Trekking through the Scriptures is an adventure. Feel free to comment here, or email me personally.

Saturday, October 29, 2011


We had such a small showing this last week that we decided to postpone our meeting and discussion on Chapter 1 until next week, November 3.
 I will begin posting Galatians 2 on the 4th.  J

Thursday, October 27, 2011


Review of Galatians 1
 Write out what you understand about God’s grace and peace through Jesus.
______________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Did you identify some thinking which adds in non-Biblical “requirements” for salvation or relationship with God?  If so, what have you done, or what do you plan to do, to change your thinking on this?  ____________________
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
If you recognized that you are seeking the approval of people, what have you decided to do about that?  Are there any verses you should meditate upon that will help to affirm God’s love and approval of you?   What are they?
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Have you been able to let go of your personal “badges of honor” so as to find you peace, comfort, and confidence in Jesus rather than in yourself?  Spend some time in silence, prayer and scripture.  After you do this, jot down some ideas you have about what God may want to do with and through you.  ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
On a scale of 1 to 10, how is your walk with God?  _______What can you do to improve it? __________________________________________________ Right now, what is the “message” of your words to those around you?  ______________________________________________________________Is it the same as the “message” of your life? _______  Are you willing to go through the pain and work of being changed from worldly to heavenly?
Are you experiencing good spiritual growth from year to year, month to month? _______ If you are not sure, ask your family members or close friends who will really be honest with you—they should be able notice if there is or isn’t good spiritual growth.  If there hasn’t been a lot of good spiritual growth, don’t despair.  But don’t procrastinate either!  Start today. Now.  
Read and Pray as the Holy Spirit leads you.

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Galatians 1:18-24


                                                 "Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and remained with him fifteen days. But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord's brother.  (Now, concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)  Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia.  And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ.  But they were hearing only, 'He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.'  And they glorified God in me."
                                 God glorified in you
Once we have been with God in silence, in prayer, in scripture, we are more ready to live and operate in His love and grace.  Here is the point where strategic planning, and/or confirmation of ministries can healthfully occur.  We should no longer be in that place of just trying to fulfill our own ambitions. 
In Paul’s case, after he had lived and walked in the revelation of Jesus, he then pursued getting to know Peter.  I really doubt he did that so as to be just like Peter, or get Peter’s approval.  I suspect he wanted to hear more of Peter’s experiences walking with Jesus on earth.  Paul’s message did not become Peter’s testimony.  Paul’s message remained the gospel of Jesus Christ as experienced by him with the understanding of Old Testament scriptures and their fulfillment.  He already had a vast knowledge of the scriptures, but once Paul really “got it”, these old texts came alive in a way that enabled him to preach and explain God’s love for humanity through the ages.
Paul was not preaching out of obligation or expectations of others, nor was he simply restating someone else’s experiences and philosophy.  He was preaching Christ alive, now, revealed even in him, the one who had previously reviled this faith.  His reputation preceded him because his transformation was remarkable and the faith he preached was the sound, true faith he had once tried to destroy.
Our personal stories are probably not as radical as Paul’s, so should we take this passage as a simple history?  Or is there some principle for application within these verses?  I believe at least one principle is clear:  We have much to gain from experience with other believers—especially those who have walked with Jesus longer—but the message we deliver must genuinely come from our own walk with God.  If it does, then our transformation resulting from that walk will give others reason to glorify God for his work in us and through us.  What are you currently experiencing in your own walk with God?
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Read and Pray:  Psalm 86:8-13, 2 Corinthians 4:1-7

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Galatians 1:13-17


     "For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it.  And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.  But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb and called me through His grace, to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus."

