12/15/12

It begins with the children...


During the past 24 hours, all that seems to be on television is news of the shooting in Connecticut. It was a cowardly act, and the death of those just starting out in life is tragic.  How can someone be so insensitive to the value of Human Life; especially of those so young???  The T-shirt gives an answer, for as a nation we have forgotten God and turned to our own desires.  Worse than that, there is a movement under way to eliminate God from all aspects of society.   Yet, there is hope.  God doesn't give up on us easily and to those with an eye to see the sign of the times, there is a chance to be delivered from eventual destruction.  And so we come to the book of Jonah, chapter 3...


Jonah, Chapter 3
  1 Yahweh’s word came to Jonah the second time, saying,  2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I give you.” 

  3  So Jonah arose, and went to Nineveh, according to Yahweh’s word. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, three days’ journey across.  4 Jonah began to enter into the city a day’s journey, and he cried out, and said, “In forty days, Nineveh will be overthrown!” 

  5  The people of Nineveh believed God; and they proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from their greatest even to their least.  6 The news reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, and took off his royal robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.  7 He made a proclamation and published through Nineveh by the decree of the king and his nobles, saying, “Let neither man nor animal, herd nor flock, taste anything; let them not feed, nor drink water;  8 but let them be covered with sackcloth, both man and animal, and let them cry mightily to God. Yes, let them turn everyone from his evil way, and from the violence that is in his hands.  9
 Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?”

Jonah didn't want to go to Nineveh and ran from God.  The almighty used both the sea and a "great fish" (maybe a whale) to turn him back onto the straight path.  Jonah was in that beast and was undoubtedly bleached by the digestive juices that existed inside. Once on dry land, Jonah did what God commanded him to do in the first place: preach.  What a sight and what a message it must have been!!! Enough to change the hearts of the people of Nineveh and avoid destruction.  I wonder, what will it take to wake us up to the reality that The United States of America needs to repent of fighting against God?  What has to happen to change things?  As sad as the shooting in Connecticut is, if it mobilizes a nation to turn to God, then it will accomplish something at least.  Perhaps we, as a nation, should begin with a prayer and finish with a movement to change our ways.  If God could save Nineveh, HE can save us!!!!

Bible Reading, Dec. 15


 
Dec.15
Hosea 13, 14

Hos 13:1 When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling. He exalted himself in Israel, but when he became guilty in Baal, he died.
Hos 13:2 Now they sin more and more, and have made themselves molten images of their silver, even idols according to their own understanding, all of them the work of the craftsmen. They say of them, 'They offer human sacrifice and kiss the calves.'
Hos 13:3 Therefore they will be like the morning mist, and like the dew that passes away early, like the chaff that is driven with the whirlwind out of the threshing floor, and like the smoke out of the chimney.
Hos 13:4 "Yet I am Yahweh your God from the land of Egypt; and you shall acknowledge no god but me, and besides me there is no savior.
Hos 13:5 I knew you in the wilderness, in the land of great drought.
Hos 13:6 According to their pasture, so were they filled; they were filled, and their heart was exalted. Therefore they have forgotten me.
Hos 13:7 Therefore I am like a lion to them. Like a leopard, I will lurk by the path.
Hos 13:8 I will meet them like a bear that is bereaved of her cubs, and will tear the covering of their heart. There I will devour them like a lioness. The wild animal will tear them.
Hos 13:9 You are destroyed, Israel, because you are against me, against your help.
Hos 13:10 Where is your king now, that he may save you in all your cities? And your judges, of whom you said, 'Give me a king and princes?'
Hos 13:11 I have given you a king in my anger, and have taken him away in my wrath.
Hos 13:12 The guilt of Ephraim is stored up. His sin is stored up.
Hos 13:13 The sorrows of a travailing woman will come on him. He is an unwise son; for when it is time, he doesn't come to the opening of the womb.
Hos 13:14 I will ransom them from the power of Sheol. I will redeem them from death! Death, where are your plagues? Sheol, where is your destruction? "Compassion will be hidden from my eyes.
Hos 13:15 Though he is fruitful among his brothers, an east wind will come, the breath of Yahweh coming up from the wilderness; and his spring will become dry, and his fountain will be dried up. He will plunder the storehouse of treasure.
Hos 13:16 Samaria will bear her guilt; for she has rebelled against her God. They will fall by the sword. Their infants will be dashed in pieces, and their pregnant women will be ripped open."
 

