1 Corinthians 3:21 Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are your's
Three points:
1. People are put on a pedestal.
In this chapter, Paul, Apollos, Cephas (Peter) are thought of as important people. You can sense the meaning, "Cephas lead me to Christ and baptized me, but you only had Joe the janitor." So thoughts of pride enter our hearts. God wants us to understand that we are not to do this. Truly Godly people do not want this attention.
2. Glory
To give glory and receive glory; to feel proud to be a part of a group of people who have been helped, preached to, baptized by, and taught by. We should give our glory from the Messiah--Jesus. Psalms 39:6 "Surely every man walks about like a shadow! Surely they are stirred up in vain. He heaps up the produce, and does not know who shall gather it." Our boasting...Jeremiah 9:24 "...but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am Jehovah, doing kindness, justice, and righteousness in the earth; for in these things I delight, says Jehovah."
3. All things are your's
Romans 8:28 "And we know, that all things work together for good, to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose." Even if things are difficult and uncomfortable, God has His ways to bring good in and from that situation. The greatest that God has given is His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus. Romans 8:32 "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Monday, May 17, 2010
Matthew 15:9
And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' " Matthew 15:9
Three points:
1. Worship
It is interesting that they WERE worshiping. BUT all their worship was in vain; it was not accepted by God, because it was not true worship. Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield to them that put their trust in him. Since every word is true, we need to worship God the way He has instructed us. Isaiah 58:1-7. The problem is we may have the right form, but the wrong reasons.
"Cry aloud, do not spare, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and declare to my people their disobedience, and to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways: as a nation that did righteousness, and did not forsake the ordinance of their God, they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God. 'Why have we fasted,' say they, 'and you do not see? Why have we afflicted our soul, and you take no knowledge?'"Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exact all your labors. Behold, you fast for strife and contention, and to strike with the fist of wickedness: you do not fast this day so as to make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? "Isn't this the fast that I have chosen: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Isn't it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh?
2. Teaching
We are commanded to teach. How else do we learn? We can teach by word, example, sharing experiences, etc, but something is wrong when we teach error. James 3:1 My brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive greater condemnation.
3. Commandments of men
You know about the Ten Commandments. Those are right and true. Jesus himself said, (Matthew 11:29) "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls." How different the commandments of men with their long lists and impossible demands. Let us be safe in the rules that Jesus gave us in the New Testament.
Three points:
1. Worship
It is interesting that they WERE worshiping. BUT all their worship was in vain; it was not accepted by God, because it was not true worship. Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield to them that put their trust in him. Since every word is true, we need to worship God the way He has instructed us. Isaiah 58:1-7. The problem is we may have the right form, but the wrong reasons.
"Cry aloud, do not spare, lift up your voice like a trumpet, and declare to my people their disobedience, and to the house of Jacob their sins. Yet they seek me daily, and delight to know my ways: as a nation that did righteousness, and did not forsake the ordinance of their God, they ask of me righteous judgments; they delight to draw near to God. 'Why have we fasted,' say they, 'and you do not see? Why have we afflicted our soul, and you take no knowledge?'"Behold, in the day of your fast you find pleasure, and exact all your labors. Behold, you fast for strife and contention, and to strike with the fist of wickedness: you do not fast this day so as to make your voice to be heard on high. Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a rush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the Lord? "Isn't this the fast that I have chosen: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Isn't it to distribute your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor who are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him; and that you not hide yourself from your own flesh?
2. Teaching
We are commanded to teach. How else do we learn? We can teach by word, example, sharing experiences, etc, but something is wrong when we teach error. James 3:1 My brethren, be not many teachers, knowing that we shall receive greater condemnation.
3. Commandments of men
You know about the Ten Commandments. Those are right and true. Jesus himself said, (Matthew 11:29) "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls." How different the commandments of men with their long lists and impossible demands. Let us be safe in the rules that Jesus gave us in the New Testament.
Friday, April 23, 2010
1 Timothy 1:5
1 Timothy 1:5
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.
Three points:
1. The end
End here means the stopping point, the finish line, and also means the conclusion. The commandment's goal, the effect, is love, good conscience, and faith. Romans 13:8-10 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there is any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love works no ill to one's neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Emphasis-editor).
2. Love out of a pure heart
This love is a giving love, a love of choice, not necessarily the love of emotion. This love must come from a pure heart. There must be no manipulation in this love, there must be nothing false, a true heart and a true love. 1 Peter 4:8 Above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
3. Good conscience
Conscience is "Internal or self-knowledge, or judgment of right and wrong; or the faculty, power or principle within us, which decides on the lawfulness or unlawfulness of our own actions and affections, and instantly approves or condemns them--Webster 1928. Of course, the standard that underlies this is God's law. No one is innocent, other than the Lord Jesus, so here would be who has confessed, asked forgiveness, and repented. A conscience can be thrust away: 1 Timothy 1:19 holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust away made a shipwreck concerning the faith, and seared: 1 Timothy 4:2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared.
