PSALM 130
God’s people pray when hurting verse 1- 2
Out of the depths have I cried to YOU – O LORD
Lord – hear my voice
let YOUR ears be attentive
to the voice of my supplications
God’s people know they need forgiveness of sin verse 3- 4
IF YOU – LORD
should mark iniquities
O LORD – who shall stand?
BUT there is forgiveness with YOU
that YOU may be feared
God’s people have hope verse 5- 6
I wait for the LORD – my soul doth wait
and in HIS word do I hope
my soul waits for the Lord more than
they that watch for the morning
I say – more than they that watch for the morning
God’s people depend on HIS unfailing love verse 7- 8
Let Israel hope in the LORD
for with the LORD there is mercy
and with HIM is plenteous redemption
and HE shall redeem Israel
from all his iniquities
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Out of the depths have I cried to YOU, O LORD. (4615 “depths” [ma‘amaq] means to refer to the deepest and most remote part, deep places, the distance beneath a surface, usually pertaining to a body of water, a place that is deep, a deep place which is proximate to Sheol.)
DEVOTION: How low have you ever felt when things were going wrong in your life? Here we find the Psalmist saying that he was feeling so low that it felt like he had gone down to the grave and he wasn’t dead.
There are times in our life when we feel so low because of what is happening in our life that it feels like we couldn’t get any lower. It usually happens when we look at our circumstances rather than looking at the LORD. This happens at times to even believers we think are strong in the LORD.
God wants us to know that we don’t have to stay in that condition. HE wants to lift us up with the promises HE has given throughout HIS Word. If we believer that we are genuine believers we have to depend on the LORD to get us through these times periods when everything seems to be going wrong in our life.
It takes prayer and fasting at times but if we are genuinely seeking the LORD’S help we have to do what HE says regarding getting our thought life back into the area of trusting HIM to lift us up and place us on higher ground.
CHALLENGE: If you are at a low spot in your life and you know Christ as your Savior you need to turn to HIM in prayer and ask HIM to lift you up. HE will do it!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 2 “Lord, hear my voice! Let YOUR ears be attentive to the voice of my
supplications.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). (Attentive – 7183 קַשָּׁב, קַשֻּׁב [qashshab, qashshub /kash·shawb/] adj. From 7181; TWOT 2084b, 2084c; GK 7994 and 7995; Five occurrences; AV translates as “attentive” three times, and “attent” twice. 1 attentive. James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).
DEVOTION: The psalmist cried out of the depths (cf. 30:1; 71:20), a figure of speech suggesting his insurmountable difficulty, even to the point of death. He prayed that the LORD would answer his cry for mercy. In his cry he was confident that the Lord was attentive to him. This confidence came as a result of him seeing how God had answered and responded to him in the past. Regardless of the difficulty, (which is not mentioned here) the psalmist waited for the Lord’s reply. We are living in a time where people are doubting and questioning God’s desire to answer their prayer. Many time queries arise as to the ability for God to hear and answer. May you like the psalmist be assured of God’s dependability to hear and be attentive!
CHALLENGE: Remember, “For I am the LORD, I do not change; …” (Mal 3:6) He hears us as we call to Him! (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
: 3 If YOU, LORD should mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand? (8104 “mark” [shamar] means to hedge about, guard, protect, attend to, be circumspect, take heed, look narrowly, observe, preserve, or reserve.
DEVOTION: This psalm is a prayer for the LORD to forgive. The psalmist realizes
that all people are sinners. If the LORD kept the record with no forgiveness, no one
would be saved. If HE just observed our lives, HE would have to send us all to Hell
for eternity.
However, there is hope. The Old Testament saints could look forward to the Messiah coming to forgive their sins. They went to the temple to worship the LORD with their sacrifices to cover their sins until the Messiah came to die on the cross as the final blood sacrifice necessary for the forgiveness of sins. Jesus Christ offered the appeasing sacrifice for our sins. HE was our substitute. HE offered a substitutionary atonement for our sins. HIS righteousness was imputed on us because of HIS sacrifice and our commitment to HIM. Once we offered our prayer of repentance, HIS blood could cover our sins. The Old Testament saints looked forward to the Messiah’s coming. We can look back at the time when Christ, the Messiah, died on the cross for our sins. The LORD had promised a Savior. HE sent HIM.
