As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith.

1 Timothy 1

As I urged you when I was going to Macedonia, remain at Ephesus so that you may charge certain persons not to teach any different doctrine, nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies, which promote speculations rather than the stewardship from God that is by faith. 1 Timothy 1:3-4

I continue with my study of 1 and 2 Timothy, using DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for these books. Today, I look at 1 Timothy 1:3–5, Part 2. Excerpts from the video entitled God’s Household Plan for His Church:

• The core focus of the video is the Greek word oikonomia from v4 which translates to stewardship in the ESV translation used by John Piper; it refers to God's stewardship, or the masters plan for the household or church; see also Ephesians 3:8-10 and 1:9-10 where that same Greek word oikonomia appears (translated to plan in ESV)
  
• Paul then defines the aim of the plan in v5 where he exhorts Timothy, in all matters related to the church, to promote God's stewardship by love; in the previous two verses vv3-4, Paul has warned Timothy that false doctrine does not forward the mission of the church; v5 further defines the aim by describing how love "issues from" three things, a "a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith."  Scripture elsewhere points to the latter of the three as the root (more basic and fundamental) of the other two; see also Acts 15:9 and 1 Peter 1:22 where the text describes how faith (or obedience to the truth) > pure heart > love.
• Summarizing, Piper reiterates how God's household plan (for the church) and love both come from faith; this relationship between faith and love is then described as the core theme in 1 Timothy and this could be the thesis of the entire book, see also Titus 1:7 for Paul's words regarding qualifications for church elders and pastors as stewards of God's plan must demonstrate key attributes of faith, including "hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught" (faith)

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me faith as a gift - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a gift as I worry and often have anxiety and I know this is sinful.  Forgive me 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. 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.

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

1 Timothy 1

The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 1 Timothy 1:5

I continue with my study of 1 and 2 Timothy, using DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for these books. Today, I look at 1 Timothy 1:3–5, Part 1. Excerpts from the video entitled The Problem with Christian Speculations:

• The core of the message is Paul instructing Timothy how to deal with false teaching in the church at Ephesus as he moves on to Macedonia, leaving Timothy behind in Ephesus
• In his instruction to Timothy, Paul provides two negative charges in vv3-4 and one positive charge in v5 
• The first negative charge is in v3 where Timothy is to prevent "certain persons" from teaching anything but sound doctrine; see also 1 Timothy 1:10-11, 1 Timothy 6:3-4, 1 Timothy 6:20 for Paul's thoughts on sound and healthy doctrine that accords with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God, and how sound doctrine is defined - doctrine that accords with Godliness.  The reference to 1 Timothy 6:20 addresses how we should "guard" this sound doctrine.
  
• The second negative charge is in v4 where Piper shares how many at the time the letter was written focused on interesting and fascinating "speculations" but these speculations regarding scripture were made up, not gospel centered, and did not forward the mission of the gospel.  Piper shares how myths and genealogies were "fictions" and led people away from sound and healthy doctrine. See also 2 Timothy 4:3-4, 1 Timothy 4:6-7, Titus 1:13-14, 3:8-9 where Paul refers to myths and genealogies elsewhere, including references to Old Testament (often called "the law") where Paul calls out how some twisted sound doctrine, leading not to truth but speculations.
  
• Finally, while not explored in more detail, Piper provides the final charge from the text - to love others per v5 

Praise God for resources that exist for me to better understand sound doctrine, including DesiringGod.com, my church, commentaries, my brothers and sisters in Christ, etc.

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My Prayer: You are an awesome God whose Word is God and is perfect not needing anything to be added or subtracted...thank You for Your Word and how it is alive and working in my heart and in the hearts of believers every where.  I am not deserving of how Your Word and the Spirit work in my life.  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 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.

To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Timothy 1

To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Timothy 1:2

I continue with my study of 1 and 2 Timothy. This morning, I lean on DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series, watching the video for 1 Timothy 1:1-2, Part 4. Excerpts from the video entitled The Fatherhood of God and the Lordship of Christ:

John Piper begins the video by examining, as the title of the video explicitly implies, 1 Timothy 1:2, and the references to God the (our) Father and Christ Jesus our (the) Lord. Excerpts from the video:

• Piper wants us to experience God as Father, and as Lord, and for this to sink in what this experience truly means to us; these experiences are mediated to/for us through the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit is the worker in the Holy Trinity (see also Romans 8:14-17, Galatians 4:4-6).  The meaning of being a Christian is that Spirit of Jesus Christ fills our hearts.  See also 1 Corinthians 12:3 where we can't say Jesus is Lord and mean it without truly experiencing it by the Holy Spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 8:5-6; both Father and Lord together in this text and God the Father is both the ultimate source and goal of all things and the Lord Jesus is the person through whom all things come and exist, including ourselves.  See also 1 John 1:1-3.  All things were made from the Father and through Jesus.  Looking at Paul's reference to grace, mercy and peace in v2 of today's text, Piper refers us to Titus 3:4-7.  Grace and mercy are God's goodness provided to someone who is both undeserving and in need of care, and God justifies us, providing peace with Jesus (see also Romans 5:1). 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for helping gain a deeper understanding of Yourself and the Holy Trinity.  Thank You for giving me life and for the Holy Spirit working in my heart.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from such 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. 

To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Timothy 1

To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 1 Timothy 1:2

I continue with my study of 1 and 2 Timothy leaning on DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for these two books, this morning watching the video for 1 Timothy 1:1-2, Part 3. 

