Thursday, July 16, 2015

A Humble And Contrite Attitude



NLT)
15 The high and lofty one who lives in eternity,
      the Holy One, says this:
   “I live in the high and holy place
      with those whose spirits are contrite and humble.
   I restore the crushed spirit of the humble
      and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.

 This was one of the verses in my meditation of The Word this week, (Rom 12:2
 [ NLT] Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.) God reveals to us – line upon line precept upon precept His plans for us when we meditate on His Word.

Of interest words humble and contrite – in light of Fruit of Spirit in our study last week -  Gal 5:22  Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control.


PRAY


Humble
1.
not proud or arrogant; modest: to be humble although successful.

2.
having a feeling of insignificance, inferiority, subservience, etc.: In the presence of so many world-famous writers I felt very humble.

3.
low in rank, importance, status, quality, etc.; lowly: of humble origin; a humble home.

4.
courteously respectful: In my humble opinion you are wrong.

5.
low in height, level, etc.; small in size: a humble member of the galaxy.
–verb (used with object)
6.
to lower in condition, importance, or dignity; abase.

7.
to destroy the independence, power, or will of.

8.
to make meek: to humble one's heart.

[Origin: 1200–50; ME (h)umble < OF < L humilis lowly, insignificant, on the ground. See humus, -ile]

Humus

the dark organic material in soils, produced by the decomposition of vegetable or animal matter and essential to the fertility of the earth.
Note: Essential for growth
I would submit that every fruit of the spirit mentioned in Gal 5, parallels
Humble and contriteness (deeply sorry or repentant)
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Lets look at Isa. 57:15 – 15 The high and lofty one who lives in eternity,
    (God always has been, always will be – My habitation, no time needed, where I live)         
 the Holy One, says this:
   (The Great I Am – not was…not a has been, or will be – Jesus tells us Love God with all your heart and have faith that He will provide what we need, then He says -  “sufficient for this day are this days troubles” – In other words don’t worry, The Great I Am, who takes care of you in the present.
A. how many examples  of Jesus saying I Am can you think of :
1. Way, Truth and Life – Vine and you are branches…. – (class)
“I live in the high and holy place
   (My domain – where I live)  
He says to us:
those whose spirits are contrite and humble.
  (truly sorry and are righteous through My Only Begotten, and who are or have an attitude or mentality or lifestyle of meekness or teachable ness preferring others over themselves)
 I restore the crushed spirit of the humble
     (Take care of the ones who have a lifestyle of putting other first)
 and revive the courage of those with repentant hearts.
(Bring back to life the boldness of those who truly have an attitude of repentance)
·        The idea is that if we have an attitude, or make a lifestyle of showing the fruit of the spirit.  We will live with Him and He will do all of these things for us.
He will prefer us – put us first – humble Himself to us!
(all about you to him, to you, etc.…. all about us to GOD! )
·        We have been equipped by the Power of God (His Word of Power, not by the power of His Word – {explain diff}), (many versions say “powerful word”. Correct translation is “Word of Power” – gives idea of infinite power) and it is essential if Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior to put others first. God through Paul & Timothy tells us to put each other first
(read) Rom 12:10 & 1 Tim 5:21
·        We must choose to be humble / if we have a free will to worship God and to be saved, we have to choose to show the attributes of Him
2 Cor. 5:7 -  We live by faith, not by sight. – We do the right thing (have a humble attitude show the fruit of the Spirit) because we have faith that it is the right thing to do not because or when we feel like it.
There will always be times when we don’t feel like being nice or being humble, (examples) but when we do it because it is the right thing to do that is when GOD rejoices.
·        When we put other first, we will never be offended, we will arrest the offense by saying to ourselves (why should he … examples)

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Job In Context With Psalms



This is one of my very favorite studies and pieces of Scripture. There is so much in this chapter, I believe we not only get a true, accurate picture of God's Nature, but a very accurate picture of what our relationship with Him should look like.

We learn that God is sovereign, independent and above us in every way. We learn that we know next to nothing and that what we do know we know because of Him. We learn that we can't know everything, but He can,  and that He creates everything for our good.

We learn that bad things do happen to good people, that He doesn’t cause bad things, but in the end, He does use them for our good.

I’ve heard it said the book of Job is like a “mini Bible”. In it, we see creation, fall, redemption, restoration and His Grace we also get a look at what God is like.
_______________________________________________________________________ 

  • ·         Job wealthy and feared God – Bible says complete integrity (Job 1:1-12)

  • ·         Satan tries to drive wedge between Job & God  (Job 1:6 - Always  surprised Satan has access to God)  Note: in Job 1:7   God asks Satan what he’s been up to – He doesn’t ask the Godly angles because He KNOWS WHAT THEY’VE BEEN UP TO .

  • ·         As the story progresses Job loses kids, possessions, health, standing in the community  (prob.)

  • ·         People that know him are convinced that he, through sin, has brought his problem on himself.

  • ·         His wife tells him he may as well “end it” (thanks honey).  Note: the only family he has left is at worst against him, and at best, ridiculing him.

  • ·         4 friends come to talk – Job did not talk to them for days – Note: Sometimes we don’t need to say anything to hurting people, just being there is enough.

  • ·         When they finally talk to him, they tried to get him to repent – his bad fortune was a result of unrepented sin.

  • ·         God rebukes Jobs friends for thinking He CAUSED this. – The good we do is ALWAYS caused by God - bad is ALWAYS about Satan.

  • ·         Job tries to make the case that he is righteous toward God and better than the un- righteous.

  • ·         Job not so concerned with what he’d lost, but why he had lost it.

