So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.

Jonah 1:7-16 

So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows. Jonah 1:15-16

I continue my study in Jonah to supplement my church's current sermon series in this book.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: As I posted yesterday,  the mariners threw the cargo overboard and "each cried out to his god," but neither of these actions moved God to relent of his wrath towards Jonah. God wanted Jonah's attention and he got it in the text today...He also got the attention of the captain and his crew as vv15-16 share how once Jonah was thrown overboard, the sea (God) immediately "ceased from its raging[, and]...the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows." The text today does not detail what these vows were but my sense is that they made vows to the Lord to believe and trust Him.  God made the sea rage to not only get the attention of Jonah but also of the captain and his crew.  God wants everyone's full attention!    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Fear is a great motivator and it often pushes people to desperation.  The ship's captain and crew clearly sought to avoid death, and once they learned how Jonah was a Hebrew but running from God, and then saw how throwing him overboard calmed the sea, they instantly believed (including prayer to God to seek forgiveness for throwing Jonah overboard) in God as King of Kings and sovereign over all including Creation.  Jonah, at the same time, saw God's wrath and recognized that the raging sea was due to his disobedience - nothing anyone could do (including tossing cargo overboard and crying out to their pagan gods).  We often do not discern how our circumstances reflect God's work and in this case God was disciplining Jonah.  God's discipline may also reflect His desire to mold us into more of His image and to prepare us for future ministry.  God wanted to use Jonah to reach the gentiles in Nineveh and for them to repent and Jonah for some reason did not want to perform this mission.  Don't miss what and how God is working in your life - he could be punishing you OR he could just be preparing you for future ministry - discipline as training.       
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid missing how God is using your circumstances where He is using discipline as training.  Claim the promise that nothing is hidden from Him and God is sovereign over all. Follow the example of Jonah and the mariners - Jonah repented from his sin and the mariners prayed to God.  Trust and depend on God for everything in your life as He holds your life in His hands.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves.  You are in control of all details and You seek my full attention....and You deserve it!  You saved me!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and blessing.  My sin is great and it continues....daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

So the captain came and said to [Jonah], “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.”

Jonah 1:1-6 

So the captain came and said to [Jonah], “What do you mean, you sleeper? Arise, call out to your god! Perhaps the god will give a thought to us, that we may not perish.” Jonah 1:6

I completed my study of Hebrews, and I begin a study in Jonah to supplement my church's current sermon series in this book.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V1: God speaks and works as He is accessible and available to people through various forms - most prominently through His Word, the Holy Spirit, the church (sermons, Bible studies, etc.).  V2: When God speaks, we are prodded into action - this time Jonah is called to go to Nineveh and urge the people to repent of their sin.  V4: Disobedience to God has consequences - for many, when such rebellion persists it will be eternal damnation.  Here, God causes a great wind and tempest - "so that the ship threatened to break up."   Vv5-6: Jonah is so comfortable with his sin that He goes to sleep, feeling deserving of rest.  We may think we will get away with sin but no sin is hidden from God. God stirs fear into the mariners on Jonah's ship - God is seeking to get Jonah's attention and He works through not just the wind/storm but also through the mariners (captain) stirring Jonah to call out to (his) God. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: V3: Jonah rebelled against God's authority and command, as he fled to Tarshish - about as far away as one can go from Nineveh at the time (see this map).  The text is silent why Jonah fled but there are many reasons why someone would flee from God - fear of punishment, fear of failure, disagreement with or objection to God's commands, etc.  What we do know is that Nineveh was the capital city of the of Assyrian Empire - a known enemy of Israel. Vv5-6: Anxiety and panic forces a response, often not the right response.  In the text today, the mariners "each cried out to his god," but this did not lead to the outcome God was seeking, which was for Jonah to preach to Nineveh.  The captain sought for Jonah to call upon God (not even knowing who Jonah's God was) - this was the right move for the captain but God sought for Jonah's heart to move....
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid rebellion against God.  Claim the promise that obedience to God is not burdensome (1 John 5:3b) as it is a natural response based on our love and adoration for Him. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who alone forgives and offers eternal life!  I know that when I cry out to You that You not only hear me but respond!  Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You love, save, and bless.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Hebrews 13:7-25 

Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured. For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. Hebrews 13:13-16

I complete my study of Hebrews with a reading of 13:7-25, where we see closing remarks by the author - these remarks include instructions to remember, obey and submit to leaders, to be on guard for false teachings, to seek eternal rewards vs earthly ones, to continually praise God, and to pray.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: V8: Jesus Christ and God do not change - see also Malachi 3:6.  He is both eternal and unchanging. V12: Jesus is described as the spotless lamb and final sacrifice through which all of humanity has forgiveness of sin. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv7, 17: God places leaders above us and calls us to submit to their authority and to imitate their faith. These leaders are watching over us and it is of no benefit for us to grumble and complain about them.  V9: There are those who misuse and twist God's Word for their own agenda and benefit (vs that of God) - we need to not just read the Word but understand it - we do so aided by the Holy Spirit, our church, and our brothers and sisters in Christ.  Vv13-14: Believers are called to sacrifice and "bear the reproach [Jesus] endured," because just as He sought to reign from Heaven, we also seek Heaven as our home. Vv15-16: Instead of the animal sacrifices practiced in the Old Testament, God seeks for us to "continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God" (see also Romans 12:1), through worship of His name and love of others (vs focus on self and our own selfish desires).  V18: We are called to pray for leaders, including the author of Hebrews, such that they "act honorably in all things". 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid falling prey to false teachings and grumbling and complaining about church leadership.  Claim the promise that our home is in Heaven and that God is saving place for us and it will be glorious.  Follow the example of Jesus and offer your body as a living sacrifice - living in such a way (loving Him and others) that brings glory to God and draws others to Him. Do good and share what you have. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You love, save, and bless.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Let brotherly love continue.

Hebrews 13:1-6 

Let brotherly love continue. Hebrews 13:1

I move closer to the end of my study of Hebrews, as I start reading chapter 13 - the final chapter of this book.  In the text today - 13:1-6, we see a number of commands related to how we are to love others and treasure God above all.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?:  God loves everyone and seeks to save as many as possible, because all are fallen and are in need of Savior.  To this end, God wants believers to show hospitality to strangers (vv1-2), to love and serve those who are in prison and mistreated, and to honor the marriage bond by avoiding sexual immorality and adultery - vv3-4.  We must value and treasure God above all, and the text explicitly and specifically seeks for us to avoid the love of money and instead to "be content with what you have" (v5a). Vv5b-6 quotes Deuteronomy 31:8, Joshua 1:5 and Psalm 118:6 as promises to encourage us to be content as God gives us all that we need, is always with us, and is our refuge and rock.    
• What do we learn from the text about people?: We are prone to seek our own selfish desires vs loving and serving others.  The hurts and needs in the world around us are staggering - thus God wants us to love Him first then others (2nd most important commandment).  We must put aside and deny ourselves of our selfish desires and go to where the needs are and serve those in need - let brotherly love continue. 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid the love of money (or anything else where you treasure that something above Him).  Claim the promises that God will never leave or forsake you and that the Lord is your helper.  Follow the example of those who love and serve others, including those who go into the prisons and serve those who are mistreated.  Love God, then love others.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who will never leave or forsake me, and You are my helper.  Thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You love, save, and bless.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and this let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

Hebrews 12:18-29 

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and this let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.  Hebrews 12:28-29