John Piper begins the video by examining, as the title of the video explicitly implies, 1 Timothy 1:2, and why Paul is referring to Timothy as his child. 

Excerpts from the video entitled How Is Timothy Paul's Child?:

• The word true in v2 is used because of how Timothy came to faith, due to Paul's work in missions and ministry.  In many senses, Paul feels that a Timothy is more truly an offspring of him than of Timothy's own biological father due to the faith relationship he has with Timothy and this relationship is deeper and eternal. See also Philemon 9-10, 1 Corinthians 4:15.
• 1 Peter 1:23 describes how the Word of God is causing someone to be born again, bringing you back into union with Jesus Christ.
• See Acts 16:1-3 for how Paul in his second missionary journey took Timothy under his wing having already been a believer and identified as someone with great promise as a church leader; see also Acts 14:5-6 where it is inferred that Timothy became a believer in Paul's first missionary journey to the same places Derbe and Lystra referred to in both Acts 16 and 14.
  
• 1 Corinthians 4:17 and Philippians 2:19-22 describe how Paul refers to Timothy as a trustworthy and extraordinary value as a man of faith.  Philippians in particular shares an endorsement where Paul states that he has "no one like him" and also once again as a son.  This says much considering others in Paul's company such as Luke and Barnabas. 

Incredible text about an apostle and a discipleship relationship this apostle has with someone under his tutelage.  This text offers incredible encouragement for young believers to seek discipleship relationships with older believers and for older believers to pour into younger believers (or other believers with less spiritual maturity).

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus You are an incredible God who serves as the ultimate disciple maker as You pour into me daily with grace and compassion that knows no limits.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You pour into me and how You place others in my life to pour into me.  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.  Please give Lisa and myself wisdom, energy 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. 

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope...

1 Timothy 1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope...1 Timothy 1:1

I continue with my study of 1 and 2 Timothy. This morning, I lean on DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series, starting with the video for 1 Timothy 1:1-2, Part 2. Excerpts from the video entitled God Is Our Savior From What:

John Piper begins the video by examining, as the title of the video explicitly implies, 1 Timothy 1:1, the use of the word Savior and the question saved from what.

• Paul's role as apostle is animated by saving others as he for "endures everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory (2 Timothy 2:10)." 
• There is a worldview implied with the word Savior that the fundamental problem with humanity and the world is sin and preconversion all of humanity is under condemnation and must be saved; Jesus introduces this condition to us; see Titus 3:3-7, Romans 5:9, 8:1, John 3:36
  
• This is why God - the originator of salvation - sent Jesus Christ; see also 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10
  
• God is first and foremost our Savior, through Jesus BEFORE the ages began; God planned salvation and grace before any sin or condemnation even existed and fulfilled through Jesus; see 2 Timothy 1:8-10
• Titus 2:11-13 describes the same hope referred to in text today.

We do need saving and we should be thankful for our salvation.  Praise Jesus who is the Alpha and the Omega!  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who provides salvation and works through Your Word, the church, the Holy Spirit, etc to bring the Good News of the Gospel throughout the world.  Thank You for saving me!  I am not deserving.  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.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope...

1 Timothy 1

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope...1 Timothy 1:1

This morning I embark on a study of 1 and 2 Timothy as my church seeks nominations for deacons - a key leadership position within the church.  As such, I seek Godly wisdom on what scripture indicates as key qualifications for leadership generally, and the deacon position specifically, and 1 Timothy offers such text.  For my study this morning, I lean on DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series, starting with the video for 1 Timothy 1:1-2, Part 1. Excerpts from the video:

• Paul writes Timothy as both an apostle and as father to a child, balancing his role as a church authority and his role as a mentor (discipleship maker) of Timothy, whom Paul loves dearly and in whom Paul sees great potential
• in v1, Paul is writing Timothy by command of Jesus; John Piper refers us to Luke 6:13 where Jesus set aside twelve of his disciples as apostles; these are authoritative representatives of the sender (Jesus)
• Paul describes his own grace-filled arrival as an apostle in 1 Corinthians 15:7-9
• The special role of apostles is described in John 16:12-13 where Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to guide the apostle in their words; promise from Jesus; see also John 14:26 where Jesus makes His own provision of His voice through the Holy Spirit to the apostles 
• 1 cor 14:37-38 describes the authority of an apostle
• The apostles became the foundation of church Ephesians 2:19-20; as such the New Testament and the Apostolic writings are foundation of church
• Paul's role as an apostle described in Acts 9:1-16 where we see Paul's conversion on the road to Damascus road; here Paul is commanded into his role
• 1 Timothy 1:12-14 Paul thanks Jesus as commands can be described as merciful

This video provides an excellent example of how the Bible itself is the inerrant Word of God - apologetics. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who uses human agents to lead the church and serve as the foundation for Your Word to reach all of humanity - a mission You gave the apostles and the church. Thank You for the apostles and for how You give us commentaries and other tools to give us for a better understanding of Your Word and for us to see Your Word as the inerrant Word of God.  I am not deserving of this blessing nor any blessing You pour out for me.  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.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

 James 5:17-18

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. James 5:17-18

My preparation for teaching this morning on James 5:12-20 ends this morning as I made (what I believe to be) the final tweaks to the presentation I will use to guide our discussion based on an exploration of the question that has lingered this week: why do you think the example of Elijah is provided for prayer in vv17-18?  My source this morning for final preparation is a post from DesiringGod.com from Tony Merida entitled Learning from an Insane Prayer Life. Excerpts from this post regarding why Elijah is an example of prayer in James 5:17-18:

