10/23/12

New, but not new


Well, here is something I have not seen before; a fire tornado!  But is it really a "new thing"?  Read on to find out...

Exodus, Chapter 13
21 Yahweh went before them by day in a pillar of cloud, to lead them on their way, and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light, that they might go by day and by night:  22 the pillar of cloud by day, and the pillar of fire by night, didn’t depart from before the people.

1 Corinthians, Chapter 10
 1 Now I would not have you ignorant, brothers, that our fathers were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;  2 and were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea;  3 and all ate the same spiritual food;  4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of a spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ. 


1 Peter, Chapter 2
  1 Putting away therefore all wickedness, all deceit, hypocrisies, envies, and all evil speaking,  2 as newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby,  3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious:  4 coming to him, a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God, precious. 5 You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 Because it is contained in Scripture,

“Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, chosen, and precious:
He who believes in him will not be disappointed.”


  7 For you who believe therefore is the honor, but for those who are disobedient,

“The stone which the builders rejected,
has become the chief cornerstone,”


  8 and,

“a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense.”


For they stumble at the word, being disobedient, to which also they were appointed.  9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:  10
 who in time past were no people, but now are God’s people, who had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.


Clouds, I have seen, but a fire tornado?  Well, one more thing to add to the list of new experiences!!!  God led Israel and Jesus leads us; nice parallel, great thought!!!  The picture makes it clear to everyone that such a thing is possible; the rest is understood by faith!!!  All I ask is that you think about it because I will!!!

Oct. 23 Ecclesiastes 11, 12


Oct. 23
Ecclesiastes 11, 12

Ecc 11:1 Cast your bread on the waters; for you shall find it after many days.
Ecc 11:2 Give a portion to seven, yes, even to eight; for you don't know what evil will be on the earth.
Ecc 11:3 If the clouds are full of rain, they empty themselves on the earth; and if a tree falls toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falls, there shall it be.
Ecc 11:4 He who observes the wind won't sow; and he who regards the clouds won't reap.
Ecc 11:5 As you don't know what is the way of the wind, nor how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child; even so you don't know the work of God who does all.
Ecc 11:6 In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening don't withhold your hand; for you don't know which will prosper, whether this or that, or whether they both will be equally good.
Ecc 11:7 Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to see the sun.
Ecc 11:8 Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.
Ecc 11:9 Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
Ecc 11:10 Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
 

Ecc 12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw near, when you will say, "I have no pleasure in them;"
Ecc 12:2 Before the sun, the light, the moon, and the stars are darkened, and the clouds return after the rain;
Ecc 12:3 in the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those who look out of the windows are darkened,
Ecc 12:4 and the doors shall be shut in the street; when the sound of the grinding is low, and one shall rise up at the voice of a bird, and all the daughters of music shall be brought low;
Ecc 12:5 yes, they shall be afraid of heights, and terrors will be in the way; and the almond tree shall blossom, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail; because man goes to his everlasting home, and the mourners go about the streets:
Ecc 12:6 before the silver cord is severed, or the golden bowl is broken, or the pitcher is broken at the spring, or the wheel broken at the cistern,
Ecc 12:7 and the dust returns to the earth as it was, and the spirit returns to God who gave it.
Ecc 12:8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher. All is vanity!
Ecc 12:9 Further, because the Preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge. Yes, he pondered, sought out, and set in order many proverbs.
Ecc 12:10 The Preacher sought to find out acceptable words, and that which was written blamelessly, words of truth.
Ecc 12:11 The words of the wise are like goads; and like nails well fastened are words from the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd.
Ecc 12:12 Furthermore, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh.
Ecc 12:13 This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man.
Ecc 12:14 For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil.

Oct. 23 Colossians 4


Oct. 23
Colossians 4

Col 4:1 Masters, give to your servants that which is just and equal, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.
Col 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, watching therein with thanksgiving;
Col 4:3 praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds;
Col 4:4 that I may reveal it as I ought to speak.
Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time.
Col 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
Col 4:7 All my affairs will be made known to you by Tychicus, the beloved brother, faithful servant, and fellow bondservant in the Lord.
Col 4:8 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that he may know your circumstances and comfort your hearts,
Col 4:9 together with Onesimus, the faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They will make known to you everything that is going on here.
Col 4:10 Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner greets you, and Mark, the cousin of Barnabas (concerning whom you received commandments, "if he comes to you, receive him"),
Col 4:11 and Jesus who is called Justus, who are of the circumcision. These are my only fellow workers for the Kingdom of God, men who have been a comfort to me.
Col 4:12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, salutes you, always striving for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.
Col 4:13 For I testify about him, that he has great zeal for you, and for those in Laodicea, and for those in Hierapolis.
Col 4:14 Luke, the beloved physician, and Demas greet you.
Col 4:15 Greet the brothers who are in Laodicea, and Nymphas, and the assembly that is in his house.
Col 4:16 When this letter has been read among you, cause it to be read also in the assembly of the Laodiceans; and that you also read the letter from Laodicea.
Col 4:17 Tell Archippus, "Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you fulfill it."
Col 4:18 The salutation of me, Paul, with my own hand: remember my bonds. Grace be with you. Amen.

