Wednesday, September 30, 2015

The Mothers Who Came to King Solomon: His Wise Decision


1 Kings 3:5-28


Some background is necessary regarding how king Solomon came to have such great wisdom.  After the death of King David, when Solomon was made King, God appeared to him in a dream one night, and said "Ask what I shall give thee." (1 Kings 3:5) We know that our God is omniscient, and knows the hearts of men, and knew what Solomon's answer would be, still  Solomon's answer was a true blessing.  "..O LORD my God, thou hast made thy servant king instead of David my father: and I am but a little child: I know not how to go out or come in....give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad: for who is able to judge this thy so great a people." (V7-9)


So much here, Solomon refers to the LORD MY God, this is a personal relationship Solomon has with the LORD.  He is humble, referring to himself as "A little child" in need of guidance and wisdom.  He asks not for silver or gold or great riches, but "an understanding heart" to judge "thy people" not his (Solomon's) people.  Truly Solomon is devoted to the LORD.  And so  the LORD is pleased and answers "I have done according to thy words: lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart: so that there was none like thee before thee, neither after thee shall any arise like unto thee......" (V12)  What a wonderful gift that would be, I wonder how many of us would ask for wisdom rather than riches?


And so this is the background to the two mothers that soon come to Solomon. The bible calls them harlots, but they are not denied an audience with the king whom they stand before and begin to tell him the reason for their appearing before him.


They both live in the same house, and they both bore children, indeed three days apart they had their children, and there was no one with them, they were alone in the house.  (V17-18) And then a very sad occurrence, one mother speaks "this woman's child died in the night because she overlaid it. And she arose at midnight, and took my son from beside me, while thine handmaid slept, and laid it in her bosom, and laid her dead child in my bosom.  And when I rose in the morning to give my child suck, behold it was dead: but when I had considered it in the morning, behold, it was not my son, which I did bear. "(V19-21)


Contend for the Faith - Witnessing to Jehovah's Witnesses

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 “For Christ sent me…to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.  For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God

2 Corinthians 4:3-4 “But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.”

Jude 1:3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints”

Have you been visited by Jehovah Witnesses? or have you seen them standing at the corner ready to talk about their religion and hand out tracts?  Three years ago an older husband and wife who are Jehovah Witnesses moved in next door to us.  They were very nice people, they kept their property in beautiful order, making many improvements.  We employed their son-in-law to paint the interior of our home and then to build us a new fence each for which he was well paid as would have been any other contractor we hired.
However, on the “religious” front things were not so smooth as indeed they should not have been because my husband and  I are Christians, saved by grace through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and they are Jehovah Witnesses whose beliefs are very different from ours.   But I do believe that as Jude 1:3 says, we are to  earnestly contend for the faith, and so one day it fell upon my husband (as it should) to do exactly that.

One day shortly after they moved in, the lady was getting into her car while my husband was in the front yard and so he asked her if she was going to work and she replied that for years she had been leading a bible study at the Kingdom Hall, and that is how we learned that they were Jehovah Witnesses.  After that my husband took it upon himself to talk with her about what the bible says concerning the deity of Christ and after that he wrote down some bible verses and gave them to her.  She responded with a note saying that we were neighbours and they would have to agree to disagree.   So 3 years went by, with a few pleasantries exchanged, but no other inter-action.  The only time she came to our door was to ask if we planned on moving because they knew someone who wanted to move into the area and they thought it would be nice if they could be close..  But no, we were not planning on moving.

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Bible Men: Nehemiah - Rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem



According to the book of Ezra 2:2, Nehemiah, whose name means "consolation", was one who came out of captivity in Babylon to return to Jerusalem.. but how he did that is told in the wonderful book that bears his name.

The book of Nehemiah is written in the first person.  We learn that Nehemiah was the cup-bearer to the king Artaxerxes,  (Chp 2:1 "And it came to pass in the month Nisan, in the twentieth year of Artaxerxes the king, that wine was before him: and I took up the wine, and gave it to the king....." where he was placed by the Lord in order to accomplish His purposes for Jerusalem, and Nehemiah was in the palace of Shushan, the same palace we read about in the books of  Esther and Daniel.

And one day Nehemiah was able to inquire of certain men of Judah about Jerusalem.  He was told that the wall of that great city was broken down, and the gates burned with fire.  Upon hearing this news, Nehemiah wept and mourned, fasted and prayed before the God of heaven (chp1:4-11) confessing his sins and the sins of the children of Israel, and beseeching the LORD to remember his words to Moses and to hear the prayer of Nehemiah and those who desired to fear the name of the LORD.  He also prayed for mercy in the sight of the king.  Because Nehemiah, as stated before, was the king's cup-bearer, and as such was able to approach the king directly.

Nehemiah's actions are very convicting.  when he heard of the devastation of Jerusalem, he was overcome with grief, and immediately went before the Lord in prayer.  So my question is, what do we do when we hear of problems within our church?  do we go before the Lord in prayer?  do we get involved?  or do we go on with our lives with no heart for reviving that which has fallen.   In this case, the LORD gave Nehemiah a heart for Jerusalem.  Has He given you a heart for a place that has fallen into hard times? 


The Temptation to go Ahead of God.

This past summer my husband and I decided that we no longer want to take part in what I now call “Commercialmas”  and what the local news called the “Christmas Creep”, the stores already carrying all Christmas things decorative.  This past summer we gave away our tree and all the decorations as well as an extensive village..  and we decided that in late September we would tell our family that we no longer want to celebrate the day.  We were invited to a family member’s house for dinner this past Sunday and it seemed a perfect time to tell them of our plans, and the next day my husband would have emailed another family member, also telling them of our plans.  But something happened to change these plans and so this is the reason for this post.