                                     confer with God
            Prior to Paul’s revelation encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus, his identity, his “badge of honor”, was apparently wrapped up in being something like “top-of-the-class”, in a position of power and control.  He honed his reasoning skills and was zealous about maintaining traditions known and familiar to him. 
            What is your “badge of honor”?  What are the keys to your identity?  What gives you a sense of purpose, meaning and value as a person?  Pause and think about this for a moment, and jot down a few ideas.  _________________________________________________________________________
            At this point in the letter, Paul explains that he now sees God was working in His life even from the time of conception.  But Paul did not really “get it” until he experienced the grace of God—through being blinded—on the road to Damascus.  This was an intimate, personal experience where Paul encountered his own wrong thinking by encountering the love and grace of Jesus.  That love and grace revealed to Paul was to be revealed as well, in Paul for the benefit of others.
He was stopped short in his pursuit of self-justification or self-validation.  And here he makes a choice:  rather than pressing on and forward on his own, he withdraws to think these things over.  (I suspect he was “drawing near” to God.)  It is after this that Paul is able to launch out in ministry. 
How about you?  Are you chasing some sort of self-justification or validation?  How so?  _____________________________________________________________________________  Have you ever been stopped in your tracks by God’s grace?  Are you willing to stop and listen for His voice?  If you catch a glimpse of what God may want to do in you, or through you, will you confer with people to gain assurance and approval, or will you first turn to God in prayer and let your mind dwell upon God’s purposes as presented in Scripture?  This is conferring with God rather than men.[1]
Read and Pray:  2 Chronicles 15:2, Psalm 46:10, James 4:6-8a




[1]Of course it is great to draw on the wisdom of many counselors (Proverbs 11:14, 15:22)
  but only after we have spent time with The Wonderful Counselor.  

Monday, October 24, 2011

Galatians 1:10-12


"For do I now persuade men, or God?  Or do I seek to please men?  For if I still pleased men, I would not be a bondservant of Christ.  But I make known to you, brethren that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man.  For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ."
                     
                               giving or guarding
The gospel that Paul was preaching was not a body of traditions handed down to him as were Jewish practices, (though he did receive these), nor was it a series taught by rote and repetition as were the foundations of Greek and Roman philosophy, (which he also had).  Paul came to truly understand the historical facts of Jesus through a revelation experience with Jesus, and that revelation turned out to have enormous implications for the life of Paul—and he wanted to give it to others. 
The revelation of Jesus sets in motion a new worldview.   For in our religious traditions we are often, (if not usually), trying to please people, and in our teaching we are often, (if not usually), trying to persuade people.  God’s love for us and others, as seen in Jesus, turns the world’s values upside down:  no longer is wealth for accumulating—it is for giving away; no longer is power for controlling—it is for serving;  no longer is prestige or popularity for exalting “self”—it is for opportunity to share the gospel, traditions are no longer about keeping others happy—they are for reminding our hearts of great truths, and teaching is no longer for the purpose of ‘being right’—it is to better display the Righteous One.  This is not the way society leads us, but it is the way of God.  These are the ways of a God who pours out His great riches upon spiritually poor humanity, who dispenses power to the weak to inherit the kingdom of God, and who gives the outcast a place of love and belonging.
When our aim is to please people and to be “something” in the world, we generally aim to accumulate money, goods, compliments, friends, authority, esteem, knowledge, notoriety, followers and friends for ourselves.  These things become our reasons for living.  When our aim is to know God, we must dive into His truth, His gift of salvation and forgiveness.  This empowers us to live by His Spirit in our world. He will give us eyes to see where and how we can give our resources, our time, and our energy, for His glory. 
In your own life, are you more focused on accumulating something for yourself, or on listening to God?  Are you more focused on guarding something for yourself and impressing others, or giving back to God from the riches He gives you?  Are you seeking approval of people or God’s approval in these areas?                             
                       I focus more on                                       The approval I crave is from
Free time                 Giving     or   Guarding                             God        or      other people
Money                    Giving      or   Guarding                            God        or      other people
Knowledge              Giving      or   Guarding                            God        or      other people
Friendships              Giving      or   Guarding                            God        or      other people
Opportunities            Giving      or   Guarding                            God        or      other people
Read and Pray:  I Tim. 6:18-19, Heb. 13:15-16, 2 Cor. 2:16-18

