10/15/12

Worth remembering


Some of these I am very familiar with and use often ("A piece of work" and "what's done is done"), but others were a surprise to me. I had no idea that he said things like "fair play", "foul play" or "lie low".  Then I thought of Jesus and the two things that came to my mind were from the following two passages of Scripture...

Luke, Chapter 23
 33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.
  34 Jesus said, "“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”"


John, Chapter 19
 30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, "“It is finished.”" He bowed his head, and gave up his spirit.

 Jesus was all about forgiveness and accomplished it for all who obey him.  I know that there are many, many other things he said that are memorable (Matthew chapter 5 to 7 for example) but the ones I listed above are there because they mean I have hope.  I know that I am a flawed human being and deserve punishment for the sins I have committed in my life, but if Jesus wants me to be forgiven and has accomplished the means for my forgiveness... all I have to do is to obey his Gospel (see Acts, chapter 2) and be faithful.  That's it... he will take care of the rest.  To some, Shakespeare may seem far more eloquent and memorable, but to me, Jesus' simple words will be remembered long after the memory of Shakespeare  has been forgotten.

Oct. 15 Proverbs 18-20


Oct. 15
Proverbs 18-20

Pro 18:1 An unfriendly man pursues selfishness, and defies all sound judgment.
Pro 18:2 A fool has no delight in understanding, but only in revealing his own opinion.
Pro 18:3 When wickedness comes, contempt also comes, and with shame comes disgrace.
Pro 18:4 The words of a man's mouth are like deep waters. The fountain of wisdom is like a flowing brook.
Pro 18:5 To be partial to the faces of the wicked is not good, nor to deprive the innocent of justice.
Pro 18:6 A fool's lips come into strife, and his mouth invites beatings.
Pro 18:7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, and his lips are a snare to his soul.
Pro 18:8 The words of a gossip are like dainty morsels: they go down into a person's innermost parts.
Pro 18:9 One who is slack in his work is brother to him who is a master of destruction.
Pro 18:10 The name of Yahweh is a strong tower: the righteous run to him, and are safe.
Pro 18:11 The rich man's wealth is his strong city, like an unscalable wall in his own imagination.
Pro 18:12 Before destruction the heart of man is proud, but before honor is humility.
Pro 18:13 He who gives answer before he hears, that is folly and shame to him.
Pro 18:14 A man's spirit will sustain him in sickness, but a crushed spirit, who can bear?
Pro 18:15 The heart of the discerning gets knowledge. The ear of the wise seeks knowledge.
Pro 18:16 A man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men.
Pro 18:17 He who pleads his cause first seems right; until another comes and questions him.
Pro 18:18 The lot settles disputes, and keeps strong ones apart.
Pro 18:19 A brother offended is more difficult than a fortified city; and disputes are like the bars of a castle.
Pro 18:20 A man's stomach is filled with the fruit of his mouth. With the harvest of his lips he is satisfied.
Pro 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue; those who love it will eat its fruit.
Pro 18:22 Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor of Yahweh.
Pro 18:23 The poor plead for mercy, but the rich answer harshly.
Pro 18:24 A man of many companions may be ruined, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
 

