Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

1 Peter 5

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. v8-9

I have previously posted on these verses on being alert regarding the pervasiveness of sin in this world.  Yet this morning, I am encouraged to focus on how we can stand "firm in the faith" through the fellowship of other believers.  We cannot do this alone. 

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17  

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end. Hebrews 3:12-15

Lord Jesus, please help me surround myself with brothers and sisters in Christ so that we can in the fellowship of Christ and prevent each other from falling into sin.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God and You have many people into my life - brothers and sisters in Christ who have helped protect me from sin...Thank You Jesus for these many blessings. Yet I am not deserving of such blessings. I am harsh with my words and actions and I have slandered and gossiped.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You do.  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.  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 am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.

 Leviticus 24

 I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died. This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. And the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh. John 6:48-51

This morning, I continued my study of Leviticus using the Christ-Centered Exposition series commentary for this book - continuing chapter twenty-one - In God's Presence  - covering Leviticus 24:1-23, looking specifically at the second theme for the chapter - We Fellowship with God Intimately.  Here, as the theme aptly describes, the commentary theme for today emphasizes how we are to fellowship with God in study of God's Word and in prayer.  Using Leviticus 24:5-9 as the scriptural basis for such emphasis, the commentary looks specifically at v8 where it says "[e]very Sabbath day Aaron shall arrange [the bread or fellowship offering] before the Lord regularly," and v8-9 where the priests are commanded by God to offer the bread as a permanent due. V9 also describes how the priests are, once the bread from the day before is removed from the "table of pure gold" and the new bread replaces the old bread, the old bread is to eaten by the priests and enjoyed in fellowship with God within the tabernacle. The twelve loaves of bread of course represents all of the tribes of Israel and the commentary then connects the dots for us by stating that "God invited all His people to fellowship with Him."

The commentary then pivots to the New Testament and how believers are commanded by God to be in fellowship with Him.  1 Corinthians 1:9 and Hebrews 4:14, 16 are provided as scriptural references for how God called us into fellowship with Him and encourages us approach Him with confidence to receive mercy and grace. In John 6:51 Jesus refers to Himself as the Bread of Life.  Acts 2:42-47 describes the new church that formed on Pentecost (specifically Acts 2:46-47) and how "day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people." Both Matthew 6 and Luke 11 describe how Jesus taught us how to pray by asking Him to "[g]ive us this/each day our daily bread."

Comment and discuss this post here. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God and You are the Bread of Life!  You feed me in ALL ways and in the most important way - spiritually!  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You fellowship with me.  I sin...slander, gossip, worry, 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 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.   

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.

1 John 1

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. 1 John 1:1-3

This morning, I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  My study today focuses on a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 1:1-4. 

Per the commentary for this text:

Main idea: "Jesus Christ is the God-man who is the one basis of true Christian fellowship and eternal life."

Highlights from the introduction:

• The incarnation and resurrection Jesus Christ is core to Christianity, so John makes an effort to ensure we know He is real. John saw this as an essential question to put this to rest.
  
• John also wrote other letters including his gospel account and Revelation; "He wrote the Gospel of John to convert sinners. He wrote the epistles of John to confirm the saints. And he wrote the book of Revelation to coronate the Savior."
• "Three important themes are linked to the four purposes that open the doors to the wonderful truths we discover in this letter: (1) right belief in Jesus; (2) right obedience to God’s commands; and (3) right love for one another." 
  
• John seeks to refute false teachers about Jesus, and to confirm to believers the truth of Jesus and about their salvation. 
  

Divisions:

1. Have a Passion to Know This Life (1:1-2): Jesus is like no other, as He has always existed.  He was from the Father and with the Father. As the incarnate Son of God, Jesus became "real and genuine humanity." John emphasizes how he saw, heard, and touched Jesus.  In fact, many did. John was attempting to refute Gnosticism (including two camps - those following Cerinthus and the Docetists) in which all matter is evil and that "salvation is by a mystical, even secretive, knowledge."  The commentary seeks for us to avoid what John Piper is the stumbling block for many regarding faith: "This is the stumbling block of the incarnation—when God becomes a man, he strips away every pretense of man to be God. We can no longer do our own thing; we must do what this one Jewish man wants us to do. We can no longer pose as self-sufficient, because this one Jewish man says we are all sick with sin and must come to him for healing."   
   
