9/12/13

From Gary.... Time: something we all should reflect upon


















This cute picture reminded me of the old "Chicago" song....

Does anybody really know what time it is?

Click on the above link to view the video


We all have the same amount of time each day. However, we do different things with it; some good and perhaps others... well, not so much.  The thing is- we don't really understand time, as we all live in the eternal "now".  Even that ends with our death and transforms into eternity (remember the Bible phrase - unto the age) which some translations use instead of eternity.  I wonder what time it is for us- really??? !!! To me, this passage answers that question...

Ephesians, Chapter 5
 1 Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.  2 Walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance.  3 But sexual immorality, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes saints;  4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate; but rather giving of thanks. 


  5  Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. 



  6  Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.  7 Therefore don’t be partakers with them.  8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light,  9 for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth,  10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord.  11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them.  12 For the things which are done by them in secret, it is a shame even to speak of.  13 But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light.  14 Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 



  15  Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise;  16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  17 Therefore don’t be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 

Answer, it is time to think about what we are doing with our life.  Are we, by our own actions, sowing the seeds of our eternal punishment, or are we "laying up treasures in heaven"???  If your answer was anything but a positive answer to verse 17 above, then its time to look at your watch and change your ways. Even a seahorse knows enough to do that!!!!  I wonder if he can read a divers watch....??????

From Jim McGuiggan... Matthew 15:22-23: He didn't answer a word

Matthew 15:22-23: He didn't answer a word

I believe Matthew wrote 15:21-28 to make the point that Israel’s Messiah was the saviour of all the nations and that his kingdom power extended beyond the borders of Israel to embrace all the nations. We add this story to numerous others and see Christ delivering a foreigner, in foreign territory and dealing with the satanic powers anywhere he decided to go. 
But within that grand purpose it isn’t difficult to see other related purposes. Or at least, if not “purposes” we can see truths embedded—as a part of life itself—in that particular story.  
I’m sure the Christ lengthens his exchange with the woman in whom he sees great possibilities and great faith so that his Jewish disciples, the elect children, will learn to see her as more than Matthew 15:22-23: He didn't answer a word
I believe Matthew wrote 15:21-28 to make the point that Israel’s Messiah was the saviour of all the nations and that his kingdom power extended beyond the borders of Israel to embrace all the nations. We add this story to numerous others and see Christ delivering a foreigner, in foreign territory and dealing with the satanic powers anywhere he decided to go. 
But within that grand purpose it isn’t difficult to see other related purposes. Or at least, if not “purposes” we can see truths embedded—as a part of life itself—in that particular story.  
I’m sure the Christ lengthens his exchange with the woman in whom he sees great possibilities and great faith so that his Jewish disciples, the elect children, will learn to see her as more than a nuisance that is to be sent on her way (15:23). Even if they were implying (as I think they were) that he should give her what she wanted, they still thought of her as someone to be got rid of. He wanted them to see her faith; wanted them to see that great faith existed outside the elect Israel. He had said something about that earlier.
I suspect that he helped her faith greatly by testing it and allowing her the opportunity to express it under provocation. The “food of the children” was what God was giving them through the Messiah and he, prodding her, wondered if she might not think God was stingy and callous. She wouldn’t go along with that and said so! She thought that a God who would be so faithful and kind to Israel and its mothers and families would know or care how all mothers and families feel. He gave her an opportunity to say that a God who was pouring out rich blessings could not be so miserly that he would keep the children’s scraps from the equally hungry though they were not part of the family. 
She was now arguing to support what she had come to believe due to the stories she must have heard. This was good for her, as well as for the disciples. To express faith, to argue in its favour, to hold on to it in the face of provocation gives it a new complexion and toughness. It withstands scrutiny! And she was defending this view of God even before her faith was rewarded. Given the time and the place and the woman it was perhaps inevitable that God would heal her child. 
I want to believe that when she went back home and her daughter met her at the door all well and happy that this nameless woman would smile at how Jesus had strung her along. I want to believe that she rejoiced that her faith had been so well grounded that she was more than a match for Christ as he made her stand up for God. 
“Jesus did not answer a word.” (15:22-23) Yeah right! But sometimes he means his silences to be every bit as rich as his speech. 
Strong and glorious Lord. Blessed little Canaanite woman with no name who teaches us not to misconstrue his silences. 

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com. nuisance that is to be sent on her way (15:23). Even if they were implying (as I think they were) that he should give her what she wanted, they still thought of her as someone to be got rid of. He wanted them to see her faith; wanted them to see that great faith existed outside the elect Israel. He had said something about that earlier.
I suspect that he helped her faith greatly by testing it and allowing her the opportunity to express it under provocation. The “food of the children” was what God was giving them through the Messiah and he, prodding her, wondered if she might not think God was stingy and callous. She wouldn’t go along with that and said so! She thought that a God who would be so faithful and kind to Israel and its mothers and families would know or care how all mothers and families feel. He gave her an opportunity to say that a God who was pouring out rich blessings could not be so miserly that he would keep the children’s scraps from the equally hungry though they were not part of the family. 
She was now arguing to support what she had come to believe due to the stories she must have heard. This was good for her, as well as for the disciples. To express faith, to argue in its favour, to hold on to it in the face of provocation gives it a new complexion and toughness. It withstands scrutiny! And she was defending this view of God even before her faith was rewarded. Given the time and the place and the woman it was perhaps inevitable that God would heal her child. 
I want to believe that when she went back home and her daughter met her at the door all well and happy that this nameless woman would smile at how Jesus had strung her along. I want to believe that she rejoiced that her faith had been so well grounded that she was more than a match for Christ as he made her stand up for God. 
“Jesus did not answer a word.” (15:22-23) Yeah right! But sometimes he means his silences to be every bit as rich as his speech. 
Strong and glorious Lord. Blessed little Canaanite woman with no name who teaches us not to misconstrue his silences. 