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Galatians 1:6-9


"I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want tot pervert the gospel of Christ.  But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed."               
                            beware of additives
We have been called to come into relationship with God in the grace of Jesus Christ.  However, some people in Paul’s day, (and some people in our own day), turn away from the simplicity and beauty of this grace.  It appears that among the churches of Galatia some teaching was going about which perverted the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Galatians seem to be in the process of abandoning the grace of a personal relationship with a loving God for something else.  History tells us that certain Judaizers sincerely accepted salvation in Christ, but added that the observance of various Jewish rites and traditions were necessary for “good standing” with God.  These Judaizers’ teachings were infiltrating the Galatian churches where many of these Gentiles had no Jewish heritage or tradition.
Do you think we run into some of the same issues in our day?  How about among various denominations?  I remember struggling in my own walk with God during a particular season of my life, specifically as a result of teachings about “how real Christians live”.  I wanted to love and serve God faithfully and sincerely, but I began to pursue “right living” even more than the “Righteous One”.  The result was that I walked right past mercy and into self-righteousness along with judgment and condemnation of others.  This led to separation rather than unity, fear rather than security, and works rather than faith for salvation.  Even now, I sometimes struggle with “grace alone” because I am trying to be “good enough”.
There are places and times for separation, fear and works: we are to be separate from the world, we are to have reverential fear of offending God, we are to work out our faith.  But as a foundation, all of this must rest on the relationship with have with God by the love and grace of Jesus Christ.  Really, it is quite simple, yet I sometimes turn away from the simplicity to my own efforts and achievement.  The amazing good news is that God not only wants close fellowship with us, and wants us to enjoy it with one another, but He wants it bad enough to make the way for us to have it:  by the grace of, and faith in, Jesus Christ.
Are there any “additives” in your thinking that are creating distinctions God never intended?  Have you made some things “necessary” that really aren’t?  If so, what?___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________What is it that is essentially necessary for relationship with God?  Stick to that, and as you grow in your knowledge and understanding of God and His love for you and for others, you will grow as well in your application of His truth in practical ways.
Read and Pray:  Isaiah 42:5-9, Micah 6:8, John 15:15

Friday, October 21, 2011

Galatians 1:1-5


"Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raise Him from the dead), and all the brethren who are with me.  Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins, that He might deliver us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen."
                                                grace and peace
           The grace and peace that we can enjoy among and between us are the results of God’s justice and mercy toward each of us.  Jesus, is God’s express image of Himself in human form.  When a wrong is committed, someone bears the resulting damage to peace and goodwill (among other things).  Were we each to bear that full expense on our own, separated from any forgiveness, we would be tormented by destructive evil, totally out of relationship with other people and God. 
In the face of wrong, there is always a choice; either make the perpetrators suffer or suffer yourself.  To make the perpetrators suffer will rarely produce real repentance, especially if the “justice” is meted out with anger, resentment and vengeance.   If it is toward ourselves, it may take the form of regret and self-condemnation. This kind of justice, will in fact propagate more evil, and things don’t become ‘right’ just because someone says, “I’m really sorry”.  Forgiveness results when one is willing to bear the cost of the wrong rather than making the wrongdoer bear the cost.  When forgiveness is granted, some suffering is taken on by the one who is forgiving, but the wrongdoer is set free from the bondage of ‘payback’, and the evil of that wrong is halted.  On a grand scale, God has done this for each and every person who will accept it:
             “God did not inflict pain on someone else, but rather on the Cross absorbed the pain, violence, and evil of the world into himself.  Therefore the God of the Bible is not like the primitive deities who demanded our blood for their wrath to be appeased.  Rather, this is a God who became human and offers his own lifeblood in order to honor moral justice and merciful love so that someday he can destroy all evil without destroying us.” [1]  
            His justice and mercy deliver us from the evil of revenge, and self-seeking apathy toward others, as well as the evil of torturing ourselves. He invites us into the grace and peace of Jesus Christ.  The result, is that God’s values—which are the reverse of the world’s values—become a norm for those who walk in that grace and peace of God.  Power is for service, not control; money is for giving, not hoarding; forgiveness is available, rather than condemnation.  In God’s expression of Himself in Jesus, neither justice nor mercy is sacrificed.  If we grasp and accept the work of the cross, we truly are delivered from the evil propagated by sin in our own heart and in the world around us. We are set free to live in the grace and peace that comes from God, and is God’s will.
Read and Pray:  Psalm 85:10, Acts 2:22-28, Psalm 16:11, John 3:13-21