Now the psalmist can have confidence that God would forgive sin on the basis of HIS promise to send a Savior. There are many words that define our salvation in this psalm. He uses words like hope, redemption, mercy, and forgiveness of sin. When he asks the question in this verse, he is stating that NO ONE would be allowed into heaven if the LORD were to preserve our sins. If HE were to keep our sins on the record, we would spend eternity in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels.
The psalmist knows that the LORD DOESN’T keep our sins in the book but blots them out with the blood of the Lamb, our Savior, Jesus Christ. That is such great news. We have a new standing with the LORD because of this act of forgiveness. Also we have a new action that should be present in our life and that is the fear of the LORD.
Are we sharing these truths with others? Are we praising the LORD for all that HE has done for us?
CHALLENGE: Once we have made a commitment to the LORD to we acknowledge our standing to others? Our testimony has to be given to our family, neighbors, friends and community. Share this truth!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 5 I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, and in his word do I hope. (6960 “wait” [quvah] means look for, hope, expect, enduring, or
tenseness.)
DEVOTION: My expectations of the help of the LORD sometimes lack endurance. I get tense when there is a long time period before something is accomplished in my life or ministry. I want everything to happen yesterday. It is wrong on my part. The LORD always works for my good and HE always works in HIS time frame.
I understand that truth but putting it into practice takes the patience of Job. The LORD is working on me regarding this matter. HE might be working on you in the same way. HE was working on the Psalmist in this area.
The Psalmist understood that the LORD was merciful to HIS followers. Mercy is not receiving what we do deserve for our actions. Remember that we are sinners from birth to death. We can sin less but we are still sinners. We sometimes run into people who think that they are better than other Christians because they don’t commit the same sins as they commit. They tend to be Pharisees.
The Pharisees of Christ’s days thought that they were the only ones who had a right standing with God. They fasted twice a week and looked it. They prayed in the Temple but compared themselves with others who they thought sinned more than themselves. They gave their tithe to be seen of men and received their reward while here on this earth. They did everything for show. Sadly, there are some in each church who do the same even today. They condemn others while praising themselves.
Those who are real followers of the LORD understand that they have to pray for forgiveness daily and hope in the LORD to work in their life. Their hope is found in the promises of God. HE gives “plenteous redemption” to those who put their hope and confidence in HIM alone. Those same individuals realize that the LORD forgives ALL their sins. Satan is the only one who reminds them of past sins. Well, there are some Christians that do it to but they are just acting in behave of their old nature. If they don’t confess this act they will suffer the chastening of the LORD. If they don’t experience the chastening of the LORD for this action then they probably are not a genuine believer.
How can I say that? Well, those who are genuine followers are encouragers and are working for the reconciliation of those who have strayed from the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Endure each trial with patience. Thank the LORD for forgiveness of sin. Encourage those who are judgmental to quit acting like the enemy.
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)
Wait for the LORD verse 1- 8
Cried verse 1
Hear my voice verse 2
Supplications verse 2
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Wait verse 5, 6
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem verse 1- 8
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word of God verse 5
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 3, 5, 7
Lord – Adonia (Owner, Master) verse 2, 3, 6
Ears to be attentive verse 2
Offers forgiveness verse 4
Fear of the LORD verse 4
Mercy verse 7
Plenteous redemption verse 7
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)
Soul verse 6
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Iniquities verse 3, 8
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Cried verse 1
Answered prayer verse 2
Know that all are sinners verse 3
Forgiveness verse 4
Fear of the LORD verse 4
Wait on the LORD verse 5, 6
Hope verse 5, 7
Watch verse 6
Mercy verse 7
Redemption verse 7
Redeem verse 8
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Israel verse 7, 8
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
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QUOTES regarding passage
1 To the godly, sin, guilt, and God’s fatherly discipline are like being cast into “the depths” of the sea, a metaphor of adversity and trouble (cf. 69:1–2, 14; Isa 51:10; Ezek 27:34). Jonah’s prayer in the belly of the big fish expresses the anguish of being cast into “the depths of the grave,” as “the engulfing waters threatened … the deep surrounded … [and] seaweed was wrapped around” his head (Jonah 2:2, 5). The metaphor of “the depths” connotes a feeling of alienation from God. (VanGemeren, W. A. (1991). Psalms. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, p. 800). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
Psalm 130 is an earnest cry for the Lord to show His people mercy. The psalmist, sure that God forgives sins, exhorted the nation to join him in waiting in hope for the time when the Lord would redeem them from all their iniquities. (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. 886). Wheaton, IL: Victor Book)
130:3–4. The psalmist recognized that no one could stand if God dealt with sinners according to what they deserved. To “mark” (keep a record of) sins means to hold one accountable for his sins.
