Randy Green's Blog - Posts Tagged "discipleship"
Hot and Cold - Part 1
Moses…saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So…he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand…(The Lord said), “Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me… I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” [Exodus 2:11-12; 3:9-11]
The lives of the men and women of God are recorded in the Bible to teach us. Sometimes we learn from them positively, other times negatively. Sometimes we learn by their example what to do, other times by their example what not to do!
We took a brief glimpse at the life of Jacob/Israel in our last study. We learned from his life both what to do and what not to do. Even more, we saw that it’s not how we begin the race but how we finish it. We learned that we must forget what lies behind and press forward to what lies ahead, ever onward to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
The life of Moses is another fascinating case study of how to go from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity. God is our heavenly Father. It is His job to rear His kids into spiritual adults. And He does! Sometimes He succeeds simply through His Word, other times not so much. If we listen and learn from His Word, and then obey what we learn, we needn’t visit the wood shed with Him.
As we saw with Jacob’s life, so too with Moses’ life. The several verses from Exodus 2-3 with which we began this study illustrate this. Moses made his choice to be a part of the people of God, rather than be an adopted Egyptian. He was raised in Pharaoh’s palace as Pharaoh’s daughter’s son. But Moses learned of his Hebrew ethnicity and of his being God’s deliverer to the Hebrew slaves. Moses rejected the palace for the high calling of God.
Trouble was, Moses didn’t know God enough to understand Him. Moses hadn’t an inkling of what God wanted or how he was to go about it. Moses simply rushed into the fray headstrong and slapdash. He would deliver the Hebrew people from their slavery. The first item on the agenda was to kill an Egyptian taskmaster because he used his whip on a Hebrew slave.
Having done that Moses figured the Hebrew people would embrace him in their arms as God’s gift to them. Turns out Moses was wrong. The Hebrew slaves saw Moses as a Hebrew wannabe, a spoiled little rich kid from Pharaoh’s palace. They wanted nothing to do with him. Moses put himself between Scylla and Charybdis. On one side were the Hebrews who rejected him, on the other Pharaoh who wanted to kill Moses for killing the Egyptian slave master. What to do?
It didn’t occur to Moses to consult God before he took it upon himself to kill the Egyptian. And now when he stepped in it he again didn’t think to consult God about what to do. You see, it takes a certain measure of spiritual maturity to even know of our necessity to consult God for His will in all matters.
So Moses made his own decision once again. He hied off from Egypt to parts unknown on the other side of the Sinai Peninsula, where he lived for the next forty years. He was in Midian, where married a Midianite woman and had two sons by her. The names he gave his sons are revealing. They show that Moses figured he’d never be back in Egypt again, and that he would never see his people again. He was now a Midianite! Thenceforth Midian was home.
Let’s pause here and allow the food to feed our spirits. We’ll continue this topic in our next study.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The lives of the men and women of God are recorded in the Bible to teach us. Sometimes we learn from them positively, other times negatively. Sometimes we learn by their example what to do, other times by their example what not to do!
We took a brief glimpse at the life of Jacob/Israel in our last study. We learned from his life both what to do and what not to do. Even more, we saw that it’s not how we begin the race but how we finish it. We learned that we must forget what lies behind and press forward to what lies ahead, ever onward to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
The life of Moses is another fascinating case study of how to go from spiritual infancy to spiritual maturity. God is our heavenly Father. It is His job to rear His kids into spiritual adults. And He does! Sometimes He succeeds simply through His Word, other times not so much. If we listen and learn from His Word, and then obey what we learn, we needn’t visit the wood shed with Him.
As we saw with Jacob’s life, so too with Moses’ life. The several verses from Exodus 2-3 with which we began this study illustrate this. Moses made his choice to be a part of the people of God, rather than be an adopted Egyptian. He was raised in Pharaoh’s palace as Pharaoh’s daughter’s son. But Moses learned of his Hebrew ethnicity and of his being God’s deliverer to the Hebrew slaves. Moses rejected the palace for the high calling of God.
Trouble was, Moses didn’t know God enough to understand Him. Moses hadn’t an inkling of what God wanted or how he was to go about it. Moses simply rushed into the fray headstrong and slapdash. He would deliver the Hebrew people from their slavery. The first item on the agenda was to kill an Egyptian taskmaster because he used his whip on a Hebrew slave.
Having done that Moses figured the Hebrew people would embrace him in their arms as God’s gift to them. Turns out Moses was wrong. The Hebrew slaves saw Moses as a Hebrew wannabe, a spoiled little rich kid from Pharaoh’s palace. They wanted nothing to do with him. Moses put himself between Scylla and Charybdis. On one side were the Hebrews who rejected him, on the other Pharaoh who wanted to kill Moses for killing the Egyptian slave master. What to do?
It didn’t occur to Moses to consult God before he took it upon himself to kill the Egyptian. And now when he stepped in it he again didn’t think to consult God about what to do. You see, it takes a certain measure of spiritual maturity to even know of our necessity to consult God for His will in all matters.
So Moses made his own decision once again. He hied off from Egypt to parts unknown on the other side of the Sinai Peninsula, where he lived for the next forty years. He was in Midian, where married a Midianite woman and had two sons by her. The names he gave his sons are revealing. They show that Moses figured he’d never be back in Egypt again, and that he would never see his people again. He was now a Midianite! Thenceforth Midian was home.
Let’s pause here and allow the food to feed our spirits. We’ll continue this topic in our next study.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Hot and Cold – Part 2
Moses…saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his brethren. So…he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand…(The Lord said), “Now, behold, the cry of the sons of Israel has come to Me… I will send you to Pharaoh, so that you may bring My people, the sons of Israel, out of Egypt.” But Moses said to God, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?” [Exodus 2:11-12; 3:9-11]
Moses figured he was now a Midianite. He was born a Hebrew and became an Egyptian and tried to rejoin the Hebrews, and now he was a Midianite. Talk about a cockamamie life! Boy, was Moses’ life whacky.