• There are many reasons why one can believe Elijah is not like us: "Elijah’s life is dazzling. Ravens bring him food; God uses a widow to provide daily bread for him in Baal’s territory; Elijah prays and God raises the widow’s son from the dead. Elijah wins the showdown against the prophets of Baal at Carmel; he called down fire from heaven; and he struck down 450 false prophets. Plus, he was an athlete! He ran seventeen miles from Carmel down to Jezreel, outrunning horses and chariots. Elijah was like Moses whom he later appeared with at the Transfiguration of Jesus (Matthew 17:1–7). Like Moses, Elijah went eastward for a season, after an initial confrontation. Like Moses, he lived on God’s abundant provision of bread, meat, and water (Exodus 16). Elijah was also like John the Baptist, whom he is associated with in the New Testament (Malachi 4:5; Luke 1:17). Elijah is a mega prophet, whose coming was to pave the way for the Messianic Age. In many ways, he is not like us."
• "Yet, in the New Testament James makes an extraordinary statement when he says that Elijah was a “man like us.” Us? Yes. While Elijah does hold a unique place in redemptive history, James focuses on the fact that every believer can have an effective prayer life like Elijah."
• "The language James uses is the language Paul and Barnabas used in Lystra, when the people wanted to worship them as gods (Acts 14:15). “We also are men, of like nature with you.”"
• Elijah “was simply claiming the promise of God” that famine was the punishment for idolatry; Deuteronomy 11:16–17

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who uses human agents to help us understand Your Word so that scripture and Your message for us can be clear for us to better understand, love, follow, and glorify You - that is why we exist!  Thank You Jesus for the commentaries and other tools You provide for a better understanding of Your Word.  I am not deserving of this blessing nor any blessing You pour out for me.  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 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.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

 James 5:17-18

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit. James 5:17-18

My preparation for teaching tomorrow on James 5:12-20 continues, and today I modified the presentation I will use to guide our discussion based on an exploration of the question that has lingered this week: why do you think the example of Elijah is provided for prayer in vv17-18?  While the commentary Christ-Centered Exposition series volume for James somewhat addresses this question, John Piper delivers a more expansive response on this question based on a sermon he did in March 1990. Piper starts by sharing how he sees many who believe - incorrectly - that prophets from the Bible like Elijah were somehow extraordinary and "cannot serve as a model for us insofar as they prayed for miracles to occur."  Yet Piper points out that the text is crystal clear in v17 that "Elijah was a man with a nature like ours."  Piper then continues sharing: "[t]he point is: Elijah was just like you so that you can be encouraged that YOUR prayers will have great effect—like stopping the rain for three and a half years....All of us should be praying for each other and our goal in praying should be to live and pray in a way that would have the same kind of healing effects as Elijah had when he prayed for rain after a three-year drought."

Amen - let us pray!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who provides a community of believers where we pray for one another. Thank You Jesus for this incredible blessing.  I am not deserving of such a God...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, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working....My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

James 5:12-20

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working....My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. James 5:16, 19-20

My preparation for teaching this upcoming Sunday 25AUG on James 5:12-20 continues and today I prepared the presentation I will use to guide our discussion.  The core of the discussion looks at prayer in suffering and how we should pray, and how a community of believers is important to support and encourage one another from wandering from the truth into sin.  

I look forward to our Sunday school's discussion!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me Your Word, the Holy Spirit, my church and so much more to help me understand Your Word and help me understand the message You have for me.  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the blessings You pour out for me.  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.

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

James 5:12-20

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20

My preparation for teaching this upcoming Sunday 25AUG on James 5:12-20 continues and this morning my focus is further exploration on the doctrine of eternal security, which is a subject I started exploring yesterday.  This morning, I lean on an episode of the Ask Pastor John podcast series (found on DesiringGod.com) that digs into this important subject. The question at hand from a listener of the podcast is how based on a reading of Romans 8:29-30 how glorification can be conditional.  The listener asks this question because he is inferring and assuming that glorification can be conditional based on a Twitter (X) post of John Piper and a recalled line the listener has from one of Piper's books entitled Five Points, Towards a Deeper Experience of God’s Grace. John Piper responds, setting the record straight unequivocally that glorification is not conditional.   He then points to 1 Corinthians 15:1–2, Colossians 1:22–23, Mark 13:13, Revelation 2:10 where people's reading of this text leads them to incorrectly assume that believers once saved and justified cannot be glorified.  Piper then states that yes, we must continue and persevere in our faith but once saved, God Himself "will infallibly keep us from falling."  Piper then refers us to 1 Corinthians 1:8, Philippians 1:6, 1 Corinthians 10:13, Jude 24–25 where scripture backs up this statement.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who saved me, and who is saving a place for me in Heaven....thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  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.   

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

James 5:12-20

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins. James 5:19-20

My preparation for teaching this upcoming Sunday 25AUG on James 5:12-20 continues and this morning my focus today is a commentary-assisted review of the text, leaning on DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book videos (Part 1 and Part 2) for James 5:19-20.  

Excerpts from Part 1:

• use of my brothers uses quite frequently - emphasizing family of God
• use of you means we should not assume that a wanderer is not a believer; not following doctrine (obedience - see also Galatians 2:14) or not believing doctrine (see Romans 10:9 how belief in doctrine is key)  
• v20 let whoever is doing the rescuing or being rescued that there is benefit - encouragement, inspiration, etc. for the former, and salvation, compassion, mercy, etc. for the latter. 
• be reminded that while we are referred to largely as saints, we are also sinners (1 Timothy 1:15)!
  

