9/3/12

Without Words...






Last night we had a very enthusiastic study from the 8th chapter of Romans (the word spirited really is what came to my mind, but its a bad play on words).  I was having neck problems last night and simply could not sleep, so I had plenty of time to think.  And so this passage necessarily came to mind when I saw this picture among my collection today..

Romans, Chapter 8
 25 But if we hope for that which we don’t see, we wait for it with patience.  26 In the same way, the Spirit also helps our weaknesses, for we don’t know how to pray as we ought. But the Spirit himself makes intercession for us with groanings which can’t be uttered.  27 He who searches the hearts knows what is on the Spirit’s mind, because he makes intercession for the saints according to God.

I wonder, does genuine prayer always have to follow a format?  Often, I find myself praying about a variety of matters, with no apparent theme.  Again, I wonder... is this right or maybe even good?  At times, thoughts and problems are just below the conscious level and sometimes I notice that my no format really does have a format after all.  It has occurred to me that God loves both our conscious and subconscious minds and that the true essence of a person is a combination of both.  Perhaps this is what verse 27 is really about?  Its great to have a planned prayer life, but a wide open one is has its place to.  Some day I am sure God will tell me the full answer, but for today, I will pray with both my mind and my heart.  Who knows what will happen? Answer: God!!!

Sept. 3 Psalms 33-35


Sept. 3
Psalms 33-35

Psa 33:1 Rejoice in Yahweh, you righteous! Praise is fitting for the upright.
Psa 33:2 Give thanks to Yahweh with the lyre. Sing praises to him with the harp of ten strings.
Psa 33:3 Sing to him a new song. Play skillfully with a shout of joy!
Psa 33:4 For the word of Yahweh is right. All his work is done in faithfulness.
Psa 33:5 He loves righteousness and justice. The earth is full of the loving kindness of Yahweh.
Psa 33:6 By Yahweh's word, the heavens were made; all their army by the breath of his mouth.
Psa 33:7 He gathers the waters of the sea together as a heap. He lays up the deeps in storehouses.
Psa 33:8 Let all the earth fear Yahweh. Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.
Psa 33:9 For he spoke, and it was done. He commanded, and it stood firm.
Psa 33:10 Yahweh brings the counsel of the nations to nothing. He makes the thoughts of the peoples to be of no effect.
Psa 33:11 The counsel of Yahweh stands fast forever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.
Psa 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is Yahweh, the people whom he has chosen for his own inheritance.
Psa 33:13 Yahweh looks from heaven. He sees all the sons of men.
Psa 33:14 From the place of his habitation he looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth,
Psa 33:15 he who fashions all of their hearts; and he considers all of their works.
Psa 33:16 There is no king saved by the multitude of an army. A mighty man is not delivered by great strength.
Psa 33:17 A horse is a vain thing for safety, neither does he deliver any by his great power.
Psa 33:18 Behold, Yahweh's eye is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his loving kindness;
Psa 33:19 to deliver their soul from death, to keep them alive in famine.
Psa 33:20 Our soul has waited for Yahweh. He is our help and our shield.
Psa 33:21 For our heart rejoices in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.
Psa 33:22 Let your loving kindness be on us, Yahweh, since we have hoped in you.
Psa 34:1 I will bless Yahweh at all times. His praise will always be in my mouth.
Psa 34:2 My soul shall boast in Yahweh. The humble shall hear of it, and be glad.
Psa 34:3 Oh magnify Yahweh with me. Let us exalt his name together.
Psa 34:4 I sought Yahweh, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Psa 34:5 They looked to him, and were radiant. Their faces shall never be covered with shame.
Psa 34:6 This poor man cried, and Yahweh heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
Psa 34:7 The angel of Yahweh encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Psa 34:8 Oh taste and see that Yahweh is good. Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Psa 34:9 Oh fear Yahweh, you his saints, for there is no lack with those who fear him.
