Psalm 119 LAMED
Priority of the Word of God verse 89- 94
Forever O LORD – YOUR word is settled in heaven
YOUR faithfulness is unto all generations
YOU have established the earth – and it abides
They continue this day according to YOUR ordinances
for all are YOUR servants
Unless YOUR law had been my delights
I should have perished in mine affliction
I will never forget YOUR precepts
for with them YOU have quickened me
I am YOURS – save me
for I have sought YOUR precepts
Defense of believers against wicked verse 95- 96
The wicked have waited for me to destroy me
BUT I will consider YOUR testimonies
I have seen an end of all perfection
BUT YOUR commandments is exceeding broad
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 89 Forever, O LORD, YOUR word is settled in heaven. (5324 “settled” [natsab] means stand, set, appointed, made solid, be in a standing position.
DEVOTION: The word of God is that standard that was written before the foundation of the world. The revelation of God was appointed before anything was created. God is eternal. HIS word is eternal. HIS word will not change.
Man had a starting point. He was created on the sixth day of creation. He was given instructions by the LORD regarding what he could eat and what he couldn’t eat. The LORD knew the rules before creation. Adam knew the rules after the LORD instructed him. The angels were created before the creation of the earth. Mankind never become angels and angels never become men. God is a God of order. God is a God of rules or standards.
Mankind was not able to keep the standard of God. Therefore, we needed a Savior to die in our place that was an acceptable sacrifice to the God of the Universe. That Savior is Jesus Christ. Because of HIS death on the cross, we can again stand before the LORD forgiven and pardoned.
These truths are revealed in our Bible. God wants us to study HIS Word to us, so that, we can be obedient servants. We are to delight in HIS Word. We are to seek after HIS Word. The Word of the LORD gives us life. We are to consider HIS Word daily.
Are we trying to measure up to the standard the LORD set before the foundation of the world? The only way we can even try to measure up is through the power of the Holy Spirit in our life. HE gives us instruction and help in following the Word of God. Are we listening to HIM?
CHALLENGE: Study the Word of God with a submissive attitude. Ask the LORD to help us understand HIS Word. A submissive servant can hear his MASTER.
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 90 YOUR faithfulness is unto all generations: YOU have established the earth, and it abides. (3559 “established” [kuwn] means to be erect, to set up, confirm, fashion, firm, be fixed, frame, ordain, order, perfect, prepare, make ready, set, stand, or be apply.
DEVOTION: This is the eleventh letter of the Hebrew alphabet that is used in this acrostic poem dedicated to the truth of the Word of God.
The creation of the LORD was completed on the sixth day. The LORD had settled the writing of HIS Word before the creation of the world. The LORD has fashioned the earth at creation. HE has fixed HIS word in the world forever. The LORD’S words were settled in heaven forever. HE rested on the seventh day.
God had a plan and is working HIS plan for creation. HE is faithful to HIS people throughout all generations. Creation will answer to HIM alone. All those who are followers of HIS will answer to HIS Word and their practice of it.
This psalm continues to repeat that the Word gives us life or the ability to face life each day. We need to realize that HIS plans are firm or fixed. We need to delight in HIS fixed plan. We need to realize that life-giving power is found in HIS Word. God’s Word gives us all we need to live each day of our lives. Study it. Meditate on it. Learn it. Practice it.
CHALLENGE: Understand that we are created being in the image of God. Our
created universe is in HIS hands. Submit to HIS instructions.
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: 91 They continue this day according to YOUR ordinances for all are YOUR servants. (4941 “ordinances” [mishpat] means decision, judgment, dispute, an authoritative rule, law, decision, justice, act of deciding a case)
DEVOTION: As servants of God the children of Israel knew HIS laws and knew if they disobeyed them there would be judgment. Sometimes the judgments didn’t come quick because the LORD was longsuffering with them.
However, judgment did come many times to them throughout their history. Here we have the Psalmist telling the children of Israel who were trying to be faithful to the LORD to make sure that they understood that it was their responsibility to obey and to teach others to obey.
Every Israelite was a servant of the LORD. Those who become followers of Jesus Christ today are servants of the LORD. HE has established rule for believers today just like HE established laws for the children of Israel.
If a church is to grow than it needs to make sure that it is staying faithful to the Word of God as the New Testament has some other things that believers are supposed to do. We have the responsibility to tell them about the salvation Jesus provides. We have a responsibility to help them grow in the LORD. We have a responsibility to get them into a good Bible believing church.
