Amos 7:1-8
1 Thus hath the Lord GOD showed unto me; and, behold, he formed grasshoppers in the beginning of the shooting up of the latter growth; and, lo, it was the latter growth after the king's mowings.
2 And it came to pass, that when they had made an end of eating the grass of the land, then I said, O Lord GOD, forgive, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? For he is small.
3 The LORD repented for this: It shall not be, saith the LORD.
4 Thus hath the Lord GOD showed unto me: and, behold, the Lord GOD called to contend by fire, and it devoured the great deep, and did eat up a part.
5 Then said I, O Lord GOD, cease, I beseech thee: by whom shall Jacob arise? for he is small.
6 The LORD repented for this: This also shall not be, saith the Lord GOD.
Amos prayed and God forgave…twice. How many judgments can we avert by prayer? And are we praying? God gave Amos visions, Amos “beseeched” Him and the Lord repented and turned away the punishment. This is powerful.
7 Thus he showed me: and, behold, the Lord stood upon a wall made by a plumb line, with a plumb line in his hand.
8 And the LORD said unto me, Amos, what seest thou? And I said, A plumb line. Then said the Lord, Behold, I will set a plumb line in the midst of my people Israel: I will not again pass by them any more:
This is the part I really want to bring out. The plumb line is still here, in the midst of His people. We will be measured against the plumb line. Look at it hanging beside you. Does it show you to be straight? The plumb line doesn’t lie.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Trinity
1st John Chapter 5
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
In this format the trinity is easy to accept. We all have a self, a word and a spirit. And by His Word the heavens and earth were created. The Father obviously has a Word and He obviously has a Spirit. And it is self evident that these are one and the same person. But who can give flesh to his word? Our words are as nothing. They have no physical presence. However, they can do great and terrible things. They can lift people up and they can destroy people. God was able to give His Word a body of flesh that we could see and touch. And that body of flesh spoke the Word, that we might know God. Praise God!
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
In this format the trinity is easy to accept. We all have a self, a word and a spirit. And by His Word the heavens and earth were created. The Father obviously has a Word and He obviously has a Spirit. And it is self evident that these are one and the same person. But who can give flesh to his word? Our words are as nothing. They have no physical presence. However, they can do great and terrible things. They can lift people up and they can destroy people. God was able to give His Word a body of flesh that we could see and touch. And that body of flesh spoke the Word, that we might know God. Praise God!
Saturday, October 27, 2007
I will in no wise cast out...
John 6:35-37
35. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
36. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
This promise is huge. Jesus says that the Father chooses us, but even if we are not aware of or sure of the Father choosing us, we can trust that “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”. He knew we would struggle with trying to know if we were chosen or not. So, he assures us that He will cast no one out that comes to Him. I am sure none CAN come to Him without the calling of God. But I haven’t ALWAYS been sure that I was called to salvation. I can only be sure Jesus will not turn me away.
35. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
36. But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not.
37. All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.
This promise is huge. Jesus says that the Father chooses us, but even if we are not aware of or sure of the Father choosing us, we can trust that “him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out”. He knew we would struggle with trying to know if we were chosen or not. So, he assures us that He will cast no one out that comes to Him. I am sure none CAN come to Him without the calling of God. But I haven’t ALWAYS been sure that I was called to salvation. I can only be sure Jesus will not turn me away.
Led astray?
Psalms 3:1-8
1 LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. (Lots of people are going to be quick to lead you away from the Lord, and encourage you to be lost in sin.)
2. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. (These same people will deny God and try to persuade you that He is NOT your helper.)
3. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
4. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.
5. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. (It is the Lord, Himself that provides the air that you breathe and causes your lungs to continue. When He ceases to breath life into you, you will die. We wake up in the morning because He sustains us.)
6. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
7. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people.
1 LORD, how are they increased that trouble me! Many are they that rise up against me. (Lots of people are going to be quick to lead you away from the Lord, and encourage you to be lost in sin.)
2. Many there be which say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. (These same people will deny God and try to persuade you that He is NOT your helper.)
3. But thou, O LORD, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head.
4. I cried unto the LORD with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.
5. I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the LORD sustained me. (It is the Lord, Himself that provides the air that you breathe and causes your lungs to continue. When He ceases to breath life into you, you will die. We wake up in the morning because He sustains us.)
6. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me round about.
7. Arise, O LORD; save me, O my God: for thou hast smitten all mine enemies upon the cheek bone; thou hast broken the teeth of the ungodly.
8. Salvation belongeth unto the LORD: thy blessing is upon thy people.
Wells of salvation
Isaiah 12:1-6
1. And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.
2. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
3. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
4. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
5. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
6. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
The Lord is my strength, I will not be afraid. We shall draw water from the wells of salvation. Isn’t that beautiful? It isn’t just one drink and we are done, left to wait for death to enter in. We get to draw water from the wells of salvation. We get to go back over and over again. We get to enjoy our salvation and the presence of the Lord as oft as we care to draw the water.
