"study The Scripture"

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Ezekiel 34

Shepherds and Sheep

1 The word of the LORD came to me: 2 "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the shepherds of Israel who only take care of themselves! Should not shepherds take care of the flock? 3 You eat the curds, clothe yourselves with the wool and slaughter the choice animals, but you do not take care of the flock. 4 You have not strengthened the weak or healed the sick or bound up the injured. You have not brought back the strays or searched for the lost. You have ruled them harshly and brutally. 5 So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals. 6 My sheep wandered over all the mountains and on every high hill. They were scattered over the whole earth, and no one searched or looked for them.

7 " 'Therefore, you shepherds, hear the word of the LORD : 8 As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, because my flock lacks a shepherd and so has been plundered and has become food for all the wild animals, and because my shepherds did not search for my flock but cared for themselves rather than for my flock, 9 therefore, O shepherds, hear the word of the LORD : 10 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I am against the shepherds and will hold them accountable for my flock. I will remove them from tending the flock so that the shepherds can no longer feed themselves. I will rescue my flock from their mouths, and it will no longer be food for them.
11 " 'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. 12 As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them from all the places where they were scattered on a day of clouds and darkness. 13 I will bring them out from the nations and gather them from the countries, and I will bring them into their own land. I will pasture them on the mountains of Israel, in the ravines and in all the settlements in the land. 14 I will tend them in a good pasture, and the mountain heights of Israel will be their grazing land. There they will lie down in good grazing land, and there they will feed in a rich pasture on the mountains of Israel. 15 I myself will tend my sheep and have them lie down, declares the Sovereign LORD. 16 I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. I will bind up the injured and strengthen the weak, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy. I will shepherd the flock with justice.
17 " 'As for you, my flock, this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I will judge between one sheep and another, and between rams and goats. 18 Is it not enough for you to feed on the good pasture? Must you also trample the rest of your pasture with your feet? Is it not enough for you to drink clear water? Must you also muddy the rest with your feet? 19 Must my flock feed on what you have trampled and drink what you have muddied with your feet?
20 " 'Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says to them: See, I myself will judge between the fat sheep and the lean sheep. 21 Because you shove with flank and shoulder, butting all the weak sheep with your horns until you have driven them away, 22 I will save my flock, and they will no longer be plundered. I will judge between one sheep and another. 23 I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd. 24 I the LORD will be their God, and my servant David will be prince among them. I the LORD have spoken. 25 " 'I will make a covenant of peace with them and rid the land of wild beasts so that they may live in the desert and sleep in the forests in safety. 26 I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. [a] I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. 27 The trees of the field will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops; the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them. 28 They will no longer be plundered by the nations, nor will wild animals devour them. They will live in safety, and no one will make them afraid. 29 I will provide for them a land renowned for its crops, and they will no longer be victims of famine in the land or bear the scorn of the nations. 30 Then they will know that I, the LORD their God, am with them and that they, the house of Israel, are my people, declares the Sovereign LORD. 31 You my sheep, the sheep of my pasture, are people, and I am your God, declares the Sovereign LORD.' "

 

[xxkingskidlmxx]

I find it almost amusing that those who use the name of the Lord in vain, not only does he not stick with them but he looks after Himself completely.

1 Samuel 5

The Ark in Ashdod and Ekron

1 After the Philistines had captured the ark of God, they took it from Ebenezer to Ashdod. 2 Then they carried the ark into Dagon's temple and set it beside Dagon. 3 When the people of Ashdod rose early the next day, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! They took Dagon and put him back in his place. 4 But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained. 5 That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon's temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.

6 The LORD's hand was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation upon them and afflicted them with tumors. 7 When the men of Ashdod saw what was happening, they said, "The ark of the god of Israel must not stay here with us, because his hand is heavy upon us and upon Dagon our god." 8 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and asked them, "What shall we do with the ark of the god of Israel?"
They answered, "Have the ark of the god of Israel moved to Gath." So they moved the ark of the God of Israel. 9 But after they had moved it, the LORD's hand was against that city, throwing it into a great panic. He afflicted the people of the city, both young and old, with an outbreak of tumors. 10 So they sent the ark of God to Ekron.
As the ark of God was entering Ekron, the people of Ekron cried out, "They have brought the ark of the god of Israel around to us to kill us and our people." 11 So they called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, "Send the ark of the god of Israel away; let it go back to its own place, or it will kill us and our people." For death had filled the city with panic; God's hand was very heavy upon it. 12 Those who did not die were afflicted with tumors, and the outcry of the city went up to heaven.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Lord, my God, I pray for Niguruagua, Haidi's and all the places were sex trade camps are in full swing. Especially those in Vietnam, Tialand etc. My hearts cry is with them. Amen

Come against the tourist trade to these parts. Thank you, Lord our God, for what you will do and have already done. Great and faithful is Your name.

God bless ya'll and have a great day!!!!!

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

http://somalinet.com/news/world/East%20Africa/6707 an interesting note that God is in control IMHO

Sudan: Uganda to build trade centre in Juba
Mon. January 15, 2007 10:46 am.

(SomaliNet) Trade between Uganda and southern Sudan is expected to double this year when Uganda opens a trade centre in Southern Sudan’s city Juba, officials said.
According to the deal, the trade is expected to promote Ugandan exports in the Sudanese market and boost investment.
Uganda’s ambassador to Sudan, Mull S. Katende said, “The Sudan market is new and it means a lot to us. That is why we have to find ways of formalising and sustaining the growing trade. The trade centre will build consumers’ confidence in our products, increase volumes and promote product consistency.”
Uganda officials based in Sudan say they have already acquired over 20 hectares of land in Juba and a prominent Ugandan businessman has been contracted to construct the centre, which will then be let out to business people.-(Sudan Tribune)

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

The inheritance; when Abraham's blessing went out it went to the descendents of Isaaic not Ishmael, then thru the Israelis it went to David first and then to Jesus. Jesus passes that inheritance on to us and the promises made to future generations.
I think the Lord is doing great things, don't you? Even tho the devil in the back of my mind says no, the Spirit in my deeper conscience says yes Lord yes, to your will and to your way.

 

[abigale]

One of the best studies I have found to do is to go through the bible Gen-Judges and highlight what God is saying and doing. Then highlight the actions of the people (briefly) in response to God.I often just read that and leave out the filling of stories and that gives me a good look at what was going on from God's perspective.

 

[angelwind]

The inheritance; when Abraham's blessing went out it went to the descendents of Isaaic not Ishmael, then thru the Israelis it went to David first and then to Jesus. Jesus passes that inheritance on to us and the promises made to future generations.
I think the Lord is doing great things, don't you? Even tho the devil in the back of my mind says no, the Spirit in my deeper conscience says yes Lord yes, to your will and to your way.

I do think the Lord is doing great things...am amazed at His work in my own heart...thank You Lord!

 

[xxkingskidlmxx]

^amen
Quote:
Originally Posted by abigale
Psalm 2


1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?

2 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the LORD
and against his Anointed One.

3 "Let us break their chains," they say,
"and throw off their fetters."


4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.

5 Then he rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

6 "I have installed my King
on Zion, my holy hill."

7 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD :
He said to me, "You are my Son
today I have become your Father.

8 Ask of me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.


9 You will rule them with an iron scepter ;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.

11 Serve the LORD with fear
and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

__________________​

the Lord of heaven laughs
He knows what's going on
while all their chiefs of states
plan their big attacks
against His anointed one

the church of God she will not bend her knees
to the god's of this world
though they promise her peace
she stands her ground
stands firm on the Rock
watch their walls tumble down
as she lives out His love

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Amen to all of the above. In fact that psalm was originally my post and that song one of my favorites. Layers of flavour, layers of flavour. Your Words, Oh Lord are like honey to my lips. I taste of the Lord and I know that He is good.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

One of the best studies I have found to do is to go through the bible Gen-Judges and highlight what God is saying and doing. Then highlight the actions of the people (briefly) in response to God.I often just read that and leave out the filling of stories and that gives me a good look at what was going on from God's perspective.

Yes, and most importantly also to constantly be sorting out what is tradition and what is gospel. Many (not all!!) traditions show stepping stones but are not the foundational truths and our job is to recognize the differences and find the patterns to follow.

The overcomers in the churches in rev. are the ones that collectively are the bride not the ones who had fallen away from their first love or those who had failed to discern tradition from doctrine.

