tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44139999866715284312024-03-06T01:26:37.999-05:00PRESS TOWARD THE MARKA site designed to challenge, instruct, and encourage Christians to get in their Bibles and follow hard after God. Psalm 63.8 / Phil 3.14DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.comBlogger378125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-8389265798687361902017-02-01T15:27:00.003-05:002017-02-01T15:28:35.661-05:00Certain Consequences<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In 1 Samuel 27, David is on the run from Saul, and in a lapse of faith, he flees for the second time (1 Samuel 21:10) to Achish, king of Gath. This time, David finds grace in the king’s eyes (v. 5), and Achish gives him Ziklag (v. 6), which becomes a base or headquarters for David and his band (1 Samuel 22:2). </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In 1 Samuel 29, David starts out to battle with the Philistines to fight against Israel (what!?), but is providentially saved from doing so, owing to the disapproval of the lords of Philistines. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In 1 Samuel 30, David and his men return to Ziklag to find that in the three days since they left, the Amalekites had invaded the city, burnt it with fire, and carried away their wives, their sons, and their daughters. They wept until they had no more power to weep (v. 4) and even spake of stoning David (v. 6). </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">We pick up the account with this great statement at the end of verse 6.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1 Samuel 30:6<i> </i></b><i>…But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">That’s an important lesson for another time, but consider what we find as we continue on in the passage.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1 Samuel 30:7-9</b> <i>And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David. And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all. So David went…</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">While reading through the Old Testament, I’ve often thought – maybe you have, too – there are times when it sure would be nice if the Lord forgot what dispensation we are in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">In the case at hand, before David decided to go after the Amalekites and attempt to recover their families and their stuff, he was able to get confirmation from the Lord that the venture would be successful and that pursuing them was the right decision. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">I mean, wouldn’t it be nice if there were a New Testament ephod we could bring out every now and then? Can you not think of all kinds of situations where it would be extremely helpful to know the outcome ahead of time? Relationships, business ventures, ministry endeavors, etc. There are so many times it’d just really be nice to know the end from the beginning.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">Unfortunately, we don’t have Abiathar and his ephod, and we can’t enquire as David did and receive the same kind of response. But think about what we do have. The word of God. The promises of God. The certainty that every time we do what’s right, according to the word of God, the Lord will be pleased, and He will bless us for it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Hebrews 11:6 </b><i>But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Colossians 3:24</b> <i>Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1 Timothy 5:25</b><i> Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise cannot be hid.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Psalm 19:11</b><i> Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Galatians 6:9</b> <i>And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">We cannot be certain of the outcome of many of the decisions we are forced to make as we travel through life, but of this we can always be sure: </span></div>
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<li style="font-family: seravek; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">We serve a God who knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10). </span></li>
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<li style="font-family: seravek; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica"; line-height: normal;"></span><span style="font-kerning: none;">I’ve read the back of His book, and it ends with the Lamb seated on His throne in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 22:1). </span></li>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">There are many things we can do in obedience to the Lord with no idea what the outcome will be – pray, witness, preach, try to patch up a relationship, go to the mission field, etc. Will it be received? Will I be successful? Will people get saved? Will it all work out the way we planned it? There’s no ephod we can use to help us get the answer to those questions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">But there is an outcome we can be certain of – every time I act in obedience to the Lord, it pleases Him. And even if that’s all it does, that’s enough to make it worth it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;">We can’t enquire like David did in 1 Samuel 30:7-9, but we can be encourage ourselves like David in 1 Samuel 30:6, while we mediate on this truth and this great and precious promise. </span></div>
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<span style="font-kerning: none;"><b>1 Corinthians 15:58</b> <i>Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.</i></span></div>
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DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-15611593431430276992016-05-05T13:15:00.002-04:002016-05-05T13:15:44.892-04:00Hypocrisy Does Not Invalidate Truth<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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“Do as I say, not as I do,” is, of course, a horrible parenting philosophy. The Bible calls upon all in places of leadership and/or authority to model the attitudes, behaviors, and practices they expect of those under their sphere of influence. </div>
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For instance, pastor Timothy was exhorted to be an example of the believers (1 Timothy 4:12). Peter instructed the church’s overseers to be ensamples to the flock (1 Peter 5:3). Paul admonished the Corinthians to follow him as he followed Christ (1 Corinthians 11:1). The Hebrews were encouraged to submit themselves to the leadership of those whose faith they could follow (Hebrews 13:7). </div>
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Likewise, parents are instructed to bring their children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord (Ephesians 6:4). The use of the word “bring” points us to the aforementioned truth. One cannot “bring” another to a place where he is not. So in order for a parent to bring a child up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, the parent must be nurtured and admonished by the Lord to a place of spiritual maturity. </div>
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Certainly, there is nothing more powerful in a Christian upbringing than proper biblical instruction coupled with the parents’ real, genuine example of a joy-filled godly life. </div>
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And certainly, there is nothing more damaging than the hypocrisy of parents who fail to model those things they claim to be most important when they sit in the church pew on Sunday morning. </div>
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All that to introduce a truth impressed upon me by today’s Proverb. </div>
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In Proverbs 5, the writer gives his son one of many warnings regarding strange women (see also chapters 2, 7, 9, 20, 21, 23, 25, 27, and 30). </div>
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This becomes interesting when you consider the identity of the writer. Who better to warn his son about strange women than… SOLOMON! </div>
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You know, the guy with 700 wives and 300 concubines that turned his heart away after other gods (1 Kings 11:1-10). </div>
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OK, so he knew whereof he spoke. He had firsthand knowledge of all the dangers and the pitfalls of the strange woman.</div>
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But think of this from Rehoboam’s perspective. How would you like to be the one to have your dad Solomon lecture you about strange women?</div>
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“My son, attend unto my wisdom, and bow thine ear to my understanding: That thou mayest regard discretion, and that thy lips may keep knowledge. For the lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil: But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Lest thou shouldest ponder the path of lie, her ways are moveable, that thou canst not know them. Hear me now therefore, O ye children, and depart not from the words of my mouth…” (Proverbs 5:1-7)</div>
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Talk about hypocrisy.</div>
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Now, I’m not sure when this was written. Maybe it was before 1 Kings 11, and maybe it was after. But whenever it was, the example Solomon set was nowhere close to the instruction Solomon gave. A classic case of horrific “do as I say, not as I do” parenting, with quite predictable results (18 wives and 60 concubines, 2 Chronicles 11:21). </div>
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This all becomes even more interesting when you go back and again consider the identity of the writer of Proverbs 5. No, not Solomon. The real author. The one who inspired the words… the Holy Spirit of God!</div>
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This means the lectures Solomon gave his son(s) in Proverbs 5 (and 2 and 7 and 9 and…), though delivered through the mouth or pen of the biggest hypocrite on the planet (in relation to that particular topic) were, in fact, words inspired by God’s Holy Spirit - eternal truth from Almighty God. </div>
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The conclusion impressed upon my mind by consideration of these facts that I felt compelled to pass along is this:</div>
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HYPOCRISY DOES NOT INVALIDATE TRUTH!</div>
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So many young people have grown up in good churches with good preaching and good instruction and good leaders and good fellowship and used their parents’ hypocrisy (real or perceived) as an excuse to throw all of that out and walk away from God. </div>
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Unfortunately, some parents have provided that excuse. </div>
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BUT IT’S AN INVALID EXCUSE!</div>
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No one’s failure to live up to the truth can make the truth untrue. </div>
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And each of us is accountable to God for what we choose to do with the truth. </div>
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Solomon’s hypocrisy sure didn’t help Rehoboam. But what Solomon wrote down in Proverbs 5 (and 2 and 7 and 9 and…) was GOD’S WORD. And the word of the Lord is always right (Psalm 33:4), and the word of the Lord is always true (Psalm 119:160). And Rehoboam could have listened, and he should have listened. And I’m sure he regretted not doing so. </div>
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To the young person with imperfect parents…</div>
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To the new Christian surrounded by those lacking your zeal…</div>
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To the long-time believer disillusioned by the faults and falls of those who claim to be “men of God”…</div>
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HYPOCRISY DOES NOT INVALIDATE TRUTH!</div>
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Take it from Rehoboam. And watch out for strange women. </div>
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DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-8191107524124171762016-03-22T22:32:00.000-04:002016-03-22T22:32:19.713-04:00Overview of the Apocalypse: A Summary of the Book of Revelation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Doing some studying this afternoon in preparation for a Bible school class tonight and came across an article I had written for a group of high school students in a Bible study several years back. Enjoy and Lord bless!<br />
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The Revelation of Jesus Christ (1:1) contains 22 chapters,
404 verses, and 12,000 words. It was penned by the apostle John (who wrote 4
other New Testaments books bearing his name – the Gospel of John and the
epistles 1 John, 2 John, and 3 John), but we know that the words came from God
Himself (2 Peter 1:20-21). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Preliminary Observations<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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First, it is essential that we note the placement of the
book. Revelation is the last of the sixty-six books of the Holy Bible. It is
placed last in God’s order of books because one cannot rightly understand this
book without a working knowledge of the prior sixty-five books. However,
because of its fascinating subject matter, many Christians want to begin their
Bible reading and study with it and many ministers want to teach it to their
congregations before they have taught the rest of the Bible. This inevitably
leads to confusion and misunderstanding. <o:p></o:p></div>
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The book of Revelation does not stand by itself. It is the
culmination of God’s dealings with men, angels, devils, and planet Earth. All
that has gone before has led up to this summation. Without knowledge fo the
former, one can only misinterpret or misapply the latter. In fact, 278 of the
404 verses in the book contain references or allusions to the Old Testament.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Those who begin their Bible study with Revelation end up
interpreting its strange statements by trying to fit them into the accepted
findings of modern science. Those who look to this book for exciting sermon
materials end up subjecting its contents to the headlines in the daily
newspaper. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Only God knows how many outright lies have been declared as
“new truth from the book of Revelation” by those who did not know the
scriptural foundation for its contents. We must not begin the Bible where God
ends it.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Second, the book of Revelation is divided into three
distinct sections. Chapters 1-3 give a chronological picture of the church age,
and chapters 19-22 give an orderly picture of the summation of all things. The
material in chapters 4-18 shows the outpouring of God’s wrath and judgment upon
the inhabitants of the earth in response to their rejection of the Lord Jesus
Christ.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Revelation is given by God to show us how each crisis
will end and how each problem will be solved. Because of this, it is best to
study Revelation by themes (for example: the beast, God’s wrath during the first
3½ years, destruction of nature, etc.) rather than by chapters. If one studies
the book by themes, much of the material will be found to overlap and
supplement other portions of the book.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Second, there is much debate as to the proper method of
interpreting Revelation. Some teach that the book is historical and presents a
mystical look into the history of past ages. Others hold that the book is
symbolism and seek to find the secret message in each verse. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
However, the text itself declares that the book is one of
prophecy, looking to events which would take place after John’s departure from
this life. We are told seven times in Revelation that the contents of the book
are prophetic (1:3; 10:11; 19:10; 22:7, 10, 18-19). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One final principle that is essential to the proper study
and interpretation of any passage of scripture and is absolutely imperative for
the student of the book of Revelation is the principle of literal
interpretation. Unless the scripture explicitly states otherwise, it means exactly
what it says. Where the Bible uses allegory, it is very careful to point this
out (Galatians 4:24). When Jesus spoke a parable, He was always very careful to
say so up front (Matthew 21:33; Matthew 24:34; et al.). When the Bible uses
pictures and symbols, it is very careful to define what they represent (Mark
4:13-20). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So when the Book of Revelation speaks of locusts (chapter
9), it’s not talking about military helicopters. When the Bible says that the
third part of the trees will be burnt up (chapter 8), that’s exactly what it
means will happen. When the book makes reference to a star called Wormwood
(chapter 8), it doesn’t mean a spaceship. You get the point.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Contents of the Book<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">The instruction John
was given by the Lord to write the Book of Revelation well summarizes the
contents of the record:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Write the things which
thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be
hereafter </i>(Revelation 1:19). </div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">THE THINGS WHICH THOU HAST SEEN…<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In chapter 1, John sees a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ in
all His glory standing in the midst of 7 golden candlesticks. He is instructed
to write the things he has seen and pronounces a blessing upon those who read,
hear, and keep the words of the prophecy…<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for
the time is at hand.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">THE THINGS WHICH ARE…<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapters 2 and 3 consist of 7 letters to the 7 churches of
Asia Minor. Each is given a commendation (with the exception of Laodicea), a
rebuke (with the exception of Philadelphia), and a promise to those who
overcome. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Not only did these churches literally exist and receive
these letters in the days of the Apostle John, the content of the letters serve
to form an outline of the history of the church that Jesus established:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
EPHESUS (2:1-7)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
34-170 AD</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The
apostolic period (see the book of Acts)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
SMYRNA (2:8-11)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
170-312</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rome
persecutes the church<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
PERGAMOS (2:12-17)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
312-606</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rome
accepts the church<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
THYATIRA (2:18-29)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
606-1517</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Rome controls
the church<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
SARDIS (3:1-6)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1517-1750</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Churches pull out
of Rome<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
PHILADELPHIA (3:7-13)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1750-1881</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The modern missions
movement<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
LAODICEA (3:14-22)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
1881-present</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lukewarm mega-church</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
These letters serve as a helpful benchmark for any
individual or group of Christians. We should use the strengths and weaknesses
addressed in the various churches to examine ourselves on a continual basis and
determine if our lives and the activities of our fellowships are pleasing to
the Lord.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">THE THINGS WHICH SHALL BE HEREAFTER…<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
• The Catching Away of the Church<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapter 4 opens with a call to “Come up hither!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This represents the upward call of God’s
saints when Jesus returns to the clouds and catches away the believers. This is
commonly referred to as the rapture and is described in 1 Corinthians 15:49-58
and 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The activities of chapters 4 and 5 take place around the
throne of God. There the saints cast crowns before His throne and offer songs
and shouts of worship and praise to the Lamb who is found worthy to open the
7-sealed book. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Those who heard the call to “Come up hither!” (4:1) are not
seen again until Jesus Christ returns to the earth to destroy the antichrist
and his army at the battle of Armageddon and establish His kingdom in Jerusalem
(19:11-21). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For this and many other reasons, we are certain that no
believer will be “left behind” to experience the horrors that will come upon
the earth and its inhabitants during the 7 years of Great Tribulation, as
revealed by this book.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings;">• </span>The Tribulation<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Following this great catching away of the believers, there will
be a period of time spoken of in the prophetic scriptures, both Old and New
Testament, as the Tribulation. It is described in chapters 6-19 of the
Apocalypse. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Tribulation will last 7 years with two distinct 3½ year
periods (Daniel 9:27 w/ Genesis 29:27-28; Revelation 11:2-3; Revelation 12:6;
Revelation 13:5). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the beginning of the tribulation, the antichrist will
rise to power. He will rule over a one-world government, consisting of a
ten-nation confederacy (Revelation 17:12-14; Daniel 7:7-8, 19-28). He will be a
master-deceiver and people will worship him as the Messiah (2 Thessalonians
2:1-12; Revelation 13:5-6, 15). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He will make a peace treaty with the nation of Israel and
allow them to offer sacrifice in the temple. But after 3½ years he will break
the treaty and set up an idol in the holiest place of the temple (the
abomination of desolation spoken of in Daniel 9:27; Daniel 11:31; Daniel 12:11;
Matthew 24:15). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
That’s when all hell breaks loose. He will cause all men to
take a mark, without which no man can buy or sell. Refusal to take the mark
will result (if they catch you) in death by beheading (Revelation 13:16-19;
20:4). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The antichrist will wage war against those who trust the
Lord during this time, but they will be miraculously protected by the Lord when
they flee to the mountains outside Judaea (probably a place called Petra –
Matthew 24:15-21; Revelation 12:6, 14-17). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the end of the Tribulation, the armies of the antichrist
will be gathered to the plain of Megiddo or “Armageddon” (Revelation 16:12-16).
