Psalm 2
Humanity doesn’t want to be under control of LORD verse 1- 3
Why do the heathen rage
and the people imagine a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves
and the rulers take counsel together
against the LORD – and against HIS anointed
saying
Let us break THEIR bands asunder
and cast away THEIR cords from us
LORD has a sense of humor regarding their thoughts verse 4- 6
HE that sits in the heavens shall LAUGH
the LORD shall have them in derision
THEN shall HE speak to them in HIS wrath
and vex them in HIS sore displeasure
YET have I set MY King on MY holy hill of Zion
God the Father gives God the Son sovereign reign verse 7- 9
I will declare the decree
the LORD has said to me
YOU are MY Son
this day have I begotten YOU
Ask of ME – and I will give YOU the heathen for YOUR inheritance
and the uttermost parts of the earth for YOUR possession
YOU shall break them with a rod of iron
YOU shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel
God the Father commands respect for God the Son verse 10- 12
Be WISE now therefore
O you kings
Be INSTRUCTED
you judges of the earth
SERVE the LORD with FEAR – REJOICE with TREMBLING
KISS the Son – lest HE be angry – and you perish from the way
when HIS wrath is kindled but a little
BLESSED are all they that put their TRUST in HIM
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 1 “Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing
DEVOTION: The Hebrew imperfect form describes the rebellion as underway. The verb הָגָה (hagah), which means “to recite quietly, meditate,” here has the metonymic nuance “devise, plan, plot” (see Ps 38:12; Prov 24:2).
The people referred to here in this psalm are devising and planning to try to overthrow the Sovereign One! It is a rhetorical question that suggests the author’s amazement that the created beings would even consider a revolution. That more than one ruler is involved indicates that the Emperor over several vassal states is being rebelled against. Christ in Revelation 1:5 is portrayed as the ruler of the Kings of the earth. So many times people consider the right to live as freedom instead of rebellion against God’s revealed plan. Because everyone is involved it cannot possibly be wrong, can it? God’s word does not change and rebellion is rebellion regardless if it is personal or society wide.
CHALLENGE: Christ is still the ruler of all the nations and will rule with the iron scepter. Rev. 2:27 (Dr. Brian Miller – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying (4899 “anointed” [mashiyach] means consecrated person, or Messiah.
DEVOTION: Here we have the first psalm that tells us about the coming of the Messiah to earth. There is a conflict that has been going on since the beginning of creation. Man doesn’t want to be a follower of the LORD. He wants to have his own way. He thinks that he can defeat the LORD and HIS plans for our world.
The Jews and the Gentiles want to try to stop the Messiah from completing the decrees of God. They conspire together against Christ when HE came to this earth the first time. They thought that if they crucified HIM that would end God’s plans. They were WRONG!!!
It was part of God’s plan and decrees before the foundation of the world that HE should die on the cross for our sins. The Bible says that without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin.
They thought they could put HIM in the grave and that would let them have control of the world. They were acting for HIS enemy. They are still acting as HIS enemy. The problem is that many who say they are followers of HIM are teaching false doctrines. The Bible is no longer their final authority. Man thinks he is the final authority.
God was in the heavens laughing at their efforts to stop HIS decrees. HE was going to set Christ up on the throne in HIS time. HE was going to let HIM rule with a rod of iron after a time of judgment on the earth.
This psalm ends with some advice for those who want to be on the winning side in this battle.
We are to be wise. We are to be instructed. We are to serve the LORD. We are to rejoice in the LORD. We are to kiss the Son or worship the Son. We will be blessed if we trust in the LORD.
Wow!!! All the forces of the enemy are trying to defeat the LORD Jesus Christ but we know that HE will have the victory given HIM of the Father. They couldn’t win against Christ.
CHALLENGE: We have HIS power available to us daily. Let us TRUST HIM to be our deliverer. Realize that the world is blinded by the Devil to the facts. They really do think they can win without Christ.
