9/6/12

One smart bird!


I guess I have always known that Einstein was exceptionally bright, but over the years I have just begun to realize what profound he had as well.  And a sense of humor to... who would have guessed?  So, everyone is a genius; OK!!!But, hey, I already knew that!!! I began to realize it when my daughters were growing up; all three were raised the same way, exposed to the same things, yet how different they have become.  Needless to say, they gave a "unique" flavor to our household!!!!  But, that is as it should be.  The same thing applies to the assemblage of Christians which we commonly call the church.  Only this time, the group is brought together by God.  Read on...

Ephesians, Chapter 4
11 And indeed He gave some to be apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some pastors and teachers;  12 with a view to the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ,  13 until we all may come to the unity of the faith and of the full knowledge of the Son of God, to a full-grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,  14 so that we may no longer be infants, having been blown and carried to and fro by every wind of doctrine, in the underhandedness of men, in craftiness with a view to the trickery of error,  15 but speaking the truth in love, we may grow up into Him in all things, who is the head, the Christ,  16 from whom all the body, having been fitted and compacted together through every assisting bond, according to the effectual working of one measure in each part, produces the growth of the body to the building up of itself in love.

We all don't have to be super-intelligent, or super-athletic or super-anything.  We just have to be ourselves, love God and those around us.  God will work things out!!!  Always has; always will!!!  Just a small bit of wisdom on a rainy September day!!!

Sept. 6 Psalms 43-45


Sept. 6
Psalms 43-45

Psa 43:1 Vindicate me, God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation. Oh, deliver me from deceitful and wicked men.
Psa 43:2 For you are the God of my strength. Why have you rejected me? Why do I go mourning because of the oppression of the enemy?
Psa 43:3 Oh, send out your light and your truth. Let them lead me. Let them bring me to your holy hill, To your tents.
Psa 43:4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my exceeding joy. I will praise you on the harp, God, my God.
Psa 43:5 Why are you in despair, my soul? Why are you disturbed within me? Hope in God! For I shall still praise him: my Savior, my helper, and my God.
Psa 44:1 We have heard with our ears, God; our fathers have told us, what work you did in their days, in the days of old.
Psa 44:2 You drove out the nations with your hand, but you planted them. You afflicted the peoples, but you spread them abroad.
Psa 44:3 For they didn't get the land in possession by their own sword, neither did their own arm save them; but your right hand, and your arm, and the light of your face, because you were favorable to them.
Psa 44:4 You are my King, God. Command victories for Jacob!
Psa 44:5 Through you, will we push down our adversaries. Through your name, will we tread them under who rise up against us.
Psa 44:6 For I will not trust in my bow, neither shall my sword save me.
Psa 44:7 But you have saved us from our adversaries, and have shamed those who hate us.
Psa 44:8 In God we have made our boast all day long, we will give thanks to your name forever. Selah.
Psa 44:9 But now you rejected us, and brought us to dishonor, and don't go out with our armies.
Psa 44:10 You make us turn back from the adversary. Those who hate us take spoil for themselves.
Psa 44:11 You have made us like sheep for food, and have scattered us among the nations.
Psa 44:12 You sell your people for nothing, and have gained nothing from their sale.
Psa 44:13 You make us a reproach to our neighbors, a scoffing and a derision to those who are around us.
Psa 44:14 You make us a byword among the nations, a shaking of the head among the peoples.
Psa 44:15 All day long my dishonor is before me, and shame covers my face,
Psa 44:16 At the taunt of one who reproaches and verbally abuses, because of the enemy and the avenger.
Psa 44:17 All this has come on us, yet have we not forgotten you, Neither have we been false to your covenant.
Psa 44:18 Our heart has not turned back, neither have our steps strayed from your path,
Psa 44:19 Though you have crushed us in the haunt of jackals, and covered us with the shadow of death.
Psa 44:20 If we have forgotten the name of our God, or spread forth our hands to a strange god;
Psa 44:21 won't God search this out? For he knows the secrets of the heart.
Psa 44:22 Yes, for your sake we are killed all day long. We are regarded as sheep for the slaughter.
Psa 44:23 Wake up! Why do you sleep, Lord? Arise! Don't reject us forever.
Psa 44:24 Why do you hide your face, and forget our affliction and our oppression?
Psa 44:25 For our soul is bowed down to the dust. Our body cleaves to the earth.
Psa 44:26 Rise up to help us. Redeem us for your loving kindness' sake.
Psa 45:1 My heart overflows with a noble theme. I recite my verses for the king. My tongue is like the pen of a skillful writer.
Psa 45:2 You are the most excellent of the sons of men. Grace has anointed your lips, therefore God has blessed you forever.
Psa 45:3 Gird your sword on your thigh, mighty one: your splendor and your majesty.
Psa 45:4 In your majesty ride on victoriously on behalf of truth, humility, and righteousness. Let your right hand display awesome deeds.
Psa 45:5 Your arrows are sharp. The nations fall under you, with arrows in the heart of the king's enemies.
Psa 45:6 Your throne, God, is forever and ever. A scepter of equity is the scepter of your kingdom.
Psa 45:7 You have loved righteousness, and hated wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows.
Psa 45:8 All your garments smell like myrrh, aloes, and cassia. Out of ivory palaces stringed instruments have made you glad.
Psa 45:9 Kings' daughters are among your honorable women. At your right hand the queen stands in gold of Ophir.
Psa 45:10 Listen, daughter, consider, and turn your ear. Forget your own people, and also your father's house.
Psa 45:11 So the king will desire your beauty, honor him, for he is your lord.
Psa 45:12 The daughter of Tyre comes with a gift. The rich among the people entreat your favor.
Psa 45:13 The princess inside is all glorious. Her clothing is interwoven with gold.
Psa 45:14 She shall be led to the king in embroidered work. The virgins, her companions who follow her, shall be brought to you.
Psa 45:15 With gladness and rejoicing they shall be led. They shall enter into the king's palace.
Psa 45:16 Your sons will take the place of your fathers. You shall make them princes in all the earth.
Psa 45:17 I will make your name to be remembered in all generations. Therefore the peoples shall give you thanks forever and ever.