The emperor Napoleon viewed this place as the most perfect battlefield in all
the world. There the Lord Jesus Christ will come to the earth with the armies
of heaven following and will utterly destroy His enemies, banishing the
antichrist to the lake of fire forever (Revelation 19:11-21). This event is
referred to in scripture as “the end of the world” (Matthew 13:36-50).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings;">• </span>The 21 Tribulation Judgments<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Chapters 6-19 of Revelation reveal 21 plagues that come upon
the earth and its population during the time of the tribulation. These are as
follows:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">THE 7 SEALS (6:1-8:5)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">White horse: the rise of antichrist</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Red horse: war</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Black horse: famine</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Pale horse: death</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Martyrdom: souls under the altar, saints
persecuted, aid promised</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Great earthquake: sun blackened, moon turns to
blood, stars fall, men fear</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Half hour of silence in heaven…opens to the 7
trumpets</span></li>
</ol>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">THE 7 TRUMPETS (8:6-11:19)<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo3; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Hail and fire mingled with blood: 1/3 of the
trees and all grass burnt up</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">1/3 of the sea becomes blood and 1/3 of the sea
creatures die</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">The star Wormwood: 1/3 of the rivers smitten</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Sun, moon, and stars give off 1/3 of their light</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Locusts: torment men 5 months, men seek death
and cannot find it</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">2,000,000 horsemen: slay 1/3 of the population</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Heavenly announcement…opens to 7 vials</span></li>
</ol>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">THE 7 VIALS (16:1-21)</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ol style="text-align: left;">
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Boils: infest those who have taken the mark of
the beast</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Sea becomes blood: all living souls therein die</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Rivers become blood</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Sun scorches men with heat</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">5.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Darkness: men gnaw their tongues for pain</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Euphrates dries up: kings gathered to Armageddon</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 12.5pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">7.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">It is done: thunder, lightning, earthquake,
Babylon falls</span></li>
</ol>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The book of Revelation well demonstrates the truth of Romans
2:4. It is the goodness of God that leads men to repentance. His judgment
(though just) only further hardens those who have already rejected His love. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings;">• </span>The Millennial Kingdom<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The events described in chapter 20 are intriguing indeed. Following
the battle of Armageddon, Satan will be bound, and Jesus Christ will rule and
reign as King over all the earth with His saints for 1,000 years. He will
restore the creation to its original condition (Isaiah 35), and there will
finally be peace on earth (Isaiah 2:1-5; Luke 2:14). Those who survived the
Tribulation and were kind to God’s people are allowed to enter this kingdom in
their human bodies (Matthew 25:31-46). The saints of all ages will also be
present, howbeit in our glorified bodies (2 Timothy 2:12).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the end of the 1,000 years, Satan will be loosed and will
mount one final effort against the Lord of glory. He will gather an army from
the four quarters of the earth (those born during this kingdom who are not fond
of the king) and come to battle at Jerusalem. But God will send fire down from
heaven and annihilate the entire host. Satan will then join the antichrist in
the lake of fire.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After the 1,000 years is the final judgment where all those
whose names are not found written in the book of life are cast into the lake of
fire. This is the second death. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Born
once, die twice. Born twice, die once. </i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<span style="font-family: Wingdings;">• </span>Eternity<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The final 2 chapters of Revelation give us a small glimpse
of God’s eternal kingdom. God creates a new heaven and a new earth for all His
saints to inhabit. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
New Jerusalem (heaven) will be the eternal home of all those
who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior from the time that He died and
rose again until the time that He returns to the clouds to take His church to
heaven. The gates are made of pearl. The streets are pure gold. From the throne
runs a pure river of the water of life, clear as crystal, with fruit trees
growing on the banks. There will be no more need for the sun. God’s glory will
light up the entire city, which by the way is 1,500 miles<sup>3</sup>.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The earth (and the planets, Isaiah 45:18) will be inhabited
by those who followed God prior to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ
and following His return to the clouds to catch away His church. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Bible doesn’t say much about what we’ll be doing for
eternity. But this much I do know, every time the scriptures bring us to the
throne of God, there is a multitude that is giving Him the praise and worship
He so deserves. I don’t know about you, but I look forward to joining that
company.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">EVEN SO COME, LORD JESUS…<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-outline-level: 1;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Concluding Thoughts<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The Book of Revelation is terrifying to read – if you have
any feeling that you might be around on the earth to experience it. The hope of
all true believers is to be caught away by the Lord prior to this time when His
wrath is poured out upon the earth (God has no desire for us to experience His
wrath, 1 Thessalonians 5:9). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Consider the following comparison:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The sun shall be turned into darkness, and
the moon into blood, before the great and the terrible day of the LORD come</i> (Joel 2:31).<i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><br />The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into
blood, before that great and notable day of the Lord come</i> (Acts 2:20). <i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Notice the difference. What Joel describes as terrible,
Peter merely views as notable. Why is that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Peter is a believer, and there’s no chance that he’ll be around to
experience the terror that will come upon the earth during that time. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Examining the truth about the apocalypse – and the horror
connected with it – ought to cause us to examine ourselves and make sure of our
standing before God. When Jesus comes, will we go with Him, or will we be
left?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>NOW is the time to make sure you
have your sins forgiven. And the only way to do that is to go to God as a
sinner, believing with all your heart that what Jesus Christ did for you on the
cross is the only way for you to be forgiven. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">For
whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved </i>(Romans 10:13).<o:p></o:p></div>
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DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-78323395495468561212015-03-05T14:31:00.002-05:002015-03-05T14:31:19.653-05:00Proverbs on Speech<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The book of Proverbs has much to say regarding speech. Not only is that a mammoth understatement, it is also an incredibly loaded statement. The book of Proverbs contains a total of 915 verses. Categorized below are at least 150 different verses (some listed a number of times under various headings), and I am sure there are some that I have missed. That means about 1 out of every 6 verses in the book of Proverbs has something to say about speaking. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The overwhelming lesson I have taken from this study is that if God is so concerned with what comes out of my mouth, I would be well served to give more thought, more attention, and more study to what I say and how I say it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Some are naturally quiet and reserved. Others, because of their personality or their position or both, tend to do a lot of speaking. I fall into the latter category. It is very important that I pay careful attention and give diligent heed to what this book has to say.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Let’s start with some contrasts: the speech of the wise vs. the speech of the fool; the tongue of the strange woman vs. the tongue of the virtuous woman; the instruction of parents vs. the enticement of sinners. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Speech of Wisdom</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Wisdom lifts up her voice in the public place. She stands on the top of the highest places (9:3) and cries<a href="evernote-html-snippet://#_ftn1" name="_ftnref1" title=""><span style="font-size: 11pt;">[1]</span></a> out at the entryway of the city (8:1-3). She makes known her words to the simple in the streets, in the chief place of concourse, and in the openings of the gates (1:20-23). Her speech is characterized by righteousness (8:8), knowledge (15:7); instruction (1:3; 8:10); and sound counsel (1:5; 8:14).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Speech of the Fool</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The fool hides hatred by lying (10:18) and slanders his neighbor (10:18). His mouth proclaims (12:23), pours out (15:2), and feeds on (15:14) foolishness. His lips do not disperse knowledge (14:7; 15:7) but rather boasting (14:3), deceit (14:8), and perversity (19:1). Unlike wisdom, he opens not his mouth in the gate (24:7), and his instruction is folly (16:22). He utters all his mind (29:11) and enters into contention (18:6). His mouth is his destruction, and his lips are the snare of his soul (18:7).</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Tongue of the Strange Woman</span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein</span></i></b> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">(22:14). Her snare is laced with flattery and fair speech (2:16; 6:24; 7:21). She is loud (7:11), and yet her lips drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smoother than oil (5:3). She entices the simple with her lies (9:16-17). </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Tongue of the Virtuous Woman</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Everything said above regarding the speech of wisdom is true of the virtuous woman, for Proverbs says she opens her mouth with wisdom (31:26). On top of that, the book adds this beautiful phrase: <b><i>in her tongue is the law of kindness</i></b>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Instruction of Parents</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Proverbs makes mention of the instruction (1:8; 4:1; 13:1), the law (1:8; 4:2; 6:20), the teaching (4:4, 11; 31:1), and the commandments (2:1; 4:4; 6:20) of father and mother. The parents plead with the son to attend to their words; to incline his ear to their sayings; to let them not depart from his eyes; to keep them in the midst of his heart (4:20-21; see also 7:1-5; 7:24; 23:26). The end objective is for the son to be guided by the voice of his parents’ instruction, even when mother and father are no longer present: <b><i>When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee. For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life</i></b> (6:22-23).</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Enticement of Sinners</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">This instruction is so important, for sinners will always be enticing us to join them (1:10). <b><i>For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall</i></b> (4:16).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The book of Proverbs speaks against numerous sins of the tongue: these include lying, deceit, false witness, talebearing, whispering, backbiting, flattery, and boasting. It condemns that speech which is froward or perverse. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lying, Deceit, False Witness</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The Lord hates a lying tongue (6:17), and so does a righteous man (13:5). Lying lips (12:22) and the false witness that speaks the lies (6:19) are said to be an abomination unto God. He calls the liar and the slanderer a fool (10:18). The liar’s judgment is certain, for Proverbs says that a lying tongue is but for a moment (12:19). Twice it states that a false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish (21:28) and not escape (19:5, 9). According to Proverbs, the root of lying is hatred (10:18; 26:24, 26, 28). Over and over the book warns us to recognize and avoid the false, deceitful witness and his lying, deceitful words (12:5; 12:17; 14:5; 14:8; 14:25; 25:18; 26:18-19; 30:8). It also urges not to engage in the sinful practice (17:17; 20:17; 24:28).</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Talebearing, Whispering, Backbiting</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A prudent man conceals knowledge (12:23), but a talebearer reveals secrets (11:13; 20:19). His words are as deep wounds (18:8; 26:22). They kindle strife (26:20) and separate very friends (16:28; 17:9). Proverbs instructs us not to accuse a servant to his master (30:10) but to debate our cause with our neighbor himself (25:9) and to use an angry countenance to drive away the backbiting tongue (25:23).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We have already seen that the strange woman is characterized by her flattery (6:24 et al). Further, Proverbs states that because a flattering mouth works ruin (26:28), we must not meddle with him that flatters with his lips (20:19).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">How prevalent is this sin that Proverbs condemns! Most men do indeed proclaim their own goodness (20:6), but Proverbs would have us allow our praise to come from the lips of others (27:1-2).</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Froward Mouth</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It might help to think of froward as the opposite of toward (“to and fro”). According to Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary, the word means “perverse; that is, turning from, with aversion or reluctance; not willing to yield or comply with what is required; unyielding; ungovernable; refractory; disobedient; peevish.” A naughty person and wicked man walks with a froward mouth (6:12). The froward tongue shall be cut out (10:31). Wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and discretion are given to deliver us from the man that speaks froward things (2:12). So put away a froward mouth (4:24).</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Perverse Lips</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Perverse lips are also to be put away (4:24), for <b><i>he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief</i></b> (17:20), and perverseness is said to be a breach in the spirit (15:4). <b><i>Better is the poor man that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool</i></b> (19:1). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In contrast to the above, Proverbs reveals those things that ought to characterize our speech: pleasantness (15:23; 16:24; 22:18); sweetness (16:21); softness (25:15); kindness (31:26); grace (22:11); and truth (12:17, 19, et al). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The book of Proverbs places a high value on right words and also describes the destructive power of the tongue.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Value of Right Words</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Consider the following statements: <b><i>The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life</i></b> (10:11). <b><i>The tongue of the just is as choice silver</i></b> (10:20). <b><i>The lips of the righteous feed many</i></b> (10:21). <b><i>The tongue of the wise is health</i></b> (12:18). <b><i>A wholesome tongue is a tree of life</i></b> (15:4). <b><i>The wellspring of wisdom is a flowing brook</i></b> (18:4). <b><i>There is gold, and multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel</i></b> (20:15). <b><i>A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver</i></b> (25:11). <b><i>A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it</i></b> (15:23)! By heeding the instruction of the book of Proverbs, we might learn to say the right thing, the right way, at the right time (cp. 15:23; 27:14), to the right result. </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Destructive Power of the Tongue</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Truly, <b><i>death and life are in the power of the tongue</i></b> (18:21). An hypocrite with his mouth can destroy his neighbor (11:9), for his words are like the piercings of a sword (12:18). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One of the most interesting aspects of this study was the instruction Proverbs provides regarding how to give an answer. <b><i>That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that thou mightiest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee</i></b> (22:21).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Answer softly (15:1) not roughly (18:23).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Know when to answer nothing (26:4). Know when to return a fool his folly (26:5). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">6.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Enjoy the good results (15:23; 24:26).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The book of Proverbs calls its reader back to two very important but almost-forgotten arts in the Christian life: that of counsel (both seeking it and giving it) and rebuke (both taking it and giving it out).</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Counsel</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In general, the book of Proverbs is one big treasure trove of counsel (22:20). The book reminds us of the great importance of proper counsel (11:14; 15:22; 20:18; 24:6) and urges us to seek it out (20:5), hear it (1:5; 12:15; 19:20), compare it to God’s word (1:5; 8:14; 19:21; 20:18; 21:30 cp. 12:5), and act accordingly. Good counsel, properly given and received, sweetens friendship (27:9) and produces joy (12:20).</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Reproof, Rebuke</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Proverbs says more about rebuking than being rebuked (9:7-8; 19:25; 24:25; 25:12; 27:5-6). It reminds us that a rebuke properly given risks offending the recipient for the sake of his betterment. It is a selfless act, and thus not very popular. Those on the receiving end of such a rebuke would be wise to pay careful attention (6:23; 9:8; 19:25).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Finally, the book of Proverbs mentions several things that should occupy my speech to a much greater degree: delivering souls (14:25; 24:11-12; 12:6); praying (15:8); confessing (28:13); singing and rejoicing (29:6); and speaking well of others (27:2; 31:28, 30).</span></div>
