to action
Once we find someone who needs some encouragement and/or development, we look to stir them up. We look for ways to get them started. We look for ways to help people light a zealous fire for the Lord.
There are two things mentioned here that we should be stirring people up to: love, and good works.
To Love:
Matthew 22:34-40 -Love towards God and neighbors
I Peter 2:17 -Love towards the brethren
John 13:3-17 -Jesus’ example of washing the disciples’ feet
To Good Works:
James 1:22-25 -Be a Doer
Matthew 7:15-27 -Doing works, showing wisdom
Hebrews 5:8-9 -Salvation is to those who obey
There’s all sorts of ways to provoke someone. Invite them for a Bible study. Take them with you when you try to teach people. Talk to them about spiritual things. It’s something that we can all do, should all do, and is pretty easy to do. Don’t just say, “that person could use a little nudge,” BE the nudge!
3. Exhort – To urgently encourage another
We are not to idly encourage someone, but to do so urgently. After we’ve helped stir up a fire, we help keep it going! Don’t just get people started, then ignore them. Keep helping! Throw some wood on the fire!
Exhortation should be Bible based:
II Timothy 3:16-17 -God’s word is useful for exhorting
Exhortation is for everyone:
I Corinthians 15:31 -That all may be exhorted
Exhortation should be done by everyone:
Hebrews 3:12-13 -Brothers should exhort each other daily
Exhortation should build up, and not tear down:
I Thessalonians 5:11 -Exhort and build up
Exhortation has a purpose:
Jude 1:3 -To contend for the Faith
Exhortation should be done gently and meekly:
I Timothy 5:1 -Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him gently
Exhortation should always be taking place:
II Timothy 4:2 -In season and out of season
These three things are something we all need. It does not matter who you are, or where you live, you need to be doing these things, and you need other people doing them for you. Think of this: if everyone concerns themselves only with themselves, then each person has the support of one person. If we all concern ourselves with the spiritual growth of each other, then how many more people do we have helping us? How much stronger can we be? If I’m helping you grow, you’re helping me grow, we will both be better for it.
4. As the day approaches – we have a deadline!
There is a day, when it will be too late to prepare. There is a time coming when we need to be ready. This is why we should always be working on these things. This is why we constantly exhort and provoke each other. This is why it is urgent: because the deadline is coming, and we don’t know when it will be.
II Peter 3:10-13 -So what sort of person should we be?
I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 -We should be ready for judgment, whenever it is
Are we ready? Are we prepared? Will God find us to be willing, zealous servants? Will God find us to be working together to get as many people to Heaven as possible? Or will He us focused only on ourselves?
Hebrews 10:24-25
We’ll be focusing on Hebrews 10:24-25, although oddly enough, we will not be focusing on the “assembling together” portion of this passage. Instead, I want to examine in this passage the brief outline for helping others develop in the Faith. We recognize that we are all at different points in our growth, but we can all help each other in developing into better Christians.
“and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking our own assembling together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.” (Hebrews 10:24-25 ASV)
1. Consider each other
2. Provoke each other
3. Exhort each other
4. As we see the day approaching
1. Consider – Is a deliberate, reasoned, thoughtful way of looking towards others.
We should always be looking for who needs help, support, or a little bit of prodding. Likewise, we should consider how best to do this for each other. And, of course, we also need others to consider us, and how to help us along. (In context, remember to think along spiritual lines.) This is all inclusive, and leave no one out:
Matthew 22:34-40 -Love your neighbor
Luke 10:25-37 -Good Samaritan (BE the neighbor)
Matthew 7:12 -Doing unto others
More specifically, we can look at people specifically mentioned who we should put above ourselves:
Colossians 3:18-21 -Family members
Colossians 3:22-25 -Our employers
I Peter 2:13-17 -Our rulers
I Peter 5:1-3 -To elders
I Peter 5:5-7 -To others
And, let us take it a step further. Not only should we consider what might help someone develop, or look to see who we can help, but we can look to make sure we do not become a stumbling block to that person.
I Corinthians 8:9-13
So look around you and think: is there anyone who can use a little help, spiritually? Of course there is! In fact, I’d imagine you don’t even have to look any farther than where you are sitting or where I am standing. We all have areas in which we need to grow and become stronger.
2. Provoke – Is inciting someone, or stirring them up to action
Once we find someone who needs some encouragement and/or development, we look to stir them up. We look for ways to get them started. We look for ways to help people light a zealous fire for the Lord.
There are two things mentioned here that we should be stirring people up to: love, and good works.
To Love:
Matthew 22:34-40 -Love towards God and neighbors
I Peter 2:17 -Love towards the brethren
John 13:3-17 -Jesus’ example of washing the disciples’ feet
To Good Works:
James 1:22-25 -Be a Doer
Matthew 7:15-27 -Doing works, showing wisdom
Hebrews 5:8-9 -Salvation is to those who obey
There’s all sorts of ways to provoke someone. Invite them for a Bible study. Take them with you when you try to teach people. Talk to them about spiritual things. It’s something that we can all do, should all do, and is pretty easy to do. Don’t just say, “that person could use a little nudge,” BE the nudge!
3. Exhort – To urgently encourage another
We are not to idly encourage someone, but to do so urgently. After we’ve helped stir up a fire, we help keep it going! Don’t just get people started, then ignore them. Keep helping! Throw some wood on the fire!
Exhortation should be Bible based:
II Timothy 3:16-17 -God’s word is useful for exhorting
Exhortation is for everyone:
I Corinthians 15:31 -That all may be exhorted
Exhortation should be done by everyone:
Hebrews 3:12-13 -Brothers should exhort each other daily
Exhortation should build up, and not tear down:
I Thessalonians 5:11 -Exhort and build up
Exhortation has a purpose:
Jude 1:3 -To contend for the Faith
Exhortation should be done gently and meekly:
I Timothy 5:1 -Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him gently
Exhortation should always be taking place:
II Timothy 4:2 -In season and out of season
These three things are something we all need. It does not matter who you are, or where you live, you need to be doing these things, and you need other people doing them for you. Think of this: if everyone concerns themselves only with themselves, then each person has the support of one person. If we all concern ourselves with the spiritual growth of each other, then how many more people do we have helping us? How much stronger can we be? If I’m helping you grow, you’re helping me grow, we will both be better for it.
4. As the day approaches – we have a deadline!
There is a day, when it will be too late to prepare. There is a time coming when we need to be ready. This is why we should always be working on these things. This is why we constantly exhort and provoke each other. This is why it is urgent: because the deadline is coming, and we don’t know when it will be.
II Peter 3:10-13 -So what sort of person should we be?
I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 -We should be ready for judgment, whenever it is
Are we ready? Are we prepared? Will God find us to be willing, zealous servants? Will God find us to be working together to get as many people to Heaven as possible? Or will He us focused only on ourselves?
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