But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Mark 5:21-43

But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.” Mark  5:33-34

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 5:21-43, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary - which offers three divisions for this text. Excerpts from the commentary's second (of three) division (vv24-34): 

• The commentary's title for the second division is "Jesus Responds to the Pain of the Diseased."
• The text focuses on Jesus's healing of a woman with discharge of blood for twelve years (v25), and the commentary first points us to Old Testament law (see Leviticus 15:25-30, 22:1-9, Numbers 5:1-4) led to those with discharge to live not just with their malady, but also with heavy stigma of being labeled as "unclean" and "ostracized" from the community.  This is of course a heavy burden with which to live. Yet once again, we Jesus help this woman.  
• Not fully understand who Jesus is, the woman did nonetheless believe that Jesus could heal her so she simply touches His garment. She believed and was healed immediately.  Upon being discovered by Jesus that she did this, she fell at His feet acknowledging her act.  Jesus demonstrates love and compassion as she serves as an example of why Jesus came - to heal.    

If you are an unbeliever, you must start with acknowledging that all of humanity is unclean without Jesus - Romans 3:10-12, 23, and 1 John 1:8. Just as He did with the woman in the text, Jesus heals us both spiritually and physically (per Revelation 21:4 upon death our bodies will be perfect and never decay).  If we confess our sin, seek forgiveness and then acknowledge Jesus as our Lord and Savior then we are saved (Romans 10:10).  Jesus seeks this type of faith where if we believe that Jesus will help us, then He will, and we must be prepared in desperate circumstances, like this woman, to fall down before Jesus in prayer.  Jesus saves and He hears and responds to our prayers.   

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of incredible grace and compassion for me - saving me while an enemy and hostile to You.  You have seen me through desperate circumstances, You never leave or forsake me, and You provide for all of my needs.  Thank You Jesus!  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. 

Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.

Mark 5:21-43

Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live. Mark 5:23

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 5:21-43, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary. Observations of the text based on the Sword Bible Study Method: 

• What do we learn from the passage about God?: God is all powerful, able to do what no mortal being can do - He raises Jairus's daughter from the dead and heals the bleeding woman (after she had spent all that she had with doctors and her condition not only did not improve but grew worse).  God is also one of great compassion, referring to those who come in faith as daughter (v34) and He takes Jairus's daughter by her hand (v41) - He wants us to be part of His family which is a family with bonds much stronger than with earthly families.  
• What do we learn from the passage about people?: People are desperate for Him, yet they don't fully understand who is He is as He is still referred to as Teacher.  Of course He is Teacher but He is the One True God and it is only the demons that recognize Him at this point in scripture - they even laugh at Him (v40).  People both seek Jesus and they fear Him (v33) for His power - this is a reverent fear and it is appropriate because if we anger or disappoint Him, He holds our lives in His hands  
• Is there anything from the passage God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?): We can claim the promise that Jesus heals - this is guaranteed both spiritually and physically and while it may not be in this life, it will be in Heaven (see Revelation 21:4). Jesus came to seek and save the lost so we should as well - following His lead as well as those such as Paul who mission work and fruit is detailed in Acts and much of the New Testament. Our faith should follow those of Jairus and the bleeding woman who sought simply a touch. I am reminded of the Parable of the Mustard Seed (Matthew 13:31-32). 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who loves and who is seeks for us to be part of His family - You care for us SO much that You sent Your One and Only Son Jesus to die for us.  Thank You Father!  I am not deserving of such a gift - the greatest gift of all time.  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.