“Not so fast, Moses my man,” said the Lord. “You may graze sheep in Midian and Sinai, but you cannot go far enough away to escape Me!” So there was Moses and there was a burning bush and there was the Lord in the bush. He told Moses that He chose Moses to be His mouthpiece to Pharaoh. “So get yourself on back to Egypt, Moses, and I’ll tell you what to do and say. I’m ready to deliver My people Israel from slavery and fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant by giving them the Promised Land as their national habitation.”
Forty years prior Moses was champing at the bit to deliver the Hebrews from Pharaoh’s enslavement. Now he couldn’t squirm hard enough or stammer long enough to express his utter lack of desire to go back to Egypt. You see, he was young, brash, and impulsive forty years prior. He was like a teenager—you know, knows it all and doesn’t need to learn. Fast forward four decades: Moses finally understood that HE wasn’t able to deliver the Israelites.
Still, Moses hadn’t yet learned of the necessity for depending on the Lord for direction and strength. Moses heard the Lord’s words, but he understood them as requiring that he carry them out in his own power and by his own reasoning. It actually took the Lord to twist Moses’ arm several times and give in to Moses’ need to cling to Mommy Aaron’s apron strings, before Moses was ready to obey the Word of God. Moses was still that spiritually immature.
In fact it wasn’t until the fourth plague that Moses finally began trusting the Lord enough to confront Pharaoh without clinging to Mommy Aaron’s apron strings. This is an extremely important principle we are to glean from the life of Moses, as well as from the other men and women of God in the Bible. Just as we have to grow by steps in the sphere of nature, so too must we grow step by step in the spiritual sphere.
We mustn’t hie off half cocked to serve the Lord. First we must sit at His feet with Bible opened and allow Him to teach us. We send our kids through twelve grades of school and even on to college and beyond. We ourselves need to go to school at the feet of the Lord Jesus for a lifetime because we never fully know Him or His Word. Notwithstanding this, after seriously attending school with Headmaster Jesus for a few years, we should be spiritually mature enough to grow in discipleship. We should become ardent servants of our Lord. But it takes baby steps at first and then bigger steps as we go along.
Let’s examine our lives, our hearts, and our minds. How long have we been born again? How many times have we read the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible? How often do we spend time alone with Jesus, and for more than a few minutes at that? Are we really desirous of knowing our Lord and Savior? Or are we putting it off until we get to heaven?
Tough questions, these. Let’s tackle them once and for all, shall we? Lord Jesus, have your way in each of our lives, we pray. Amen.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Moses figured he was now a Midianite. He was born a Hebrew and became an Egyptian and tried to rejoin the Hebrews, and now he was a Midianite. Talk about a cockamamie life! Boy, was Moses’ life whacky.
“Not so fast, Moses my man,” said the Lord. “You may graze sheep in Midian and Sinai, but you cannot go far enough away to escape Me!” So there was Moses and there was a burning bush and there was the Lord in the bush. He told Moses that He chose Moses to be His mouthpiece to Pharaoh. “So get yourself on back to Egypt, Moses, and I’ll tell you what to do and say. I’m ready to deliver My people Israel from slavery and fulfill the Abrahamic Covenant by giving them the Promised Land as their national habitation.”
Forty years prior Moses was champing at the bit to deliver the Hebrews from Pharaoh’s enslavement. Now he couldn’t squirm hard enough or stammer long enough to express his utter lack of desire to go back to Egypt. You see, he was young, brash, and impulsive forty years prior. He was like a teenager—you know, knows it all and doesn’t need to learn. Fast forward four decades: Moses finally understood that HE wasn’t able to deliver the Israelites.
Still, Moses hadn’t yet learned of the necessity for depending on the Lord for direction and strength. Moses heard the Lord’s words, but he understood them as requiring that he carry them out in his own power and by his own reasoning. It actually took the Lord to twist Moses’ arm several times and give in to Moses’ need to cling to Mommy Aaron’s apron strings, before Moses was ready to obey the Word of God. Moses was still that spiritually immature.
In fact it wasn’t until the fourth plague that Moses finally began trusting the Lord enough to confront Pharaoh without clinging to Mommy Aaron’s apron strings. This is an extremely important principle we are to glean from the life of Moses, as well as from the other men and women of God in the Bible. Just as we have to grow by steps in the sphere of nature, so too must we grow step by step in the spiritual sphere.
We mustn’t hie off half cocked to serve the Lord. First we must sit at His feet with Bible opened and allow Him to teach us. We send our kids through twelve grades of school and even on to college and beyond. We ourselves need to go to school at the feet of the Lord Jesus for a lifetime because we never fully know Him or His Word. Notwithstanding this, after seriously attending school with Headmaster Jesus for a few years, we should be spiritually mature enough to grow in discipleship. We should become ardent servants of our Lord. But it takes baby steps at first and then bigger steps as we go along.
Let’s examine our lives, our hearts, and our minds. How long have we been born again? How many times have we read the Bible, the whole Bible, and nothing but the Bible? How often do we spend time alone with Jesus, and for more than a few minutes at that? Are we really desirous of knowing our Lord and Savior? Or are we putting it off until we get to heaven?
Tough questions, these. Let’s tackle them once and for all, shall we? Lord Jesus, have your way in each of our lives, we pray. Amen.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Whistling Dixie – Part 1
But the Lord said to him (i.e., to Ananias), “Go, for he (i.e., Saul/Paul) is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” [Acts 9:15-16]
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
I remember the time I accepted the Lord’s call to ministry. It was a process because I needed time to weigh the consequences and determine whether or not I was prepared to make the sacrifices necessary. After bowing to the Lord’s will—and that with the greatest relish—I announced it to the church.
Some folks were congratulatory, but others expressed words of discouragement to me. The discouragers were looking out for my best interests, at least in their own eyes. Trouble was, they viewed the matter according to the flesh. They based their conclusion on my background and things of that nature. They didn’t see the Lord’s hand in the call because they walked by sight in making their judgment.