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Let's see if I can do an outline I don't know if it will simplify or not.Probably make it more confusing than ever but will put it mostly in one place. These are comments combined.
These verses contain both
Jesus' humanity in verse 1:69, He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
as well as His divinity in verse 78, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
3:verses 8-9 I beleive speak to this generation, the fruit of the lemon tree is bitter but people tie themselves to it and shout, save the tree, save the tree.
"He stayed hidden as God,
presenting Himself as man." As man He was our example of dealing
with Satan. The helmet of salvation (it is finished) and the sword of the Spirit (His Word in us) can be our defence against the temptations,
Notice that satan hits on all 3 areas of the human being
The flesh=Jesus was hungry but no food was supplied so Satan implies that man is just a fed animal and will follow him to fill that desire. But Jesus was safer, hungry , in God's provision.
The devil's idea of sonship is selfish gratification.
The intellect= a gift, on condition. Recognition of Satan's onership and the knee is bowed. Jesus didn't get His Kingdom by paying homage but by eviction.
The spirit= Satan took Jesus to the height of religion and apparent Godly trust. A direct attempt to make Jesus act on the pricipal of trust. The 1st temptation proved His relationship to God, the 2nd His position with God now Satan is daring Him to prove God's care.
Jesus defines His position to calmly, quitely abide in sure confidence.
Luke4:13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
Notice how the enemy silently confessed his defeat. A remarkable proof that he's unable to gain any advantage over those who are content to abide, at whatever cost, in the will of God.
Luke 4:In vs 25-26 I wouldn't have thought anything about Elisha going to a widow in a foriegn town except that Jesus calls attention to it. And it's not just anyplace but the kingdom of Jezebel's dad!
vs23-27 we see the hometown boy classifying Himself with the greatest of prophets plus refering God's blessings on the heathen, all of this would point to His gospel turning toward the gentiles.It seems the reason given was b/c of their hardhearted rejection of Him (thrown off a cliff no less!!!).
vs 30 Shows our Homeboy's steadiness under the threatening of His oppressors. I'm really starting to see how strong His character is. He just stays calm thru satan's attack and now the town's attempt on His life...
Jesus had such an intimate fellowship with His Father that I think those were the moments He cherished more than anything. He needed to be always aware of the Bigger Picture than just what was going on around Him.
1) Note also the even more discerning testimony of the demons (verses 34, 41) Why did Jesus silence them?
34"Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"
41Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.
There's so little known about demonology and yet in the bible, especially the new testement, it goes into alot of detail about it. The demons in this verse new immediately who Jesus was, calling him the Son of God. It says they new he was the Christ, the Messiah.I'm always amazed at how demon possesion was recognized as a common malady in biblical times.
Jesus silenced them because his time hadn't come yet to be recognised as the Messiah.
Demon's know Jesus to be the Holy One of God as well as they know their fate to be one of torment for their sins. They also know the time of their torment, implying knowledge of God's eternal plan.
Matthew 8:29
"What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?"
Matthew 25:41
"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
Demons acknowledged that He was the Messiah but Jesus refused their testimony lest He should be accused of being in legue with them and of accepting testimony from satan who sought to discredit His work and doctrine
I think we are missing a big part of the work of the ministry in the church...to the lost by not understanding the demonic world. Many people were healed by being delivered from evil or unclean spirits.
I honestly believe that we'er on satan's foodchain. Until we can be transformed into new creatures (the body waiting on the regeneration) we are dust and dust, in the curse, the serpent shall have as food. That's why I believe we need to abide in Christ daily so as not to devoured. Our spirit willing but our flesh weak.
Look at Peter who within one conversation (at Philipi) could speak in the power of the Holy Spirit and 2 min. later Jesus was saying "get behind me satan"
In this study today, Peter is from the start, submissive to Jesus, even tho he thought himself far superior in knowledge. That submissiveness allowed the power of God to shine, putting Peter in a very bad light. His reaction was to reject the light. Jesus said it was from fear. Just like the insects when a rock is lifted sins (demons?) flee to hide.Jesus' answer was to walk away from it (sin) and turn to God.
1 Thessalonians 1:9
for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
I think we deal with demons every day and satans greatest weapon is our ignorance. The corruption of this world contaminates our bodies, and (only if we allow it?) our soul and spirits. Only a close walk with Jesus, coming away with Him, keeps us safe.
Peter had been with the Lord for a while...hearing Him teach the word, seeing the crowds flock to Jesus...seeing the healing miracles...now it was Peter's turn to have a more personal encounter with the Lord's power...Peter's heart was exposed...to "himself"...but he was hooked enough on Jesus himself...to continue to bow...to not send Jesus away...to continue to follow Him...to "forsake all" and follow him with the disciples
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance. Ro 2:4
the Lord knew exactly how to break Peter without destroying him or losing him as a disciple...so He does with us.
Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance. Ro 2:4(quote)

I love how multifacited the word of God is. When I first read what you wrote my spirit was awed with agreement. Peter was a hard nut to crack, just like lots of us, (;knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance. Ro 2:4) Peter said Jesus was the only one with the words of life and that's where Peter's heart's desire and discipleship was at. And Jesus, thru God's word, gives that kindness to us as well. Not to be taken lightly at all

Mark 1:41
41Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!"
1 John 1:7
7But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
The first thing I notice is that altho the leper wasn't certain that Jesus was willing to heal him, Jesus was more than willing and did so.
Jesus touched the unclean thing, (we have fellowship with one another, meaning we are all the unlovely) "be clean" purified from sin.

The paraletic and his friends displayed great faith and he also recieved healing and cleansing.
Sins are forgiven, then we can rise and walk. Jesus proves it by performing miracles.
I believe He's left us with the same powers in the form of the gifts of the Spirit which give evidence of the Spirits presence and power in the lives of those who are embassadors of Christ.
The scribes and pharisees' failed to see who He is and so starts the suspicision against Him. Not the miracles but His words are condemning Him in there sight.
Luke 5:31-32Jesus heard about it and spoke up, "Who needs a doctor: the healthy or the sick? I'm here inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside and out."

i think that sums it up - insiders didn't think they needed Jesus, they were already comfortable [in their sin and life apart from G_d].
outsiders new they needed 'a way' or 'a doctor' to be healed; and Jesus is that Way and told them how. they listened because He told them the truth, AND He live it daily. they didn't argue about washing or eating or sabbath because they knew they were pitiful and lost without Jesus, but the insiders didn't like to be challenged or told that they needed to be healed, no matter how sick or dead they were apart from G_d.
Complacency defined is satisfaction with self. Jesus prefered us to be hot or cold rather than lukewarm, a zealeot was preferable to a tradition drenched Pharisee.
I see it as a baby who is satisfied to sit in dirty diapers just b/c it's warm rather than have his mind changed thru transformation.

Just like the new wineskin is transformation into a new and living way, while the old wineskin is more being conformed to law and legalism.
Many people are still steeped in the old.
The mount of tranfigeration was, I think, a passing of the torch from law and prophets to grace and that's how I see the new wineskin!?!
Above all else God wants our obedience to Him.

1 Samuel 15:22
But Samuel replied:
"Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the voice of the LORD ?
To obey is better than sacrifice,
and to heed is better than the fat of rams.
Hebrews 10:8-9
8First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). 9Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second.
The old and the new
They said to him, "John's disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking."
5:34

Jesus answered, "Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them?
5:35
But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast."
Isaiah 58:3-6
3 'Why have we fasted,' they say,
'and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?'
"Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.
4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.
5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD ?
6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

Part A of Luke Part One

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Jesus said "But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast"
And God wants our fasts "to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke
So if we're to be about our Father's business that's what we should be doin'. , loose the chains, untie the cords, set the oppressed free and break every yoke. That's the jubilee! And that's what Jesus read in Is. in the Nazareth synogue
Luke 6:27 (The Message)
"To you who are ready for the truth, I say this...."
i.e. not to everybody,
and not yet to some(who aren't ready, but may be later[for now a seed, or to start thinking that will be receptive to truth later] ) .
the 'insiders' twist this chapter because they don't obey it and cannot understand it,
but exactly the same as Paul says in Galatians 2, those who can say "I have been crucified" along with all other martyrs(set-apart believers) who no longer live selfishly, having been crucified with Messiah Yahshua,
those(set-apart ones) are living and doing what Yahshua says here in Luke. (and the world and 'insiders' cannot understand them)
I think that just like Genesis contains all the seeds of the bible, the gospels have the shoots growing and the letters have the more mature growth. But all of it can be traced thruout.
And I think that Matt 5-7 hold all of it (The sermon on the Mount). Luke gets into part of it. The commentary in the "Holy Bible, Recovery Version" has a good commentary on this section:
"Whatever is cited here in vv. 20-49, as principles of the character of God's children, governs and measures the behavior of the believers, who have been born of God and possess His life and nature. At the time it was spoken, this entire portion (except vv. 24-26,39) applied to the believing remnant of the Jews.
In terms of the standard of character, the principles contained in this portion far surpassed the law that the Jews recieved from Moses.
At the time they were spoken, vv. 24-26 could have applied to the unbeleiving Jews, who hardened their hearts and rejected the Savior
I think it's really cool how the bible truths are x long but there so deep that a new believer can understand completely what Jesus is saying and a lifetime later still see more and more.
But the (insider)(professed christian) (or as Tim Buckley said "walking round in christian licorise clothes)(actual unbelievers) ones that are in it for themselves don't want to see b/c it'll force them to painfully look at themselves.
That's why Jesus and the martyrs went the way they did, and still do. Pharisees, self-righteous, whitewashed people still kill (silence) the (outsider)(real christians)(or as Keith Green would say"those who are bananas for Jesus") the ones that are in it for a personal relationship with the Creator.
Being able to "hear" seems to be a key to "doing" what Jesus said...the heart must be ready to listen...Amplified
Version of Lk 6:27 But I say to you who are listening now to Me: [in order to heed, make it a practice to] love your enemies, treat well (do good to act nobly toward) those who detest you and pursue you with hatred.
I have been meditating on these verses lately...know how wayward my heart is and can be...also I do not always hear or even want to hear the Lord...yet...want to hear enough to be praying for help.
"Cause" me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust; cause me to know the way where in should walk for I lift up my soul unto thee.
Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness.
Ps 143:8;10

The poor in spirit, humble and the other beatitudes, outline Jesus' personality and the kingdom's attributes too. So the ones who can live this way are the ones who are living in the kingdom of God,
The thing that Jesus seems to draw from is prayer. It seems to be the source of His power to carry out His way of living.
verse 12 One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. 13When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them
verse 27 "But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you
verse 35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
The Father has the power to love enemies but I don't think we do. We need His power (the divine life within us)to be able to love in the Father's love and it seems to me that Jesus demonstrates that it comes thru prayer !?!
Word of life gives life so we need the word too so we can pray in His will.
Romans 10:17 Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ.
luke 6:37-49
1)The attitude we have toward others will be returned upon our own heads. Instead of condemning others we need to be working on cleaning our own acts. That way we can see clearer and will store good things in our hearts, which will keep us from falling into the same pit as those we would otherwise condemn. Then we can withstand the storms that come to us and reap the benefits of our actions.
2)The stability of a Christian life depends upon producing good fruit by putting Jesus' words into practise.
vs40, if leaders only pretend to live what they preach they should remember that their disciples will be like them and the problem' perpetuated.
The pretender or hypocrites won't get away with it since Jesus tells us to judge them by their fruit.vs 43-45
Jesus' true disciples bring others to become like Him.
I never could understand why the blind follow the blind. If they're so blind they don't think each person is responsible to find out for themselves then they deserve to fall in a ditch. They should take more care where they walk. That's the problem, people want to blame the leaders for their own mistakes instead of looking after their own salvation. That might sound hard but on judgement day it won't be their leaders standing there so why not look after themselves now. But people are sheep, that are mostly following the wrong shepard.
The people were given bitter herbs when leaving Egypt but Jesus had compassion for the children, like in these verses, but he was hard on the teachers that had a system of personal gain in place of God's Word.
luke 7:1-17
The centurians attitude toward Jesus was so humble and respective,but he could understand (b/c of his high position) that Jesus had a position of power and authority and that He was a commander. To me that would mean that the centurian had insight into the spiritual realm some how. It seemed so much more real to them, that it's really a regression on our part!!
I think it's imperative that we also understand who Jesus is when we come to Him in prayer. That amazed Jesus and He called it faith.
Jesus appreciated the approach of the centurion (a foriegnor) compared to the reception from His own people. But He loved and had compassion on them. He has the unique power to bring us from death to life.
He got so little respect that I think these are amazing verses
luke 7:18-35
These verses say to me that the people were still noncommittal. And that God's messengers came in all different packages but no matter how brightly wrapped or sparsely, they were still rejected in the sence that altho fascinated by the flute and the funeral, they still wouldn't dance or weep.
luke 7:36-8:23
What stands out for me is that the one who loved little and the one who loved lots were both forgiven.
That applied to Jesus in the way that those who treated Him disrespectively and those who lavished love on Him, He forgave them both.
And whether they believed Him or not He had the power to forgive their sins.

