PSALM 140
Psalmist wants to be preserved from violent men verse 1- 3
Deliver me – O LORD – from the evil man
preserve me from the violent man
which imagine mischiefs in their heart continually
are they gathered together for war
They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent
adders’ poison is under their lips SELAH
Psalmist wants to be protected from the wicked verse 4- 5
Keep me – O LORD – from the hands of the wicked
preserve me from the violent man
who have purposed to overthrow my goings
The proud have hid a snare for me – and cords
they have spread a net by the wayside
they have set gins for me SELAH
Psalmist prays for salvation on day of battle verse 6- 8
I said to the LORD
YOU are my God – hear the voice of my supplications
O LORD
Oh GOD the Lord – the strength of my salvation
YOU have covered my head in the day of battle
Grant not – O LORD – the desires of the wicked
further not his wicked device
LEST they exalt themselves SELAH
Psalmist desires that wicked fall into their own traps verse 9- 11
As for the head of those that compass me about
let the mischief of their own lips cover them
Let burning coals fall on them
let them be cast into the fire
into deep pits – that they rise not up again
Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth
evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him
Psalmist thanks the LORD verse 12- 13
I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted
and the right of the poor
Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto YOUR name
the upright shall dwell in YOUR presence
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man (5341 “preserve” [natsar] means watch, guard, keep, or protect.)
DEVOTION: There are many evil or wicked men in our world. These individuals want to do all they can to hurt those who follow the God of the Bible. There is a war on God by the god of this world. He knows his time is getting short and will use everything that he is allowed to use to fight his battle.
The Psalmist realizes this fact. He knows that there are violent men out there that want to hurt the children of Israel. He knows that the only one who can deliver and watch over the nation is the LORD. Without HIS help all would be lost.
The wicked don’t think the same thoughts. They think that they can win the war by using different devices against the people of God. They will imagine all kinds of mischief. They will use their tongue like a poison. Their purpose is to cause those who are followers of the LORD to have to stop in their tracks and not be able to move forward. They are a proud group that will not listen to anyone else. They set all kinds of traps for those who want to serve the LORD.
What does the Psalmist do in this situation? He prays. What are we to do in this situation? We are to pray. We are to depend on the LORD to fight our battles for us. Some of the time we lose our battles because we fight in our own power. We know that the war is won by the LORD but each battle needs to be turned over to HIM to let HIM win them.
We tend to be like the children of Israel. We wander from the LORD until we face a foe that seems stronger than us and then we turn to the LORD. Remember we have learned that the LORD will not help if we have unconfessed sin in our life. We need to keep short accounts with the LORD. Also, remember that HIS goal in chastening us is our restoration. HE never stops loving HIS children.
CHALLENGE: Realize that there are more people wicked in our world and some of them will not change. Some can be reached with the gospel. Others we need to turn over to the LORD to deal with. Communication with the LORD gives comfort to HIS people. Practice it!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders’ poison is under their lips. Selah (3956 “tongues” [hashown] means language, babblier, language, a mobile mass of muscular tissue covered with a mucous membrane and located in the oral cavity, or speech.)
DEVOTION: It is hard to communicate without a muscular tissue in our mouth but because we have one we can get into a lot of trouble using it.
Our goal should be to use it only to bring glory to God and in so doing we help people to understand the teaching of the Word of God and what it means to be a genuine follower of Jesus Christ.
We find that the “world” or those who are not followers of Jesus Christ usually use their tongue to use language that the LORD doesn’t want HIS followers to us. They also use their tongue to put down those who are trying to be genuine followers of the LORD.
Too often we find that even those who claim to be followers of Jesus Christ will use their tongue or language to hurt fellow believers which is a sad truth. It is these times that really hurt because it is someone who claims Christ but uses their tongue to hurt someone else who claims Christ as their personal Savior.
God wants those who are believers to encourage other believers in their fight against the world, the flesh and the devil. It is hard to fight fellow believers also during the fight. It should not be happening but it does way to often today.