This past Sunday the sermon was on Genesis 24, when Abraham sent his servant to find a wife for Isaac after the death of Isaac’s mother Sarah.  The speaker went through the chapter, and how Abraham told the servant (V3-4) “I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the god of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites…but thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac”..

But the servant thought that perhaps the maiden would not want to follow him, he wanted to do things his way instead of waiting on the LORD, and so he said (V5) “if the woman will not be willing to follow me unto this land: must I needs bring thy son again unto the land from whence thou camest?”  This is speculation on the servant’s part that the woman would not want to follow.  But Abraham trusted that (V7) “the LORD God of heaven, which took me from my father’s house, and from the land of my kindred, and which spake unto me…he shall send his angel before thee, and thou shalt take a wife unto my son from thence.”  The servant must not consider what might happen, he must be obedient to his master, and trust that the LORD God is in control.

So the servant swore to do as Abraham said, and departed and he also prayed  (V12) “O LORD God of my master Abraham, I pray thee, send me good speed this day, and show kindness unto my master Abraham.”  and then he made specific request regarding the woman who would come to a well, and give water to the servant and to his camels, “let the same be she that thou hast appointed for thy servant Isaac; and thereby shall I know that thou hast shown kindness unto my master.”

Monday, September 21, 2015

Elisha Part 2: Crossing the Jordan, Healing the waters and the Children that mocked

 2 Kings 2:1-24

 In the first study of Elisha, we learned that he was promised a double portion of the spirit be upon him if he saw Elijah translated.  And so it was, that when Elisha saw that "there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." (2:12)  and Elisha "took hold of his own clothes and rent them in two pieces" (2 Kings 2:12)  but he must carry on in the place of Elijah, as the anointed man of God.

And so Elisha took up Elijah's mantle and now we see the first miracle given that Elisha is God's own .  "he went back and stood by the bank of Jordan; and he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and he went back and smote the waters, and said Where is the LORD God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over." (V13-14)  This is the first miracle that Elisha did by the spirit of the LORD. There were others watching, the sons of the prophets from Jericho, and they are witnesses that "the spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha..and they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him." (V15) And this is the reason that the sons of the prophets knew that Elijah would be taken, so that they could see that Elisha was the anointed successor to Elijah.

The sons of the prophets thought that perhaps God had cast Elijah down again onto a mountain or into a valley and wanted to go look for them, and wanted to send fifty strong men to look for him, but Elisha said "Ye shall not send" (V16)  So Elisha went to Jericho while the men searched for Elijah but they did not find him. When they returned Elisha said to them "Did I not say unto you, Go not? (V18) And so because Elisha knew that Elijah would not be found, the men of the city tell Elisha the situation in the city, "the water is naught, and the ground barren." (V19)

Elisha requests a new container with salt inside.(V20)  This must be a new container, not an old that has been used for other things..  healing requires the new, the old is put away.  The salt is cast into the water,  and Elijah gives glory to the Lord "Thus saith the LORD, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more death or barren land." (V21)  The man of God makes it clear that this healing is by God's will, not his own. "so the waters were healed unto this day,according to the saying of Elisha which he spake." (V22)  


More on the Subject of Election

A few days ago I posted on the subject of election quoting bible verses.  This is a piece I wrote years ago on this subject.

The Word of God teaches us that God is sovereign.  Daniel 4:34-35 teaches us "..I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?"

Romans 3:23 teaches us that "all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."  But John 6:37 teaches us "All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out".  The choice of these people, the number of whom is known only to God the Father, is because of His grace, mercy, and love to undeserving sinners, and not because of anything they have done: Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast."

This does not mean that God is unfair, because of the fact, as previously said, that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.  All deserve to come under the wrath of God on the day of judgment, but because God is merciful, He has chosen by his grace through faith to save some.

References from the Word of God:

Jonah 2:9 "Salvation is of the Lord"

Psalm 100:3 "Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture."

Psalm 65:4 "Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts..."

Psalm 4:3 "But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself:  the LORD will hear when I call unto him."


Matthew 19:25-26 "...when his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed, saying, Who then can be saved?  But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible." 

Saturday, September 19, 2015

Aging Bulrushes with Proverbs 16:31


There is a special beauty in aging bulrushes, and Proverbs 16:31 is self-explanatory.

What Does the Bible Say About: Salvation


The bible is very clear that salvation is of the Lord, man cannot save himself. 

From Websters 1828 dictionary:

Salvation:   Appropriately in theology, the redemption of man from the bondage of sin and liability to eternal death, and the conferring on him everlasting happiness. This is the great salvation

Bible Verses that show that salvation is of the Lord (King James)

Genesis 49:18 "I have waited for thy salvation, O LORD."

1 Samuel 2:1 "And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation"

1 Chronicles 16:23 "Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; shew forth from day to day his salvation"

1 Chronicles 16:35 "And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise"

Psalm 35:9 "And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation"

Psalm 37:39 "But the salvation of the righteous is of the LORD: he is their strength in the time of trouble"

Psalm 85:7 "Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation"

Jonah 2:9 ".......Salvation is of the LORD"

Acts 28:28 "Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it."