  • ·         Job asks God, why has bad happened to him when he’s a good guy? (God never answers that question. When we ask that, we are not looking for an answer – we are looking for an argument. God WILL NOT be drawn into that).
  •  God gives Job a theology lesson -


·         God, then gets on Job’s case, tells him not to worry about it – He says don’t worry about it, I’m God - I’m sovereign – what I say goes gets on Job’s case (Job 38:16 – when have you walked through the springs of the seas?,  Job 40:2 "Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.")
·         Job is restored in Chapter 42. (God is good and after Job learned, He made good out of bad experiences because Job loved God and was called according to His Purpose. –  

     (Romans 8:28)
·         Lessons Job learned:

1.       God is sovereign – ALL AUTHORITY
2.       Bad things will happen to good people (what is “bad, what is “good”?)
3.       It’s not that bad things won`t happen, it`s how we treat God and how we react when they do, (Satan has limitations and hates God and His people)
4.       God, then fairness – NOT fairness THEN God

The fact that the Book of Psalms is very next chapter – highlights contrast

·         Psalms are poems and songs of praise, lament, some wisdom (proverbs) – Not one story or account, but a collection of conversations from the heart.
·         Written mostly through David and his son Solomon
·         All Psalms put God first – Acknowledge God’s Sovereignty
·         Never asks “why me, I’m a good guy”
·         Always seem to say, “you’re God, why NOT me?”
·         Psalms will ask for help, in asking with the correct attitude, we acknowledge God is our only help

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Infite Truth Of The Gospel


1.
the true or actual state of a matter: He tried to find out the truth.


2.
conformity with fact or reality; verity: the truth of a statement.

3.
a verified or indisputable fact, proposition, principle, or the like: mathematical truths.

4.
the state or character of being true.

5.
actuality or actual existence.

6.
an obvious or accepted fact; truism; platitude.

7.
honesty; integrity; truthfulness.

8.
(often initial capital letter) ideal or fundamental reality apart from and transcending perceived experience: the basic truths of life.

9.
agreement with a standard or original.

10.
accuracy, as of position or adjustment.

11.
Archaic. fidelity or constancy.
12.
in truth, in reality; in fact; actually: In truth, moral decay hastened the decline of the Roman Empire.

13.  Faith, in faith

alētheia
Pronunciation
ä-lā'-thā-ä (Key)
outline of Biblical Usage
1) objectively
a) what is true in any matter under consideration
1) truly, in truth, according to truth
2) of a truth, in reality, in fact, certainly
b) what is true in things appertaining to God and the duties of man, moral and religious truth
1) in the greatest latitude
2) the true notions of God which are open to human reason without his supernatural intervention
c) the truth as taught in the Christian religion, respecting God and the execution of his purposes through Christ, and respecting the duties of man, opposing alike to the superstitions of the Gentiles and the inventions of the Jews, and the corrupt opinions and precepts of false teachers even among Christians
2) subjectively
a) truth as a personal excellence
1) that candour of mind which is free from affection, pretence, simulation, falsehood, deceit
John 4:23  God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (aletheia).

  1. Samaritan woman at well
  2. Jesus’ introduction into His Ministry
  3. He speaks to her in terms she understands – she knew Jewish law
  4. speaks of her (our) responsibility – worship in TRUTH
from the heart, for real, genuine,  - Jesus said: you will love God with all heart, mind, soul and love your neighbor as yourself.

John 8:32 - And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free
  • You will know what is real and good (the way that God thinks) - THAT will give you the license to do what God would do

John 14:6    6Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth (aletheia), and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me

  • Jesus calls Himself The Truth
  • Consider: Moses asking God who he should say gave him instructions (burn Bush) God said my name is ” I Am” (implied all in all or everything)
  • God describes Himself as what we would call “good Character traits”

1 John 4:8 (Amplified Bible)

8He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.
Describes self as “truth, Love – all things good”

Philippians 4:7-9 (King James Version)

  8Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
 9Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

Meditate in dictionary = think to employ or engage your mind, renew
·        Many places Word (God) tells us to meditate on Word
·        Romans 12:1-2
 1I 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.  2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
·        Joshua 1:8  This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good [a]success.
(meditation on Word said by God to be secret of success)
·        Psalms 1:2,4:4, 19:14, 39:3 and many, many others tell us to meditate on The Word in Old Testament and New




Solomon said when charged with building the house of God:
2 Chronicles 2:6    6But who is able to build Him a house, since heaven, even highest heaven, cannot contain Him? Who am I to build Him a house, except as a place to burn incense in worship before Him?
           
·        Truth is infinite – man can’t contain or harness God (Truth) man can only know it the Truth  (God wants relationship with man)

 

2 Chronicles3:5-9   5And the greater house (the Holy Place) he lined with cypress and overlaid it with fine gold and made palm trees and chains on it. 6And he adorned the house with precious stones for beauty; and the gold was gold of Parvaim. 7He lined the house (the Holy Place), its beams, thresholds, walls, and doors with gold, and engraved cherubim on the walls.   8He made the Most Holy Place, its length equaling the breadth of the house, twenty cubits, and its breadth twenty cubits; he overlaid it with 600 talents of fine gold. 9The weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he lined the upper chambers with gold

·        Truth is precious – can’t be bought, we can try but our efforts are finite especially when

compared with God.


·        Truth is truth whether we believe it or not,

·       Jesus tells us to meditate on The Word. John1:1 tells us Jesus is the Word and God

·       God thru Paul tells us in Rom 12:1-2 to renew our minds or meditate on the Word

·       God thru Paul also tells us to think about all things good (God-Jesus-Word Of God)

It is apparent that Jesus speaks truth because He IS The Truth .He says to Meditate on the truths He speaks into our lives and meditate on the fact that He Is Tru