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: 7 “I will declare the decree: The Lord hath said unto me, You are my Son; This day have I begotten YOU.” (begotten, ילד , yalad (3205), to bear, bring forth. 1a1a of child birth. 1a1b of distress (simile). 1a1c of wicked (behavior).1a2 to beget.)
DEVOTION: This Messianic psalm is the first psalm to make a clear cut prediction of a coming King who would rule in righteousness. The choice of the name for the king as “God’s Anointed” is a reference to the anointing of the kings (including David and Saul) when they were first chosen of God to be the king of Israel, and looks forward to the day when God’s perfect King will also be His Anointed (Christ or Messiah). It is the same King that is commanded here to be worshipped (verse 11).
The kind of righteousness that is envisioned here is such that God would be able to cause the King to be able to judge perfectly. None of the Jewish kings were perfect because all of them sinned (including David, who likely wrote this psalm). Yet the kind of righteousness described here is the opposite of the prideful attitude of the earthly kings who wish to rebel against God in order to establish their own kingdoms.
But more than simply being begotten in the sense of His righteousness (using “begotten” as a simile), there is a coming Messiah who will actually be given birth by God. This, of course, seemed humanly impossible to those in the Old Testament times who read this verse. How could God (who is one) give birth to a Son who would be King?
This prophecy was fulfilled in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ. While it is clear that we do not worship more than one God, we worship the three persons of that God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. That this was a specific prophecy about Jesus is picked up by the New Testament writers who specifically point out its reference to Jesus (Acts 13:33, Hebrews 1:5, Hebrews 5:5). So, “unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given” (Isaiah 9:6).
Those who seek to deny the Trinity deny the essential nature of who Jesus is. That means that if He were not fully God, His death would not be sufficient to pay the penalty for our sins. It also means that His promises to return and establish HIS kingdom are unbelievable.
CHALLENGE: Do we look forward to the day when HE will return to establish HIS kingdom and judge all mankind? We need to be worshipping HIM right now!! (Dr. Marc Wooten – board member)
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 10 Be wise now therefore, O you kings, be instructed, you Judges of the earth. (3256 “instructed” [yacar] means to chastise, rebuke, to be made right, to admonish, to exhort, take advice, let oneself take warning, to let oneself be chastened.)
DEVOTION: There are a majority in our world that are not wise in the eyes of the LORD. The majority don’t think they need the LORD in their life. They think they are doing OK without HIM.
However, the LORD says that they are not wise and they will find out sometime in the future just how much they needed to listen to the LORD. Our leaders are especially going to find out what happens when they neglect the LORD’S commands in the way they do business in our government.
Our judges are taking more and more Biblical rights away from the people. They seem to think that we don’t need the LORD in public life. They will find out that the LORD is always going to win in the end.
If they are wise and if we are wise, we need to make sure that we ask the LORD regarding any decision we make especially if it affects a group of people who are trying to honor the LORD.
God allows just so much to happen and then HE steps in and helps HIS people. We need to be faithful and watch HIM work in our lives and in our world.
CHALLENGE: HE is working even today in our world. HIS plan is going to take place and it might be in the near future. Be prepared.
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: 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish from the way, when HIS wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in HIM. (5401 “Kiss” [nashaq] means to kiss with intensity or repetition, used of the kiss by which the vanquished promise fidelity and submission to the conquerer.)
DEVOTION: The Bible teaches that Christ came the first time to die on the cross for our sins. Once that act was accomplished, HE returned to heaven waiting for the coming day when HE would return as the King of Kings and LORD of Lords. This is going to happen in the future.
While we are in the time between the first coming of Christ and the second coming of Christ we need to be active in our service to the LORD. This means that we have to be keeping a close relationship with HIM on a daily basis reading HIS Word, praying and witnessing for HIM. We are to going into all of our world with HIS message of salvation. We need to be reaching our family, neighbors, friend and even our enemies with the message of salvation. The time seems to be short and we need to be active.
Too many people who call themselves believers are sitting, socking and souring in their homes and pews. They are not excited about worshiping the LORD on Sunday and witnessing for HIM the rest of the week.