[1] Keller, Timothy, The Reason for God, (New York, NY, Riverhead Books, 2008),p.200 By the way, this is a great book for skeptics and doubters as well as for believers!

Thursday, October 20, 2011


Taking a Journey
Understanding scripture is like going on a journey.  For it is God’s communication for clarification on who He is, what He is like, and His will is.  But there lies a challenge for you and me….it was written in a time and place far from our own.  Does it still apply to us here and now?  How so?  How can we know?
If we go with the “feels right” approach then some scripture will work well for us and other scripture will be disturbing to say the least.  We could take an absolute literalist angle, but then serious questions about our ability to live “Biblically” will arise and be met with unsatisfactory answers (like no more blended fabrics in your clothing, or go walk on water to demonstrate your faith).  If one decides to take a “purely metaphorical” approach the text could be manipulated to mean such a wide variety of things that it loses its relevance as Holy Scripture, and becomes in reality just an allegorical expression of our own thoughts and emotions.
All is not lost.  There is a way to read, and really understand scripture, but like I said before, it is a bit of a journey, and will require some effort on the part of the reader.  Grasping God’s Word by Duvall and Hays is an excellent text for honing your skills in reading, interpreting and applying scripture.  Here is a very brief summation of the steps they offer:
1.       Grasp the Text in Their Town – What did the text mean to the Biblical audience?
2.      Measure the Width of the River to Cross –What are the differences between the Biblical audience and us?
3.      Cross the Principlizing Bridge –What is the theological principle in this text?
4.      Grasping the Text in Our Town –How should individual Christians today apply the theological principle in their lives?
While the specifics of a particular passage may only apply to the particular situation of the biblical audience, the theological principles revealed in that text are applicable to all of God’s people at all times.  The theological principle, therefore, has meaning and application both to the ancient biblical audience and to Christians today.”[1]
Read and Pray:  Luke 24:26-28, 31-33, 44-46, John 5:38-40, Romans 15:3-5,                     
                                           2 Tim 3:14-16


[1] Duvall and Hays,  Grasping God’s Word, (Grand Rapids, MI, 2001) pp.21-25

Wednesday, October 19, 2011


Flying Over
            If you were going to a remote area of the world, it might be pretty nice to first fly overhead so you could get a feel for where you will be in relation to rivers, mountains, valleys, plains, etc.  This might better orient you to possible directions when you are on the ground stepping through wetlands or thickets.  In the same way, before starting a book of the Bible, it is very helpful to do a “fly over” before you start plodding along, verse by verse.  What that means is that you read the whole book/letter at one time, in one sitting.  This will give you a sense of the overall tone that will apply in each of the smaller details.
            I am not a fast reader, and it takes me about twenty minutes to read all of Galatians.  So make sure that you plan on enough time to actually read the whole thing in one sitting.  Then take just five more minutes to jot down what you perceive as the overall message and tone of the letter.   Once that is done, you are ready for landing, and trekking through verse by verse!
Read and Pray: Galatians (all of it)