2. Have a Passion to Share This Life (1:3): Believers are urged to share the joy that we have in our faith and to invite others into the fellowship of faith. "We Christians must never forget that we have more in common with a Chinese Christian, an African sister, and a brother in South America than a next-door neighbor who does not know Christ. And never forget that this eternal life that has transformed us is the eternal life we must proclaim to our neighbor here and among the nations in order that they might become family. We continually want to add more!"
   
3. Have a Passion to Enjoy This Life (1:4): We glorify God when we experience joy in Jesus Christ. We should strive to live a life like Jesus "not out of obligation, but gratitude," as "Jesus died the death we should have died (2:2) and He lived the life we should have lived (2:6). This life of holiness is marked particularly by joy, by keeping Christ’s commands (2:3), and by loving one another (2:10)....John does not want us to wonder if we are saved. He wants us to have assurance that we are saved."

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, I KNOW You are real, that You have always existed and always will....and that You became flesh, died and rose again so that I can have life now to the full and forever...with You.  Thank You Jesus for these amazing blessings that my words can never fully describe.  I am not deserving of the rich blessings You pour out for me daily.  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. 

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD. Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD’s message, “I am with you, declares the LORD.” And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king.

 Haggai 1:12-15

Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the LORD their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD. Then Haggai, the messenger of the LORD, spoke to the people with the LORD’s message, “I am with you, declares the LORD.” And the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people. And they came and worked on the house of the LORD of hosts, their God, on the twenty-fourth day of the month, in the sixth month, in the second year of Darius the king. Haggai 1:12-15

I resume my study of Haggai - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is an unassisted review of Haggai 1:12-15 which is covered in the commentary with a chapter title Fear of God Leads to Repentance and the chapter provides two divisions (1:12, 1:13-15) and five (1:12, 1:12, 1:13, 1:13, 1:14) subdivisions. Here, in response to God's call to Israel to "consider [it's] ways" and repent (see earlier posts here and here), Israel does indeed repent and as God does in all of His compassion and love, He forgives Israel and declares "I am with you," which of course is a tremendous encouragement and source of peace.  Israel's fellowship with God and their heart change leads them proceed with rebuilding of the temple - putting God first. I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 3:16 where believers and the church are referred to as God's temple. Just as Israel focuses on building the temple, believers should focus on building their relationships with the Lord and with one another.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who loves us and who is full of amazing grace and compassion for those who turn towards You.  Thank You Jesus for softening my heart and leading me to You, for saving 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.

Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders.

Numbers 11

Then the Lord came down in the cloud and spoke with him, and he took some of the power of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. v25

God does not intend for us to live alone - we are to have those around us who help.  See also verse 17:

I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone.

God want us to live in fellowship with other believers - that is His design from the very beginning.  

The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him." Genesis 2:18

And from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being. Genesis 9:5

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 

Just as a body, though one, has many parts, but all its many parts form one body, so it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit so as to form one body—whether Jews or Gentiles, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. Even so the body is not made up of one part but of many.  Now if the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would not for that reason stop being part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 1 Corinthians 12:12-20

Lord Help me live in fellowship with other believers as You intend.

My Prayer: Jesus, You are a great God who has provided many, many people in my life as helpers - thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such a blessing.  I continue in my sin - please forgive me!  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 do.  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.  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 none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

 John 21:1-14

Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord. John 21:12b

I continue my study of John and today I focus on John 21:1-14, where we see Jesus appear to the disciples after the resurrection - this time by the Sea of Tiberias.  Here are my observations using the Sword Bible Study Method. 