God has given instructions to those who are HIS followers to go into the world and reach the nations with the message of salvation. Most of those who claim Christ are sitting at home watching television from Monday through Saturday and then on Sunday attending church for one hour and they think they are serving the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Every Christian needs to be out reaching their world for Jesus Christ. HE will bless each one that is doing that faithfully.
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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)
Son talking with the Father verse 8
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Personal, Covenant keeping) verse 2, 4, 11
Sits in heaven shall laugh verse 4
LORD shall have them in derison verse 4
LORD shall speak in HIS wrath verse 5
LORD shall vex them in HIS sore displeasure verse 5
LORD said to Jesus
You are my Son, this day have I
begotten YOU verse 7
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
Anointed verse 2
King verse 6
Set on MY holy hill of Zion
Son verse 7, 12
Begotten verse 7
Ask Father and HE will give heathen
for YOUR inheritance verse 8
Also the uttermost parts of the earth
for YOUR possession verse 8
Break the heathen with rod of iron verse 9
YOU shall dash heathen verse 9
Wrath kindled but a little verse 12
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)
Heathen verse 1, 8
People verse 1
Kings of the earth verse 2, 10
Rulers verse 2
Judges of the earth verse 10
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Heathen verse 1, 8
People imagine a vain thing verse 1
Take counsel against the LORD verse 2
Break bands asunder verse 3
Cast away LORD’s cords verse 3
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Anointed verse 2
Ask of LORD verse 8
Inheritance verse 8
Be wise verse 10
Be instructed verse 10
Serve the LORD with fear verse 11
Rejoice with trembling verse 11
Kiss verse 12
Blessed verse 12
Trust in Son verse 12
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
DONATIONS:
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QUOTES regarding passage
Ver. 11. Serve the Lord with fear, &c.] Not the creature, neither more, nor besides, nor with the Creator; God and mammon cannot both be served; nor any fictitious and nominal deities, the idols of the Gentiles, who are not gods by nature; but the true Jehovah, the one and only Lord God, he only is to be worshipped and served, even Father, Son, and Spirit. Here it may be understood either of the Lord Christ, the Son of God, who is to be served by the kings and judges of the earth, he being King of kings, and Lord of lords; or rather of Jehovah the Father, since the Son seems to be distinguished from him in the next verse: and the service these persons are called unto lies not in the discharge of any office in the church, as in preaching the word, which is serving God in the Gospel of his Son; and hence the ministers of the word are eminently called the servants of the most high God; for kings and judges are not required hereby to lay aside their crowns and sceptres, and leave their seats of justice, and become preachers of the Gospel; but in acting according to the will of God revealed in his word, and in the whole worship of him, both internal and external: and this is to be done with fear, not with fear of man, nor with servile fear of God, but with a godly and filial fear, with a reverential affection for him, and in a way agreeable to his mind and will; with reverence and awe of him, without levity, carelesness, and negligence. And rejoice with trembling; some reference may be had to the joy in public worship, as at sacrifices and festivals, and the music in divine service under the law; and the singing of psalms and hymns and spiritual songs under the Gospel; and especially to the Gospel dispensation itself, which is a time of joy and rejoicing: the Gospel is good tidings of great joy; the kingdom of God is not in things external, but in joy in the Holy Ghost; and, above all, respect is had to a rejoicing in Christ Jesus, in his person, righteousness, and salvation: and which is consistent with trembling; not with a fearful looking-for of judgment, but with modesty and humility; in which sense this word, when joined with fear as here, is used Phil. 2:12 and stands opposed to pride, haughtiness, and arrogance; men should so rejoice in Christ as to have no confidence in the flesh, or assume any degree of glory to themselves, or have any rejoicing in themselves, but wholly in Christ, giving all the glory of what they have to him. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 3, p. 532). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
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11, 12. The four Hebrew words that span the verse-division have been a problem to translators from early times, but the general sense is plain, that this is a call to submit to Yahweh and his Anointed with the kiss of homage. Rejoice with trembling (av, rv, lxx, Vulg.) conjures up a startling yet quite appropriate mixture of emotions in face of serving so great a king (cf. e.g. Hab. 3:16, 18). But Dahood’s suggestions that gîl (‘rejoice’) can mean ‘live’ offers an easier translation (‘live in trembling’) without changing the text. By contrast, ‘Kiss his feet’ (rsv, jb) is based on the precarious conjecture that the Hebrew terms here for ‘rejoice’ and ‘son’ (?) are the scattered fragments of a single word, ‘on-his-feet’; and neb mg. ‘kiss the mighty one’ evidently makes the assumption that the word rab (mighty) has been spelt backwards as bar (son). lxx, followed by Vulg., makes matters no clearer with its ‘take hold of discipline’, which cannot be extracted from our Hebrew text.