Excerpts from Part 2:

• focus on doctrine of eternal security; human agency is critical in community
  
• human agents used by God save (and cover) sinners from wandering and death
• five truths about eternal security: (1) we are justified by grace alone, through faith alone apart from works (see Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 3:28); (2) those who are justified will be certainly be glorified (Romans 8:30), (3) but no one will be glorified/finally saved who does not continue in faith (1 Corinthians 15:1-2, Colossians 1:21-23, Matthew 10:22); (4) God Himself will keep His children from finally falling away (dynamic process) (Philippians 1:6, 1 Corinthians 1:8-9); (5) God keeps His children by means of His children (Hebrews 3:13-14).    
  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome incredible God who has given me incredible, supportive and Christ-like community in my family and in my church-thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You saved me and give me such a community.  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, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.

James 5:12-20

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. James 5:16a

My preparation for teaching this upcoming Sunday 25AUG on James 5:12-20 continues and this morning my focus today is a commentary-assisted review of the text, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition series volume for this book. First, the commentary describes v12 as a "hard-left" (off course from key topics patience in previous verses and prayer in next verses).  It shares, referring us to James 3 where he is talking about taming the tongue: "faith that perseveres is trustworthy in speech. The words from our mouths should be so consistent and dependable that they guarantee reliability." 

Excerpts from the commentary on 5:13-18, in a section entitled Prayerful in Sorrow:

• We are reminded again that patience and waiting on the Lord requires prayer; when you are hurting, happy, anxious, etc.; prayer with the elders who will pray over you
• Use of oil in v14 discussed as symbolic, as setting apart someone who is sick as needing attention and care from God; "[t]his is the only place in the New Testament letters where anointing a sick person with oil is even mentioned, and many healings occurred without anointing. The emphasis is on praying and not just to pray with the elders but, according to James 5:16, to pray with the church."
• Confess sins to one another and pray for one another - v16a
  
• On the power and effectiveness of prayer - v16b - the example of Elijah in vv17-18, is provided per the commentary to help us learn the secret to power and effectiveness in prayer (John 14:14): "to ask for something in the name of Christ is to ask for something according to His Word and for His glory. So when you pray, you need to start by making your wants God’s wants."
• We should also pray to change our desire to His desires
  

 Excerpts from the commentary on 5:19-20, in a section entitled Loving Towards Sinners:

• These two verses describe "the seventh and final characteristic of faith that lasts."
• Look out for brothers and sisters in Christ
• V19 specifically describes "earthly restoration"
• Commentary emphasizes the doctrine of eternal security and how this is accomplished through community; we must look out for one another  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome incredible God who has given me incredible, supportive and Christ-like community in my family and in my church-thank You Jesus! I am not deserving of how You saved me and give me such a community.  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.

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

James 5:12-20

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. James 5:16b

This morning, I move on to prepare for teaching this upcoming Sunday 25AUG on James 5:12-20.  As part of my preparation, my focus today is an unassisted review (no commentary) of the text. V12 immediately shares an important warning, sharing "but above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation."  My mind goes to those (myself included at one point my life) who say they are going to do something then add a qualifier where they say "I swear to God."  Only God is faithful whose promises all come to pass - because humans are fallen and imperfect we are not faithful as God is so any oath we make carries with it the possibility that we do not honor it.  A quick text search in scripture of "oath" brings up Leviticus 5:4 - a similar text to James 5:12. Moving to vv13-20 the text describes appropriate responses to suffering (prayer), cheerfulness (praise), sickness (engage church elders) - vv13-14.  Prayers of faith for those who are sick - v15 are answered as God will save those who confess their sin and accept Jesus as Lord and Savior (see also Romans 10:9-10).  Sins will be forgiven so we are encouraged to confess our sins to one another - v16a.  Vv16b-18 discuss the power of prayer and how Elijah demonstrated the power of prayer.  Vv19-20 shares how we are called to help those wandering from the truth to return to the Lord. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me.  Thank You Jesus for my salvation, and for Your Word, the Holy Spirit the church, my brothers and sisters in Christ and so much more.  My cup overflows.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...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 spouses and friends 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.

From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him.

Isaiah 64:1-4

From of old no one has heard or perceived by the ear, no eye has seen a God besides you, who acts for those who wait for him. Isaiah 64:4

This morning, as I prepare to teach and lead a Sunday school discussion on James 5:7-11, I review and fine tune my presentation one final time, and review another short podcast episode from DesiringGod.com entitled How Do I Wait for God.  Here, John Piper uses text from Isaiah where the prophet is talking to Israelites who are "in danger from enemies, Assyrians and then Babylonians. Now, the danger that God sees is not so much the Assyrians and the Babylonians, but the temptation to run to Egypt for help instead of to God. Instead of waiting for God’s help, he sees the temptation looming large that they’re going to go after human help."  We are referred to Isaiah 31:1 where God speaks through Isaiah warning Israel not to fall prey to self-reliance but instead to pray and trust and wait on the Lord.  As he describes what waiting on the Lord means, Piper emphasizes that in our challenges and trials, "the first thing that waiting on God means is this: before you make one peep of an effort to solve your own problem or hire a human agency, pray. Seek the counsel of God."  Piper then shares how sometimes God tells us to be still in our waiting - and we are referred to Exodus 14:13-14.   Piper concludes by sharing a third way in which God wants us to wait on Him - this is to wait and act but to act with a spirit of waiting (or expectancy) knowing that it is God that must work through us and get all the glory.  We are referred to God's counsel to David in 2 Samuel 5:19, Proverbs 21:31, and Psalm 33:16–17, 20–22.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - giving me Your Word and providing for all of my needs, most importantly my salvation.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings!  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.

Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad.

1 Samuel 1

Then the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad. 1 Samuel 1:18b

As a follow up to a presentation I prepared for teaching and discussion in Sunday school tomorrow, I sought further study on the topic of waiting for the Lord.  I found this awesome short podcast episode - entitled The Miracle of Waiting Faithfully - from DesiringGod.com's Ask Pastor John podcast series. This short podcast highlighted the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 where the Bible chronicled her struggle with infertility.  In 1 Samuel 1:10, scripture shares that Hannah "was deeply distressed and prayed to the LORD and wept bitterly." In v11, Hannah makes a vow to the Lord that if He gives her a son, then she will give him back to the Lord.  This is amazing on many levels - because first Hannah recognizes that it is God alone that provides all things, including life.  Next, while Hannah desperately wants a son, she knows that all life is created to bring glory to the Lord - that human life exists to glorify God.  Of course, since the Fall we know that sin and evil exists also, but we also know that God has providence over Satan and sin and God uses Satan to serve Himself (see John Piper post here) - there is mystery over how God does this but we can take comfort that as John Piper says, Satan's will is not decisive, God's is.  Hannah's prayer and petition to the Lord is pleasing to Him and one of the priests at the temple - Eli - tells Hannah to no longer be anxious but instead to go in peace (v17).  It's not entirely clear but it seems implied that Eli conveys a message from God that Hannah should go in peace because God both heard her prayer and told Eli that it would be answered. In v18b, Hannah "went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad."  This is the definition of supernatural peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7)! The podcast guest shares that "I think a lot of times we are praying for things that we have no intention of giving back to God in the first place.  I wonder if Hannah’s heart had changed in such a way where everything that she was going to get from God, and everything that she wanted to get from God, she only wanted it for his glory. I think that part is what changed her heart so that she was able to walk away and no longer be sad by what seemed to be an unanswered prayer — before the prayer was even answered.... I think God is always doing a variety of things in secret that we don’t realize or don’t see. I think the miraculous thing is that faith is not natural to me; sin is, rebellion is, unbelief is. The miraculous thing is that God will somehow use my waiting as a means to grow my faith so that I could see Jesus and want Jesus and crave Jesus."  Crave Jesus indeed!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of incredible grace, compassion, and mercies...and these blessings are daily!  Thank You Jesus for making me one of Your elect.  I am NOT deserving.  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 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. 

Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

 James 5:7-11

Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. James 5:9

Today I focused on preparing the presentation I will be using to lead Sunday school exploring James 5:7-11. The lesson starts by looking at the three examples of patience James offers for believers to follow.  See also post here. One of these examples is Job who of course is one of the greatest examples in the Bible of patience in suffering; he never curses the Lord even though his own wife wants him to and he sees God in all circumstances (see Job 2:9-10, 2 Corinthians 12:7).  I then point to: 

• other places in scripture where God sets what seems like an impossible standard: John 13:34 (love), Ephesians 4:32 (forgiveness)
• other places where the Word talks about patience or patience in suffering: Psalm 37:7, Isaiah 43:2, Romans 8:18, Hebrews 11:1
  

There is of course much to unpack in James 5:7-11 so I look forward to a great discussion in class on Sunday!

Before I wrap my study today - I reflect on how I feel challenged to not grumble against my fellow believers as I wait on the Lord as I must be patient with various matters in my life.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and and who is full of amazing grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and compassion.  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 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.   

 

Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

 James 5:7-11

Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful. James 5:11

Now that I wrapped my study of Ecclesiastes, I return to prepare to lead Sunday school for the next two Sundays - with this upcoming Sunday looking at James 5:7-11, and Sunday 25AUG looking at James 5:12-20.  This morning I lean on one of DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys devotionals which explores James 5:11.  For those currently experiencing great difficulties and trials, including believers, I suspect this devotional might be tough to swallow as it challenges us to see God's goodness and purposes during these periods.  Before I even dig into the devotional, my initial thoughts turn to Romans 8:28 where Paul shares that "we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." All things - of course good and bad.  Now, turning back to the devotional we see John Piper get our attention right away with his first statement: "[b]ehind all disease and disability is the ultimate will of God."  As a backdrop, people should understand that John Piper is a reformed Calvinist - meaning that he sees God's providence in all matters for all of the universe and its inhabitants (see also his book Providence).  Pushing on with the devotion, Piper then shares that Satan is involved in our infirmities but his will is not decisive - only God's is. We are referred first to Acts 10:38, then back to Job, which is referenced in our text for today.  Job becomes sick with sores but does not curse God because of it - instead in Job 2:10a we see Job sharing what Piper refers to as Job's "right view of God's sovereignty over Satan" by responding to his wife who was directing Job to curse God.  Job does not curse God but instead rhetorically asks his wife "[s]hall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?"  Piper also wants us to see in the next part of the same verse - v10b - where it is recorded that "[i]n all this Job did not sin with his lips."  The devotion then points back to James 5:11 where James describes Job's steadfastness of faith (not cursing God) in the face of his infirmities.  Piper wants us to see how Job (and how we should) recognizes that God may allow Satan to bring sickness to him, but God also is "compassionate and merciful" at the same time.  Piper describes this as God having a "good purpose in all Job's afflictions." To underscore this message, Piper also points to Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7 where the thorn in Paul's side is from Satan "to keep [him] from becoming conceited."  Paul's humility is a good outcome of course!  Piper concludes the devotion by sharing that "[i]n fact, for God’s elect children, Satan cannot destroy us, and God turns all his attacks finally against him and for us."  Amen - God is good!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of compassion and mercy - all day every day.  Thank You Jesus for the blessing of my salvation and for the compassion and mercies You pour out every day for me.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  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. 