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”

Mark 4:35-41

He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” Mark 4:40

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Mark 4:35-41, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary - which offers six divisions for this text. Excerpts from the commentary's fifth (of six) division (v40): 

• The commentary's title for this division is "Trials and Difficulties Come for the Benefit of Our Faith."  
• Describing the disciples likely reaction to Jesus's mild rebuke of them for the lack of faith, the commentary shares that "[b]y now they should have a greater comprehension and increased faith in His person. This was a golden teaching moment, but they came up short. In the eye of the storm, rather than trusting Him, the disciples accuse Jesus of forsaking them (v. 38). Unfortunately, this will not be the last time Jesus must point out their lack of faith (7:18; 8:17,21,33; 9:9). Until they see the resurrected Christ and fully understand what He did for them on the cross, they are going to struggle." 
• At the same time, we are encouraged us to grow in our faith as the commentary shares: "[w]e, in contrast, have no excuse. We know Jesus is all-powerful and all-knowing God. We know He has taken care of all our sin. We know He rose from the dead. We know He can be trusted no matter what! Trials and difficulties are divine appointments to strengthen our faith."   

Until we meet Jesus once again upon our death (glorification) or until He returns (second coming), all believers are a work in progress as we strive to grow in in our knowledge and love of Him, and as a result become more like Him (sanctification).  This is a day-by-day progressive process - we may often feel as if this process is too slow but we can be comforted that God is always at work.  Importantly, God is at work in the trials and difficulties of life.  See also Colossians 1:17b where the text shares that Jesus "holds all things together."  We don't know what He is doing (Isaiah 55:8), but we can take comfort that God is in "all things [to] work [them] together for good" (Romans 8:28).  We of course should also know that we will also overcome the world (John 16:33) and see Jesus face to face and at that point our sanctification will be complete!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that I know is at work in me.  Thank You Jesus for working in my life and heart and of course for my salvation.  Please continue because I know I am still a work in progress and there is more sin to shed.  Please forgive me of this sin and help me turn from and overcome such sin and turn 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.    

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.

 Mark 1:14-20

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. Mark 1:14-15

I continue my study of Mark, leaning on the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for Mark.  Today, I focus on an unassisted review of Mark 1:14-20, which is the text for the next chapter of the commentary.  Here the text shares/describes:

• that John the Baptist is arrested
• that Jesus went into Galilee, sharing the Gospel - "repent and believe"
• how Jesus calls the first disciples: brothers Simon (Peter) and Andrew, and brothers James and John  

Jesus' preparation for His ministry includes going to temple and learning God's word (see Luke 2:41-52), His baptism, His time in the wilderness (experiencing the temptations humanity faces), and of course His experience growing up with faithful families (Mary and Joseph, Elizabeth and Zechariah) who modeled faith for Him.  Jesus knew that His ministry was a fulfillment of prophecy so part of the Good News is to remind the Jews that He is the One promised in Old Testament scripture.  This point reinforces my post from a couple of days ago that we must understand how all of scripture points to Jesus.  Core to the Good News is humility and repentance - we all sin and need salvation or forgiveness of sins (not just an annual offering at the altar but a one time sacrifice of our life devoted to God and submitting to Him). Of course we should be struck by how both of the sets of brothers immediately (see both v18 and v20) left the safety of their fishing business and followed Him, not knowing what that truly meant.  If we read our Bible and are faithful, we will see the sanctification process unfold as Jesus makes us more like Him - the renewing of the mind per Romans 12:2.  As our thoughts become more like Jesus, we can see His will for our lives and His desires for our lives and dropping everything for Him becomes easier as we first and foremost seek to please Him vs ourselves. See also 1 John 5:3 where John shares how obedience to God is not burdensome.  Repent, believe, submit to Him, and watch God work in your heart and life!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God that not only forgives sins, but You also save, provide the Holy Spirit, Your Word, and the church to equip us to become more like You because that is our desire.  Thank You Jesus!  Yet I am not deserving...my sin continues every day - anger, etc.  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.         

 

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall.