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<a href="evernote-html-snippet://#_ftnref1" name="_ftn1" title=""><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">[1]</span></a> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The simple cries for wisdom in 2:3-6. Wisdom cries to the simple in 1:20-23; 8:1-3; 9:1-3. Whatever our desire for wisdom, it cannot match God’s desire to give it to us.</span></div>
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DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-39962384727557141282013-12-30T11:34:00.001-05:002013-12-30T11:36:09.305-05:00Bible Reading Program<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXHOxjw3FRun9LPU_rZw73MTI4c1h7Z2lmE6iz1xHKo-wI9f84ng15JZ1SY386Bbrg1ccRPMjq_OSTpfMPczv0YYw8XqmDuQkGPk5paoKpAfzSFrae-LjFl5OlvwmeaxfBw0fEh77aKO3/s1600/annual+br+chart+cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXHOxjw3FRun9LPU_rZw73MTI4c1h7Z2lmE6iz1xHKo-wI9f84ng15JZ1SY386Bbrg1ccRPMjq_OSTpfMPczv0YYw8XqmDuQkGPk5paoKpAfzSFrae-LjFl5OlvwmeaxfBw0fEh77aKO3/s200/annual+br+chart+cover.jpg" width="154" /></a>Looking for a Bible Reading Program for 2014? This booklet contains four different plans to choose from. <a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/kihec433jrlypxf/annual%20br%20chart%20print.pdf" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a> to download the file. Print double-sided w/ short edge binding and staple (or take to your local print shop or office supply store).<br />
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Follow the link below for more Bible Reading/Scripture Memory programs, workbooks, etc.<br />
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<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/sh/dfvzfejmz7zmf0g/0WDFxljOMD" target="_blank">READ THE BIBLE!</a><br />
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For a sermon on New Year's Resolutions <a href="http://www.jameswknox.net/media/DavidBrown/20131229_DavidBrown_NewYearsResolutions.mp3" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a>.</div>
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<span style="font-family: Kefa; font-size: 13pt;">THE PURPOSE</span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">To maintain a daily walk with the Lord </span><span style="font-family: Kefa; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">(Revelation
3:20).</span><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">To live in obedience to scripture </span><span style="font-family: Kefa; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">(Deuteronomy 17:19).</span><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">To prepare yourself for the day of judgment </span><span style="font-family: Kefa; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">(2
Timothy 2:15).</span><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">To gain a working knowledge of the Bible </span><span style="font-family: Kefa; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">(Isaiah
28:9-10).</span><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">To cleanse the heart and purify the mind </span><span style="font-family: Kefa; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">(Psalm
119:9-11).</span><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">To seek true, genuine success </span><span style="font-family: Kefa; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">(Joshua 1:8).</span><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Kefa; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">THE PLAN<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Read daily </span><span style="font-family: Kefa; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">(Deuteronomy 17:19).</span><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Read habitually </span><span style="font-family: Kefa; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">(Job 23:12).</span><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Read meditatively </span><span style="font-family: Kefa; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">(Psalm 1:1-3).</span><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Read prayerfully </span><span style="font-family: Kefa; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">(Psalm 119:18).</span><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Read thoroughly </span><span style="font-family: Kefa; font-size: 7.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">(Proverbs 30:5-6).</span><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Kefa; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">THE PROGRAM<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Each month
contains a chart with four reading plans to choose from:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Sequential:</span></b><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;"> Read straight through
the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Old Testament / New
Testament:</span></b><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">
Read sequentially through both testaments simultaneously, with a daily reading
passage from each.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Chronological /
Historical:</span></b><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">
The arrangements of these daily readings are loosely based on the order of
events and/or when the books were written.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This plan includes a number of days each month to catch up, get ahead,
study other passages, or reflect on prior reading.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Sectional: </span></b><span style="font-family: Kefa; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">This plan promotes
variety by providing readings from 7 different sections of scripture – 1 for
each day of the week. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-34011011901985309682013-08-15T17:22:00.003-04:002013-08-15T17:22:35.203-04:00Effects of Hymn Singing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Passed along by a friend, f</span><span style="font-family: inherit; text-align: -webkit-auto;">rom the Memoirs of hymn-writer <a href="http://www.cyberhymnal.org/bio/b/l/i/bliss_pp.htm">Philip P. Bliss</a> (late 1870s)...</span><br />
<blockquote>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">On the stage at one of the Liverpool theaters, a comic singer came out </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">before the footlights to sing. Just as he was about to commence his waggish </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">melody, the tune of a sweet Sunday School hymn, learned before, came </span></span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">sud<span style="font-family: inherit;">denly to mind, and so confused him that he completely forgot his part. He </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">stood a moment trying to recall it, and then retired, covered with shame. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">The manager, enraged at his failure, and still more enraged at his apparently </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">foolish explanation, paid him the remainder of his wages and ordered him at </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">once to quit his service. Out of employment, he wandered about the city like </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">the unclean spirit, seeking rest and finding none. His heart was full of curses, </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">and to drown his mortification he drank deep and desperately, till his days and </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">nights were one continual debauch. </span></span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">In the meantime, Mr. Moody and Mr. Sankey began their meetings in </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Liverpool. The fame of the evangelists was in every mouth, and the young </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">actor, hearing them discussed and ridiculed among his low associates, con</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">ceived the idea of writing a burlesque about them, to be put upon the stage. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">He sobered himself sufficiently to begin. But he felt he could not make his </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">work complete without more "points" or "hits" to give it zest. So he deter</span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">mined to attend a meeting himself, and hear the men whom he intended to </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">lampoon. He went, and the same power that in the sudden memory of that </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">early hymn had driven him once from the stage arrested him and held him a </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">reverent listener. At the close he remained among the penitent inquirers, and </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">was soon led to accept the Lord Jesus as his Master. The young man is now </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">in London, preparing himself to be a missionary. </span></span></i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Often a remembered hymn will keep sacred hold of a wicked heart when </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">nothing else can. That simple Sunday School song, to the poor comedian, was </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">a voice come back from his by-gone and better days. In spite of himself it </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">changed his fate, and led the way to the still better days beyond.</span></span></i></blockquote>
Who would join me in conjecturing that the same will never be said of CCM and the like?<br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Colossians 3:16 </b>Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<br />
</div>
DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-29844036715444215752013-06-26T13:19:00.002-04:002013-06-26T13:19:47.097-04:00Youth Trip 2013 Photobook<object width="425" height="425" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"/><param name="flashvars" value="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=0EZsXDJs5btcdD&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="quality" value="best"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><embed width="425" height="425" align="middle" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" name="wrapper" quality="best" menu="false" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=0EZsXDJs5btcdD&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true" src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"></embed></object><p style="width:425px;margin-top:0;text-align:center;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EZsXDJs5btXTw&eid=118">Click here to view this photo book larger</a><div style="margin-top: 10px; width: 425px; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.shutterfly.com" style="color: #6666cc;">Photo books</a> are the perfect gift for any occasion.</div></p>DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-3419080187509985192013-06-25T10:18:00.001-04:002013-06-25T10:18:49.511-04:00Youth Rally 2013 Photobook<object width="425" height="425" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab" classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000"><param name="movie" value="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"/><param name="flashvars" value="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=1IbuGLZqyZY7C&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true"/><param name="menu" value="false"/><param name="quality" value="best"/><param name="wmode" value="transparent"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><embed width="425" height="425" align="middle" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" name="wrapper" quality="best" menu="false" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" flashvars="configXMLURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/config/config-share.xml&slideshowModuleURL=http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-module.swf&projectGUID=1IbuGLZqyZY7C&swfName=slideshowFlashContent&showReplay=true" src="http://images-community.shutterfly.com/flashapps/slideshow/slideshow-ui.swf"></embed></object><p style="width:425px;margin-top:0;text-align:center;"><a href="http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=1IbuGLZqyZO-A&eid=118">Click here to view this photo book larger</a><div style="margin-top: 10px; width: 425px; text-align: center;">Create your own<a href="http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-books" style="color: #6666cc;"> custom photo books</a> at Shutterfly.com.</div></p>DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-76961148835125745032013-05-30T15:57:00.005-04:002013-05-30T15:57:53.397-04:00How to Treat a Girl<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I've spent most of the afternoon preparing some devotions to take on an upcoming youth trip and came across some notes for a young men's session on purity that was probably at least 5 years ago. <br />
<br />
Haven't posted in a while, so I thought I'd pass along part of those notes here.<br />
<br />
HOW A YOUNG MAN SHOULD TREAT A GIRL<br />
<br />
1. Like God's daughter (2 Corinthians 4:14-18; Galatians 3:26). Treat God's daughter like you would want someone to treat your daughter. <br />
<br />
2. Like a sister in Christ (1 Timothy 5:1-2). Be no more romantic with a sister in Christ than you would with a sister in the flesh, and you'll be OK.<br />
<br />
3. Like somebody else's wife (1 Corinthians 7:1-2). Many people involved in a relationship wrongly assume they are going to one day get married and take the liberty of acting like they're already husband and wife. We all know that even the best of relationships have a chance of ending before they reach the altar (which is sometimes a good result if the purpose of dating or courting or whatever you call is to seek God's will in the selection of a marriage partner). "I will have no physical contact with this girl that I wouldn't want another man having with my wife" would be a safe rule to follow. A young man should conduct himself in such a way that he will have no regrets in the case that the two parties decide it is not God's will (or not their will) for them to be married.<br />
<br />
4. Like God is your chaperone (Jeremiah 23:23-24; Hebrews 13:5). Because He is. So don't do anything you'd be ashamed for Him to see, because He does. <br />
<br />
With marriages falling apart all around us, it's more important now than ever for us to train our young people on how to make the second most important decision they'll make in their lives (who to marry), and how to prepare for and enter into that relationship.<br />
<br /></div>
DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-60419010316949679672013-05-10T09:25:00.002-04:002013-05-30T15:58:10.869-04:00How God Will Judge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So according to 1 Corinthians 3 and host of
other scriptures, God will judge (1) our works, (2) our words, (3) every secret
thing, and (4) the heart.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The question
now to consider is HOW God will judge?</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In what manner will this judgment seat of Christ be carried out?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">1 Corinthians 3:13-15 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Every man's work shall be made
manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by FIRE;
and the FIRE shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work
abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's
work shall be BURNED, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet
so as by FIRE.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It is obvious from the passage that our works
will be tried by – FIRE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Now, I am a Bible literalist. I believe that unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise, what we read in the word of God is to be taken
literally. Which means I have no reason
to believe that the fire of 1 Corinthians 3 – the judgment seat of Christ fire
– is not a literal, burning fire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">No explanation is given as the source of the
fire, the size of the fire, the location of the fire, how our works pass
through the fire, etc. But there are
some very interesting cross references that connect fire and judgment to a couple
different things. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I’d like to take a quick peak at those
verses, with 1 Corinthians 3 in mind.</span><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">A. HIS
EYES<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In describing Jesus Christ, <b>Revelation 1:14 </b>says, <i>and his eyes were as a flame of fire.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Same book, same person, same
description – <b>Revelation 2:18-19 </b><i>...These things saith the Son of God, who
hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire…I know thy works…<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">One more time, <b>Revelation 19:12</b>, <i>His eyes were as a flame of fire…<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So 1 Corinthians 3 says that the fire shall
try every man’s works. And three times
the book of Revelation likens the eyes of Jesus Christ to a flame of fire. What else does the Bible say about the eyes
of the Lord?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Psalm 11:4 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of
men. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><br />
<b>Psalm 90:8 </b><i>Thou hast set our
iniquities before thee, our secret sins
in the light of thy countenance. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">It’s almost as if the fire that tries our
works is kindled in the eyes of Jesus Christ.
