Category Archives: SIH STSTA…

A Walk Through The Bible – Genesis 20 – Blessed In Spite Of Sin

January 27, 2017 6:00 am

Vs 2-3 – “And Abraham said of Sarah his wife, She is my sister: and Abimelech king of Gerar sent, and took Sarah. But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man’s wife.”

Vs 14-15 – “And Abimelech took sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and womenservants, and gave them unto Abraham, and restored him Sarah his wife. And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee.”

What a wonderful display of God’s grace and mercy shown to us… To be blessed IN SPITE OF our sins. (Please notice I did not say blessed BECAUSE we have sinned)

Folks, in this account of Abraham, Sarah and Abimelech, we read of Abraham’s clear, obvious deception of Abimelech. And, yet, we then read of God’s wondrous blessings to Abraham at the end of our chapter. How can this be?

It is important for us all to understand that God never blesses us because we have sinned in His sight. Sin is hated by God. Period. Sin is always an act of rebellious, faithlessness towards our Lord for which there is never an excuse or justification.

In Abraham’s case, he should have trusted the Lord with Sarah and his future safety. He should have told the truth to Abimelech about his relationship with her. Instead he chose to lie and in doing so, displayed a lack of faith in his Lord and sinned against Him. (By the way, although they were half brother and sister – Gen 20:12, the words Abraham spoke was still a lie because they were spoken with an intent to deceive Abimelech.) However, at the end of our account, we find Abraham and Sarah blessed by God though Abimelech’s gifts.

So how do we explain this? How can a God who hates sin, use the entire situation to bring physical blessings upon those who have sinned? Before we begin to examine this, let me ask each one of us a few simple questions to drive home a very important point…

Have we turned from our sins to Christ as our Savior and Lord? If so, have we ever sinned following our salvation experience? Did He then leave us to never bless us again? Or, do we see His gracious, loving hand continuing to be in our life IN SPITE OF our sin?

When the Lord blesses us in spite of our sin, He is giving us one of the greatest possible displays of His love, patience, mercy, and grace.

Folks, this is both the answer to our question and the lesson we should take away from this chapter… Just as the Lord was merciful, patient, kind, and loving to Abraham and Sarah, so too, He is with us on a daily basis. In spite of our daily sins and failures, He remains with us. In spite of our times of rebellion and lack of faith, He quietly, patiently waits as He intervenes and continues to bless us in the midst of it all.

This is the wondrous God that we serve. May we take time to praise Him for His patient mercies towards us and remember throughout our day all the many graces He shows us in spite of our many daily sins.

Psa 103:8-13

“The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.”

A Walk Through The Bible – Genesis 19 – The Certain Judgment Of God

January 26, 2017 6:00 am

Devotional Thoughts From Every Chapter of the Bible

Genesis Chapter 19:

Gen 19:1-38

(1) And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

(2) And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant’s house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.

(3) And he pressed upon them greatly; and they turned in unto him, and entered into his house; and he made them a feast, and did bake unleavened bread, and they did eat.

(4) But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter:

(5) And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? bring them out unto us, that we may know them.

(6) And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,

(7) And said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly.

(8) Behold now, I have two daughters which have not known man; let me, I pray you, bring them out unto you, and do ye to them as is good in your eyes: only unto these men do nothing; for therefore came they under the shadow of my roof.

(9) And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.

(10) But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.

(11) And they smote the men that were at the door of the house with blindness, both small and great: so that they wearied themselves to find the door.

(12) And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place:

(13) For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it.

(14) And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.

(15) And when the morning arose, then the angels hastened Lot, saying, Arise, take thy wife, and thy two daughters, which are here; lest thou be consumed in the iniquity of the city.

(16) And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

(17) And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed.

(18) And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:

(19) Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die:

(20) Behold now, this city is near to flee unto, and it is a little one: Oh, let me escape thither, (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.

(21) And he said unto him, See, I have accepted thee concerning this thing also, that I will not overthrow this city, for the which thou hast spoken.

(22) Haste thee, escape thither; for I cannot do any thing till thou be come thither. Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar.

(23) The sun was risen upon the earth when Lot entered into Zoar.

(24) Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

(25) And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

(26) But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.

(27) And Abraham gat up early in the morning to the place where he stood before the LORD:

(28) And he looked toward Sodom and Gomorrah, and toward all the land of the plain, and beheld, and, lo, the smoke of the country went up as the smoke of a furnace.

(29) And it came to pass, when God destroyed the cities of the plain, that God remembered Abraham, and sent Lot out of the midst of the overthrow, when he overthrew the cities in the which Lot dwelt.

(30) And Lot went up out of Zoar, and dwelt in the mountain, and his two daughters with him; for he feared to dwell in Zoar: and he dwelt in a cave, he and his two daughters.

(31) And the firstborn said unto the younger, Our father is old, and there is not a man in the earth to come in unto us after the manner of all the earth:

(32) Come, let us make our father drink wine, and we will lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

(33) And they made their father drink wine that night: and the firstborn went in, and lay with her father; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

(34) And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.

(35) And they made their father drink wine that night also: and the younger arose, and lay with him; and he perceived not when she lay down, nor when she arose.

(36) Thus were both the daughters of Lot with child by their father.

(37) And the firstborn bare a son, and called his name Moab: the same is the father of the Moabites unto this day.

(38) And the younger, she also bare a son, and called his name Benammi: the same is the father of the children of Ammon unto this day.

Thought For This Chapter…

The destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah reveals to us not only the wrath of God that is shown against sin but, also, the nature of sin itself. Please keep in mind, that the basis of the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah, namely homosexuality, was one type of sin that is described by God as “very grievous” (very disgusting and revolting) to Him. (Gen 18:20).

Even, backslidden Lot understood that their sinful nature of their actions were seen as wickedness by the Lord, when he spoke to the inhabitants of the city telling them to “do not so wickedly”.

Folks, we should never question God’s attitude toward our sin and sin in the lives of others. God’s holiness demands that sin cannot be a part of His being, nor can it be found accepted in His presence…

Psa 5:4

(4) For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.

Sin is an act of filthy rebellion against our Lord, His authority and His very being. Because of this our Lord looks upon sin as “wounds, bruises and putrefying sores” that can never be healed nor cleansed apart from His direct intervention…

Isa 1:6

(6) From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it; but wounds, and bruises, and putrifying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified with ointment.

Never should we question God’s judgment against sin in the case of Sodom and Gomorrah, or any other judgment that we see taking place in the Bible.

There are many that look upon God’s judgments of sin as unjust, unfair, or simply “Biblical stories” that never took place in history. Likewise there are many who do not believe God’s promises of an upcoming judgment, in the Lake of Fire, for those who die yet in their sins.

Yet, based upon our chapter this morning, and many other Scripture verses, we know, without a doubt, that the Lord’s judgment of sin existed throughout history and will continue on into eternity future.

May we all take these thoughts seriously and be sure that we have turned from our sins and have placed our trust in Christ to have taken our deserved wrath upon Himself when He died on the cross of Calvary.

A Walk Through The Bible – Genesis 18 – Patience and Mercy Of God

January 25, 2017 6:00 am

Devotional Thoughts From Every Chapter of the Bible

Genesis Chapter 18:

Gen 18:1-33

(1) And the LORD appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

(2) And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground,

(3) And said, My Lord, if now I have found favour in thy sight, pass not away, I pray thee, from thy servant:

(4) Let a little water, I pray you, be fetched, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree:

(5) And I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts; after that ye shall pass on: for therefore are ye come to your servant. And they said, So do, as thou hast said.

(6) And Abraham hastened into the tent unto Sarah, and said, Make ready quickly three measures of fine meal, knead it, and make cakes upon the hearth.

(7) And Abraham ran unto the herd, and fetcht a calf tender and good, and gave it unto a young man; and he hasted to dress it.

(8) And he took butter, and milk, and the calf which he had dressed, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree, and they did eat.

(9) And they said unto him, Where is Sarah thy wife? And he said, Behold, in the tent.

(10) And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

(11) Now Abraham and Sarah were old and well stricken in age; and it ceased to be with Sarah after the manner of women.

(12) Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?

(13) And the LORD said unto Abraham, Wherefore did Sarah laugh, saying, Shall I of a surety bear a child, which am old?

(14) Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.

(15) Then Sarah denied, saying, I laughed not; for she was afraid. And he said, Nay; but thou didst laugh.

(16) And the men rose up from thence, and looked toward Sodom: and Abraham went with them to bring them on the way.

(17) And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do;

(18) Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him?

(19) For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

(20) And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;

(21) I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me; and if not, I will know.

(22) And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

(23) And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

(24) Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

(25) That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

(26) And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

(27) And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

(28) Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

(29) And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake.

(30) And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

(31) And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.

(32) And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

(33) And the LORD went his way, as soon as he had left communing with Abraham: and Abraham returned unto his place.

Thought For This Chapter…

The patience and mercy of the Lord that He has placed upon His people… What a great wonderful blessing it is!

We see this wonderful attribute of the Lord on display in the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah. In our account(vs 23-33), we find the Lord willing to withhold judgment from an entire wicked city for the sake of only 10 of His righteous people.

As we look about our nation today, we are seeing the Lord’s wrath being held back due to His mercy that is shown to His people. Folks, I believe our country is departing from the Lord at an increasing rate.

We have removed His Word and prayer from schools, allowed abortions to go without punishment and, just lately, we have seen further proof of our departure in the legalization of homosexual marriages.

All of these outward actions are simply proof of what is taking place within the hearts of all branches of our government and citizenry. Our nation, as a whole, has departed from the fear and reverence of God and has turned to itself to find leadership, wisdom and purpose for existence.

Folks, our nation is ripe for judgment but the Lord remains patient giving our nation a chance to repent of their sins and turn back to Him. Please keep in mind, any repentance that takes place in our government must first take place in other segments of our society including our own hearts and the hearts of our families and church members.

May we all be in prayer on behalf of all of these segments of our society, asking the Lord to reveal our sins, turn us back to Him and allow us to draw nearer to Him than we have ever been before.

I believe the time is short, may the Lord burden all of our hearts and work in our midst before it is too late.

“Jesus Is The Anointed Prophet Priest and King”

August 23, 2016 9:00 am

(Identifying Jesus as the Anointed One During His First Coming)

INTRODUCTION:

Many times in the New Testament Jesus is given the title of “Christ”. The title “Christ” holds the same meaning as the Old Testament title “Messiah”. Both of these titles possess a similar meaning, “one that is anointed”.

Why are these two titles for Jesus so important? It is based on the Old Testament practice of the anointing prophets (1 Kings 19:16), priests (Nums 3:3), and kings (1 Kings 19:16). The public anointing of these office holders revealed that they have been given God’s authority and enabling to hold their perspective offices.

Based upon this Old Testament practice, understanding that Jesus was “the Anointed One” reveals to us that Jesus has received God’s authority to hold the offices of “Prophet”, “Priest” and “King”.

In this study, we will be making a quick search for proofs that Christ exercised this divine authority as Our Prophet, Our Priest, and Our King, thus proving that He truly was anointed by God.

TODAY’S TEXT:

Isa 61:1-3

(1) The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; (2) To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; (3) To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

Mat 16:13-16

(13) When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? (14) And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. (15) He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? (16) And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.

Mat 16:20

(20) Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Act 10:37-38

(37) That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; (38) How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.

Heb 1:8-9

(8) But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. 9) Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

TODAY’S LESSON:

In the Old Testament, there are many texts which speak of the Messiah, or “the Anointed One”. These texts describe the individual who will be anointed by God to perform many different earthly, and heavenly ministries…

Isa 61:1-3 – “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.”

Heb 1:8-9 – “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Jesus was anointed by his Heavenly Father with the Holy Spirit as the Spirit came down upon Him at His baptism…

Act 10:37-38 – “That word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judaea, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

So in Matthew 16:13-20 the Lord was not only emphasizing His position before the Father as “the Christ” (“the Anointed One”), but also he was emphasizing the ministries he was performing at His first coming as God’s Prophet, Priest and King.

Mat 16:13-20 – “When Jesus came into the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, Whom do men say that I the Son of man am? And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am? And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.”

While on earth, and immediately afterward, Christ fulfilled all three roles that His Father had given to Him…

Prophet – During Christ’s ministry on earth, He delivered the Father’s message to the people…

Joh 12:49 – “For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.”

Joh 14:10 – “Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.”

Priest – During Christ’s ministry on earth, He acted as Priest making intercession and sacrifice for His people…

Joh 17:9 -16 – “I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled. And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world…”

Joh 10:11-15 – “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.”