4 Faith unfeigned
Faith is believing God, so it is believing what He has given in His Bible. Unfeigned is a faith that is not faked, not a hypocritical faith. Faith here is referring to faith in Jesus Christ--who He is, what He did, and what He taught. It is a saving faith.
Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned.
Three points:
1. The end
End here means the stopping point, the finish line, and also means the conclusion. The commandment's goal, the effect, is love, good conscience, and faith. Romans 13:8-10 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loves another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there is any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Love works no ill to one's neighbor: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. (Emphasis-editor).
2. Love out of a pure heart
This love is a giving love, a love of choice, not necessarily the love of emotion. This love must come from a pure heart. There must be no manipulation in this love, there must be nothing false, a true heart and a true love. 1 Peter 4:8 Above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.
3. Good conscience
Conscience is "Internal or self-knowledge, or judgment of right and wrong; or the faculty, power or principle within us, which decides on the lawfulness or unlawfulness of our own actions and affections, and instantly approves or condemns them--Webster 1928. Of course, the standard that underlies this is God's law. No one is innocent, other than the Lord Jesus, so here would be who has confessed, asked forgiveness, and repented. A conscience can be thrust away: 1 Timothy 1:19 holding faith and a good conscience; which some having thrust away made a shipwreck concerning the faith, and seared: 1 Timothy 4:2 speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared.
4 Faith unfeigned
Faith is believing God, so it is believing what He has given in His Bible. Unfeigned is a faith that is not faked, not a hypocritical faith. Faith here is referring to faith in Jesus Christ--who He is, what He did, and what He taught. It is a saving faith.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Luke 9:13
But he said unto them, Give ye them to eat. And they said, We have no more but five loaves and two fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people.
(Luke 9:13)
Three points:
1. Jesus at Work
His work was to do the Father's will. He was preaching the true Gospel and healing the people. The day was long and His disciples noticed the people were tired and hungry, so they said, "Send them away." In essence they were asking a prayer.
2. Jesus' Response
"You give them something to eat." This was the unexpected answer. The disciples had requested and expected the Lord Jesus to send the people away into the surrounding area for lodging and food. They showed compassion and thought a good solution to the problem.
3. What We Learn
What we pray for and expect for an answer to might be totally different. As it turns out here, Jesus' solution to the problem was different then they expected. Let us be encouraged; God's answer may be different then what we expect, but it is a better answer to our prayers.
(Luke 9:13)
Three points:
1. Jesus at Work
His work was to do the Father's will. He was preaching the true Gospel and healing the people. The day was long and His disciples noticed the people were tired and hungry, so they said, "Send them away." In essence they were asking a prayer.
2. Jesus' Response
"You give them something to eat." This was the unexpected answer. The disciples had requested and expected the Lord Jesus to send the people away into the surrounding area for lodging and food. They showed compassion and thought a good solution to the problem.
3. What We Learn
What we pray for and expect for an answer to might be totally different. As it turns out here, Jesus' solution to the problem was different then they expected. Let us be encouraged; God's answer may be different then what we expect, but it is a better answer to our prayers.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Ephesians 4:31-32
Ephesians 4:31-32
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice.And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
Three points:
1. Roughly 20% of Americans are divorced. About 10% of first time marriages end in divorce. The percent of marriages also is also dropping.
Why these horrible statistics? What can be done?
2. A lack of applying the above verses will answer both.
3. Some things to stop
a. Bitterness: Defined by WordWeb as, "A feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will". This usually rears its head after being hurt from insults, physical abuse, lies, verbal abuse, etc.
b. Wrath: This is passion, the look of anger, yelling, screaming, verbal abuse, calling someone names to hurt another's feelings.
c. Anger: This is that deep hatred of anger. The sneer when you see someone you don't like, the unkind actions. In punishment this is correct, as government anger against a murderer, but in relationships it is wrong. It is only to hurt someone deeply and repeatedly.
d. Outcry: or clamor. This is shouting, screaming at some one in anger.
e. Slander: This is a type of lie meant to hurt and insult another. When told to others it is meant to have those hearers hate, despise the person as well.
f. Malice: the foundation of all the about. It is a loathing, an hate, a way to hurt someone in any way possible.
Haven't we seen this in some relationships? It is time to STOP.
Some things to start
a. Kindness: This is thinking about the other person to help them in distress, hurt, pain. It is listening to another and being aware of their needs.
b. Tenderhearted: This is being sympathetic, caring, hoping to help someone. It is the tenderness to help when someone needs it maybe doing another's chores if they are sick, etc.
c. Forgiving: This is turning all hurt and pain over to God himself to deal with as HE sees fit. It is the release of revenge to Him; maybe that sinner will repent. God knows that which is why we need to turn all over to Him. Forgiving doesn't mean that nothing happens, no punishment, no consequences, no nothing. This in NOT true. Life has consequences. That is why forgiveness means turning everything over to God to punish, chasten, teach, motivate someone to do what is right. If God himself forgives, then we MUST forgive, too.