The comfort is that with God there is forgiveness (selîḥâh, “pardon,” also used in Neh. 9:17; Dan. 9:9 [niv, “forgiving”]). This is the reason for the Lord’s not keeping records of sins; He forgives. Believers throughout all ages have rejoiced over this fact, for apart from this, none could endure His judgment!
God forgives so that the forgiven will fear Him. This general word for fear often includes the ideas of worship and obedience. The Scriptures state that many results come from fearing the Lord; the most notable is that the person keeps himself from sin. The forgiveness of God cannot be treated lightly. It turns sinners into saints, people who follow Him in obedience. (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. 886). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Psalm 130. Forgiveness
Righteousness sets this triad of psalms apart. True, if the righteous God sides with his people, then no foe can prosper (129); but if this God comes among his people so as to side with them, will not his righteous presence expose and condemn their sin? The key-words of Psalm 130 tell their own story: the psalm opens with a cry, rising out of the depths of distance and alienation, for mercy, the unmerited, undeserved grace of God (1–2). It moves to an affirmation that, (lit.) ‘with you (i.e. as an inseparable companion) is forgiveness that is forgiveness indeed!’ (3–4). This is followed by waiting (5–6). To be sure the verb contains the idea of waiting with confident expectation but waiting it is: there is nothing we can do: forgiveness when it comes is a sovereign decision and action of God. In 7–8 the individualism of the psalm gives way to a community-wide appeal: there is hope for all, sure, certain, confident hope; because the Lord has two other inseparable companions: pledged love and ‘abundant’ redemption—resources and readiness in God to pay whatever price will redeem, ‘ransom’ us from all … sins (8). (Carson, D. A., France, R. T., Motyer, J. A., & Wenham, G. J. (Eds.). (1994). New Bible commentary: 21st century edition (4th ed., p. 575). Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press.)
The forgiveness spoken of in the law of sacrifice, such as Lev. 4:20, 26, 31, verses 10, 13, and proclaimed at Horeb, Exod. 34:9, and in the Temple, 1 Kings 8:34, 36, 39. This being so, the worshipper learns there “the fear of the Lord,” and goes on his way, waiting for further light and teaching, waiting for the opening out of the Lord’s hid treasures from day to day, waiting for these discoveries with intenser interest than watchman wait for morning. With intense desire Israel waited for Christ’s coming in the flesh, and for the offering up of the “one sacrifice for ever,” that was to make the worshipper “perfect as pertaining to the conscience.” Yet still he sees only a part; he waits for more of “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” And if the Lord’s Second Coming be the chief time for the unfolding of all that the worshipper desires, then the waiting for that day is not one of the least intense of his feelings. And so, “O Israel, hope thou in the Lord;” for who knoweth the flood of mercies that shall yet burst on them and on earth, when Jacob’s redeeming God (Gen. 48:17) brings “plenteous redemption,” or, as it is literally, “shall multiply to his people redemptions,” as he “multiplied pardons” (Isa. 55:6), at their first return to him. To all of them he fulfils the name “Jesus,” saving from all transgressions. In such strains we find
The Lord’s servant relating his earnest cry and its results. (Bonar, A. A. (1860). Christ and His Church in the Book of Psalms (p. 399). New York: Robert Carter & Brothers.)
130:7–8. The people were encouraged to put their hope in the Lord. The reason is that with Him is loyal love (ḥeseḏ) and full pardon. Because of His loyalty to Israel God would redeem her from all her sins. This was the psalmist’s hope and prayer. Apparently “the depths” (v. 1) refer to the nation’s spiritual calamity. Only when God forgave the people’s sins and pardoned them would they be delivered. Because they believed this, they looked for that day of redemption.
People today who have come to know Him as the God of forgiveness also look for full redemption. (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. 887). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
Ver. 8. And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.] The Lord shall do it; in whom Israel is encouraged to hope; with whom grace and redemption were; or who was appointed to be the Redeemer. Redemption was then future, when these words were said, but certain, by the promise of God and agreement of Christ; and would be of the whole Israel, or elect of God; and that from all their iniquities, original and actual; sins, secret and open, of heart, lip, and life: and which is no small encouragement for Israel to hope in the Lord, for the sake of which this is added; as well as for the further illustration of the nature of redemption by Christ; which is complete, and now obtained, and is an eternal one. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, p. 262). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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!!)