2 Thess. 2:13 "But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:"

Hebrews 5:9 "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him"

Hebrews 12:2 "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God"


 

Friday, September 18, 2015

Bible Men: Elisha Part 1, Anointed by Elijah

Elisha Part 1:  Anointed by Elijah and Witness of his translation into heaven

1 Kings 19:16-21, 2 Kings 2:1-17


Elisha is one of the more colorful people in the bible.  He was a prophet, a man of God, anointed  by Elijah in obedience to the word of the Lord God "...and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abelmeholah shalt thou anoint to be prophet in thy room." (1 Kings 19:16).  This shows us that prophets were chosen of God, not men that lifted themselves up.  And so it should be today.   God has given various gifts as it pleases him, and moves believers to use those gifts each in their particular way, and then the gift/gifts bear fruit to the glory of God.  Some men (and women) lift themselves up, and strive to do works they desire to do themselves, without the leading of the Lord.  By their fruits we shall know those whom God has chosen..

And so Elijah departed the place where the LORD God spoke to him and found Elisha plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth (V19).  Elisha was found not sitting at leisure, but passing the time in a meaningful way.   And so when God wants us for a certain task, how will He find us?  Will we be idle? or will we be passing the time by the leading of the Lord?  Ephesians 5:15-17 "See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." 
At any rate, it is now that Elijah came to Elisha and cast his mantle (cloak) upon Elisha, thus showing Elisha that he was chosen for the special purpose of being Elijah's servant and successor.  Elisha was taken from plowing a field  to sow the seed of the word (of God), in the same way that some of the apostles were taken from their lives as fishermen, to be made "fishers of men".

After anointing Elisha by casting his mantle upon him,  Elijah was continuing on his way, because Elisha had to run after him (V20) with this request:  "Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee." The Lord Jesus, in a similar instance, when someone desired to go and bid farewell to his family before following Jesus, told them "No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."  (Luke 9:61-62)  But in this instance, Elijah graciously gives him permission to go back again, saying "Go back again, for what have I done to thee?" (V20) And so, after slaying a yoke of oxen and feeding the people, Elisha "rose and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him"  (V21) Important here that Elisha did not see himself as an equal, but a servant to Elijah, the man of God. 


Lament and Hope



Lament and hope, that is the title in my bible above Chapter 3 of the book of Lamentations.  Last Saturday my husband went for a second CT scan to see if the pulmonary nodule they noticed on the first scan is cancer.  Yesterday we drove to Victoria over the Malahat highway, with its gloriously beautiful views of the inlet far below and the Olympic mountains in the distance.  There were RVs pulled over at the viewpoints, admiring the beauty, but I was on the verge of tears the whole time thinking what it will mean if this little nodule is cancer.  Lamenting, that is the word.  Sorrowful and miserable.  Now what kind of an attitude is that for a Christian?  Selfish, that is what it is..  how can I on one hand, pray that the lump is benign and say “thy will be done” and then worry about it?  very hypocritical I would say.

My husband asked me if I wanted to go to the hospital, but I declined saying that I would rather go into the doctor’s office on Sept. 23 to find out the results of the scan.  The hospital is not far away, easy and free parking.  That is the bonus in living in a smaller town.  He had the first scan almost two weeks ago so he knew what to expect and as tests go, it is an easy test.

Now I am feeling much better than I was, and so this is my hope.  I hope that the nodule is benign, but if it is malignant, I pray the Lord will give both of us grace and strength to deal with it and I have no doubt that he will..  because Lamentations 3:21-26 are what I cling to:

This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope.  It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.  They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.  The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.  The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.  It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

The photo above is of a beautiful, peaceful sunset a week or so ago looking to the west from our deck, with  the Garry Oak down the street and the distant hills in the background.  It wasn’t as colorful as some of our sunsets can be, but the colors were just so peaceful.. it reminds me that with a stressful day, there is beauty in the sunset, and hope for tomorrow.

Gramma's Things: a Confirmation that God is in Control


This is a story that happened to me in the last week which is confirmation to me that God is in control of all things.

In November of 2012 my mother passed away at the age of 94.  For many years she said that she did not want a funeral or a memorial when she died.  She always said that if people didn't come to visit her when she was alive, she didn't want them to come and see her when she was dead.  She also wanted to be cremated.  So on December 1 which was the day arranged because some of us had to travel a goodly distance,  the immediate family met at her apartment.  This was my brother and his two daughters, my husband and myself, my son and his little family, and my daughter and her two children.   My brother brought  my mother's ashes, and we spent quite a bit of time looking through all her photographs that went back to the late 1930's.  After that all of her expensive jewelry was divided between her grandchildren, as were a goodly sum of silver dollars.  As the day progressed, other of her possessions  went to anyone who wanted them as her apartment was going to be sold and there was a lot of her things that needed to be disposed of.  One item my daughter kept asking about was my mother's little leather purse that seemed to have disappeared.  She kept saying "where is gramma's purse, where is gramma's purse".. My daughter and my mother were very close while my relationship with my daughter has not been good.  As a matter of fact, I have not seen her since this meeting.

Later on, after my daughter had left, my husband found the purse on a hanger with a coat hung over it.  
Time passed, and I did not go back to the apartment again until April. My husband and I were to meet my brother at my mother's apartment and pack things up in preparation for the apartment going up for sale.  We came home with many, many boxes and all of her clothing.   I gave the clothing away to a neighbour who is the same size my mother was, but I kept a cardigan sweater which still smelled of Gramma, and so began the box entitled "Gramma's Things".