Part B


This should make it easy for anyone to steal but harder to claim authorship NNhhhaaa

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

The love of the women (which I see as His bride, the overcomers), resulted in their support of Him with what they had.
To me they were the ones accepting forgiveness as opposed to those who didn't!?!
I always have off-the-wall analogies for helping me to remember some of the truths of the bible, some I get from different studies or who knows where. Like you said "some are not forgiven", it takes humility to be forgiven b/c first you have to accept it. A governor can parden a deathrow inmate so that he can walk threw the door a freeman, but unless he accepts that pardon he remains on deathrow. We are depraved humans sinning against a mighty God, that's our position. Our experience as a freeman is in personal relationship to Him. Some don't want that. And they don't accept it. But shhh, they don't want to hear that...
edit: ya, we need to sing that from the rooftops, amen
Luke 8:4-21
4 types of soil. 3/4 grew. 1/4 flourished in the environment.
To me that means 1 out of 4 could go to hell. 2 out of 4 are caught up in the world system, while another 1 out of 4 sticks like glue to Christ.
The end result is that the 1/2 in the world who have the seed in miniture aren't going to rule and judge in the millinium while the 1/4 who aren't going to hell will and they will also be the only ones in the rapture. Rev 12 is an example.
I know that you are asking about the soils but you also brought up the rapture. Now the rapture is for the bride of Christ. What are the characteristics of a bride? She wants to spend all her time with her groom, she obeys him, wants to please him in all ways, anxiously awaits Him and has an intimate knowledge of Him and also hangs on His words. How many christians today does this describe? I personally believe that the rapture will be a lot smaller than people think and I also believe that many will be surprised at how many from the third world will be there as they have nothing and dare to believe the Word which is why they see miracles a lot. We here in the west are to sophisticated for that and therefore it eludes us many times. Yes, I( think it will be small especially from America.
the point were we all come together is that by working out our own salvation in fear and trembling we obtain to the inheritance. I believe we all start off with the same inheritance. A full one. But lose rewards along the way.
Here in Canada I couldn't understand why I wasn't entitled to land and housing as my birthright.I got nothing while aboriginals have many rights.(I'm not complaining...) We're the aboriginals of the kingdom. But like the prodigal we can throw it away till it's 60%, 30% or just coming home to the brother's house.
Worry doesn't add a day but it subtracts alot.
So cares = 30% the world 60% , whatever,eh..we need to trust Jesus
Another analogy, got me going now, is that we weave our tapestry that we'll wear for eternity. It may look a mess on the backside but it looks like a masterpiece from where God sits.
The NT talks alot about the bride and I'm quite sure that the bride and the overcomer are the same. Revelation 2-3's churches discribe the overcomer which seems to me to be those very much still with their first love (haven't strayed from the truth) and who have done their job of sorting gospel from tradition.(Nicholations/Jezebel/Satan's teachings)
I believe poverty is the cure-all for complacency and are blessed in that. Laodocia was rich but poor in God's sight..
Luke 8:22-39
The discipes were sent by Jesus out into the deep to the other side. The storm ceased when they called on His name.
Paul tells us, Hebrews 12:1... let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus...
When Paul was sent to Macadonia he was jailed, but he knew he was sent and he endured the storm's raging with confidence, the result was the church of Philipi.
The evidence of the Garasene's conversion was his desire to follow Jesus. Jesus' power commands demons of the air as well as those legues controlling humans.
His reaction was trust and the countrymen's was fear. They seemed more concerned about finances and so Jesus left them to it, and the cured man to be of service to them.
Luke 8:40-56
It seems to me that thru these passages Jesus demonstated His power over nature, demons, sickness (beyond what science could cure) and death. The woman exercised faith that didn't need Jesus' involvement to produce results while the others were miracles of Jesus' doing.
Hebrews 3:14 We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.
1 Peter 4:11
If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.
studying the scriptures is so much easier than studying human nature and I think that's why we're to keep our eyes focused on Jesus. There are more horror stories and more martyrs today than ever. My heart goes out to them all. Meanwhile I also need to look after what's going on within my gates today, even if it's a little stray that wandered in.
Luke 9:1-17
Recovery of the Jubilee
The disciples were sent out to apply the Kingdom of God among the Israelites. Jesus pronounced the authority of the Jubilee had arrived (reading of the scroll the Israelis would have understood that to mean the Jubilee) and now He spreads the application which announces that the Jubilee is with Him.(setting captives free and restoring the inheritance that was sold)
An abundance of supply so that food etc.supplied and are not lacking in needs. Richly and abundantly supplied by God thru His people.
Jubilee= return of inheritance, release of slaves etc.
We've been released from sin and satan and restored to the enjoyment of God which could only happen thru the death and resurection of Christ, which results in the eternal inheritance.
So we have the Kingdom preached, not just in Word, but in demonstration of authority, which is the signature of God on those sent by Him. "Not by might, not by power, but by my Spirit says the Lord."
Luke 9:18-36
Malachi 4:4-6
4 "Remember the law of my servant Moses, the decrees and laws I gave him at Horeb for all Israel.
5 "See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the LORD comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse."
I never noticed that "or else" before.
Here we have Jesus setting His face toward Jerusalem to die a prophets death and charging His disciples not to shrink from loyalty to Him. In shining glory He prepares for the exodus to the new promised land, while the 3 disciples witness the emergence of the new covenent from the old, the Kingdom coming in.
The disciples glory is the same as the Master's way of the cross. And they were eyewitnesses that He wasn't a great prophet but the greatest were His servants.
I think that even tho Peter didn't know what he was saying I think he uttered a great truth in tabernacling among the tents of the great shepards (SOSolomon), and to his credit that's where he wanted to be.
Luke 9:37-56
The disciples never did seem to grasp the true mission of Christ, until after it was all over. They couldn't understand the simple fact of the coming sufferings of the Christ, but they were perfect in understanding that there would have to be leadership in the new religion and each wanted to be the leader.
49"Master," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we tried to stop him, because he is not one of us."
50"Do not stop him," Jesus said, "for whoever is not against you is for you."
This is one of the greatest sins in the modern church. Jesus forbids hindering any good work of any person regardless whether or not he belongs to a recognized group of disciples.
The zealous must always be self-controlled and act in knowledge or the work they seek to help will be destroyed (Rom 10:1-4, Jn 16:2) Christianity is not propogated by the sword.
End of Luke Part One

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Genesis Part one
This study today I'm amazed that the 2 chap are all together b/c there's so many foundational things included within. But I'm going to get up on my soapbox today b/c of these pivotal points that I think you can hang every word of the bible on.
The last study was Jesus bringing in the Jubilee to set the captives free. Well, here is were the captivity begins with the bride of Adam being put into satan's slavecamp and Jesus bringing her safely back. We are the bride of Christ. Jesus is the last Adam. He's my hero !!!
ahum *gets out soapbox*
If there was any part of the bible that I would have everyone to understand in their hearts it would be this today. THE WHOLE BIBLE CAN BE HINGED ON IT.
1st off, the trees= relationship vs apart from the creator
2nd, dominion & in His image= Jesus as authority, us changing from glory to glory
3rd the marraige pattern= a masterpiece building up to spiritual perfection
Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain" (Proverbs 25:14).
Cain initially was a religious man, evidently proud of his achievements as a "tiller of the ground" which God had "cursed" (Genesis 4:2; 3:17).
He assumed that God would be much impressed with the beautiful basket of his "fruit of the ground" which he presented as an "offering unto the Lord."
Cain became bitterly angry when God "had not respect" to Cain and his offering (Genesis 4:3-5).
"By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain," shedding the blood of an innocent lamb in substitution for his own sin and guilt before God, "by which he obtained witness that he was righteous" (Hebrews 11:4).
Since "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17), Abel was merely obeying God's Word, but Cain, proud and self-righteous in attitude, was presuming to offer up his own merits in payment for the privilege of coming to God.