Genuine believers are supposed to be encourages of other believers. If this is not happening in your family or church it might be time to make a change to a place that encourages each other.
CHALLENGE: Watch what you say to and about fellow genuine believers. It hurts the cause of Christ for genuine believers to be not encouraging one another. Watch your tongue. If you can’t encourage with your words don’t use any words.
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: 4 “Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; Preserve me from violent men, who have purposed to make my steps stumble.” The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982). (Preserve – 5341 נְצוּרִים, נָצַר, נִצְּרָה [natsar /naw·tsar/] v. A primitive root; TWOT 1407; GK 5903 and 5915 and 5917; 63 occurrences; AV translates as “keep” 38 times, “preserve” 13 times, “watchmen” three times, besieged” twice, “keeper” once, “monuments” once, “observe + 7521” once, “preserver” once, “subtil” once, “hidden things” once, and “watchers” once. 1 to guard, watch, watch over, keep. 1A (Qal). 1A1 to watch, guard, keep. 1A2 to preserve, guard from dangers. 1A3 to keep, observe, guard with fidelity. 1A4 to guard, keep secret. 1A5 to be kept close, be blockaded. 1A6 watchman (participle). James Strong, Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon (Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software, 2001).
DEVOTION: We often are in dangerous situations and the Lord protects when we are deviously ensnared. We, like David, can pray for the Lord to protect and keep us from the trap that has been set. Many times individuals seek to trap us in our words or make us to appear to be unwise by setting a debate that will hopefully expose us as foolish or bigoted. Jesus was often tempted by the religious leaders to say things that would be used against him and even when he was successful in not falling into the trap they contrived accusations. Jesus’ ability to not be ensnared in traps by his enemies was to spend extended time in prayer. His dependence on the Holy Spirit to direct him teaching us also how to preserve in the midst of hostility.
CHALLENGE: When you are aware that difficulties are coming it is wise to spend some extra time before the Lord seeking Him and his wisdom for the situation you are about to face. (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 7 O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle. (5526 “covered” [cakak] means to hedge, fence in, shut in, to block, overshadow, to place one object over another, screen, stop the approach, or shut off.
DEVOTION: The New Testament informs us that we need to put on the whole armor of God. Each piece of armor is necessary as we defend ourselves against the fiery darts of the devil. He is a fallen angel that thinks he can defeat God. He is wrong, but that doesn’t stop him from trying to hurt us. The head piece of the armor of God is the helmet of salvation. We need to put it on daily before we face the world.
David has a request for the LORD. He wants HIM to protect him. He says it many different ways but the end result is protection. Words like deliver, preserve, and keep him. We are all in a battle.
Some are in a battle not to accept Christ as their Savior. Some are in a battle against sin in their lives. The enemies are real. There are three: world, flesh and devil.
The LORD is with HIS people in their personal battles with these enemies. HE is the one who screens our battles. HE is the one who can stop the approach of the devil. HE is the one who overshadows us in our battle and gives us strength to fight. HE is the one who knows when we can’t handle a battle and puts a hedge about us to protect us from the battle.
HE promises never to send more than we can take. HE knows our limitations. Isn’t great to know that once we are followers of Christ, we don’t face any of our enemies ALONE!!!!! Praise the LORD.
However, the LORD is also going to deal with those who are against HIM. There is judgment that happens while they are alive and there is judgment that follows after death. Eternity is a long time to spend in the Lake of Fire.
Remember one of our responsibilities is to warn those we love about eternity. Part of the warning is to show them by our example that there is a better way to live their live. Some will observe and learn. Others will only observe our faults and criticize. No matter what we have to try.
CHALLENGE: We are to obey the rules of engagement in the battle for the souls of loved ones. Put on the Armor of God daily which is Jesus Christ. Study Ephesians 6: 10- 19.)