King – immediately following His ascension Christ was seated at His Father’s right hand and began His reign as King of King and Lord of Lords…

Mar 16:19 – “So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”

Act 2:32-35 – “This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool.”

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

Folks, every time we speak of “Jesus Christ, the Messiah” we are affirming that Jesus is the promised King, Prophet, and Priest sent from God to rule, intercede for, and sacrifice Himself for God’s people.

Do we believe, with a God-given faith, that Jesus is our Christ? Has He died for us? Does He intervene for us? Does He rule over our hearts and lives?

If we can answer “yes” to all of these questions, we have been delivered from our sins and are eternally secure in Him. If we cannot say “yes” to these questions then we have to question our standing before God.

May we all come to a saving faith in Him, placing all of our trust in Him as the Prophet, Priest and King of our lives.

Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org

Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com

Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven

Email… settledinheaven@gmail.com

“Rightly Dividing The Word of Truth”

August 16, 2016 9:00 am

(Treating The Bible With Honesty and Respect As God’s Revealed Word)

INTRODUCTION:

For our Bible study today, we come across a very well-known and emphasized text of Scripture. In this text, the Apostle Paul is instructing a young Pastor Timothy on the need to “rightly divide the Word of Truth”, as he ministers to the Ephesian the church and the citizens of Ephesus.

What did Paul mean when he gave these instructions to Timothy?

Was he telling Timothy of the need to divide the Word between true teachings and errors that the Bible contains? There are many that wrongfully believe this is so.

Or perhaps, Paul was telling Timothy of the need to divide the Scriptures into several different time periods characterized by different methods of Godly interaction with men? Our dispensational brothers would tell us this is the case.

In our study this morning we will be looking at the Scriptural meaning of the phrase “rightly dividing the Word of Truth” and its application for all who seek to serve the Lord and share His Word with others.

TODAY’S TEXT:

2Ti 2:15 – “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

TODAY’S LESSON:

Obviously, this study will center on the meaning of the phrase “rightly dividing”. The only possible way to come to a proper understanding of this phrase is to come to an understanding of the MEANING of these words and their USAGE in the context of our passage…

The meaning of the words “rightly dividing”.

This two word phrase is translated from one word in the Greek. This word is “orthotomeo”. The meaning of orthotomeo is very interesting indeed. This word comes from a fusion of two Greek words… “orthos” and “tomoteros”.

“orthos” carries with the ideas of straight, upright, level, honest, not twisted, not distorted.

“tomoteros” carries with it the idea of cutting, sharpness, dissection.

From this vocabulary we can see the basic idea Paul was getting across to Timothy was the need to “cut into” God’s Word, closely examine it, and then share his findings with others. It would be much like a biologist that is using a very sharp knife to carefully dissect an animal to come to a better factual understanding of its internal organs and contents.

Also, Timothy was never to approach God’s Word with a bias or a predisposition about its contents. He was to simply accept the teachings of the Word, accept them as truth, and then fairly reflect his discoveries to his listeners without twisting his findings in any way. Timothy’s teachings were to simply reveal the contents of the Word, not twist the Word to align it with his personal desires and beliefs.

In summary this terminology teaches us that Timothy was to take great care in coming to an understanding of the Scriptures and in revealing its contents in an unbiased, truthful fashion.

The usage of the phrase “rightly dividing” in the context of our passage.

Please keep in mind, the thought found in this passage actually begins in verse 14 and carries through to verse 19. In this passage we see two basic themes being covered over and over again…

#1. The need to teach the truth and ONLY the truth.

This subject is found in verses 15 & 19:

15) Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

In this verse, we see the need to study diligently, come to an understanding of the truth and teach the truth we have learned, so as not to stand ashamed before Christ.

(19) Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Here, we see that one of the outstanding characteristics of God’s people is the need to depart from iniquity in our personal life. This includes departing from false teaching that only harms men.

#2. The harm that is done through the false teachings of men.

This theme is found in the following verses:

(14) Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the hearers.

False teaching is of no profit to the minister or those who sit under his ministry. On the contrary, false teaching only disrupts and sabotages those who are striving to come to an understanding God’s Word in truth.

(16) But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

(17) And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus;

(18) Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection is past already; and overthrow the faith of some.

Here, Timothy is told to brush off wicked and fruitless discussions that only lead to an increase in opposition to God.

False teaching devours the listener like gangrene, resulting in uselessness and a poisoning of the hearer. Teaching error propagates untrue beliefs and can even overwhelm the set of Godly truths that were previously learned. In other words, error not only deceives those who have learned no truth, but also can confuse those who have assented to the truth.

These were all destructive results of teaching error which emphasized to Timothy the need to come to a proper understand of the truths of God’s Word and then, faithfully, reveal them to his hearers.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

Folks, all of us have some type of ministry that God has given to us. In every case, our ministry should involve revealing God’s Word to others through our lives, whether by our words or our actions or a combination of both.

For us to faithfully proclaim the Word of God, we should concentrate on these instructions given by the Apostle Paul to Timothy…. carefully study the Word and then, with equal care, share what we have learned with others.

Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org

Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com

Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven

Email… settledinheaven@gmail.com

God’s Word: Believe It Or Deny It… But Don’t Twist It!

August 2, 2016 9:00 am

INTRODUCTION:

Over the years I have seen people believe God’s Word and see their need to come to Christ for forgiveness and salvation from their sins. Also, I have seen many people make a decision to not believe God’s word, ignore its warnings and continue to live a life that is separated from Christ and characterized by the practice of sin. We all must make the choice to either believe the Word and apply it to our lives, or ignore its message and the offer of salvation that lies in its pages.

But sadly, there is another group of people whom I have seen that choose to make an attempt to change the Word of the Lord and twist its meaning and its message. They do this in an attempt to make it align with their own personal morals, philosophies and carnal desires. They come to a sinful faith in their version of God’s Word, while in affect denying the true gospel message that it contains.

In this study we will be looking at the Scriptural teachings on the need to refrain from attempting to change His Word to meet our carnal desires.

TODAY’S TEXT:

Psa 119:160 – Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

2 Tim 4:3-4 – For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

2 Peter 3:16 – As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.

TODAY’S LESSON:

Psa 119:160 – Thy word is true from the beginning: and every one of thy righteous judgments endureth for ever.

Many years ago, King David understood that God’s Word, in its entirety was “true”. The Hebrew word translated true in this verse refers to something that is trustworthy and certain. Folks, the reliability of God’s Word is no small issue indeed. If we cannot depends on the Word in its entirety, we have no assurance of Christ’s existence, identity, or work done on our behalf. This leads us to understand that we then have absolutely no assurance of our salvation nor of an eternity that awaits us.

King David then continues by telling us that God’s Word “endureth” forever. In other words, it remains in existence, and affect, throughout all time and into eternity. What a blessing this is for all of us. We can know that not only is God’s Word reliable, but it remains reliable throughout the ages! Never will there be a time when God’s Word will no longer be dependable. It is only in this truth that we can have eternal confidence of our salvation and the home that awaits us on the New Heavens and Earth.

Sadly, those who seek to change God’s Word, and twist its meaning, are living in denial of its truthfulness and endurance.

Paul, in his writings, prophesied of a day when men would “not endure sound doctrine”, “heap to themselves teachers having itching ears”, “turn away their ears from the truth”, and finally ‘be turned unto fables”. In other words, because their sinful natures and desires they did not desire to hear the truths of God’s Word. Instead, they sought out false teachers who substituted the truths of the Word with “fables”. The Hebrew word used for fables refers to fictional tales.

When a man is convicted due to their sinful condition, instead of turning from their sin and looking to Christ as their Lord and Savior, they simply attempt to change the truths of the Word which relieves their conscience and allows them to continue living their sinful lifestyles. When this takes place they no longer see their need to repent and come to Christ.

Peter confirms the writings of Paul when he says that, even in his day, there were those “that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.” These men were “wresting”, i.e. twisting or perverting, the teachings of the Scriptures “unto their own destruction”.

Folks, as difficult as it may be to come face to face with our sinful condition and need of Christ, it is far better than to change God’s Word, twisting its content and meaning resulting in a soothed conscience in the midst of our sins which separates us from Christ, keeps us under His wrath, and condemns us eternally.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

Folks, the message of the Word is clear, either accept the Word as eternal truth from God, or look upon it as a collection of error filled human writings, but under no circumstances should we attempt to change it to make it more palatable to our personal whims and sinful tastes.

When we simply choose to believe the Word, or deny it, we are responding to the Scriptural responsibility that God has laid on us. This allows us to clearly see our standing before the Lord.

For those of us who believe His Word and apply it to our lives resulting in a Godly repentance and belief in Christ, we know our sins have been forgiven and we are secure in Him.

For those who choose to deny His Word and reject its teachings, they can clearly see that they have never accepted the gospel message, and therefore never come a saving faith in Christ. They are yet lost in their sins and stand guilty before the Almighty God who is the Eternal Judge over all mankind. This knowledge can then be the basis of consistent guilt and conviction which can later drive them to Christ.

However, when they try to twist the Word to meet their own personal preferences, they are, in effect, fooling themselves into thinking that they are right with God. They are telling themselves that they are living according to God’s Word and in good standing before Him. Yet, in reality, they are under the bondage of sin, possessing a carnal assurance of a nonexistent salvation. They have blinded themselves from the truth and have made themselves “two-fold more the children of hell”. They are living with a false sense of spiritual security when, in actuality, are doomed to eternal punishment in the Lake of Fire.

Lord help anyone of us who have chosen this path of self-deception and self-assurance for our lives.

Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org

Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com

Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven

Email… settledinheaven@gmail.com

“Sins Of The Eyes And Heart”

July 26, 2016 10:38 am

THE INTRODUCTION:

There is a clear relationship between what we see with our eyes, what we sinfully desire in our hearts, and the fallen outward actions that we commit. Our Lord, Himself, addressed this relationship in Matthew 5:27-28 when He said…

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.”

This is a very important issue that we need to understand clearly. In this study we will seek to come to an understanding of the Lord’s teachings (and other related verses) on the relationship of our eyes, heart (desires) and the acts of sin we commit.

THE SCRIPTURES:

Job 31:1-8

(1) I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

(2) For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high?

(3) Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity?

(4) Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps?

(5) If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit;

(6) Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity.

(7) If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands;

(8) Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

Pro 23:7

(7) For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

Mat 5:27-28

(27) Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

(28) But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

Jas 1:13-16

(13) Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

(14) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

(15) Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

(16) Do not err, my beloved brethren.

THE STUDY:

Mat 5:27-28 – Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.

In our Lord’s teachings found in Matt 5:27-28, we are taught that sin can occur within the heart (desires) of a man. Please notice that “lusting after her” is counted as committing the sin of adultery “in his heart”. In other words, possessing sinful lusts is one type of sin that can be committed by man.

This also helps us to understand that there are two different ways that any sin can be committed:

First of all, sin can be committed in the heart when we hold burning desires to perform an act of sin. In the case of Jesus’ teaching, the desire to commit the act of adultery, is, in and of itself, counted as a sin.
Secondly, sin can involve the outward act of the sin. In Christ’s teaching this would be the physical act of adultery being committed with the woman after whom the inward lust is being committed.

Please note that both the sin of the heart and the actual commission of that sin are recognized as two separate sins. To lust in the heart is sinful, to go farther and actually commit the physical sin of adultery is recognized as a second commission of sin. We should never think that if we commit sin in our hearts we had “might as well do the act”. This is a lie that comes from Satan himself, being told to us in an effort to increase our guilt and the sin that abides in our lives.

Jas 1:13-16 – Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. Do not err, my beloved brethren.

In the above verse, James explains to us the steps that produce acts of sin in our lives. James teachings helps us to better understand the relationship between our eyes, heart and the outward performance of sin.

Every commission of sin begins as a temptation. These temptations are wholly based upon the desires that we hold within us. Notice what James says… “Every man is tempted when he is drawn away OF HIS OWN LUST and enticed.” Folks, anytime an opportunity to sin arises, but we have no desire to commit that sin, it is not a temptation to us.

A very simple example is a person who is on a diet and HATES vanilla ice cream. I can offer that person vanilla ice cream over and over again and they will never be “tempted” to eat it and break their diet. Why? Because they have no desire to eat the vanilla ice cream. However, if the same person LOVES chocolate ice cream, the moment I offer it to them, the offer becomes a “temptation” to them to break their diet. Because they desire it, the opportunity to partake of it becomes a temptation to them.