 Malachi 4:1-6

But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2

I continue my study of the last four books of the Old Testament, having already covered Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and most of Malachi.  My study leans on the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary series volume which covers these books. This morning I start a focus on an unassisted review of Malachi 4:1-6.  Here, the message from Malachi builds on God's warning for those who do not fear Him (see post yesterday). V1 describes this ominous warning: "the day is coming, burning like an oven, when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble. The day that is coming shall set them ablaze, says the LORD of hosts, so that it will leave them neither root nor branch." For those who fear God, vv2-3 offers hope and also shares how they will see justice for the wicked.  We can take comfort that God knows all of our deeds, including our sin and the sin of those evildoers and wicked people who do not fear God.  We may feel that we languish in obscurity, faithfully straining to be obedient to God's Word and to fear, love and please Him.  Yet God sees our faithfulness while also seeing wickedness - believers will be rewarded and the evildoers and wicked will suffer in eternal damnation (Hell). V4 reminds us to hold fast to God's Word and for obedience to His Word.  See also Hebrews 12:1-2.  Vv5-6 shares how God will send Elijah before Judgement Day and how there will be an opportunity to repent and turn to the Lord before final judgement is rendered.  Believers hold fast to the faith!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who reigns and sees all - including my sin, my obedience, and the sin of the wicked and those who do not fear You.  You have saved me from eternal destruction and You will deliver justice perfectly.  Thank You Jesus for my salvation.  I am not deserving of how You save.  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.

And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

Acts 13:48

And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. Acts 13:48

While I have completed my study of Zechariah and it's time to transition to Malachi (as part of my study of the last four books of the OT using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book), I continue a pause before moving to Malachi to study Acts 13-14 as preparation for my Sunday school discussion this upcoming Sunday. For today, I lean on DesiringGod.com's Look at Book video for Acts 13:48 (Part 2 of 2) where John Piper unpacks the text looking at the origin (as opposed to yesterday which looked at both who/what is the decisive cause of our faith and then what the implications are) of the doctrine of unconditional election.  John Piper makes five observations from this exercise: (1) election is not based on foreseen faith, meaning that God does not see a measure of faith and then cause election, (2) believers' faith is owing to God's grace and initiative, (3) believers are rescued from sentencing ourselves to death, (4) the gospel is for everyone (see Acts 14:39 where the Word is preached to everyone and there are some who believe), and (5) we know who the elect are by who believes.  Once again a key takeaway for believers is to share the gospel boldly, not focusing on any outcome, allowing God to be the decisive cause in someone's faith.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Father God, thank You for my faith - what a gift it is.  You also give me salvation and so much more - thank You Father God for showering me with such incredible blessings.  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. 

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth.”

Zechariah 4:8-10

Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also complete it. Then you will know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice, and shall see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. “These seven are the eyes of the LORD, which range through the whole earth.” Zechariah 4:8-10

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is an unassisted review of Zechariah 4:8-10, which the commentary outlines as the second of three divisions for the text 4:1-14 (4:1-7, 8-10, 11-14).  Here, God continues to deliver a message of encouragement to God's people to finish rebuilding the temple after its destruction by the invading forces of Babylonia, who also took God's people captive.  God saw Zerubbabel (governor of Judah) as a righteous (see also Haggai 2:20-23) leader and as such God sought for His people to follow this leader in the effort to rebuild the temple - Zerubbabel was ordained by God for his role and the mission to complete the rebuilding. The day of small things suggests that many would view Zerubbabel as merely a man, ordinary perhaps, but God wants us to see how He uses the ordinary to do the extraordinary - similar to how Jesus came as a baby in as humble circumstances as one could expect, but would nonetheless fulfill prophecy as the promised Messiah.  We should also look to Matthew 17:20 for scripture that describes how even small measures of faith "move mountains"  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for the mercies and encouragement that arrive daily and never cease through a reading of Your Word!  I am encouraged and grateful at the same time.  I am not deserving as 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 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.

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him....For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

1 John 5:1-4

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him....For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:1,4

I continue my preparation for leading Sunday school at my church on 20OCT, where our class will be looking at 1 John 5:1-4.  Today, for my preparation, I lean on the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for 1-3 John.  The commentary outlines five divisions for 1 John 5:1-4:

1. We Believe That Jesus Is the Messiah (5:1).
   
2. We Have Been Born of God (5:1,4).
   
3. We Love the Father and His Family (5:1-2).
4. We Obey His Commands (5:2-3). 
5. We Have Overcome the World (5:4).

The commentary includes all of these divisions in chapter entitled The Birthmarks of the Children of God.  My focus today is first two divisions and the commentary for this text as well as the introduction to the commentary's chapter.