The times are different but service to the LORD has not changed. Everyone, no matter their nationality, has to be reached by the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Today there is neither Jew nor Greek in the eyes of the LORD. Everyone needs salvation through Jesus Christ alone!!
CHALLENGE: Are we spreading the GOOD NEW of the GOSPEL to all those we know and come in contact on a regular basis. We don’t want them to say to us on judgment day: Why didn’t you tell me?
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
:93 “I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life.”
The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982).
Precepts – 6490 פִּקּוּדִים [piqquwd, piqqud /pik·kood/] n m. From 6485; TWOT 1802e; GK 7218; 24 occurrences; AV translates as “precept” 21 times, “commandment” twice, and “statute” once. 1 precept, statute. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).
DEVOTION: So many people today look at laws and rules as restrictions and impediments to their freedom. There seems to be an overwhelming desire to cast aside all laws and rules that have governed mankind for centuries. Issues such as marriage, government, ethical or moral conduct all have been questioned and at times openly challenged to revoke or severely change the current course of action. While issues do need to be evaluated and points amended, to just demand that everything change is destructive. To question whether the speed limit should be 30 or 35 is one thing but to not impose a speed limit is another matter completely.
Many people in our world demand that the Scriptures be negated as antiquated. They state its principles and truths are no longer applicable for our modern society. The psalmist however, leaned upon the word as a stabilizing force and saw within it the path to walk in uncertain times. It provided him with answers and direction, its principles and precepts gave him life.
The world will attempt to discredit and malign the Word of God. It will scoff and denigrate its authority but you and I will determine what to follow. Like the psalmist may you never forget God’s precepts.
CHALLENGE: When you are tempted to change a rule just to satisfy your desire, think about why it was established before you do, it may save you a lot of pain!
(Dr. Brian Miller)
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: 95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider YOUR testimonies. (6 “destroy” [‘abad] means damage irreparably, lose, perish, go astray, be exterminated, kill, or blot out.)
DEVOTION: There are people in our world who would like to see all those who are genuine followers of the LORD to be killed. It doesn’t seem so in this country but in others countries of the world they would like all those who follow Jesus Christ to be killed and they would do it in a manner that would really hurt.
Even in America there are many people who would like to see genuine believers in Jesus Christ to have their freedom of speech taken away. They would like to have believers stop giving their opinion on social issues. They would like those who are trying to teach the Bible to stop doing it in our schools and even in our churches.
There is a movement to change the meaning of the word “family.” There is a movement in our world that would like to see all the teaching of the Bible outlawed. In fact, there are people who would like to outlaw the Bible in their state working on it right now.
Once someone genuinely reads the Bible, they see that they are sinners in need of a Savior and that Savior can only be Jesus Christ. That is scary to those who want nothing to do with the Bible and churches that genuinely teach it.
God is in control and HIS Word is not going to return void even today. We need to continue to witness to those around us and support a good Bible believing church that is trying to reach our world for Christ.
CHALLENGE: The Biblical church still needs your support to reach our world for the LORD. We what to support fellow believers as they fight the good fight of the faith around us.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word verse 89
Ordinances verse 91
Law verse 92
Precepts verse 93, 94
Testimonies verse 95
Commandments verse 96
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 89
Word of God is settled FOREVER verse 89
Heaven verse 89
Faithfulness verse 90
Creator (ONE who established earth) verse 90
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
All generation verse 90
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Wicked want to destroy believers verse 95
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Delight in the Word of God verse 92
Affliction verse 92
Never forget HIS precepts verse 93, 94
Quickened [made alive] verse 93
Save verse 94
Consider testimonies of LORD verse 95
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Word of God settled forever verse 89
Heaven verse 89
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QUOTES regarding passage
96. This verse could well be a summary of Ecclesiastes, where every earthly enterprise has its day and comes to nothing, and where only in God and his commandments do we get beyond these frustrating limits (Kidner, D. (1975). Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, p. 462). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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He concluded that God’s Word is boundless (v. 96) in its values. (Ross, A. P. (1985). Psalms. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 881). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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God wants us to get out of our rut (v. 96). So much truth is buried in this verse, you could meditate on it for hours. Whatever mankind does will never reach perfection, because our human work comes from our limited mind, strength, and ability. Perhaps the psalmist was reading the book of Ecclesiastes, for the limitations of human achievement is one of the themes of that book. “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity!” In contrast to the limits of mankind, God’s Word and works have no limits. His commandment (singular—it is one united Book)—is limitless, boundless, immeasurable. Though Jesus lived, taught, and died in the little land of Palestine, His life and ministry have reached a whole world. Mary gave her sacrificial offering to Jesus in a home in Bethany, but what she did has blessed generations of people around the world (Mark 14:1–9).