It’s almost as if He simply looks upon our works, and as judgment is
made, His very gaze becomes a refiner’s fire, purging away all impurity and
bringing forth that which is good. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">See if that doesn’t
match <b>Proverbs 20:8</b>,<b> </b></span><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">A king that sitteth in the throne of judgment scattereth away all
evil with his eyes. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">We’ve touched on it before, and we’ll touch
on it again. It is a sad thought that
our works will be burned up at the judgment seat of Christ. But it is also a happy thought that our works
will be burned up at the judgment seat of Christ. Because it means everything we’ve done that
hasn’t glorified the Lord will be completely gone forever! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">The purpose of this judgment isn’t only to
rewards believers individually, it is also to sanctify and cleanse the body of
Christ corporately; to prepare the bride of Christ for the marriage ceremony of
Revelation 19 (more on that in a later lesson.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">B. THE
WORD OF GOD<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">This too is interesting. Not only are the eyes of the Lord likened
unto fire, but so is His word.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Jeremiah 23:29 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Is</span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces?</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">What makes this reference more interesting,
in light of 1 Corinthians 3, are verses like <b>Hebrews 4:12</b>, which says that the word of God <i>is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart </i>(cf. James
1:23). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">And a passage like <b>John 12:48-49</b>, where Jesus says, <i>the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">So what is that fire of 1 Corinthians 3,
exactly? Well, it’s a fire. But where does it come from? How does it work? Guess we’ll have to wait and see. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">In the meantime, what we all can do is
subject our lives to the scrutiny of God’s word, and pray some prayers like
David and Job:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Psalm 139:23-24</span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my
thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Job 6:24 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Teach me, and I will hold my tongue: and cause me to understand
wherein I have erred.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-59462871812353700862013-04-30T15:03:00.005-04:002013-04-30T15:03:54.439-04:00What God Will Judge<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The next stop in this
study of the Judgment Seat of Christ is 1 Corinthians 3. Here the phrase is not mentioned, but the
event is described in greater detail.
This passage will form the basis for a deeper consideration of three
points relating to this judgment:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1. What God Will Judge<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. How God Will Judge<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3. The Outcomes of this Judgment<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 Corinthians 3:11-15</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <i>11 For other
foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if
any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay,
stubble; 13 Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare
it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's
work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath built
thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he
shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">WHAT GOD WILL JUDGE<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A. Our Works<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is clear from the
passage:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">- Every man’s WORK shall
be made manifest (v. 13).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">- The fire shall try every
man’s WORK (v. 13).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">- If any man’s WORK
abide…he shall receive a reward (v. 14).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">- If any man’s WORK shall
be burned, he shall suffer loss (v. 15).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Salvation is the free gift
of God. It is not a reward (Romans
4:4-8). Getting saved and going to
heaven has nothing to do with our works (Ephesians 2:8-9; Titus 3:5).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But the judgment seat of
Christ isn’t about whether or not we’re going to heaven. Everyone who appears there already has their
reservation. The judgment seat of Christ
is about the rewards we will enjoy when we get to heaven. And it has everything to do with our works.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 Corinthians 5:10</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <i>For we must
all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the
things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or
bad.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ecclesiastes 12:14 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For God
shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jeremiah 17:10</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <i>I the LORD
search the heart, I try the
reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Proverbs 24:12 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If thou
sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? and he that keepeth thy soul,
doth not he know it? and shall not he render to every
man according to his works?</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Job 34:11 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For the
work of a man shall he render unto him, and cause every man to find according
to his ways.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Psalm 62:12 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Also unto
thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy:
for thou renderest to every man according to his work.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Romans 2:6 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Who will
render to every man according to his deeds:</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">B. Our Words<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There seems to be a lot of
record keeping going on in heaven. This
ought to make us a lot more careful about what we allow to escape our
lips. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Malachi 3:16 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Then they that feared the Lord spake
often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of
remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that
thought upon his name.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ecclesiastes 5:2 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Be not rash with thy mouth, and let
not thine heart be hasty to utter any thing before God: for God is in heaven,
and thou upon earth: therefore let thy words be few.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ecclesiastes 10:20</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <i>Curse not
the king, no not in thy thought; and curse not the rich in thy bedchamber: for
a bird of the air shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings shall tell
the matter.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Our words will most
assuredly be analyzed at this judgment seat of Christ. Here’s a passage that deserves more careful
consideration and explanation than we’re able to give it at the moment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Matthew 12:36-37 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">36 But I say unto you, That every
idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of
judgment. 37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou
shalt be condemned.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">C. Secret Things<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If there’s a God in
heaven, and there is, then two things are true:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(1) No one ever gets away
with anything. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">(2) No good deed will ever
go unrewarded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The problem is that you
have to take a long-range view of the situation to see the truth in those two
statements. Oftentimes it seems that
people get away with mischief; oftentimes, it seems that good deeds go
unnoticed. On the earth. In this life.
In time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">But the Bible says that
every one of us will die, and after we die, we will stand before God (Hebrews
9:27). And He will settle all the
scores!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ecclesiastes 12:14 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For God
shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Romans 2:16 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the day
when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Luke 12:3 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For there
is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be
known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the
light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed
upon the housetops.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><div style="text-align: justify;">
<b>Luke 8:17 </b><i>For nothing is secret,
that shall not be made manifest; neither any
thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.</i></div>
<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 Corinthians 4:5 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Therefore
judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to
light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the
hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 Timothy 5:24-25 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">24 </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Some men's sins are open beforehand, going before
to judgment; and some men they
follow after. 25 Likewise also the good works of some are manifest beforehand; and they that are otherwise
cannot be hid.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">D. The Heart<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">God sees what man cannot
(1 Samuel 16:7). He looks on the
heart. And that’s what He is concerned
with. Our passage says that “the fire
shall try every man’s work of what SORT it is.”
The judgment seat of Christ is not just about what we did, but why we
did it and how we did it. God judges the
heart. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Proverbs 17:3 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The fining
pot is for silver, and the
furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jeremiah 17:10</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <i>I the LORD
search the heart, I try the
reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings.</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 Chronicles 6:8 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But the
LORD said to David my father, Forasmuch as it was in thine heart to build an
house for my name, thou didst well in that it was in thine heart:</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So God doesn’t judge us
based on our results. He judges us based
on our works. “Every man shall receive
his own reward according to his own labor.”
But it’s not just about the works.
It’s about the heart motive behind them.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Proverbs 4:23 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Keep thy heart with all diligence; for
out of it are the issues of life.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<!--EndFragment--></div>
DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-856720956357540662013-04-11T13:31:00.003-04:002013-04-11T13:33:31.295-04:00Accepted of Him -- Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lessons learned from 2 Corinthians 5 regarding the judgment
seat of Christ:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->We know, we have absolute confidence that we are
on our way to heaven (vv. 1, 6, 8).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->So we’re laboring, not to get saved, but to live
acceptably before the one who saved us (v. 9).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->This will only be possible if we walk by faith,
believing the word of God (v. 7).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->4.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span><!--[endif]-->Whether or not our works were acceptable to God
will be revealed at the judgment seat of Christ (v. 10), where we will be
rewarded or suffer loss, accordingly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One more point to make from this chapter. The very next verse (11) says:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>Knowing therefore the
terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I
trust also are made manifest in your consciences.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I’ve always heard this verse preached in reference to
witnessing. And don’t get me wrong, the application
is definitely there. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But in examining the passage, witnessing doesn’t show up
until verse 18. And it would seem that
the <i>therefore </i>in verse 11 would take
us back to verses 9 and 10, not ahead to verse 18. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So if we keep this verse in its immediate context – the judgment
seat of Christ – then what we have is not saved people persuading lost people
to get saved so they don’t go to hell, we have saved people persuading one
another to live a life that God finds acceptable, as opposed to one that makes
Him angry.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Which is why we go to church. This is what the preacher does when He stands
in the pulpit. He persuades you to walk
acceptably before God. This is what real
Christian friends do when they gather at the church house or go out and serve
the Lord. They encourage one another to
live right. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We persuade one another, we encourage one another, we
convince one another to live our lives in such a way that the one who saved our
souls and promised us a new body and a home in heaven will be pleased. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>Hebrews 3:13</b> <i>But exhort one another daily, while it is
called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Do you avail yourself of this kind of fellowship? Are you being persuaded? And do you involve yourself in this kind of
fellowship? Are you doing some
persuading? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Looks to me like that’s what the passage calls for. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.jameswknox.net/media/DavidBrown/20130120_DavidBrown_2Cor5Verses9And10.mp3">Click here</a> for a sermon on 2 Corinthians 5:1-9, preached at THE BIBLE Baptist Church on January 20, 2013.</span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-80976734576173418772013-01-16T23:24:00.000-05:002013-01-17T00:36:12.733-05:00Accepted of Him -- Part 1<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 Corinthians 5:10 </span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">contains the second direct New Testament mention of
the judgment seat of Christ. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat
of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to
that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here’s what we have in the
verse:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1. We MUST all appear before the judgment seat
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. The reason – to be rewarded for our deeds
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3. The first word of the verse – and this is
what we’d like to focus on – is <i>For…</i> What that means is that the statements of
verse 10 are made to explain or give the reason for something else that is
stated in the chapter.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let’s start all the way back in verse
1 to find out what that is.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
<a name='more'></a><i style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 For we know that if our earthly house of this
tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with
hands, eternal in the heavens.</span></i><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What is <i>our earthly house of this tabernacle?</i> Reading on, we understand this to be our
temporal, earthly body. So what then is
this <i>house not made with hands, eternal
in the heavens? </i>Well, that would
have reference to our eternal, heavenly body (cr. 1 Corinthians 15:42-54). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So the verse is an
expression of this confidence: as believers, we KNOW that when we die and move
out of this earth-suit, we have a new body waiting for us in heaven. This confidence is repeated throughout the
chapter. We are not hoping to get to
heaven. If we have trusted Jesus Christ,
there is no doubt about it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be
clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: 3 If so be that being clothed
we shall not be found naked. 4 For we that are in this tabernacle do groan,
being burdened: not for that we would be unclothed, but clothed upon, that
mortality might be swallowed up of life.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In this</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">… In this what?
In this <i>earthly house of this
tabernacle</i> – in this body. <i>In this we groan…</i> Why?