This was a "false gift," however, with no meritorious value at all before God, "like clouds and wind without rain."
The apostle Jude warns against any such presumption, especially now that we can freely come to God through His own perfect "Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29).
"Woe unto them!" says Jude, "for they have gone in the way of Cain . . . clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots" (Jude 11-12).
The forbidden fruit is to remind me of my limited freedom within the government of God. The actual fall was that of independent action.
Dumb metephore #1: changing from glory to glory or life as petrified wood; We start off as wood (wood in the tabernacle always represents human nature) and change from glory to glory thru the flowing of living water (Divine Life), carrying off all the natural product and adding solid weighty element (essence of the Spirit). Everyday remaining in this heavenly element (fellowship with God) we are changed to living stones (petrified wood) that are being built unto a spiritual house (New Jerusalem) When Solomon built the temple not a sound of workmanship was heard in the area, it was all done elsewhere. For this reason the chosen people must stay in the good land and go thru the process.
The church came out from Jesus as Eve came out of Adam's side. Not created but built up. God is interested only in building His eternal dwelling, petrified wood (stone) by petrified wood (stone) This is the governing vision and God's heart's desire is to dwell among us.
The bride is submissive to her Husband, goes to Him with all her questions, is as mute as a lamb having only the Word of God for her offensive. A betrothal is violated when (spiritual) adultary takes place.
Clarity on the pivotal points,, it seems to be needed.. from the seeds of Genesis comes the rest of the growth of the bible till mature fruit is reached..
Jesus, when referring to separating the sheep from the goats and the wheats from the tares, tells of the goats boasting to Him "we did this and that in Your name" "Get away from Me, He said, I don't know you" But yet the sheep said to Him "when did we do this or that?" His judgement on these to two types of people sends one away from His Presence.
He tells us also to not let our right hand know what the left is doing in matters of almsgiving. In this way the Spirit's work, only, (Christ in me) is done whereas anything else is just self-exalting and fit for the fire.
After all, we are, only, the Master's weapon in His Hand in His fight to destroy evil once and for all. But we're not equipted do it on our own. That was proven in the garden, and the same fate awaits all those who try to engage the serpent on his own terms (the world's ways).
Our fight is against the evil powers. The battle really does belong to the Lord and we're priveleged to be the witnesses of what God is doing. Cain chose his own path and Abel died. Jesus died to overcome the evil results of humans independant from God, those who choose the tree of knowledge of good and evil over dependancy on God (The tree of life). But the overcoming is being found in Him.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus (the bride, overcomer) unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them (in His power).
2 Cor 5:15 And He died for all that those who live may no
longer live to themselves (not according to sin, satan, the world) but to Him who died for them and has been raised. (17) So then if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation (the bride, overcomer). The old things have passed away; behold, they have become new. (new birth from hearing of the word)
1 Cor 15:45 ...the last Adam became a life-giving Spirit. (The Power we need to overcome the serpent)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I've posted a few times on the pattern God set before us on marraige. The most truthful answer I heard came from a fellow who said " I agree that men and women share the role of bride. But most men don't want to think about it because then they'd have to evaluate what kind of a wife they are" Well, us women aren't fairing too much better and we have social training to be good wives whereas men have had the dubious pleasure of displaying the Bridegroom's role.
First off our Groom is the only One fit for the role. Tender subject it is but satan invented the male myth and the world has been at the feet of the masculine god ever since. Impossible to live up to. Just as now the female myth is perpetuated to bring women down to it's low level.
All of us know what we want from our spouses and what they expect from us. It's a 24-7 job of meeting others (realistic) expectations. And God has those expectations of us as His bride. I often think, when I'm praying for something "Is this a request He, as my Husband would grant"? I have come to realize that He doesn't care about my pettiness. He only cares about His marraige and what's good for His marraige and I need to know when to step down.
So great a mystery.
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and the two shall become one..the fulfillment
When a person accepts the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior, believing on Him as the Son of God and personal Redeemer, the One who saves him from his sins, a wonderful event takes place. The Spirit of God enters his very body, there to reside and to guide his new life in Christ. Henceforth he is, whether he senses it or not, "in the Spirit." "Ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (Romans 8:9).
The believer's body even becomes a temple in which the Spirit can reign over his life. "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's" (I Corinthians 6:19-20).
In addition to leading us (through the Scriptures which He inspired and through the circumstances which He ordains), "The Spirit beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God" (Romans 8:16). "Hereby know we that we dwell in Him, and He in us, because He hath given us of His Spirit" (I John 4:13).
The indwelling, comforting, leading, witnessing Spirit is not alone, for Jesus promised that, when the Comforter comes to "be in you," then through the Spirit, "I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you" (John 14:17,20). Thus we can "be filled with all the fulness of God" (Ephesians 3:19).
Such a marvelous relationship will surely transform our lives. As our text exhorts us: "If we live in the Spirit" we should certainly "walk in the Spirit." The practical result is then obvious. "Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh" (Galatians 5:16). "days of praise'
BTW I think there's a huge gap between the overcomer vs the new man, both are saved but aren't one and the same IMO
I always wonder why Eve was so confused to begin with when she said "not eat or touch" but I think that shows that as soon as we show the least bit of confusion, satan's in there with his lies. Knowledge is power.. so true... I think satan's greatest weapon is his anonymity.
The serpent is like a thread running thru the bible till in Rev he's sent to the pit for eternity. Jesus gets him on the cross, then he persecutes us but in the end God gives us the complete victory. Yahoo!!
Just as a note of interest,
Notice also, the 3fold fall in comparison to Jesus' 3fold victory in the temptation. Thoughts are first led astray to doubting of God's Word, ..then the flesh was corrupted by sin entering in,.. finally the spirit was dead by loss of function.
Giving Jesus the rightful place protects us b/c the serpent's judgement was to limit him to the earth and to eating dust, leaving the heavenlies off limits (where the spirit dwells). It's possible to be above him by always turning to our spirit to where Christ is, where we're seated with Him in the heavenlies. And that gives us victory in our lives over satan. I look at it like a garden. Pull up the weeds (don't follow after evil thoughts) and cultivate the good thoughts (think on these things) whenever satan comes into the backalley of the mind looking to rough us up. We have friends in high places, we just need to go there in our spirit.
The serpent opened the way for the seed of the woman to come in to fufill the promise of the gospel.

James had alot to say about OT ways and was kinda the book of the old to new.
I just wanted to add that altho it's no longer a "the devil made me do it" thing, in the garden Adam, as male and female, didn't contain sin, it came from a source other than God.
??sometimes we can't blame the devil ?
(((I think tho??? that satan got under our skin in the garden,,,he
infused himself into us..???and gave us a duel character within our
flesh...lust of the flesh, eye and pride of life are from our father the
devil..yes,no?/)))) Only by rebirth into a new creation and then by residing in Him until our flesh is renewed we'll always have satan as baggage. We need to get to that "the 2 (bride and Groom) shall become 1" stage. Leave the devil in Egypt!
Genesis 4-5
Seed principal #1=Cain and his clan were the inventors of mostly everything. Cain's claim to fame was being the inventor of religion devoid of God's ways (a bloodless religion) and one of the works of the hands.
Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Romans 7:20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.
Seed principal #2= the 3rd generation called upon the name of the Lord, the 7th generation displayed the rapture and escape from death by walking with God.
Genesis 6
1) What do we learn here concerning (a) the fallen condition of
human nature, (b) God's attitude to sin, (c) the provision of a way of
salvation? Cf. Mt. 24:37-39; 1 Pet. 3:20; 2 Pet. 2:5.
Matthew 24:37-39
37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son
of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and
drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah
entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen
until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at
the coming of the Son of Man.
((( dazed and confused)))
1 Peter 3:20
20who disobeyed long ago when God waited patiently in the days of
Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in
all, were saved through water,
(((( God's patience toward us and lack
thereof))))
2 Peter 2:5
5if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on
its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness,
and seven others;
(((His protection toward the faithful)))
2) "Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord". What were his
characteristics? Cf. Heb. 11:7.
Hebrews 11:7
7By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear
built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world
and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.
((holy fear displayed in faithfulness thru righteousness)))
Gen 6: 22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him.
I think God's Word is so multi-faceted that it wouldn't be until every person in the body of Christ gave their veiw that we'd be able to see the whole picture. What you see and I see help each other to see more of God. Fellowship..amen
Genesis 7:1-8:19
up to this part of the study we've got the scoop from God's word on what it takes to get to the point of being approved of God enough to be included in the rapture and complete salvation. (whether taken from what we've said in these posts or what you've gleaned for yourself.) It's all there in seedform.
Next comes the 2nd downfall and then the maturing of the believer as one passes thru Abraham, Isaiac, Jacob and finally to Joseph who ruled in the occupied land. Just to get ya thinking in that direction! (I know, I couldn't believe it when I first heard it, too)

Gen Part A

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Noah was the "but" to change the age. The whole world had gone wrong "but Noah found grace" like the nation all went into slavery "but Daniel"
If we please Him He's faithful to bring us thru.
I heard a funny story to the effect of "God didn't put Noah along the side of the ark and told him to hang on, but placed him safely inside and He closed the door that only He could open.
God found one person in the world to carry on his plans to reddeem the whole race, that's amazing that he even thought that would work. I mean, Satan's doing his best to get them all on his side and God keeps starting again with only one person. But I guess his part is that he's good for his promises and Noah just trusted him. But why only one person, there must have been alot that heard about Enoch or the ones who walked with God, where did they all go? And why wasn't God talking to them?
What is baptism? I think the outward form is identifying and going thru the ritual of Jesus' death while the actual thing is daily the taking up the way of the cross and following Jesus' example way of living. Jesus breathed the Spirit onto the disciples but they went back to there old ways of life on the fishboats. When He called them again to eat with Him He said " Do you love Me, feed my sheep" and after that time they recieved the fire of the Holy Spirit. 2 kinds of baptism.
God's condemned this world also and so we're warned to get out from it too but still we're very much planted in it. Noah was born into it just as we are. Baptism by water. The flood, the Red Sea, the brass laver were all the means of passing threw to God and leaving the dead things behind.
2 Timothy 2:4
No one going as a soldier entangles himself with the affairs of life, that he may please him who has enlisted him as a soldier.
Who were the sons of God? Were they all killed in the flood or in the Red Sea when Israel was brought out of Egypt (assuming that's another form of judgement/baptism)? And yet there were giants in the promised land yet to be killed ( I see those as our giants in our own life that need to be defeated before we can come to rest in Him) This all just facinates me.
Genesis 6:4-5
4 The Nephilim were on the earth in those days—and also afterward—when the sons of God went to the daughters of men and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown.
5 The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.
Jude 1:6-7
6And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 7In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
2 Pet 2:4,5;9,10
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them into gloomy dungeons to be held for judgment; 5if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment. 10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority.
Job 1:6
Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.

This I find very curious, I don't know if it speaks only of angels or humans that aren't following God's ways or what.
Jude 1:6
6And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home
1 Pet 2:10 The Lord knows how to rescue those who are godly while continueing to punish the unrighteous...this is especially true of those who .... despise authority.
So to summerize this very important section, the way I understand it, there we have the first (and last)order of things. Representing and expressing God comes full circle from the old Adam to the new Adam thru blood, water and fire.



Gen 10:1-11:9
From the references given
Psalm 2
1 Why do the nations conspire [a]
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the LORD
and against his Anointed One.
3 "Let us break their chains," they say,
"and throw off their fetters."
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
Luke 11:23
23"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me, scatters.
Genesis 3:22-24
22 And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." 23 So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. 24 After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side [a] of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.
Isaiah 14:12-15
12 How you have fallen from heaven,
O morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!
13 You said in your heart,
"I will ascend to heaven;
I will raise my throne
above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly,
on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. [a]
14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High."
15 But you are brought down to the grave,
to the depths of the pit.
contrast
John 11:49-52
49Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all! 50You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."
51He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.
it seems to show another pattern where God confused the nation Israel by scattering them again. The prophesies would indicate that He's in the process of bringing it all back together.
Acts 17:26
26From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live.
Romans 3:29
29Is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles too? Yes, of Gentiles too,
The origins of the nations came : "Act 17:26 from one man he made every nation of men; he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live."
Their relationship to one another and God: "Romans 3:29 He is the God of Jews and the God of Gentiles"
I like seeing this pattern of the scattering. And i can see how the prophesies are in the process of bringing us all back as brothers and sisters as one in him.That's an interesting detail that I would have easily overlooked. It also shows the punishment involved in acting to glorify self.
JN 11:51He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one.