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Eagerly Awaiting Our Hope (Galatians 5:5)


                     "THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS"

                    Eagerly Awaiting Our Hope (5:5)

INTRODUCTION

1. A few questions to stimulate your thinking...
   a. What is your hope as a Christian?
   b. How strong is that hope?
   c. Can you say that you are eagerly awaiting your hope?

2. Much of the joy of being a Christian is related to our hope...
   a. How real that hope is to us
   b. How eager we are to one day realize that hope
   c. How it enables us to serve the Lord with joy and patience

3. In Ga 5:5, Paul writes concerning his hope...
   a. What he was waiting for
   b. How he was eagerly waiting for it (Grk., apekdechomai, to await
      eagerly)

[From his words in this verse and elsewhere we can glean truths that can
make a great difference in our attitude and service as Christians.
Consider first...]

I. WHAT WE ARE TO EAGERLY WAIT FOR

   A. THE HOPE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS...
      1. The hope of justification
         a. Paul had been writing about justification - Ga 5:4
         b. Justification and righteousness come from the same Greek
            word (dikaiosune)
         c. Thus Paul is talking about the hope of being made right, not
            guilty of sin
      2. They had no other hope of justification than by faith in the
         Redeemer - Barnes
         a. This was Paul's hope expressed to the Philippians - Php 3:9
         b. A hope that sustained him in his last days, his darkest
            hours - 2Ti 4:8
      -- We are to have a strong desire plus expectation (the meaning of
         hope) regarding our standing before the Lord guiltless of sin

   B. THE SAVIOR FROM HEAVEN...
      1. The Corinthians were eagerly waiting for the revelation of
         Jesus - 1Co 1:7
      2. Paul also was eagerly waiting for Jesus from heaven - Php 3:20
      3. For those who so eagerly await Him, Jesus will bring salvation
         - He 9:28
      -- We are to eagerly await the coming of the Lord, for He will
         bring the righteousness (justification) we hope for!

   C. THE REDEMPTION OF OUR BODY...
      1. Paul also wrote of eagerly awaiting the redemption of our
         bodies - Ro 8:23
      2. This pertains to the hope of the resurrection - Ac 23:6; 24:15
      3. In which our mortal bodies will be raised and put on
         immortality - 1Co 15:42-44,48-54
      4. Made possible by the coming and power of our Lord Jesus Christ!
         - Php 3:20-21
      -- We are to eagerly await that glorious transformation in which
         our bodies as well as our souls will be redeemed by the Lord!

[Such are the things we are to hope for and await eagerly:  Our
justification from sin, our Savior from heaven, our resurrection from
the dead!  Now let's consider...]

II. HOW WE CAN EAGERLY WAIT FOR IT

   A. BY FAITH...
      1. This is our part
         a. We are to have faith - cf. ESV ("For through the Spirit, by
            faith, we ourselves eagerly wait...")
         b. Faith in Christ and His sacrifice, faith in His coming
      2. A faith that is Bible-based
         a. A strong conviction in things unseen; in particular, Jesus
            - He 11:1; Jn 3:36
         b. Which comes through the Word of God - Ro 10:17; Jn 20:30-31
         c. Which gives us hope, like a light shining in darkness - 
            Ro 15:4; 2Pe 1:19
      -- The eagerness with which we wait is proportional to the degree
         of faith we have

   B. THROUGH THE SPIRIT...
      1. This is God's part
         a. "...strengthened by the Spirit we wait for the fulfillment
            of the hope which righteousness by faith instead of the law
            insures to us." - B.W. Johnson
         b. Paul wrote of God helping us to abound in hope via His
            Spirit - Ro 15:13
      2. We receive the Spirit's aid as we:
         a. Walk in the Spirit - Ga 5:16
         b. Set our minds on the things of the Spirit (i.e., the Word)
            - Ro 8:5-6; Ep 6:17
         c. Ask God for strength by His Spirit (via prayer) - Ep 3:16,21
      -- The eagerness with which we wait is proportional to the
         strength we receive from the Spirit

CONCLUSION

1. What is your hope (desire plus expectation) as a Christian?  It
   should include...
   a. The hope of righteousness (justification)
   b. The Savior's revelation from heaven
   c. The glorious resurrection from the dead

2. How strong is your hope?  It all depends...
   a. Are you growing in faith (through the Word)?
   b. Are you being strengthened by the Spirit (through prayer)?

If so, then we will eagerly await that for which we both desire and
expect to see...!


Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

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