James then goes further and explains that when the person recognizes the opportunity to sin is open to them (they are enticed by it), the sinful lust in their heart then gives birth to the outward act of sin which leads to their death.

WOW! What a horrible chain of events that leads to all men’s downfall, reminds us of a fish that is caught by a fisherman…

The bait is seen by the fish (using its eyes)
The bait attracts the fish because it is hungry (its desires)
The bait is taken by the fish (the outward act of taking that which is sinfully desired)
The fish is killed by the fisherman (death occurs as the direct result of sin)

The commission of sin takes place in the same way…

We see an opportunity to sin (we place our eyes on it)
We then take advantage of that opportunity (because we desire to commit that sin)
The natural result of the commission of that sin is physical and spiritual death.

Job 31:1-8 – I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid? For what portion of God is there from above? and what inheritance of the Almighty from on high? Is not destruction to the wicked? and a strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? Doth not he see my ways, and count all my steps? If I have walked with vanity, or if my foot hath hasted to deceit; Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity. If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes, and if any blot hath cleaved to mine hands; Then let me sow, and let another eat; yea, let my offspring be rooted out.

Job understood the two types of sin when he said… “If my step hath turned out of the way, and mine heart walked after mine eyes”.

Job described the outward acts of sin as “If my step turned out of the way”
Job described the role of inward sinful desires as “mine heart walked after mine eyes”.

Job also understood how sin develops in our lives:

He was describing his sinful desires being fulfilled following the seeing an opportunity to sin… “mine heart walked after mine eyes”:
This results in the outward commission of that sin “If my step hath turned out of the way”.

Because of Job’s knowledge of these truths, he was able to successfully avoid sin in his life. This is why he was able to boldly ask the Lord to look at his life and see that his life was dedicated to pleasing Him. So what is the secret to Job’s success?…

“I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?”

He saw the need to control what his eyes looked upon to avoid these times of temptation that so easily come upon all mankind. he understood that, due to our fallen, sinful natures we all possess sinful desires. The one of the most effective ways to avoid cultivating and fulfilling those desires was by controlling his eyes…

“I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?”

In other words, if Job avoided the opportunity to sin, he would not be feeding his sinful desires nor would he be bringing them to fruition. What a very important lesson for us all. By controlling what our eyes look upon we can keep our sinful desires at bay and not “live them out” in our actions!

Job said that the result of this covenant he made with his eyes, he was able to sincerely invite the Lord to examine his life without guilt or hesitation… “Let me be weighed in an even balance, that God may know mine integrity”

CONCLUSION:

Do we attempt to control our eyes and avoid temptations whenever we possibly can? The answer to this question speaks volumes about our character, the person we are within.

King Solomon understood this principle when he wrote in Proverbs 23:7 … “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he;”

In response to Solomon’s writing, lets close by asking ourselves this simple question … “Who are we?” The answer can be found in our attempts to rule over our eyes and the desires that dwell in our hearts.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

SIH Text Blog: https://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/

SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/

SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com

“Temptation Or Testing?”

July 19, 2016 9:59 am

THE INTRODUCTION:

Many times the Hebrew and Greek words translated “temptation” are also translated “test” or “trial”.

In the KJV the two Hebrew words which are most often translated temptation or test are ‘bahan’ and ‘nasa’. The two Greek words translated similarly are the words ‘dokimazo’ and ‘peirazo’. The folllowing table better explains the relationship of these words to one another…

Hebrew	Greek	Hebrew and Greek Translation in KJV:

bahan	dokimazo	examine, prove, assay, try, allow, discern, like
nasa	peirazo	tempt, try, prove, examine, assay, adventure, go about

As you can see from the above table, all 4 words carry with them the ideas of attempting (Deut 4:34, Acts 9:26), testing (Job 23:10, 1 John 4:1), discerning (Gen 38:25, Luke 12:56), and/or tempting (Isa 7:12, Matt 4:1).

In all of the above usages the principle of “testing or attempting something resulting in a conclusion being drawn” is present. So why would this term be used to describe a temptation taking place? In this study we will being seeing that the temptations we face are all trials that reveal truths about us.

THE SCRIPTURES:

Jas 1:12 – Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Rev 3:10 – Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

THE STUDY:

Just as King Nebuchadnezzar came to understand, we all understand that the Lord is truly in control of every event that takes place in our lives…

Dan 4:34-36 – “And at the end of the days I Nebuchadnezzar lifted up mine eyes unto heaven, and mine understanding returned unto me, and I blessed the most High, and I praised and honoured him that liveth for ever, whose dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom is from generation to generation: And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou? At the same time my reason returned unto me; and for the glory of my kingdom, mine honour and brightness returned unto me; and my counsellors and my lords sought unto me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent majesty was added unto me.”

This principle not only applies to the blessed times of our lives, but even the more difficult, trying times are under God’s control and allowed into our lives for a purpose. Remember, the Lord never brings temptation upon us ….

Jas 1:13 – “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:”

But He allows the powers of darkness, the fallen world, and our flesh to tempt us. The story of Job clearly presents this truth to us…

Job 1:6-12 – “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them. And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face. And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD.”

Also as Christians, we are also familiar with God’s promise that He never allows anything in our lives that does not eventually work for our good and His glory…

Rom 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”

When we put all of these Biblical principles together, we can see that the Lord controls our temptations and allows temptations to come upon us for our good and His glory. But how does this all work? How does the Lord allow temptations to enter our life and how do we benefit from them?

This is where our word study comes into play. Our word study gives us one of the great reasons why God allows temptations to come upon us… Every temptation is used by the Lord as a time of testing that teaches us something about ourselves.

This principle is repeatedly brought out in Scripture. Two such texts are:

Jas 1:12 – Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.

Rev 3:10 – Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

(Please note in both James 1:12 and Revelation 3:10, temptations are described as trials (testings) that are faced by man.)

That is why the words translated “tempt” or “temptation” carry with them the idea of “testing or attempting something resulting in a conclusion being drawn”. In other words when we are tempted, we are being tested. This test, and how we respond to it, can teach us much about our Lord, Satan and, especially, ourselves.

When we are tempted, we can learn about the Lord’s enabling grace, His patience and His forgiveness; we can learn about Satan’s methodology, his strength and his limitations as he attempts to bring the Christian to failure; and we can learn about ourselves, our strengths, our weaknesses, and our need of Christ enabling for our day to day walk.

CONCLUSION:

Paul, in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, gives us one practical application for our lesson this morning.

2Co 12:7-10 – “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

In this text, Paul lists many testings he faced in life (his “thorn in the flesh”, other “infirmities”, “reproaches”, “necessities”, “persecutions”, “distresses”)… Please note all these testings were actually temptations that sought to hinder Paul and his ministry for Christ.

Paul came to recognize that even these testings (or temptations) were something that brought him pleasure because they taught him about Christ’s enabling grace and his great need of Christ on a daily basis which kept him close to Christ.

Folks, we should never underestimate the importance of using times of temptation for our benefit and the Lord’s glory…

May we learn of Christ’s great enabling grace that allows us to remain faithful to Him even during the heaviest times of temptation in our lives.

Through this may we also learn of our daily need of Christ’s grace in our lives.

And finally, when we fail him during times of temptation, may we immediately seek His forgiveness, allow this to reveal our weak areas, our need to avoid these areas of temptation whenever possible, and finally, may we work to strengthen ourselves in these areas through Bible study, prayer and seeking a close walk with Christ.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

SIH Text Blog: https://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/

SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/

SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com

“For It Is Impossible”

July 12, 2016 9:00 am

“For It Is Impossible”

THE SCRIPTURES:

Heb 6:1-9

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.

And this will we do, if God permit.

For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

THE STUDY:

Heb 6:1-9…

Here the writer of Hebrews reminds us of the need to continue to grow in knowledge of the teachings of Christ. We are to not continue to dwell on the foundation teachings we have learned, but we are to add to them and build upon them. As we grow in knowledge and application of the teachings of Christ, we become “perfect” (mature, strong Christians) who are equipped for service to Christ.

Some of the teachings that are considered foundational include:

the need for “repentance from dead works” and “faith toward God” for salvation
the importance of entrance into church membership (through “baptism” in water), the Holy Spirit’s initial empowerment of local churches (“baptism” in the Spirit) and the coming reformation of the world (“baptism” with fire)
the ordination of God’s men into the ministry (“laying on of hands”), the “laying on of the hands” by the apostles which propagated the accrediting gifts of the Spirit.
the coming “resurrection from the dead” which teaches us about the existence of life after death and entrance into either the presence of God or “eternal judgement” in the Lake of Fire.

And this will we do, if God permit.

Here, we can see that growing in the knowledge of Christ’s teachings is not simply a matter of human will but is wholly dependent upon God’s gracious intervention in our lives…

1Co 2:9-2:16

“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

This is why we are told that God must allow “permit” us to come to a greater understanding of His truths for us to achieve the goal we have had set before us.

Please note this verse now begins a discourse on the permanent nature of our salvation.

The writer will now explain to us that we cannot be shifting back and forth from being saved, lost, and then saved again. Christ’s payment on the cross included all of the believer’s sins past, present and future. It was an all sufficient payment that will never fall short of the complete, eternal redemption of His people…

Rom 8:29-31…

“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”

Folks, once saved we are PERMANENTLY saved. In other words, the receipt of our new nature (and becoming a new creature in Christ) is our new, enduring state of existence. We have been made the servants of Christ, never to return to the servanthood of Satan, our sin nature, and this fallen world. This is our new identity and we will continue on as servants of Christ for the rest of our lives.

This principle of our enduring change (resulting in us being placed permanently into the Kingdom of Christ) is a tremendous motivating force for us to grow in the knowledge and application of the Word of God. Due to this never ending change in servanthood, we should devote our lives to coming to a greater understanding and application of the truths of our Lord for our lives. Being permanently made His servants, should we not come to a greater understanding of His teachings and desires for our lives? This can only be done through a continuing learning and application of His Word to our lives.

The writer of Hebrews clearly tells us that “it is impossible”. In other words what follows CANNOT happen. NOT EVER can a person who is saved, fall away and then be saved once again. Why? For him to be resaved would mean that Christ would have to die again.

To lose a person’s salvation would clearly demonstrate that the death of Christ was insufficient to cover ALL of his sins (past present and future. Therefore if a Christian could lose their salvation Christ would have to die a second time on the cross to pay the price for the sins that caused the Christian to initially lose his salvation.

Please note in this passage, a truly saved person is described as:

“enlightened” – had their spiritual eyes enlightened to see the truths of His Word and come to a knowledge of Christ as the light of this world.
“tasted of the heavenly gift” – partook of God’s gift of salvation
“made partakers of the Holy Ghost” – indwelt by the Holy Spirit
“tasted the good word of God and the powers of the world to come” have experienced the Word of God in their lives and the precious hope of a coming eternity with Christ.

Speaking of these genuine Christians, the writer of Hebrews says that “If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

Remember the context of this statement is that “It is impossible”. In other words “it is impossible for a saved person to depart from their saved condition, no longer be a new creature and lose his membership in God’s kingdom and then regain all these blessings a second time.” Why? Because in doing so they would…

“crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”

If he did lose his salvation, it would be proof Christ had failed in His work, thus putting Him to a public shame and causing Him to die on the cross again (to pay for the sins that caused the initial loss of salvation).

The writer then uses a picture from nature to illustrate the complete, and permanent, blessing of salvation which is given to any who come to Christ in repentance and belief. The eternal nature of the blessing of salvation is much like the blessing of rain that falls upon the earth causing it to bear herbs.

The rain causes the earth to bear the herbs and bring them to maturity which end up being a blessing to others. Just like a Christian whose initial salvation experience and continuing growth is brought about through the continuing application of Christ’s work on the cross in the life of the believer. These blessings of salvation and spiritual growth result in the believer being a blessing to those around him.

The one who never tastes of God’s grace of salvation is like the ground that only brings forth thorns or briar plants. This ground does not bring forth spiritual fruit, nor can its plant life be used to be of benefit to others around him. This ground is the perfect picture of the person who is not saved, who never has received the work of Christ, which is eternally rejected by God and condemned to eternal judgment.

Please note the writer’s point. The earth (picturing Christians) that bears herbs does so due to the gracious work of Christ on the cross that is applies to his account. The ground that bears thorns and thistles (lost men) has never tasted of Christ’s gracious work on the cross. They cannot go back and forth from thistle bearing to fruit bearing and then back again.