• What do we learn from the text about God?: Jesus is in all the details of our lives.  Here the text does not say disciples were desperate or particularly hungry - it is an ordinary moment in their lives.  Jesus wants to remind us that He is always with us - always at work.  He provides - including strength for the net so that it does not break, and a fire with bread.  We should never worry about how He provides.  He shares hospitality with the disciples - a theme God reinforces throughout scripture that takes an ordinary moment and is used to bring glory to Him through Godly fellowship among believers and among believers seeking to share the Good News with others.  Jesus has now appeared to the disciples three times after the resurrection - He wants them to be certain that He has defeated sin and death.
• What do we learn from the text about people?: The disciples were together - seven of them.   Believers should be in each others' lives - this is how God designed us - for fellowship so that we can support and encourage one another and act with unity.  
• Is there anything from the text God wants us to obey (SPEC: Sins to avoid, Promises to claim, Examples to follow, Commands to obey?):  Avoid missing Jesus and doubting that He is there (no one should dare ask who are You?) - He is always with us and He is always at work.  Claim the promise that we can never be separated from His love.  Follow the example of Jesus who spent time with other believers and encouraged fellowship and hospitality.  Love, encourage and support one another as believers.  

Comment and discuss this post

My Prayer: Father God, You are Lord of Lords, King of Kings, and my personal Lord and Savior.  I have no doubt who You are as You loved while I was still an enemy and hostile to You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You love and 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 thier 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 you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

 1 John 2

But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.  I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 1 John 2:20-21

This morning, I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books. My study today focuses on a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 2:18-27. 

Per the commentary for this text:

Main idea: There have always been those, and more will come, who actively oppose Christ and the gospel; Christians must resist such error and cling to the truth of God as revealed by the Spirit in the Scriptures.

Excerpt from introduction:

• John seeks for believers to be on watch for signs that end times are near - and one of those signs is the antichrist, false teachers who deny God and seek to lead/deceive believers away from God. "[I]t is absolutely essential that we have a biblically balanced understanding of who the antichrists are and what the antichrists do."
  

Divisions:

1. Antichrists Attack Christ (2:18): John is the only Bible author who uses the term antichrist, yet other authors in the Bible refer to the same figure, including Daniel ("the coming prince" - Daniel 9:27), and Paul ("the man of lawlessness" - 2 Thessalonians 2:3), and as the beast from the sea in Revelation 13:1-10. We are urged to live with a sense of urgency, not knowing when the second coming of Christ will appear and we are to be ready. We are also to be aware that during the end times (defined as the period between first and second coming of Christ) there will be those who serve as antichrists denying God and deceiving others, and then there will be the Antichrist who "comes at the end of the last hour. Jesus Himself warned us of all of this in Matthew 24:4-5,24-25." The antichrists that oppose Jesus who come before the final Antichrist "do not directly oppose Jesus." Instead they practice deception and seduction and they "redefine Him."  By "chipping" away at who He is, believers quickly lose sight of the One True God and begin following false Gods and their ways.  "This is the spirit of the antichrists, and it will attempt to lead you down the road of spiritual error that is a theological dead end....[B]e on the lookout for those who attack the biblical teachings about Christ. They will do you no good." 
   
2. Antichrists Abandon the Church (2:19,22-23): We are warned about "enemies within" the church.  We should recognize that antichrists who leave the church were never truly part of the church.  "Perseverance is the proof of possession. Defection from the fellowship gives evidence of a defective faith. That was certainly John’s perspective." Those who are truly saved persevere as part of the church.  We are referred to John 10:27-29 where Jesus refers to His followers as sheep who follow the shepherd when they hear His voice and how no one will be able to "snatch them out of His hand."  We must avoid the false belief that Jesus is significant but not preeminent and that not the Savior. This belief leads us away from the church.
   
3. Antichrists Assault the Christian (2:20-21,24-27): Believers are equipped with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to truly know God and to discern truth from falsehoods. If we abide in Him we can defend ourselves from the attacks of the antichrists. We must also be clear that we are not to add or subtract anything from God. "The false teachers will attempt to deceive you into thinking you need something more than Christ or something other than Christ."
   

