Good Morning Truth Seekers! I want to begin the morning by acknowledging the wonderful job Cindy Winters and the First Baptist Maryville family did in celebrating Pastor Fred Winters' life. It was a send off fitting for the son of a king.
Job 22-24 Eliphaz instructs Job to turn back to God and be at peace with Him. This is an encouraging rebuke to any in the sense that it assures that God will restore us if we repent and follow him. But Job said in 23:11 that he has stayed with God all along. Furthermore at the end of this test he will come forth as gold. I pray that I may boast in righteousness from a more humble offering as a witness to God, not opposing him. But Job stands on it, that he would stand the review against the judgement of God for righteousness. He said that he treasured Gods words more than his daily bread. Go and do likewise.
! Corinthians 8 : I will begin at the end of the chapter; Paul states that we should not do anything that will cause another to stumble spiritually. He contends that the mature shares responsibility for the immature and weak. Whether it be eating food dedicated to idols or whatever. Paul's message is that first; idols are nothing, therefore, eating food dedicatied to them means nothing, but to someone less knowledgeable might not over come our strength displayed on such an occassion. Therefore, do not do anythng that might cause such awe and shock to them.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Job 20-21 :1 Corinthians 7:20-40
Good Morning Truth Seekers! Job 20 & 21 reminds me that two people who argue both think they are right. Job and Zophar both believe they are right. The truth is that they both are. Job is being accused of having done some sin to deserve his circumstance. But he is innocent of willful sin. God has allowed the devil to test Job because of his righteousness, not his wickedness. Zophar list a litany of what happens to those who live an unrighteous life. He is right about that, but wrong about his friend. Be careful in passing judgement on someone, God might be doing a new thing and it does not mean we understand it or know about it. Job on the other hand questions God, and there are consequences to such behavior. God really does not have to explain himself to Job. Job is in utter anguish, he has lost his family, possession and his health. I would hope for friends who would deal with my suffering instead of my punishment.
1 Corinthians 7: 20-end. Is quite confusing if you do not have a score card. Paul is completing his thought of where ever God finds you he is calling you as you are to reach people based on that positioning. You do not have to become free if you became a believer as a slave. No hoops to serve God. God is looking for relationship; not religion. Paul seemingly is thinking that the end is near. Therefore, he is speaking of marriage and such when it comes to the end. His thought is not to encumber yourself with the concerns of another in such times. But be devoted to God. A single person would have different responsibility and availability to serve, over a married person. This is more about devotion to God given such a short time. I guess we all should live like Paul is thinking. Anything else is a spirit of entitlement. God does not owe us a another day, and we do not know which is our last. Live Righteously devoted to God!
1 Corinthians 7: 20-end. Is quite confusing if you do not have a score card. Paul is completing his thought of where ever God finds you he is calling you as you are to reach people based on that positioning. You do not have to become free if you became a believer as a slave. No hoops to serve God. God is looking for relationship; not religion. Paul seemingly is thinking that the end is near. Therefore, he is speaking of marriage and such when it comes to the end. His thought is not to encumber yourself with the concerns of another in such times. But be devoted to God. A single person would have different responsibility and availability to serve, over a married person. This is more about devotion to God given such a short time. I guess we all should live like Paul is thinking. Anything else is a spirit of entitlement. God does not owe us a another day, and we do not know which is our last. Live Righteously devoted to God!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Job 17-19:1 Corinthians 7:1-19
Good Morning Truth Seekers! Job continues to hold fast to his righteousness. His friends plead with him to be sensible. Job relents that God has wrongly judged him and that he would prefer death. He gives hope to 19:25 I know my redeemer lives. And that he will see God's face after this life and suffering ends.
1 Corinthians 7:Paul deal with Marriage. Unmarried himself he believes that is better for those who are serving God. However, he gives way to marriage if one cannot control sexual self. Paul gives instruction to married couples to fulfill each other sexually and not to withhold their bodies from one another except for prayer and a time of mutual consent. His warning is that the Devil will tempt them sexually to seek satisfaction elsewhere. Paul is of the conviction that divorce should not be for difference in religion. But if a non believer wants to honor the marriage then stay in it, who knows conversion might come. Nothing is more important than obeying the commands of God. This speaks to the concept of conversion and calling. One does not have to jump through hoops to serve God. He can use anyone he chooses.
1 Corinthians 7:Paul deal with Marriage. Unmarried himself he believes that is better for those who are serving God. However, he gives way to marriage if one cannot control sexual self. Paul gives instruction to married couples to fulfill each other sexually and not to withhold their bodies from one another except for prayer and a time of mutual consent. His warning is that the Devil will tempt them sexually to seek satisfaction elsewhere. Paul is of the conviction that divorce should not be for difference in religion. But if a non believer wants to honor the marriage then stay in it, who knows conversion might come. Nothing is more important than obeying the commands of God. This speaks to the concept of conversion and calling. One does not have to jump through hoops to serve God. He can use anyone he chooses.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Job 14-16: 1 Corinthian 6
Good Morning Truth Seekers! Job continues to defend himself against his friends who are there to console him. Job begin in 14 with Man born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble. He laments continually that he is not getting better and cannot die. He ask God to just hide him in the grave to conceal him until His anger passes. Job prefers death, and says that he is going to wait on his change to come. Meaning that he would have more hope in death and less pain. Eliphaz challenges that Job would be better to confess his sin and stop offending God with proclaiming his own righteousness. Job calls them miserable comforters. Job is worn out and is in agony. But prophetically he says that his intercessor is in heaven, and pleads on behalf of man. He speaks of the Jesus and looks upwardly to his judgement and vindication.