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice.And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.
Three points:
1. Roughly 20% of Americans are divorced. About 10% of first time marriages end in divorce. The percent of marriages also is also dropping.
Why these horrible statistics? What can be done?
2. A lack of applying the above verses will answer both.
3. Some things to stop
a. Bitterness: Defined by WordWeb as, "A feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will". This usually rears its head after being hurt from insults, physical abuse, lies, verbal abuse, etc.
b. Wrath: This is passion, the look of anger, yelling, screaming, verbal abuse, calling someone names to hurt another's feelings.
c. Anger: This is that deep hatred of anger. The sneer when you see someone you don't like, the unkind actions. In punishment this is correct, as government anger against a murderer, but in relationships it is wrong. It is only to hurt someone deeply and repeatedly.
d. Outcry: or clamor. This is shouting, screaming at some one in anger.
e. Slander: This is a type of lie meant to hurt and insult another. When told to others it is meant to have those hearers hate, despise the person as well.
f. Malice: the foundation of all the about. It is a loathing, an hate, a way to hurt someone in any way possible.
Haven't we seen this in some relationships? It is time to STOP.
Some things to start
a. Kindness: This is thinking about the other person to help them in distress, hurt, pain. It is listening to another and being aware of their needs.
b. Tenderhearted: This is being sympathetic, caring, hoping to help someone. It is the tenderness to help when someone needs it maybe doing another's chores if they are sick, etc.
c. Forgiving: This is turning all hurt and pain over to God himself to deal with as HE sees fit. It is the release of revenge to Him; maybe that sinner will repent. God knows that which is why we need to turn all over to Him. Forgiving doesn't mean that nothing happens, no punishment, no consequences, no nothing. This in NOT true. Life has consequences. That is why forgiveness means turning everything over to God to punish, chasten, teach, motivate someone to do what is right. If God himself forgives, then we MUST forgive, too.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Zechariah 8:16
These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace; (Zechariah 8:16)
Three points:
1. Truth
When we make a decision, this is the first thing to do. We have to know the truth and find the truth. This make take some time. Truth is the facts.
2. Justice
Fair and correct, a decision based on the facts, not making decisions based on favoritism, bribery, anger, revenge, or pressure.
3. Peace
Lack of conflict. There is peace when a correct decision is made and done with a right attitude. There is a rest when things are done in the right way.
Three points:
1. Truth
When we make a decision, this is the first thing to do. We have to know the truth and find the truth. This make take some time. Truth is the facts.
2. Justice
Fair and correct, a decision based on the facts, not making decisions based on favoritism, bribery, anger, revenge, or pressure.
3. Peace
Lack of conflict. There is peace when a correct decision is made and done with a right attitude. There is a rest when things are done in the right way.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Proverbs 12:1
Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, But he who hates correction is stupid. (Proverbs 12:1)
Three points:
1. Love
Love is the deep, emotional bound of tenderness and care. It is a thing placed higher in our priorities than other things. Here it is to love instruction, to learn, but the learning is not in the sense of learning secular topics; it is learning by correction, rebuke, and experience. Knowledge is skill as in one who has learned something and is an expert. Instruction has the idea of being corrected by constructive criticism, chewed out, even including physical punishment.
2. Hate
The absence of love as cold is the absence of heat and dark is the absence of light. It is a despising and acting out in mockery or verbal abuse. Correction means to correct with words, talking to someone to show them the facts and experience of a certain course of action.
3. Stupid
Brutish in the King James Version. It has the idea of being thinking like an animal. No one can sit and rationally discuss issues with an animal, so the comparison. In God's eyes we need to be open to rebuke especially when it is the plain, normal reading and understanding of the Scripture.
Three points:
1. Love
Love is the deep, emotional bound of tenderness and care. It is a thing placed higher in our priorities than other things. Here it is to love instruction, to learn, but the learning is not in the sense of learning secular topics; it is learning by correction, rebuke, and experience. Knowledge is skill as in one who has learned something and is an expert. Instruction has the idea of being corrected by constructive criticism, chewed out, even including physical punishment.
2. Hate
The absence of love as cold is the absence of heat and dark is the absence of light. It is a despising and acting out in mockery or verbal abuse. Correction means to correct with words, talking to someone to show them the facts and experience of a certain course of action.
3. Stupid
Brutish in the King James Version. It has the idea of being thinking like an animal. No one can sit and rationally discuss issues with an animal, so the comparison. In God's eyes we need to be open to rebuke especially when it is the plain, normal reading and understanding of the Scripture.
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