I wanted to give my daughter special memories of her Gramma, so I put the sweater at the bottom of a box, put her prayer journal (which was a diary from 1991) on top of that. Next I put the little leather purse she had asked about and inside the little purse  I put two broaches, a gold locket, and a diamond and ruby ring wrapped in paper towel and sealed in a ziploc bag.  I also put some photographs of Gramma in the purse, one of them of her and my daughter taken at my son's wedding in 2000. At the top of the box were crocheted dish cloths that my mother had made in abundance. 

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Bible Women: Anna who was a Prophetess

Anna the Prophetess

Only three verses are written in the bible that speak of Anna, but they are filled with  examples of this godly woman's devotion to God and her hope for the promised Messiah.  Let us take them one by one.

Luke 2:36 "And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity;"

Anna's name means "gracious",  and we can imagine that she was, like her name implies, a kind, and merciful person.  She was a prophetess, a woman who foretold future events, and we know that prophets always foretold true events to come, as opposed to mere predictions.  No doubt Anna foretold the coming of Messiah. Anna was a very old woman, and was married only seven years.  The Lord did not give Anna any children, but led her to that most consecrated life of service to him.

Luke 2:37 "And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day."

There is some discrepancy about this term "a widow of about fourscore and four years"  Either Anna was 84 years old, or else she had been a widow for 84 years.


Nevertheless, in the plan and purpose of God, Anna remained a widow.  But her time was spent in the service of the Lord.  She remained in the temple, fasting and praying without ceasing night and day.  How faithful she was.  Anna was not caught up in the cares of the world, she lived a separated life.  Spending all of her time in the temple, she would have heard the reading of the scrolls by the men, and would have grown very knowledgeable in God's holy word.   And now we have been given the Holy Bible.  How much of the day do we spend reading God's holy word, reading and meditating upon it.  Are we open to the teaching of the Spirit? or are we caught up in the hustle and bustle of the day, too busy to spend time with our Lord.


Little Sparrow in a Deodara tree with Psalm 102:7


As the Lord watches over all, this little sparrow was also very attentive to what is happening from his perch in a Deodara tree.

What Does the Bible Say About: Election, the Elect

Having seen many discussions over the years about many topics, this is the first in a series that will not be my opinion, but what God's word says about this particular topic. The bible verses quoted are from the King James. The only other information will be the description of the word from Noah Websters 1828 dictionary which gives the theological meaning of the word.

Websters 1828 dictionary definition:

Elect:   In theology, chosen as the object of mercy; chosen, selected or designated to eternal life; predestinated in the divine counsels

           Chosen or designated by God to salvation; predestinated to glory as the end, and to sanctification as the means; usually with a plural signification, the elect.

Bible Verses

Romans 9:11,16 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;) So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.

Romans 11:5,7 "Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace....What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded."

1 Thessalonians 1:4 "Knowing, brethren, beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost....and ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost."

2 Peter 1:10 "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if you do these things, ye shall never fall: (Peter talking to believers)

Matthew 24:24 "For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect."  (Christ talking to his disciples)

Mark 13:24,26-27 "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun shall be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light...and then shall they see the Son of man coming in the clouds with great power and glory, and then shall he send his angels, and shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the uttermost part of the earth to the uttermost part of heaven." 

Colossians 3:12 "Put on therefore as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering.


 vcg/September 2015
                        




 

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

What Does it Mean to be Saved? It Means to Have Faith


Romans 1:15-17  "So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.  For therein is  the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith."

 
There are certain things that a Christian believes and does and if you don't believe and do those things you are not a true Christian.  The gospel defines what a Christian is.    A profession does not define a Christian, nor does love, but truth. God's word defines a Christian.  Salvation is what God says it is, salvation is God's way of saving sinners.  Previous in this series are the topics of being born again, conviction of sin and confession of sin, and then repentance, how important it is to turn away from sin and to God.  These are the minimum you must believe to be a Christian.


Faith follows repentance. 

"Repent and believe"  Salvation is like  a wonderful cake made of different ingredients but when they are all put together you have one cake.  There are certain parts of salvation that affect our lives: being born again, conviction of sin, confession of sin, repentance, faith, holiness, perseverance, these affect our lives. And there are parts that affect our legal standing:  justification, sanctification, reconciliation, atoned for, these are the things of salvation.  Its because salvation is so wonderful that so many words are needed and used to describe it because salvation does so much for us.  You can't describe it in one word.  There is the legal aspect: we are declared righteous, there is relationship: we are adopted into God's family, there is the comfort angle: we are forgiven, there is the sense of value angle: we are so precious that we were redeemed and purchased by the blood of Christ, God's son.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Replacement Theology: Is This Term Biblical?

Offered without comment except to say that this article explains this issue better than I can..


What is Replacement Theology? It is a pejorative term used by a growing number of misinformed Christians who unwittingly misrepresent the views of fellow believers. The purpose of this web site is to encourage Christians to cease using this unkind term, for it is theologically inaccurate, divisive, incendiary to honest Christian discourse, and overtly offensive.

Summary

A typical definition of “Replacement Theology” can be paraphrased as such: “Israel has been replaced by the Christian Church, so the promises and prominent position once held by God’s chosen people are now held exclusively by the Church.” Such a view is false. The majority of Christians today and through the years see Gentile believers as grafted in to the vine of Israel. (Rom 11:17-21) There is no replacement. Hence, the term "Replacement Theology" is inaccurate and ought not to be used.