Pro 19:1 Better is the poor who walks in his integrity than he who is perverse in his lips and is a fool.
Pro 19:2 It isn't good to have zeal without knowledge; nor being hasty with one's feet and missing the way.
Pro 19:3 The foolishness of man subverts his way; his heart rages against Yahweh.
Pro 19:4 Wealth adds many friends, but the poor is separated from his friend.
Pro 19:5 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who pours out lies shall not go free.
Pro 19:6 Many will entreat the favor of a ruler, and everyone is a friend to a man who gives gifts.
Pro 19:7 All the relatives of the poor shun him: how much more do his friends avoid him! He pursues them with pleas, but they are gone.
Pro 19:8 He who gets wisdom loves his own soul. He who keeps understanding shall find good.
Pro 19:9 A false witness shall not be unpunished. He who utters lies shall perish.
Pro 19:10 Delicate living is not appropriate for a fool, much less for a servant to have rule over princes.
Pro 19:11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger. It is his glory to overlook an offense.
Pro 19:12 The king's wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.
Pro 19:13 A foolish son is the calamity of his father. A wife's quarrels are a continual dripping.
Pro 19:14 House and riches are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from Yahweh.
Pro 19:15 Slothfulness casts into a deep sleep. The idle soul shall suffer hunger.
Pro 19:16 He who keeps the commandment keeps his soul, but he who is contemptuous in his ways shall die.
Pro 19:17 He who has pity on the poor lends to Yahweh; he will reward him.
Pro 19:18 Discipline your son, for there is hope; don't be a willing party to his death.
Pro 19:19 A hot-tempered man must pay the penalty, for if you rescue him, you must do it again.
Pro 19:20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter end.
Pro 19:21 There are many plans in a man's heart, but Yahweh's counsel will prevail.
Pro 19:22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.
Pro 19:23 The fear of Yahweh leads to life, then contentment; he rests and will not be touched by trouble.
Pro 19:24 The sluggard buries his hand in the dish; he will not so much as bring it to his mouth again.
Pro 19:25 Flog a scoffer, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke one who has understanding, and he will gain knowledge.
Pro 19:26 He who robs his father and drives away his mother, is a son who causes shame and brings reproach.
Pro 19:27 If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.
Pro 19:28 A corrupt witness mocks justice, and the mouth of the wicked gulps down iniquity.
Pro 19:29 Penalties are prepared for scoffers, and beatings for the backs of fools.
 

Pro 20:1 Wine is a mocker, and beer is a brawler. Whoever is led astray by them is not wise.
Pro 20:2 The terror of a king is like the roaring of a lion. He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life.
Pro 20:3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife; but every fool will be quarreling.
Pro 20:4 The sluggard will not plow by reason of the winter; therefore he shall beg in harvest, and have nothing.
Pro 20:5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.
Pro 20:6 Many men claim to be men of unfailing love, but who can find a faithful man?
Pro 20:7 A righteous man walks in integrity. Blessed are his children after him.
Pro 20:8 A king who sits on the throne of judgment scatters away all evil with his eyes.
Pro 20:9 Who can say, "I have made my heart pure. I am clean and without sin?"
Pro 20:10 Differing weights and differing measures, both of them alike are an abomination to Yahweh.
Pro 20:11 Even a child makes himself known by his doings, whether his work is pure, and whether it is right.
Pro 20:12 The hearing ear, and the seeing eye, Yahweh has made even both of them.
Pro 20:13 Don't love sleep, lest you come to poverty. Open your eyes, and you shall be satisfied with bread.
Pro 20:14 "It's no good, it's no good," says the buyer; but when he is gone his way, then he boasts.
Pro 20:15 There is gold and abundance of rubies; but the lips of knowledge are a rare jewel.
Pro 20:16 Take the garment of one who puts up collateral for a stranger; and hold him in pledge for a wayward woman.
Pro 20:17 Fraudulent food is sweet to a man, but afterwards his mouth is filled with gravel.
Pro 20:18 Plans are established by advice; by wise guidance you wage war!
Pro 20:19 He who goes about as a tale-bearer reveals secrets; therefore don't keep company with him who opens wide his lips.
Pro 20:20 Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in blackness of darkness.
Pro 20:21 An inheritance quickly gained at the beginning, won't be blessed in the end.
Pro 20:22 Don't say, "I will pay back evil." Wait for Yahweh, and he will save you.
Pro 20:23 Yahweh detests differing weights, and dishonest scales are not pleasing.
Pro 20:24 A man's steps are from Yahweh; how then can man understand his way?
Pro 20:25 It is a snare to a man to make a rash dedication, then later to consider his vows.
Pro 20:26 A wise king winnows out the wicked, and drives the threshing wheel over them.
Pro 20:27 The spirit of man is Yahweh's lamp, searching all his innermost parts.
Pro 20:28 Love and faithfulness keep the king safe. His throne is sustained by love.
Pro 20:29 The glory of young men is their strength. The splendor of old men is their gray hair.
Pro 20:30 Wounding blows cleanse away evil, and beatings purge the innermost parts.