Sept. 6 1 Corinthians 2


Sept. 6
1 Corinthians 2

1Co 2:1 When I came to you, brothers, I didn't come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God.
1Co 2:2 For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
1Co 2:3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.
1Co 2:4 My speech and my preaching were not in persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
1Co 2:5 that your faith wouldn't stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
1Co 2:6 We speak wisdom, however, among those who are full grown; yet a wisdom not of this world, nor of the rulers of this world, who are coming to nothing.
1Co 2:7 But we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the wisdom that has been hidden, which God foreordained before the worlds for our glory,
1Co 2:8 which none of the rulers of this world has known. For had they known it, they wouldn't have crucified the Lord of glory.
1Co 2:9 But as it is written, "Things which an eye didn't see, and an ear didn't hear, which didn't enter into the heart of man, these God has prepared for those who love him."
1Co 2:10 But to us, God revealed them through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.
1Co 2:11 For who among men knows the things of a man, except the spirit of the man, which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God, except God's Spirit.
1Co 2:12 But we received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is from God, that we might know the things that were freely given to us by God.
1Co 2:13 Which things also we speak, not in words which man's wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.
1Co 2:14 Now the natural man doesn't receive the things of God's Spirit, for they are foolishness to him, and he can't know them, because they are spiritually discerned.
1Co 2:15 But he who is spiritual discerns all things, and he himself is judged by no one.
1Co 2:16 "For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he should instruct him?" But we have Christ's mind.

"THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY" Chapter One by Mark Copeland 

                     "THE FIRST EPISTLE TO TIMOTHY"

                              Chapter One

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To notice two different kinds of teaching:  one that gives rise to 
   disputes, and the other which produces godly edification in faith

2) To consider what ought to be the goal of all teaching:  love from a
   pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith

3) To appreciate the example of Paul's conversion in how longsuffering
   Christ is to those who believe on Him

SUMMARY

Paul begins this epistle by urging his "true son in the faith" to
remain in Ephesus and charge some not to teach other doctrines, nor
give heed to fables and genealogies that cause disputes rather than 
godly edification in faith.  The goal of this commandment is love from 
a pure heart, a good conscience, and sincere faith, from which some 
have strayed and turned to idle talk in their desire to be teachers of 
the law.  While the law is good when used properly, it is not designed
for the righteous person, but for those whose conduct is contrary to
"sound doctrine" which is according to the gospel of God committed to
Paul's trust (1-11).

Speaking of what was committed to Paul's trust sparks an expression of
thanksgiving and praise to Christ for counting him faithful and 
enabling him to be of service.  His gratitude is heightened by 
remembering what he had been prior to receiving the grace and mercy of
the Lord.  But Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom Paul
was chief, and in him Christ shows an example of His longsuffering to
those who believe on Him for everlasting life (12-17).

Paul then charges Timothy to carry out his responsibility in keeping 
with prophecies made concerning him.  The charge is to "wage the good
warfare, having faith and a good conscience".  He is reminded of two 
men, Hymenaeus and Alexander, who have rejected such things.  As a 
result they had suffered shipwreck concerning the faith and had been 
turned over to Satan by Paul that they might learn not to blaspheme 
(18-20).