Our Aim

This informational web site aims to reduce or curtail the term “Replacement Theology” in academic and general theological discourse. For those who have newly encountered this unfortunate term, “Replacement Theology,” we aim to provide you accurate information to help you understand the underlying issues so that you may decide for yourself. Our highest aim is to address those who employ this pejorative term in web sites, broadcasts, opinion papers or in academic pursuits. We desire such Christian thinkers to re-think their use of this term. We pray they would edit and redact their material and use a more suitable terminology.

Understanding More

Definitions for "Replacement Theology" which assert the church has displaced Israel are deeply flawed. They suffer from being simplistic and inaccurate while mangling historic Christian views. “Replacement Theology” is often used to discredit Reformed or Covenant theologians by ascribing to them a view that they do not hold. When carelessly repeated, the phrase “Replacement Theology” propagates this flawed definition. Furthermore, it drives a wedge between fellow Christians. Damage to the unity of the body of Christ occurs when well-meaning, but misinformed people haphazardly employ the term. It is often done to advance their own theological theory of biblical or end-times interpretation. 

link to entire article by Brian D. Warner

http://replacementtheology.org


Friday, September 11, 2015

Bible Women: Martha of Bethany, Cumbered with Much Serving

Martha of Bethany

Luke 10:38-42, John 11:5-28

Martha and Mary, sisters in the Word of God, both have a very important part in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ as he was on this earth as the Son of man, in perfect sinless humanity and deity.  Previously we have studied Mary, so this study will focus on Martha.

Martha is named in the bible before her sister, she is referred to in Luke 10:38 as "a certain woman named Martha" who "received him into her house" one day when Jesus was visiting the town of Bethany.  We learn much from this verse, Martha is a woman who offers the Lord Jesus hospitality,  the house is called "her house"..it is not Lazarus or Mary who first greets the Lord Jesus, but Martha. Perhaps she is the oldest.  It is certain that Martha was well acquainted with the Lord Jesus, because the next verse tells us about her sister Mary who "sat at Jesus' feet and heard his word." Unlike so many who rejected the Lord Jesus, Martha receives him and desires to serve him, as we learn in the next verses.  Luke 10:40-42 "But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

Martha, it seems, took her role of hospitality very seriously.  There must have been quite a few people in the house, probably some disciples of Jesus were there as well.  V40 tells us that Martha was cumbered about much serving,  she was very concerned because this task seemed too much for Martha to handle by herself in a timely manner, and so she asks the Lord Jesus to bid Mary help her.  The Lord Jesus gently rebukes her by repeating Martha, Martha.   Several times in the bible a person is called by their name twice.


Thursday, September 10, 2015

Mist on Icefield's Parkway with Genesis 2:6

This photo was taken on the Icefield's Parkway between Jasper and Banff National Parks.  The little trees are stunted from the extreme weather, and the mist was a beautiful sight to behold.  I chose Genesis 2:6 as the verse because to me it was perfect with this photo.

What Does It Mean to be Saved - Repentance

What Does it Mean to be Saved
It Means Repenting of Your Sin


Matthew 21:28-32 "But what think ye? a certain man had two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard.  He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went.  And he came to the second, and said likewise.  And he answered and said I go, sir: and went not.  Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto hm, The first.  Jesus saith unto them, Verily  I say unto you, that the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you."

 
Repentance from sin, a most essential part of the gospel that Christians believe along with being born again, conviction and confession of sin.. the next message in this series called What Does it Mean to be Saved  is repentance from sin. After this will be the message on faith. If you put faith and trust alongside repentance, together those doctrines are the gospel.  The most basic and essential gospel doctrines are repentance and faith.  Without repentance no one can be saved.  Repentance is the most neglected doctrine today.


The parable of Matthew 21:28-32  is about repentance.  True repentance is not just talking about it like the second son, not a mere profession, it is an action,  a change of direction and there is not a teaching that is more central in the bible than the teaching of repentance.  John the Baptist taught it and the Lord Jesus himself, Mark 1:14-15 "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee,preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."   To preach repentance is to preach the gospel.  Repent and believe is the gospel of God.  If repentance is missing from any preacher or evangelist's preaching, than that preaching is not the gospel of God, but some other gospel.  When our Lord sent out the disciples to preach he commanded that they preach repentance from sin.  Peter always preached repentance, Paul preached the same; repentance.  Acts 17:29-30 "Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device.  And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men ever where to repent: Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead."   Repentance is the command of God to all men, its a universal command.  Repentance cannot be overestimated much less removed from the gospel like the purpose-driven church or the emergent church has done.  They do not mention sin so they do not mention repentance from sin because they do not preach the gospel.


Wednesday, September 9, 2015

No Man Knoweth the Day or the Hour

Matthew 24:36 "But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only".

Every September it is the same, doom and gloom predictions on one hand, and rapture predictions on the other..  I have been hearing it since the late 1980s when husband and I were married and I started attending the Brethren assembly where he had been in fellowship for some years.

Every September it was always the same, the rapture will take place on Rosh Hashannah of whatever year it was, but every September came and went since the 1980's and Christians are still here.  Matthew 24:36 is very clear, "but of that day and hour knoweth no man....."  why then are there always these date setters?  Many people who believe this get very excited and then are let down when Rosh Hashannah is past with no rapture.

One lovely Christian man I knew was convinced that the Lord was coming in 1993 and his reason was because he thought the end of days was the year 2000 and believing in a pre-trib rapture and a 7 year tribulation period, it had to be (in his mind) that the rapture would take place on Rosh Hashannah in 1993..  But in fact, this man went to be with the Lord in 1995, not recovering from heart surgery that came on him very suddenly.  He went to the doctor with what he thought were flu symptoms, it was his heart, and in a week he was gone.  Before the year 2000 for him.