Excerpts from the introduction to the commentary's chapter:

• "In the letter of 1 John, the last living apostle has repeatedly drawn attention to three overarching birthmarks of the children of God. They are right belief (the doctrinal mark), right love (the moral mark), and right behavior (the ethical or social mark)."
• "Now in 1 John 5:1-5 he is going to draw out necessary implications of these three birthmarks and highlight six specific identifying evidences that a person is a child of God."
• "John wants true believers to be assured that they are children of God, and he is fully aware of the fact that there are spiritual deceivers in their midst who could raise questions and cast doubts (2:26). John wants believers to have a rock-solid assurance that they have been born again, that they belong to Jesus, and that they can enjoy right now the gift of eternal life (5:13)."
  

Excerpts from the first two divisions from the commentary:

We Believe That Jesus Is the Messiah (5:1):

• "We must believe “that Jesus is the Messiah.” We must believe—trust in the truth—that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the Christ, the hoped-for and promised deliverer. Such a confession is a birthmark that we have been born of God and that we are children of God." 
• Furthering the implications, the commentary shares that we must believe that Jesus is the Prophet, the Priest, and the King of the Church and as such He is the Anointed to reveal (as Prophet) the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  I must accept Him as the Priest who offered the sacrifice - Himself - so that I could be saved. I must also accept Him as King and His law and seek to not only submit to Him but also seek to "hate what He hates, and love what He loves? Do I live to praise Him? Do I, as a loyal subject, desire to see His kingdom come and His will done on earth as it is in Heaven?"
  

We Have Been Born of God (5:1,4):

• "In these verses John makes three observations about the new birth and the evidences related to this birthmark. First, those who have been born of God give witness concerning their new birth by confessing that Jesus is the Messiah (v.1). Second, those who have been born of God give witness concerning their new birth by loving Father God and His children (v.1). Third, those who have been born of God give witness concerning their new birth by continually overcoming the world (v.4)."
• "In this new birth God does not just give you a new name; He gives you a new nature. He gives you the very nature of God Himself as you enter into His family."
• "[Jesus] came to dramatically, personally, radically, and eternally transform us and make us new people. It is by the new birth that He accomplishes this glorious work. Therefore, you must be born again." 

Believe in Jesus and experience the blessings of being born again in His image!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and love for - exercising incredible patience with me as You mold me into more of Your image.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the love, grace and patience 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.

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.

1 John 5:1-4

For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 1 John 5:2-4

I continue my preparation for leading Sunday school at my church on 20OCT, where our class will be looking at 1 John 5:1-4.  For this morning, I lean on DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video for this text.  Excerpts from the video:

• Faith: being born again is what produces faith; our spiritually dead hearts are made alive by Christ and we can begin to see Him in His glory for who He is; we are then drawn to believe; we are warned not to believe in this as a fact because even Satan believes Jesus is the Christ - instead our belief is driven not by logic but a change in spiritual condition.
• Faith: believing in Jesus (new birth) results in love for the Father
• Love for Father results in love for God's children (other believers)
• Love of Father and His children also results in obedience to Him
• Love of God results not just in obedience but in an obedience that is NOT burdensome and Piper explains that this is breakthrough relative to the OT and ceremonial law given how this law was burdensome - instead the law as given by Jesus is joyful
• Our love of God and His children overcome the world including sin, death, everything that makes the commandments of God burdensome (see also 1 John 2:15-17) > we treasure God so much that the world is exposed as unsatisfying
• Piper lays out the sequence as described in the text: new birth > faith > love of God > overcoming the world > we keep His commandments joyfully > this is what John calls loving believers.
  