Genesis 11:10-13:4
Hebrews 11:8
8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.
It's true that we don't know where we're going either and yet Christ calls us to follow Him" to a place where we know not where He went or how to get there" We should follow w/o questioning directions and His commander's position to lead our lives. As Abraham did with God to a land of promise out of a land of idolitry.
Hebrews 11:31
31By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.
Hebrews 12:5
5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
By welcoming the intruders into her life Rahab was saved. Discipline should be welcomed also, because we know it's from God.
Genesis 13:3-4
3 From the Negev he went from place to place until he came to Bethel, to the place between Bethel and Ai where his tent had been earlier 4 and where he had first built an altar. There Abram called on the name of the LORD.
Revelation 2:5
5Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.
Bethel is where the Lord revealed the stairway to heaven to Jacob. By going to the place of God's abode (at the altar) and calling on the Name of the Lord, Abraham was lifted up out of sin.
The split of Abraham and Lot is also in this section and I think that's signifigant in the choice of who a person follows. Greed or God.
2) In what two respects did Abram's faith fall short under the tests of famine and fear? When he acted unworthy how was he rebuked?
Abraham lied and didn't protect his wife (like Adam), only himself, so God had to act in his stead to protect her. I don't see him being rebuked at all unless there's a tone of voice I'm not hearing. He was just sent on his way with all his goods returned. Maybe the punishment was from Sarah's ordeal.
Hebrews 12:5
5And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
"My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
Matthew 16:25
25For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it.

Proverbs 24:33, 34:
Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: so shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man.
Lot chose the richer pastures b/c it offered him ease, the easier softer way, but resulted in complete failure. Abram gained a life with God that wasn't easy for him to live in his lifetime but promised rewards of eternal life in a city built with the hands of God. He wasn't afraid of following God no matter how much he messed up but continued in strong faith as each new problem presented itself. It seemed when he was on his own, going his own way that times got difficult for him.
2) What fresh light do the events of chp. 14 throw on Abram's character?
13 One who had escaped came and reported this to Abram the Hebrew. Now Abram was living near the great trees of Mamre the Amorite, a brother [d] of Eshcol and Aner, all of whom were allied with Abram. 14 When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he called out the 318 trained men born in his household and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 During the night Abram divided his men to attack them and he routed them, pursuing them as far as Hobah, north of Damascus. 16 He recovered all the goods and brought back his relative Lot and his possessions, together with the women and the other people.
22 But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.' 24 I will accept nothing but what my men have eaten and the share that belongs to the men who went with me—to Aner, Eshcol and Mamre. Let them have their share."
He was courageous. And he was just.
The seeds of tything originated in the encounter of Abram and Melchesidec. Why then wouldn't Abram accept anything from him? It reminds me of Jacob objecting to God saying He would help him and be with him. It was what he could do that was important to him and his adding to what God said is quite questionable to me.
But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, and have taken an oath 23 that I will accept nothing belonging to you, not even a thread or the thong of a sandal, so that you will never be able to say, 'I made Abram rich.'
18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem [e] brought out bread and wine. He was priest of God Most High, 19 and he blessed Abram, saying,
"Blessed be Abram by God Most High,
Creator [f] of heaven and earth.
20 And blessed be [g] God Most High,
who delivered your enemies into your hand."
Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.
Oh right, he accepted blessings but refused earthly reward from the king of Sodom. hmn
The disciples left everything behind, Noah left the world behind and Abram left idolatry behind to follow the call of God. Leaving the way of the world to seek the heavenly. Leaving the old behind for new beginnings. Because that's what God called them to do and coming out of it was the answer. God called and appeared to them all.
God's calling on our lives: Jesus seen, The Word coming to life, the revelation of the OT finding fulfilment in the NT, this seeing Jesus and hearing that "Follow Me" is His calling on our life.
What is the meaning of His calling. = A NEW BEGINNING

Gen Part B

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

God as our life to enable us to represent and reflect Him. The more satan did,the more oppurtunity was given to God for Him to accomplish His purpose in us. Satan's attempt at defeating God's purpose by leading astray the newest creation (Adamic) is conteracted by God in His refinement of His plans (The New Creation). Satan broke down all of God's creation but God leads all thru His wisdom. Failures are raw material to God. With every move of satan in our lives God counteracts by bringing to good for His purpose to bring us further away from the world and closer to us reflecting and representing Him on this earth. God is good.
God of Glory appearing. Abraham's life illustrates the 1st aspect of God's calling.
Abraham= father of faith. W/O God he was just another unbeleiver. God had to appear to him over and over again. His only hope was in that continued application of God on his life.
His appearing was a great attraction for Abram (father of nations) to go forward. God's appearing to us in the Word should be our #1 motivator to continue with Jesus.
Our background may be so hard for us to come away at His calling. He speaks to us and tells us of our poverty. He said "Follow Me". 2 Cor 3:16 "Whenever the heart is turned to the Lord the veil is taken away" Our first love, Song of Solomon, says come away with Me. Abraham's heart was turned to the Lord. #2 Motivator.
God's promise is whatever God speaks to us. For Him to command Abram to get out was a promise of His supply. His promise to make him a great nation was a guarentee of His carrying it out, which we are witnesses to the fulfillment. God promises all of what He has to His children,(the spiritual sons of Abraham) #3 Motivator.
We have three reasons, excellent motivators, why God should be followed in spirit, truth and faithfulness. We need His repeated callings on our lives to spark the love of His promises. Read the Word, Jesus is calling!!

Gen 7-13
Noah
God's Covenant With Noah (new start)
The Tower of Babel (Satan represented)human entised away.
The Call of Abram (new start) b/c God was not being expressed, God's intention= God's way is to deal with man to bring a kingdom on earth.The different figures represent God's way of bringing His purpose about on earth.
Noah, Babel, Abraham and the signifigance of God's calling
50 chapters 3 sections and each section begins with these words:
1st section- in the beginning God (the creator, Elohim's creation) chap 1-2
2nd section - now the serpent (serpent's corruption) chap 3-mid 11
3rd section- now Jehovah (God's relationship to human, Jehovah's calling) chap mid 11-50
As God builds His purpose of being reflected and represented in human lives He has begun with Adam, started again with Noah, and begins again with Abraham thru which comes the seed of the woman.
Gen 15
The covenent see post 246=249
Jer 34:18 The men who have violated my covenant and have not fulfilled the terms of the covenant they made before me, I will treat like the calf they cut in two and then walked between its pieces. 19 The leaders of Judah and Jerusalem, the court officials, the priests and all the people of the land who walked between the pieces of the calf,
Signifies the covenant was made individually with everyone and that God has terms to be fulfilled or they'll be cut off.
The covenant refered to in Jer was in regard to the Jubilee.
Jer 34:8 The word came to Jeremiah from the LORD after King Zedekiah had made a covenant with all the people in Jerusalem to proclaim freedom for the slaves. 9 Everyone was to free his Hebrew slaves, both male and female; no one was to hold a fellow Jew in bondage. 10 So all the officials and people who entered into this covenant agreed that they would free their male and female slaves and no longer hold them in bondage. They agreed, and set them free. 11 But afterward they changed their minds and took back the slaves they had freed and enslaved them again.
The judgement God proclaimed on them.
17 "Therefore, this is what the LORD says: You have not obeyed me; you have not proclaimed freedom for your fellow countrymen. So I now proclaim 'freedom' for you, declares the LORD -'freedom' to fall by the sword, plague and famine. I will make you abhorrent to all the kingdoms of the earth.
Terms of God's covenasnt with Abram.
I don't see any.
Genesis 16-17
The only comment I have on this is to point out that Sarah was the one in control of the home. God backed her on that.
covenant makers:
1) walk before me and be blameless.
2) 9 Then God said to Abraham, "As for you, you must keep my covenant, you and your descendants after you for the generations to come. 10 This is my covenant with you and your descendants after you, the covenant you are to keep: Every male among you shall be circumcised.
(hmn, no mention of females) (does this have special significance in having to do with the bride?) (where does the female stand in the covenant then?)
3)My covenant in your flesh is to be an everlasting covenant. 14 Any uncircumcised male, who has not been circumcised in the flesh, will be cut off from his people; he has broken my covenant."
4) 15 God also said to Abraham, "As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. 16 I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her."
( At which Abraham laughed...eheh)
5) your wife Sarah will bear you a son, and you will call him Isaac. [h] I will establish my covenant with him as an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him.
The covenant is only thru the chosen Son.
How it is possible to recieve the Lord as our guest, to enjoy fellowship with Him, to become those whom He calls His friends?
a)By not dismissing from my mind and forgetting to take into consideration views from anyone who does not belong in my accustomed environment. Hebrews 13:2
b) By recieving His Word into my heart, not just recieve it but ingesting the Word, digesting the Truth and eliminate the false techings I am holding within. Revelation 3:20
c) Believe in my heart what He is saying is the best for me not just good for me, by not being a fair weather friend to Him but as a true friend. James 2:23
d) Be willing to give my life to Him by doing what He commands and learning from Him. John 15:13-15
God took Abraham into His confidence and told him of what was to come. And He listened to Abraham's pleas, and took them into consideration, going as far as to say basically "if all those good men exist, Abby, I won't destroy the city" Unfortunately all He saved was the family of the man that Abraham had been told to leave behind in the first place.
Jesus has laid down His life for us and now we hold the knowledge of the Father's business b/c of it.
When we entertain His people we learn about the things He has told them of as well. The whole knowledge is out there but no one person holds it all, just like each scientist has the little piece of the pie but we need the whole to see the big picture.

God came to Abraham directly, just as Enoch walked with God, God speaks to His people directly. For those who don't want such an intimate relationship I think He has the angels watching over them.
Abraham could not have appealed to covenant mercy or faithfulness b/c Lot was not of the promise, so instead he appealed to universal righteous judgement, but that didn't even seem to work, so it is in the final analises that God is in control. (but at least we are taken into His line of reasoning with Him)
I can't seem to find where I have the list of tribes and where they're descended from but it's an interesting study to search out. Lot's 2 decsendents, coming from his daughters, were enemies the Israelis were forever fighting. (God told Abram to leave Ur and not to take any with him, so they should never have happened) And Ishmael's descendants should never have happened according to God's plan. No one knows where the Philistines came from but they were giants and should have gone in the flood. Abraham was a father of many nations, for sure. And just how did he have all those kids after Sarah died?
It seems strange to me that God granted Abraham his obvious request of saving the life of Lot (I would think that was his main intention) and God did indeed save him. And yet the Edonites etc. were the results.
God had told Abram "go away from your country, your kin, and your father's house" but brought Lot anyway and here he was begging for his life to God.
It brings me to the theory of "mother's prayers" for lack of a better term. I honestly believe that there will be so many that will be literally prayed into the millenium. Given that extra chance they wouldn't have been given otherwise b/c someone was begging for them to be saved. I think that's the message here, that our words count and God gives those favors to His friends.
The 1000 yrs. may turn them all into pillars of hellfire in the end but they get that second chance. 1000 yrs is like the lifetime of Adam's day anyway so...!?! Just a thought.
Note.
Verses 23-25. Note that in praying for Lot and for Sodom Abraham appealed not to God's special covenant mercy or faithfulness, but to His universal rihjteous judgement.
Two types of judgement= covenent and universal, God deals with His people, through the covenent but Lot was saved from a different type. I can see that.