This year the internet and especially YouTube are filled with all manner of predictions about this September, one of which is a meteor strike. It seems to me that if there was going to be a meteor strike, it would be well known by those in authority, and they would let people know so at least they could say goodbye to loved ones and prepare in whatever way they are spiritually..  a believer would say thank you Jesus, I am coming to be with you.  I seriously doubt that this is going to happen, just another prediction.  As well the internet says that the upcoming meeting between President Obama and the Pope will usher in the end of days..

This is what I am referring to:

https://youtu.be/A4c0NS4jLNA

and here regarding the meeting between the President and the Pope:

 https://youtu.be/qr5lQq0VSM0

I wonder how many people are believing all this?

Again, the bible says "no man knoweth the day or the hour"...

Why stress yourself out believing any of this?  The rapture is one day closer than it was yesterday, believers are to be ready, setting our mind on things above, and not on things of this earth..

vcg/September 2015



Bible Men: Elijah the Prophet Anoints Elisha and Elijah is Taken into Heaven


1 Kings 19:19-21


2 Kings 2: 1-17


In previous posts on Elijah, we read of God withholding rain for 3 years because of the disobedience and wickedness of king Ahab. We read of Elijah hiding at the brook Cherith, and how God sent ravens to feed him there, and then how Elijah was sent to Zarephath where he was sustained by a widow who had been prepared by God to receive him and how they were sustained through the drought until Elijah heard the word of God that rain was coming.  We learned of Elijah's confrontation with the prophets of Baal, when the LORD God sent fire down from heaven.  We learned how after that Elijah went to the top of Mt. Carmel and prayed, and how the sky became dark with clouds, and how by the power of the Lord, Elijah outran Ahab's chariot back to Jezreel. 


Then we learned how Elijah ran for his life and how an angel fed him for his next journey which took him to a cave where God appeared to him after a mighty wind, in a still, small voice.   Elijah was sent by the LORD God to Damascus where he was to anoint Elisha to be prophet in his place. By this Elijah knew that he would soon be taken to heaven, but he had no idea of the wondrous way it would happen.

After Elijah left the cave, he found "Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with 12 yoke of oxen before him."  That is a lot of oxen for one man to handle, Elisha must have been very strong.  "Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him" (1 Kings 19:19) This would signify that Elisha was to be Elijah's successor but he would be tested. "And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said Let me, I pray thee,kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee.  And he said unto him, Go back again:....." (V20) Elisha was given the opportunity to say goodbye.  After Elisha returned he sacrificed a team of oxen, gave to the people who were there, and then he "went after Elijah, and ministered unto him" (V21)  


Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Luke 25:25 and the Problem with Bible Translations

I will start this post by saying that I use the King James Bible.  From my early childhood when there was daily bible reading in school, the King James has been dear to my heart.  Years ago my husband and I left a bible study because someone who preferred the New American Standard said something very derogatory about King James and the trustworthiness of the King James bible.  You might think that this was extreme, but it set us on a course of study about the origins of this bible and both of us are convinced that the King James is God's word preserved in English as he promised in Psalm 12:6-7 "The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.  Thou shalt keep them, O LORD, thou shalt preserve them from this generation for ever."

This last Sunday, there was a good example of why we use the King James, a discussion on trusting the Lord through trials.   The person speaking quoted Luke 12:25 like this:

And which of you by being anxious can add a cubit to his life span?

I am not sure which translation he was using, but the Revised Standard comes closest.    The King James quotes Luke 12:25 like this:

And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?

After the person who was speaking had quoted Luke 12:25 he said he thought that was a strange verse to which I whispered to my husband that there was a big difference between life span and stature seeing that one cubit was a measure.

So why is this important to me? Because the person speaking was confused by what he read while the King James made perfect sense.. 

I have been in bible studies where one word made a big difference, "bearing" instead of "forbearing" in one verse  or "without a cause" being left out of another verse and changing the meanings of the verses completely.

Or having many people in a bible study and all using different translations which made verbal reading around the room impossible to follow along.

I could go on, but I think my point is made.  The King James has stood the test of time while other translations come and go, becoming not translations but very poor paraphrases. 

If you used to use the King James, please go back to it.  If you have never read one, give it a try.  You will see beauty you have never seen before.

vcg/September 2015

 







Sunday, September 6, 2015

Bible Women: Mary of Bethany

Mary of Bethany

Luke 10, John 11, John 12


Mary of Bethany, and her sister Martha  together with their brother Lazarus,  share an important part in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ on earth.

Mary is presented in scripture as a student, a woman with a meek and quiet spirit which is of great price to God, 1 Peter 3:4 "
But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price".  She is also presented as a worshipper.  Mary is contrasted with her sister Martha, who will be covered in another study.

We first read of Mary in the book of Luke,  and it is here that Mary is presented as a woman who puts her desire to learn the words of the Lord Jesus as her first priority, as such going against her sister Martha's wishes.   Luke 10:38-42 "Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus' feet, and heard his word.  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her."

How can we  reach others before we learn his word and apply it to our own lives?   The Lord Jesus places great importance in  sitting at his feet and learning of him, and says that "Mary hath chosen that good part" .  Learning of the Lord Jesus is uppermost in her life, above the will of others to do lesser things than learn from him.  And he says "which shall not be taken away from her."   Nothing shall be more important that learning of him.  And so should we apply this teaching to our own lives. Matthew 10:36-39 "And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.  He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.  And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me.  He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Mark 8:34 "......Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."  Nothing should come before our devotion to the Lord Jesus, and following Him.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Sleeping Mallard with Psalm 127:2


The photo above of a sleeping Mallard was taken at the local lake.  I loved the circles around his body as he moved with the breeze.  I chose Psalm 127:2 because the Lord loves and cares for all of his creation.