Lord Jesus, help me see the world as unsatisfying and not love anything in it above You.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - despite my sin.  Thank You Jesus for Your amazing grace!  I am not deserving of my salvation, nor any of the mercies and blessings You pour out for me every single day.  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.

“I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD.

Zephaniah 1:1-3

“I will utterly sweep away everything from the face of the earth,” declares the LORD. Zephaniah 1:2

This morning I embark on a new study of Zephaniah and I lean on the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For this morning, I orient myself to the book by reading the first three verses and the commentary's introduction to vv1:1-18 which the commentary describes as having seven divisions. V2 clearly shows God's anger directed towards Judah - the southern kingdom of the divided Israel. Excerpts from the commentary's introduction to vv1:1-18:

• Main Idea: The book of Zephaniah is the story of God’s powerful judgment and His equally astonishing grace.
• The people of Judah ignored Zephaniah's call for repentance. "[T]he people of Judah had disregarded God for many, many years and found themselves now being called to repentance, only they seem to have had little interest in turning from their sin."
•  Zephaniah "is the great-great grandson of King Hezekiah. Hezekiah, of course, is known for his illness and request of the Lord for longer life, which God answered by extending his life 15 years. During this time he fathered Manasseh, who would follow him as the next king of Israel. Unfortunately, Manasseh was an evil king who did great spiritual damage in Israel. Following Manasseh was King Amon, who continued Manasseh’s legacy and did not honor God with his leadership. As a result Israel continued to be mired in spiritual decline. Manasseh and Amon ruled for a total of 57 years, and Josiah came to power after Amon. Josiah was a different ruler than his two predecessors; he desired to rule in a way that honored God and that called the people to repentance. Zephaniah was a contemporary of Josiah, and it was in the midst of this environment that Zephaniah began to prophesy."
• Zephaniah was a man of influence due to his family lineage as well as affluence.  Yet his influence was not well received when he called for repentance. The commentary estimates the date of this book as being written from 641 to 622 BC.  
• "The dominant themes of the book are pretty clear. This is a book of judgment, a call to repentance, and a declaration of God’s gracious work on behalf of His people."

As a believer - someone with the benefit of having Christ in their heart - I can't imagine life before Christ and how hard it may have been for the people of God to remain faithful to Him.  My reading of God's anger towards Judah and all of humanity at the time of Zephaniah is no surprise and it calls to mind Hebrews 11 - the chapter in Hebrews often referred to as the "the Hall of Faith" for how it describes how those in the Old Testament (see vv13-16 in particular) did not have Jesus but saw Him from afar and lived faithfully believing in God's promises, including the promise of His Son.  The world today may seem as if there is no hope but with Jesus we always have hope, if not in this life, but in the next. Rejoice in this hope!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for going to the cross, willingly laying down Your life for me.  I am not deserving...no not by a long shot.  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.

By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

1 Timothy 1:18–20

By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith, among whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme. 1 Timothy 1:19b-20

John Piper has posted a new video lab of 1 Timothy 1:18-20 (Part 3) on DesiringGod.com, so I resume my study of this book. Excerpts from this video:

• Note the connection of faith and a good conscience, and if you reject one you reject both; further exploring the connection of conscience and faith, Piper shares that if we reject a good conscience, we are thereby rejecting things that are good for us.
• Paul seeks to fix Hymenaeus and Alexander by teaching them not to blaspheme; see also 1 Timothy 1:10-11 where Paul discusses how the law is being misused and not used for healthy teaching which "accords with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God."  Faith is wrecked by rejecting healthy teaching as described.  You are also blaspheming - essentially saying that the Good News is not good.  
  
• Paul's remedy is to hand over Hymenaeus and Alexander to Satan which is discussed in the forthcoming part 4 lab video on this text; in the meantime, pursue both a faith and a conscience that aligns with the gospel as Good News. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, the Good News is good indeed!  All of what comes from You is good, true, and perfect.  Thank You for my salvation and for the blessings You pour out for me.  I am not deserving of such blessings nor my salvation.  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.