The Lord’s call to ministry is based on His own purpose and grace, dear friends. It is NOT based on man’s worthiness or background. The Lord chooses the weak things, the beggarly elements of mankind, in order to show His own power and worth. If He depended on the worldly strong or wise or wealthy or high class folks to accomplish His goals, then it would appear they achieved success by their own abilities.
I’m discussing this issue because today’s study is about the Apostle Paul’s call to ministry. Paul was originally known as Saul. I’ve read in books and heard in sermons that Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. Therefore he should not have gone to Jerusalem to the Jews. It is claimed that the Holy Spirit even told him as much on his way there. But Paul was too determined to reach the Jews, when all along his ministry was to the Gentiles. Consequently Paul was imprisoned and his ministry hampered.
To support such a position Scripture is quoted. Let’s read a sample together, shall we?
As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” [Acts 21:10-11]
And then with glee it is alleged, “See! The Holy Spirit told Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but Paul wouldn’t listen. He was too stubborn to obey the Holy Spirit because of his blindness for the Jews.”
In our next study we will investigate these claims. For now let’s pause and reflect on what we’ve discussed today.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
I remember the time I accepted the Lord’s call to ministry. It was a process because I needed time to weigh the consequences and determine whether or not I was prepared to make the sacrifices necessary. After bowing to the Lord’s will—and that with the greatest relish—I announced it to the church.
Some folks were congratulatory, but others expressed words of discouragement to me. The discouragers were looking out for my best interests, at least in their own eyes. Trouble was, they viewed the matter according to the flesh. They based their conclusion on my background and things of that nature. They didn’t see the Lord’s hand in the call because they walked by sight in making their judgment.
The Lord’s call to ministry is based on His own purpose and grace, dear friends. It is NOT based on man’s worthiness or background. The Lord chooses the weak things, the beggarly elements of mankind, in order to show His own power and worth. If He depended on the worldly strong or wise or wealthy or high class folks to accomplish His goals, then it would appear they achieved success by their own abilities.
I’m discussing this issue because today’s study is about the Apostle Paul’s call to ministry. Paul was originally known as Saul. I’ve read in books and heard in sermons that Paul was the apostle to the Gentiles. Therefore he should not have gone to Jerusalem to the Jews. It is claimed that the Holy Spirit even told him as much on his way there. But Paul was too determined to reach the Jews, when all along his ministry was to the Gentiles. Consequently Paul was imprisoned and his ministry hampered.
To support such a position Scripture is quoted. Let’s read a sample together, shall we?
As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” [Acts 21:10-11]
And then with glee it is alleged, “See! The Holy Spirit told Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but Paul wouldn’t listen. He was too stubborn to obey the Holy Spirit because of his blindness for the Jews.”
In our next study we will investigate these claims. For now let’s pause and reflect on what we’ve discussed today.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Whistling Dixie – Part 2
But the Lord said to him (i.e., to Ananias), “Go, for he (i.e., Saul/Paul) is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” [Acts 9:15-16]
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
In our last study we paused after hearing the claims against Paul’s ministry to the Jews. Now let’s beging with our investigation of these claims.
All I can say is, “Wow! Let’s all go home and throw in the towel. No need to pursue this discussion any further, with such formidable and indisputable evidence quelling any other understanding.” But no, I don’t want to go home and throw in the towel. I don’t concede any such evidence exists to show that Paul was doing his own thing, when he took the Gospel to the Jews in Jerusalem.
Two different portions of Scripture are recorded to start this study. The first one records Paul’s call to ministry from the Lord Jesus. Read it again at this time, please. I’ll wait a second for you to do so… Okay. What did the Lord declare Paul was to do? Let’s use a bulleted list to itemize Paul’s ministry. He was to bear My name,
• before the Gentiles
• before kings
• before the sons of Israel
When Paul performed his ministry before those three categories of persons, there would be consequences to pay. Listen to the Lord express them: for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake. Let us be aware that, as Paul proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah and Savior of the world to each category of persons, he would suffer from each category for bringing Jesus to them.
Category #1, “The Gentiles”: this refers to every human being who is not a Hebrew by birth or by proselytism. When Paul went to the Gentiles with the Gospel, he was routinely persecuted by both the Jews and the Gentiles.
Category #2, “Kings”: As he went throughout the Roman world preaching the Gospel, Paul appeared before kings as well as other public officials. Sometimes he was received agreeably, at other times with indifference, while on still other occasions he endured extreme persecution.
Category #3, “the sons of Israel”: this refers to those whose forefather was Jacob/Israel, as well as to those Gentiles who converted to Judaism and were thereby incorporated into the Lord’s covenant with Israel. Paul preached to his fellow Israelites both in Israel and in the diaspora (i.e., the Jews who were dispersed in locations outside of Israel).
In every town he entered to share Jesus Paul went to the synagogues first before going to the Gentiles. He wanted to allow his fellow Jews to have their chance to receive their Messiah before the Gentiles did. Paul said unabashedly that the Gospel is to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16). Whether he preached the Gospel to the Jews in Israel or to the Jews in the diaspora, Paul faced extreme persecution for doing so—just as he did when he proclaimed Jesus to the Gentiles and to kings.
You see, the Gospel provokes hostility and violence from sinners. It doesn’t matter one whit whether they be Jews or Gentiles, dear friends. God called Paul to take the Gospel to three categories of people, and God warned Paul of what he would encounter when he did so. Paul wasn’t doing wrong when he went to all three categories. He was obeying the Word of God. Had he not done so, he would have been sinning. He said, “Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel!”
We will conclude this analysis in our next study. In the interim weigh the evidence for yourself. Be in prayer and meditate on the matter. And may the Holy Spirit lead you into all truth.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
In our last study we paused after hearing the claims against Paul’s ministry to the Jews. Now let’s beging with our investigation of these claims.
All I can say is, “Wow! Let’s all go home and throw in the towel. No need to pursue this discussion any further, with such formidable and indisputable evidence quelling any other understanding.” But no, I don’t want to go home and throw in the towel. I don’t concede any such evidence exists to show that Paul was doing his own thing, when he took the Gospel to the Jews in Jerusalem.