Tuesday, October 18, 2011

                     Five Times a Day Challenge
            This is not about being legalistic, but about setting in motion something that can raise our consciousness of God’s availability and interest in us, along with our consciousness of our stated devotion to Him.  I would like to grow to the point where I am always, every day, every moment aware that the lover of my soul is present and participating in my life, and I in His.  I want to grow in my own understanding of the importance of my loyalty to Him. I invite you to join me in this challenge:
A.     When you wake up in the morning, what are some of your first thoughts?  Have you considered the possibility of greeting God even before you are out of bed?  I’m not talking about anything big, just a simple “Thank you Lord for the rest, and thank you for this new day”, sort of thing.  And maybe a little [big?] question like what would you like to do with me today?
B.     One of the gifts of saying “grace” before meals is that this can serve as a reminder of how blessed we are, and of how our Creator is with us and present throughout the day.  He designed us to need food, and if we choose, we can make our mealtimes small celebrations where we stop from the other activities of the day to give thanks, and enjoy how we are made and to give thanks for His provision..  
C.     When you go to bed at night, what is usually the substance of your thoughts?  If you are going over all the things that happened in the day, also try to focus of the grand work that God has been doing not only in your life, but since the beginning of time.  This is a great time to have a simple conversation with God.  Like “ Thank you for this day, even though it wasn’t, (or maybe it was more than), what I had hoped for, I know I can trust you to work things out in a good way, even if right now I don’t see and understand how.  You have still given me so much to be thankful for…”
In the morning, at each of three meals, and before you go to sleep,  
                       fellowship with God in prayer!
FYI:  The Shema is comprised of three different passages from the Torah. (Listed below)  It has been said for literally thousands of years, and was likely on Jesus’ lips when he was growing up and it is a confirmation of loyalty—like a pledge of allegiance.  The first two are said both morning and evening, and the third, only in the morning.  How might our mindset be affected if we adopt the habit of saying, and thinking about, these words each day, morning and evening?
Read and Pray:  Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Deuteronomy 11:13-21, Numbers 15:37-41

Monday, October 17, 2011

A theme Verse


So Be It
“A-a-a-men. Hallelujah!  A-a-a-men.  Hallelujah!  A-a-men. Amen. Amen.  Do you know what “amen” means?   It is so.  So be it. Verily.  Truly.  We end our prayers with Amen.  Literally, it would be an acknowledgement of God’s ability to transform the prayers for His will into the reality of His will.  After taking stock of how you are doing spiritually, you might have a better idea of what you would like to be a reality of God’s will in your life.  Do you need to grow in patience, humility, grace, self-control, perseverance, thankfulness…? 
            One of the beauties of being a part of God’s family, is that we are not alone.  Others who are also pursuing Jesus—in truth, not just word—will sincerely desire your good growth, and can walk alongside for both encouragement and help.  A tradition we began a few years ago was praying specific verses for each of those who attend our Bible study.  We would love to be doing that again, so now we want each of you to choose at least one verse that relates to an area in which you desire to grow. 
            List some verses that speak to “how you are doing spiritually”.  Write them on some note cards place them where you will see and read them often.  Choose one that you would like us to be praying for you, and we will do just that.  J
The verses which especially speak to where I am right now:
1.______________________________________________________
2.______________________________________________________
3.______________________________________________________
4.______________________________________________________
5.______________________________________________________

The verse I would like others to be praying for me is:
_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Read and Pray:  (you decide!)



Saturday, October 15, 2011

Evaluation


How are you doing?
It is so easy to say, “Hey, how’s it going?”  Unfortunately, many of us probably say it at times when we don’t really even want to know the answer, or we don’t really feel we have the time to listen.  But when said with sincerity, and when time is taken to listen to the response, great things can happen.  I’ve been wondering about asking myself the question, and inserting one more word:  “How’s it going spiritually?”  How does one go about answering such a question?  How would you answer that for yourself?   What questions would help you discover “how its going spiritually?” 
Make a list of at least 5-7 questions that would help you gauge your spiritual well-being, and come prepared to share your list with the group.
1. ____________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________
2. ____________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________
3. ____________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________
4. ____________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________
5. ____________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________
6. ____________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________
7. ____________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________
Honestly answer each of those questions for yourself. (You won’t be asked to share answers)
When people are sick there are a variety of things to do to get well:  rest, drink lots of water, eat chicken soup, take antibiotics, etc.  When/if you are ailing spiritually, what might help?  Take some time to read the Bible and pray for God’s specific prescription for you at this time.  Are there specific verses you need to memorize or meditate upon?  Any relationships you need to tend to?  Or any actions you need to take?
Read and Pray:  (you decide!)