2 Peter, Chapter 3, Mark Copeland

                     "THE SECOND EPISTLE OF PETER"

                             Chapter Three

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To be reminded that there will be scoffers of the promise of the
   Lord's coming

2) To review the catastrophic events to occur when the Lord returns, and
   the promise of new heavens and a new earth

3) To note Peter's estimation of Paul as a brother and his epistles as
   Scripture

4) To carefully consider the twofold admonition at the end of the
   epistle

SUMMARY

In this final chapter Peter seeks to stir up his readers by reminding
them to give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles of the Lord.
Especially as it relates to promise of His coming, for in the last days
scoffers will come who conveniently forget that the Word which tells of
the judgment day by fire was also the same Word which brought about the
destruction of the world by the flood.  Any delay is not to be construed
as slackness on the Lord's part, for time means nothing to the Lord.
Rather, delay is an indication of the Lord's longsuffering, who does not
want any to perish but for all to repent (1-9).

When the day of the Lord does come, it will be unexpected like a thief
in the night.  A mighty conflagration will dissolve the heavens and the
earth with all its works.  In anticipation of such things, Christians
are to focus on holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening
that day when God's promise will be fulfilled of new heavens and a new
earth in which righteousness dwells (10-13).

We should view the longsuffering of the Lord as opportunity for
salvation, even as Paul wrote in his epistles of such things (though
unlearned and unstable souls have twisted his words to their own
destruction, just as they do the rest of the Scriptures).  With
admonitions to beware lest they fall, and to grow in the grace and
knowledge of the Lord Jesus, Peter brings his second epistle to a close
with a doxology to Christ (14-18).

OUTLINE

I. THE SCOFFERS WILL COME (1-9)

   A. REMEMBER THE WORDS SPOKEN BEFORE (1-4)
      1. Peter writes this second epistle to stir up his readers by way
         of reminder
      2. To be mindful of the prophets' words and the apostles'
         commandments
      3. That scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to
         their own lusts
         a. Questioning the promise of the Lord's coming
         b. Declaring that all things continue as they were since
            creation

   B. REMEMBER THE WORLD WAS DESTROYED BEFORE (5-7)
      1. Which the scoffers willfully forget
      2. That the world once perished being flooded with water
      3. The same word that brought destruction by water now promises
         judgment by fire
         a. The heavens and the earth which now exists are reserved for
            fire
         b. When comes the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men

   C. REMEMBER THE LORD'S TIMELESSNESS AND LONGSUFFERING (8-9)
      1. Do not forget that time means nothing to the Lord
         a. One day is as a thousand years
         b. A thousand years is as one day
      2. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, but longsuffering
         a. Not willing that any perish
         b. But that all should repent

II. THE DAY OF THE LORD WILL COME (10-18)

   A. UNEXPECTED WITH CATACLYSMIC DESTRUCTION (10-12)
      1. The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night
      2. The heavens and the earth be dissolved
         a. The heavens will pass away with a great noise
         b. The elements will melt with fervent heat
         c. The earth and its works will be burned up
         d. The heavens will be dissolved being on fire
      3. Since all these things will be dissolved...
         a. What manner of persons ought we to be in holy conduct and
            godliness?
         b. Looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God?

   B. EXPECTED BY THOSE WHO ARE LOOKING (13-18)
      1. According to His promise, we look forward
         a. To new heavens and a new earth
         b. In which righteousness dwells
      2. Looking forward to these things, we should be diligent
         a. To be found by Him in peace
         b. To be without spot and blameless
      3. We thus consider the longsuffering of the Lord to be salvation
         a. Of which the beloved brother Paul has written, according to
            the wisdom given him
         b. In which are some things hard to understand, which the
            unstable and untaught twist to their own destruction
      4. Knowing such things beforehand, we should beware and grow
         a. Beware lest we fall from our own steadfastness, led away
            with the error of the wicked
         b. Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus
            Christ
      5. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The scoffers will come (1-9)
   - The day of the Lord will come (10-18)

2) How did Peter seek to stir up his readers' minds? (1-2)
   - By reminding them of the words of the prophets and the commandments
     of the apostles

3) What would scoffers be saying in the last days? (3-4)
   - "Where is the promise of His coming?"
   - "For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they
     were from the beginning of creation."

4) What do they willfully forget? (5-6)
   - That by the Word of God the world was once destroyed by water

5) What does the Word of God say concerning the heavens and the earth?
   (7)
   - They are kept in store and reserved for fire until the day of
     judgment and perdition of ungodly men

6) What should we be careful not to forget? (8)
   - That time is meaningless to the Lord
   - With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years
     as one day

7) How will the day of the Lord come? (9)
   - As a thief in the night

8) What will happen when that day comes? (9)
   - The heavens will pass away with a great noise
   - The elements will melt with fervent heat
   - The earth and the works that are in it will be burned up

9) Since all these things will be dissolved, what should we do? (11-12)
   - Concern ourselves with holy conduct and godliness
   - Look for and hasten the coming of the day of God

10) Again, what will happen to the heavens and the elements? (12)
   - The heavens will be dissolved being on fire
   - The elements will melt with fervent heat

11) Despite such an end, what do we look for according to His promise?
    (13)
   - New heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells

12) Looking forward to such things, about what should we be diligent?
    (14)
   - To be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless

13) How should we view the longsuffering of the Lord? (15)
   - Salvation

14) Who else wrote about such things?  How? (15-16)
   - Our beloved brother Paul
   - According to the wisdom given him

15) How does Peter describe the epistles of Paul? (16)
   - As speaking of these things
   - In which are some things hard to understand

16) What do the untaught and unstable do with such writings of Paul?
    (16)
   - They twist them to their own destruction

17) In what category does Peter place the writings of Paul? (16)
   - As part of "the Scriptures"

18) Knowing such things beforehand, what warning does Peter give his
    readers? (17)
   - Beware lest you fall from your own steadfast, being led away with
     the error of the wicked

19) What final admonition does Peter give to his readers? (18)
   - Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