Jesus performs two astounding miracles in His hometown of Nazareth.
INSIGHT
Jesus’ miracles are often more than acts of kindness; they are also profound object lessons given to train His contemporary and future followers.
After feeding the 5,000, Jesus again sends the Twelve out onto the Sea of Galilee, knowing a storm will come. Then He walks out on the water to reveal to them more deeply the reality of who He is. By their reaction, the disciples show that their idea of Christ is too small. He is more — much more — than they think He is.
(Quiet Walk)
THE PRIMARY MEANING OF“SANCTIFY”
But ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
1 Corinthians 6:11
You will find that the primary meaning of the word sanctify is often applied to Christian people. Read, for instance, 1 Corinthians 6:11, where Paul tells the Corinthians that there was a time when some of them were guilty of terrible sin—drinking, adultery, etc. “But,” he says, “ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” You notice he says they are “sanctified” before he says they are “justified.” Now with our superficial and glib ideas about sanctification, we always say, “Justification first and sanctification afterward.” But Paul puts sanctification first, which means that they have been set apart by God and taken out of the world. That is the primary meaning of sanctification, and in that sense it comes before justification.
Or take 1 Peter 1:2: “…elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” Sanctification comes before believing and sprinkling with the blood and justification. So in its primary meaning this word is a description of our position. It means that as Christians we are separated from the world. Our Lord has already said that in John 17:16: “They are not of the world.” Now He says, “Sanctify them through thy truth” (John17:17). “They have been set apart,” He says in effect; “set them still more apart.” It means separation from the world. In 1 Peter2:9 this is applied to the Christian church: “Ye are . . . a peculiar people,” a special possession for the Lord. The same is true of all Christian people. We are a holy people, set apart for God and for His service and for His purpose. That is the primary meaning.
A Thought to Ponder
Notice that Paul says they are sanctified before he says they are justified.
From Sanctified Through the Truth, pp. 9-10.
The Flesh of a Little Child
“Then went he down, and dipped himself seven times in Jordan, according to the saying of the man of God: and his flesh came again like unto the flesh of a little child, and he was clean.” (2 Kings 5:14)
The familiar story of Naaman the Syrian was cited by the Lord Jesus as an example of God’s concern for people of all nations: “Many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus [Elisha] the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian” (Luke 4:27). It is also a striking picture of salvation.
Naaman was a great and highly acclaimed general but nevertheless was stricken with an incurable and loathsome disease. Similarly, any natural man, no matter how powerful, is afflicted with the lethal disease of sin. Before this proud official could be cured of his leprosy, he had to humble himself in several ways. First, he had to accept the advice of a slave girl from an enemy nation; then journey to that nation and its prophet, whose God his own nation had repudiated; travel still farther at the word of the prophet (who would not even come out to meet him); and, finally, immerse himself seven times in the despised river Jordan. Though he resented being so humiliated, his condition was hopeless otherwise, so he finally did all these things, and God marvelously healed him!
The leprous flesh became as the flesh of a little child again, but first he had to manifest the obedient faith of a little child. The same principle is true for every lost sinner. “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up” (James 4:10). Jesus said, “Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 18:3-4).
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Rearch)
Little Foxes
Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards. Song of Songs 2: 3-15
A pilot couldn’t fit his tea into the cupholder, so he set it on the center console. When the plane hit turbulence, the drink spilled onto the control panel, shutting off an engine. The flight was diverted and landed safely, but when it happened again to a crew from a different airline two months later, the manufacturer realized there was a problem. The plane cost $300 million, but its cupholders were too small. This seemingly small oversight led to some harrowing moments.
Small details can wreck the grandest plans, so the man in the Song of Songs urges his lover to catch “the little foxes that ruin the vineyards” of their love (2:15). He’d seen foxes climb over walls and dig out vines in search of grapes. They were hard to catch as they darted into the vineyard then melted back into the night. But they must not be ignored.
What threatens your closest relationships? It may not be large offenses. It might be the little foxes, a small comment here or a slight there that digs at the root of your love. Minor offenses add up, and what once was a blossoming friendship or passionate marriage might be in danger of dying.