Friday, October 14, 2011

James 5:19-20


"Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins."
                                    merciful relationship
                Sometimes people have a view of God as a mean old man in the sky  waiting to pounce on them when they do wrong.  Nothing could be further from the truth.  Early in Genesis we have record of God’s mercy in the face of utter destructive decadence and we see His mercy in the face of human arrogance and cruelty.  Many sight Him as vengeful, without taking note that these “vengeful acts” are responses to lifestyles and actions that were terribly destructive to other human beings.  God’s acts mercifully terminated further human destruction and defilement.
                You may be wondering, how does this relate?  It relates because we are followers of Christ, who is the express image of Father God, who operates in merciful relationship.  We too must operate in merciful relationship.  As human beings in the midst of a fallen world, we must understand that we are ALL susceptible to deception and sin.  There is reason for us to be humble! 
                If I really grasp that, then when a brother or sister in Christ sins, my response will not be, “I can’t believe they …”   I believe it.  Given the right circumstances, and especially if on my own, I might have wandered into doing the same thing!  We all have potential to be “wicked”.  Therefore we all need both instruction and relationship—and the humility to receive it.  We need to be bound together in love for teaching, truth, accountability and help:  this will help us avoid wandering away from truth in our own error.
                Paul wrote to the Galatians because they were turning away from the true simple gospel they had received.  His letter is an example of how to turn a sinner from the error of their way:  offer grace and peace, glorify God, speak with honesty, address the history, give the reasons, be an example.  We are to help restore others in a spirit of humility, knowing we too could fall into sin.
                Sin rarely, (if ever), affects only the sinner.  Still, even if harmed by someone else’s sin, I must forgive or else I risk two things: 1)Suggesting to them that they are beyond forgiveness, thus imparting despair and 2)becoming separated from God myself because of my own unforgiveness. 
Let us all humbly offer to one another the grace and peace of Jesus.
Read and Pray:  2 Corinthians 2:5-10, Galatians 6:1-3, Jude 20-25

Thursday, October 13, 2011

James 5:16b-18

             "The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit."
                                                        prayer of faith  [1]
What is “the prayer of faith”?  Is it the faith of the sick person?  Or of the one(s) praying for him?  Some would say, “A true prayer of faith, always includes within it a tacit acknowledgment of God’s sovereignty in all matters; that it is God’s will that must be done.  And it is clear that it is by no means always God’s will to heal those who are ill.  Therefore, the ‘faith’ that is the indispensable condition for our prayers for healing to be answered—this faith being the gift of God—can be truly present only when it is God’s will to heal.”[2]
Is God somehow limited by human involvement, (or lack thereof), and behavior?  What if He wants to do a spiritual healing work in the process,  but His time line and the journey may not resemble what we have in mind?  Will we jump ship or embrace His work on earth, in people?
1.       God chose to work on earth through people.   Adam received the responsibility of  watchman/guardian of earth and of representing God.(Gen.2:15,Ps.8:3-8,Ps.115:16)
2.       Adam was comparable to or similar to God….God was recognized in Adam, which meant that Adam “carried the weight” here on earth. The earth was Adam’s assignment. And how things went, for better or worse depended on Adam and his offspring.  Adam’s authority was so complete that he had the ability to give it away to another. When Adam sinned, he did just that and God was no longer recognized in fallen humanity.  (Gen.3,Luke 4:6-7, John 12:31)
3.       Jesus took that authority back in His life, death and resurrection, and He invites us to partake of the heavenly calling. (John 14:10,Heb.3:1, 2Cor.5:18-19)
4.       People can now enforce Jesus’ authority.  Jesus fully accomplished the task of breaking Satan’s authority and legal hold upon the human race, someone on earth must represent Him in that victory and enforce it.  (1John3:8, Matt.16:19)                  [3]
When we come alongside others in prayer, we are like a magnifying glass that can direct light to hit the mark.  Is the Holy Spirit in you?  Do you know how powerful the Holy Spirit is—and how destructive to darkness is His sword?  By the grace and mercy of Jesus, you are filled with the very glory and light of God!  Will you utilize your privilege and release it? 
                Sometimes prayer will be work:  Elijah was crouched like a woman in labor.  Sometimes it will require persistence:  Elijah prayed seven times until completion.  ALWAYS prayer requires YOUR availability and willingness.
Read and Pray:  Psalm 85, Colossians 1:9-14