Psa 34:10 The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger, but those who seek Yahweh shall not lack any good thing.
Psa 34:11 Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh.
Psa 34:12 Who is someone who desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good?
Psa 34:13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking lies.
Psa 34:14 Depart from evil, and do good. seek peace, and pursue it.
Psa 34:15 Yahweh's eyes are toward the righteous. His ears listen to their cry.
Psa 34:16 Yahweh's face is against those who do evil, to cut off the memory of them from the earth.
Psa 34:17 The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles.
Psa 34:18 Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit.
Psa 34:19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Yahweh delivers him out of them all.
Psa 34:20 He protects all of his bones. Not one of them is broken.
Psa 34:21 Evil shall kill the wicked. Those who hate the righteous shall be condemned.
Psa 34:22 Yahweh redeems the soul of his servants. None of those who take refuge in him shall be condemned.
Psa 35:1 Contend, Yahweh, with those who contend with me. Fight against those who fight against me.
Psa 35:2 Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for my help.
Psa 35:3 Brandish the spear and block those who pursue me. Tell my soul, "I am your salvation."
Psa 35:4 Let those who seek after my soul be disappointed and brought to dishonor. Let those who plot my ruin be turned back and confounded.
Psa 35:5 Let them be as chaff before the wind, Yahweh's angel driving them on.
Psa 35:6 Let their way be dark and slippery, Yahweh's angel pursuing them.
Psa 35:7 For without cause they have hidden their net in a pit for me. Without cause they have dug a pit for my soul.
Psa 35:8 Let destruction come on him unawares. Let his net that he has hidden catch himself. Let him fall into that destruction.
Psa 35:9 My soul shall be joyful in Yahweh. It shall rejoice in his salvation.
Psa 35:10 All my bones shall say, "Yahweh, who is like you, who delivers the poor from him who is too strong for him; yes, the poor and the needy from him who robs him?"
Psa 35:11 Unrighteous witnesses rise up. They ask me about things that I don't know about.
Psa 35:12 They reward me evil for good, to the bereaving of my soul.
Psa 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth. I afflicted my soul with fasting. My prayer returned into my own bosom.
Psa 35:14 I behaved myself as though it had been my friend or my brother. I bowed down mourning, as one who mourns his mother.
Psa 35:15 But in my adversity, they rejoiced, and gathered themselves together. The attackers gathered themselves together against me, and I didn't know it. They tore at me, and didn't cease.
Psa 35:16 Like the profane mockers in feasts, they gnashed their teeth at me.
Psa 35:17 Lord, how long will you look on? Rescue my soul from their destruction, my precious life from the lions.
Psa 35:18 I will give you thanks in the great assembly. I will praise you among many people.
Psa 35:19 Don't let those who are my enemies wrongfully rejoice over me; neither let those who hate me without a cause wink their eyes.
Psa 35:20 For they don't speak peace, but they devise deceitful words against those who are quiet in the land.
Psa 35:21 Yes, they opened their mouth wide against me. They said, "Aha! Aha! Our eye has seen it!"
Psa 35:22 You have seen it, Yahweh. Don't keep silent. Lord, don't be far from me.
Psa 35:23 Wake up! Rise up to defend me, my God! My Lord, contend for me!
Psa 35:24 Vindicate me, Yahweh my God, according to your righteousness. Don't let them gloat over me.
Psa 35:25 Don't let them say in their heart, "Aha! That's the way we want it!" Don't let them say, "We have swallowed him up!"
Psa 35:26 Let them be disappointed and confounded together who rejoice at my calamity. Let them be clothed with shame and dishonor who magnify themselves against me.
Psa 35:27 Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause. Yes, let them say continually, "Yahweh be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of his servant!"
Psa 35:28 My tongue shall talk about your righteousness and about your praise all day long.