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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)
Supplications verse 6
Prayer for strength verse 6- 8
Grant LORD my desires verse 8
Let mischief of wicked be on their own head verse 9
Prayer for judgment of unbelievers verse 10- 11
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
Give thanks verse 13
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 4, 6, 8, 12
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 6
GOD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 7
Lord – Adonai (Owner, Master) verse 7
O GOD the Lord verse 7
Strength of my salvation verse 7
Covered head of believer in day of battle verse 7
Judgment of wicked men verse 9- 11
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)
Evil men verse 1
Violent man verse 1, 4, 11
Imagine mischiefs in their heart verse 2
Gathered together for war verse 2
Wicked verse 4, 8- 10
Evil speaker verse 11
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Evil verse 1, 11
Violent verse 1, 4, 11
Mischief verse 2, 9
War verse 2
Sharp tongue verse 3
Lips filled with adder’s poison verse 3
Wicked verse 4, 8
Overthrowing path of believer verse 4
Proud verse 5
Traps against righteous verse 5
Desires of the wicked verse 8
Wicked devices verse 8
Exalt self verse 8
Surround believers for evil verse 9
Mischief verse 9
Evil speakers verse 11
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Deliver verse 1
Preserve verse 1, 4
Kept from hands of wicked verse 4
Identification with the LORD verse 6
Supplications verse 6
Strength of my salvation verse 7
Salvation verse 7
Covering verse 7
Life is a battle verse 7
Cause maintained by LORD verse 12
Afflicted verse 12
Care of poor verse 12
Righteous verse 13
Thankful verse 13
Upright verse 13
Presence of the LORD verse 13
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
Let burning coals fall upon the wicked verse 10
Let wicked be cast into the fire verse 10
Upright shall dwell in presence of LORD verse 13
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QUOTES regarding passage
The single theme of malicious intrigue dominates this psalm, as it has dominated many others, especially those of David. The New Testament treats the Psalter as a major witness to human depravity (most of Rom. 3:10–18 is from the Psalms), largely because it exposes this element in us of sheer malice, a poison which can be secreted and employed not only without provocation (69:4) but even in face of generosity and love (cf. especially 35:12–16; 55:12–14).
The prayers of verses 1–5 are coloured chiefly by thoughts of the plotters and their ways; those of 6–11 by the interventions sought from God: finally verses 12 and 13 crown the prayer with affirmation.
140:1–5. The conspirators
What emerges clearly from this passage is the evil that can arise, not from any pressure of circumstances but from a love of violence, cruelty and intrigue for their own sake. David has no illusions and makes no excuses for these men, as our Lord made none for those who opposed him in, e.g., John 8:34–47. They have chosen the alternative way to God’s way, and it is that of the ‘murderer from the beginning’ and ‘the father of lies’. The reader of the psalm can reflect that this pattern of hurting, slandering and deceiving has its gentler manifestations, and is no rarity. (Kidner, D. (1975). Psalms 73–150: An Introduction and Commentary (Vol. 16, pp. 504–505). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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The psalmist has been falsely accused and turns to the Lord for deliverance, because he is the righteous Judge. Throughout the lament there is no expression of complaint against God for having permitted evil men to cause him so much pain. Instead, the poet commits his future to the Lord, whose very nature is just and righteous and who will intervene as the Deliverer of all the poor and oppressed. ….