May God help us catch the little foxes! Let’s ask for and grant forgiveness as needed and nourish our vineyards in the soil of ordinary acts of thoughtfulness as God provides what we need. (By Mike Wittmer – Our Daily Bread Ministries
Break Point
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has disrupted the global economy, sparked fears of world war, and pumped gas prices to record highs. There are personal costs, too.
Aside from the lives already lost in the fighting, the conflict in Ukraine has revealed a conflict of interest at the heart of an increasingly common practice. In an article at The Atlantic, Alison Motluk described how, in recent years, Ukraine has become “an international surrogacy hub.” Prospective parents from the U.S., China, Germany, Australia, and other countries have rushed to take advantage of Ukraine’s lax surrogacy laws, hiring less-wealthy women there to gestate their children.
By some estimates, around 2,500 such arrangements are made each year in Ukraine. One large fertility clinic in Kyiv reported that they expect 200 surrogate babies to be born in the next three months. None of the “intended parents” involved foresaw a Russian invasion. Like COVID-19 did in early 2020, the war has “disrupted the supply chain,” something you say until you realize the product is human beings. the war has “disrupted the supply chain,” something you say until you realize the product is human beings.
In the last few weeks, surrogate mothers across Ukraine have been forced to choose between doing what’s right for themselves and their families, and following the contractual demands of paying “parents” thousands of miles away. Many of these women have refused to move since that would separate them from loved ones in harm’s way. Others fled after the clinics in charge of their pregnancies were forced to shut down. Still others are debating whether to seek refuge in other countries, knowing their babies’ legal status and ultimate fates will be uncertain.
As Motluk writes, “Some people in wartime can turn all of their attention to family and the war effort, but surrogates cannot. Even if they defy pleas to go to places of safety, they carry their work with them, inside their body. … The reality is that the interests of the surrogate and the interests of the parents don’t always align. War just makes it that much more stark.”
Of course, there’s a third party whose interests often aren’t considered, particularly in the media coverage: the unborn babies. Where are their rights? What say do they have in all of this? Who will they call “mommy” and “daddy”? If they make it to their intended buyers, what will they think of being the result of a risky commercial transaction? And if they don’t make it “home,” what fate awaits them? Maybe something similar to the dozens of surrogate babies who were stranded in Ukraine in 2020 after COVID-19 hit.
All of this reveals one of the central problems with our limited ethical deliberations over artificial reproductive technologies, such as surrogacy (especially surrogacy across national borders and between people from such disparate socioeconomic backgrounds): we tend to assume best-case scenarios.
Daily Hope
Today’s Scripture
Numbers 1-2
Numbers are important in our world in various ways. We are always looking for a bargain, by comparing prices for the best deal! The number on my draft notice helped me decide to enlist when I was eighteen, rather than risk being drafted into a branch of the military I did not desire to serve.
The book, “Numbers”, suggests we will be investigating quantity, totals and some aspect of addition and subtraction related to the Israeli people. The Greek word Arithmoi, comes from the Septuagint (LXX), translated Numbers, because of the many lists that appear in the book. The two most significant number groups in this fourth book of the Bible are the two censuses taken of the people of Israel (Chapters 1 and 26).
The first census is taken of Israel’s original generation of people as they camped in the wilderness of Sinai. The nation is now in the second month of the second year after leaving Egypt (1:1). The Lord speaks, the first of over 45 times in this book, and commands Moses to take a census of the people of Israel. This census is to determine the number of men over the age of twenty who can go to war. These men were to be of every tribe of Israel, except Levi, to prepare for war and conquest. The Levites were not numbered (1:47), as their purpose was for caring for the Tabernacle and its furnishings.
The size of the nation would cause logistical problems if each tribe was not assigned with a location, either North, South, East, or West of the tabernacle. The camp was arranged by tribes, and it was always to be positioned the same way. While it is not stated, it appears that the military strength was spread somewhat evenly on all sides, which hindered enemies from easily attacking the camp.
Numbers, math, and logistics may not be something that you enjoy, but they are essential in almost everything we do each day. From shopping, banking, and tracking March madness, we are continually using numbers. The Lord’s instructions to Moses are a good reminder for us that order and unity was important for success. Our homes and churches need strong leaders, harmony, and godly standards to provide protection from the enemies which surround us.
With an Expectant Hope, Pastor Miller
Jesus casts demons out of a Gadarene man and raises a girl from the dead.