[1] This is a miniscule treatment of the subject of prayer and I strongly encourage you to read and learn more for yourself. 
[2] Moo, Douglass J., James TNTC, (Downers Grove IL, IVPress 1985), p. 187
[3] Sheets, Dutch, Intercessory Prayer (Ventura, CA, Regal Books, 1996)

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

James 5:15-16a


"And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.  Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed."
                               toward total health  [1]
                First of all, I’d like to address the white elephant in the room:  not everyone gets healed, even when we sincerely desire and pray for healing.  This does not invalidate the instructions James gives, but it should raise our awareness that multiple factors exist[2].  It would be tragic to throw out James’ exhortation because of our lack of experience.   James seems to say that healing is closely linked to forgiveness as well as prayer.  And that both  confession and prayer, (leading to healing), should be a regular part of our lives.  Scripture points to various reasons for sickness but two things repeatedly resurface:  1) the use of affliction to help people recognize their need for God and  2)for God’s fellowship and glory to be known and shown both in the suffering and the healing. 
Did you know that those who choose to harbor a grudge show increased blood pressure and heart rate among other things, while those who choose to forgive actually lower physiological stress responses?[3]  When family relationships are fraught with conflict, aggression and neglect, children’s psychosocial function is disrupted, and they are physically compromised so that they are at higher risk for mental health disorders, major chronic disease, and early mortality.[4] 
Can you see God’s design here?  When we walk in the way He has instructed, we are able to enjoy greater mental and physical health.  When we make mistakes or stray from that path, He has made a way of return: confess our sins and participate in loving relationship with others.  Confession moves us into right standing with others and into greater receptivity to God’s Spirit.  We are not perfect, but we can be moving toward Jesus, conforming to Him, the Perfect One.
Read and Pray:  2 Chronicles 7:14, Psalm 107:17-22, Proverbs 4:20-27




[1] This is a miniscule treatment of the subject of healing and I strongly encourage you to read and learn more for yourself. 
[2] As examples see: Num.12, 1Kings 13:1-6,  Mark2:1-12, John.9:1-3, 1 Cor.11:27-30, 2 Cor.12:7-9, and others