11 The calumny of the wicked is one example of their evil. They are “slanderers” who with their slippery tongue create anarchy. As long as there are slanderers, justice is not established. Hence the psalmist prays that the evil men, whose tongues are venomous like snakes (cf. v. 3), may not have a place among the people of God (cf. 1:5; 101:5, 7–8). The “men of violence” (cf. vv. 1, 4) cannot find rest, as they have not given thought to leaving the righteous alone (cf. vv. 4–5). They have done everything to entrap the godly, and hence the Lord must bring the disaster they had planned for others upon them (cf. 35:5–6; Prov 13:21). (VanGemeren, W. A. (1991). Psalms. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Songs (Vol. 5, p. 841). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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140:9–11. David voiced several harsh imprecations on the wicked, which were designed to match their wickedness. He hoped that their nasty words (cf. v. 3) would bring them trouble. He also hoped that burning coals would fall on them (cf. 11:6) reminiscent of God’s judgment on Sodom and Gomorrah (cf. Gen. 19:24). And he hoped that disaster would overtake the slanderers (cf. their “poison,” Ps. 140:3). Again he called his enemies men of violence (cf. vv. 1, 4). (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. 893). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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2. Which imagine mischiefs in their heart. Here the language is changed to the plural number in the Hebrew, implying that while there was one man who was eminent in his wickedness and his wrong-doing, there were many others associated with him, acting under his direction. The word mischiefs in the Hebrew means evils; wickednesses. It was not a single purpose; the plan embraced many forms of evil,—doing him wrong in every way possible.
Continually are they gathered together for war. They are organized for this purpose; they are constantly prepared for it. The word rendered gathered together properly means to sojourn, to dwell for a time; and it has been proposed by some to render this, “All the day they dwell with wars;” that is, they are constantly involved in them. But the word may mean also to gather together, as in Ps. 56:6. (Barnes, A. (1870–1872). Notes on the Old Testament: Psalms (Vol. 3, p. 300). London: Blackie & Son.)
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140:6–8. David reiterated his opening cry for help, praying that the wicked would not have their way in carrying out their evil plans (cf. v. 2) and being proud of their success. In his prayer the psalmist described the Lord as his strong Deliverer who shields his head in … battle. This military figure stresses divine protection from the wicked. (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. 893). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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First, we must affirm our faith in the Lord and not be ashamed to confess it openly. We must humbly ask Him for the help we need to live and work among difficult people who hate us and want to see us fail. Whenever David found himself in that kind of a situation, he gave himself to prayer and asked God for the wisdom to know what to do and the strength to do it. Here he asked God to put a helmet on his head and protect him from deception and danger (60:7; Eph. 6:17). He also prayed for his enemies, that their evil desires would change and their evil plans not succeed. If they succeeded, they would only become proud and go on to do greater evil. Our prayers for godless people must focus on changing their character, and not just stopping their persecution of believers. David obeyed Matthew 5:44. (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be exultant (1st ed., p. 199). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
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Ver. 8. Grant not, O Lord, the desires of the wicked, &c.] Of Doeg, as the Targum, and of other wicked men, who were desirous both of taking him, and of taking away his life: but the desires of such men are under the restraints of the Lord; nor can they fulfil them unless they have leave from him, which is here deprecated. The psalmist entreats he might not be delivered up to their will, or they have their will of him; see Psal. 27:12. Jarchi interprets it of Esau, as in ver. 1 and it is applicable enough to antichrist and his wicked followers; who, could they have their desires, would root the Gospel, and the interest of Christ and his people, out of the world. Further not his wicked device; or, let not his wicked device come forth, or proceed to execution, or be brought to perfection; let him be disappointed in it, that he may not be able to perform his enterprise, or execute his designs; which cannot be done without the divine permission. The Rabbins, as Jarchi and others, render it, let not his bridle come outm; the bridle out of his jaws, with which he was held by the Lord, and restrained from doing his will; let him not be left to his liberty, and freed from the restraints of divine Providence; see Isa. 37:29. Lest they exalt themselves. Selah. Grow proud, haughty, and insolent to God and man; see Deut. 32:27. Or, let them not be exalted; upon the ruin of me and my friends. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 4, pp. 292–293). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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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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Our culture has long struggled with the realities of sexual difference, or “gender.” While first- and second-wave feminism generally asserted that women were equal in value to men, transgenderism now asserts that women are interchangeable with men. Notice the underlying assumption: in order for men and women to have equal value, they have to be the same thing.
Yielding to this fallacy has been a disaster, not just for the concept of gender, but also for the concept of human dignity. It’s as if many think there’s not enough of it to go around.