Why is this? God’s gracious application of his work on the cross is like continuing rains that keep the saint secure and produce spiritual fruit in the believer’s life. That is what makes the difference. God’s continuing gracious intervention (pictured by the rain) is what enables and then sustains the earth to bear the herbs and be of great value to others. Just like God’s work on the cross, and His intervention in the life of the saved (through the Holy Spirit) is what saves them AND keeps them secure in fruit bearing.

To lose our salvation is to say God has failed in His initial work on the cross… to regain salvation (following losing it) is to say that He must have died again and paid for the sins that originally caused the initial loss of salvation.

But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

The writer of Hebrews, sums up this portion of his teaching with encouraging words. He is convinced that the Lord has “better things” (more truths from God’s Word) awaiting them to be learned and applied. The ability to understand and apply the truths of God’s Word is a direct blessing that accompanies the salvation experience.

This is why he has gone to great lengths to encourage the Hebrews to continuing to grow in the Word of God.

This is why he explained in great lengths one of the great motivating forces to continue in God’s Word… we are graciously, eternally, changed and secure in Christ, He now is our permanent King, should we not seek His teachings and desire for our lives found in His Word? Do we not appreciate Him for His complete work on our behalf, making us secure? If so, it is a certainty that we should be spending time in His Word seeking His will for our lives as His eternal servants.

May the Lord bless you as you seek His truth.

SIH Homepage: http://www.settledinheaven.org

SIH Text Blog: https://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/

SIH Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven/

SIH Email: settledinheaven@gmail.com

Jeremiah 1:3-10 – Jeremiah’s Calling

July 5, 2016 9:00 am

(The Need For Christ In Our Evangelization)

INTRODUCTION:

In this account of the calling of Jeremiah to the ministry, we find principles about the Lord’s present day ministerial call to pastors, missionaries and teachers of His Word. However, we also can also find principles that apply to all of us who strive to be lights in the midst of a sin darkened world.

For our lesson today, we will be looking at those principles that help all of us to shine forth the light of the wondrous gospel message to the lost world around us.

TODAY’S TEXT:

Jer 1:3-10 –

It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah the son of Josiah king of Judah, unto the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month.

Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations.

Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

But the LORD said unto me, Say not, I am a child: for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee, saith the LORD.

Then the LORD put forth his hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, Behold, I have put my words in thy mouth. See, I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant.

TODAY’S LESSON:

Based on verse 2 (“To whom the word of the LORD came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.”), Jeremiah’s call was issued in the thirteenth year of Josiah’s reign.

What is being spoken of in verse 3 is the length of Jeremiah’s ministry that began after his calling…

Jeremiah’s ministry began in Josiah’s 13 year, which was about 627 BC; it continued during Jehoiakim’s reign; and ended in the 11 year of Zedekiah’s reign, when Jerusalem was captured by the Babylonians in 586 BC. So in other words, Jeremiah ministered faithfully to the Lord for approx. 40 years.

This verse helps us to understand that Jeremiah’s calling was not a “spur of the moment” act by the Lord, nor was it a result in a change of God’s plan for Jeremiah’s life, not at all.

Before Jeremiah was conceived, God’s sovereign, unchanging, eternal plan included Jeremiah being brought into this world and being given a prophetic ministry that he would fulfill for the next 40 years.

We all need to stop and take a moment to understand what this verse is teaching us. Not only was Jeremiah’s ministry a part of God’s eternal plans but also, in this verse, the Lord is confirming the life and personhood of the unborn child.

Please note that God describes Jeremiah in this verse as a person prior to his birth. We can see this from the titles that God gives to the unborn Jeremiah. He uses the titles “thee” and “thou”!…

“Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee”

Clearly the Lord did not look at Jeremiah as a piece of tissue or simply a group of cell that were growing in synch with one another. No, the Lord was looking at Jeremiah as a fully human being who possessed personhood and identity.

Then said I, Ah, Lord GOD! behold, I cannot speak: for I am a child.

In this verse, we begin to see some very important principles that we can apply to our lives as lights in this world. When Jeremiah was called to the ministry, he immediately thought of his inability to fulfill the ministry to which he was called, and rightfully so.

Just as Moses (Exo 4:10-13) and Isaiah (Isa 6:5), Jeremiah understood his inability to effectively proclaim the Word to the lost nation around him.

Folks, we all are in the same boat. We all are called to take the gospel to the world, but left to ourselves we are totally unable to perform the task we have been given. Paul understood this very truth when he wrote 1 Cor 2:3-5…

“And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.”

Paul understood as he took the gospel to the lost that his preaching had to be illuminated and empowered by the Lord or else it would hold no lasting results for the recipient.

This is a great principle that many times we forget… we go out witnessing without the Lord’s intervention, only to find that it was a wasted effort that bears on lasting results. Every time we witness, we need to go out humbly and prayerfully, recognizing our great need of Christ every step of the way.

The Lord gently, lovingly, speaks to Jeremiah and reassures him that He will empower those who minister for Him. Although fallen, sinful mankind is unable to persuade anyone to come to Christ apart from the Lord’s personal intervention in the life of the minister and those being ministered to…

Eph 6:18-20 – “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”

Joh 6:44 – “No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

The Lord’s encouragement to Jeremiah did not stop with His words of encouragement and promises to help. He then acts on His promises and intervenes in Jeremiah’s life granting him the words that he needed to speak.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

When we go to take the gospel to the lost, we are to go humbly looking to the Lord to lead and supply our every need, and most importantly, we are to take the gospel to the lost with a desire to glorify and honor Christ alone. This will ensure the Lord will be with us and enable us as we take His gospel to the lost.

Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org

Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com

Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven

Email… settledinheaven@gmail.com

Ephesians 2:1-10 – “But God”

June 21, 2016 10:00 am

(Our Great Need Of Christ)

INTRODUCTION:

Over the years, through personal experience and observing the lives of others, I have seen fallen mankind’s absolute need of Christ clearly revealed. There can be no doubt that all of us, as a part of sinful mankind, is absolutely separated from God and unable to think, desire, say or do anything that is pleasing to God or glorifying to His name.

So, as members of fallen mankind, what can we do? How can we find peace and communion with God, when we are unable to do anything to purify ourselves or enter into fellowship with God of our own efforts?

We can do nothing to meet these great needs, “BUT GOD” can meet our every need!

In this lesson, we will be looking at what God’s Word teaches us about our great need of Christ and His wonderful grace. It is this very grace that enables fallen mankind to receive the forgiveness of sins, enter into His presence, please Him, and enjoy eternal communion with Him.

TODAY’S TEXT:

Eph 2:1-10

(1) And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

(2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

(3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

(4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

(5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

(6) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

(7) That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

(8) For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

(9) Not of works, lest any man should boast.

(10) For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

TODAY’S LESSON:

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;

All of mankind was conceived in a sinful, spiritually dead condition (Rom 3:23 & Rom 3:9), because of this, man is alienated from our perfectly holy God (Isa 59:2 & Micah 3:4).

Furthermore, due to the effects of sin in his life, mankind is much like a corpse. Just as a corpse can do nothing to regain the life that as once within it, likewise lost mankind can do nothing to restore spiritual life to its spiritually dead condition (Titus 3:4-7). This is why the above verse describes man as being “dead in trespasses and sins”.

If mankind was simply left to himself, he would continue in this sinful isolated state, never coming to an understanding of his own sinfulness, his isolated condition apart from God, nor his desperate need of Christ (John 12:39-40 & Rom 3:10-11).

But thanks to the Lord, He reaches down from heaven, intervenes in the heart of the lost man, and grants him spiritual life (2 Cor 4:6 & Acts 26:18 & Col 2:13). This is what is being referred to by the phrase “And you hath He quickened (given life)”

Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:

The writer of Ephesians, the Apostle Paul, describes the condition of every saved person prior to Christ’s intervention in their lives. By doing this he is teaching us that all mankind began “in the same boat”, we were ALL sinful, followers of Satan, with no hope of salvation within ourselves. This is the time period he is referring to by the phrase “in the time past”.

Paul describes the lost person’s lifestyle as following the path set by this sinful world and Satan (1 Cor 6:9-11 & Gal 1:4) when he states, “ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air”.

Lost mankind’s submission to the control of Satan and Satan’s activity in their lives is emphasized in Paul’s dual description of Satan: “the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience”. Folks, Satan is alive and actively intervening in the affairs of all fallen mankind on earth (1 Pet 5:8 & John 8:44). For us to denying his existence or his activity among us is to deny the very teachings of God’s Word, which in effect, makes God a liar (Rom 3:4). This cannot be.

Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

None of saved mankind can be prideful, nor take credit for their own salvation (Rom 4:2 & Rom 3:27-28 & 2 Tim 1:9). We are clearly told in this verse that those who are saved through the Lord’s gracious intervention were equally sinful and separated from God as those who are not saved (Eph 5:8 & Titus 3:3-6). Paul clearly points to the lifestyle of the saved prior to their salvation experience when he says, “Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past”.

Paul tells us that those who are saved were previously living according to our sinful longings, living to fulfill the evil determinations that come from our fallen nature and corrupt minds…”in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind;”

Paul stresses the spiritually dead, sinful, guilty condition of the saved prior to their salvation when he says, “and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others”.

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,

“But God” these are the sweetest words that a lost person can ever hear…

“But God” this is the only hope for all of mankind who are spiritually dead and unable to please the Lord of their own merit.

If lost mankind was left to themselves, they would be condemned by their own actions, under the wrath of God, and without hope of redemption (Jer 13:23 & Rom 8:7-9). But with the gracious intervention of God, they can experience forgiveness, deliverance and fellowship with God. Our wonderful God is overflowing in mercy and incredible love for His people. Paul says it this way, “God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith he loved us,”

His love is so great and His mercy flows so freely that even the chief of sinners could find forgiveness through His gracious intervention in their lives.

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)

Paul continues to address the saved and the wondrous change wrought in their lives through God’s grace. Even when the saved person was spiritually dead, the Lord saw fit to graciously grant him spiritual life (John 14:6 & 1 John 5:11). This is the “quickening” being talked about in the phrase “hath quickened us”.

The giving of spiritual life was given to us as a joint work of both God the Father and Christ (John 5:21). Spiritual life was given to us by our gracious Father, based upon the work of Christ on the cross, not our own goodness or works (Rom 5:21 & 1Pet 3:7)…”hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)”

And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:

The joint working of the Father and Christ does not end with the giving of spiritual life. His work continues in the life of the newly saved individual.

Paul talked about this continuing work when he said “hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places”. Based upon Christ’s work, the Father then raises the saved to a new lifestyle in Him (2 Cor 5:17 & Gal 6:15), and promises him an eternity of fellowship in the very presence of Christ (Rom 6:4-5 & John 14:3).

That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Why does the Father and Son work together granting spiritual life, a new lifestyle and eternity with Christ to the saved? Is it because our inherent goodness obligates Him to do so? Or, perhaps, it is because, through our good works we have gained these great blessings?

Absolutely not! Paul tells us that “in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his kindness”. It is nothing in us that motivates the Lord to grant to us spiritual life (Isa 40:17 & Psa 62:9). It is all based upon His character and greatness.

Two of the great motivations in the heart of the Father that drives Him to grant spiritual life to us is His love for us and His desire to be glorified (John 3:16, 2 Thess 1:11-12 & Rev 5:9-15). He graces us with spiritual life so that His great gracious kindness will be seen, remembered, and celebrated throughout history. In other words, He did all of this for us so that He might be glorified and honored when we see, and experience His great love and grace in our lives.

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Paul now explains how spiritual life is obtained by the lost individual. Since the lost individual lacks inherent goodness, and their good works cannot merit their salvation, how is it acquired? It is entirely based upon the grace of God, as we exercise faith in Christ (Rom 4:16)…”For by grace ye are saved through faith” .

But when we read this it seems to say that we are saved through a work that we do… an exercise of faith. However, Paul makes certain that we do not get confused about this issue. He tells us that the faith we exercise is “not of yourselves, it is the gift of God”. Even the very faith we exercise in Christ does not simply come from within us, but it is a gift that comes from the Father (John 6:27-29 & Rom 12:3). Therefore, in a very true sense, our faith is not a work we perform, but it is a work the Father performs in us.

Once again, we can see the wondrous grace of God as He gives to one who is destitute of saving faith, the gift of faith and the ability to exercise that faith. When we come to this knowledge it eliminates any possibility that we might boast about our exercise of faith in Christ.

This is why Paul then clearly states that saving faith in the individual is “not of works, lest any man should boast”

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Since our salvation is a work of God within us, our life is like a poem (“workmanship”) that is brought into existence through the work of Christ and and declares His glory through the good works of the saved (Eph 1:4 & Gal 5:22-26). This is the meaning of Paul’s phrase “created in Christ Jesus unto good works.”