1 Corinthians 6 is Paul's clear dissatisfaction about public lawsuits among believers. Paul is concerned with the witness of the church and frowns on going outside for such disputes. Furthermore, he denounces sin. Sexual sins is sin. No hierarchy of sin nor sinner. Meaning slanderer is not higher than the homosexual. We need to stop trying to pass judgement on anyone, but pray for everyone including ourselves to honor God even in our bodies. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit and that should inspire us to behave different. When I was a little boy I was advised when I was away from home to act like my mom was there watching me, and ask myself would I do whatever it was if that was the case. God is due more respect than our mothers. So let us all govern ourselves accordingly.
1 Corinthians 6 is Paul's clear dissatisfaction about public lawsuits among believers. Paul is concerned with the witness of the church and frowns on going outside for such disputes. Furthermore, he denounces sin. Sexual sins is sin. No hierarchy of sin nor sinner. Meaning slanderer is not higher than the homosexual. We need to stop trying to pass judgement on anyone, but pray for everyone including ourselves to honor God even in our bodies. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit and that should inspire us to behave different. When I was a little boy I was advised when I was away from home to act like my mom was there watching me, and ask myself would I do whatever it was if that was the case. God is due more respect than our mothers. So let us all govern ourselves accordingly.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Job 11-13: 1 Corinthians 5
Good Morning Truth Seekers! Job 11-13 is a continuation of the debate between Job and his friends. Jobs position is that he has the right to speak to God. Whatever their fear is for him, I believe that Job's position is "What else could God do to him?" Job's friends continue to warn him against what seems like arrogance. They advise him to repent and confess his sin, and encourage him in that then God will relent this attack against him. They are outraged that Job holds on to his innocence. Job asked God to turn away from him, give him his day of court and tell him what he has done wrong or his sin.
1 Corinthian 5: Paul is stern in his demands of the saints at Corinth regarding the sexually immoral brother who is sleeping with his father's wife. Paul believe that allowing such to go without harsh discipline will effect the entire body. Paul is clear that the right thing to do is to have nothing to do with such a person. Paul names the sexually immoral, swindlers and idolaters together to clarify earlier instruction, but now say treat them as wicked and expel them.
1 Corinthian 5: Paul is stern in his demands of the saints at Corinth regarding the sexually immoral brother who is sleeping with his father's wife. Paul believe that allowing such to go without harsh discipline will effect the entire body. Paul is clear that the right thing to do is to have nothing to do with such a person. Paul names the sexually immoral, swindlers and idolaters together to clarify earlier instruction, but now say treat them as wicked and expel them.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Job 8-10: 1 Corinthians 4
Good Morning Truth Seekers! Job 8-10 continues the accusations from his friends and Job defense. Job relents that he is innocent of any sin, and is in turmoil because he does not know why God is punishing him. Finally at the encouragement of one of Bildad Job questions God. Mistake! Especially after he give argument to why he should not take God on. I think that many times we all rush to judgement about why some is suffering. Suffering is not always a consequence of misdeeds. Good men suffer sometimes. Christ who was without sin is the poster child for that one. God is sovereign and if he deems it, so be it. I pray for the strength and faith to endure every trial and testing.
1 Corinthians 4 Paul makes it clear that the apostles are servants of God entrusted with the secret things of God. Therefore, the only thing he cares about is proving faithful to his calling to carry forth the good news. Paul accepts his imperfections and advise that God will judge him and all other men and only then will we know their hearts and motives. Paul's message to the saints at Corinth is that they have it much better than apostles. The apostles are under the microscope of the world and extreme hardship. I think that Paul is saying don;t envy him, he is suffering for the cause of Christ and that comes with a high price of sacrifice. Paul saves that he will deal with the gossips personally when he gets there.
I believe that with leadership comes criticism. Paul is pointing to the work and suffering as to say would anyone consider this gain. However, follow him and see his lifestyle and conviction to what he is preaching. I am discouraged at the number of people who can be so easily swayed against a good man by lies. Have not people heard of Stephen who was a honest man, but his enemies lied on him to justify their own desires? A lie is still a lie regardless of how many people repeat it.
1 Corinthians 4 Paul makes it clear that the apostles are servants of God entrusted with the secret things of God. Therefore, the only thing he cares about is proving faithful to his calling to carry forth the good news. Paul accepts his imperfections and advise that God will judge him and all other men and only then will we know their hearts and motives. Paul's message to the saints at Corinth is that they have it much better than apostles. The apostles are under the microscope of the world and extreme hardship. I think that Paul is saying don;t envy him, he is suffering for the cause of Christ and that comes with a high price of sacrifice. Paul saves that he will deal with the gossips personally when he gets there.
I believe that with leadership comes criticism. Paul is pointing to the work and suffering as to say would anyone consider this gain. However, follow him and see his lifestyle and conviction to what he is preaching. I am discouraged at the number of people who can be so easily swayed against a good man by lies. Have not people heard of Stephen who was a honest man, but his enemies lied on him to justify their own desires? A lie is still a lie regardless of how many people repeat it.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Job 5-7: Corinthians 3
Good Evening Truth Seekers! Today I lost my friend and he gained his reward. Dr. Fred Winters was brutally shot down in church today. Two years ago when I was searching for fellowship, Fred invited me to join his Joshua Men's Group. I will be forever grateful and changed due to his generosity and wisdom. Thank you Fred for investing your life in me! I ask that you pray for Cindy and her two girls. Pray that they will live out their purpose as Fred did and endure with strength until God calls them home to be with their husband and father. Job story is one of God using him and a part of his story was pain. Fred is still being used by God, and today I saw his friends and church family lift up the name of Jesus in stead of run anybody down. To God be the glory!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