The Church should be able offer clarity. Christians must insist that men and women are real. We must also insist that fact doesn’t compel a competition. There is no hierarchy of human dignity.
Unfortunately, Christians over the centuries have made some big mistakes in this area. At times, roles that men and women fill have been prioritized over the goodness of their God-given design. More often, roles have been conflated with design. For example, Christians have generally understood that the Bible does not permit women to pastor churches. Some have taken that further to suggest that women must lack the intellectual capacity or curiosity to study the Bible and learn theology. That’s demonstrably false.
Because of the real physical differences between men and women, and the different things children need from mothers and fathers, men have historically performed the breadwinning work for their families. Some Christians have wrongly assumed that this means women lack the ability, talent or calling to pursue any kind of work unrelated to motherhood. Yet the Bible is full of stories of women who contributed to their families, communities, and the kingdom of God in ways other than through motherhood or marriage.
Another mistake some Christians make, which may be in response to modern feminism or critical theory, is to suggest that when women contribute something positive to society—a scientific breakthrough, or an impressive career—it’s because of their inherent superiority to men. Conversely, when women contribute something negative—they commit a crime or mistreat others—the fault is the patriarchal systems that oppress them. That way of thinking robs women of moral agency.
In response, some Christians talk about the moral imperative for women to bear responsibility for what is wrongly considered exclusively female sins—such as immodesty or even abortion. Often, these Christians are unwilling to expect positive contributions from women outside the roles of wife and mother.
In other words, Christians ought not react to the rejection, erasing, or confusing of gender, by merely retreating to roles. We must begin where the Bible does, with design.
God’s Grace Is Sufficient
“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9a)
How many times have we been in dire situations and then looked back later and realized that we miraculously got through only by God’s grace? Leading up to this Scripture, Paul spoke of some unspecified continuing affliction God was allowing him to endure to humble him. Paul requested three times to have the affliction removed and then gave this direct message from the Lord Jesus in response to his repeated requests.
To the Greek reader of this passage, the thing that would have immediately jumped out from this section of the epistle is the contrast in verbal tenses. Paul’s request was recorded in the simple past tense (aorist), indicating an action that is completed rather than ongoing. In contrast, Christ’s message that starts with “he said” is derived from the Greek verb ereo in the perfect tense, which indicates an initial action with continuing application and ongoing effect.
Another important point in this ongoing application is that the verbs for “is sufficient” (arkeo) and “made perfect” (teleioo) are in what is known by grammarians as timeless or durative present tenses. In other words, Christ’s grace and strength are a present and active truth in every moment of the believer’s life!
Thus, Paul could then say, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong” (2 Corinthians 12:9b-11).
(JPT, The Institute for Creation Research)
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The Pharisees and Sadducees attempt to discredit Jesus through treacherous questions.
INSIGHT
In today’s passage, we see one of the most marvelous teachings in the New Testament. An attorney, intrigued by the quality of the answers Jesus gives to the Pharisees who are trying to discredit Him, asks Jesus what the greatest commandment is. He only asks for one; Jesus gives him two.
The Lord says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart . . . [and] your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these”(Mark 12:30-31). The Christian life can be very complex, but at its heart, it is very simple: love God and others. (Quiet Walk)
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Daily Hope
Today’s Scripture
Numbers 16-17
No matter what business, organization, or ministry, leadership is essential. Leadership can take a small work and turn it into an international business, or an international business can become obsolete, all as a result of management decisions. Often the key to ascension or decline is organizational relationships.
Moses and Aaron had been selected by God to be the leaders of Israel. They were then told to select others who would assist them and together they would lead the people of God. The tribe of Levi was selected to be the priests and the workers of the tabernacle. Each clan was given specific duties and responsibilities by God as instructed through Moses.
Korah, a Levite of the clan of Kohath, was responsible for the most sacred elements of the tabernacle (Numbers 4). He apparently was grieved that Moses and Aaron had too much authority over the nation of Israel. His position and ability to communicate his grievances led him to become the leader of a group of princes which numbered 250 strong.