Why should God’s people stay in a rut when the Word of God is so boundless and there are no limits to what He can do! We may not like all the changes going on in the world, but we need not be frustrated and afraid. Although the news coverage was not as good, the situation was not much different in the days of the apostles, and they turned the world upside down! God is on the throne; He holds the world in His hands; His promises can never fail; so, let’s get moving! (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be exultant (1st ed., p. 125). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
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Ver. 96. I have seen an end of all perfection, &c.] An end, limit, or border, to every country, as the Syriac version; as there is to every kingdom and state, and to the whole world; but none to the commandment of God: or an end of all created beings, the finished works of God, the most perfect in their kind. Many things had already fallen under the observation of the psalmist: he had seen men of the greatest strength, and of the most consummate wisdom, and that had attained to the highest degree of power and authority, of wealth and riches, and yet were all come to nothing; he had seen some of the most flourishing states and kingdoms brought to desolation; he had seen an entire end of them: he saw by the spirit of God, and by the word of God, and faith in it, that all things would have an end, the heavens and earth, and all that is therein; for so it may be rendered, I see an end of all perfection; or that the most perfect things will have an end, and that the end of them is at hand; see 1 Pet. 4:7. Moreover, he had looked over the wisdom of this world, and the princes of it, which comes to nought he had considered the several political schemes of government, the wisest digest and system of laws, made by the wisest lawgivers among men, and found them all to be limited, short and shallow, in comparison of the word of God, as follows: the Targum is, “I have seen an end of all that I have studied in and looked into.” But thy commandment is exceeding broad; the word of God is a large field to walk and meditate in; it is sufficient to instruct all men in all ages, both with respect to doctrine and duty, and to make every man of God perfect; it has such a height and depth of doctrine and mysteries in it as can never be fully reached and fathomed, and such a breadth as is not to be measured: the fulness of the Scripture can never be exhausted; the promises of it reach to this life, and that which is to come; and the precepts of it are so large, that no works of righteousness done by men are adequate and proportionate to them; no righteousness, but the righteousness of Christ, is as large and as broad as those commandments; wherefore no perfection of righteousness is to be found in men, only in Christ; who is the perfect fulfilling end of the law for righteousness to every one that believes, Rom. 10:4. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, p. 226). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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96.—“I have seen an end of all perfection.” He had seen its limit, for it went but a little way; he had seen its evaporation under the trials of life, its detection under the searching glance of truth, its exposure by the confession of the penitent. There is no perfection beneath the moon. Perfect men, in the absolute sense of the word, live only in a perfect world. Some men see no end to their own perfection, but this is because they are perfectly blind. The experienced believer has seen an end of all perfection in himself, in his brethren, in the best man’s best works. It would be well if some who profess to be perfect could even see the beginning of perfection, for we fear they cannot have begun aright, or they would not talk so exceeding proudly. Is it not the beginning of perfection to lament your imperfection? There is no such thing as perfection in anything which is the work of man. “But thy commandment is exceeding broad.” When the breadth of the law is known the notion of perfection in the flesh vanishes: that law touches every act, word, and thought, and is of such a spiritual nature that it judges the motives, desires, and emotions of the soul. It reveals a perfection which convicts us for shortcomings as well as for transgressions, and does not allow us to make up for deficiencies in one direction by special carefulness in others. The divine ideal of holiness is far too broad for us to hope to cover all its wide arena, and yet it is no broader than it ought to be. Who would wish to have an imperfect law? Nay, its perfection is its glory; but it is the death of all glorying in our own perfection. There is a breadth about the commandment which has never been met to the full by a corresponding breadth of holiness in any mere man while here below; only in Jesus do we see it fully embodied. The law is in all respects a perfect code; each separate precept of it is far-reaching in its hallowed meaning, and the whole ten cover all, and leave no space wherein to please our passions. We may well adore the infinity of divine holiness, and then measure ourselves by its standard, and bow before the Lord in all lowliness, acknowledging how far we fall short of it. (Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 111-119 (Vol. 5, pp. 317–318). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.)