Oct. 15 Ephesians 6


Oct. 15
Ephesians 6

Eph 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
Eph 6:2 "Honor your father and mother," which is the first commandment with a promise:
Eph 6:3 "that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth."
Eph 6:4 You fathers, don't provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
Eph 6:5 Servants, be obedient to those who according to the flesh are your masters, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as to Christ;
Eph 6:6 not in the way of service only when eyes are on you, as men pleasers; but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Eph 6:7 with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men;
Eph 6:8 knowing that whatever good thing each one does, he will receive the same again from the Lord, whether he is bound or free.
Eph 6:9 You masters, do the same things to them, and give up threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with him.
Eph 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord, and in the strength of his might.
Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Eph 6:12 For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world's rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
Eph 6:13 Therefore, put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and, having done all, to stand.
Eph 6:14 Stand therefore, having the utility belt of truth buckled around your waist, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness,
Eph 6:15 and having fitted your feet with the preparation of the Good News of peace;
Eph 6:16 above all, taking up the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the evil one.
Eph 6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the spoken word of God;
Eph 6:18 with all prayer and requests, praying at all times in the Spirit, and being watchful to this end in all perseverance and requests for all the saints:
Eph 6:19 on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in opening my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the Good News,
Eph 6:20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Eph 6:21 But that you also may know my affairs, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will make known to you all things;
Eph 6:22 whom I have sent to you for this very purpose, that you may know our state, and that he may comfort your hearts.
Eph 6:23 Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eph 6:24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen.

James, Chapter 5, Mark Copeland

                         "THE EPISTLE OF JAMES"

                              Chapter Five

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THE CHAPTER

1) To appreciate the need for patience in times of oppression

2) To see the value of prayer and confessing sins in times of sickness

SUMMARY

The final chapter opens with a strong condemnation toward the rich who
were oppressing the poor while living in pleasure and luxury.  Most 
likely these were rich unbelievers such as those mentioned earlier (cf.
2:6-7).  The Lord heard the cries of those defrauded, and judgment was
to come upon the rich who had condemned and murdered the just.  This
passage may be an allusion to the destruction of Jerusalem foretold by
Jesus in Matthew 24 and fulfilled in A.D. 70.  James counsels his
brethren to patiently wait for the coming of the Lord, and to establish
their hearts.  Appealing to the farmer, the prophets, and to Job as
examples of patience, he also warns against grumbling against one
another and swearing rash oaths (1-12).

The last half of the chapter provides a call to prayer and praise.  The
suffering are to pray, the cheerful are to sing praises, and the sick
are to call for the elders of the church.  The elders were to pray over
the sick and anoint with oil in the name of the Lord.  What is 
uncertain is whether the anointing was sacramental or medicinal (I
think the latter, see Review Questions below).  In answer to the prayer
of faith, the Lord will raise the sick and also forgive sins if they
had been committed.  In this context James encourages Christians to
confess their sins to one another and pray for one another that they
may be healed.  He reminds them of the value of fervent prayer by the
righteous, using Elijah as an example of how God answers prayer
providentially.  The epistle then closes with a reminder that turning a
sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover
a multitude of sins (13-20).

OUTLINE

I. TRUE RELIGION DISPLAYS PATIENCE UNDER OPPRESSION (1-12)

   A. GOD'S ANGER AT RICH OPPRESSORS (1-6)
      1. The rich are called to weep and howl for the miseries to come
         upon them
         a. Their riches are corrupted
         b. Their garments are moth-eaten
         c. Their gold and silver are corroded
            1) Which will be a witness against them
            2) Which will eat their flesh like fire
         d. They have heaped up treasure in the last days
      2. The reasons for God's anger against the rich
         a. They have defrauded the laborers who mowed their fields
            1) Keeping back wages owed them
            2) The cries of the reapers have been heard by the Lord of
               Sabaoth (Hosts)
         b. They have lived in pleasure and luxury, fattening their
            hearts in a day of slaughter
         c. They have condemned and murdered the just who does not
            resist them

   B. A CALL FOR PATIENCE UNDER OPPRESSION (7-12)
      1. Be patient until the coming of the Lord
         a. Consider the patience of the farmer
         b. Establish your hears, for the coming of the Lord is at hand
      2. Do not grumble against one another
         a. Lest you be condemned
         b. The Judge is standing at the door
      3. Remember the examples of suffering and patience
         a. Such as the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord and
            are blessed for their endurance
         b. Such as the perseverance of Job, to whom the Lord proved
            very compassionate and merciful at the end
      4. Above all, do not swear (make rash oaths)
         a. Either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath
         b. Let your "Yes" mean "Yes," and your "No" mean "No"
         c. Lest you fall into judgment