I continue my study of Hebrews, and in the text today - Hebrews 12:18-29 - the author pivots from the theme of enduring hardship as discipline from God to a description of the eternal kingdom of Jesus that cannot be shaken.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv18-24: Jesus’ kingdom is contrasted with the presence of God on Mount Sinai where only Moses could ascend the mountain to speak with God, and no one could touch the mountain lest they die.  Jesus’ kingdom is alive and in the “heavenly Jerusalem” with the Father (sitting at the Father’s right hand) where God is “judge of all,” and where believers are glorified and “made perfect.”  Believers are also now brought to Jesus who is the author of a new and better covenant than the one offered at Mount Sinai.   Vv25-27: Those who encounter Jesus and His new kingdom are encouraged to not refuse or deny Him, because we will not escape being shaken and eternally condemned.  Vv27-28: Those who do accept and surrender to Jesus are encouraged to be grateful that we belong to a kingdom that will remain after all else passes away and only the New Jerusalem exists. 
• What do we learn from the text about people?: Vv28-29: Believers proper response to belonging to such an eternal kingdom that cannot be shaken is to “offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”  See also Romans 12:1 where Paul defines believers’ offering of their bodies and lives as “a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, [as our] spiritual worship.” 
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid refusing or denying Jesus and as a result being shaken to the point where you will not remain and instead be eternally condemned. Claim the promise that if you accept and surrender to Jesus, you belong to an eternal kingdom that cannot be shaken.  Confess your sin, repent, believe, and remain (abide) in Him. 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves, saves and whose kingdom cannot be shaken and You are my rock!  Thank You for how You love, save and never change - giving me peace and rest that I can never be separated from Your love.  I am not deserving of how You love, save, and bless.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled[.]

Hebrews 12:12-17

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled[.] Hebrews 12:14-15

I continue my study of Hebrews, and in the text today - Hebrews 12:12-17 - the author, based on how he exhorts believers to see discipline as training from God, and good, issues a call to action for believers to press on with the mission to share the gospel and to support other believers in their journey so that they not "shrink back."  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Vv12-13: God seeks for us to grow, and this often includes painful periods of discipline as God is using our circumstances to prune and shape us into who He seeks for us to serve His purpose. V14: God knows that believers must be a light if His Great Commission is to gather and sustain any momentum. V15-16: Unity in the church is critical as one "defiled" person may defile many - therefore He wants us to support and encourage other believers.      
• What do we learn from the text about people?: My previous post highlighted text where discipline is sometimes viewed as painful - temporarily.  While this may be true it also inevitably makes us stronger and resilient as our spiritual muscles tear, heal, and grow back stronger - this is vv12-13.  While persecution and other interpersonal clashes may cause us to lash out to others in response, v14 encourages us to "strive for peace with everyone," because if we don't demonstrate being a light (holy and set apart), we risk apostasy and eternal damnation.  Vv15-17 concludes with the author seeking for believers to encourage and support other believers such that we avoid a "root of bitterness" among us that again may lead to disunity in the church and apostasy of believers. The example of Esau is used as he "despised" his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34), allowing this "root of bitterness" to drag Esau away from holiness.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): Avoid discouragement and a root of bitterness to fester and drag you away from God and into sin.  Claim the promise that God disciplines those He loves and see your circumstances through what God is causing or allowing in your life for good and His glory.  Encourage and support other believers to press on with the Great Commission.  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  Thank You Jesus for how You provide support and encouragement from other believers.  I am not deserving of how You love, save, and bless.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Hebrews 12:7-11

For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Hebrews 12:11

I continue my study of Hebrews, and in the text today - Hebrews 12:7-11 - the author continues to describe how discipline from the Father help us believers endure to the end.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method.  

• What do we learn from the text about God?: God treats believers as members of His family - like sons or daughters whom He loves, so He disciplines them as a means to train them in the right way to go (see also Proverbs 22:6).  If we are not disciplined, then we are see as "illegitimate children" and it is implied we lose something with this "illegitimate" status - v8.  Vv9-10: If we respect the discipline from our earthly father, we should even more so respect discipline from our Heavenly Father. Vv10-11: Discipline from our earthly father is seen as an earthly or temporary gain while discipline from God forwards an eternal and heavenly purpose - one we should be joyous to experience.  It is of course not something expected to be grasped by non-believers but the author of Hebrews seeks for believers to look beyond the temporary pain of discipline to see the value and joy of what it produces - "the peaceful fruit of righteousness."     
• What do we learn from the text about people?: People don't like discipline - yes it is painful and many people avoid it because they don't want the pain.  While believers of course don't have invite discipline - we should not look at it as an unpleasant experience.  Whenever we experience pain or difficulties of any kind, we should attempt to see how God is at work pruning or disciplining us for good - Romans 8:28.
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?):  

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My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and saves!  Thank You Jesus for how You discipline and prune me for good.  I am not deserving of how You love, save, and bless.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.