Just to clarify this thought: God has no other offer for us but eternal life.
His salvation comes only thru the Lord Jesus Christ.
Eternity doesn't start until the great white throne has been dealt with.
The age of grace is followed by the age of ?, more grace.
Ephesians 2:7
7in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:11
11according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
The Sheep and the Goats
31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.
Hebrews 1:14
14Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation
Revelation 20
The Thousand Years
1And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, having the key to the Abyss and holding in his hand a great chain. 2He seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil, or Satan, and bound him for a thousand years. 3He threw him into the Abyss, and locked and sealed it over him, to keep him from deceiving the nations anymore until the thousand years were ended. After that, he must be set free for a short time.
4I saw thrones on which were seated those who had been given authority to judge. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony for Jesus and because of the word of God. They had not worshiped the beast or his image and had not received his mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ a thousand years. 5(The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended.) This is the first resurrection. 6Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
Satan's Doom
7When the thousand years are over, Satan will be released from his prison 8and will go out to deceive the nations in the four corners of the earth—Gog and Magog—to gather them for battle. In number they are like the sand on the seashore. 9They marched across the breadth of the earth and surrounded the camp of God's people, the city he loves. But fire came down from heaven and devoured them. 10And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulfur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
Zechariah 14
.
gen 19
Luke 17:28"It was the same in the days of Lot. People were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building. 29But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and sulfur rained down from heaven and destroyed them all. 30"It will be just like this on the day the Son of Man is revealed. 31On that day no one who is on the roof of his house, with his goods inside, should go down to get them. Likewise, no one in the field should go back for anything. 32Remember Lot's wife!
2 Peter 2:6-10
6if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly; 7and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the filthy lives of lawless men 8(for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)— 9if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue godly men from trials and to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgment, while continuing their punishment.[a] 10This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the sinful nature and despise authority
Jude 1:7
7In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
Pretty much speaks for itself
Moabites and Ammonites not Edomites ()
This is what the Lord has to say about them:
Deuteronomy 23:3
3 No Ammonite or Moabite or any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation.
Nehemiah 13
Nehemiah's Final Reforms
1 On that day the Book of Moses was read aloud in the hearing of the people and there it was found written that no Ammonite or Moabite should ever be admitted into the assembly of God,
Ezra 9
Ezra's Prayer About Intermarriage
1 After these things had been done, the leaders came to me and said, "The people of Israel, including the priests and the Levites, have not kept themselves separate from the neighboring peoples with their detestable practices, like those of the Canaanites, Hittites, Perizzites, Jebusites, Ammonites, Moabites, Egyptians and Amorites. 2 They have taken some of their daughters as wives for themselves and their sons, and have mingled the holy race with the peoples around them. And the leaders and officials have led the way in this unfaithfulness
13 "What has happened to us is a result of our evil deeds and our great guilt, and yet, our God, you have punished us less than our sins have deserved and have given us a remnant like this. 14 Shall we again break your commands and intermarry with the peoples who commit such detestable practices? Would you not be angry enough with us to destroy us, leaving us no remnant or survivor? 15 O LORD, God of Israel, you are righteous! We are left this day as a remnant. Here we are before you in our guilt, though because of it not one of us can stand in your presence."
BTW Ruth was a Moabite
Gen Part C

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

*Genesis 20:1-21:21
Hospitality: a suggestion or a command?
Dictionary definition= Kindness in welcoming guests or strangers
Who is the guest? It sounds strikingly familiar to who is our neighbour?
The rich man and Lazareth is a story about a rich man who wasn't bad, didn't get his riches illegally, he only didn't look after a begger who was within his gates. It wasn't something he felt responsible for but God held him accountable. It was enough to put a huge gap between the destinies of the two.
The bridegroom tells us come out from our enclosure where we love to be in His company but refuse to partake in His encounters with the world.
It's so easy for us to stay in our little circle that we percieve ourselves to be in, but God has us in a much larger environment that we are ultimately responsible for. Blinders are for keeping our eyes on Jesus and off the world, not for blinding us to the things that the Lord wants us to experience. Not only is Jesus calling us to a larger experience of Him but He promises us that some of our companions may be angels themself.
I see so many threads on "why does God allow this to happen" or "a pedifile in the church" or "how can God be love if so much bad goes on and He does nothing"
We are His hands and feet. That's how He operates in this world and how He puts His hedges in place to protect and act for Him. But very few stand in God's stead, so things happen. That's why I think we do more to hinder God by not doing what we know He wants so that where God wants to block evil we let it go on it's destructive way.
Taking care of the things in my back yard and you take care of your things then God's work is being done. There really is no other reason for us to be here. IMHO
Just out of left field, when God created us He had a problem on His hands. Evil. He could have squashed it like a bug but what good would that do for all His other creatures. Overcomers aren't overcoming themselves, which is partly it b/c they overcome the evil in there own their lives but ultimately put an end to Lucifer/turned Satan. We are His to use to get rid of evil but w/o our love, compassion, hospitality, etc. were just promoting evil and useless to Him. Again JMHO

The battle belongs to the Lord but we are called to fight.
Revelation 12:7
Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels.
War always will rage between the two great sovereignties until one or other be crushed. Peace between good and evil is an impossibility; the very pretence of it would, in fact, be the triumph of the powers of darkness. Michael will always fight; his holy soul is vexed with sin, and will not endure it. Jesus will always be the dragon's foe, and that not in a quiet sense, but actively, vigorously, with full determination to exterminate evil.
All His servants, whether angels in heaven or messengers on earth, will and must fight; they are born to be warriors-at the cross they enter into covenant never to make truce with evil; they are a warlike company, firm in defence and fierce in attack.
The duty of every soldier in the army of the Lord is daily, with all his heart, and soul, and strength, to fight against the dragon. The dragon and his angels will not decline the affray; they are incessant in their onslaughts, sparing no weapon, fair or foul.
We are foolish to expect to serve God without opposition: the more zealous we are, the more sure are we to be assailed by the myrmidons of hell.
The church may become slothful, but not so her great antagonist; his restless spirit never suffers the war to pause; he hates the woman's seed, and would fain devour the church if he could.
The servants of Satan partake much of the old dragon's energy, and are usually an active race. War rages all around, and to dream of peace is dangerous and futile.
Glory be to God, we know the end of the war. The great dragon shall be cast out and for ever destroyed, while Jesus and they who are with Him shall receive the crown. Let us sharpen our swords to-night, and pray the Holy Spirit to nerve our arms for the conflict. Never battle so important, never crown so glorious. Every man to his post, ye warriors of the cross, and may the Lord tread Satan under your feet shortly!
What are the weopons we're to use but the Word of God but to be in God is to be love.

All of this leds back to the simple command to love your neighbour and to be hospitable. Not only to entertain strangers but as Abraham experienced being a friend of God with His presence actually with Him in full knowledge.
**Note also Abraham's full participation in the fight against evil to the point of having a say in the outcome, and in his case seemingly prolonging the anguish.**
Compare this to John asking for fire to be sent from heaven to destroy the Samaritan village and Jesus tells him he knows not what manner of spirit he is speaking in. It seems to me the difference is that John spoke from pride/self !?!? and not for any reason that God would apply !?!? Hmn...there's a lesson in there....
Also..and most importantly...look what that Samaritan village missed out on by not entertaining strangers. God in human form coming to see them!
Abraham walked away just like Jacob is going to do as well as David. But we can't stay away. "Abide in me" Jesus says. The spiritual Bethel.
Genesis 20:1-21:21
1)Psalm 94:18
18 When I said, "My foot is slipping,"
your love, O LORD, supported me.
Mark 14:38
38Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
1 Corinthians 10:12
12So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall!
2 Timothy 2:13
13if we are faithless,
he will remain faithful,
for he cannot disown himself.
Our weaknesses and His care and grace are the perfect balance in that in our weakness He is made strong. Always leaning on Him we have His strength but standing firm on my own is an impossibility.
Sarah's first laugh was a mockery of God's words / that turned to a fulfillment.
The seed of the promise was to come thru Sarah (grace) and not Hagar (law)

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Hagar and Sarah
Gal.4:21Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23His son by the slave woman was born in the ordinary way; but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a promise.
24These things may be taken figuratively, for the women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27For it is written:
"Be glad, O barren woman,
who bears no children;
break forth and cry aloud,
you who have no labor pains;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband."
28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29At that time the son born in the ordinary way persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30But what does the Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son."[c] 31Therefore, brothers, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
But she is also representative of the follower of the Lord:
1 Peter 3:5-6
5For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, 6like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.
We, as true overcomers, the bride, are the daughter's of Sarah:
Gal. 4:28Now you, brothers, like Isaac, are children of promise.