Remember that in verse 7, we saw that God was motivated to save His people so that He might be glorified throughout the ages for His great grace and kindness. This same principle can be seen in this verse as well.

Paul tells us that the performance of good works by the saved person “God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” Before the salvation of His people, in eternity past, the Lord chose that when He saved an individual, their lifestyle would change to a way of life that would bring honor and glory to His name. This helps us to understand that not only the very act of salvation, but also its effects in the lives of those saved, will bring honor and glory to God alone (Jer 9:23-24).

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

So what is a lost person to do? How can a lost person receive the forgiveness of sin and be the recipient of God’s wonderful grace?

We have that questioned answered in John 6:27-29…

“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God?

Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.”

As the Lord shows you the sin that is in your life, and the of forgiveness and deliverance from that sin, simply believe on Him.

Believe in Christ as the Divine Son of God (1 John 5:7).

Believe in Christ as the One who came to the earth and died on the cross to pay the price for your sins (Phil 2:5-9).

Believe in Christ as the Only Way of salvation (Acts 4:10-12).

Believe in Christ as the new Master of your life (Phil 2:10-11).

This is what the Lord has commanded each of us to do. As the Lord intervenes in our life, showing us our great need and working in our hearts, we are to turn to Him and trust in Him as our Lord and Savior. This is how we respond to the workings of God in our life.

What amazing grace to know that He can graciously intervene in our life and draw us to Himself as we respond in faith to Him (john 6:43-45).

As we come to an understanding of all these things, we can only come to the conclusion that “To God be the glory, great things He hath done”!

Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org

Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com

Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven

Email… settledinheaven@gmail.com

“Settled In Heaven’s 6th Anniversary”

April 28, 2016 10:00 am

Psa 105:1-3 – “O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people. Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.”

Today, April 28^th, is the sixth anniversary of Settled In Heaven Ministries. Over the past 6 years, the Lord has graciously allowed and enabled us to proclaim His Word through the SIH internet-based ministries. To honor Him and thank Him for His gracious intervention in this ministry, I would like us to look at three short verses from Psalm 105:

(1) O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people.

Two of the greatest ways we can show our appreciation TO OTHERS for all that the Lord has done for us is:

“call upon his name” –

The phrase “to call upon” can refer to a few different ideas. It can mean “to invite”, “to call for help” or “to proclaim publicly”. Any of these three can flow from a heart of appreciation for the Lord.

Do we invite our Lord to use His spirit to control every aspect of our life? Do we invite Him to come and use us as He sees fit? These are ways for Christians to express our thanks for all He has done for us.

Do we look to our Lord in times of need? Do we refuse to take the “easy way out” of problems, but instead, ask the Lord for grace to help us do what is pleasing and honorable to Him in any given situation? If so, we are saying “Thank You” to the Lord for all He has done for us.

Do we unashamedly tell others about our Lord and who He is? When the opportunity arises, are we willing to risk our relationship with a loved one or a friend to share with them their sinful condition, their inability to save themselves. and their desperate need of Christ? When we do these things we are declaring our gratefulness to Him through self-sacrifice showing His love to others.

“make known his deeds among the people”

The second way that we can show our appreciation for the Lord and all He has done for us is by telling others what He has done for us. Not only His death on the cross for our sins, but the very personal things He has done for us during our lifetimes. The times He intervened by grace and healed our bodies (or our broken hearts), the times He protected us during times of danger, and the times He accompanied us through the storms of life granting us peace and enablement.

All of these are important messages that others need to hear from us, as they face many of the same issues that He has already brought us through. In doing so, we are declaring our thankfulness for the Lord and all He has done for us.

(2) Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him: talk ye of all his wondrous works

Four of the greatest ways we can show our appreciation TO OURSELVES for all that the Lord has done for us is:

“Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him:”

Not only are we to rehearse His greatness to others, but also we should display our thankfulness to Him by telling Him what He has done for us. In doing so, we are forcing ourselves to notice His acts of grace in our lives and humbles us It reminds us of our shortcomings, inabilities, and our continual need of Him.

“talk ye of all his wondrous works.”

As we pray, we can speak to Him from hearts of gratitude and need throughout the day, constantly reminding ourselves of all He has done for us. By doing this, we are showing ourselves that we do recognize our indebtedness to Him and our need to constantly hold a spirit of gratefulness.

(3) Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.

“Glory ye in his holy name:”

We are to be encouraged and strengthened when we think of His holiness, his character, and the privilege we have been given to serve Him. We are not to be motivated to serve Him for the praise of men, but simply to see our Lord be glorified and honored in us.

“let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.”

When we see ourselves seeking a closer relationship with the Lord, we know with certainty, our seeking is due to His intervention in our lives. What a cause for rejoicing and appreciation on behalf of the people of God

SIH ministries is our feeble attempt to say “Thank You” to the Lord for all He has done for us throughout our lifetime. As we look back at what has taken place over the years, all we can do is echo the words of King David who said…

“To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.” (Psa 40:1-3)

That is what has been; currently is; and, by God grace, will continue to be the desire of our hearts… to say thank you to the Lord for all He has done for us by declaring His greatness. And through it all, to lead men to Christ for salvation and to place a greater reverence of the Lord in the hearts of His people.

Secondly I would just like to thank all of you who have so faithfully taken part in the ministries here at SIH…. Thanks to the followers, commenters, likers, visitors, readers, rebloggers and social site sharers. Believe me, you all have been a great human encouragement as we have sought to faithfully post on a daily basis.

Thirdly, please be in prayer for the ministries here at SIH. By God’s grace, over the years we have tried to be constantly adding to our ministries in an attempt to reach the most number of people with His Word.

To date, in addition to our internet homepage ( http://www.settledinheaven.org/ ), Settled In Heaven can be found on the following websites:

WordPress (https://settledinheaven.wordpress.com/ )

YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/SettledInHeaven )

Also, you can follow SIH on the following social sites:

FaceBook (https://www.facebook.com/settledinheaven )

Google+ (https://plus.google.com/109554571051856737762/ )

Twitter (https://twitter.com/settledinheaven )

Tumblr (http://settledinheaven.tumblr.com/ )

LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/pub/rob–barkman/47/819/4a4 )

Pinterest (https://www.pinterest.com/settledinheaven/ )

GodInterest (http://godinterest.com/profile/136480 )

Lord willing, within the next year, SIH will be greatly expanding our ministries on:

GodTube (http://www.godtube.com/settledinheaven/ )

LiveJournal (http://settledinheaven.livejournal.com/ )

May the Lord bless you for your faithfulness to Him and…

MAY THE LORD BLESS YOU AS YOU STUDY HIS WORD!

The Besetting Sins In Our Lives Part 2

January 31, 2016 9:00 am / 2 Comments on The Besetting Sins In Our Lives Part 2

Overcoming Habitual Sins

Hebrews 12:1 – “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”

What is a “besetting sin”? In our previous study we saw that a “besetting sin” was a sin that will sneak up on us, work quickly to return and saturate our lives. Easily besetting sins totally encase the Christian giving no room for human escape to be had. It is as if they have become a permanent part of our life, and no matter what method we try to rid it from our lives, it returns and grows worse with time.

As Christians with besetting sin in our lives… what are we to do? In part 2 of our series we are going to look at some basic principles that will help us to oppose these habitual controlling sins in our lives…

We will look at these 9 principles in part #2 of our study.

THE SCRIPTURE:

THE STUDY:

Remember in our text we are told to “let us lay aside… and the sin which doth so easily beset us”. What a blessing it would be if we could easily lay aside these besetting sins! But keep in mind, the Lord did not say “easily lay aside…”, not at all instead He said that sin “easily beset(s)” us!

This is our lot in life as a part of fallen mankind. Sins will quite easily enter our lives. But laying aside those sins will only be accomplished through God’s divine intervention in this spiritual warfare that is taking place. What instructions does it give for the Christian to be successful in this war? The Bible gives us at least 9 truths we are to recognize and apply to our lives to give us the victory in this war…

1. Recognize The Seriousness Of The Sin It is A Sin Against Our Lord, The One Who Has Died For Us
Psa 51:4 –“Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:…”

2. Recognize Our Inability To Lay This Sin Aside Due To Our Fallen Nature
Rom 7:25 – “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.”

3. Recognize Christ’s Ability To Intervene And Give Us The Victory Over This Sin
1Co 15:55-57 – “O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

4. Recognize The Need To Commit Ourselves To God
Jas 4:7-8 – “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

5. Recognize The Need Of Swift Repentance When The Sin Appears In Our Lives
Psa 32:5 – “I acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.”

6. Recognize The Need To Ask Lord For Help
Mat 7:8 – “For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

7. Recognize Our Transformation… We Are No Longer Under Sins Bondage
Rom 6:11 – “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

8. Recognize Need To God To Lengths To Avoid Temptation. Temptation Gives Entrance To These Sins
Mat 5:29-30 – “And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.”

Jas 1:13-15 – “Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

9. Recognize The Necessity Of Consistently Dwelling In God’s Word and Prayer
1Th 5:17 – “Pray without ceasing.”
Joh 17:17 – “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.”
Psa 37:31 – “The law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.”

May the Lord grant to us all the grace and strength needed to lay aside the besetting sins of our lives!

Rom 6:12 – “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”

Questions, Comments, or Suggestions? Email me at: rob.barkman@settledinheaven.org

http://www.settledinheaven.org
http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven

The Besetting Sins In Our Life Part #1

January 24, 2016 9:00 am

What are “Besetting Sins”?

What is a “besetting sin”? A quick study of the words translated “sin”, “easily beset” helps to give us the Biblical meaning of the phrase:

1. “sin” – comes from a Greek word meaning “to miss the mark” in other words it is to fail to reach a goal that has been set for us. It describes an archer who aims at the bullseye but misses it. As Christians, we are called to represent Christ in every area of our lives, we can do this by living lives that imitate Christ, motivated by a desire to bring honor and glory to Christ. This is the life goal of every Christian.

For example: Christ’s lived a perfectly genuine life on earth. His words could be counted on 100 % of the time, He never acted out of deceitful motives, nor did He mislead others in anyway. Therefore, to present Christ to the world we are to live honest, transparent, non-hypocritical lives.

If we live deceitful lives we are not following the example of Christ; we have missed the goal for which we are aiming; and, therefore, we have sinned. Anytime our life does not perfectly represent the absolutely holy life of Christ we are missing the “target” (our life goal) and, therefore, committing sin.

2. “easily beset” – comes from a Greek word that means “to be well-surrounded”, “to be totally encased”, or “to be entangled”. Also implied by this word is the idea of the ease and quickness that the encasing takes place.

Perhaps an invading army surprises an enemy city. Because of the surprise nature of the invasion, they face little or no opposition. As a result, they quickly, efficiently, and entirely surround and lay siege to the city. Inside the city the panicked citizens of the city look to their right; to their left; straight ahead; and straight behind; they look to the north, south, east and west; but all they can see is the enemy army… they quickly realize, they have been overcome and have no human way of escape.

This is just like an easily besetting sin. We think it is out of our lives but they will sneak up on us, work quickly to return and saturate our lives. Easily besetting sins totally encase the Christian giving no room for human escape to be had. It is as if they have become a permanent part of our life, and no matter what method we try to rid it from our lives, it returns and grows worse with time.

Some of the greatest Christians who ever lived have suffered from the besetting sins of life. Paul, himself, perhaps the greatest Christian who ever lived, admitted to facing besetting sins in his life. In Romans 7:15, he made the statement…

“For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.”

When Paul recognized a sin in his life, opposed it, and yet failed to overcome it… that was his besetting sin. If you read through the entire chapter of Romans 7, Paul paints a very vivid portrait of besetting sin and how it can affect us.
As Christians with besetting sin in our lives… what are we to do? The Bible helps us to understand some basic principles that will help us to oppose these habitual controlling sins in our lives…

We will look at these 9 principles in part #2 of our study.

Questions, Comments, or Suggestions? Email me at: rob.barkman@settledinheaven.org

http://www.settledinheaven.org
http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven

Ground Hog Day Devotional

January 16, 2016 9:00 am

“Are We Spiritual Groundhogs?”
(GroundHog Day Devotional 2016)

Our modern day Groundhog Day observance is a tradition that has existed, in several different forms, throughout several centuries.

Many people believe that Groundhog Day finds its roots in an observance called “the Feast of Lights” which was celebrated in the beginning of February centuries before Christ. It was a day set aside by pagans (probably the druids originated it) to worship of the sun which would begin to gain strength and warm the earth in the Spring and Summer seasons.