What Does it Mean to be Saved: Conviction and Confession of Sin


John 16:7-13 "...I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away,the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.  And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.  I have yet many things to say unto you, but ye cannot bear them now.  Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come."


This is the second in a series on What Does it Mean to be Saved. Other sermons in this series to follow are repentance, faith and justification.


What does it mean to be saved?  What makes a true Christian? It means to be born again, to be made spiritually alive from the dead; suddenly they now have a consciousness of spiritual things that they did not have before.  They have a consciousness of God's law and his standard, and of their own sin, their transgression.  What happens next is this:  conviction and confession of sin.  The very things that modern Christianity is downplaying, conviction of sin and confession of sin.


What is that? what is conviction and confession of sin.   Sometimes the bible says "reprove" sometimes "convince" but it means to expose suggesting shame.  Another word used is  "guilty," to feel under judgment.  Conviction is a feeling or burden of guilt, the weight of  your  sin, feeling that you are a sinner and you stand guilty before a holy God.  That person realizes that they need help.  Confession is you confess your sin, you admit "I have sinned I am a sinner"  When you are convicted you don't feel good, you have a burden about your sin.


Bible Men: Elijah and the Still Small Voice

Elijah and the Still Small Voice

1 Kings 19:1-18


The still small voice is one of the most precious events in the life of Elijah, it came at a time when he was very depressed, a time so many can relate to.


In my previous posts concerning Elijah, we read of King Ahab.  His wife was named Jezebel, who was a very wicked woman.  She worshipped the "gods" and was dominant over her husband.  Jezebel heard how Elijah had confronted the prophets of Baal and how he had slain all of them afterwards. 1 Kings 19:2 "Then Jezebel sent a messenger unto Elijah, saying, so let the gods do to me, and more also, if I make not thy life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time."  Those were very foolish words from Jezebel as time would tell..


 I have heard it said that Elijah was fearful and that's why he "arose and went for his life, and came to Beersheba..and left his servant there"(1 Kings 19:3) In thinking about this verse now, I would rather apply Proverbs 16:9 "A man's heart deviseth his way, but the LORD directeth his steps." We will see that the LORD had a wonderful lesson for Elijah, which he would only learn when he was by himself.  Beersheba belonged to Judah, the part of the nation of Israel that served the LORD, the God of Israel.  After leaving his servant there, Elijah went on himself another day's journey into the wilderness, where he "sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die;and said "It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers." (V4)  Sometimes we may feel like dying too, when it seems that things are so against us, that it is better to be with the Lord..   It is notable here that Elijah "lay and slept under a juniper tree" (V6) To me that says that Elijah had put forth his request,  and then left the matter in the  will of the LORD, and so should we also.


Thursday, September 3, 2015

A Little Compassion Goes a Long Way

A Little Compassion Goes a Long Way

Psalm 112:4 "Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous."


Yesterday we drove to the Costco in Nanaimo.  Often we have been there and it hasn't been nearly as busy as the one in Victoria, but yesterday it was very crowded probably because it is back to school next week.  The most crowded place seemed to be where the clothing is.  Narrow isles and lots of people made maneuvering very difficult, with lots of "excuse me" or "sorry" if you were in someone's way.


At one point I was looking at some sweaters and could hear a bit of a commotion to the left of where I was standing. I looked up to see an elderly man beside a young man with a buggy.  The younger man was saying "you don't have to be so rude" and the older man said "you are the one who is rude".   They made their way past each other and I could see that behind the older man was his wife, who was clearly mortified..  she asked him not to talk like that when he was with her.  


The husband passed me without a glance, but I caught the lady's eye and looked ashamed and nervous at what I might say, so I gave her a little smile and she visibly relaxed, smiled a bit and said "Men!"  so I agreed, "Men."  Off they went, and I didn't see them again.


But I thought about that poor woman and wondered what her life must be like most of the time, and was thankful that for that moment, God had placed me there, wandering around the clothing which I never do, and able to be someone who could offer this woman a bit of compassion.


As believers we often get opportunity to be a bit of a help, and it is up to us to take that opportunity and make the best of it, otherwise regret will follow over what might have been, but wasn't.


vcg/September 2015

Bible Women: Ruth - Part 2

The Book of Ruth

Ruth - Part 2

for Ruth Part 1 go here

In the first part of Ruth, we learned how Ruth came back to Bethelem-Judah with her mother-in-law Naomi after the death of her husband. Ruth was a Moabitess, and Naomi told her to go back to her family and to her land, but  Ruth stated "Entreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:........."(Ruth 1:16) and Naomi and Ruth came to Bethlehem in the beginning of the barley harvest (In God's providential timing.) Ruth went to glean "in whose sight I shall find grace" and she was led (by the Lord) to glean in the field belonging to a man named Boaz, who was kinsman of Naomi's dead husband.  Boaz asked who Ruth was, and he provided care for her, and asked that she stay in his field through barley and wheat harvest, staying near his lady workers the whole time, instructing the men not to touch her, providing more food for her.  Ruth continued to dwell with Naomi, thus preserving her reputation as a virtuous woman.