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96. In all perfection I have seen the end. The prophet again, using other words, commends the same truth which he had taught in the first verse of this part—that the word of God is not subject to change, because it is elevated far above the perishable elements of this world. He here asserts, that there is nothing under heaven so perfect and stable, or so complete, in all respects, as not to have an end; and that the Divine word alone possesses such amplitude as to surpass all bounds and limits. Since the verb כלה, kalah, signifies to consume and finish, as well as to make perfect, some take the noun תכלה, tichelah, for measure or end. But it is necessary to translate it perfection, that the comparison may be the more apparent, and the better to amplify the faithfulness of the Divine word; the idea which the prophet intended to convey being, that, after he had considered all things, especially those which are distinguished by the greatest perfection, he found that they were nothing when compared with God’s word, inasmuch as all other things will soon come to an end, whereas the word of God stands ever firm in its own eternity. Whence it follows, that we have no ground for apprehending that it will forsake us in the midst of our course. It is termed broad, to denote that, though a man may mount above the heavens, or descend into the lowest depths, or traverse the whole space from the right to the left hand, yet he will not reach farther than the truth of God conducts us. It remains that our minds should embrace this vast extent; and such will be the case when they shall have ceased to enclose and shut themselves up within the narrow limits of this world. (Calvin, J., & Anderson, J. (2010). Commentary on the Book of Psalms (Vol. 4, pp. 472–473). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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Daily Hope
Today’s Scripture
Exodus 28-29
“Clothes make the person”, is a cliché that is not always true anymore. I was speaking to an executive in a large business who stated that he would not hire a person who came to an interview with unpolished shoes. An associate Pastor once stated that he would check my suit pockets and tie before we went to the platform to ensure they looked appropriate. Everything speaks to an audience.
Exodus 28 instructs Moses specifically how the priest’s garments were to be fashioned for service. Gifted artisans, filled with the Spirit, were to make the articles for the priests to do their duties before the Lord. The expensive garments were intricately prepared so Aaron and his sons could fully represent the tribes of Israel.
Skilled mason workers carved the names of the tribes into two stones and placed one on each shoulder of the priest. This signified his responsibility of bringing the personal and national sins before the Lord. Precious stones engraved with the names of the tribes were to be sewn into the breastplate worn by the high priest over his heart as a memorial of the tribes. Each time Aaron entered the Holy place he carried the nation of Israel with him.
After all the garments were completed, Aaron and his sons were then brought before the Lord. Sacrifices of animals and cleansing by water was done for them so they could be set apart to minister in the tabernacle. They were sprinkled with blood from the sacrifices so they would be covered and have atonement in God’s presence. Each day the priest was to serve the Lord and to present offerings to Him on behalf of the people.
Today, believers are daily to be set apart to the Lord, not to offer sacrifices, but to give to Him our prayers and worship. Each day we are called to represent God to an unsaved world with our time, gifts, and talents.
With an Expectant Hope, Pastor Miller
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Deuteronomy 27
Curses from Mount Ebal dramatize disobedience.
INSIGHT
What a drama! Mount Gerazim and Mount Ebal are two masses of limestone rock rising over 2,000 feet above sea level. Between them lies a beautiful valley, about 300 yards wide. Half the children of Israel are on one mountain, and half are on the other, with the Levites in the valley between the two mountains. Curses are called from Mount Ebal and blessings are called from Mount Gerazim. All of this is to dramatize the importance of obedience and the consequences of disobedience, even down to not letting a blind man wander out of his way.
Nothing is insignificant to a holy God. Nor should it be to us. We must care about right and wrong. (Quiet Walk)
Deuteronomy 28
The people receive the blessings of Mount Gerazim.
INSIGHT
A sword and a plowshare are laid on the valley floor between Ebal and Gerazim. Blessings are piled upon pile-until you wonder if the blessings can be contained. The Lord outdoes Himself, searching His omniscience to find ways of blessing Israel. Obviously, He takes great pleasure in doing good to them.
But in the shadow of the plowshare lies a sword. The 14 verses of blessings are followed by 54 verses of the most heart-rending curses imaginable.