The son (av, rv) is, however, a very doubtful translation, since the definite article is lacking, and ‘kiss son’ would be as awkward in Hebrew as in English. Further, it is in Aramaic that this word bar means ‘son’. In Hebrew it means ‘pure’, and if this (or bōr, ‘purity’) may be taken adverbially it will make the phrase a command to ‘kiss sincerely’, i.e. ‘pay true homage’. This seems the best solution. Although ‘the son’ is apparently not mentioned in this verse, verses 7ff. have already used the title and left no doubt of its implications.
The neb’s vivid expressions, ‘in mid course’ and ‘flares up in a moment’, bring out the urgency of the warning. The quick anger may sound like the touchiness of a despot, but the true comparison is with Christ, whose wrath (like his compassion) blazed up at wrongs which left his contemporaries quite unruffled. This fiery picture is needed alongside that of the one who is ‘slow to anger’, just as the laughter of verse 4 balances the tears of, e.g., Isaiah 16:9 or 63:9. That is, God’s patience is not placidity, any more than his fierce anger is loss of control, his laughter cruelty or his pity sentimentality. When his moment comes for judgment, in any given case, it will be by definition beyond appeasing or postponing.
The final beatitude (cf. on 1:1) leaves no doubt of the grace that inspires the call of verses 10ff. What fear and pride interpret as bondage (3) is in fact security and bliss. And there is no refuge from him: only in him. (Kidner, D. (1973). Psalms 1–72: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 15, pp. 69–70). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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2:10–11. In view of all that the Lord had determined for His “son,” the psalmist exhorted the foolish nations to submit to the king before his wrath was kindled. Many times in the Psalms God is referred to as King (v. 6; 10:16; 24:7–8, 10; 29:10; 44:4; 47:2, 6–7; 48:2; 68:24; 84:3; 95:3; 98:6; 99:4; 145:1; 149:2). The psalmist instructed the earthly kings to use wisdom and abandon their foolish rebellion (cf. 2:1). They would be wise to serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. “Serve,” “rejoice,” “fear,” and “trembling” describe the religious responses of the righteous in worship. They are to lead lives of submission, not rebellion; lives characterized by fear and trembling, not arrogance; lives filled with exultation, not the gloom of oppression. (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. 792). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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Opportunity—the Voice of the Holy Spirit (vv. 10–12)
In view of the Father’s decree and promised judgment, and the Son’s victorious enthronement in heaven, the wise thing for people to do is to surrender to Christ and trust Him. Today, the Spirit of God speaks to mankind and pleads with sinners to repent and turn to the Savior.
Note that in verses 10 and 11, the Spirit speaks first to the kings and leaders, and then in verse 12, He addresses “all” and urges them to trust the Son. The Spirit starts his appeal with the world leaders, because they are accountable to God for the way they govern the world (Rom. 13). The people are enraged against God mainly because their leaders have incited them. They are ignorant because they follow the wisdom of this world and not the wisdom that comes from God (1 Cor. 1:18–31). They are proud of what they think they know, but they really know nothing about eternal truth. How can they learn? “Be instructed” (v. 10) from the Word of God. The word also means “to be warned.” How gracious the Lord is to save sinners before His wrath is revealed!