INSIGHT
When Jesus takes over a life, He makes a difference. The worse the life, the greater the change.
When the demoniac from Gadarene rushes at the disciples with evil intent, Jesus exercises divine power, banishing Satan’s minions from their victim’s soul. Later, the man who had run naked among the tombs, howling and cutting himself, is sitting beside Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.
Wherever we are in our spiritual journey, the Lord will continue the work He has begun. He will keep changing us, ever into the image of Christ. (Quiet Walk)
“SANCTIFY THEM”
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17
What does our Lord mean when He prays, “Sanctify them through thy truth” or “in thy truth”? We need to be very careful at this point in our definition of the term sanctify, because we must interpret it bearing in mind that the same word is used in John 17:19: “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” In verse 19 our Lord uses exactly the same word about Himself as He uses with regard to His followers here. So we must start by arriving at a true definition of what is meant by “sanctify.”
Now it is generally agreed that there are two main senses in which this word is used throughout the Bible. The first sense of“sanctify”—and we must always put this one first because it is the one most emphasized in Scripture—is to set apart for God and for God’s service. So you will find that this term sanctify is not only used of men—it is used even of a mountain, the holy mount on which the law was given to Moses. Mount Sinai was sanctified, it was set apart for a special function and purpose, in order that God might use it to give His revelation of the law.
The word is used, too, of buildings and of vessels, instruments and utensils, and various things that were used in the Tabernacle and the Temple. Anything that is devoted to or set aside for God and for His service is sanctified. So there is a double aspect to this primary meaning of the word. It means, first, a separation from everything that contaminates and perverts, and the second, positive aspect is that something or someone is devoted wholly to God and to His use.
A Thought to Ponder: To sanctify is to set apart for God and for God’s service.
(From Sanctified Through the Truth, pp. 8- 9 (by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Sol Ibarra
As in the days of Noah, when the whole world had been corrupt; God calls upon the people to Repent and believe in Him. It offers you to enter the Ark. There they would be safe from the coming trial. He is offering salvation to ALL. Only those who believe and act accordingly are those who are rescued.
Now is the time for Salvation. Not saving us from dying from the virus or the wars that is attacking the whole world. It’s time to put our eternity in perspective. Where will we go if the Lord decides for the virus to take over our physical life?. It’s a very serious matter that needs to be addressed. We know that the Only source of Salvation is the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the one who takes away our sin from us and cleansed us from his righteousness so that we may present ourselves clean and blameless before God. We believe that. Regret having lived your whole life away from Him. Believe Him that He already paid for you and give Him your heart so that He can cleanse you from all evil and receive you as a Son of God. Tomorrow might be too late.
Paul limits his freedom for the sake of other Christians.
INSIGHT
Spiritual maturity is not a product of human effort. The fruit of the Spirit is the fruit of the Spirit, not of self-effort. Yet God will not grant spiritual maturity to us unless we are striving for it. Paul says, “I run . . . not with uncertainty. I fight . . . not as one who beats the air. I discipline my body . . . ” in pursuit of spiritual goals (1 Corinthians 9:26-27). The reality is that few of us have the spiritual passion to equal the temporal passion of the unsaved. It is a challenge to care about the same things God cares about-a challenge we must accept! (Quiet Walk)
THE ANTICHRIST
He is antichrist. 1 John 2:22
The antichrist is the one who, in one sense, stands instead of Christ, taking the Christian name and yet opposing the very kingdom of truth that the name implies. John says, “As ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists…. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us”(verses 18-19). So when we think of the antichrist, we have to bear that in mind. “These antichrists who have arisen,” says John, “belonged to us, but they were not of us.” In other words, they took up the Christian position, they claimed they were Christians, they professed to be teachers of the Christian Church, and yet they have been separated from the Christians in order that it would be clear to all that they were not of them. In other words, they claimed to delight in the true religion and yet they destroyed it.
The antichrist was already at work in the days of Paul and of John. Further, it is abundantly clear that although there have been many imitations of him, he will reach his maximum power just before the end of this age. I think it is equally clear that Daniel pictures the political aspect of this power, whereas Paul emphasizes the ecclesiastical aspect, and in Revelation 13 you get both “the beast from the sea (the political) and the beast from the earth (the ecclesiastical). And the last point, I think, of which we can be certain is that this power will ultimately be concentrated in one particular person. John says there were many antichrists, and yet the teaching is clear that there is going to be an ultimate antichrist, one person, a person having terrible power, able to work miracles and do such wonders that he almost deceives the elect themselves.