Two different portions of Scripture are recorded to start this study. The first one records Paul’s call to ministry from the Lord Jesus. Read it again at this time, please. I’ll wait a second for you to do so… Okay. What did the Lord declare Paul was to do? Let’s use a bulleted list to itemize Paul’s ministry. He was to bear My name,
• before the Gentiles
• before kings
• before the sons of Israel
When Paul performed his ministry before those three categories of persons, there would be consequences to pay. Listen to the Lord express them: for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake. Let us be aware that, as Paul proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah and Savior of the world to each category of persons, he would suffer from each category for bringing Jesus to them.
Category #1, “The Gentiles”: this refers to every human being who is not a Hebrew by birth or by proselytism. When Paul went to the Gentiles with the Gospel, he was routinely persecuted by both the Jews and the Gentiles.
Category #2, “Kings”: As he went throughout the Roman world preaching the Gospel, Paul appeared before kings as well as other public officials. Sometimes he was received agreeably, at other times with indifference, while on still other occasions he endured extreme persecution.
Category #3, “the sons of Israel”: this refers to those whose forefather was Jacob/Israel, as well as to those Gentiles who converted to Judaism and were thereby incorporated into the Lord’s covenant with Israel. Paul preached to his fellow Israelites both in Israel and in the diaspora (i.e., the Jews who were dispersed in locations outside of Israel).
In every town he entered to share Jesus Paul went to the synagogues first before going to the Gentiles. He wanted to allow his fellow Jews to have their chance to receive their Messiah before the Gentiles did. Paul said unabashedly that the Gospel is to the Jew first, and then to the Gentile (Romans 1:16). Whether he preached the Gospel to the Jews in Israel or to the Jews in the diaspora, Paul faced extreme persecution for doing so—just as he did when he proclaimed Jesus to the Gentiles and to kings.
You see, the Gospel provokes hostility and violence from sinners. It doesn’t matter one whit whether they be Jews or Gentiles, dear friends. God called Paul to take the Gospel to three categories of people, and God warned Paul of what he would encounter when he did so. Paul wasn’t doing wrong when he went to all three categories. He was obeying the Word of God. Had he not done so, he would have been sinning. He said, “Woe is me if I preach not the Gospel!”
We will conclude this analysis in our next study. In the interim weigh the evidence for yourself. Be in prayer and meditate on the matter. And may the Holy Spirit lead you into all truth.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Whistling Dixie – Part 3
But the Lord said to him (i.e., to Ananias), “Go, for he (i.e., Saul/Paul) is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel; for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” [Acts 9:15-16]
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
Let’s continue our rebuttal of those who claim Paul should not have taken the Gospel to the Jews in Jerusalem. We will begin by going to the beginning of this study and rereading the second portion of Scripture recorded there… Okay, we’ve reread it. Now let’s present additional evidence to support Paul.
Jesus repeatedly told His disciples that He was on His way to Jerusalem, where He would be ridiculed and tortured and put to death. This didn’t detour Jesus from going there anyway. He wasn’t being stubborn against the Holy Spirit because of His blindness for the Jews! Jesus even chastised Peter when Peter said, “Far be it from you to go to Jerusalem and die, Lord!” And when some Pharisees tried to dissuade Him from going there, you just read in the second portion of Scripture what His response was.
The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet Agabus that, if Paul persisted in going to Jerusalem, he would be bound by the Jews and handed over to the Gentiles. This was prophecy, a foretelling of what was about to be, not a command to cease going there. I see nothing in the prophecy about not going to Jerusalem: I see a foretelling of what was to transpire there.
Jesus repeatedly foretold to His disciples what would transpire when He reached Jerusalem, in order to prepare them for the impending harsh events. In that way they could recognize God’s hand in the affairs, rather than think Jesus had failed. In the same way the Holy Spirit made it clear that what befell Paul in Jerusalem was the Lord’s doings, not Paul’s sinning. Paul expressed this quite eloquently to Agabus and the other Christians in his response to them. They pleaded with Paul not to go, and Paul answered,
What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus [Acts 21:13].
Let’s be sure we are walking by faith when we study the Bible, and when we make determinations about ourselves and others in life. The way of the world is to look at worldly success and think it proves God is for us. If we face struggles and failures and aren’t appreciated, well, then that proves God is against us because we did our own thing.
Dear friends, such a viewpoint is NOT spiritual reality. It is worldly delusion. It is whistling Dixie. Let’s talk to the Lord Jesus about this issue for a spell. We will be blessed by our time spent with Him.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Just at that time some Pharisees approached, saying to Him (i.e., to Jesus), “Go away, leave here, for Herod wants to kill You.” And He said to them, “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I reach My goal.’ Nevertheless I must journey on today and tomorrow and the next day; for it cannot be that a prophet would perish outside of Jerusalem.” [Luke 13:31-33]
Let’s continue our rebuttal of those who claim Paul should not have taken the Gospel to the Jews in Jerusalem. We will begin by going to the beginning of this study and rereading the second portion of Scripture recorded there… Okay, we’ve reread it. Now let’s present additional evidence to support Paul.
Jesus repeatedly told His disciples that He was on His way to Jerusalem, where He would be ridiculed and tortured and put to death. This didn’t detour Jesus from going there anyway. He wasn’t being stubborn against the Holy Spirit because of His blindness for the Jews! Jesus even chastised Peter when Peter said, “Far be it from you to go to Jerusalem and die, Lord!” And when some Pharisees tried to dissuade Him from going there, you just read in the second portion of Scripture what His response was.
The Holy Spirit spoke through the prophet Agabus that, if Paul persisted in going to Jerusalem, he would be bound by the Jews and handed over to the Gentiles. This was prophecy, a foretelling of what was about to be, not a command to cease going there. I see nothing in the prophecy about not going to Jerusalem: I see a foretelling of what was to transpire there.
Jesus repeatedly foretold to His disciples what would transpire when He reached Jerusalem, in order to prepare them for the impending harsh events. In that way they could recognize God’s hand in the affairs, rather than think Jesus had failed. In the same way the Holy Spirit made it clear that what befell Paul in Jerusalem was the Lord’s doings, not Paul’s sinning. Paul expressed this quite eloquently to Agabus and the other Christians in his response to them. They pleaded with Paul not to go, and Paul answered,
What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus [Acts 21:13].