OUTLINE

I. INTRODUCTION (1-2)

   A. THE AUTHOR (1)
      1. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ (1a)
      2. By the commandment of God our Savior and Jesus Christ our hope
         (1b)

   B. THE RECIPIENT (2)
      1. Timothy (2a)
      2. Paul's true son in the faith (2b)

   C. GREETINGS (2c)
      1. Grace, mercy, and peace
      2. From God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord

II. TEACHING SOUND DOCTRINE (3-11)

   A. PAUL'S CHARGE TO TIMOTHY (3-7)
      1. Remain in Ephesus and charge some... (3a)
         a. To teach no other doctrine (3b)
         b. Nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies (4a)
            1) Which cause disputes (4b)
            2) Rather than godly edification which is in faith (4c)
      2. The purpose of the commandment is... (5a)
         a. Love from a pure heart (5b)
         b. A good conscience (5c)
         c. Sincere faith (5d)
      3. For some have strayed... (6a)
         a. Having turned aside to idle talk (6b)
         b. Desiring to be teachers of the law (7a)
            1) Not understanding what they say (7b)
            2) Nor the things they affirm (7c)

   B. THE PROPER USE OF THE LAW (8-11)
      1. It is good if one uses it lawfully (8)
      2. The law is not made for the righteous (9a)
         a. But for all sorts of sinners (9b-10a)
         b. And anything else that is contrary to sound doctrine (10b)
            1) According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God
               (11a)
            2) Which was committed to Paul's trust (11b)
   
III. THANKSGIVING FOR THE LORD'S GRACE AND MERCY (12-17)

   A. THANKFUL TO CHRIST JESUS (12-14)
      1. For enabling him (12a)
         a. Because He counted him faithful (12b)
         b. Putting him into the ministry (12c)
      2. Though he had formerly been... (13a)
         a. A blasphemer (13b)
         b. A persecutor (13c)
         c. An insolent man (13d)
         ...but he obtained mercy because he did it ignorantly in 
            unbelief (13e)
      3. The grace of the Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and
         love in Christ Jesus (14)

   B. THE MERCY SHOWN TO HIM IS A PATTERN FOR OTHERS (15-17)
      1. Christ came to save sinners, and Paul was one of the worst
         (15)
      2. But he received mercy, that Christ might demonstrate His 
         longsuffering to others who believe on Him for everlasting 
         life (16)
      3. Paul desires that honor and glory be given forever and ever...
         (17c)
         a. To the King eternal, immortal, invisible (17a)
         b. To God who alone is wise (17b)

IV. TIMOTHY'S RESPONSIBILITY (18-20)

   A. TO WAGE THE GOOD WARFARE (18)
      1. This is the charge Paul commits to his son Timothy (18a)
      2. In accordance to prophecies made concerning him (18b)

   B. TO HAVE FAITH AND A GOOD CONSCIENCE (19-20)
      1. Which some have rejected, and concerning the faith have 
         suffered shipwreck (19)
      2. Such as Hymenaeus and Alexander (20a)
         a. Whom Paul delivered to Satan (20b)
         b. That they may learn not to blaspheme (20c)

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Introduction (1-2)
   - Teaching sound doctrine (3-11)
   - Thanksgiving for the Lord's grace and mercy (12-17)
   - Timothy's responsibility (18-20)

2) How does Paul describe Timothy in his salutation? (2)
   - My true son in the faith

3) Where did Paul want Timothy to remain? (3)
   - Ephesus

4) What two things did he want Timothy to charge some? (3-4)
   - To teach no other doctrine
   - Nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies

5) Paul's concern is that such teachings would cause disputes rather
   than what? (4)
   - Godly edification which is in faith

6) What was the three-fold purpose of this commandment? (5)
   - Love from a pure heart
   - A good conscience
   - A sincere faith

7) What had some turned aside to?  Why? (6-7)
   - Idle talk
   - Because they desired to be teachers of the law

8) When is the law good?  Who is the law not made for? (8-9)
   - When it is used lawfully
   - The righteous person

9) When is something considered "sound doctrine"? (10-11)
   - When it is according to "the glorious gospel of the blessed God"

10) Why did Paul thank Christ Jesus? (12)
   - Because He enabled him, counting him faithful, and put him into 
     the ministry

11) What had Paul been formerly?  Why did he obtain mercy? (13)
   - A blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man
   - Because he did it ignorantly in unbelief

12) What is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance? (15)
   - That Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners

13) How did Paul view himself? (15)
   - As chief of sinners

14) Why did Paul obtain mercy, and Christ show all longsuffering toward
    him? (16)
   - As a pattern to those who believe on Him for everlasting life

15) To whom does Paul ascribe honor and glory? (17)
   - To the King eternal, immortal, invisible
   - To God who alone is wise

16) What charge does Paul commit to Timothy?  What does it involve 
    having? (18-19)
   - Wage the good warfare
   - Faith and a good conscience

17) Who had made shipwreck concerning the faith?  What had Paul done in
    response?  Why? (19-20)
   - Hymenaeus and Alexander
   - Delivered them to Satan
   - That they may learn not to blaspheme
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