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

 Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

I return briefly (for one day) to my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus this morning is the concluding division from the concluding chapter in the commentary that explores 12:9-14, which are the last five verses of Ecclesiastes.  The commentary's final chapter is entitled The Preacher on Preaching (Wisdom from a Wise Wordsmith), and this third and final division discussed in this commentary chapter covers Ecclesiastes 12:11, 13-14 and is entitled Exhortation. As the broad theme of this chapter (see also post here) is about how pastors should carefully and fearfully fulfill their role in teaching scripture, the commentary for this division refers us to Luke 24:44 where Jesus "teaches us in Luke 24 that all of Scripture is about Him—all of it. That includes the book of Ecclesiastes[.]"  We are also referred to Tim Keller where he discusses in more detail how the whole Bible points to Jesus.  We are encouraged to dig deeper into scripture to see how Jesus is in all of scripture and the redemptive story of the Gospel.  The text and commentary end with a warning to be obedient and holy as "Solomon tells us a day of reckoning is coming. It will be comprehensive and detailed in scope. Every thought and every action will be exposed to the searchlight of God’s judgment. Not one thing will escape. Not one person will escape." Surrender to God and be ready!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of love and grace for me - making me one of Your elect and helping me prepare for Your return.  Thank You Jesus for Your Word as a means to direct my steps and of course for my salvation!  I am not deserving of such gifts and blessings...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.

You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door.

 James 5:7-11

You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. James 5:8-9

I continue a pause of my study of Ecclesiastes to prepare to lead Sunday school for the next two Sundays - with this upcoming Sunday looking at James 5:7-11, and Sunday 25AUG looking at James 5:12-20.  Yesterday, I reviewed James 5:7-11 and documented my thoughts based on an unassisted review (no commentary).  This morning, I lean on commentary provided by the Christ-Centered Exposition series volume for this book. 

Excerpts from the commentary:

• "The theme of this part of the letter is clear: patience is mentioned twice in verse 7 and once each in verses 8 and 10 while the words “endured” and “endurance” are used in verse 11. James gives us three pictures of patience to encourage us."
• The three pictures of patience described in the commentary (and in the text) include (1) "like a farmer: waiting for the harvest," trusting in God in circumstances we cannot control - like the weather - to provide just the right balance of weather needed for a harvest, understanding that too much, too little rain, too much heat, or too much cold could have deleterious effects on the harvest, and "honoring God with what you can control" avoiding grumbling and complaining as an example from v9; (2) "be patient like a prophet: speaking the truth.  Much like the farmer, the prophet reminds us that patience does not necessarily mean inactivity. A farmer doesn’t just sit back waiting for the rain: he works. Likewise, a prophet in the middle of persecution stood boldly and spoke out against injustice. In the middle of hardship, we are to speak about the goodness, the greatness, the judgment, and the mercy of God. Times of suffering are often the most golden opportunity to speak a word for the glory of God;" and (3) "like Job: hoping in God’s purpose.... Remember that it took 42 chapters for the purpose of suffering in Job’s life to be revealed, and only at the end did he confess, “I had heard rumors about You, but now my eyes have seen You. Therefore I take back my words and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:5-6). This is a good reminder for us: Whatever you are walking through is not the end of the story. The end will reveal that the Lord is indeed “very compassionate and merciful” (James 5:11). You can’t see it, but be patient, hoping in God’s purpose."

Jesus wants us to be completely dependent on Him, and scripture makes it clear that obedience to Him can ONLY be through Him.  For example, Jesus sets what appears to be an impossibly high bar for how to love - love one another as He loves us (John 13:34-35).  Here, in James, God/Jesus/Holy Spirit (through James) seeks for us to be as patient as Job - once again an incredibly high bar but we must remember that it is not through our own efforts that we love as Jesus loves or be patient as Job is patient, but through loving, trusting and surrendering our lives to Jesus, allowing Him to mold us into more of His image. #Sanctification.

 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and and who is full of amazing grace and compassion for me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such love and compassion.  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 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. 

You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

James 5:7-11

You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:8

I pause my study of Ecclesiastes to prepare to lead Sunday school for the next two Sundays - with this upcoming Sunday looking at James 5:7-11, and Sunday 25AUG looking at James 5:12-20.  This morning, I focus on an unassisted review of James 5:7-11.  The heading for the text in the ESV translation refers to this text as Patience in Suffering.  V7a starts with a call to all brothers and sisters in Christ to "be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord."  Before we proceed to v7b, we must look at why we must be patient because the text that we should be patient...therefore - referring to previous text.  James 4 provides warnings against worldliness and arrogance/pride.  James 5:1-6 provides a warning to those who have lived lavishly, luxuriously, and self-indulgently, trusting in their riches and treating poorly the laborers who have worked their fields.  Similar to Egypt where God heard the cries of the suffering Israelites (see Exodus 2:23-25), "the cries of the harvesters [working the fields of the rich] have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts" (4:4).  James 4:5b-6 describe how the rich have "fattened [their] hearts in a day of slaughter....[and] condemned and murdered the righteous person.  [The righteous person] does not resist [the rich who condemned and murdered]."  James 4:6 describes suffering on the part on the righteous person.  Jesus of course should be described as righteous and holy as He lived a sinless and perfect life.  He did not resist going to the cross - suffering on behalf of believers who also suffer but receive eternal life.  James 4:7 references the righteous person condemned and murdered in v6.  We want justice for the condemned and murdered person, but we must wait for the Lord to deliver this justice and this will come but we don't know when so we must be patient.  Patience is described in more detail as waiting for the "early and late rains" as a farmer does before the harvest.  We are also urged not just to be patient but to not grumble and complain against "one another" (v8), to avoid God's judgement.  In a further description of the patience we should have, we are urged to demonstrate the same patience as others who suffered yet remained patient and steadfast, including Job (vv10-11).  The book of Job chronicles incredible suffering of the book's namesake and yet Job never cursed God.  At the end of the book of Job (chapter 42), Job is restored, as God blesses him for his patience and steadfastness.  Believers will also be rewarded in Heaven for their faith, patience, steadfastness, and perseverance.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who went to the cross so that I could have life now to the full and for eternity with You.  Thank You Jesus for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out for me.  I am not deserving of such blessings.  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.      