Let’s be sure we are walking by faith when we study the Bible, and when we make determinations about ourselves and others in life. The way of the world is to look at worldly success and think it proves God is for us. If we face struggles and failures and aren’t appreciated, well, then that proves God is against us because we did our own thing.
Dear friends, such a viewpoint is NOT spiritual reality. It is worldly delusion. It is whistling Dixie. Let’s talk to the Lord Jesus about this issue for a spell. We will be blessed by our time spent with Him.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Exodus: Volume 2 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The Doggie in the Window – Part 1
But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” [Luke 10:41-42]
Some of you may remember this popular song from way back in the day. No, it wasn’t before the Civil War! Actually it came out in 1952. I loved hearing it as a small fry. It is titled How Much is That Doggie in the Window. The chorus goes like this:
How much is that doggie in the window,
The one with the waggly tail?
How much is that doggie in the window?
I do hope that doggie’s for sale.
The scene is a pet shop with a picture window which faces the sidewalk. Some of the shop’s pets are on display at the window. As shopper’s walk by they see the cute little darlings and are enticed to go inside and make a purchase.
Things haven’t changed much, have they? The more things change, the more they remain the same. Today we have indoor shopping malls of massive proportions. No matter how bad the weather is outside, we can still shop all the stores in air conditioned comfort during the hot summers and central heating coziness during the cold winters. Come rain or snow or hurricanes, our craving to look at the world’s goodies never has to be put off.
Is it any wonder we cannot stop spending? Is it any wonder we have credit cards galore? Is it any wonder we haven’t time for family, unless it be to go shopping or play with our toys together? Is it any wonder our children are receiving a poor education and falling behind the kids of other countries? Between computer games and movies and texting and the social media, what time is left for study?
Today’s social landscape explains a lot, when it comes to the prevailing religious and spiritual climate in the good ol’ USA. When the shopping malls and restaurants are constantly packed; when we surf the web in search of more of the world’s toys to purchase; when even the tiny kids have their own cell phone with camera and texting and internet access and Facebook account—how is church supposed to compete?
Just look at the way church has evolved. At church we break the family down into age groups and separate the different ages into their own “churches” and Sunday School classes. And we don’t even blush when we pledge ourselves to “family values”! The older ages listen to the old hymns on piano in their “church”, while the younger ages listen to contemporary songs with guitar and bass and drums. Big screens carry the lyrics so everyone can sing along. A full band of innumerable parts is desirable, even a full orchestra! Big productions. Big programs. Elaborate decorations and outfits. All hail to Hollywood tactics in the church building!
We will pause here to give our attention to these things. Meditate on them and pray about it. Tomorrow we will assay how this affects the churches today. See you then.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Some of you may remember this popular song from way back in the day. No, it wasn’t before the Civil War! Actually it came out in 1952. I loved hearing it as a small fry. It is titled How Much is That Doggie in the Window. The chorus goes like this:
How much is that doggie in the window,
The one with the waggly tail?
How much is that doggie in the window?
I do hope that doggie’s for sale.
The scene is a pet shop with a picture window which faces the sidewalk. Some of the shop’s pets are on display at the window. As shopper’s walk by they see the cute little darlings and are enticed to go inside and make a purchase.
Things haven’t changed much, have they? The more things change, the more they remain the same. Today we have indoor shopping malls of massive proportions. No matter how bad the weather is outside, we can still shop all the stores in air conditioned comfort during the hot summers and central heating coziness during the cold winters. Come rain or snow or hurricanes, our craving to look at the world’s goodies never has to be put off.
Is it any wonder we cannot stop spending? Is it any wonder we have credit cards galore? Is it any wonder we haven’t time for family, unless it be to go shopping or play with our toys together? Is it any wonder our children are receiving a poor education and falling behind the kids of other countries? Between computer games and movies and texting and the social media, what time is left for study?
Today’s social landscape explains a lot, when it comes to the prevailing religious and spiritual climate in the good ol’ USA. When the shopping malls and restaurants are constantly packed; when we surf the web in search of more of the world’s toys to purchase; when even the tiny kids have their own cell phone with camera and texting and internet access and Facebook account—how is church supposed to compete?
Just look at the way church has evolved. At church we break the family down into age groups and separate the different ages into their own “churches” and Sunday School classes. And we don’t even blush when we pledge ourselves to “family values”! The older ages listen to the old hymns on piano in their “church”, while the younger ages listen to contemporary songs with guitar and bass and drums. Big screens carry the lyrics so everyone can sing along. A full band of innumerable parts is desirable, even a full orchestra! Big productions. Big programs. Elaborate decorations and outfits. All hail to Hollywood tactics in the church building!
We will pause here to give our attention to these things. Meditate on them and pray about it. Tomorrow we will assay how this affects the churches today. See you then.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
The Doggie in the Window – Part 2
But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” [Luke 10:41-42]
How has Hollywood tactics in the church building worked out for us, dear Christians? Let’s take inventory and see. In past generations Christians read their Bibles—their entire Bibles, not just parts here and there. The Bible was known so much better then than it is today, so very much better. People wasted far less time on the ways and things of the world, leaving them far more time to pray and read the Bible and study.
The result was large prayer meetings, serious conversations about the things of Scripture, and many more Christians getting involved in sharing the Lord Jesus with other people. Unlike today, where we swipe fish from the other fish tanks and call that “church growth”, back in the day Christians actually went fishing in the big pond. They witnessed to the unbelievers and won some to Christ. That was know as “church growth” then.
In the Scripture we quoted to kick off this study, there are three persons interacting together. One is Mary, another is Mary’s sister Martha, and the third Person is the Lord Jesus. Jesus was visiting the home of these two dear ladies, and they loved Jesus. Jesus did what He always did: He shared the Word of God with them. Martha wanted to make a fancy meal for Jesus, so she was in the kitchen preparing it. Meantime Mary was in the parlor sitting at Jesus’ feet and feeding on the Word of God which graciously rolled off Jesus’ tongue.