Comment and discuss this post.

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the One True God who gives me the Holy Spirit and Your Word and You protect me and save me.  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 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]ll who believed were together and had all things in common.

Acts 2:44

[A]ll who believed were together and had all things in common. Acts 2:44 

I continue my study of The Character of Jesus.  For this morning, I focus on chapter 12: The Brotherliness of Jesus where I highlighted in my Kindle version the following excerpts:

• "[Brotherliness] contains two elements, both of which are essential if we would understand the kind of man Jesus was. Brotherliness carries in it not only a sense of kinship but likewise a disposition to render help. There is a relationship and likewise a helpfulness, and both of these blended into one constitute the quality to which I invite your attention now." 
• "That this trait in Jesus made a profound impression upon his contemporaries is evidenced not only by what his friends have said about him, but also by the criticisms and sneers which he drew from his foes. It was a common taunt of the Scribes and Pharisees that he was a friend of Publicans and sinners, and when he hung dying on the cross the leading men of the Jewish church gathered round him saying with a jeer, "He saved others, he cannot save himself." Both of these accusations are as devilish as anything to be found in the literature of the world, but they are valuable to us in this that they show conclusively what impression this man of Galilee made upon the people of his time. It had been his practice all the way through life to help men. He had been a friendly, brotherly man even to the lowest and the basest of society. That was a characteristic which had created a great scandal and made him hateful to many of the respectable people of his day." 
• By sharing fellowship with the despised and unclean, Jesus "lost his reputation. In the words of an apostle he made himself of no reputation, he took his good name and tore it into shreds and threw it away and all because he was determined to be brotherly. Notwithstanding these men were so base he recognized in them his brothers. They belonged to him and he belonged to them. They were members of the human race, children of the great family of God, and therefore in spite of all that they had done, and notwithstanding all that they were, he treated them as brothers. Not only did this conduct make a profound impression upon the men of Jesus' day, but it has made such a deep impression on all succeeding generations that it has blinded us to a fact that should never be forgotten — that Jesus was the brother of everybody."  
• "It should never be forgotten that Jesus was brotherly toward good men as well as bad men, rich men as well as poor men, respectable men as well as disreputable men — he was the brother of every man."  
• "He subjected himself to the same ceremony of which his fellow-citizens were in need. Nowhere does his brotherliness come out more clearly than in his treatment of the sick. He could not pass a sick man without his soul going out to help him. Pain in its every form appealed to him, misery drew virtue from his heart. A large proportion of all the recorded miracles are miracles of healing. He could not look upon the deaf or dumb, the palsied, the blind, without putting forth his power to help them." 
• "His brotherliness is also manifested in his teaching. He could not look into men's faces without being pained by their confusion, their perplexity, and their misery." 
•  "Without brotherliness there can be no religion that is pleasing unto God. The old law had said that one man must not kill another, but Jesus went far beyond the requirements of that law — he said that calling a man names was also wicked and would bring him into judgment."
• "In spite of all their ugliness and vindictiveness he went on helping them all he could, and when they laid their plots to kill him, he went bravely forward giving help, saying: 'If I cannot help them with my life I will help them with my death. By dying I will convince them that I wanted to do them good. I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto me. When hanging on the cross they will understand me as they cannot understand me now. When they hear me praying for them with my dying breath, they will be convinced that I am indeed their brother.'"

Several scripture passages, among many available to us in the New Testament, offer examples of how the body of Christ, or the church, represents the brotherliness of Jesus and how we are to live.  Within the church itself, the local church as portrayed in Acts 2:42-47 represents what God seeks for believers as "having everything in common," most notably a shared passion for Jesus Christ.  No one is higher or lower than anyone else - we are all equally loved by God. 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 describes for believers how there is no stronger or weaker part of the church - if one member of the church is in need, other members of the church are there to support and encourage one another.  Beyond the walls of the church, the Parable of the Good Samaritan defines for us Jesus' view on who our neighbor is.  In response to those who urged Jesus to reach out to His mother and brothers who were seeking to see and speak to Him, Jesus replied in Luke 8:21 '[m]y mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.'"  Believe in Jesus, participate in your local church, and experience the brotherliness of Jesus!      