Once the Spirit has instructed the mind, He then appeals to the will and calls the rebels to serve the Lord and stop serving sin (v. 11). True believers know what it means to have both fear and joy in their hearts. Love for the Lord casts out sinful fear (1 John 4:18) but perfects godly fear. We love our Father but still respect His authority. The third appeal is to the heart and calls for submissive love and devotion to the King. In the ancient world, vassal rulers would show their obedience to their king by kissing his hand or cheek. Judas kissed Jesus in the garden, but it meant nothing. This is the kiss of submission and even reconciliation. The Spirit ends with a word of warning and a word of blessing. The warning is that this loving King can also become angry and reveal His holy wrath suddenly and without warning (1 Thess. 5:1–4). The theme of wrath is connected with the Father (v. 5) and the Son (vv. 9, 12).
Psalm 1 opens with “blessed” and Psalm 2 concludes with promised blessing for all who put their trust in the Son of God. That promise still stands (John 3:16–18; 20:31). (Wiersbe, W. W. (2004). Be worshipful (1st ed., pp. 19–20). Colorado Springs, CO: Cook Communications Ministries.)
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2:10–12 The tone of these verses is surprising. Instead of immediate judgment, the Lord and His Anointed mercifully provide an opportunity for repentance. Five commands place responsibility on mutinous mankind. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Ps 2:10–12). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Verse 11.—“Serve the Lord with fear.” This fear of God qualifies our joy. If you abstract fear from joy, joy will become light and wanton; and if you abstract joy from fear, fear then will become slavish.—William Bates, D.D., 1625–1699.
Verse 11.—“Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” There are two kinds of serving and rejoicing in God. First, a serving in security, and a rejoicing in the Lord without fear; these are peculiar to hypocrites, who are secure, who please themselves, and who appear to themselves to be not unuseful servants, and to have great merit on their side, concerning whom it is said (Psalm 10:5), “Thy judgments are far above out of his sight;” and also afterwards (Psalm 36:1), “There is no fear of God before his eyes.” These do righteousness without judgment at all times; and permit not Christ to be the Judge to be feared by all, in whose sight no man living is justified. Secondly, a serving with fear and a rejoicing with trembling; these are peculiar to the righteous who do righteousness at all times, and always rightly attemper both; never being without judgments, on the one hand, by which they are terrified and brought to despair of themselves and of all their own works; nor without that righteousness, on the other, on which they rest, and in which they rejoice in the mercy of God. It is the work of the whole lives of these characters to accuse themselves in all things, and in all things to justify and praise God. And thus they fulfil that word of Proverbs, “Blessed is the man that feareth alway” (28:14); and also that of Philip, 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord alway.” Thus, between the upper and nether mill-stone (Deut. 24:6), they are broken in pieces and humbled, and the husks thus being bruised off, they come forth the all-pure wheat of Christ.—Martin Luther.
Verse 11.—The fear of God promotes spiritual joy; it is the morning star which ushers in the sunlight of comfort. “Walking in the fear of God, and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost.” God mingles joy with fear, that fear may not be slavish.—Thomas Watson, 1660.
Verse 12.—“Kiss,” a sign of love among equals: Gen. 33:4; 1 Sam. 20:41; Rom. 16:16; 1 Cor. 16:20. Of subjection in inferiors: 1 Sam. 10:1. Of religious adoration in worshippers: 1 Kings 19:18; Job 31:27.—John Richardson, Bishop of Ardagh, 1655. (Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 1-26 (Vol. 1, pp. 18–19). London; Edinburgh; New York: Marshall Brothers.)
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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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2 Corinthians 1
The Lord comforts us in our affliction so we may comfort others.
INSIGHT
There is a fellowship of suffering. Someone who has suffered the same things we have suffered is better able to minister to us. And if we have been comforted in our suffering, we are better able to comfort someone else who experiences the same difficulties. Suffering can make us compassionate toward others. As the sufferings of Christ overflow into our lives, so can the compassion of Christ overflow from our lives into the lives of others.