The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

 Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Ecclesiastes 12:11-12

I continue to wind down my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus remains the commentary exploring 12:9-14, which are the last five verses of Ecclesiastes.  Using the commentary's one final chapter entitled The Preacher on Preaching (Wisdom from a Wise Wordsmith), I reviewed the second division discussed in this commentary chapter is Ecclesiastes 12:11-12.   

Excerpts from this division in the commentary: 

• "Wise words are like goads. They prod the sluggish and hesitant into action. They have a power to provide a mental and spiritual stimulus, a spiritual shot in the arm. These collected saying are like well-driven nails. They stabilize on the one hand and on the other give us something to hang things on."
• "The end of verse 11 is a direct declaration of divine inspiration. The “knowledge” of verse 9 and the “words of truth” of verse 10 are given by one Shepherd, the Lord who is my Shepherd (Psalm 23), the good shepherd, Jesus Christ (John 10). The Christological signal is too obvious to ignore or neglect."
• "Solomon the realist knows there is no end to book making. Just imagine if he were alive today! And yet he is not down on books, study, or knowledge in principle. He is down on it as an end in itself. Knowledge is not the same as wisdom. It is possible to be smart but not intelligent. It is possible to know a lot but not be wise. God’s design for our lives is not to make us smart sinners but godly saints!"
• "If we are not careful and wise, we can linger too long at the “Vanity Fair of Knowledge” only to miss out on the wisdom of God and on a life that is really worth living."
• "Some of us have stayed too long at various Vanity Fairs in life (knowledge, power, sex, popularity, wealth). We have played the fool and given our lives to the wrong things. There is a better way. Let God’s Word guide your priorities. Let God’s Word chart the course of your life. “Fear God and keep His commandments.” That is where Solomon is taking us as he ends his book."

 Amen!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - giving me Your Word as lamp to my feet so that I know how to please You and this blesses my life.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation nor any of the the blessings You pour out for me.  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 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. 

Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth.

 Ecclesiastes 12:9-14

Besides being wise, the Preacher also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs with great care. The Preacher sought to find words of delight, and uprightly he wrote words of truth. Ecclesiastes 12:9-10

I now begin to wind down my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus today is commentary exploring 12:9-14, which are the last five verses of Ecclesiastes.  I've already studied this text but the commentary provides one final chapter entitled The Preacher on Preaching (Wisdom from a Wise Wordsmith).  The first division discussed in this commentary chapter is Ecclesiastes 12:9-10.   

Excerpts from this chapter of the commentary:

Main Idea: "A preacher should teach the people wisdom using wise words that point them to Jesus and call them to fear and obey God."

From the introduction of the commentary's chapter:

• "Here we find solid insight for those with the assignment to teach God’s people God’s Word."

From the commentary for the first division (vv9-10):

• "Good preaching always involves teaching just as good teaching will always have an element of preaching."
• "How the preacher delivers the knowledge of God’s Word is critically important."
• "Three essentials are noted in Ecclesiastes 12:9: "He pondered or weighed carefully; He sought out or explored; He set in order or arranged many proverbs."
• "The faithful communicator of biblical truth will be gripped by the realization that the book lying before him is filled with wisdom, for it is the Word of God. He will tremble at the thought of manipulating it or abusing it. He will carry out his assignment under a divine mandate to honor the text in its context as it was given by the Holy Spirit of God, always pointing to the hero of the Bible, Messiah Jesus."
• "[N]ot only is error a danger to the truth; dullness is a danger to the truth. Beautiful truth ought to be packaged and wrapped in an attractive style. Indeed, it is probably a sin to make the Bible boring! It is certainly a dereliction of the preacher’s responsibility and high calling." 
  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gives me Your Word and You speak to me in Your Word - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a 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.

The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

 Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14

The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings; they are given by one Shepherd. My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh. Ecclesiastes 12:11-12

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus today is a commentary-assisted review of the the third division of the text Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14, which is explored in the commentary chapter entitled Aging Is Meaningless without Jesus.  The commentary describes the third division as 12:8-14 with this division entitled Trust in Jesus as Your Savior and Sage.  