Comment and discuss this post. 

My Prayer: Father God, You are an awesome God who is full of incredible compassion and grace, and who provides the local church which demonstrates the brotherliness of Jesus.  Thank You Jesus for my church!  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. 

And all who believed were together and had all things in common....Greet one another with a holy kiss.

 Romans 16

And all who believed were together and had all things in common....Greet one another with a holy kiss. Acts 2:44, Romans 16:16

This afternoon, I continued my study of Romans.  Using my commentary - Exalting Jesus in Romans (eBook) - I moved to chapter twenty Christian Friendship, which covers Romans 16.  My focus today is v16:1-16, 21-23, which my commentary refers to under the heading How Christian Friendship Is Emphasized. More so than anywhere else I can recall in scripture, in Romans 16, I see a very personal connection that Paul has to so many people that he names them individually/specifically.  We see a gratefulness from Paul for all that these people mean to him as he recalls specific acts or characteristics such as: 

• being a patron (providing for material needs) (Phoebe/v16:2)
• risking lives for believers (Priscilla/Aquila/v16:3)
• being first of converts in Asia (Epaenetus/v16:5)
• kinsmen and fellow prisoners (v16:6/Andronicus and Junia)
• my beloved (v16:8/Ampliatus)
• fellow worker (Urbanus/v16:9)
• my beloved (Stachys/v16:9)
• approved in Christ (Apelles/v16:10)
• kinsman (Herodion/v16:11)
• fellow workers (Tryphaena and Tryphosa/v16:12)
• worked hard in the Lord (Persis/v16:12)
• chosen in the Lord (Rufus/v16:13)
• Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them (v16:14)
• Philologus, Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them (v16:14) 
• fellow worker (Timothy/v16:21)
• kinsmen (Lucius and Jason and Sosipater/v16:21)
• scribe of letter (Tertius/v16:22)
• Paul's host (Gaius/v16:23)
• city treasurer (Erastus/v16:23)   

I am drawn to Acts 2:42-47 where the Fellowship of the Believers of the early church is described. In Acts 2:44 it is said that these early believers "had all things in common." The most important bond of all - one that transcends race, gender, culture, age, education, income, etc. - is a shared belief and passion for Jesus Christ.  This is the basis for Christian friendship.  We are called to attend church corporately, to study Bible together, to sharpen our understanding of God and scripture, to pray and encourage one another, to serve with one another, to support one another, to confess our sins to one another, to hold each other accountable, etc.  We are to acknowledge our need for one another and the power of togetherness. 

My commentary highlights how this chapter was a personal thanks to believers all of which we know little or nothing about - it shows how ordinary people through togetherness demonstrate the power of Christ - as the church is intended. Friendships, community and relationships are key - our faith is weak without them. I am urged to look back at Genesis 2:18 where God Himself says "[i]t is not good that the man should be alone."  We must encourage and spur one another one on (Proverbs 27:17), and help one another avoid sin.  We are also urged to see in today's text the diversity and how despite the diversity there is oneness in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3:28). 

Comment and discuss this post here.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who has provided so many fellow brothers and sisters in Christ who have blessed and sharpened me, etc.  Thank You Jesus!  I am grateful...yet undeserving.  My sin of worry and other sins continue.  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.

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 2

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. v42

I am struck this morning how the believers were devoted to "apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer", in particular to fellowship - with other believers.  I do have this but at times not enough - I think many of us find ourselves feeling this way.  

John Piper also encourages us to look at Hebrews 3:12-13 as a DAILY practice.