Martha became flustered because she was doing all the work, you see. She chided the Lord Jesus Himself for distracting Mary and giving her an excuse not to help prepare the meal. What was Jesus’ response to Martha? He gave it in love and gentleness to be sure, but it was a rebuke nonetheless. Jesus pointed out that Martha was “worried and bothered”, while Mary wasn’t. Jesus added that Martha got her fur rubbed the wrong way about “so many things”, while Mary chose only “one thing”, and this “one thing” was “the good part”.
Martha, you see, was like the shoppers who walk by the storefront and look in the window. They don’t really need anything, but they want to feast their eyes on all the world’s gimcracks. This stimulates an insatiable appetite for more and more and more. It is a vicious circle which leads us to be “worried and bothered about so many things”. No wonder we aren’t sitting next to Mary at Jesus’ feet, feeding on the Word of God which proceeds out of His mouth.
Only ONE thing is needful, dear friends. Only ONE thing is the GOOD PART. Why do we allow ourselves to join the Prodigal Son in the pigsty to feed on the swill? Why not arise and go to Jesus to receive a royal robe and a ring and sandals, and sit at His table to feed on the fatted calf of His Word?
Let’s make this our lifestyle. Let’s permit the Holy Spirit to rule our hearts and minds. And may the name of the Lord Jesus be praised!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
How has Hollywood tactics in the church building worked out for us, dear Christians? Let’s take inventory and see. In past generations Christians read their Bibles—their entire Bibles, not just parts here and there. The Bible was known so much better then than it is today, so very much better. People wasted far less time on the ways and things of the world, leaving them far more time to pray and read the Bible and study.
The result was large prayer meetings, serious conversations about the things of Scripture, and many more Christians getting involved in sharing the Lord Jesus with other people. Unlike today, where we swipe fish from the other fish tanks and call that “church growth”, back in the day Christians actually went fishing in the big pond. They witnessed to the unbelievers and won some to Christ. That was know as “church growth” then.
In the Scripture we quoted to kick off this study, there are three persons interacting together. One is Mary, another is Mary’s sister Martha, and the third Person is the Lord Jesus. Jesus was visiting the home of these two dear ladies, and they loved Jesus. Jesus did what He always did: He shared the Word of God with them. Martha wanted to make a fancy meal for Jesus, so she was in the kitchen preparing it. Meantime Mary was in the parlor sitting at Jesus’ feet and feeding on the Word of God which graciously rolled off Jesus’ tongue.
Martha became flustered because she was doing all the work, you see. She chided the Lord Jesus Himself for distracting Mary and giving her an excuse not to help prepare the meal. What was Jesus’ response to Martha? He gave it in love and gentleness to be sure, but it was a rebuke nonetheless. Jesus pointed out that Martha was “worried and bothered”, while Mary wasn’t. Jesus added that Martha got her fur rubbed the wrong way about “so many things”, while Mary chose only “one thing”, and this “one thing” was “the good part”.
Martha, you see, was like the shoppers who walk by the storefront and look in the window. They don’t really need anything, but they want to feast their eyes on all the world’s gimcracks. This stimulates an insatiable appetite for more and more and more. It is a vicious circle which leads us to be “worried and bothered about so many things”. No wonder we aren’t sitting next to Mary at Jesus’ feet, feeding on the Word of God which proceeds out of His mouth.
Only ONE thing is needful, dear friends. Only ONE thing is the GOOD PART. Why do we allow ourselves to join the Prodigal Son in the pigsty to feed on the swill? Why not arise and go to Jesus to receive a royal robe and a ring and sandals, and sit at His table to feed on the fatted calf of His Word?
Let’s make this our lifestyle. Let’s permit the Holy Spirit to rule our hearts and minds. And may the name of the Lord Jesus be praised!
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Deuteronomy: Volume 5 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Strange Bedfellows – Part 1
A command came to me by the word of the Lord, “You shall eat no bread, nor drink water there; do not return by going the way which you came.” [1 Kings 13:17]
I am a creature of habit. I take the same route to work each day, shop for food at the same market, and visit the same department store for clothing and bedding and window dressing. I generally am in bed at the same time and up again at the same time each day. Yep, I am a creature of habit.
Now there is nothing immoral in being a creature of habit. In many ways it can be a good thing, a very good thing. Structure is needed in life, if we are to be all that the Lord wants us to be. Discipline is structure, and all of us need to discipline ourselves so the Lord doesn’t have to do it for us.
Still, we need to have some moderation in our habits, or else they become bad habits. We need to have some flexibility when our routine is interrupted. And when it comes to living for the Lord, routine and habit can be a dangerous thing, a very dangerous thing. Too much routine in spiritual life is no more than ritualism, religiosity, tradition. It is known as “playing church”.
We need structure because without it we don’t accomplish much. Withoug structure we hang out, enjoy ourselves, put off our responsibilities, and generally fail the Lord. If we don’t set aside a daily time to be with Jesus, we won’t often be with Jesus, you see. On the other hand, if we want church service to follow the same format each week, we can’t help ourselves: we wind up in a rut putting on a religious show and relegating Jesus to the outside looking in.
In the Bible verse we quoted at the start of this study, the Lord taught this truth to His people back in the day. Let me present the context to you. The twelve tribes of Israel ceased being governed by “judges” at the time of the prophet Samuel. The Israelites insisted on having a “king”, so the Lord gave them Saul, a man after the people’s own heart. Saul was what the people were looking for, but not what God wanted in a king.
After the people got a taste of what they wanted and learned what not to look for in a king, the Lord then gave them King David, a man after the Lord’s own heart. Under King David Israel became a united kingdom, rather than a collection of twelve tribes.
When David’s son Solomon became king, he began well but finished abysmally. Solomon became too big for his breeches and fell into idolatry. Consequently, upon Solomon’s death the Lord divided the kingdom between southern Judah and northern Israel.