As time progressed, The Feast of Lights was gradually brought into the Catholic church and celebrated under the title Candlemas Day. The candle is the chief point that unified the two observances. Candles are used by Catholics to picture Christ as the light of the world, whereas to those who were pagan, the lit candle can represent the light and heat of the sun.

The Catholic holiday of the Candlemas is observed on February 2nd. It is set aside to celebrate Mary’s purification at the temple following Christ’s birth. In this celebration, many candles are lit and used during the worship service. In prior times, Candlemas also was believed to predict the coming weather. If the day of Candlemas was a bright sun shiny day, it was believed that more winter was yet to come. However, if the day was overcast it was believed that Spring was just around the corner.

This celebration of the Candlemas was brought into the secular world as Groundhog Day. Our modern day tradition holds that on February 2nd the groundhog arises from its winter hibernation, comes out of its hole and looks for his shadow.

If it is a sunny day and he sees his shadow, he believes it is an indication there will be six more weeks of winter weather and so he proceeds back down his hole to continue his time of slumber. However if, on a cloudy day, he doesn’t see his shadow he then believes that spring weather has arrived and comes out of his hole and prepares to enjoy the mild weather that will come to pass.

For much more information about the origin and observance of GroundHog Day please see the following links:
http://www.groundhog.org/about/history/
http://projectbritain.com/year/candlemas.html
http://wildhunt.org/2015/02/earthspirits-a-feast-of-lights-aims-to-drive-the-winter-away.html

For the Christian, we all should recognize the heathen origin of the celebration, but also recognize the great opportunity it gives us to share Christ with others. As Christians who possess the truths of God, we have the privilege, and responsibility, to use this worldly celebration as an opportunity to bring honor and glory to our Lord. How can we do this? We do this by using the public attention placed on this day, as a tool to present the truths of God’s Word to the celebrants without believing in, or partaking in, the pagan worship surrounding it.

That is what this devotional is all about. It is using a secular celebration as an opportunity to present God’s Word to a lost and dying world…

THE SCRIPTURE:

Joh 8:12 – “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

2Co 4:6 – ”For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

THE STUDY:

The Groundhog Day celebration centers on the groundhog’s reaction to the sunlight. The tradition says, if the sun is shining brightly the groundhog’s shadow will appear and the groundhog will go back into his hole for another six weeks. However, if it is a cloudy day blocking the sun, then the groundhog will remain above ground and enjoy the spring season that has begun.

Much like the groundhog who comes into contact with the sun, most of us have come into contact with God’s Word which clearly reveals to us the light of knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…

2Co 4:6 – ”For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”

The question that lies before us is “How do we react in the presence of the light of Christ that has shined upon us?

The Word of God directly addresses the consequences of embracing the light of Christ and making it a living part of our lives…

Joh 8:12 – “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.”

Let’s take a very quick look at what this passage teaches to us about our reaction to the light of the knowledge of Christ that we have received…

I am the light of the world: he that followeth me…

If we chose to follow Christ, the light of the world, we will gain two wonderful gifts that are worth more than all the world’s riches put together.

he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness,

First of all, by stepping into the light of Christ, we will receive liberation from the bondage of sin in our life.

Christ is the One who has died on the cross to secure our forgiveness and deliverance from our sins. As we submit to Christ as Lord of our life, and turn from our sins and place our faith in Him, we will “not walk in darkness”. This means that we will no longer live a lifestyle that is dominated by sin and rebellion against Him. He will grant us liberation from sin’s power in our life. Someday, He will deliver us from the presence of sin in our life by taking us home to be with Him at our death or His second coming.

he that followeth me… shall have the light of life.

The second blessing we will receive is the blessing of spiritual life in Him. Folks, as a part of fallen, sinful mankind, due to our sinful condition, we are born in a state of alienation from God. The Bible describes this as being “spiritually dead”. When we willingly turn from our sins and turn to Jesus, by faith, He promises to spiritual life which includes being brought into fellowship with God and knowing we will spend an eternity in His presence this is possessing Christ, the “light of life”.

The question before us is this… what is our reaction to this light of the knowledge of Christ that we receive?

Will we act like the groundhog and run from the light, hurrying back down into the “hole” of sin’s bondage? Will we deny our need of salvation from our sins to continue in spiritual sleep of death?

Or, will we step into the light of the knowledge of Christ by embracing it? Will we turn from a life of disobedience and sinful darkness, to a new life in the light of Christ by placing our trust in Him and His work and submitting to Him as Lord of our life?

How we react to the light of Christ is by far the most important decision we have, or will ever make… for it holds eternal consequences for us.

Questions, Comments, or Suggestions? Email me at: rob.barkman@settledinheaven.org

http://www.settledinheaven.org
http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven

“For We Are But Of Yesterday”

December 27, 2015 9:00 am / 4 Comments on “For We Are But Of Yesterday”

(The SIH 2016 New Year’s Devotional)

With the coming of each New Year, we are reminded of the quickly passing time and shortness of the physical life that we possess.

For some, the concept of a short lifespan on earth is a thing of dread and fear. They possess dread because they know that the pleasures, possessions and relationships of this world will quickly pass away; and fear, due to confusion and uncertainty about, and an unpreparedness for, a coming afterlife.

However, in comparison, there are those who recognize that life is only temporal and will be followed by an eternal existence that will offer a much better existence. These have prepared for its coming and joyously await its arrival.

As we come face to face with another New Year, I just wanted to take a few moments to review the Biblical teachings on the temporal nature of life on earth and the great need to prepare for a coming afterlife while the opportunity still exists for each one of us.

THE SCRIPTURE:

(For we are but of yesterday, and know nothing, because our days upon earth are a shadow:) (Job 8:9 KJV)

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” (Jas 4:14 KJV)

THE STUDY:

Job, in our text, describes the quickness of the passing of our life as “we are but of yesterday”. In other words, Job is simply saying that, as we look back to the past events of our life, from birth onward, they seem to have just taken place “yesterday”. How very true this is!

On this New Year’s Day, stop and think about the past events of the previous year. For most of us, these events seem like they took place just yesterday.

Now, stop and think about some of your major life events that have taken place throughout your lifetime: births and deaths; sicknesses; new jobs and residences; anniversaries and graduations; and, for the Christian, the moment the Lord brought you unto Himself, trusting in Him for salvation. As you think about all these events, do they not seem to have taken place just a short while ago? For many of us, even the events of life that took place 30, 40, or even 50 years ago, now seem to be fresh in our minds and hearts, as if only a few days have passed.

Job even goes further in emphasizing the brevity of life when he says… “our days upon earth are a shadow”. See also: (Job 7:6, 9:25, 14:2; Psa 78:39, 89:47, 102:11; Isa 40:6).

Understanding the two basic characteristics of a shadow help us to understand what Job was trying to teach us. First of all, a shadow lasts only a short period of time, much like our life in comparison with the eternity that is to follow. Secondly, a shadow is constantly changing (due to movement of the person casting the shadow and the orbiting of the sun)… this pictures for us our temporal life and the many changes that take place on a day by day basis.

Job is bringing to our minds a very basic principle of living that we experience with every new day… Because our lives are uncertain and experience changes every single day, we do not know what each new day will hold for us. James even implies that because our lives are brief, uncertain, and changing, we cannot be sure if we will live yet another day…

“Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.” (Jas 4:14 KJV) see also (Proverbs 27:1, 1 Sam 20:3)

Folks, looking back over this last year, we all know people who have passed on unexpectedly. Whether it be by accident, sickness, or the actions of another, every day people pass on before us suddenly with absolutely no prior warning. Perhaps, they expected to celebrate the coming of this New Year along with us but, sadly, they are no longer with us. In this fallen, sinful world unexpected deaths are a very common occurrence.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

With the passing of this, and every New Year, we are reminded of the changing, fleeting nature of our lives. The most important aspect of these life principles is the need to take advantage of the time we have been given on earth and use it wisely.

What is the wisest possible use of our time? It is living our lives in preparation for the eternity that is to come. Because our physical lives and the world in which we live are temporal in nature, only that which is done for eternity’s sake will be of lasting value…
“And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1Jn 2:17 KJV)

So how do we live for eternity? For the lost it means by coming to an understanding of the true God, our condition before Him, and our need of faith in Him, and the eternal blessings that await the people of God:

1. The Lord Jehovah is the true God over all men. God the Son, Jesus, is the only One through whom we can gain access to God the Father. (Psa 83:18, John 14:6; 1 John 5:20)

2. All men have committed sin and stand before God as guilty, unable to save themselves through their works of righteousness. (Rom 3:23, Rom 3:19, Titus 3:5)

3. It is by grace through the God-given gifts of repentance and faith that a sinful man can receive forgiveness and salvation from the punishment of their sins (Acts 3:19, Acts 11:18, Eph 2:5-8. 1 Thess 1:10).

4. The newly forgiven individual is adopted into God’s family, made a citizen of the eternal, spiritual nation of Israel, and made heirs of an eternal existence with God. This forgiveness, and the blessings that accompany forgiveness, are eternal in nature, can never be lost, based upon the completed work of Christ on the cross (Gals 4:5, Eph 2:19, Roms 8:16-17, Heb 10:10).

For the saved, it means to take advantage of the opportunities we have to show Christ to others around us, by living a Christ-like life through our words, actions, and lifestyles. (Roms 8:28-30, Eph 1:4)

http://www.settledinheaven.org
http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com
http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven

“A Christian’s Guide To Having A Merry Christmas”

November 27, 2015 10:00 am / 7 Comments on “A Christian’s Guide To Having A Merry Christmas”

(Or, Three Steps To Have A Blessed, Satisfying, Christmas Season)

Have you ever had an empty feeling on December 26^th? You know, after Christmas Day has passed and you look back at all the planning that had taken place… all the work that had been done, and all the money that had been spent… you realize that the day had flown by without any lasting results. Now all you have left is an empty feeling, weariness, and a half years’ worth of debt.

We can all understand why in many cases, this is the lot of a lost and dying world. For those who have never experienced God’s grace in their lives, not recognizing Jesus as their Lord and Savior, it only makes sense that the Christmas holidays are like any holiday for them. Christmas is simply another opportunity for them to become anxious, frustrated and wasteful, looking for fleshly satisfaction. It is no wonder their holiday is empty and void of true happiness while filled with frustration, weariness, anxiety and debt.

But things should be different for us as Christians. The Christmas holiday is a time set apart by the world to celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior. The Christmas holiday reminds us of the greatest display of God’s love being shown to mankind… the sending of His Son to this world to live, and be sacrificed, for our sake.

Christmas is not only a time for Christians to joyously recall God’s wondrous love, but also it holds many opportunities to reach others for Christ. The world is much more receptive to the message of Christ and his work during the Christmas season than any other time of the year… what a wonderful opportunity for each of God’s people to reach others for Christ through their words, deeds and lifestyle!

But sadly, in spite of all these reasons for joy and happiness, Christmas can end up being a time of sadness, frustration and emptiness for Christians as well as the lost. These things should not be so. Hence, the Word gives us the three keys to finding true joy, peace and spiritual satisfaction…

THE SCRIPTURE:

Luk 2:14 KJV – “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

THE STUDY:

In our text for this Bible study (Luke 2:14), it is very important that we understand its context. Our text contains a portion of the very first angelic message that was given by God following the birth of His Son, Jesus Christ, in Bethlehem (Luke 2:7-12). Also, please notice our text is a message delivered by “a multitude of heavenly hosts” whose intent was to bring praise to the Only True God (Luke 2:13).

Within the message of these heavenly host… Luke 2:14 KJV – “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men”… we find three basic principles that are given to all of God’s people. Within these three principles, we find the very purpose and foundation of Christ’s ministry, as well as the keys to Christian’s celebrating Christ’s birth in a God-honoring way.

The three principles are:

“Glory to God in the highest” – God being appreciated, glorified and served in everything that is done.
“on earth peace” – Harmony, quietness, rest between God and men.
“good will toward men”– Unselfish desires for prosperity and blessing for others.

Folks, with the coming of Christ to the earth, God was not only glorifying Himself, but He was also opening up the pathway for men to receive these blessings of peace and goodwill. This pathway would be revealed through the teachings of Christ, and would be secured through the work of Christ on the cross.

—-

Christ, Himself, during His life on earth accomplished all three of these goals perfectly…

God’s glory was revealed in Christ’s life –

Joh 17:4 KJV – “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.”