This group rejected Moses and Aaron as the primary leaders of Israel and insisted a more democratic form of government be implemented. The problem with this assumption, it was God Himself who ordained and placed each of the leaders in their positions of authority. Korah was not challenging Moses but God Himself by seeking to ascend to a position that God had not appointed him to serve.
God rejects false leadership. Whether leadership is man appointed or self-appointed, it will not receive God’s blessings. Korah was talented and gifted, yet he was severely punished by attempting to go beyond his appointed position of leadership.
God reiterated his calling of Moses and Aaron, ensuring to the people of Israel His choice of leaders and their roles. The budding of Aaron’s rod and the subsequent submission on the part of the other priests and leaders allowed the nation to continue their journey.
Instances of personal ambition and the desire for greater authority will challenge every company, church, or family at different times. Submission and understanding of authority will allow godly leaders to meet these challenges and respond in a Christ like manner. Pray for and support your leaders as they seek to train and develop new leaders for the roles God has for them in the days ahead.
(With an Expectant Hope, Pastor Miller)
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NEW CREATURES
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
Romans 6:4
There is no point in our saying that we believe that Christ has died for us and that we believe our sins are forgiven unless we can also say that for us old things are passed away and all things are become new, that our outlook toward the world and its method of living is entirely changed. It is not that we are sinless, nor that we are perfect, but that we have finished with that way of life. We have seen it for what it is, and we are new creatures for whom everything has become new.
But I can imagine somebody saying, “Don’t you think that this is rather a dangerous doctrine? Don’t you think it is dangerous to tell people that they are dead to sin, dead to the law, dead to Satan, and that God regards them as if they had never sinned at all? Won’t the effect of that make such people say, ‘All right, in view of that, it does not matter what I do’?” But Paul says that what happens is the exact opposite, and that must be so because to be saved and to be truly Christian means that we are in Christ, and if we are in Christ, we are dead to sin, dead to Satan, dead to the world, dead to our old selves. We are like our Lord.
Let me put that positively. We have not only died with Christ—we have also risen with Him: “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life” (Romans 6:4). We live in “newness of life.” We have been raised with Christ.
A Thought to Ponder
If we are in Christ, we are dead to sin, dead to Satan, dead to the world, dead to our old selves.
(From Sanctified Through the Truth, pp. 120-121, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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The Essence of Prayer
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
When Abraham Lincoln became president of the United States, he was tasked with leading a fractured nation. Lincoln is viewed as a wise leader and a man of high moral character, but another element to his makeup, perhaps, was the foundation for everything else. He understood that he was inadequate for the task at hand. His response to that inadequacy? Lincoln said, “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.”
When we come to grips with the massive nature of life’s challenges and the severe limitations of our own wisdom, knowledge, or strength, we find, like Lincoln, that we are utterly dependent on Jesus—the One who has no limitations. Peter reminded us of this dependency when he wrote, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).
God’s love for His children, paired with His absolute power, make Him the perfect Person to approach with our frailties—and that’s the essence of prayer. We go to Jesus acknowledging to Him (and ourselves) that we’re inadequate and He’s eternally sufficient. Lincoln said he felt he “had nowhere else to go.” But when we begin to comprehend God’s great care for us, that’s wonderfully good news. We can go to Him!
(By Bill Crowder, Our Daily Bread)
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THE ESSENCE OF SANCTIFICATION
…that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.1 Peter 2:9
The essence of sanctification is that I love the God in whom I believe and who has been revealed to me with the whole of my being. Indeed I do not hesitate to assert that if I think of sanctification in any lesser terms than that, I am being unscriptural. This is scriptural holiness. This is the holiness, the sanctification, that is produced and promoted by the truth of God, because it is the truth concerning God.