Hos 14:1 Israel, return to Yahweh your God; for you have fallen because of your sin.
Hos 14:2 Take words with you, and return to Yahweh. Tell him, "Forgive all our sins, and accept that which is good: so we offer our lips like bulls.
Hos 14:3 Assyria can't save us. We won't ride on horses; neither will we say any more to the work of our hands, 'Our gods!' for in you the fatherless finds mercy."
Hos 14:4 "I will heal their waywardness. I will love them freely; for my anger is turned away from him.
Hos 14:5 I will be like the dew to Israel. He will blossom like the lily, and send down his roots like Lebanon.
Hos 14:6 His branches will spread, and his beauty will be like the olive tree, and his fragrance like Lebanon.
Hos 14:7 Men will dwell in his shade. They will revive like the grain, and blossom like the vine. Their fragrance will be like the wine of Lebanon.
Hos 14:8 Ephraim, what have I to do any more with idols? I answer, and will take care of him. I am like a green fir tree; from me your fruit is found."
Hos 14:9 Who is wise, that he may understand these things? Who is prudent, that he may know them? For the ways of Yahweh are right, and the righteous walk in them; But the rebellious stumble in them.

Dec. 15
1 John 5

1Jn 5:1 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God. Whoever loves the Father also loves the child who is born of him.
1Jn 5:2 By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep his commandments.
1Jn 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. His commandments are not grievous.
1Jn 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.
1Jn 5:5 Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
1Jn 5:6 This is he who came by water and blood, Jesus Christ; not with the water only, but with the water and the blood. It is the Spirit who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth.
1Jn 5:7 For there are three who testify:
1Jn 5:8 the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and the three agree as one.
1Jn 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is God's testimony which he has testified concerning his Son.
1Jn 5:10 He who believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. He who doesn't believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son.
1Jn 5:11 The testimony is this, that God gave to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.
1Jn 5:12 He who has the Son has the life. He who doesn't have God's Son doesn't have the life.
1Jn 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
1Jn 5:14 This is the boldness which we have toward him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he listens to us.
1Jn 5:15 And if we know that he listens to us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions which we have asked of him.
1Jn 5:16 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin not leading to death, he shall ask, and God will give him life for those who sin not leading to death. There is a sin leading to death. I don't say that he should make a request concerning this.
1Jn 5:17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is a sin not leading to death.
1Jn 5:18 We know that whoever is born of God doesn't sin, but he who was born of God keeps himself, and the evil one doesn't touch him.
1Jn 5:19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
1Jn 5:20 We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us an understanding, that we know him who is true, and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
1Jn 5:21 Little children, keep yourselves from idols.


Proverbs, The fear of the Lord, Mark Copeland

                         "THE BOOK OF PROVERBS"

                          The Fear Of The Lord

INTRODUCTION

1. We now change our approach to studying the book to the book of
   Proverbs...
   a. Using a topical rather than textual approach
   b. Noting recurring themes dispersed throughout the proverbs

2. A good topic to begin with is "the fear of the Lord"...
   a. Described as "the beginning of knowledge" - Pr 1:7
   b. Also as "the beginning of wisdom" - Pr 9:10

[Yes, we examined "the fear of the Lord" in an earlier lesson. But it's
importance to living wisely justifies another look.  So let's begin
with...]