Sept. 3 Romans 15


Sept. 3
Romans 15

Rom 15:1 Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
Rom 15:2 Let each one of us please his neighbor for that which is good, to be building him up.
Rom 15:3 For even Christ didn't please himself. But, as it is written, "The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me."
Rom 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through patience and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Rom 15:5 Now the God of patience and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus,
Rom 15:6 that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Rom 15:7 Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God.
Rom 15:8 Now I say that Christ has been made a servant of the circumcision for the truth of God, that he might confirm the promises given to the fathers,
Rom 15:9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore will I give praise to you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name."
Rom 15:10 Again he says, "Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people."
Rom 15:11 Again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles! Let all the peoples praise him."
Rom 15:12 Again, Isaiah says, "There will be the root of Jesse, he who arises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope."
Rom 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, in the power of the Holy Spirit.
Rom 15:14 I myself am also persuaded about you, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish others.
Rom 15:15 But I write the more boldly to you in part, as reminding you, because of the grace that was given to me by God,
Rom 15:16 that I should be a servant of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles, serving as a priest the Good News of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be made acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
Rom 15:17 I have therefore my boasting in Christ Jesus in things pertaining to God.
Rom 15:18 For I will not dare to speak of any things except those which Christ worked through me, for the obedience of the Gentiles, by word and deed,
Rom 15:19 in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of God's Spirit; so that from Jerusalem, and around as far as to Illyricum, I have fully preached the Good News of Christ;
Rom 15:20 yes, making it my aim to preach the Good News, not where Christ was already named, that I might not build on another's foundation.
Rom 15:21 But, as it is written, "They will see, to whom no news of him came. They who haven't heard will understand."
Rom 15:22 Therefore also I was hindered these many times from coming to you,
Rom 15:23 but now, no longer having any place in these regions, and having these many years a longing to come to you,
Rom 15:24 whenever I journey to Spain, I will come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while.
Rom 15:25 But now, I say, I am going to Jerusalem, serving the saints.
Rom 15:26 For it has been the good pleasure of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are at Jerusalem.
Rom 15:27 Yes, it has been their good pleasure, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, they owe it to them also to serve them in fleshly things.
Rom 15:28 When therefore I have accomplished this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will go on by way of you to Spain.
Rom 15:29 I know that, when I come to you, I will come in the fullness of the blessing of the Good News of Christ.
Rom 15:30 Now I beg you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ, and by the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in your prayers to God for me,
Rom 15:31 that I may be delivered from those who are disobedient in Judea, and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints;
Rom 15:32 that I may come to you in joy through the will of God, and together with you, find rest.
Rom 15:33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

"THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS" Chapter Two by Mark Copeland 

                "THE SECOND EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS"

                              Chapter Two

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To examine what is revealed about the "man of sin" whom the Lord 
   will destroy at His coming

2) To consider how those who do not have a love for the truth are 
   setting themselves up to be deceived by the man of sin

3) To discern why God will send a strong delusion to some that they 
   will believe a lie

SUMMARY

Evidently Paul received word that some of the Thessalonians had the
impression that the day of Christ had come, that is, it was near at
hand.  To reassure them such was not the case, he reminds them of those
things he had told them while he was still with them.  That is, Christ
will not come until the falling away occurs, and the man of sin is 
revealed (1-3).  Paul then describes this man of sin and explains that 
he is currently hindered from being revealed.  When that which 
restrains him is removed, the man of sin will become apparent, whom the
Lord will destroy with His coming (4-8).  The coming of the lawless one
is further described, whose coming will be according to the working 
with Satan.  With all power, signs, and lying wonders, he will deceive 
those who do not have a love for the truth.  Indeed, God will also send
a strong delusion to those who do not love the truth, that they might 
believe the lie and be condemned for taking pleasure in unrighteousness
instead of believing the truth (9-12).

As for the Thessalonians themselves, Paul is ever thankful that God has
chosen them for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and 
belief in the truth, having called them by the gospel to obtain the 
glory of the Lord Jesus Christ (13-14).  He therefore exhorts them to 
stand fast and hold to the traditions taught by word or epistle, and 
prays that Jesus and God the Father will comfort their hearts and 
establish them in every good word and work (15-17).