Now that we’ve reached the divided kingdom, we can take a break and chew the cud on what we’ve learned today. But don’t forget to return same time same station tomorrow. We still have to find out what the two points of the Lord’s instructions are all about! See you then.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
I am a creature of habit. I take the same route to work each day, shop for food at the same market, and visit the same department store for clothing and bedding and window dressing. I generally am in bed at the same time and up again at the same time each day. Yep, I am a creature of habit.
Now there is nothing immoral in being a creature of habit. In many ways it can be a good thing, a very good thing. Structure is needed in life, if we are to be all that the Lord wants us to be. Discipline is structure, and all of us need to discipline ourselves so the Lord doesn’t have to do it for us.
Still, we need to have some moderation in our habits, or else they become bad habits. We need to have some flexibility when our routine is interrupted. And when it comes to living for the Lord, routine and habit can be a dangerous thing, a very dangerous thing. Too much routine in spiritual life is no more than ritualism, religiosity, tradition. It is known as “playing church”.
We need structure because without it we don’t accomplish much. Withoug structure we hang out, enjoy ourselves, put off our responsibilities, and generally fail the Lord. If we don’t set aside a daily time to be with Jesus, we won’t often be with Jesus, you see. On the other hand, if we want church service to follow the same format each week, we can’t help ourselves: we wind up in a rut putting on a religious show and relegating Jesus to the outside looking in.
In the Bible verse we quoted at the start of this study, the Lord taught this truth to His people back in the day. Let me present the context to you. The twelve tribes of Israel ceased being governed by “judges” at the time of the prophet Samuel. The Israelites insisted on having a “king”, so the Lord gave them Saul, a man after the people’s own heart. Saul was what the people were looking for, but not what God wanted in a king.
After the people got a taste of what they wanted and learned what not to look for in a king, the Lord then gave them King David, a man after the Lord’s own heart. Under King David Israel became a united kingdom, rather than a collection of twelve tribes.
When David’s son Solomon became king, he began well but finished abysmally. Solomon became too big for his breeches and fell into idolatry. Consequently, upon Solomon’s death the Lord divided the kingdom between southern Judah and northern Israel.
Now that we’ve reached the divided kingdom, we can take a break and chew the cud on what we’ve learned today. But don’t forget to return same time same station tomorrow. We still have to find out what the two points of the Lord’s instructions are all about! See you then.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Strange Bedfellows – Part 2
A command came to me by the word of the Lord, “You shall eat no bread, nor drink water there; do not return by going the way which you came.” [1 Kings 13:17]
In Israel Jeroboam became king. He feared that his subjects in the north would go to Jerusalem in the south to worship the Lord, and soon they would favor King Rehoboam of Judah. Then they would kill Jeroboam and reunite the kingdom under Rehoboam.
To thwart such a possibility, Jeroboam of Israel had two golden calves constructed. He placed one in Dan to the far north and the other at Bethel in the south of Israel. He commanded his subjects to worship the calves in those locations. The calves were Israel’s gods!
Needless to say, but the Lord wasn’t exactly thrilled at this. He sent a prophet from Judah to prophesy Jeroboam’s demise. The Bible verse at the start of this lesson was part of the Lord’s instructions to His prophet from Judah. Now let’s note the two parts of the Bible verse.
1. do not eat or drink while in Bethel of Israel
2. don’t return to Judah by the same route you took to Bethel
Are you nonplussed by those instructions? Why would the Lord tell the prophet not to eat or drink while there? And why specify that he take a different route back to Judah? “Hmm. I don’t get it?” some of you are saying to yourself.
Allow me to explain. In the Bible the Lord often employs visible physical realities to teach us invisible spiritual truths. The two points listed are the visible physical realities, and now we need to mine the ore and recover the invisible spiritual truths contained therein.
The first point forbade the prophet of Judah from sitting down and sharing a meal with the folks of idolatrous Israel. This is in keeping with the doctrine of separation which begins in Genesis 1 and continues to the end of Revelation 22. God’s kids are not to fraternize with the devil’s kids. Israel worshiped two golden calves. Judah worshiped the Lord. Don’t fraternize while in Israel, O prophet!
The second point has to do with how I began this study today. I am a creature of habit, but in spiritual life habit and routine can easily spell deadness. If we keep doing the same things we’ve always done, we will keep being what we’ve always been. That is the death knell of true spiritual vitality, dear friends.
Our life is often expressed as the road we travel or the way we take. The Lord told the prophet to go to Bethel one way but to return a different way. In doing so the Lord taught that we cannot serve Him by doing the same old same old day after day. We cannot learn something from Him and then run around doing the same thing all the time and call that “serving the Lord”.
If we would truly serve Jesus, we need to go to Him daily and receive our marching orders from Him. If we habitually spend time alone with Him, we will grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He will be leading us and we will be following His will. Otherwise, not so much.
So which will it be? Will we return by the same route we went? Or will we take an alternate route and remain dependent on the Lord for guidance?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
In Israel Jeroboam became king. He feared that his subjects in the north would go to Jerusalem in the south to worship the Lord, and soon they would favor King Rehoboam of Judah. Then they would kill Jeroboam and reunite the kingdom under Rehoboam.
To thwart such a possibility, Jeroboam of Israel had two golden calves constructed. He placed one in Dan to the far north and the other at Bethel in the south of Israel. He commanded his subjects to worship the calves in those locations. The calves were Israel’s gods!
Needless to say, but the Lord wasn’t exactly thrilled at this. He sent a prophet from Judah to prophesy Jeroboam’s demise. The Bible verse at the start of this lesson was part of the Lord’s instructions to His prophet from Judah. Now let’s note the two parts of the Bible verse.
1. do not eat or drink while in Bethel of Israel
2. don’t return to Judah by the same route you took to Bethel
Are you nonplussed by those instructions? Why would the Lord tell the prophet not to eat or drink while there? And why specify that he take a different route back to Judah? “Hmm. I don’t get it?” some of you are saying to yourself.
Allow me to explain. In the Bible the Lord often employs visible physical realities to teach us invisible spiritual truths. The two points listed are the visible physical realities, and now we need to mine the ore and recover the invisible spiritual truths contained therein.