Excerpts from the commentary:

• "God imposed a curse on the world to show us the meaninglessness of following our own devices and to drive us to Him.  Thus, the point of Ecclesiastes, like every book of the Old Testament, is ultimately to make you wise for salvation through faith in Jesus Christ (2 Timothy 3:15)." 
• "Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes to shepherd the reader with words that are pleasing, true, convicting, and wise (12:9-10). His words are like goads, spiked sticks that prod cattle down the right path. That has been his intention all along. He gives messianic wisdom to convict us of the meaninglessness of life without God and to drive us to remember our Creator. After all, the image of the “one Shepherd” is only used in reference to the Messiah (see Ezekiel 34:23; 37:24)."
• "Solomon knows the temptation to try anything and everything other than God to find satisfaction, so he has talked about his pursuit of wealth, education, women, pleasure, success, and other things. When all is said and done, God is the only One who can satisfy the human heart."
• "Ecclesiastes ends by saying even the secret things we think are hidden will see the light of day in judgment when we are completely laid bare and exposed before the holy God (v. 14). That’s frightening."
• "We are under condemnation; that’s the bad news. But the good news is that there is one who is greater than Solomon who has come on the scene. He is the Wisdom of God. He does not just teach us messianic wisdom and fail to live up to it; He perfectly lives out the wisdom of God.  And yet the One who perfectly lived out the wisdom of God took the judgment for our folly on the cross. He experienced everything we should experience for falling short of God’s glory. The enemy—the curse of sin and death—will steal our hearing, steal our motor skills, steal our sight, and steal our youthful vigor, but Jesus redeems us by becoming a curse for us (Galatians 3:13)."
• "Life is meaningful because Christ reconciles us to the Creator of life and gives us the ability to be wise. Now, in Christ, we can be satisfied in God alone, rather than loving His gifts more than we love Him."

Love, surrender to, and worship the One True God!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - giving me Your Word as a means for You to speak to me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of this, nor any of the blessings You pour out for me.  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 other 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. 

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

 Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14

The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus today is an unassisted review of the the third division of the text Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14, which is explored in the commentary chapter entitled Aging Is Meaningless without Jesus.  The commentary describes the third division as 12:8-14 with this division entitled Trust in Jesus as Your Savior and Sage.  V8 repeats a familiar refrain from Ecclesiastes - that all is vanity and meaningless.  Yet with everything (including wisdom) being meaningless, Solomon still takes the time to pass on wisdom - see vv9-10.  In v11, wisdom is described as being given by one Shepherd, implying divine origins of scripture.  In v12, Solomon encourages his son to avoid focus (beware) on earthly wisdom over wisdom from the "one Shepherd."  In vv13-14, Solomon concludes his investigation and search for meaning by concluding another familiar refrain (in terms of it coming up in my study previously) that fear of God and keeping of His commandments "is the whole duty of man."  We are also encouraged to be holy and please God because God will ultimately judge all of our deeds as He knows everything about the what we have done.  

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion.  Thank You for Your Word as it is a lamp unto my feet and You direct my steps.  I am not deserving of how You speak to me and offer salvation and grace.  My sin is great and it continues.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me over come 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. 

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come[.]

 Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come[.] Ecclesiastes 12:1

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus today is a commentary-assisted review of the the second division of the text Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14, which is explored in the commentary chapter entitled Aging Is Meaningless without Jesus.  The commentary describes the second division as 12:1-7 with this division entitled Turn to God Now Before Aging Robs You. The commentary highlights how Solomon's intention is to encourage readers to seek and believe in God without delay.  Death awaits us all, and we don't know when, so we should not put off a decision to seek and believe in God.  Without God we often make poor life choices that we regret and these are sometimes big decisions that take years of course corrections to unwind.  Finally, the commentary shares how the text for today describes humanity's deteriorating physical condition as aging progresses, and how life's sustaining forces give way to the stages of death.  The commentary for the text ends as it shares how the text is "painful, depressing, and heartrending, but death's sting should stir us to action.  Remember now when you can avoid living with regret."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God that is saving a place for me in Heaven - giving me eternal life - and hope for the present.  Thank You God for this amazing grace and gift.  I am not deserving of such a gift.  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 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.   

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come[.]

 Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14

Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come[.] Ecclesiastes 12:1

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus today is an unassisted review of the the second division of the text Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14, which is explored in the commentary chapter entitled Aging Is Meaningless without Jesus.  The commentary describes the second division as 12:1-7 with this division entitled Turn to God Now Before Aging Robs You.  Here, as the commentary's division title describes, Solomon encourages us to "remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come."  Evil days are described by Solomon, accompanied by vivid imagery, as death. Paul shares in Romans 10:9-10 that Jesus saves anyone that confesses His name as Lord and Savior and believes that Jesus was raised from the dead - this could happen at any point in anyone's life, including during a death bed confession.  Of course, when we are in our "youth" and of sound mind and body, we are able to pursue faith, serve, and and enjoy the blessings of faith with much more vigor.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are awesome God who loves me and who gives me faith - thank You Jesus for this amazing grace and gift - the greatest gift of all time.  I am not deserving of such a gift.  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.     

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.

 Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14

Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth. Walk in the ways of your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment. Ecclesiastes 11:9

I continue my study of Ecclesiastes using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for this book. My focus today is a commentary-assisted review of the the first division of the text Ecclesiastes 11:7-12:14, which is explored in the commentary chapter entitled Aging Is Meaningless without Jesus.  The commentary describes the first division as 11:7-10 with the division entitled Enjoy Life as God Intended.  The commentary highlights how Solomon shares that life is fleeting (see James 4:14) and that in light of this we should enjoy life, including all of the ups and downs of life.  At the same time, we are encouraged to live as God intends and according to His design as God warns us that if we don't harsh judgement awaits.  See also this post from John Piper on DesiringGod.com.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who is the source of glorious and inexpressible joy - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of this joy that You freely give to Your children.  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.