When Naomi learned from Ruth that she was gleaning in Boaz's field, Naomi  recognizes that Boaz, as her near kinsman, has the right to marry Ruth and so she instructs Ruth what to do to obtain Boaz as her redeemer.

Ruth is instructed to wash herself, anoint herself, put on her garment and go to the threshing floor but not to make herself known to Boaz until he had finished eating and drinking.  Then, when he laid himself down, she was to go and lie down at Boaz' feet, and when he found her there, he would tell her what she should do.(Ruth 3:4) Ruth told Naomi that "all that thou sayest unto me I will do. And she went down unto the floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law bade her. (Ruth 3:4-5) Ruth is obedient to Naomi. 


Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Morning Light in Mossy Trees, and Genesis 3:8

This photo was taken on the path to a place called Sandy Pools at the Cowichan River.  The trees are covered in a moss, and looks rather primeval to me.  I chose Genesis 3:8 as the verse because to me the sunlight pictures the Lord God and the shadows picture Adam and the Woman hiding themselves after their sin.  They who had enjoyed being in God's presence now were compelled to hide, knowing that they had been disobedient.

What Does It Mean to be Saved: It Means to be Born Again


John 3:3-8 "Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily,verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.  Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.  Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.  The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit."


Ephesians 2:1-5 "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.  But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (By grace ye are saved.)"

 
How do you describe a saved person? What is a true Christian, what is the distinctive characteristic of a Christian?  Is it someone who is nice? there are lots of nice people in this world and they are not Christians, so this is not the distinctive characteristic.  Is it love? Other people love who are not Christians.  Love is the outflow of the Christian life and it is a great witness, but love nor niceness nor even religious duty, nor faithfulness in attendance at church are the distinguishing mark of a Christian.  Because Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists can do all these things. What about a Christian sets them apart? It is doctrine, it is what a Christian believes, in this generation when no one wants to define a Christian, the distinguishing mark is the gospel which they believe.  Doctrine, theology, what they believe is distinct from any other religion.  A Christian is defined by and identified by what they believe and that is unique and unparalleled in any other religion.  If you don't believe certain things you are not a Christian, simple as that.  If you don't believe the gospel, you are not a Christian under any meaning of the word.  There is no such thing as a nominal Christian.   The Word of God defines what a Christian is.


The Lust of the Eye, and a Caramel Apple Pie

I wrote this piece years ago, but a visit yesterday to the same big box store    reminded me of it:

Of the Lust of the Eye, and a Caramel Apple Pie

1 John 2:16 - For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

We often shop at a local big box store, and have looked longingly at their freshly-baked 12" caramel apple pies, but have always passed them by.  Then, on a return visit, we came upon the same caramel apple pies.  Oh how they beckoned, lightly browned crumb crust tops, swirled with caramel sauce.. the aroma of freshly baked apples..

 I said to husband "do we deserve one of these?" as if there was any reason that one would have to deserve an apple pie..it was more that I was trying to justify the lust of the eye for a pie that was much too big for us..  we decided we could carve it in sections, and freeze most of it for other days, so we bought the pie..

That night, we had it for dessert but the trouble was, the first bite showed both of us that it was sickeningly sweet, the crust tasted like sugar-soaked lard, the apples were too tart.. we both knew that our stomachs would not do well with this pie inside it but we ate our piece anyway..

Not long after that, my husband's stomach blew up like a balloon, and soon after, he went in the bathroom and was sick to his stomach, the first time in almost 21 years.. my stomach also felt like I had eaten a football, but it stayed down..

The next day, we both said that even though we hate to waste food, the best thing to do was forget the $10 we paid for it, and toss it in the garbage..

A lesson learned, what you lust after will not be good for you, and you will pay the price one way or the other..


vcg/September 2015


Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Bible Men: Elijah and the Little Cloud Like a Man's Hand


1 Kings 18:1, 41-46


Previously on this blog I have posted about Elijah the prophet of God.  Part 1 was of Elijah being sustained by a widow of Zarephath, and Part 2 was of Elijah and his confrontation with the prophets of Baal.  This post, concerning Elijah and the little cloud like a man's hand takes place after Elijah's confrontation with those prophets.

In the day of Elijah the prophet, the word of the LORD came unto him to tell the wicked king Ahab that there would be neither dew nor rain for three years and this brought a great famine on the land.  In the third year of the drought there came a day when "the word of the LORD came to Elijah saying "Go, shew thyself unto Ahab; and I will send rain upon the earth." (1 Kings 18:1)  And Elijah went to shew himself unto Ahab. "And there was a sore famine in Samaria."(V2)

When Ahab saw Elijah, he said to him "Art thou he that troubleth Israel?" V17 Elijah answered "I have not troubled Israel; but thou, and thy father's house, in that ye have forsaken the commandments of the LORD, and thou hast followed Baalim."  king Ahab knows now that this famine is not from Elijah, but because of his own disobedience to the commands of God.


After that Elijah has his confrontation with the prophets of Baal, and this is covered in depth in my  post of Elijah and the prophets of Baal ( go here to read). In that confrontation, Elijah prays to the LORD God "let it be known this day that thou art God in Israel, and that I am thy servant...Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again.." (18:36-37) and then the fire of the LORD fell, and the people fell on their faces and said The LORD, he is the God; the LORD, he is the God." (18:38-39) king Ahab witnessed this confrontation because earlier Elijah had told him to "send and gather to me all Israel unto mount Carmel, and the prophets of Baal, four  hundred and fifty, and the prophets of the groves four hundred...."(V19)