How evil, how unspeakably terrible is sin. Thank God that He has delivered us from it. Thank God that, through Christ, we may taste of His blessings forever
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KNOWING GOD
I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:6
We must realize as we approach God that His ultimate, gracious purpose with regard to man has been revealed to us, and it is a purpose of love and mercy and of kindness and compassion. This is something that is only known fully and finally in and through the Lord Jesus Christ. That is why this statement must be put like this: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (John 17:3). This truth is an absolute necessity. That is why our Lord said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father,,but by me” (John 14:6). He is the way to God. He is the truth about God, and apart from the life He gives, we will never share or know the life of God. So, there is no knowledge of God apart from Him; through Him comes this ultimate true and saving knowledge, the saving relationship.
Notice what John 17:3 tells us about our Lord Jesus Christ: “That they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ.” The name Jesus reminds us of the truth of the Incarnation: This eternal Son of God was made man—the man Jesus. But the man Jesus is One who is God and who is co-equal with Him and whom, therefore, you think of in terms of being God and being with God—“and Jesus.”
But He is also Jesus Christ, and “Christ” means “Messiah,” the One who has been anointed to do this special work of bringing men and women to God and of giving God’s life to humankind. You see how all this mighty doctrine is put here as it were in a nutshell for us—“and Jesus Christ.” It is all there—the ultimate object is to know this “only true God”; yes, and the way to know Him is to know Jesus Christ.
A Thought to Ponder
Christ is the way to God; He is the truth about God.
(From Saved in Eternity, pp. 143-144, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Maclaren was a perfectionist and an idealist. Hence he was never satisfied with his own work. Perhaps that is how the Lord keeps gifted people humble, and Maclaren was both. Maybe there is a warning here for preachers: let God evaluate your ministry, for often when we think we are doing our poorest, we are really doing our best. Woe to the man who becomes satisfied with his ministry! (p. 110, 50 People Every Christian Should Know by Warren W. Wiersbe)
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It’s that time of year again. We’re going to lose weight, exercise more, get out of debt, stick to a budget, stop smoking, save for the future and spend more time with family. We make resolutions because we want to bring change to bear on our circumstances. We want to improve ourselves and our quality of life. And the top resolutions, for most people, tend to revolve around the same three poles: money, health and family. But what would a set of New Year’s resolutions look like for you and your church , your role as a leader , or simply as someone who wants to live a life of strategic Kingdom investment? Though many more could be added, here are 15 to consider:
1. Pray more. So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD … ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty (Zechariah 4:6, NIV). 2. Invest in my spiritual gift(s). Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress (I Timothy 4:14-15, NIV). 3. Get more intentional about evangelism. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some (I Corinthians 9:22, NIV). 4. Care for myself spiritually. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me (Philippians 3:12, NIV). 5. Make the tough decisions I know are best. And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace (Acts 20:22-24, NIV). 6. Confront debilitating patterns of sin.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us (Hebrews 12:1, NIV). 7. Do the hard work needed to build community. If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over (Matthew 18:15, NIV). 8. Keep in touch with contemporary culture. From the tribe of Issachar, there were 200 leaders. … All these men understood the signs of the times and knew the best course for Israel to take (I Chronicles 12:32, NLT). 9. Quit comparing myself to other Christians, other leaders and other churches. Turning his head, Peter noticed the disciple Jesus loved following right behind. When Peter noticed him, he asked Jesus, “Master, what’s going to happen to him?” Jesus said, “If I want him to live until I come again, what’s that to you? You — follow me.” That is how the rumor got out among the brothers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that is not what Jesus said. He simply said, “If I want him to live until I come again, what’s that to you?” (John 21:20-23, Msg) 10. Read more. Timothy, please come as soon as you can. … When you come, be sure to … bring my books … (II Timothy 4:9,13 NLT) 11. Prioritize my family. A leader must be well-thought-of, committed to his wife, … attentive to his own children and having their respect. For if someone is unable to handle his own affairs, how can he take care of God’s church? (I Timothy 3:2-5, Msg) 12. Refuse to use ministry to satisfy my personal ambition. Should you then seek great things for yourself? Seek them not (Jeremiah 45:5, NIV). 13. Love people, not just crowds. If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love (I Corinthians 13:1-3, Msg). 14. Be more open to change. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:19, NIV) 15. Stay focused on the vision. They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47, NIV). (James Emery White)
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Paul is given an audience with King Agrippa.