God takes ordinary people and does extraordinary things through them because of their devotion to Him. This is true in times of apostasy when God sometimes calls His mightiest servants from places of obscurity and gives them faith to believe Him. He works great deliverance through them.This is certainly the case with Gideon who exclaims that he is from the weakest family in Manasseh and is the youngest in that family. Yet he is devoted to the Lord and, therefore, usable for God’s purposes. (Quiet Walk)
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ALL THINGS
…the same anointing teacheth you of all things…1 John 2:27
John does not teach here that a Christian knows everything. “But surely,” says someone, “when it says ‘ye know all things’ (verse 20), doesn’t ‘all things’ mean just that?” But if you think that, then you must mean that every Christian knows everything—astronomy, geometry, the classics, and everything else that is in the realm of knowledge—which is patently and obviously ridiculous! No; we must take these statements within their context. John obviously does not mean secular knowledge.
Does he then mean spiritual knowledge? No, he does not mean spiritual knowledge in every sense either, for this good reason: If John is here saying that every man or woman who receives the Holy Spirit automatically knows the whole of spiritual truth, how can you apply the New Testament teaching about growing in grace and in knowledge? How can there then be any development in our knowledge and understanding? Not only that, I think we can say that if that were true, then there would be no need for the New Testament epistles. Clearly that is not the case. John’s reference to “all things” here is a reference to the particular subject with which he is dealing.It is not an all-inclusive, all-comprehensive statement.
John does not teach here that because of this knowledge every Christian is infallible. For if the unction of the Holy Spirit means that every Christian knows everything, it would follow that every Christian would have to agree with every other Christian about every aspect of Christian doctrine. But that is not the case. There are divergences and differences among Christians who manifest the Holy Spirit in their lives—about the question of baptism, about the prophetic teaching, about church order, and many other subjects. Added to that, Christians—good Christians—have from time to time fallen into error.
A Thought to Ponder: John does not teach here that because of this knowledge every Christian is infallible. (From Walking with God, p. 125. By Dr, Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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The God of Patience and Consolation
“Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be likeminded one toward another according to Christ Jesus.” (Romans 15:5)
Paul gives us a descriptive title for the Lord as the God of patience and consolation (encouragement). To understand this, we need to consider the context in which it was given. In the previous chapter, Paul addresses a divisive conflict in the Roman church where believers were judging and offending one another because of dietary preferences. He reminds them, “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost” (Romans 14:17).
Paul goes on to say, “Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. For even Christ pleased not himself” (Romans 15:2-3). Thus, our lives should be conducted to promote the edification of the body of Christ by denying ourselves and modeling the life of Jesus.
But how can we perform such a seemingly difficult task in our families, churches, and occupations? We are told that this ability is granted to us by our God of patience and consolation. Think of how much offence our Creator God has patiently endured with His gracious long-suffering toward sinful mankind and how much consolation He abundantly offers to us in His Word and through the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Let us look daily to God’s Word and model our lives accordingly: “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope” (Romans 15:4); and request His strength to perform it: “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:14, 16).
(JPT, The Institute for Creation Research)
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For Others’ Sake
All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. Romans 14:20
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many Singaporeans stayed home to avoid being infected. But I blissfully continued swimming, believing it was safe.
My wife, however, feared that I might pick up an infection at the public pool and pass it on to her aged mother—who, like other seniors, was more vulnerable to the virus. “Can you just avoid swimming for some time, for my sake?” she asked.
At first, I wanted to argue that there was little risk. Then I realized that this mattered less than her feelings. Why would I insist on swimming—hardly an essential thing—when it made her worry unnecessarily?
In Romans 14, Paul addressed issues like whether believers in Christ should eat certain foods or celebrate certain festivals. He was concerned that some people were imposing their views on others.
Paul reminded the church in Rome, and us, that believers in Jesus may view situations differently. We also have diverse backgrounds that color our attitudes and practices. He wrote, “Let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister” (v. 13).