I. UNDERSTANDING THE FEAR OF THE LORD

   A. THE MEANING OF THE WORD "FEAR"...
      1. In Hebrew, the word is yara'
      2. In the Old Testament, it has a three-fold range of meaning:
         a. Dread, terror - Deut 1:29; Jon 1:10
         b. To stand in awe (in reference to a king) - 1Ki 3:28
         c. To revere, to respect (in regards to parents) - Lev 19:3
      3. Notice when God descended upon Sinai amid geophysical
         convulsions - cf. Exo 20:18-20
         a. Moses encouraged the Israelites to not be afraid of God
            arbitrarily striking them dead for no reason ("Do not
            fear!")
         b. He informed them that the Lord revealed Himself in such a
            terrifying manner to scare them from sinning ("God has come
            to test you, and that His fear may be before you, so that
            you may not sin.")
      -- The proper kind of fear is that which causes one to stand in
         awe, to revere, to respect

   B. ITS ROLE IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN...
      1. We are to  fear God, not man - Mt 10:28
      2. The early church walked in the fear of the Lord - Ac 9:31
      3. We are to work out our salvation with fear and trembling - Ph
         2:12
      4. We should be fearful of apostasy, serving God with godly fear
         - He 10:26-31; 12:28-29
      -- The fear of the LORD is expressed in reverential submission to
         his will - NET Bible

[With a proper understanding of the fear of the Lord, we are more likely
to appreciate the value of the fear of Lord as revealed in the
Proverbs...]

II. APPRECIATING THE FEAR OF THE LORD

   A. WITH THE FEAR OF THE LORD...
      1. We will hate evil - Pr 8:13
      2. We will prolong life - Pr 10:27
      3. We have strong confidence and a fountain of life - Pr 14:26-27
      4. We will be prompted to depart from evil - Pr 16:6
      5. We will have a satisfying life, spared from much evil - Pro
         19:23
      6. We will enjoy riches, honor, and life! - Pr 22:4
      -- Sounds wonderful, doesn't it?

   B. WITHOUT THE FEAR OF THE LORD...
      1. We deprive ourselves of the treasures of God's wisdom and
         knowledge
      2. We will flirt with evil and be corrupted by it
      3. Our lives are likely to be shortened by our refusal to heed
         God's word (e.g., suffering sexually transmitted diseases if we
         do not heed His Word on sexual relationships)
      4. We will not come to know the love of God that gives assurance
         and confidence of salvation
      5. When fallen into sin, we will not be motivated to repent and
         turn to God!
      6. We will not be motivated to truly "work out our own salvation"
      -- Sounds dreadful, doesn't it?

[The fear of the Lord should be a highly regarded and sought after
trait, one that we desire to develop in our lives.  With that in mind,
here are some suggestions on...]

III. DEVELOPING THE FEAR OF THE LORD

   A. THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD...
      1. Just as faith comes by hearing the word of God - cf. Ro 10:17
      2. The same can be said for the fear of the Lord - cf. Deut 31:
         10-13
         a. Israel was to gather every seven years to read and hear the
            Word
         b. The purpose?  "...that they may learn to fear the Lord"
      3. As one reads the Word of God, they should gain a healthy degree
         of the fear of the Lord
         a. For example, consider the words of Paul - Ro 2:4-11
         b. Or how about the words of Peter? - cf. 2Pe 3:7-14
      -- Do we allow the Word to develop a proper reverence for the
         Lord?

   B. PROPERLY USED TO MAINTAIN BALANCE...
      1. To avoid extremes we must read all of God's Word
         a. Some read only about God's love, and have no fear of the
            Lord
         b. Others read only about God's judgment, and know nothing of
            His loving kindness
         c. The one develops an attitude of permissiveness that
            belittles God's holiness and justice
         d. The other develops a psychosis of terror that forgets His
            grace and compassion
      2. Even in the passages noted above, the context of each speaks
         much of God's grace and forgiveness for those who will repent
         - cf. Ro 2:4-11; 2Pe 3:7-14
      -- We must be careful how we use the Word of God, but use it we
         must!

CONCLUSION

1. If we desire to be truly wise, then let us begin with the fear of the
   Lord

2. Understanding it, appreciating it, and developing it in our lives as
   children of God!

   "Then the churches throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had
   peace and were edified. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in
   the comfort of the Holy Spirit, they were multiplied." - Ac 9:31