Because we’re <i>burdened. </i>Burdened by pain and disease. Burdened by affliction and fatigue. Burdened by sin and weakness. And it’s not that we’re just looking for an
escape; it’s that we’re looking forward to something better (cr. Philippians
3:20-21) – <i>earnestly desiring to be
clothed upon with our house which is from heaven…not for that we would be unclothed,
but clothed upon… </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">(As
a side note: Based on this passage and other arguments, I have heard some speculate that the new body is the believer’s “mansion,”
spoken of by Jesus in John 14:1-3. The concept definitely fits the context here.)</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">5 Now he that hath wrought us for the selfsame
thing is God, who also hath given unto us the earnest of the Spirit. 6
Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the
body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We
are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be
present with the Lord.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Notice again: <i>we know </i>(v. 1); <i>we are always confident </i>(v. 6); <i>we
are confident </i>(v. 8). The basis for
this confidence is found in verse 5 – <i>the
earnest of the Spirit. </i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The cross reference is <b>Ephesians 1:12-14. </b>According to that passage, here is every
believer’s testimony:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment-->
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1. You heard the gospel – Christ died for your
sins, was buried, and rose again the third day, according to the
scriptures. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. You believed the gospel. You placed your faith and trust in the finished
work of Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">3. At that moment, God cleansed your sin and
gave you His righteousness. And in that
perfect, sin-cleansed, righteous condition, God sealed you with the Holy
Spirit. And that holy Spirit is the
earnest (down payment) of our inheritance (2 Corinthians 5) UNTIL THE
REDEMPTION OF THE PURCHASED POSSESSION.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">That sealing of the Holy
Spirit does two things:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">1. Because God saved you, you’re going to
heaven. But if God saved you for the
sole purpose of taking you to heaven, He would have taken you the moment you
trusted Christ. What the Bible teaches
is that God did not save us to keep us out of hell or to take us to heaven, He
saved us to live a holy life that glorifies Him. This sealing and indwelling of the Holy Spirit
enables us to life a live <i>that…should be
to the praise of His glory </i>(vv. 12, 14).
The down payment is holiness (notice the small “h” in Ephesians 1:14). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">2. This Holy Spirit sealing does keep you
saved until the day that you move out of the <i>earthly house of this tabernacle</i> and upgrade to <i>a house not made with hands, eternal in the
heavens </i>(cr. 1 Peter 1:5; 2 Timothy 1:12; et. al.)<i>. </i>The <i>until the redemption of the purchased possession </i>of Ephesians 1:14
matches the <i>waiting for…the redemption of
the body </i>in Romans 8:23. (Notice
also how the groaning of Romans 8:22 lines up with 2 Corinthians 5:2-4). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again, these truths not
only result in the confident assurance (v. 6 w/ 1 John 5:13) but in a certain
desire and longing to <i>depart, and to be
with Christ; which is far better </i>(v. 8 w/ Philippians 1:23). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or
absent, we may be accepted of him.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Here is where we’re
going. All that build up to make this
point. Based on the confidence we have –
we KNOW we’re going to heaven; we’re looking forward to enjoying our new bodies
– we are laboring for God. We’re not
working to get saved and go to heaven; we’re serving the Lord who has saved us
and sealed us and promised to take us there.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the order of
Ephesians 2:8-10. We are NOT saved BY
good works; we ARE saved TO good works. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, there is an obvious
difference between the <i>accepted of him </i>here
and the <i>accepted in him </i>of Ephesians
1:6. <i>Accepted
in him </i>speaks of my standing – my eternal position before God. It is based entirely on the finished work of
Jesus Christ. This secures my
salvation. <i>Accepted of him </i>speaks of my state – my temporal condition before
men. It is based entirely on my own
labors. It has no bearing upon my
eternal destiny. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat
of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to
that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The statement of verse 9
is that we are laboring for God so that we may be accepted OF Him. According to verse 10, the purpose of the
judgment seat of Christ is to determine whether or not the life I lived after I
got saved was acceptable to the one who saved me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Got created me to please
Him (Revelation 4:11). He saved me to
glorify Him (Ephesians 1:12-14). Have I
fulfilled my purpose? The judgment seat
of Christ will tell. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">If I have fulfilled my
purpose; if my life is found acceptable to God – then He will reward me for
it. If not, then I will suffer loss (of
reward). More on all that later. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In closing, we should all
be compelled to give more time and attention to whether or not our words and
our thoughts (Psalm 19:14); our attitudes and our motives; our desires and our decisions;
our priorities and our activities are acceptable to the Lord (2 Timothy 2:15). Because His is the only approval that will
matter when we enter into eternity (Galatians 1:10). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-9577092891737733102013-01-08T22:28:00.000-05:002013-01-08T22:29:01.409-05:00Giving Account to God -- Part 4<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">From Romans 14 and its
cross references, we have garnered the following points, as they relate to the
Judgment Seat of Christ: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I. EVERY ONE OF US SHALL <b>GIVE ACCOUNT<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">II. EVERY ONE OF US SHALL GIVE ACCOUNT <b>OF HIMSELF<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">III. EVERY ONE OF US SHALL GIVE ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF
<b>TO GOD<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">IV. GOD DOES NOT GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF TO US<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Before we move on to the
next New Testament passage on the Judgment Seat of Christ, there are three
specific things for which the Bible says God will hold us accountable. These are worthy of special mention:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">A. Our Influence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">B. Our Authority<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">C. Our Words<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">- OUR INFLUENCE</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Romans 14:12-13 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So then every one of us shall give
account of himself to God. Let us not therefore judge one another any more: but
judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in
his brother's way.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1 Peter 4:4-5 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wherein they think it strange that ye
run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you: Who shall
give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Without lingering long
with either passage, let us make the following application, because it is
especially pertinent to youth ministry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are young people
(and older people) in our church, and every church, who have perfect
understanding of all the ways in which and all the reasons why they should live
their lives for the Lord. But for one
reason or another, they have decided not to do so. They would rather live after the flesh;
follow after vanity; etc. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">It breaks the heart of any
Christian to see a fellow believer make that decision. And we preach and pray and labor in hopes
that the word of God will break their stony hearts (Jeremiah 23:29). But ultimately, God gave every man free
will. The lost are free to reject His
salvation; the saved are free to squander it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Now, there are certain
situations – especially among young people – where said brother sees another
Christian living for the Lord like he knows he should be. And it bothers him. It makes him feel bad. It tends to incite the uncomfortable feeling
of conviction. But instead of repenting
and selling out for the Lord, he will start making attempts to dump ice buckets
on the red-hot Christian. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wasting the grace of God
(1 Corinthians 15:10) is bad enough. But
what the Lord says in these passages is that you had better be really careful
about hindering or tripping up another brother in Christ. Because He’s not letting that go. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Galatians 5:10 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">...But he that troubleth you shall
bear his judgment, whosoever he be.</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ultimately, we all have to
answer for my own decisions. But if I
influence another to make the wrong decision, that’s something God is going to
hold me accountable for. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">- OUR AUTHORITY<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hebrews 13:17 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Obey them that have the rule over
you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must
give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is
unprofitable for you.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">This passage speaks
directly to those under authority but indirectly to those in all kinds of
places of authority, as a reminder that authority = responsibility, and that we
are accountable to God for how we exercise it.
Again, each man must answer to God for himself. But at the same time, God is very interested
in how we influence those over whom we have any kind of influence. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">- OUR WORDS<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Matthew 12:34-37 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">O generation of vipers, how can ye,
being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth
speaketh. A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good
things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give
account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be
justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Notice verse 36. It does not say every blasphemous word. It does not say every filthy word. It does not say every ungodly word. Surely none of those are acceptable to the
Lord. But that (almost) goes without
saying. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">What God calls our
attention to in this passage is every idle word. When I think of idle, I think of an
engine. An idling engine is an engine
that’s running, but it’s not propelling the vehicle. The engine’s on, but the car’s not moving.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Idle words – the mouth is
moving; the tongue is flapping; nothing good is being accomplished. Don’t be surprised if the Lord brings that up
when we stand before Him. Cross
references: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Psalm 19:14 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let the WORDS of my mouth, and the
meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my
redeemer.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ephesians 4:29 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Let no corrupt communication proceed
out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister
grace unto the hearers.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 9.0pt;"><a href="http://press-toward-the-mark.blogspot.com/search/label/The%20Tongue">CLICK
HERE</a> for a series of posts on “The Tongue.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-17218568602156834302012-12-29T10:12:00.001-05:002012-12-29T10:12:34.170-05:00Bible Reading 2013<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilymJGCjDuOjdz1SnLu8dv-leBwHVSNedkkXYJ3briN9O3TZmCXw3lPTf_pxjFnHcKgOwps9XyD8JyNT-oGgyHUNMOKxGVoBgAVIH6TNFStacwglhABOcR8GYzglU6Jcsv-bMrJchDM22s/s1600/Screen+Shot+2012-12-29+at+5.06.07+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: justify;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilymJGCjDuOjdz1SnLu8dv-leBwHVSNedkkXYJ3briN9O3TZmCXw3lPTf_pxjFnHcKgOwps9XyD8JyNT-oGgyHUNMOKxGVoBgAVIH6TNFStacwglhABOcR8GYzglU6Jcsv-bMrJchDM22s/s320/Screen+Shot+2012-12-29+at+5.06.07+PM.png" width="204" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Heard from many who made
good use of the Bible Reading Companion posted here about a year ago. Hope it was a blessing to all who completed
(or are about to complete) the program.
If you happened to keep track of the mistakes and/or keep an answer key,
please let me know.</div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/7880992pbe2nlnn/BR%20Chart%202013_General.pdf" style="font-family: Calibri;">HERE</a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> is a copy of the
Bible Reading and Scripture Memory Program I designed for the teenagers at THE
BIBLE Baptist Church for 2013. The
reading program will take you through the Bible in a year. Each day includes a reading from the Old
Testament and the New Testament. For
each month, there is a set of about 6 scripture passages on a certain topic to
be used in witnessing (all have sinned; Jesus died for sin; believe for
salvation; etc.).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Feel free to print and/or
distribute this, or put it to use in any way.
Just send me an email if you need help figuring out how to print it
off, and I'll do my best to walk you through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And finally, here's an
outline that's included in the back of the workbook. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT ITSELF<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Bible
claims to be inspired by God (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:21). The phrase “saith the LORD” is used 815 times
in the Bible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Bible
claims to be completely accurate (Psalm 33:4) to this very day. Every word of God is pure (Proverbs 30:5),
and God has promised to preserve His pure words for this generation (Psalm
12:6-7). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Bible
claims to be eternal (Psalm 119:89; Psalm 119:160; Psalm 12:6-7; Isaiah 40:8;
Matthew 24:35). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Bible
claims to have supernatural power (Hebrews 4:12; Isaiah 55:11; 1 Thessalonians
2:13). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Bible is
far superior to the dreams or visions or words of man (2 Peter 1:16-19;
Jeremiah 23:28; Romans 3:4). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Bible will
be the standard used on the day of judgment (John 12:48; Revelation
20:11-15). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God has
magnified His word above His very name (Psalm 138:2 w/ Philippians
2:9-10). He strongly warns those who
would add or take away from His word (Proverbs 30:6; Revelation 22:18-19). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">WHAT THE BIBLE WILL DO FOR THE LOST<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Convert the
soul (Psalm 19:7).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Show the way
of eternal life (John 5:39; 2 Timothy 3:15; 1 John 5:13).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bring about
the new birth (1 Peter 1:21-23; James 1:18). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<b><div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div>
</b>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">WHAT THE BIBLE WILL DO FOR THE SAVED<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reveal God to
man (1 Samuel 3:21).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reveal man to
himself (James 1:21-25).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Reveal God’s
will to man (Ephesians 1:9; Ephesians 5:17; 1 Corinthians 10:11).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Bless those
who keep it (Revelation 1:3; Luke 11:28; James 1:25).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Cleanse,
sanctify, purify (John 15:3; John 17:17; Ephesians 5:26; Psalm 119:9-11).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Increase man’s
faith (Romans 10:17). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Grant him
freedom (John 8:31-32).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Supply the
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE
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<br /></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Milk (1 Peter
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Meat (Hebrews
5:13-14)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Honey (Psalm
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">THE
BIBLE AS SPIRITUAL EQUIPMENT (2 Timothy 3:16-17):<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: 1in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -0.25in;">
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55:10-11)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Compass (Psalm
119:133)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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(Proverbs 2:3-6)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-12679362380231135842012-12-04T21:48:00.001-05:002012-12-05T10:01:44.865-05:00Giving Account to God -- Part 3<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
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Romans 14:10 is one of only two verses in scripture to specifically mention the judgment seat of Christ. The passage's description of that judgment in verse 12 has led us to consider the following points:</div>
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<br /></div>
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I. EVERY ONE OF US SHALL <b>GIVE ACCOUNT</b></div>
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II. EVERY ONE OF US SHALL GIVE ACCOUNT <b>OF HIMSELF</b></div>
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III. EVERY ONE OF US SHALL GIVE ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF <b>TO GOD</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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There are two additional points that we should make along these lines. In addition to the acknowledgement that we will all give an account TO GOD, there are some scriptures that direct us to the helpful realization that:</div>
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<br /></div>
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IV. GOD DOES NOT GIVE AN ACCOUNT OF HIMSELF TO US<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i></i></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><b><i>Job 33:13 </i></b><i>Why dost thou strive against him? for he giveth not account of any of his matters.</i><br />
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<br /></div>
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Job lost it all. His
friends had come to comfort him, but after sitting with him for 7 days, they
just couldn’t stand it any longer, and started in with all the reasons they
thought this had happened to him. Job
was just like any of us; all he wanted to know was why. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
In chapter 32, Elihu steps in and speaks in God’s defense,
and reminds everybody: <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->That God does not owe Job, or anybody else, an
explanation.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->That God is under no obligation to answer any of
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->That God doesn’t give account to us. We give account to God.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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It was easier for Elihu to say that than it was for Job to
accept it. Elihu wasn’t the one sitting
in ashes by the graves of his 10 kids. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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And it’s easy for me to make that statement. But I believe it would do us
well to use the good times to make preparation for the bad times by firmly
settling and establishing this truth in our hearts and minds -- <i>He
giveth not account of any of his matters.