See to it, brothers and sisters, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. Hebrews 3:12-13

Lord Jesus - please help me with my fellowship both in terms of giving and in receiving.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who has given me people in my life to encourage and to be encouraged by - thank You Jesus for this fellowship.  I am not deserving of such fellowship.  I worry, I gossip, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcomes 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 the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Hebrews 4

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 4:1-13, and my initial unaided observations of this text.  Once again, just as it did in Hebrews 3, the text in Hebrews 4 starts with "therefore," connecting this chapter with the previous, and in Hebrews 4 the text starts with a warning to fear God and fear falling away so that we can "enter His rest." The text describes how the first generation Israelites did not enter His rest by saying in v2: "[f]or good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened."  The implication is that we should be, as Hebrews 3 emphasizes, and per my post yesterday, in fellowship and community with other believers - let us exhort and encourage one another daily. God's rest is defined in Hebrews 4 in v9-10 as the rest God had on the seventh day of creation, after laying the foundation of the earth: "[s] then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his."  The implication here is that believers can rest from a focus on faith based on works and instead receive rest through faith alone in Jesus Christ.  The word "today" is mentioned twice, implying urgency for us to follow the warnings of the author to not fall away.  The text wraps by sharing why believers should fear God - it is because He is all knowing - and all of us will have to account for our lives upon final judgement, either upon death or when Jesus returns a second (final) time.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God - You give me rest and peace of mind like no other - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such a blessing, nor of any the blessings You pour out for me, including my salvation.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from and overcome 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. 

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

1 Corinthians 1

God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. 1 Corinthians 1:9

I continue my study of 1 Corinthians.  I am assisted in my study by the Christ-Centered Exposition Series commentary for this book.  This morning my focus is a review and study - assisted by the commentary - of 1 Corinthians 1:1-9, which the commentary unpacks via three (3) divisions:

1. God Builds His Church in a Specific Way (1:1-3).* > emphasis on how Paul is called by God and given apostolic authority "as an emissary of the Lord Jesus Christ." Sosthenes is also called out by the text and the commentary describes him as the same man mentioned in Acts 18:17 and it posits that he became a "missionary serving alongside Paul in Ephesus." The commentary then describes several attributes of the church in Corinth - which can be applied all churches: (a) the church as "positional[ly] sanctif[ied]" (vs "experiential[ly] sanctif[ied]") - where the church as a whole defined as "God's holy people in Christ;" (b-c-d) church members as saints - those who in faith call on Jesus Christ as Lord; God's people as saints are a global body - not "contained by borders or...walls"; (e) "the Lord builds his church and blesses his saints with two essential kindnesses: grace and peace" which the commentary further shares as "God's Riches At Christ's Expense (GRACE)
   
2. God Gives Gifts to His Church, with Nothing Missing (1:4-7).* Here the emphasis in the text, as shared by the commentary is how graciously God provides, in particular through the distribution of spiritual gifts. It shares that "Paul draws attention to the gifts of 'all speech and all knowledge, '" and how "all spiritual gifts generally fall under one of three categories: knowledge, speaking, or service....Indeed, in Christ we get all that we will ever need to be pleasing to God and effective for God....[n]othing is missing."  
   
3. God Provides Hope for His Church with Powerful Promises (1:7-9).* The church is encouraged to hold fast to the faith and to be in expectant hope based on the promises of Christ's return and eternal rewards. The commentary describes the hope and encouragement for the church in Corinth as shared in the text in v9 - despite the church's challenges: "[t]he church at Corinth may be fragmenting and headed toward a split, but God nevertheless has a hold of the believers there by his Son. He will not let his people go, no matter what. He may have to exercise some tough love, but they are his and will remain his forever. You can count on it." 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are SO good and You are so faithful! I know I can count on You and find a yes and all of Your promises!  Thank You for the hope and encouragement that only You can provide.  I am not deserving of the grace and 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 sie 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.