Peace between God and Man was secured through Christ’s work –

Eph 2:14 KJV – “For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;”

Unselfish desires for the good of others was shown by The Father’s giving of Christ to the world –

John 3:16 KJV – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

God the Father’s goals in sending Christ was perfectly accomplished… He was glorified, His way of peace was given, and His goodwill was shown to man. Christ, during His life accomplished these goals, and in doing so, set the perfect example for each one of us to follow.

—-

When we understand that these were the three goals that God had in mind when He sent Christ to this earth, it only makes sense that these should be the same goals for us, as Christians as we celebrate Christ’s coming. This allows God’s people to actively participate in accomplishing what God intended to take place at Christ’s first coming.

If this is the case, by us striving to fulfill these three goals during our Christmas celebration, we are actively fulfilling God’s will for our lives, and accomplishing much for the cause of Christ. We are glorifying Him while helping others to come to Christ and grow in God’s grace, reaping eternal rewards for ourselves. What a wonderful legacy and spiritual accomplishment for each one of us to leave behind, as each Christmas holiday comes and goes and our lifetime passes as “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanisheth away” (James 4:14 KJV).

—-

So how do we fulfill these three principles during our Christmas celebrations?

God’s glory revealed – We are to judge everything we do during the Christmas holiday through the lens of God’s glory.

As we make our plans and proceed through our holiday may we always ask these two simple questions…

“Does this plan, or activity, bring honor and glory to my Lord?”

“How can my words, or actions, during this activity be used of the Lord to bring honor and glory to His name?”

We are then to proceed with our activities motivated by a singleness of heart to glorify God in our lives…

1 Cor 10:31 KJV – “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”

Peace secured between God and Man – During this holiday season, may we be particularly aware of the opportunities open to us to share the gospel message with the lost around us. In doing so, we are giving them the opportunity to accept Christ as their Savior which works peace between God and the lost.

But also, during this time of year we need to be working towards peace between ourselves and others around us. Are we holding any grudges? Have we harmed someone with apologizing to them? Have we somehow caused friction to take place between others? Is anyone at enmity with us not due to anything we have done?

If so, it is during this time of year that we should be working towards mending those fences. Many times, simply an apology will do, in other cases, or actively seeking to make amends of a situation or forgiveness on our part will be necessary to bring a healing to these wounds. If we truly desire to honor the Father’s goal in sending Christ to the earth, we are to do whatever is necessary, when possible, to work reconciliation between ourselves and those with who we suffer division.

Ephesians 4:32 – “And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”

Unselfish desires for good of others above self – Finally, during this season, we will be blessed with many opportunities to help others by humbling ourselves and, at our personal expense, to meet their needs. The basis of our help should not be limited to those who “deserve” our help, those who “appreciate” our help, nor those who we are “responsible” to help. Our giving of sacrificial help towards others should be a reflection of our Lord’s sacrifice of himself for us who gave himself for those who did not deserve it, nor did they appreciate it.

Luk 20:13-15 KJV – “Then said the lord of the vineyard, What shall I do? I will send my beloved son: it may be they will reverence him when they see him. But when the husbandmen saw him, they reasoned among themselves, saying, This is the heir: come, let us kill him, that the inheritance may be ours. So they cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. What therefore shall the lord of the vineyard do unto them?”

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

Folks, by seeking to do the will of God, and use the first coming of Christ in the way that God has desired, we cannot help but feel as if we have accomplished much during the holiday season. Glorifying God, working peace with those who are estranged from us, and sacrificially helping others who are in need, and setting a Godly example for our family and friends, are great accomplishments in deed. All of these not only result in temporal gain, but more important they hold great spiritual rewards for God’s people in the world that is to come.

When we are graced by God, allowed to accomplish these goals this holiday season, and Christmas comes to a close, we will be able to look back and see that we have accomplished great things in His name. Suddenly all the gifts, decorations, social gatherings and other things of this world will take a new, much less significant meaning in our lives. There will be no reason for frustrations, emptiness, and sadness, for we can know that we have sought to bring about God’s purposes for Christ’s coming… His eternal glory, peace on earth, and goodwill towards all men.

Come to think about it, why not celebrate the first coming of Christ during every day of the year? We can do this by seeking to fulfill these 3 goals everyday of our lives!

http://www.settledinheaven.org

http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com

http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven

“Our Companions In Old Age”

November 13, 2015 11:14 am / 5 Comments on “Our Companions In Old Age”

(The Lord’s Grace To Meet Our Physical Weaknesses As We Age)

THE SCRIPTURE:

Ecc 12:1-8 (KJV)

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened, nor the clouds return after the rain: In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders cease because they are few, and those that look out of the windows be darkened, And the doors shall be shut in the streets, when the sound of the grinding is low, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low; Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets: Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern. Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

Isa 46:4 (KJV)

And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

THE STUDY:

Folks, as we grow older we find ourselves changing and, in most cases, the change is not for the better. These changes take place due to mankind’s fallen condition and the effects of sin that touch each of our lives.

Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say,

In Eccl 12:1-8, King Solomon reminds us of the need to always keep our Creator, and His desires for us, in the forefront of our minds, especially during our days of youth.

Solomon backs up his statement by explaining that as we progress in life it gradually becomes more difficult to serve the Lord. He gives this advancing time of life the description of “the evil days” (ie the days of adversity and distress). He calls them evil days in the context of aging’s devastating effects on both our physical and mental health.

He goes further and explains the effects that aging brings upon us, He does this by using the symbolism of a vibrant city, and its individual citizens, that slowly become inactive and finally deserted…

I have no pleasure in them;

Physical aches and pains take the pleasure out of many of the activities that we used to find enjoyable. As the aging process continues, for many of us, pleasurable days seem to become scarcer with each passing day.

While the sun, or the light, or the moon, or the stars, be not darkened,

As we age, our eyesight grows dim, causing many sources of light to become darkened as we find it much harder to see.

nor the clouds return after the rain:

Old age has a tendency to bring with it a series of health problems that return on a consistent basis. Instead of having physical issues “every now and then”, they begin to appear more frequently, and in many cases become chronic.

In the day when the keepers of the house shall tremble,

Our immune system begins to struggle and we find ourselves becoming ill more frequently, and acquiring illnesses that we had previously resisted.

and the strong men shall bow themselves,

Our physical strength begins to wane, as we can no longer do the heavy manual labor that we were used to doing. Our weakness progresses until we cannot hold ourselves erect and we begin to stoop.

and the grinders cease because they are few,

Our teeth decay and we lose them until only a few remain.

and those that look out of the windows be darkened,

We can no longer see clearly with our eyes. Not only do we need more light to see (vs 2), but also our eyes become cloudy with cataracts and other eye ailments.

And the doors shall be shut in the streets,

The doors of our mouths and lips are closed (Psa 141:3, Micah 7:5), no longer able to receive or digest the nutrients we need to survive. We are no longer able to eat the foods we enjoy due to digestive distresses and, eventually, we struggle to eat any food at all.

when the sound of the grinding is low,

Aging brings upon us gradual hearing loss (and deafness) that does not allow us to hear ourselves chewing our food.

and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird,

Arising early due to an inability to sleep due to worries and light sleeping that is awakened by any small noise are common as we grow older.

and all the daughters of musick shall be brought low;

Our natural talents and abilities are gradually lost. Those who could sing joyous songs can no longer praise their Lord and bring joy to the heart of their listeners, as their talent to sing is taken away from them.

Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way,

Fear of accidents, falling, etc seem to dominate old age. In our youth we could climb ladders to high places, now we are afraid of falling off a simple stepstool. These fears have a tendency to stop us from attempting to perform activities to which we did not give a second thought.

and the almond tree shall flourish,

The almond tree has gray white blossoms. This speaks of us losing our youthful hair color as gray hair replaces it.

and the grasshopper shall be a burden,

In our youth, we could easily deal with small pests by catching them and/or stepping upon them etc. Now, as we get older, our reflexes are slowed. These creatures evade our efforts to catch them and we have difficulty stepping upon them.

and desire shall fail:

As our age advances, we find our desire for activity and service reduced due to the pain and suffering that accompanies them. Even our very “zest for life” is stolen by the aging process, stealing away our enjoyment of life itself.

These effects of aging come to dwell within our bodies like companions who move into our home and begin to reside with us. With the passage of time, these companions increase in number and length of their stay, until they finally reside with us on a permanent basis. They leave us only when, through their presence within us, they bring our life to an end…

because man goeth to his long home,

Our physical death

and the mourners go about the streets:

Our funeral

Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel broken at the cistern.

Our death described as:

the silver cord binding our spirit to our body is broken, releasing our spirit to depart.
the golden bowl of our body is broken taking away its usefulness and ability to perform the purposes of its creation, to glorify God in all we do.
the pitcher of our body is no longer able to retain the spirit within it.
the wheel of our body is no longer useful to anyone desiring water from the cistern. Once dead our ability to serve others come to a complete end.

Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.

As aging brings about physical death, the spirit departs from our physical body. At that point in time, our body returns back to the ground and our spirit enters into the presence of God for its eventual judgment and consignment to its eternal dwelling place.

Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity.

The Hebrew word for vanity describes a air bubble in water. A bubble of air in the water that lasts only a short time then hits the top of the water, breaks apart, and totally disappears with no lasting worth. As Solomon recalled what he had experienced during the aging process, he came to the conclusion that physical life was like this bubble…. LIFE IS SHORT-LIVED WITH NO PERMANENT VALUE.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

Sounds depressing and hopeless doesn’t it? Looking at things from a strictly human perspective, all that we have, looking forward, is future suffering and eventual death. And all of this is endured for no lasting value.

But, as God’s people we know there is more to this story. We have much by which to be encouraged, we are not alone as aging comes upon us. We are promised another, more intimate, Friend who will be with us through every step of the aging process…

Isa 46:4 (KJV)

And even to your old age I am he; and even to hoar hairs will I carry you: I have made, and I will bear; even I will carry, and will deliver you.

Just as the Lord promises physical Israel, that He would be with them and meet their every need as they grew older; so too, as the spiritual nation of Israel we can claim this very same promise.

As we age and our physical life slowly draws to a close we can know, WITH ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY, our Lord will be with us. He tells us that He will never “leave you nor forsake you.” It is just as the Lord says, as our physical health fails us, the Lord will meet our needs… everytime.

And even to your old age I am he;

Our Lord does not change, the same Lord that has been so faithful to us during our youthful years, he will remain faithful to us as our age progresses…

and even to hoar hairs will I carry you:

When we can no longer walk, He will carry us…

I have made, and I will bear;

As our Creator, He will be our support and bear our weight as we lean upon Him….

even I will carry, and will deliver you.

He will carry us during our times of physical weaknesses and will, at death, release us to enter eternity with Him.

What a wonderful Lord we serve! What encouraging words for each one of us to take to heart as we struggle with the effects of aging that falls upon us all.

May the Lord allow His Word to comfort His people, taking away all their fears and increasing their faith as they continue to grow older and seek to serve Him throughout their remaining years.

_________________________________________________

Questions, Comments, or Suggestions?

Email me at: rob.barkman@settledinheaven.org

Homepage… http://www.settledinheaven.org

Text Blog… http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com

Video Blog… http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven

Isaiah’s Vision Of The New Heavens and New Earth (Part 3)

November 8, 2015 10:00 am / 3 Comments on Isaiah’s Vision Of The New Heavens and New Earth (Part 3)

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.

[Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” (2 Peter 3:10-13)

Isaiah 65:17-25 is one of the most encouraging prophecies given to God’s people. It is a prophecy of the eternal state of God’s people as they enjoy the eternal blessings that are promised to them by God Himself.

For us to come to a fuller and more accurate understanding of this prophecy, we need to understand its relationship to the first five verses of a vision that John received in the book of Revelation that is found in chapter 21.

Please notice the table that follows. In this table, we can see that the prophecy found in Isaiah 65: and the beginning of the vision received by John in Revelation are clearly parallel prophecies. They both speak of the same time period (eternity), the same location (the New Heavens and New Earth) and the same blessings that will be received by the people of God…

The Basic Contents Of Both Passages:

Main Themes:	Daniel 65:	Revelation 21:

The Setting: New Heavens/New Earth	17a	1a
The Condition: All Things Are “New”	17b	5
The Location: The New Jerusalem	18	2
No Weeping, Crying	19	4a
Longevity Of Life	20	4b
No Mistreatment, Loss	21-23,25	4c,d,e
God Will Be Present	24	3

Let’s take a few moments of time to come to a better understanding of the wonderful blessings that await God’s people as we enter into eternity with our Lord.