1) What features in Abraham's character does the story of this chapter bring out? With verse 4 cf. Heb. 11:9,10,13-16.
All of these these apply to both Abraham and Sarah:
1)Genesis 23:4
4I am a stranger and a sojourner with you: give me a possession of a buryingplace with you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.
Hebrews 11:9; Hebrews 11:10; Hebrews 11:13-16
9By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise
10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
13These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
14For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Heb 11:15And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
16But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Galatians 3:8
8The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."
They were not compelled to be strangers or pilgrims or to leave their native city for for a heavenly city or country. They had the gospel (Gal 3:8) and knew that their right to the promises came by utter renounciation of this world and it's ways, and consecration to obey the One who made the promises.
They could have returned at any time to the place God called them out of, but they were true to Him, and their faith in eternal and spiritual things. (Heb. 11:8-16)

This topic is always related to Sarah, so before going on:
A note on submission that I pulled from my response on another thread by that name..
I think the family is in minature a pattern of how God wants us to behave toward Him. We, as believers, are to be the bride and be submissive to Him as the groom,.. to the extent of bringing our questions to Him, respect Him and behave on a 24/7 basis the way we know (and have been trained in society to behave, so that we are w/o excuse)) toward Him.
We've also been taught how much He loves us so we need to respect Him. If we stop to think what kind of a wife we are to Him everyday I'm sure we're all put to shame.
But it's a pattern we all understand. Just think, the angels are going to have to step down to us so maybe we should show them a good example.
Fearful obedience is never submission. Submission is a dignified observance of God's prescribed way.
IE: When the husband goes away for a month they both know darn well she can take care of the farm, but when he returns she steps down and gives him place, usually more than happy to do so, too. IMO
You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear. 1 Pet. 3:6b
Genesis 24:61-25:34
In one way it's from the view of the person experiencing it and then the view that God has is also present.
We think we live such private lives but so did the people talked about in the bible. Maybe in eternity there will be libraries holding the books of lives of each of us from our standpoint and from God's. Gulp, that's a scary thought.

Quote:
1. Isaac seems to be someone who is attracted to the nature around him. He went into a field to meditate and he appreciated the food that comes from hunting - eating game, rather than lamb, for example. He also seems to be sensitive - being comforted about his mother's death by getting married. Perhaps he was fickle in a sense that he loved one of his sons because he brought him food.
Also
Isaac was thru whom the promise came (as is Jesus Christ)
Genesis 22:17-18
17 I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, 18 and through your offspring [a] all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me."
Gal. 3:16The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. The Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed," meaning one person, who is Christ
14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
Romans 9:7-8
7Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." 8In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring.
He was a type of Christ that he obeyed his father unto death and was in a sence ressurected (as Christ also did)
Genesis 22:9-10
9 When they reached the place God had told him about, Abraham built an altar there and arranged the wood on it. He bound his son Isaac and laid him on the altar, on top of the wood. 10 Then he reached out his hand and took the knife to slay his son.
Hebrews 11:19
19Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.
He took a gentile as a wife (Christ is taking His church as His bride)
Gen 24:66 Then the servant told Isaac all he had done. 67 Isaac brought her into the tent of his mother Sarah, and he married Rebekah. So she became his wife, and he loved her; and Isaac was comforted after his mother's death.

Quote:
2. Jacob seems to be much quieter and reflective. However, he also is deceptive, and perhaps motivated by greed - wanting the birthright which was not rightfully his. Esau is more of an active sort of person, and motivated by his physical needs - he was prepared to sell his borthright simply for a meal. Esau is iedntified as godless - and not able to receive the blessing to which he should have been entitled because of his actions.
I find this puzzling in a sense, that Jacob should obtain God's blessing through deception and yet Esau should lose it through not having proper respect for the blessing to which he was due. I feel sad for Esau.
It does teach us that if we are not able to hold off on perhaps earthly desires in order to pursue God that we will lose the blessings that He has in store for us. If we are not seeking after God with all our hearts, we are really rejecting the blessings He has for us, because we are not aware of how He will bless us and are not moving towards that blessing.
And then add to that, this
Rebecca
Again we see the natural world order is that this woman was to have no offspring and God reversing that.
Gen 25: 21 Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was barren. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. 22 The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD.
23 The LORD said to her,
"Two nations are in your womb,
and two peoples from within you will be separated;
one people will be stronger than the other,
and the older will serve the younger."
24 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 25 The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. [f] 26 After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. [g] Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them.

and
Romans 9:1-13
God's Sovereign Choice
1I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit— 2I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised!
Amen.
6It is not as though God's word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham's children. On the contrary, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned." 8In other words, it is not the natural children who are God's children, but it is the children of the promise who are regarded as Abraham's offspring. 9For this was how the promise was stated: "At the appointed time I will return, and Sarah will have a son."
10Not only that, but Rebekah's children had one and the same father, our father Isaac. 11Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad—in order that God's purpose in election might stand: 12not by works but by him who calls—she was told, "The older will serve the younger." 13Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."
also
Genesis 25:25 Esau may mean hairy ; he was also called Edom, which means red.
Deuteronomy 23
Exclusion From the Assembly
1 No one who has been emasculated by crushing or cutting may enter the assembly of the LORD.
2 No one born of a forbidden marriage [a] nor any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation.
3 No Ammonite or Moabite or any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation. 4 For they did not come to meet you with bread and water on your way when you came out of Egypt, and they hired Balaam son of Beor from Pethor in Aram Naharaim to pronounce a curse on you. 5 However, the LORD your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the LORD your God loves you. 6 Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them as long as you live.
7 Do not abhor an Edomite, for he is your brother. Do not abhor an Egyptian, because you lived as an alien in his country. 8 The third generation of children born to them may enter the assembly of the LORD.
But, Christ was not allowed to enter the temple by law either due to the circumstances of His birth.... alot more questions than answers.
Isaac- Stage 2 of Christian Maturity
Isaac wanted to bless Esua, but he mixed God's blessing with his natural taste. And he also blessed Jacob, but he blessed blindly both phisically and spiritually, b/c he of being blinded by the natural. This shows his lack of maturity in life.
However he did bless his sons by faith and God honored his blessing and it became a prophesy.
Hebrews 11:20
20By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.
Esua despising the birthright, Rebecca and Isac's preferences worked together for Jacob's good, that God might sovereignly fulfill the purpose of His selection.
Romans 8:28-30
More Than Conquerors
28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Isaac and Abimelech
1) Why did Isaac fail so badly after recieviving striking promises from God? What was different about his reaction when the promises were repeated?
Altho he stayed put when God told him to Isaac has seemed to pick up the same habits from his dad of half-truth.
2) What can we learn from the quarrels over the wells concerning the way to behave in the face of opposition and hostility? Cf. 1 Pet. 2:23.
The wells were dug until finally room was made.He trusted that God would settle it for him. 1 Pet. 2:23.
End of Genesis Part One

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

Luke Part 2
The first section that we covered described Jesus' coming while the last sections describe His going.
Quote:
Luke 9:51
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
Quote:
Jesus has had:
30 years of depending on human will
~in contrast to~
3 years of authoritive speach and deeds of power.
30 years of commomplace duty of daily call
~in comparison to~
3 years of Lord of Duty, the dignity of the Son of Man, and the glory of the Son of God.
30 years of human limitations of submission and fellowship dependance
~compared to~
3 years of a life broadening out into spacious and conspicuous co-operation with the Divine so that the movement of God is seen thru His Words and deeds.
G. Campbell Morgan, The Crises of the Christ
Francis Hogan, in her book "Words of Luke" describes Christ's exodus as the path of every believer/disciple and divides the major stages of life's journey:
1) The Christian way to God Luke 9:51-13:21
2) Journay of salvation Luke 13:22-19:48
3) Why some struggle with Jesus Luke 20:1-21:38
4) Jesus journays on Luke 21:1-24:53
Frances points out Luke's balance of any story or parable that has a man at the centre is balanced with one dealing with a woman. For instance, the man with a hundred sheep in chap. 15 is followed with a woman with 10 drachmas. Jesus raises the widow's son at Naim and later He goes on to raise the daughter of Jarius, etc.
The women are represented as the faithful disciples, those who do not deny Jesus. They remain with Him right up to Calvery and become important witnesses to the fact that Christ died, was buried and rose again. It was to them the message of ressurection was given.
Luke has given several verses in the first part to prepare us to accept Jesus as our example and recognize our need, as disciples, to accept the inward journey that He has left as our heritage.
Quote:
Luke 2:41-51
The Boy Jesus at the Temple
41Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. 42When he was twelve years old, they went up to the Feast, according to the custom. 43After the Feast was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. 44Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. 46After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. 48When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you."
49"Why were you searching for me?" he asked. "Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?" 50But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
51Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart.
As a boy in the temple.
Quote:
Luke 4:30
But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
Luke 4:42-43
At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. 43But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent."
Beginning His public life.
Quote:
Luke 9:31
appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem.
In transfiguration.
Quote:
Luke 9:22
And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."
Luke 9:44
While everyone was marveling at all that Jesus did, he said to his disciples, 44"Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into the hands of men."
Preditions of passion.
Quote:
Luke 2:50
But they did not understand what he was saying to them.
Luke 9:45
But they did not understand what this meant. It was hidden from them, so that they did not grasp it, and they were afraid to ask him about it.
His meaning hidden with the disciples.
Within the hidden meanings of the Jesus' exodus are the nucleous of the journey of all His faithful disciples as the explanations are unfolded to them. We are called to an appropriate responce to the gospel with an awareness to our own sinfulness.
Quote:
Luke portrays Jesus as a man of prayer thru-out his gospel, putting Him before the early Christians as their model. He shows that prayer was the power behind the mighty works, the source of His inner strength, and shows Him also as a man filled with the Spirit, obedient to His Father in all things.
Like Jesus, Christians must be servants of God, fully at the service of the neighbour in need. And Luke warns of the dangers of riches and of false religion. Francis Hogan

Luke 9:57-10:12
This whole section (Part 2) that we're studying of (appx.) Luke 10-20 could be called "Memories of the Jerusalem Road"
Quote:
Luke 9:51 Now when the time was well nigh come that He should be recieved up, He steadfastly set His face to go to Jerusalem.
Qoute from ~A People's Life of Christ~J. Patterson Smith~circa 1920~

Quote:
As we study this section, we find that it's not, as we might have expected, the record of a straight journey to Jerusalem to His death. That might have occupied only a few days, whereas the record of the road is six months long.In Jerusalem at the Festivals, He could get the ear of the whole Jewish nation from all lands.
For 6 months, repeatedly repulsed from Jerusalem, He is telling His gospel in the country outside. Three times He ventured in, always at Festival times. Twice He was driven out by the violence of His enemies. The third time He came in to die.
But right now He still has much to do before He dies, much still to tell of the heart of the Father. If He cannot tell it to Jerusalem He must tell it where He can, in the wilderness, in the little frontier villages and trust to the memoeries of the disciples to carry on.
This is His journey.