*Akin, Dr. Daniel L.; Merritt, James. Exalting Jesus in 1 Corinthians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p. 6). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

1 John 1:5-10

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1 John 1:5

In preparation for leading Sunday school 15SEP, I continue with 1 John 1, yesterday using DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book video series for 1 John which examines 1 John 1:5-10. This morning I step back to look at 1 John as a whole, using commentaries to look at key themes, including history and background of this book.  Excerpts from the introduction of the commentary to 1, 2, 3 John from The Christ-Centered Exposition Series:

• "Obviously sin is not a popular subject in our day. People will go to great lengths to hide it, rationalize it, or deny it. But we must understand that when they deny their sin they call God a liar. They challenge His Word and question His character. They say sin is not serious and Jesus did not need to die."
• "First John 1:5 is the basis for 1:6–2:2 and the foundation for 1:6–3:10, the first half of John’s letter. First John 1:5–3:10 emphasizes the truth that God is light. The second half of the letter, 3:11–5:12, emphasizes the truth that God is love."
• "To think correctly about Jesus, you must think correctly about sin. When you see sin for what it is you will immediately see your need—the world’s need—for Jesus as your advocate (2:1) and your “atoning sacrifice” (2:2 NIV). You will also avoid the error of calling God a liar."

Excerpts from the MacArthur Bible Commentary for 1 John:

• "John and James, his older brother (Acts 12: 2), were known as “the sons of Zebedee” (Matt. 10: 2– 4), whom Jesus gave the name “Sons of Thunder” (Mark 3: 17). John was one of the three most intimate associates of Jesus (along with Peter and James— cf. Matt. 17: 1; 26: 37), being an eyewitness to and participant in Jesus’ earthly ministry (1: 1– 4). In addition to the three epistles, John also authored the Fourth Gospel, in which he identified himself as the disciple “whom Jesus loved” and as the one who reclined on Jesus’ breast at the Last Supper (John 13: 23; 19: 26; 20: 2; 21: 7, 20). He also wrote the Book of Revelation (Rev. 1: 1)."
• "Most likely, John composed this work in the latter part of the first century. Church tradition consistently identifies John, in his advanced age, as living and actively writing during this time at Ephesus in Asia Minor."
• "Furthermore, the heresy John combats most likely reflects the beginnings of Gnosticism which was in its early stages during the latter third of the first century when John was actively writing. Since no mention is made of the persecution under Domitian, which began about A.D. 95, it may have been written before that began. In light of such factors, a reasonable date for 1 John is c. A.D. 90– 95. It was likely written from Ephesus to the churches of Asia Minor over which John exercised apostolic leadership."
• "Although he was greatly advanced in age when he penned this epistle, John was still actively ministering to churches. He was the sole remaining apostolic survivor who had intimate, eyewitness association with Jesus throughout His earthly ministry, death, resurrection, and ascension."
• "As the last remaining apostle, John’s testimony was highly authoritative among the churches. Many eagerly sought to hear the one who had firsthand experience with the Lord Jesus."
• "After the Pauline battle for freedom from the law, Gnosticism was the most dangerous heresy that threatened the early church during the first three centuries....some asserted that Jesus’ physical body was not real but only seemed to be physical (known as Docetism from a Greek word that means “to appear”)....another form of this heresy which John may have attacked was led by a man named Cerinthus, who contended that the Christ’s spirit descended on the human Jesus at his baptism, but left him just before his crucifixion.  Such heretical views destroy not only the true humanity of Jesus, but also the Atonement, for Jesus must not only have been truly God, but also the truly human (and physically real) man who actually suffered and died on the cross in order to be the acceptable substitutionary sacrifice for sin (cf. Heb. 2: 14– 17). The biblical view of Jesus affirms His complete humanity as well as His full deity. The gnostic idea that matter was evil and only spirit was good led to the idea that either the body should be treated harshly, a form of asceticism (e.g., Col. 2: 21– 23), or sin committed in the body had no connection or effect on one’s spirit. This led some, especially John’s opponents, to conclude that sin committed in the physical body did not matter; absolute indulgence in immorality was permissible; one could deny sin even existed (1: 8– 10) and disregard God’s law (3: 4)."
• "A lack of love for fellow believers characterizes false teachers, especially as they react against anyone rejecting their new way of thinking (3: 10– 18). They separated their deceived followers from the fellowship of those who remained faithful to apostolic teaching, leading John to reply that such separation outwardly manifested that those who followed false teachers lacked genuine salvation (2: 19)."
• "Since the heresy was so acutely dangerous and the time period was so critical for the church in danger of being overwhelmed by false teaching, John gently, lovingly, but with unquestionable apostolic authority, sent this letter to churches in his sphere of influence to stem this spreading plague of false doctrine."