II. TRUE RELIGION BLESSED THROUGH PRAYER, SINGING, AND CONCERN FOR THE
    ERRING (13-20)

   A. THE BLESSING OF PRAYER AND SONG (13-18)
      1. If anyone is suffering, let him pray
      2. If anyone is cheerful, let him sing psalms
      3. If anyone is sick, let him call for the elders of the church
         a. Let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name
            of the Lord
         b. The prayer of faith will save (heal) the sick, and the Lord
            will raise him up
         c. If he has committed sins, he will be forgiven
         d. Confess your trespasses to one another and pray for one
            another
            1) That you may be healed
            2) For the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man
               avails much
               a) The example of Elijah, a man with a nature like ours
               b) He prayed that it would not rain, and no rain fell
                  for three years
               c) He prayed again, the heaven gave rain, and the earth
                  produced its fruit

   B. THE BLESSING OF LOVE FOR ERRING BRETHREN (19-20)
      1. He who turns back one who wanders from the truth will save a
         soul from death
      2. He who turns a sinner from the error of his way will cover a
         multitude of sins

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - True religion displays patience under oppression (1-12)
   - True religion blessed through prayer, singing, and concern for the
     erring (13-20)

2) Who is being condemned in verses 1-6 of this chapter? (1)
   - Those who are rich (probably unbelievers who had been oppressing
     Christians, cf. Jm 2:6-7)

3) What sort of miseries were to come upon them? (1-3)
   - Their riches are to be corrupted, their garments moth-eaten
   - Their gold and silver will be corroded, and serve as a witness
     against them
   - Such corrosion will eat their flesh like fire

4) Why is God so angry at these rich? (3-6)
   - They have heaped up treasure in the last days
   - They have defrauded their workers by keeping back what is owed
     them
   - They have lived in pleasure and luxury, fattening their hearts
   - They have condemned and murdered the just, who does not resist
     them

5) What are the Christians to do in response to such oppression? (7-12)
   - Be patient until the coming of the Lord
   - Establish their hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand
   - Don't grumble against one another, for the Judge is standing at
     the door
   - Do not swear (make rash oaths), but let their "yes" be "yes" and
     their "no" mean "no"

6) What three examples does James provide to encourage patience? (7-11)
   - The farmer who waits patiently for the precious fruit of the earth
   - The prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord
   - The perseverance of Job

7) What does James encourage one to do when suffering?  When cheerful?
   (13)
   - To pray when suffering
   - To sing praises when cheerful

8) What is one who is sick to do? (14)
   - Call for the elders of the church

9) What are they to do? (14)
   - Pray over the sick, anointing with oil in the name of the Lord

10) Is "anointing with oil" sacramental or medicinal?
   - "Some commentators consider this anointing with oil to be a 
     sacramental anointing, but others consider it a medicinal anointing.
     In defense of the medicinal anointing, Burdick wrote the following:
     `There are a number of reasons for understanding this application of
     oil as  medicinal rather than sacramental. The word aleipsantes
     ("anoint") is not the usual word for sacramental or ritualistic 
     anointing. James could have used the verb chrio if that had been what
     he had in mind. The distinction is still observed in modern Greek,
     with aleipho meaning "to daub," "to smear," and chrio meaning "to 
     anoint." Furthermore, it is a well-documented fact that oil was one
     of the most common medicines of biblical times. See Isaiah 1:6 and
     Luke 10:34. Josephus (Antiquities, 17, 172 [vi. 5]) reports that
     during his last illness Herod the Greek was given a bath in oil in
     hopes of effecting a cure. The papyri, Philo, Pliny, and the 
     physician Galen all refer to the medicinal use of oil. Galen 
     described it as "the best of all remedies for paralysis" (Deut 
     Simplicium Medicamentorum Temperamentis, 2.10ff.). It is evident,
     then, that James is prescribing prayer and medicine.'" (New 
     Commentary, James, Fausset, and Brown)

11) What will save (or heal) the sick?  Who will raise him up? (15)
   - The prayer of faith
   - The Lord

12) What if the one who is sick has committed sins? (15)
   - He will be forgiven

13) What are Christians to do?  Why? (16)
   - Confess sins one to another and pray for one another
   - That they may be healed

14) What avails much?  Who is a good illustration of this? (16-18)
   - The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man
   - Elijah

15) What happens when one turns a sinner from the error of his way?
    (19-20)
   - A soul is saved from death
   - A multitude of sins is covered