# 1
Quote:
Luke 6:40
40A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher.
Quote:
Isaiah 58:8-10
8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness [a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.
9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
The 3 types referred to and why Jesus was unsatisfied with them.
a)A scribe offers to follow Jesus, one of the popular ruling class. But the foxes and birds have more earthly comforts than Jesus. Altho the crowds folled Jesus, a disciples life brings insecurity and ostracism. As a skilled craftsman, Jesus prefers to be identified with the poorest of poor.
Jesus' answer suggests that the scribe hadn't considered the cost of being a disciple.
b)The second Jesus said "follow me" and the man said he would at a more convenient time.
Jesus' answer "go and announce the kingdom" implys that his time would be better spent bringing people to spiritual life than burying the phisically dead.
c)Unfit for the Kingdom: plowing takes concentration to keep the rows straight.
Jesus' answer implys that confusion awaits a disciple's life who is not fulling ingroosed with His work.
Jesus in comparison:
Quote:
Luke 9:51
51As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.
Isaiah 50:7
Because the Sovereign LORD helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore have I set my face like flint,
and I know I will not be put to shame.
In all instances Jesus is saying 2 things. Following Him would be socially expensive (His disciples left all) and secondly, He expects prospective disciples to sit down and consider the cost before they decide, otherwise they'll end up in ridicule, disaster and confusion.
quote from ~The Wisdom of Christ~Aly Wassil~1965~

Quote:
The geniune follower of Christ demands a completely revolutionary appraisal of the old ways of an indulgent society, a remaking of the individual personality, and the renouncing of the self. The individual has to learn to give himself anew to the gospel of Christ. He must be prepared to fix the consciousness on the larger life of infinite spirit, that will lead him to the fulfillment of perfect destiny.
Wow, sounds lofty, but not unobtainable!
#2 The sending of the seventy to everywhere Jesus was to go was a huge invasive action on the area and probably added to the poisen in the arrow of the religious rulers.
Among the wolves there were "sons of peace", sheep that the Lord was concerned about and the harvest that He desired to reap. This was probably the first door to door evangelism ever. Jesus sets the sentence on those who reject Him and those He sends when He speaks of the cities that fell w/o hearing His message. Not taking anything forced the workers to a servant position but it also forced the recipients to make discisions as to their welcome.
Luke 10:13-24
The jourey in this section is so impotant to all who want to follow Christ. His own Words tell us that He does the choosing. And He has very specific qualifications that He's looking for. Many are turned away. The last study was a good example of this.
Becaus Jesus is stressing this so strongly at the beginning of the jouney, with those who refused to turn away, I'm mostly just doing quotes for this first portion. I pray that the hand is on the plow with no looking back.
From Dakes bible commentary
Quote:
Power over demons shouldn't be the source of joy, but being a child of God, evidenced by one's name written in heaven
Hebrews 12:23
to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect,
Pride is the natural tendency in the exercise of power, whether inherent or conferred, and often leads to shipwreck of the gifted. Christ solemnly warns against this weakness.
Luke 10:20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."
Rather:
Galatians 5:22-23
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Rejoice in the true source of which is in the Holy Spirit, and will never result in spiritual pride that causes shipwreck

From the Recovery bible commentary

Quote:
Luke 10:18-19
He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
At the time of the rebellion against God, before the creation of mankind, Satan was judged and sentenced to be cast into Shoel (Hades) to the recesses of the pit (Isa 14:15) Ez. 28:17) Then God began to execute the sentence that was imposed to him. He has executed and will execute this sentence on different occasions and to different degrees, such as thru the 70 disciples in this chapter, thru Christ on the cross (Heb 2:14; John 12:31) thru the man-child and Micheal before the tribulation, when Satan will be cast down to earth (Rev 12:5, 7-10, 13) and thru the angels before the millenium, when Satan will be cast into the abyss, the bottomless pit (Rev 20:1-3) Finally, Satan will be cast into the lake of fire to suffer the punishment of eternal fire after the millenium (Rev 20:10) for eternity.
What the Lord gave to the disciples was authority; what the enemy had was power. Authority subdues power.
Serpents may signify Satan and his angels (Eph 2:2; 6:11-12) scorpions may signify the demons (vv 17, 20) By the authority of the Lord the disciples subdued their power.

Luke 10:21-24
21At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
22"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."
23Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it."
This is what Jesus would have them rejoice in; the priveledge that was only for the initiated.
quote by Thomas Trahern

Quote:
Your enjoyment of the world is never right till every morning you awake as in heaven; see yourself in your Father's palace; and look upon the skies, the earth, and the air as celestial joys; having such a reverent esteem for all, as if you were among the angels. The bride of a monarch, in her husband's chamber, hath no causes of delight as you

Luke 10:25-42
And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and temptd Him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?
And He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? Lk 10:25-26

The Lord has been sooo leading me into the study of His word and I feel very frustrated and opposed for some reason...yet I keep working at the study of His word.
Here, Jesus directs this lawyer to the law...the only written word of God at that time...the very first thing...was what have you read "in the law"..."in the word"?

 

[Citizen of the Kingdom]

The Lord is expecting us to be reading his word and getting answers to our questions there.
I had this verse today as part of background verses:
I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgements have I laid before me. Ps 119:30
To me this ties in with the choice that Mary made...to sit at Jesus feet and listen to His words...
so often we only see God in the middle of storms too.Maybe that's why He allows so much. Storms are the black backdrops to be able to see His light.I think of Satan and his demons like that...the black backdrop.
So with nothing to do for so many hours but to read and megetate, I got to thinking about how Jesus built up lesson upon lesson for His disciples.He had just stated in the last study that the chosen are the ones who follow Him wholeheartedly and in this study He demonstrates further requirements. Much like when the disciple were first with Him they saw Him as a teacher and prophet, surely a man to suite their cause. And in the storm, when He walked on the water, they thought they were seeing a ghost and not God in action. By the time they reached our part of the story He said to them "Who do you say I am?" By this time the Holy Spirit had revealed His diety to them. Yet when Peter was asked 3 times if he loved Jesus, he was in fact being asked if that love was filial(sp?) or agape (love of a brother in the cause) or was that love agape (For the character of God he saw in Jesus) Peter answered at this time that he didn't know but Jesus did.We can see this same pattern in today's (yesterday's actually) study.
Here we can also see the progression from the disciples known as the Sons of Thunder that want to call down fire from heaven to destroy the Samaritan village, and next we see Jesus Jesus, in the story of the Samaritan, how much they are to love. (Note that the ones representing the teachers walked past the dying man) Jesus fits the discription of the Good Samaritan in that He heals the spiritual life, the oil for the wounds is the giving of the Spirit, and Jesus hands the semi-healed man to the innkeeper (the church) to nuture the newly saved person. He adds that He will repay whatever expence upon His return. I have wondered what would happen if the innkeeper (or church) had acted like a hired hand or unfaithful steward and squandered that which was entrusted to him and not fulfilled the duty.
The next lesson, He is using Martha and Mary as backdrops. Here He is showing what kind of care He expects. Martha, just like a good faithful innkeeper, Is being very faithful and attentive to His every need (filial (sp?) love) While what He really wants the the spiritual agape love that Mary is showing in allowing Him to take care of her needs.
Then, in Acts we have the disciples demonstrating how well they learnt the lesson when they delegate the feeding of the widows so they can devote themselves to prayer and teaching. They learnt the lesson we need to learn, To put Jesus in the centre of their lives and give priority to prayer and study of the scriptures. Personal relationship, the Word of God, and prayer became their motivating force. And that gave them the strength and grace to deal with the pressures of the work they undertook for Jesus and and loving Him in an agape way. And, I may add, the wonderful fellowship of His under shepards who have written such great messages in books for us to read and study how the Spirit spoke to them.
So, in the beginning all His disciples looked after His needs but priorities progressively changed from a filial love to an agape loving service. Just keep in mind that when Peter walked out onto the water with Jesus, Jesus basically told him "Get your eyes off the water (things) and put them on Me"
Quote from ~The upside-Down Kingdom~Donald B. Kraybill~

Quote:
Too often agape is characterised as a love which sweetly smiles as the world goes by. Jesus certainly didn't stand by and watch the world grind on. He acted agape by speaking out forcefully on behalf of the poor. He quickly violated civil and religious laws in the face of human needs. His words and acts insulted the rich and powerful. They probably didn't think He was very loving. He relentlessly worked on behalf of the downtrodden and oppressed even when His behavior created a fuss. Agape results in an active involvement and identification with the poor and oppressed. It dare not be a condenscending or paternalistic benevolence which occasionally tosses a few tythes or fruit baskets over the edge of the table. It means living and thinking in the other person's world so that his problem's become our own.
Luke 11:1-13
I think that the lightning storms and all that are really another sign of the times for us. Like the red sky at night like Jesus said. He told us to look at the weather and we could read the signs so....I love living in prophetic times and you know that judgement begins at the throne of God. Like the captives that went to Babylon, Daniel, Shadrak, Mechac and Abednigo went with them, so we all share in His judgements.

Something else I was thinking about that I was reading on another thread. Someone was saying that they were new and were disappointed that it was so hard to get to know anyone in these forums and that often they would talk to someone and recieve no answer. The disciples were really doing the same thing in spreading themselves so thin that they had time for no one never mind Jesus. I remember when I first was subscribed to a few threads and I would go back to my last post and read all the new ones and post again. Now I've become this person who you talk to and all I'm doing is thinking about the next thing their going to say instead instead of listening to what the other person is saying. And I have so many threads going that I pray for the day when I can sit with only one. And that's no good either. So I guess like the disciples I have to leave much to others that's not my business to start with and listen to what God has for me. Ohh, life is hard. Lesson learned today..any suggestions anyone? I think this is a very important topic for us to learn. Jesus certainly thought it was.
Ok, so that has to be the answer...delegate.
The dictionary terms this as
noun:
1. A person appointed or elected to represent others
verb:
1.Transfer power to someone
2.Give an assignment to (a person) to a post, or assign a task to (a person)
Moses delegated 70 others to help him, Jesus delegated 70 to on ahead, the disciples delegated 7 to do the food for the widows... it's coming to me....
But wait! Jesus said all that rigermarol isn't what's important. Martha should have prepared on simple dish of brown rice and undercooked vegetables and come and sat down with Jesus.
So that must be what He was saying, I would think, that He has delegated jobs to all of us and to simply accomplish what He sets before us and give the rest of our attention to Him.
When Peter, at the end of the book of John, when told to feed His sheep (right after the "do you love me" right?) Peter said in reference to John "What about that man" and Jesus said "never mind him, you follow me"
Hmmmnnn.
Let us all sit down today and lets get our priorities straight so we can follow Jesus in this!!
Hebrews 12:1,2! Which centers on "...fixing our eyes on Jesus..." and all else falls in place! Only we can't even do this ourselves...He must help us ~ but, glory be to God, He is "the author and perfecter of faith"!!