</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><i>Daniel 4:35 </i><o:p></o:p></b><i>And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i><b>Romans 9:20 </b>Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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God is in total control (Daniel 4:17). He holds this universe together (Hebrews 11:3). Nothing escapes His grasp (John 10:29). Known unto Him are all HIS works from the
foundation of the world (Acts 15:18). He
works all things after the counsel of His own will (Ephesians 1:11). And all things -- good and bad -- work together
for good to those that love and trust in Him (Romans 8:28). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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He doesn’t answer to us.
We answer to Him. He doesn’t give
account to us. We give account to
Him. He demands of us (Job 38:3; Job
40:7). We don’t demand of Him. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The comfort comes not only in the fact that He has all power
but that He exercises that power in our best interest, according to His perfect
knowledge (Job 36:4; Job 37:16). And
though He’s probably not going to answer our question, “Why?” He does offer all
the grace and mercy we could ever need.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-91966223954652875392012-10-25T11:42:00.001-04:002012-10-25T11:42:27.101-04:00Why We Do Not Celebrate Halloween<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Prepared for distribution at THE BIBLE Baptist Church. Posted here for your reading enjoyment and thoughtful consideration. <br />
<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">WHY WE DO NOT CELEBRATE HALLOWEEN<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">1.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">While there is some difference of opinion as to the specific
origins of the many Halloween traditions (jack-o-lanterns; costumes;
trick-or-treating; bobbing for apples; association with ghosts, spirits,
witchcraft, and death), it is undeniable and universally agreed that:</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; tab-stops: list .25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";"></span></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">A.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">All of these
traditions are rooted in the beliefs and practices of pagan peoples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">B.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">The pagan traditions were based upon “the signs of heaven” and
were connected to various types of contact with the spirits of the dead. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">C.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">The evolution of the modern holiday is tied to Roman Catholic
adaptions of the pagan practices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">D.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">It remains an
important and celebrated “holy day” for modern pagans and witches. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
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<br /></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Article
from The History Channel<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt;"><a href="http://www.history.com/topics/halloween">http://www.history.com/topics/halloween</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Halloween's
origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced
sow-in). The Celts celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the
end of summer and harvest, and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time
of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the
night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and
the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31 they celebrated Samhain,
when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition
to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the
otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make
predictions about the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To
commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people
gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities. During
the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads
and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration
was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier
that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming
winter.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">By 43
AD, the Roman Empire had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the
course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two
festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration
of Samhain. The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans
traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor
Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">On May
13, 609 AD, Pope Boniface IV dedicated the Pantheon in Rome in honor of all
Christian martyrs, and the Catholic feast of All Martyrs’ Day was established
in the Western church. Pope Gregory III (731–741) later expanded the festival
to include all saints as well as all martyrs, and moved the observance from May
13 to November 1. By the 9th century the influence of [Roman Catholicism] had
spread into Celtic lands, where it gradually blended with and supplanted the
older Celtic rites. In 1000 AD, the church would make November 2 All Souls'
Day, a day to honor the dead. It is widely believed today that the church was
attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but
church-sanctioned holiday. All Souls’ Day was celebrated similarly to Samhain,
with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and
devils. The All Saints’ Day celebration was also called All-hallows or
All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and
the night before it, the traditional night of Samhain in the Celtic religion,
began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span style="font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.5pt; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Video
from The Discovery Channel<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 10.0pt;"><a href="http://news.discovery.com/videos/history-where-did-halloween-come-from.html">http://news.discovery.com/videos/history-where-did-halloween-come-from.html</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;">
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<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo3; tab-stops: .25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">2.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">While there is
nothing inherently wrong with eating candy or dressing up in costume (things we
do on other occasions), the following scriptures leave no room for doubt as to the
level of involvement that Christians should have in such a holiday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">Jeremiah 10:2-3 </span></b><i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">Thus saith the
Lord, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of
heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.
For the customs of the people are vain…<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">Ephesians 5:11 </span></b><i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">And have no
fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">2 Corinthians 6:14-17 </span></b><i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">Be
ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath
righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with
darkness? And what concord hath Christ
with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God
with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will
dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my
people. Wherefore come out from among
them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and
I will receive you.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">Deuteronomy 18:9-14 </span></b><i><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">When
thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not
learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found
among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire,
or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch,
Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a
necromancer. For all that do these
things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the
Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee…For these nations, which thou
shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for
thee, the Lord thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo4; tab-stops: .25in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">3.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">The fact that so
many so-called Christians and so-called churches celebrate the holiday in spite
of these truths reveals two things:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">A.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">Sadly, very few
have sufficient knowledge of and/or interest in what the Bible says for it to
have much of an impact on how they live their lives (Hosea 4:6; 2 Timothy 2:15). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">B.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Lucida Grande";">Many of those who
may know what the Bible says are more interested in pleasing self (Romans 15:3;
2 Timothy 3:1-5) and/or being acceptable to society (Galatians 1:10; 1 Peter
2:9) than they are with pleasing the Lord (Revelation 4:11) and doing what is
acceptable to Him (Psalm 19:14). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-34789346474587681372012-10-16T21:00:00.002-04:002012-10-16T21:00:38.578-04:00Giving Account to God -- Part 2<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
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<b>Romans 14:10-12</b>
<i>But why dost thou judge thy brother? or
why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the
judgment seat of Christ…So then every one of us shall give account of himself
to God.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Let’s
break down this statement. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I.
SO THEN EVERY ONE OF US <b>SHALL GIVE ACCOUNT<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
What
does it mean to give account? Consider
this example from <b>Luke 16:1-2 </b><i>And he said also unto his disciples, There
was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that
he had wasted his goods. And he called
him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of
thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a>The
steward in the passage was entrusted with the care of his master’s goods, and
there came a day when he was called to ANSWER for what he had done with what
his master had entrusted to his care.
That’s called, in the passage, giving account. <o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Question,
Christian: Has God given you grace (1 Corinthians 15:10)? Has God given you life (1 Corinthians
6:20)? Has God given you breath (Psalm
150:6)? Has He redeemed your soul (Psalm
107:2)? Has He given you talents
(Matthew 25)? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Then
the expectation is that you will take what God has given you and use it for His
glory. And there’s coming a day when you
stand before the judgment of Christ and will be called to give a reckoning of
your stewardship and God will examine what you have done with what you have
been given. That’s called giving
account. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
By
definition, an account is: <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->A statement and explanation of one’s
conduct with reference to judgment thereon<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->A statement or exposition of reasons,
causes, or motives<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I
like to think of the judgment seat of Christ as some kind of an assembly line
where our number is called, our works are dropped in a big furnace, and like
change from a cash register we collect our gold, silver, precious stones, or
wood, hay, stubble. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
But
I’m afraid that’s not an accurate depiction of what this day will be like. If it’s a day on which we will give account,
then it looks like God is going to ask some questions, and we are going to give
some answers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
II. SO THEN EVERY ONE OF US SHALL GIVE ACCOUNT <b>OF HIMSELF</b><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
We
need to get this. We will not be called
upon to answer for anybody else. Only
ourselves. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Our
problem is that we have a tendency to look around us. And when we look around us, human nature
being what it is, and the flesh being what it is, and sinners (saved and lost)
being what they are, it is easy to see the failures of those around us (see
Matthew 7:3-5).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
When
we do this, often one of two things happen.
Either we use other’s failures as an excuse for our own shortcomings, or
we pump ourselves up in self-righteous pride and pity the poor sinners who
aren’t as holy as we. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b>Romans 2:15 </b>says
it this way, <i>and their thoughts the mean
while accusing or else excusing one another.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Ultimately, whose actions can you
control? Yours.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Ultimately, whose actions are you
responsible for? Yours.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Ultimately, whose actions will your
answer for? Yours.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Other
passages/points to consider on this topic:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b>Isaiah 9:17 – </b>Others’
hypocrisy is no excuse for me to be a hypocrite.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b>1 Corinthians 10:12 – </b>Unwise
to compare yourself to others. God does
not grade on a curve.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
So
stopped getting yourself wrapped up in what everybody else is or isn’t doing
and just live your life before God, knowing that one day you will give an
account of yourself to Him. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
III. SO THEN EVERYONE OF US SHALL GIVE ACCOUNT OF
HIMSELF <b>TO GOD<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Who
cares what society defines as right and wrong.
Never mind the rules some denomination or preacher made up. God’s standard is the one that counts. We will give an account TO HIM. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
There
are a number of applications here.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
A. We can forget about pleasing everyone else (Galatians
1:10) and devote our lives to fulfilling the purpose for which we were created
– to please HiM (Revelation 4:11; 2 Timothy 2:15). Let us join in David’s prayer, “Let the words
of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O
LORD…” (Psalm 19:14).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
B. Living before the Lord (Genesis 17:1) also
frees us from wasting our lives trying to impress others with how spiritual we
are. If our motivation for serving God
is the praise of men, then the praise we get from men is the extent of our
reward (Matthew 6:1-6).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
C. This concept could also be of help to those
who struggle with submitting to hypocritical authority. You may not agree with your parent’s rules. They may indeed be hypocrites. But you must give an account to GOD and GOD
told you to obey and honor your parents, and GOD will bless you for it
(Ephesians 6:1-3). So the politician is
a liar, the legislator is corrupt, the law enforcement officer is a loser, the
lawyer is scum, and the judge is a reprobate.
GOD ordained the powers that be, and HE told us to submit ourselves unto
them (Romans 13:1-7). Ultimately, I am
not accountable to the authority figure, but I am accountable to the God who
put that authority in place. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
D. Finally, this truth reminds us of something
we mentioned earlier. If I am going to
stand before God, then I am not going to stand before my society, my parents,
my pastor, or my brothers and sisters in Christ. It also means that my pastor and parents and
brothers and sisters in Christ are going to stand before GOD – not me. So <b>Romans
14:10 </b>asks, <i>But why dost thou judge
thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand
before the judgment seat of Christ.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
This
is the point of the “judge not” passage in Matthew 7. We ought to judge ourselves, not our brothers
and sisters in Christ (1 Corinthians 11:31). <o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-21712474543796547622012-10-10T23:00:00.002-04:002012-10-10T23:01:40.285-04:00Giving Account to God<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The first passage we will
study that specifically mentions the judgment seat of Christ is <b>Romans 14:7-13.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Romans 14:7 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For none of us liveth to himself, and
no man dieth to himself. </span></i><b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I always thought that this
verse was speaking to the influence my actions have on those around me. That’s a valid application of the statement
that doesn’t violate the text and is supported by other scriptures, but if you
examine the context (2 Peter 1:20), that’s not the meaning here. Verse 7 is defined by verse 8.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Romans 14:8 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For whether we live, we live unto the
Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or
die, we are the Lord's. </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></b></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; text-align: justify;">So if I don’t live to
myself, to whom do I live? Verse 8 says
I live and die TO THE LORD. He bought me
with the price (1 Peter 1:18-19); I am His; and my life’s purpose is to glorify
Him (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). The freedom I have in Jesus Christ does not
give me license to live however I want but empowers me to live free from sin in
a way that glorifies God (Romans 6:18; Galatians 5:13; 1 Peter 2:16). Verse 9 continues the thought.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Romans 14:9 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For to this end Christ both died, and
rose, and revived, that he might be Lord both of the dead and living. </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Look closely at that
verse. When Jesus died and rose again,
He became my Savior (1 Timothy 4:10; 1 John 4:15), and praise God for it, but
He had something more, something greater in mind – <i>that he might be LORD…</i> There
are many who want Jesus to be their Savior, and He’ll save whoever calls on His
name (Romans 10:13), but few are interested in having Jesus as their Lord. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In all honestly, the
reason I got saved is far different than the reason God saved me. I got saved for the same reason most saved
people did – I didn’t want to go to hell!
And because I’m saved, I’m not going to hell. Hallelujah!
But that’s not why God saved me.
Jesus came to save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21) not
hell. God sent His Son to deliver us
from this present evil world (Galatians 1:4) not from hell’s flames. Jesus gave Himself for us to redeem us from
all iniquity (Titus 2:14) not spare us from the lake of fire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again, because I’m saved
from sin, I get to miss out on its eternal penalty, but that’s just one aspect
of the end result of my salvation; it’s not the purpose for which God saved
me. He saved me to be my Lord. He has every right to tell me what to
do. And I’m best off following Him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Romans 14:10 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But why dost thou judge thy brother?
or why dost thou set at nought thy brother?</span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus died to be your
Lord, not so you could be your brother’s Lord.
This sentiment is repeated in <b>verse
13 </b><i>Let us not therefore judge one
another any more: but judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an
occasion to fall in his brother's way.</i><b> </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">All this leads into the
heart of the passage…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Romans 14:10-11 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">… for we shall all stand before the
judgment seat of Christ. For it is
written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every
tongue shall confess to God. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So one day we’ll stand
before the Jesus died to be our Lord.