 Looking specifically at 1 John 1:1-10, the commentary for this text from the The Christ-Centered Exposition Series shares six divisions (including one division proposed by the commentary that continues through 1 John 2:2:

1 John 1:1-4

1. Have a passion to know this life (vv1-2)
2. Have a passion to share this life (v3)
3. Have a passion to enjoy this life (in a Godly manner) (v4)

1 John 1:5-10

1. The world must know what God says about Himself (v5)
2. The world must know what God says about sin (v6-10)
   
3. The world must know what God says about Jesus (2:1-2)
   

Believers, we must be a light in this world of darkness!

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are light, love and truth...You are also love and my personal Lord and Savior.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of the amazing grace You already poured out for me and the grace You continue to pour out for me in inexhaustible supply. My sin 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.

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.

Hebrews 5

About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:11-14

I continue my study of Hebrews, assisted by the commentary Christ Centered Exposition: Exalting Jesus in Hebrews. My focus this morning is Hebrews 5:11-14, and my initial unaided observations of this text. Here, the author of Hebrews pivots from a discussion of how Jesus is a great High Priest to a clear  admonishment and warning to the readers (who at the time were Jewish believers well versed in the Old Testament), to, with urgency, grow their faith into maturity. The desired end state is to - as v14 says - "have [our] powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil."  Key spiritual disciplines include daily time with God in study and prayer, fellowship with other believers who can support and encourage us in our faith journey, corporate worship, service, etc.  Hebrews 3:12-14 reinforces how fellowship is key.  Today's text is also reinforced by Romans 12:2 where it is expected that our spiritual disciplines (with daily time in study in prayer being key) enable transformation of the mind to "discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."  Today, I am also reminded of Paul's exhortation from 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 that we think of ourselves as running a race or as a boxer training with focus and an aim.  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God who provides Your Word for me to know You, become more like You, etc. as Your Word feeds me and sustains me...and it moves me to maturity.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You speak to me through Your Word.  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.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved[.]

Ephesians 1

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved[.] Ephesians 2:4-5

I pause my deep dive of Isaiah, based on the Precept Upon Precept study series, to study Ephesians for 3 days per week as I participate in a Discipleship (D) Group that is part of my church. This morning, my focus is Ephesians 1 in its entirety, with a specific focus as well on v1-14.  Chuck Swindoll provides this excellent overview of the book, and he describes how Paul writes this letter to the church in Ephesus from prison in Rome and how unlike other letters he has authored where he seeks to address a specific problem in a local church, here Paul is laying down foundational truths of the gospel with an eye towards encouraging growth and maturity of believers in Ephesus. In v1-14, Paul shares with us the spiritual blessings believers experience in Christ, including:

• how "he chose us in him before the foundation of the world" (v4)
• that He sees us as "holy and blameless before him" (v4)
• that "he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ" (v5)
• ..."In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses" (v7)
• ..."In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it[.]" v13-14

We must grab hold of these blessings and drive towards maturity, never forgetting them.  Chuck Swindoll reminds us also that fellowship with other believers in daily living is key towards achieving maturity. 

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an incredible God who blesses us as believers with a rich inheritance You give us faith and salvation, You seal us with the Holy Spirit and guarantee our inheritance - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great...and it is 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.