THE SCRIPTURES:

(Isaiah 65:17-25)

17) For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.

18) But be ye glad and rejoice for ever [in that] which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy.

19) And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in my people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.

20) There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner [being] an hundred years old shall be accursed.

21) And they shall build houses, and inhabit [them]; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

22) They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree [are] the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

23) They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they [are] the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

24) And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

25) The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust [shall be] the serpent’s meat. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

(Revelation 21:1-5)

1) And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.

2) And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3) And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, [and be] their God.

4) And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5) And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

THE STUDY:

Isaiah 65:17-25…

21) And they shall build houses, and inhabit [them]; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them.

22) They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree [are] the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

23) They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they [are] the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.

In this section of our study, we are told that, throughout eternity, God’s people will enjoy the God’s hand of blessings upon His people. They will no longer be concerned with attacks from their enemies, the curse of sin, injustice or the wrath of God being placed upon them. In other words, all sin and its results will be done away.

This entire section of our study stands in direct contrast to the Lord’s promises to those who rebel against the Lord and His commands.…

Deuteronomy 28:15, 29-34 – KJV – “But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:…

And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save [thee].

Thou shalt betroth a wife, and another man shall lie with her: thou shalt build an house, and thou shalt not dwell therein: thou shalt plant a vineyard, and shalt not gather the grapes thereof.

Thine ox [shall be] slain before thine eyes, and thou shalt not eat thereof: thine ass [shall be] violently taken away from before thy face, and shall not be restored to thee: thy sheep [shall be] given unto thine enemies, and thou shalt have none to rescue [them].

Thy sons and thy daughters [shall be] given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail [with longing] for them all the day long: and [there shall be] no might in thine hand.

The fruit of thy land, and all thy labours, shall a nation which thou knowest not eat up; and thou shalt be only oppressed and crushed alway:

So that thou shalt be mad for the sight of thine eyes which thou shalt see.”

(Please note: In the earlier verses of this chapter ( Deut 28:1-14) contains many of the same blessings upon the faithful that are mentioned in our Isaiah 65 text).

And they shall build houses, and inhabit [them]; and they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. hey shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not plant, and another eat:

God’s people will enjoy the fruits of their labors, and not have to fear loss nor harm. Throughout eternity we will be blessed of God for our faithful service. None will be able to tarnish our service, nor will they be able to steal the rewards intended for us.

for as the days of a tree [are] the days of my people, and mine elect shall long enjoy the work of their hands.

God’s people will enjoy a long, flourishing, fruitful life of service throughout eternity, much like a fruit tree that bears fruit and lives from generation to generation.

They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they [are] the seed of the blessed of the LORD,

Why do these wonderful blessings come upon His people throughout eternity? God’s grace being sent forth to them in the form of His many blessings.

and their offspring with them.

In the curse mentioned in Deut 28: we read “Thy sons and thy daughters [shall be] given unto another people, and thine eyes shall look, and fail [with longing] for them all the day long: and [there shall be] no might in thine hand.”

This part of the curse upon those who rebel against God is contrasted by the phrase “and their offspring with them”. In other words, the rebellious would be forcibly separated from their offspring, whereas for the obedient, they would enjoy their life unified with their children. All of this symbolically describing the results of rebellion and sin being done away throughout eternity.

Once again, this section of our Isaiah 65: prophecy is simply revealing to us that, God’s people as the faithful of God, will enjoy an eternity where all injustice, harm, sorrow, and the curse of rebellion are taken away.

Also, remember earlier in our Isaiah 65: text we have this basic idea reaffirmed… “and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.”

In Revelation 21: is it described in this way…

(4c,d,e) neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Here Revelation is telling us that sin, its affects, and curses involved with sin, are done away throughout eternity. (Isa 35:10, Isa 60:19-22)

24) And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.

During eternity the saints will enjoy PERFECT communion with the Lord, as no sin will place a division between us. He will be physically present with us and He will perfectly know our minds and hearts and will immediately act on our behalf. This communion is much like what Daniel experienced during his time of prayer (Daniel 9:20-23) only to a much lesser degree than the communion in eternity.

In Revelation 21: is it described in this way…

Here in Revelation, we are also promised a perfect, intimate relationship with the Lord allowing each one of us to enjoy perfect fellowship with God Himself.

25) The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, and the lion shall eat straw like the bullock: and dust [shall be] the serpent’s meat.

Here, we can see the perfect harmony and peace that will permeate throughout eternity. The results of sin, specifically the fall of the created nature around us, will be totally undone. There will be no bloodshed, no violence, no abuse, no persecution, nor death.

This basic principle is pictured through the use of a series of creatures that Isaiah was familiar with as a part of the first creation of God (the earth before its renovation).

The peaceful conditions in the New Earth are now pictured by:

Wolves and Lambs – Wolves, who would normally feed upon lambs, are now seen as being at peace with the lambs. They are now feeding WITH the lambs, not feeding ON the lambs.
Lion eating straw like an ox – Lions, who normally violently feeding on other animals are now shown to be feeding upon straw. This is like an ox who feeds upon straw as a part of their nature being fully satisfied with it.
Serpent feeding upon dust – Serpents are known for cunningly attacking their prey, catching them off guard, poisoning them, and devouring them. Here, we see eternity pictured as a place of no danger or fear, as even the serpents feed on dust, hunting and hurting no one.

We can clearly see the symbolic nature being used here, as we realize that it is impossible for serpents to live off of dust. Also keep in mind, there are no places in Scripture that clearly indicate that the same type of animals that God created to inhabit on the Old Earth will be remade and will inhabit the New Earth.

Please note a very similar passage in Isaiah 11:6-9…

Isa 11:6-9 KJV –

“The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.

And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice’ den.

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain: for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.”

Once, again in this passage we see the same basic principles concerning the New Earth begin described through the use of Old Earth creatures. The New Earth will be a peaceful, violence free, persecution free existence. As we have seen, detailed previously in vs 20 of our text, this set of verses can, in no way, be used to teach that babies and children will be in existence on the New Earth.

They shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain, saith the LORD.

The Lord clearly states the basic principle behind the symbols being used in this example. It is that the New Earth will be entirely free of harm and destruction. “His holy mountain” is speaking of the renovated land of Israel on the New Earth which will be home to the New Jerusalem, the dwelling place of the saints throughout eternity.

In Revelation 21: is it described in this way…

(4) And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

Revelation 21: confirms for us that the New Earth will be filled with peace and harmony, no pain, suffering, or death. All of these former sorrows will be done away with as all will be made new.

Please also see notes on verses 21-23 above for more concerning this principle.

THE PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

As we have clearly seen in this study, we have such a wonderful eternity awaiting us. May we all allow these truths to motivate us to serve our Lord out of thankful, appreciative hearts. May we allow these truths to encourage us to remain faithful in the “dark times” of our lives.

May the Lord bless you as you seek His truth.

Please visit…

Settled In Heaven Ministries Home On The Web: http://www.settledinheaven.org

Settled In Heaven Ministries Text Blog: https://settledinheaven.wordpress.com

Settled In Heaven Ministries Video Blog: http://youtube.com/settledinheaven

Email Us At: settledinheaven@gmail.com

May the Lord bless your study of His Word. Like God’s Word… may your soul’s salvation and your life’s faithfulness be “Settled in Heaven.”

Thanksgiving 2015 : “Saying Thanks Just Isn’t Enough”

November 5, 2015 10:00 am / 7 Comments on Thanksgiving 2015 : “Saying Thanks Just Isn’t Enough”

(Thanksgiving Devotional 2015)

It is commonly believed that the first Thanksgiving celebration took place in 1621. This feast was attended by both Pilgrims and Indians who joined together to thank God for their bountiful harvest of the previous year. This celebration was continued by the first American colonies, and later by the United States, as a time of thanksgiving for the blessings that God had bestowed upon the American people.

The official Thanksgiving Day holiday was started in 1863 when Abraham Lincoln, at the end of the Civil War, asked Americans to set aside the last Thursday of November as a day of thanksgiving to God for the blessings He had shown to America (one of which was an end to the Civil War).

In 1939 FDR moved the holiday to the prior week. He did this to help businesses by giving them a longer holiday shopping period. Finally, in 1941 the fourth Thursday in November was declared by Congress to be the official holiday of Thanksgiving.

Please see: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/presidential-proclamation-thanksgiving-day

Clearly, the Thanksgiving holiday began, and was continued, as a time to publically give thanks to God for the blessings He has bestowed upon our country and its individual citizens.

Even our government understood that simply talking about being thankful for what the Lord has done for us was not enough. The Thanksgiving celebration is the way that our government has decided to allow its citizens to actively thank the Lord for His many blessings. They did this by taking legislative action and declaring Thanksgiving a national holiday that gives time for all our citizens to stop, reflect upon the Lord’s blessings in their nation, families and personal life and then celebrating these wonderful blessings.

Sadly, some Christians believe that the verbal giving of thanks to the Lord is an adequate way to show their thanks to Him; but what does the Bible say?….

THE SCRIPTURE:

For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

THE STUDY:

In the Word of God, the Apostle Paul has a lot to say about the outward manifestation of a Christian’s thankfulness for all that their Lord has done for them. One of these texts is found in Romans 11:36 – 12:1. This will be our text for this devotional time…

First, Paul explains the basis of our need to proper appreciate all the Lord has done for His people…

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

“For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things:

of Him – all things, people and events in life come from Him.

through Him – all things, people and events in life are sustained by Him.

to Him – all things, people, and events in life are used by Him for His glory and our benefit.

He is the Creator of all, He is the Sustainer of all, He is the One that controls all…

Colossians 1:14-17 KJV – “In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

All of our friends, loved ones and acquaintances; all of the precious events that take place in our life; and all of the blessings that we have received, including our physical life, talents, abilities and, most importantly, our spiritual life…. They all find their origin in Christ.

Put very simply… the Lord is our All in All. Without the Lord we could do absolutely nothing, we would have no family or friends; no talents; no abilities; no physical life; and most importantly, no salvation.

“to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”

Because of this, He is to be glorified and honored throughout our lifetimes…

Secondly, Paul explains our need to live lives that clearly displays our thankfulness by our actions…

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

I beseech you therefore, brethren,

“beseech” – to urgently encourage

Paul now speaks to us with urgent words of encouragement for us to actively show our appreciation to Christ in our lives. Not only is our words of thanks important, but also our lives should display our thankfulness as well.

by the mercies of God,

Living lives that display our thankfulness to Christ can only be done through the merciful intervention and enabling of Christ.

1 Peter 2:10-12 KJV – “Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice,

How can we show our thanks to Christ for all He has done for us? By giving of ourselves for the cause of Christ. We can do this by taking advantage of every opportunity that is opened to us to turn over our bodies (by bearing Spiritual fruits through our talents, intellect, speech, and actions) to Christ for His use.

Whenever we do this, motivated by a heart-felt appreciation of all He has done for us, we are displaying our thankfulness to Christ to the lost and saved who are around us.

holy,

When we live our lives as a living sacrifice for Christ, we are surrendering the lusts of our flesh to the will of Jesus Christ.

In doing so, we will find ourselves living lives that are separated FROM sin and the sins of this world and, at the same time, our lives will be lived TO fulfill Christ’s will. This is what it means to live a holy life for Christ.

acceptable unto God,

Being a living sacrifice is making a sacrifice that is pleasing to our God. After all this is one of God’s great purposes in saving us from our sins…

Ephesians 2:8-10 KJV – “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

which is your reasonable service.”

When we recognize, consider, and appreciate all that our Lord has done for us… in humbling Himself as a man; coming to a sinful earth; being mocked, ridiculed, and scorned; being falsely accused and tried; and finally, dying on the cross for us…. it is only reasonable that we would give our entire lives to Him.

Philippians 2:5-10 KJV – “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;”

PRACTICAL APPLICATION:

During this Thanksgiving holiday celebration, the desire of our heart should be to come to… a greater recognition of the Lord’s many blessings in our lives; a greater appreciation of His love and grace that He has shown to us; a greater desire to submit to His desires; and finally, put our thankfulness in action by serving Him in greater ways.

When we consider all that He has done for us, may the Lord put a new song of praise in each of our mouths and actions, as we share the wonders of His grace with others and be the source of truth to those who so desperately need Christ…

Psalms 40:1-3 KJV – “To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David. I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”

——————————————————————————————————————————-

http://www.settledinheaven.org

http://www.settledinheaven.wordpress.com

http://www.youtube.com/settledinheaven

——————————————————————————————————————————-