What does that mean? And what
will happen there? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Romans 14:12 </span></b><i><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So then every one of us shall give
account of himself to God. </span></i><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">We’ll break down that
statement in the next post. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-53181378725592411282012-10-06T00:15:00.003-04:002012-10-06T00:17:12.648-04:00Eternal Perspective<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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The
objective of entering into a study of the judgment seat of Christ is to
influence Christians to live a life now that will matter for eternity; to live
a life now that will count for something at the judgment seat of Christ; to
approach people and places and situations and decisions with an eternal
perspective. That is the theme of this
second introductory lesson.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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I. GOD CALLS US TO AN ETERNAL PERSPECTIVE</div>
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<b></b><br />
<a name='more'></a><b>Amos 4:12</b>
<i>Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O
Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O
Israel.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->Saved or lost, it is appointed unto men
once to die, but after this the judgment (Hebrews 9:27).<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->We may stand at different judgments,
but every one of us shall give account of himself to God (Romans 14:12). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l8 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We are often shocked at the failure of
the lost to prepare for eternity by getting saved. We must ask what we as believers are doing to
prepare for eternity by way of serving Jesus Christ.<o:p></o:p></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]-->God calls us to look past the here and
now to a day when we will stand before Him in judgment, and to invest this life
in preparing for the next.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Ecclesiastes 11:9 </b><i>Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and
let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of
thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these
things God will bring thee into judgment.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The temptation of youth is to live for
today and put off any thought of final judgment.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->But there is no better time than NOW –
in your youth – to start preparing for eternity.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Because now is all we have (Proverbs
27:1).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<u>Example:
retirement<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<br /></div>
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Financial
planners put a lot of emphasis on the time value of money, urging wage earners
to start saving for retirement as soon as possible. For example, assuming an investment $200 a
month at a 10% annual return and a retirement age of 60 (very hypothetical,
just trying to illustrate a point)…<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->If you start at 20, you will invest
$96,000 and have an ending account balance of $1.26 million.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->If you start at 30, you will invest
$72,000 and reduce your ending account balance to $450,000.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l7 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->If you start at 40, you will invest
$48,000 and end up with just $150,000. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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The
moral of the story is to start saving NOW for retirement. How much more important to start NOW laying
up treasure in heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>2 Corinthians 4:18 </b><i>While we look not at the things which
are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen
are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Jonathan
Edwards was one of the greatest theologians of American history. His preaching helped to shape and influence
the First Great Awakening. His famous
sermon “Sinners in the Hands of Angry God,” was so powerful that people fell
off their seats and clung to the pillars of the auditorium, crying out in
despair. His constant prayer was this:
“Lord, stamp eternity on my eyes.” He
prayed for an eternal perspective.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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II. BECAUSE WHEN WE DIE, WE WILL LEAVE THIS ALL
BEHIND<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>1 Timothy 6:17 </b><i>For we brought nothing into this world,
and it is certain we can carry nothing out.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->What will matter 100 years from now?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo4; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->That is what matters now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->So let us devote ourselves to that.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Ecclesiastes 9:10 </b><i>Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do
it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom,
in the grave, whither thou goest.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->If you were to die right now, what
about your life would you want to go back and change?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Are there things you have done you
would like to undo?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Are there things you failed to do that
you would do if you had another chance? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Obviously, we do not have that
opportunity now and will not have that opportunity when we die.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->But what we can do is live from this
point on in the same manner that we would live out the past if we had the
opportunity (Philippians 3:13-14).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Luke 12:15-20 </b><i>…But God said unto him, Thou fool, this
night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be,
which thou hast provided?</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The passage does not say this rich man
was a bad man or a wicked man.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->But he was a fool because he laid up
treasure himself and was not rich toward God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l9 level1 lfo6; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->As well as he prepared for life, he did
not prepare for his death. And it came
suddenly.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b>Mark 8:36-37 </b><i>For what shall it profit a man, if he
shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? Or what shall a man give in exchange for his
soul?</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Another passage we use in witnessing
that applies equally to saved and lost.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l5 level1 lfo7; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->If a man gained all there was to gain
in this life but died and left it all behind, what would it matter?<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b>Matthew 10:39 </b><i>He that findeth his life shall lose it:
and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->“He is no fool who gives what he cannot
keep to gain what he cannot lose” (Jim Elliot).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
III. BECAUSE THE REWARDS WILL MATTER<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b>1 Corinthians 3:14-15 </b><i>If any man's work abide which he hath
built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned,
he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.</i><b> </b><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo8; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->At the judgment seat of Christ, some
will receive rewards, and some will suffer loss.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo8; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->I believe if God offers rewards, they
will be worth receiving.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<u>“I’ll
just be glad to get to heaven.”<o:p></o:p></u></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
If
you went home tonight to find your house and everything in it burned to the
ground, you might find some solace in the face that you are alive and did not
burn with the house, but to say the least, you would be upset about the loss.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I
am afraid there are millions of Christians who will face the judgment seat of
Christ and see their entire lives go up in flames. They may very well find solace in the fact
that they are saved (so as by fire), but the loss is something the Bible says
they will SUFFER.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b>1 Corinthians 15:41 </b><i>There is one glory of the sun, and
another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star
differeth from another star in glory.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo9; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We will expand on this idea in future
lessons, but for now let us simply state that the idea of equality in heaven is
a myth. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Do you not want to hear your Savior
say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21)?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l6 level1 lfo9; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Do you not want to cast a crown at the
feet of the one who paid your sin’s penalty and purchased your soul’s salvation
(Revelation 4:10-11)?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
IV. THERE WILL BE SHAME ON THAT DAY<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo10; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Some will be ashamed before Him at His
coming (1 John 2:28).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo10; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->At his coming, the Son of man will be
ashamed of those who were ashamed of Him (Mark 8:38).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo10; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->God does not wipe all tears from our
eyes until after the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 21:4).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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CONCLUSION
– write down your answers:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l10 level1 lfo11; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->What are you doing today that will
matter for eternity?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l10 level1 lfo11; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->What about your life would you want to
go back and change if you died today?<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l10 level1 lfo11; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->What can you start doing right now that
will matter for eternity?<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-87763520090207871822012-09-28T01:36:00.001-04:002012-09-28T10:40:35.340-04:00The Judgment Seat of Christ: Groundwork<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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One
of the most important, if not the most important event in the future of every
believer is an event referred to in the Bible as “the judgment seat of
Christ.” The actual phrase is used only
twice in scripture (Romans 14:10; 2 Corinthians 5:10). A detailed description of the event is found
in 1 Corinthians 3. And as we will see as
we study this topic in a series of posts throughout the coming weeks, there are
many passages that deal with the various aspects of this final judgment for
believers. <i><o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Before
we jump into the scripture in search of truth regarding the day when our works
as Christians will be judged by the Lord, it is necessary to lay some
groundwork. <o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="text-align: justify;">I. BELIEVERS AND UNBELIEVERS OF THIS
AGE WILL STAND AT SEPARATE JUDGMENTS</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">A. The
lost will stand at the Great White Throne Judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">There the books will be opened, and they will
be judged according to their works.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Those not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake
of fire.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">note: since all men must be judged, it seems plausible that individuals, both saved and lost, from the old testament, the tribulation, and the millennial reign of christ will also be
judged at this time. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-variant: small-caps;">B. </span>The
saved will stand at the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans
14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15).</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">There
the believers’ works will be judged to determine their reward.</span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l3 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
II. THREE JUDGMENTS IN THE LIFE OF THE
BELIEVER<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">note: this outline is adapted from similar lessons
by clarence larkin and ci scofield. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->One happened in the past.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The other happens in the present.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l2 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The last will happen in the future.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->A.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><!--[endif]-->PAST
– The believers’ sins were judged at Calvary.
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Isaiah 53:6 – The Lord hath laid on Him the
iniquity of us all.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->1 Peter 3:16 – Christ once suffered for sins.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->1 Peter 2:24 – He bare our sins in His body on
the tree.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->2 Corinthians 5:21 – He became sin for us who
knew no sin. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Isaiah 53:10 – The offering made by Jesus Christ
satisfied the wrath of God on sin.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->1 John 2:2 – There He made propitiation for the
sins of the whole world.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->1 John 1:7 – His blood is sufficient for the
cleansing of every sin.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Hebrews 9:26 – Because of the offering made by
Jesus Christ at Calvary, our sins can be “put away.”</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l4 level1 lfo3; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -0.25in;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span></span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Hebrews 10:8-18 – We are sanctified through this
offering.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Because it was one sacrifice
for sins forever, we who have been sanctified through this offering are forever
perfected. </span></div>
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</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: 0.25in; text-indent: -0.25in;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
SUMMARY:
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
When
Jesus Christ died on the cross, He paid the penalty for all the sin of all
mankind from Adam to eternity. Because
of this, when a sinner places his faith and trust in the finished work of Jesus
Christ for the salvation of his soul, all of his sins are forgiven (Ephesians
2:18; Romans 4:7-8; 1 John 1:9); removed (Psalm 103:10-12; Micah 7:19);
cleansed (1 John 1:7); put away (Hebrews 9:26); etc. This includes those sins committed up to the
moment of salvation AND those committed from the moment of salvation to the end
of this life in the flesh, either by death or the rapture. (When Jesus died 2,000 years ago, ALL of my
sins were still in the future.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
A
misunderstanding of these truths has led many to the mistaken notions that
salvation forgiveness covers only those sins committed up to that point and
that sins committed after the moment of salvation put the believer in jeopardy
of either (a) losing his salvation and ending up in hell, or (b) being punished
at the judgment seat of Christ and/or during the millennial kingdom. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
As a
believer, I am completely saved from the eternal penalty of my sin because my
sins were judged at Calvary. I can never
again be separated from God (Romans 8:37).
I can never again be under God’s wrath (Romans 8:1). I do not have to spend one moment’s worry
over spending a second in the hell I deserve because judicially speaking, my
sins are gone! They have been stricken
from God’s eternal record. In the words
of the famous hymn, “The old account was settled long ago.” Hallelujah!<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->B.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span>PRESENT
– Believers are chastened for their disobedience. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Galatians 6:7-8 – The believer is saved from the
eternal penalty of sin, but this does not nullify the laws of sowing and
reaping. The believer is in no way exempt
from dealing with the temporal consequences of the sins he commits.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->1 Corinthians 11:31-32 – As believers, we have a
choice. We can judge our own sins, or we
can let God judge our sins. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Hebrews 12:4-11 – God does not punish me for my
sin (in eternity), but as a loving Father, He does chasten me for my sin (in
time). This is an important
difference. Punishment looks backward
with a view to penalizing the offender.
Chastening looks forward with a view to bettering the offender. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->1 John 1:7-9 – The believer’s sins are cleansed
by the blood of Christ (v. 7). This is
his standing, his eternal position before God.
But as touching his state, he stands in need of forgiveness (v. 9)
because the sins he commits affect his fellowship with his Father. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo5; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->2 Samuel 12:13-14 – God put away David’s sin,
but David still had to deal with the consequences of his actions. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
SUMMARY:<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
These
truths answer the errant thinking of those who would turn the grace of God into
lasciviousness (Jude 1:4). God forbid
that a grace so abundant as to cover all sin be used as a reason or excuse to
continue in sin that such grace may abound (Romans 5:20-6:2). These passages also make it very clear where
and when believers are “judged” for the sins they commit, both before and after
salvation – in this life, on the earth! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo4; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]-->C.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;"> </span>FUTURE
– Believers’ works will be tried at the judgment seat of Christ to determine
their reward. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
The
passages cited above, and many others, will be studied in greater detail in the
following lessons. For now suffice it to
say that the two outcomes of this judgment, according to 1 Corinthians 3:14-15,
are “they shall receive a reward” or “they shall suffer loss.” That’s it.
Reward, or no reward. Not heaven
or hell; reward, or no reward. Not
millennial glory of millennial purgatory; reward, or no reward. Period.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
In
the coming weeks, look for outlined lessons on various topics centered on the theme
of the judgment seat of Christ. Please
feel free to make use of these lessons for any type of personal or group Bible
study. In the meantime, let us all busy
ourselves in building our lives on that most solid foundation, the Lord Jesus
Christ (1 Corinthians 3:10-11). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-53813341809850036942012-09-18T11:09:00.004-04:002012-09-18T11:10:58.747-04:00Spiritually Fat<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri; text-align: justify;">A little personal testimony by way of introduction. Since I married Lauren almost 6 years ago (Proverbs 18:22), I’ve put on about 20 pounds...roughly 10 pounds during each of Lauren’s pregnancies. She gained a lot more than I did during those 9 month periods, but the difference was that she would lose the weight she had gained after the babies were born.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; text-align: justify;">
What has happened to me – and I know many can identify with this – is that there came a time after I got married when I stopped eating like a single Bible college student (out of necessity), and I started eating like a married man whose wife can cook (for pleasure and enjoyment).</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; text-align: justify;">
Now, I realize (and am being kindly reminded by my wife) that I need to do something about my physical condition before it gets out of hand and becomes a lot harder to reverse, because being physically fat is – let’s say this nicely – really not desirable or beneficial in any way.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; text-align: justify;">
Spiritually speaking, though, it’s a different situation. None of us really want our bodies to be fat. But there are some Bible verses that indicate it’d actually be a good thing for our souls to be fat. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; text-align: justify;">
<b><i>Psalm 92:13-14 </i></b><i>Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be FAT and flourishing; </i></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;">
<i></i><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; text-align: justify;">
<b><i>Proverbs 11:25 </i></b><i>The liberal </i><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i>soul</i></span><i> shall be made FAT: and he that watereth shall be watered also himself.</i></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;">
<i></i><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; text-align: justify;">
<b><i>Proverbs 13:4 </i></b><i>The </i><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i>soul</i></span><i> of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the </i><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><i>soul</i></span><i> of the diligent shall be made FAT.</i></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;">
<i></i><br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; text-align: justify;">
<b><i>Proverbs 28:25 </i></b><i>He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made FAT.</i></div>
<div style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; min-height: 12px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; text-align: justify;">
So borrowing from personal experience, how can I be spiritually fat? I can stop eating out of necessity and start eating for pleasure and enjoyment (see Jeremiah 15:16).</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; min-height: 13px; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; text-align: justify;">
And according to the above scriptures, how can I be spiritually fat? I can plant myself in the house of God (Psalm 92:13-14). I can give liberally (Proverbs 11:25; Acts 20:35). I can be diligent about my spiritual life (Proverbs 13:4; 2 Peter 1:5). And I can put my trust in the Lord (Proverbs 28:25). </div>
</div>
DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-61813728703670243982012-09-04T14:10:00.003-04:002012-09-04T14:12:04.099-04:00The Great Digression<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
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A
little bit of history to set the backdrop.