INSIGHT
To repent means to turn around, to go in the opposite direction, or to think opposite thoughts. If you have not received Christ, you must repent to do so. In his defense before King Agrippa and Festus, Paul says he preaches to everyone that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance (v. 20). One cannot repent without changing. Repentance toward Christ brings new birth and the power to change. Have you repented and turned to God? (Quiet Walk)
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FULL AND LASTING JOY
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 1 John 1:4
The apostle is anxious that these Christian people, to whom he is writing, should have fullness of joy, though they are in the world, which lies under the power of the evil one.
Now that is the amazing thing that is offered and promised to us in the New Testament. It is by no means a message confined to this epistle. We see it in Paul’s epistle to the Philippians: “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice” (4:4). Our Lord promised in John 16:33, “In the world ye shall have tribulation.” He described the world as an evil place, and He forewarned His followers what to expect from it. He said, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you”; but His great promise was that He would give them the joy that He Himself possessed. There would be a period at the crucifixion and before the resurrection when they would be unhappy and miserable. “But,” He said, “I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you” (John 16:22). He also said, “These things have I spoken unto you…that your joy might be full” (John 15:11) “the very word that John repeats in his first epistle.
That is Christ’s promise, and perhaps there is nothing that is more characteristic of the book of the Acts of the Apostles than this very note. If you are feeling tired and in need of a spiritual tonic, go to the book of Acts, and there you will find this irrepressible joy that these people had in confirmation of the Lord’s promise!
A Thought to Ponder: Christ described the world as an evil place, but His great promise was that He would give them joy. (From Fellowship with God pp. 23-24, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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The Name above Every Name
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.” (Philippians 2:9)
Three primary names for God are used in the Old Testament: Elohim,Jehovah, and Adonai. In the New Testament, both Jehovah and Adonaiare translated as “Lord” (Greek kurios) and applied to Christ. This word is also applied occasionally to human “lords” but is specifically used as a name or title of God or Christ no less than 663 times.
His human name was Jesus (“Jehovah is Savior”), but this is used by itself only 22 times in the epistles—always with special emphasis on His humanity. Although it was the common name used repeatedly in the gospel narratives, it is significant that the disciples and other believers almost always addressed Him personally as “Lord,” never simply as “Jesus.” Unbelievers and demons, on the other hand, never addressed Him as “Lord.”
The name “Christ” means “anointed one” and is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew Messiah. Thus, Christ is His divine title as God’s “anointed” prophet, priest, and king; Jesus is His human name, as our example and Savior; Lord is His title of spiritual relationship to those He has saved. All three names are of paramount importance. Thus, Peter said: “God hath made that same Jesus . . . both Lord and Christ” (Acts 2:36). His “full name,” so to speak, is therefore “the Lord Jesus Christ.” This complete name is used over 100 times; “Christ” and “Lord” are used even more.
In the great testimony of His coming exaltation, Paul says He has been given “the name” (the definite article is in the original) above every name. At this “name of Jesus” (with the “of” indicating the possessive—that is, “the name now belonging to the man Jesus who died on the cross”), every knee must bow, and every tongue must someday confess “that Jesus Christ is Lord” (Philippians 2:10-11). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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ETERNAL LIFE
…that he should give eternal life….John 17:2
Let us try to understand exactly what is true of this life. Let me give you some of the New Testament definitions of it. We are told that as a result of having this life we become sons of God or children of God: “For ye are all the children of God,” says the apostle Paul in Galatians 3:26. Another phrase, used by John in his first epistle, is that we are “born of God” (1 John 5:1); and in John 3:8 we read that we are “born of the Spirit.”
The apostle Peter describes it by saying that we become “partakers of the divine nature”
(2 Peter 1:4)—an astounding statement. In another place he tells us that we are “begotten…again” (1 Peter 1:3)—we are regenerated.
Now all those terms, and others too, are used in the New Testament in order to give us some conception and understanding of the quality and nature of eternal life. And it was in order to give us this marvelous life that the Lord Jesus Christ came into the world. That is why He went to the cross, that is why He was buried and rose again—so that you and I might become sons of God, children of God, born of God, partakers of the divine nature, that we might be regenerated and made anew and receive a new life. But I must hasten to add, it is very important that we should not misconstrue any of these great, exalted terms.
Not one of them means that you and I become divine. We do not cease to be human. We are not turned into gods. We must never put such a meaning to those great terms. It does not mean that the divine essence, as it were, is infused into us. We are still human, though we are partakers of the divine nature.
A Thought to Ponder
Christ went to the cross that we might become children of God and receive a new life.
(From Saved in Eternity, pp. 150-151 by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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