A Thought to Ponder: There is going to be an ultimate antichrist, one person, able to do such wonders that he almost deceives the elect themselves. (From Walking with God, pp. 100-101, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
The Doctrines of Salvation
“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.” (Romans 1:16)
The great theme of “salvation” (Greek soteria, Hebrew yeshua) is prominent in both Old and New Testaments. It basically means “deliverance” and can be used for local and specific “deliverances” from perils, as well as for the eternal deliverance of one’s soul. In the latter sense, it is used for deliverance from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin in daily life, and from the very presence of sin in the future life.
Salvation, of course, is found only through the Lord Jesus Christ, whose very coming into the world was to “save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). The name Jesus means “salvation.” In fact, His name really was Yeshua, the word that often is translated “salvation” in the Old Testament. Devout Simeon, after waiting for many years, took the infant Jesus in his arms, exclaiming by the Spirit, “Mine eyes have seen thy salvation” (Luke 2:30).
The theme of salvation is “so great” (Hebrews 2:3), it embraces many major doctrines of Scripture. As a very sketchy summary, one may note that it includes the doctrines of atonement (Leviticus 17:11); ofsubstitution (Isaiah 53:5); of imputation (Romans 4:6-8); propitiation (1 John 2:2); redemption (1 Peter 1:18); remission (Acts 10:43);justification (Romans 3:28); adoption (Ephesians 1:5); reconciliation(Romans 5:10– 11); regeneration (Titus 3:5); sanctification (Hebrews 10:9-10); and glorification (Romans 8:30). When a person is saved, the blessings implied in every one of these great doctrines of salvation become his, whether Jew or Gentile, whether found in Old Testament prophecy or New Testament fulfillment. No wonder Paul was not ashamed of this great gospel of salvation through Jesus Christ, and neither should we be! (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
Seek God, Not Sin
Seek good and not evil, that you may live. AMOS 5:14
Over the next seven days, I want to walk you through what I call “the seven non-negotiables of life”—biblical benchmarks that are true simply because He is true.
We’re familiar with some of the non-negotiables of our lives. For example, when we buy an automobile, we also get an owner’s manual that outlines the maintenance schedule for keeping the car in good working order. If we follow the plan, we should enjoy many years of reliable use of the car. But if we maintain the car improperly, we can expect big trouble—and probably at a time when we least expect it and can least afford it.
The same is true in life. Depending on how we treat God’s non-negotiables, they will either protect us or destroy us.
So . . . ready to go?
One of the great hymns of the Church that always strikes me with its profound truth is the song “Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing.” The lyric from this hymn that probes at the deepest level of honesty and understanding is this line: “Prone to wander—Lord, I feel it; prone to leave the God I love.”
Does that resonate with you as it does with me? Even when we are genuinely denying ourselves and experiencing nearness to Christ, we still know—deep down—that this never happens without a struggle. We are “prone to wander.” O Lord, how we feel it.
This is why God steps out of eternity to tell us in His Word, “Seek good and not evil, that you may live.” He is the life giver. And though our feet are indeed made of clay, our souls know that life is only found in one place—in Christ, in God, through the righteousness given to us at new birth.
Seek God, not sin. And live.
DISCUSS
Share how you’ve “wandered” in the past. What is an example of how we are prone to seek sin rather than God? (Moments with You Couples Devotional by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
If anyone does not sin in what they say, they are perfect or mature or complete. This is talking about a spiritually mature person in regard to taming the tongue. James says if you are mature enough to tame the tongue, you are going to be mature enough to bridle or control the whole body. The mature person will be self-controlled which is a fruit of the Spirit. Colossians 4:6 says (Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.). The mature person is gracious, their words are seasoned with salt. Ephesians 4:29 says (Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.). Our speech matters. Take away number 1 is that the way we talk shows our spiritual maturity. The way we talk matters to God. We can see how important our words are when we study proverbs, one of the wisdom books of the bible. Proverbs 10:19 says (When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.). Proverbs 12:22 says (Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD, but those who act faithfully are his delight.). Proverbs 15:1 says (A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.). The way we talk shows our spiritual maturity. Our faith in action is that we bridle or restrain our tongue.
( Part of my son’s Brian on sermon for Sunday!)
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