God’s grace gives us great freedom even as it helps us express His love to fellow believers. We can use that freedom to put the spiritual needs of others above our own convictions about rules and practices that don’t contradict the essential truths found in the gospel (v. 20). (By Leslie Koh, Our Daily Bread Ministries)
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Man, Oh Man
The man said, “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called ‘woman,’ for she was taken out of man.” GENESIS 2:23, NIV
I’m telling you—men just have it easier. Here are some examples someone sent me. When you’re a man . . .
•Your last name stays put.
•The garage is all yours.
•Wedding plans take care of themselves
•You can never be pregnant.
•Wrinkles add character.
•The occasional well-rendered belch is practically expected.
•You’ve got one mood all the time. Usually.
•Phone conversations are over in thirty seconds flat.
•A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
•You can open all your own jars.
•You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness. Usually.
•If someone forgets to invite you somewhere, he can still be your friend.
•Your underwear is $8.95—for a three-pack!
•The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
•You only have to shave your face and neck.
•You can play with toys all your life.
•One wallet and one pair of shoes—one color for all seasons.
•You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
•You can “do” your nails with a pocket knife.
See what I mean?
So the next time your wife seems too complicated for you, be patient with her. You didn’t marry a man. You married her because she is different. Realize that her life comes with a lot of stuff you don’t have to put up with. Take the time to genuinely listen and understand because God created her as a gift for you. (Moments with You by Dennis and Barbara Rainey)
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SODOM AND GOMORRAH
If the mighty works, which have been done in thee [Capernaum], had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.
Matthew 11:23-24
Sodom and Gomorrah were given an opportunity. Read the story in Genesis 19. But consider what the names of these cities suggest to us; Sodom has become a symbol of everything that is false and ugly in man as the result of the Fall. Sodom and Gomorrah suggest profligacy, born in the very gutters of sin, with marauders walking the streets with eyes that stand out in lasciviousness; those were the characteristics of the life there. Now what our Lord said in Matthew 11 was that the case of Capernaum and Chorazin and Bethsaida was worse than that of those Old Testament cities.
Now this can mean but one thing, which is that the judgment of all men and women is ultimately going to be in terms of their relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. We are not told that the moral life of these cities was the same as that of Sodom and Gomorrah. We can be perfectly certain it was not; there were none of those evil men roaming the streets in their lusts. There was nothing like that at all, and yet they were worse than Sodom and Gomorrah! Why? Here is the answer: He had lived in Capernaum; He had walked its streets and made it His headquarters. Not only that, it was there that He had worked some of His most mighty and marvelous deeds. It was out of these cities that people like Peter and Andrew and Philip had come, and where our Lord had manifested His glory in a most signal manner. Yet these people went on living as if He had never come at all; that is the source of judgment.
A Thought to Ponder: The judgment of all men and women is ultimately going to be in terms of their relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. (From The Heart of the Gospel, pp. 100-101, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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The Father’s Love for the Son
“And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)
In this remarkable verse, God the Father, speaking from heaven itself, introduces His beloved Son to the world. This is the first New Testament reference to “love,” just as the Father’s love for the Son was the first love that ever existed. As Christ prayed in the upper room, “For thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).
There are many other references to the Father’s love for the Son, including two to the voice at His baptism (Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22) and two more in the upper room prayer (John 17:23, 26). One great reason for that love is the following: “Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life” (John 10:17).
The extent of the Father’s love for His blessed Son was all-encompassing. “The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand” (John 3:35). Furthermore, “the Father loveth the Son, and showeth him all things that himself doeth” (John 5:20).
God also spoke of His “beloved Son” on the Mount of Transfiguration, as cited four times (Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35; 2 Peter 1:17). Thus, there are seven references in the New Testament to the Father’s heavenly testimony to His beloved Son. Similarly, there are seven passages where the Son Himself testifies of that Fatherly love. In addition to the six cited above, Christ said, “As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you” (John 15:9).
Seven testimonies from the Father and seven from the Son! Surely the Father loved the Son with a perfect love. And yet—“Herein is love . . . that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:10). Such love for unworthy sinners merits nothing less than total thanksgiving from us. (HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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