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God[.]

Ephesians 6:16-17

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God[.] Ephesians 6:16-17

This morning, I lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today explores how believers can battle unbelief.  John Piper, in this devotion, looks at several ways he battles unbelief, providing scripture for each one:

• Anxiety about aging: Isaiah 46:4
• Anxiety about dying: Romans 14:7-9
• Anxiety about lack of faith: Philippians 1:6, Hebrews 7:25

Piper then shares how "[u]nbelief in the promises of God is the root of anxiety, which, in turn, is the root of so many other sins."  We are encouraged to lean into our faith, our salvation, and take up the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to fight our daily battles with unbelief.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are so good - I know You will never leave or forsake me and I can rest in Your Promises, which include how I will never be separated from Your Love.  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.

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare[.]

1 Timothy 1:18-20

This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare[.] 1 Timothy 1:18-20

I continue with my study of 1 and 2 Timothy using DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series - picking up with 1 Timothy 1:18-20 - Part 1, with the video entitled Wage War by Faith and a Good Conscience. 

Excerpts from the video:

• V18 is the focus of the video
• John Piper describes how Paul's charge here aligns with previous efforts; refer to 1 Timothy 1:3-6; do not let false doctrine take hold in the church; set yourself as a good steward in God's house to implement God's plan - build faith
• Previous prophecies are less known although referred to vaguely in 1 Timothy 4:14
• These prophecies will be used to wage the good warfare; also having faith and a good conscience enable a good warfare
• We don't know what these prophecies are but faith and a good conscience enable them
• Looking back at 1 Timothy 1:3-6, God's household plan in faith is love that issues from faith and good conscience; see also 2 Timothy 4:6-7 on keeping the faith and keeping the good warfare; the charge to Timothy is to establish God's household plan by faith, to establish a community full of love that exalts Christ.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God that never leaves or forsakes me - giving me power to accomplish things I am unable to do on my own and enabling me to keep the faith.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how good You are to me and how You save me.  Thank You Jesus.  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.

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)

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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.

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.     

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.

Genesis 50

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today. Genesis 50:20

This morning, as I am in between studies - just ended study of Jude and my next study is TBD - I lean on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today uses the life of Joseph to illustrate how faith helps produce patience.  For those familiar with Joseph's story, you know that Joseph (starting in Genesis 37) endured several hardships where he was solid into slavery and ultimately wrongly accused of a crime and imprisoned in Egypt.  However, Joseph did not resort to anger (which might lead to seeking revenge) towards those who wronged him.  Instead, he turned to God, who calls us, regardless of our circumstances, to trust Him.  In Potiphar's household, it says that the Lord was with him (Genesis 39:2-6).  While imprisoned, Joseph rightly shares that his gift of interpreting dreams is from God (Genesis 40:8 and 41:16).  When Joseph comes face to face with his brothers that originated his suffering, Joseph once again shares how God worked through this suffering for good...in his life and in the lives of his brothers (Genesis 45:5-7 and 50:20). The devotion emphasizes the key for Joseph (and for us all) and poses a challenge to us: "[w]hat would have been the key to patience for Joseph during all those long years of exile and abuse? The answer is: faith in God’s sovereign, future grace — the sovereign grace of God to turn the unplanned place and the unplanned pace into the happiest ending imaginable. That’s the key to our patience as well. Do we believe that God is working for us in the strangest and most painful turns of our lives?"

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are always at work - thank You Jesus for this and for never leaving or forsaking 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 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. 

[A] bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench[.]

 Isaiah 42

[A] bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench[.] Isaiah 42:3a,b

This morning, I pause my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books to use DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotional, which today offers words of encouragement to those experiencing challenges and feeling as though their faith in God is weak, and in John Piper's terms a mere spark versus that of a flame.  We all desire for our hearts to burn with desire for God and for our faith to be strong but there are times when we feel weakened.  Piper encourages us to seek God and avoid falling prey to the temptations offered by this world.  Scripture of course offers a mountain of encouragement.  I think of John 16:33, and Piper refers us to Luke 4:18, Malachi 4:2, Matthew 11:29, Psalm 27:14. If you are feeling low and weak, go to the Lord!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God whose everlasting arms give rest when we are weakened.  You heal and You guide...and so much more - thank You for never leaving or forsaking 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 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.