OUTLINE

I. ENLIGHTENMENT ABOUT THE COMING OF THE LORD (1-12)

   A. DO NOT BE TROUBLED (1-2)
      1. Concerning the coming of the Lord, and our gathering to Him
         (1)
      2. By false reports, as though the day of Christ has come (2)

   B. THE APOSTASY MUST COME FIRST (3-12)
      1. The Day of Christ will not come until...
         a. A falling away comes first (3a)
         b. The man of sin (lawlessness) is revealed (3-4)
            1) The son of perdition (3c)
            2) Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called
               God and that is worshipped (4a)
            3) He sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself 
               that he is God (4b)
         -- As Paul told them while he was with them (5)
      2. The man of sin is being restrained (6-7)
         a. They knew what it was that was restraining him (6a)
         b. He will be revealed in his own time (6b)
         c. The mystery of lawlessness is already at work (7a)
         d. But the one who restrains will do so until taken out of the
            way (7b)
      3. When the lawless one is revealed (8-12)
         a. The Lord will...
            1) Consume him with the breath of His mouth (8a)
            2) Destroy him with the brightness of His coming (8b)
         b. The coming of the lawless one...
            1) Will be according to the working of Satan (9a)
            2) With all power, signs, and lying wonders (9b)
            3) With all unrighteous deception among those who perish
               (10a)
               a) Because they did not receive the love of the truth
                  (10b)
               b) That they might be saved (10c)
         c. For this reason...
            1) God will send them a strong delusion (11a)
               a) That they should believe the lie (11b)
               b) That they may be condemned (12a)
            2) Because they did not believe the truth but had pleasure
               in unrighteousness (12b)

II. STEADFASTNESS ENCOURAGED (13-17)

   A. THANKSGIVING AND A CALL TO STEADFASTNESS (13-15)
      1. Bound always to give thanks to God (13a)
         a. Who from the beginning chose them for salvation (13b)
            1) Through sanctification by the Spirit (13c)
            2) And belief in the truth (13d)
         b. To which He called them (14a)
            1) By the gospel (14b)
            2) For the obtaining of the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ
               (14c)
      2. Stand fast and hold the traditions which they were taught
         (15a)
         a. Whether by word (15b)
         b. Or by his epistle (15c)

   B. PAUL'S PRAYER FOR THE THESSALONIANS (16-17)
      1. May the Lord Jesus Himself, and our God and Father (16a)
         a. Who loved us (16b)
         b. Who has given us... (16c)
            1) Everlasting consolation
            2) Good hope by grace
      2. Comfort your hearts (17a)
      3. Establish you in every good word and work (17b)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Enlightenment about the coming of the Lord (1-12)
   - Steadfastness encouraged (13-17)

2) What two related things does Paul now address them? (1)
   - The coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
   - Our gathering together to Him

3) About what did he not want them to be troubled? (2)
   - As though the day of Christ had come

4) What two things must happen before that Day comes? (3)
   - The falling away
   - The man of sin is revealed

5) List the various descriptions of the "man of sin" (3a-4)
   - The son of perdition
   - Who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or 
     that is worshipped
   - He sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is
     God

6) Had Paul told the Thessalonians of these things before? (5)
   - Yes

7) Did they know what was restraining the "man of sin" from being
   revealed? (6)
   - Yes

8) What was already at work at the time Paul wrote the Thessalonians?
   (7)
   - The mystery of lawlessness

9) How long would the one who restrains do so? (7)
   - Until he is taken out of the way

10) What will the Lord do to the lawless one? (8)
   - He will consume him with the breath of His mouth
   - He will destroy him with the brightness of His coming

11) According to what will the coming of the lawless one be?  What will
    accompany his coming? (9-10)
   - According to the working of Satan
   - All power, signs and lying wonders; with unrighteous deception

12) Who will be deceived by this lawless one?  Why? (10)
   - Those who perish
   - Because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they 
     might be saved

13) What will God therefore send? (11)
   - A strong delusion

14) What two purposes does Paul give for God doing this? (11-12)
   - That they should believe the lie
   - That they may be condemned

15) Who is it that will suffer such things? (12)
   - Those who did not believe the truth, but had pleasure in 
     unrighteousness

16) How did God choose to save the Thessalonians? (13)
   - Through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth

17) How did God call them?  For what purpose? (14)
   - He called them by the gospel
   - For the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ

18) What two exhortations does Paul give them? (15)
   - Stand fast
   - Hold to the traditions which they were taught, whether by word or
     epistle

19) What two things does Paul mention that God and Jesus has given to
    us? (16)
   - Everlasting consolation
   - Good hope

20) For what does Paul pray that Jesus and God will do for the 
    Thessalonians? (17)
   - Comfort their hearts
   - Establish them in every good word and work

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