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

James 5:13-14


"Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord."
                                                respond in relationship             
Sometimes Christians adopt a mentality of “image” rather than reality.  We might feel lousy, but in an effort to appear “Christian” we give a stock “Christian” response.  We might not really know the answer to a question, but rather than really think about it, we give a “Sunday School Answer”.   In the Old Testament, God calls for truth in the inner most being, but we seem to have fallen into a belief that some truth is dangerous to our reputation.  And it is, if my reputation is all about me.  But if I am truly being transformed, my reputation is not my concern—knowing God is.  And the way to knowing God more fully must involve truth in the innermost being of who I am, where ever I am, whatever my current state of affairs.
We live in a fallen world where both man and creation are suffering the consequences of sin. How will we respond to the hard, negative effects?  How will we respond when we are the ones who can enjoy the benefits of inequities in the present world?  To be faithful in each and every circumstance is to be in continual fellowship with God.  And this present fellowship prepares us for eternal relationship.
We have the freedom to choose how we respond to victories, defeats, health, sickness, wealth, poverty...  People and circumstances can cause the loss of anything material and temporal, but you cannot be robbed of your relationship with God.  You can choose to fellowship with your anger, or pride, or worry, or you can ask God to forgive and empower you, praise God for loving you, and thank Him for touching you through others.
If I am suffering from trials of oppression, persecution, or something else that is outside of myself and beyond my control, it is of utmost importance that I find the strength and grace which God provides.  If I don't, I am likely to end up angry, resentful, stressed out, and insecure.  On the other hand if everything is going well for me and "life is good", if I take sole credit for this state of affairs, I slip into self-confidence, pride, judgment and criticism of others, without the reality of "blessed in order to be a blessing".  It would be better for everyone if I turned my heart and eyes with thankfulness and praise to the One who gives good gifts and can then see how to share with others.  If I am suffering from sickness, it might be helpful to reflect on God's provisions in my life in the past, and in His presence in other people through whom He loves me tangibly.  If I do not do this, my natural path will probably include worry, fear, and perhaps despair.  The current illness probably accentuates my need for other people--which is how we are designed--for relationship.
There is no situation in which God is absent or unavailable if we call on Him.  Let us affirm that relationship with God by inviting Him into the reality of our every emotionR, every joyR,  every struggleR,  and let us enjoy His grace!  
Read and Pray: Matthew 6:9-13, Philippians 4:11-13, Hebrews 12:12-15

Monday, October 10, 2011

James 5:12


“But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.
                                                let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes’
                Isn’t it funny that the phrases, “I’m not gonna lie”, and “to tell you the truth…” are so popular?  In my head I invariably, (sarcastically), respond, “Oh really?  Are you stating that because you usually lie?”  Here is the most “liked” urban dictionary definition of the statement:  a phrase used to add to any sentence which you never need to lie in.[1]  Terrible grammar aside, I think the definition reveals something about our culture.  The implied meaning in the definition is that sometimes you need to lie.  How did we get here?  Have Christians bought into this mindset?
                In the Old Testament, the third of the Ten Commandments is, “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes His name is vain.”(Ex.20:7)  In its cultural context this refers to perjury, also known as foreswearing.  That is, a willful act of swearing a false oath to tell the truth.  Over the years, some people recognized the seriousness of swearing to/by God, so they changed the phrasing to ‘by heaven’, and even later, ‘scouts honor’. (J)
                But Jesus, radical as He is, recommended an even higher standard in saying, “…let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’, and your ’No’, ‘No’”. (Matt.5:37)  It seems that His intention is that His followers would be known to be people of their word, in no way deceiving others.  Is it often that people ask you if you are really telling the truth?  If so, it says something about their perception of your truth index.
                F.F.Bruce continues with the last part of the Matthew 5:37 verse: 
                ‘Anything more than this’, said Jesus, ‘comes of evil’; that is to say, the idea that a man or woman can be trusted to speak the truth only when under oath (if even then) springs from dishonesty and suspicion, tends to weaken mutual confidence in the exchanges of everyday life.  No one demands an oath from those whose word is known to be their bond; even a solemn oath on the lips of others tends to be taken with a grain of salt.[2]
                What is your mindset?  Are you a person of your word?  If this has not been the case, it may take time to establish credibility.  Humility and repentance pave the way for honesty and integrity, so do not lose heart if you have failed in the past.  Today is a new day—go with God.
Read and Pray:  Eccl.  5:1-5, Zech.8:16-17, Matthew 5:33-37, Ephesians 4:25


[2] Bruce, F.F. Hard Sayings of Jesus (Downers Grove IL, IVPress 1983),  p.66-67