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac[.]

 Hebrews 11

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac[.] Hebrews 11:17a

As I continue to ponder what to study next, my Bible study this morning once again leans on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at how sometimes, obedience to God feels impossible. John Piper uses the story of Abraham who was tested by God to sacrifice his son Issac (see Genesis 22). The backstory starts in Genesis 17, when God promised to Abraham (99 years old) and Sarah (90 years old) that He would give them a son and He would make a great nation from Abraham's line.  As hard as they found this to believe, Abraham and Sarah had faith that God would be faithful to this promise.  Of course, God was faithful - see Genesis 21. God then asked Abraham to sacrifice Issac - and just as he was about to do this, God called out to Abraham to stop (see Genesis 22, starting in v11).  John Piper uses this Bible story to illustrate how we may feel sometimes like nothing good can come of obedience to God.  Piper then shares how while few of us might ever be tested as Abraham was, we all face mini crises of faith where obedience may seem challenging: "[p]erhaps the command or call of God you hear just now is to stay married or stay single, to stay in that job or leave that job, to get baptized, to speak up at work about Christ, to refuse to compromise your standards of honesty, to confront a person in sin, to venture a new vocation, to be a missionary."  Of course, the answer is to lean into God...hard.  Study the Bible, get to know God intimately...pray...gather with brothers and sisters in Christ who can study with you and strengthen your faith.  

You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and strengthens me during the challenges of life.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You strengthen me, and bless 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.  Please provide 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.

If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.

 Hebrews 11

If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Hebrews 11:15-16a

As I continue to ponder what to study next, my Bible study this morning once again leans on DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today looks at saving faith, and what this means.  John Piper uses Hebrews 11, which as much as any other chapter of the Bible gives us examples of this saving faith, including Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, the Israelites that crossed the Red Sea, and Rahab.  Hebrews 11 shares attributes of those have this saving faith, including:

• "died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth" v13
• "seeking a homeland" promised and spoken of in prophecy but not seen v14

Common to all of these attributes is a desire to be with God - to be with Him.  John Piper shares of those seeking this saving faith:  "They had been so gripped by God that nothing short of being with God would satisfy.  So, this is true saving faith: seeing the promises of God from afar, and experiencing a change of values so that you desire and seek after and trust in the promises of God above what the world has to offer."

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who lives, never changes, and is always there for me - I can call on You always and I know You listen, respond, and move.  Thank You Jesus - I am not worthy nor deserving of such a God with such mercy.  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.

[B]y the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.

1 Corinthians 15

[B]y the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 1 Corinthians 15:10

I maintain a pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I continue using DesiringGod.com's Solid Joys daily devotion, which today emphasizes God's grace, and in John Piper's words, how it is "ont only God’s disposition to do good for us when we don’t deserve it. It is an actual power from God that acts and makes good things happen in us and for us."  The highlighted text from 1 Corinthians 15 shares how Paul believes that God's grace worked within him to make him work hard.  Piper next refers us to Philippians 2:12-13, where Paul "adds" that for believers, God's grace "works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." Piper concludes the devotion by sharing that God's grace "is past and it is future. It is ever-cascading over the infinitesimal waterfall of the present, from the inexhaustible river of grace coming to us from the future, into the ever-increasing reservoir of grace in the past."  Piper's final words for the devotion include a proper response to God's grace: "[t]he proper response to the grace you experienced in the past is thankfulness, and the proper response to grace promised to you in the future is faith. We are thankful for the past grace of the last year, and we are confident in the future grace for the new year."

Be thankful and faithful!

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who has freely distributed grace to me in an indescribable number of ways and for this I am thankful.  Yet I know that 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.