When God gave His law to the nation of Israel – which the nation agreed
to keep (Exodus 19:8; 24:3-7; Deuteronomy 5:27) – the consequences for
obedience and disobedience to that law were clearly laid out. Obedience would result in the blessings of
safety, peace, and prosperity.
Disobedience would result in famine, sickness, oppression, war, and
eventual removal from the land of promise (Leviticus 26; Deuteronomy 28). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
As
you know, the history of Israel is one of disobedience, rebellion, and
idolatry. And what God said would
happen, did. In 2 Kings 17 (about 722
BC), the ten northern tribes of Israel were carried into captivity by the
Assyrians. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
The
chapter not only records the final deportation, it summarizes the reasons why it
came to this. And it is a very marked
digression. Sadly, it’s also one that
looks mighty familiar. Let’s take a
look…<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br />
<a name='more'></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b>STEP 1: SECRET SIN<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->They walked in the statutes of the heathen (v.
8). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->They did secretly those things that were not
right (v. 9).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->They built high places in their cities (v. 9).<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->They set up images and groves in every high hill
(v. 10). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->They served idols (v. 12). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
The
people of Israel did not start by forsaking God. They didn’t start with open rebellion. They just started incorporating heathen
practices and heathen gods and heathen worship into their Hebrew lives. They didn’t stop going to the temple. They just visited the grove as well. They didn’t throw away God’s law. They just chose to ignore certain parts. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Does
that not sound familiar? Don’t you know
saved people (young and old) who go to church and say they love God, but
instead of living by the Bible, they walk in the statutes of the heathen? Who get their standards from society instead
of the scriptures? Who worship God on
Sunday and American idol on Monday? Who
go to church on Sunday morning but spend the rest of the weekend worshipping
athletes and celebrities? Who might
spend a Thursday evening in the church house then turn around and spend Friday
evening in a movie house? <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
It’s
not that they’re against God. They’re
not opposed to church. Their standards
and their morals and their religious devotion is even greater than most of the
people around them. They just don’t want
to be too peculiar (Titus 2:14; 1 Peter 2:9).
They want to be like everyone else – just better (after all, they’re
Christians. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b>STEP 2: HARDENED NECKS<o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
In
Israel’s case, God’s response was to send a prophet to preach a negative
message – “the Lord testified against Israel” – and call on the people to
repent – “turn ye from your evil ways” (v. 13).
Their response to the preaching: “They would not hear, but hardened
their necks” (v. 14). “And they rejected
his statutes” (v. 15). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Because
God loved them, he sent them men to preach straight and strong and tell the
truth and give them an opportunity to avert the destruction that was surely
headed their way. But they “did not
believe” (v. 14). They ignored the message
and opposed the messengers. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
I’ve
seen this as well. Our pastor, a guest
preacher, or a youth rally speaker will stand and proclaim the truth of God’s
word. He preaches strong; he preaches
straight. Young people (and older
people) are urged and cautioned and warned of the dangers of living after the
flesh. They are encouraged and exhorted
and challenged to line up their lives with the word and will of God. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
But the
preaching is rejected. The word of God
ignored. First, the hearers simply
refuse to respond. They refuse to allow the
word of God to change them – which means they don’t believe it (1 Thessalonians
2:13). Next, they begin to criticize the
preaching; to find fault with the preacher; to disagree whenever possible. And finally, they will begin to avoid
it. This is easily accomplished: sitting
in back rows; coming in late; texting during the service; sleeping through the
service; getting involved with an NIV, FCA, come as you are, para-church,
“Christian” club that meets on Sunday nights.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<b>STEP 3: TOTAL DISOBEDIENCE <o:p></o:p></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Missing church for school<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Missing church for sports<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Positive hits over Ephesians 5:19 music<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->“Moderate” immodesty<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo2; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.25in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Comfortable, casual, acceptable Christianity<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
The
big deal about what many consider to be little things is not the things
themselves; it’s what they lead to. The
greatest cause for concern may not be what you’re doing today but what it means
you’ll be doing tomorrow. It’s not where
you’re at, it’s the direction that you’re headed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Proverbs
4:14-15 says, “ENTER NOT INTO THE PATH OF THE WICKED, and GO NOT IN THE WAY OF
EVIL MEN…” Don’t even take a step in
that direction. If you don’t want to go
there, don’t even get on that road. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Such
was the case with Israel. The secret
sins of verse 9 led to leaving all the commandments of the Lord in verse
16. The groves and high places of verses
10-11 led to the sacrificing of children to molten images in verses 16-17. Walking in the statutes of the heathen in
verse 8 led to rejecting God’s statutes; going after the heathen; following
vanity; verse 15. “Therefore the LORD
was very angry with Israel, and removed them out of his sight” (v. 18). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
A
little bit of worldliness puts a person on a slope that leans toward all-out
worldliness. A little presumptuous sin
is the first step on the path of defiant rebellion. Ignoring what God says about a “little thing”
(e.g. music) means that before long, you might be ignoring what God says about
a “big thing” (e.g. alcohol). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
How
did it all end up? Well, look what
Israel turned their back on: they rejected God’s covenant (v. 15). That is, they forfeited all the rich
blessings that accompanied obedience to His law. We’re living in a different day as a
different people with different promises of different blessings, but God still
richly blesses the lives of those who walk by faith, in His ways. And sadly, many still turn their back on the
blessings He offers.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
And
look what they followed: vanity, they became vain (v. 15). They wasted their lives. Their lives were empty; pointless;
meaningless; eventually miserable. They voluntarily
returned to what God had delivered them from – bondage (2 Peter 2). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
That’s
the choice the Lord holds out to every one of us and the choice he would have
us hold out to the next generation: enjoy the blessings of obedience, or waste
your life pursuing your own pleasure, having nothing to show for it on the day
that you stand before God.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
May
the Lord help us all to choose wisely. </div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-29001551538673232012-08-28T22:38:00.001-04:002012-08-31T11:59:05.050-04:00The Law of Approbation<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<b><i>Joshua 1:3 </i></b><i>Every place
that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I
said unto Moses.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
The Scofield Study Bible offers this brief, insightful note:
“The law of appropriation. God gives, but we must take.” Is that not the truth? The land was theirs. God had given it to them. The victory was theirs. God had already promised it to them. The battle was the Lord’s. He had said that He would fight for them
(Deuteronomy 1:3; 3:22; 20:4). But they
still had to go out to the battlefield and fight. They still had to engage the enemy and claim
the victory God had given.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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Consider these applications of this simple truth:<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
<a name='more'></a></div>
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SALVATION</div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->God gave us His Son, but that love only benefits
those who believe on Him (John 3:16). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The gift of God is eternal life through Jesus
Christ our Lord (Romans 6:23), but we must receive this gift (John 1:12) by
placing our faith in Him (Ephesians 2:8-9).
<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The righteousness of God which is by faith of
Jesus Christ is unto all but only upon all them that believe (Romans 3:22). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Whosoever will may come, and the water of life
is free, but we have to come and take it (Revelation 22:17).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
THE CHRISTIAN LIFE<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->God has given unto us all things pertaining to
life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), but we must diligently add to our faith (2
Peter 1:5). <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We already have the eternal life (John 10:28)
that we’re told to lay hold of (1 Timothy 6:12).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We are indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God (John
7:37-39), but we must be filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18) by
yielding control of our members unto Him (Romans 6:13).<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->The whole armor is available in the person of
Jesus Christ (truth – John 14:6; righteousness – 1 Corinthians 1:30; peace –
Ephesians 2:14; salvation – Acts 4:12; faith – Galatians 2:20; word – John
1:1-3, 14), but we must take it (Ephesians 6:13) and put it (Ephesians 6:10;
Romans 13:12) or Him (Romans 13:14) on. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraph" style="margin-left: .25in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->He is the God of all comfort (2 Corinthians
1:3), but we must rest in Him (Psalm 37:7).
His grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9), but we must obtain it by
coming to His throne (Hebrews 4:14-16). He
is our refuge (Psalm 46:1), but we must lean on His everlasting arms
(Deuteronomy 33:27).<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are many, many more examples. Leave your comments and help me add to this
list. <o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4413999986671528431.post-31475229321942558282012-08-22T15:22:00.004-04:002012-08-31T11:59:18.586-04:00Broad Plates<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<br />
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In
Numbers 16, Korah (a Levite) and Dathan and Abiram (from the tribe of Reuben)
led a company of 250 Levites in an uprising against Moses’ leadership and
Aaron’s priesthood. “Wherefore lift ye
up yourselves above the congregation of the Lord (v. 3)?” These Levites had a position in the Lord’s
service but were not content with the position they were given. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
(Explanation:
God selected Aaron and his descendants to fill the office of the
priesthood. Aaron was a Levite. Thus, all the priests were Levites. The Levitical priesthood of Hebrews 7:11 is
that of Aaron’s descendants. But not all
the Levites were priests. There were
many families besides Aaron’s in the tribe of Levi. These Levites were selected
by God and separated by God for the service of the tabernacle and the service
of the priests. But they did not offer
sacrifices or perform the other priestly duties. This is what angered the group in Numbers
16.)<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
The
test that was to determine whether Moses and Aaron had lifted themselves up
above the congregation of the Lord (the charge of vv. 3, 13) or if it was the
Lord who had done so involved Korah, the 250 Levites, and Aaron all taking
censers, with fire and incense, and standing before the door of the
tabernacle. It is unclear to me what the
purpose of the censers was or how the determination was expected to be made,
but when the Lord appears, He makes His selection very clear, saying to Moses
and Aaron in verse 21, “Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that
I may consume them in a moment,” and in verse 24, “Speak unto the congregation,
saying, Get you up from about the tabernacle of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
You’re
probably familiar with what happens next.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>“And the earth opened up and swallowed them up, and their houses, and
all the men that appertained to Korah, and all their goods. They, and all that appertained to them, went
down alive into the pit. And all Israel
that were round about them fled at the cry of them: for they said, Lest the
earth swallow us up also. And there came
out a fire from the LORD, and consumed the two hundred and fifty men that
offered incense” (vv. 32-35). <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
What
I had never noticed in the account is what was done with the censers brought to
the tabernacle by the 250 Levites. Verse
36, “And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Eleazar the son of Aaron
the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter thou
the fire yonder; for they are hallowed.
The censers of these sinners against their own souls, <u>let them make
them broad plates for a covering of the altar:</u> for they offered them before
the LORD, therefore they are hallowed: and they shall be a sign unto the
children of Israel…To be a memorial unto the children of Israel, <u>that no
stranger, which is not of the seed of Aaron, come near to offer incense before
the LORD;</u> that he be not as Korah, and as his company: as the LORD said to
him by the hand of Moses.” <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: .5in; text-align: justify; text-indent: -.5in; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
When
I read that, those words jumped out at me, and immediately my mind went to King
Uzziah. “But when we was strong, his
heart was lifted up to his destruction: for he transgressed against the LORD
his God, and went into the temple of the LORD to burn incense upon the altar of
incense” (2 Chronicles 26:16). How could
he do that! In order to offer incense on
that altar he had to look right at the broad plates that covered that altar…the
plates made out of the censers of the men who had been consumed by the fire of
God from heaven…for doing the very thing he was doing! What willful rebellion! What open defiance! What presumptuous sin! <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
There’s
an application here for us as Christians.
Are there not times when what the Bible says is so clear; when the Lord
has clearly shown us what happens to those who disregard it and reject it; when
God gives us every warning possible and every opportunity to stop; but we lay
all that aside and move forward with our own stupid, stubborn, defiant
disobedience. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
We
really have no excuse. Not when the
altar is covered with broad plates. May the Lord
help us to heed His warnings and simply follow His word. Amen.<o:p></o:p></div>
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DAVID BROWNhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03456850764818191732noreply@blogger.com0