Then it follows from that—I think directly—that a man who thus loves God with all his heart and soul and mind and strength does so because he is called upon to do so and is commanded to do so.To such a man the main thing in life is to glorify God and to show forth His praises.
This is the argument of the apostle Peter when he reminds the people to whom he is writing that at one time, before they became Christians, they were not a people. “Which in time past,” he says in 1 Peter 2:10, “were not a people but are now the people of God.” You who are called out of darkness into light are a “peculiar people”(verse 9). Why? What is the object of it all? “That ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). “Praises” there means “excellencies”or “virtues”; it means the glorious, marvelous attributes of God. And so sanctification is that condition in which we praise God just by being what we are. Of course, it includes not doing certain things, but it is not only that. It is much more. By being what we are in all the totality of our personalities and in the whole of our lives, we reveal and manifest the virtues and the excellencies of God.
A Thought to Ponder
Sanctification is that condition in which we praise God just by being what we are.
(From Sanctified Through the Truth, pp. 9, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones).
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Christians are to look out for one another and bear one another’s burdens.
INSIGHT
John Donne once wrote: “No man is an island entire of itself; every man is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main. . . . If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less.” What Donne wrote generally and poetically, Paul wrote specifically hundreds of years earlier: “Restore” one another and “bear one another’s burdens” (vv. 1-2); “do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (v. 10). We are part of one another, and we are to live for one another in harmony and mutual concern. We are all part of the same “continent”-the “continent” of Christ.(Quiet Walk)
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The Valley of Blessing
“And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day.” (2 Chronicles 20:26)
The name Berachah means “blessing,” and the people of Judah surely had much reason to bless the Lord. The armies of the Moabites and Ammonites, and many others, had invaded their land, and King Jehoshaphat had no forces sufficient to oppose them.
But Jehoshaphat had already led his people back to the Lord, and now he prayed for their deliverance, acknowledging that the Lord was “God in heaven . . . so that none is able to withstand thee.” Therefore God replied, through the prophet Jahaziel, that “the battle is not yours, but God’s . . . stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 20:6, 15, 17). God then set the invading armies against each other until all were slain, and God’s people were delivered without even lifting a sword. No wonder the people “blessed the LORD”!
The Hebrew word berachah (“blessing”) is used some 68 times in the Old Testament, the first being God’s promise to Abraham when he followed the Lord: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). God’s promise to Abraham has been abundantly kept, though there is much more to come. We, like the people in the valley of Berachah, have much for which to bless the Lord, for we also have seen the salvation of God: “Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing” (Revelation 5:12).
Therefore, “bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name” (Psalm 103:1). (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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DESTINED FOR GLORY
We shall be like him. 1 John 3:2
We shall see him as he is. “Now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known” (1 Corinthians 13:12). Do you know that you are destined for that? We shall see Him as He is “what a blessed, glorious vision to see the Son of God in all His glory, as He is, face to face” standing and looking at Him and enjoying Him for all eternity. It is only then that we will begin to understand what He did for us, the price He paid, the cost of our salvation. You and I are destined for that glorious vision; we shall see Him as He is, face to face.
But consider something still more amazing and incredible. We shall be like Him. “We know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” This is John’s way of addressing the whole doctrine of the resurrection of our bodies, the ultimate final resurrection, the ultimate glorification of God’s people. What John is telling us, in other words, is that when that great day comes, we shall not only see Him “we shall be made like Him. Paul says that God’s purpose is that we shall be, conformed to the image of his Son” (Romans 8:29). That is the argument, and that is the doctrine.
In other words, while we are here on earth, the Holy Spirit is working in us, doing His work of holiness in us and ridding us of sin, so that eventually we shall be faultless, blameless, without spot, and without rebuke. We shall have been delivered from every sin and vestige and appearance of sin within us; and in addition to that, our very bodies shall be changed and shall be glorified.
A Thought to Ponder: We shall see Him as He is standing and looking at Him and enjoying Him for all eternity. (From Children of God, p. 33, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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