The first point forbade the prophet of Judah from sitting down and sharing a meal with the folks of idolatrous Israel. This is in keeping with the doctrine of separation which begins in Genesis 1 and continues to the end of Revelation 22. God’s kids are not to fraternize with the devil’s kids. Israel worshiped two golden calves. Judah worshiped the Lord. Don’t fraternize while in Israel, O prophet!
The second point has to do with how I began this study today. I am a creature of habit, but in spiritual life habit and routine can easily spell deadness. If we keep doing the same things we’ve always done, we will keep being what we’ve always been. That is the death knell of true spiritual vitality, dear friends.
Our life is often expressed as the road we travel or the way we take. The Lord told the prophet to go to Bethel one way but to return a different way. In doing so the Lord taught that we cannot serve Him by doing the same old same old day after day. We cannot learn something from Him and then run around doing the same thing all the time and call that “serving the Lord”.
If we would truly serve Jesus, we need to go to Him daily and receive our marching orders from Him. If we habitually spend time alone with Him, we will grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He will be leading us and we will be following His will. Otherwise, not so much.
So which will it be? Will we return by the same route we went? Or will we take an alternate route and remain dependent on the Lord for guidance?
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Numbers: Volume 4 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak – Part 1
He (i.e., Elisha) left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, “Please let me kiss my father and my mother, then I will follow you.” And he (i.e., Elijah) said to him, “Go back again, for what have I done to you?” [1 Kings 19:20]
Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” [Luke 9:61-62]
Judging by those three verses, we’ve found a contradiction in the Bible. On the one hand, it was okay for Elisha to turn back from following Elijah as the Lord’s chosen prophet-in-training. On the other hand, it was utterly inexcusable for someone else to want to turn back from following Jesus, in order to bid a fond farewell to his family. Hmm. What to make of this. Is it a contradiction or not?
This demonstrates the absolute necessity of reading the Scriptures in context, dear friends. Chapter and verse divisions have cultivated in us the habit of grabbing words and phrases and sentences out of context, as if they occurred in a vacuum. They don’t, and we shouldn’t interpret them as if they did.
In Elisha’s case he was at home, plowing the field with twelve pairs of oxen. This means that Elisha had eleven other men working under him, each person having a plow and a pair of oxen to pull the plow. Elisha was an affluent gent, you see.
Elijah came walking along and tossed his mantle on Elisha. The mantle symbolized the office, and Elijah’s office was that of the Lord’s prophet. In other words Elijah extended to Elisha the Lord’s call to be His prophet.
Elisha was plowing his field, remember. He wasn’t praying for the Lord to call him. He didn’t send his résumé to Elijah or the Lord, applying for the office. The call came to him out of the blue…in more ways than one.
Notwithstanding this context, Elisha straightway embraced the call. Then he requested of Elijah permission to tell his relatives that he had accepted the Lord’s call to be His prophet. This consisted of going back to the house with his pair of oxen and his plow, slaughtering the oxen, then cooking them on the wood from the plow.
Can a more vivid picture story be imagined to declare, “I will no longer be a farmer, dear family. I am leaving that occupation permanently. From now on I will be on the road ministering as the Lord’s prophet!” Elisha slaughtered his oxen and burned up his plow. Obviously he was not intending to farm again!
This is known as being the Lord’s witness, dear people. The Lord calls all Christians to be His witnesses. Elisha did a good thing. No wonder Elijah gave his blessing to this proposal.
Oh, but we’re out of time! We’ll continue the tale tomorrow. For now chew the cud on what we’ve studied today. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you and move the knowledge down into your heart.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
Another also said, “I will follow You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” [Luke 9:61-62]
Judging by those three verses, we’ve found a contradiction in the Bible. On the one hand, it was okay for Elisha to turn back from following Elijah as the Lord’s chosen prophet-in-training. On the other hand, it was utterly inexcusable for someone else to want to turn back from following Jesus, in order to bid a fond farewell to his family. Hmm. What to make of this. Is it a contradiction or not?
This demonstrates the absolute necessity of reading the Scriptures in context, dear friends. Chapter and verse divisions have cultivated in us the habit of grabbing words and phrases and sentences out of context, as if they occurred in a vacuum. They don’t, and we shouldn’t interpret them as if they did.
In Elisha’s case he was at home, plowing the field with twelve pairs of oxen. This means that Elisha had eleven other men working under him, each person having a plow and a pair of oxen to pull the plow. Elisha was an affluent gent, you see.
Elijah came walking along and tossed his mantle on Elisha. The mantle symbolized the office, and Elijah’s office was that of the Lord’s prophet. In other words Elijah extended to Elisha the Lord’s call to be His prophet.
Elisha was plowing his field, remember. He wasn’t praying for the Lord to call him. He didn’t send his résumé to Elijah or the Lord, applying for the office. The call came to him out of the blue…in more ways than one.
Notwithstanding this context, Elisha straightway embraced the call. Then he requested of Elijah permission to tell his relatives that he had accepted the Lord’s call to be His prophet. This consisted of going back to the house with his pair of oxen and his plow, slaughtering the oxen, then cooking them on the wood from the plow.
Can a more vivid picture story be imagined to declare, “I will no longer be a farmer, dear family. I am leaving that occupation permanently. From now on I will be on the road ministering as the Lord’s prophet!” Elisha slaughtered his oxen and burned up his plow. Obviously he was not intending to farm again!
This is known as being the Lord’s witness, dear people. The Lord calls all Christians to be His witnesses. Elisha did a good thing. No wonder Elijah gave his blessing to this proposal.
Oh, but we’re out of time! We’ll continue the tale tomorrow. For now chew the cud on what we’ve studied today. Allow the Holy Spirit to teach you and move the knowledge down into your heart.
To further research this issue, I direct you to my book Leviticus: Volume 3 of Heavenly Citizens in Earthly Shoes. To purchase my books please go to:
http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B005PJ761C
https://sites.google.com/site/heavenl...