1. And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise thee: though thou wast angry with me, thine anger is turned away, and thou comfortedst me.
2. Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
3. Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
4. And in that day shall ye say, Praise the LORD, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people, make mention that his name is exalted.
5. Sing unto the LORD; for he hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth.
6. Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.
The Lord is my strength, I will not be afraid. We shall draw water from the wells of salvation. Isn’t that beautiful? It isn’t just one drink and we are done, left to wait for death to enter in. We get to draw water from the wells of salvation. We get to go back over and over again. We get to enjoy our salvation and the presence of the Lord as oft as we care to draw the water.
Cultivation
Luke 13:6-9
6. He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8. And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9. And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
I like this story cause it gives me some sense of security that the Lord will not cut me off immediately if I don’t bear enough fruit. But He will dig around me, cultivate my soil, fertilize me with His Spirit and His witnesses and He will keep me as long as there is a glimmer of hope that I will improve.
Not to forget however, in the end if the tree does not bear fruit it WILL be cut down.
6. He spake also this parable; A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none.
7. Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?
8. And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung it:
9. And if it bear fruit, well: and if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down.
I like this story cause it gives me some sense of security that the Lord will not cut me off immediately if I don’t bear enough fruit. But He will dig around me, cultivate my soil, fertilize me with His Spirit and His witnesses and He will keep me as long as there is a glimmer of hope that I will improve.
Not to forget however, in the end if the tree does not bear fruit it WILL be cut down.
train your brain
Proverbs 12:11
11. He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
To till his land also means to train his brain.
He that fills his brain with the Word shall be satisfied with bread, but he that follows after foolishness is void of understanding.”
11. He that tilleth his land shall be satisfied with bread: but he that followeth vain persons is void of understanding.
To till his land also means to train his brain.
He that fills his brain with the Word shall be satisfied with bread, but he that follows after foolishness is void of understanding.”
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Believing is a choice
Isaiah 7:5-9
Isa 7:5 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,
Isa 7:6 Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:
Isa 7:7 Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.
Isa 7:8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.
Isa 7:9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.
That is good wisdom for us still today. “If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.” It would appear that believing is a matter of the will. It is not some unthinking emotion without a source.
Isa 7:5 Because Syria, Ephraim, and the son of Remaliah, have taken evil counsel against thee, saying,
Isa 7:6 Let us go up against Judah, and vex it, and let us make a breach therein for us, and set a king in the midst of it, even the son of Tabeal:
Isa 7:7 Thus saith the Lord GOD, It shall not stand, neither shall it come to pass.
Isa 7:8 For the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rezin; and within threescore and five years shall Ephraim be broken, that it be not a people.
Isa 7:9 And the head of Ephraim is Samaria, and the head of Samaria is Remaliah's son. If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.
That is good wisdom for us still today. “If ye will not believe, surely ye shall not be established.” It would appear that believing is a matter of the will. It is not some unthinking emotion without a source.
Seeing, we see not
Isaiah 6:1-13
1. In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
6. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7. And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
8. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
9. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
10. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
I wonder if Isaiah knew that the Lord meant that Isaiah would witness, but the people would not believe him and it would become their reproach?
11. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,
12. And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.
13. But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.
This is from Matthew Henry: "Isaiah must preach to them, and they will hear him indeed, but that is all; they will not heed him; they will no understand him; they will not take any pains, nor use that application of mind which is necessary to the understanding of him; they are prejudiced against that which is the true intent and meaning of what he says, and therefore they will not understand him, or pretend they do not. They see indeed (for the vision is made plain on tables, so that he who runs may read it); but they perceive not their own concern in it; it is to them as a tale that is told. Note, There are many who hear the sound of God's word, but do not feel the power of it. "
This is where we are now. We have the Bible, people can see it and read it, but most people do not perceive their own concern in it.
1. In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.
2. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly.
3. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.
4. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.
6. Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar:
7. And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.
8. Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.
9. And he said, Go, and tell this people, Hear ye indeed, but understand not; and see ye indeed, but perceive not.
10. Make the heart of this people fat, and make their ears heavy, and shut their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and convert, and be healed.
I wonder if Isaiah knew that the Lord meant that Isaiah would witness, but the people would not believe him and it would become their reproach?
11. Then said I, Lord, how long? And he answered, Until the cities be wasted without inhabitant, and the houses without man, and the land be utterly desolate,
12. And the LORD have removed men far away, and there be a great forsaking in the midst of the land.
13. But yet in it shall be a tenth, and it shall return, and shall be eaten: as a teil tree, and as an oak, whose substance is in them, when they cast their leaves: so the holy seed shall be the substance thereof.
This is from Matthew Henry: "Isaiah must preach to them, and they will hear him indeed, but that is all; they will not heed him; they will no understand him; they will not take any pains, nor use that application of mind which is necessary to the understanding of him; they are prejudiced against that which is the true intent and meaning of what he says, and therefore they will not understand him, or pretend they do not. They see indeed (for the vision is made plain on tables, so that he who runs may read it); but they perceive not their own concern in it; it is to them as a tale that is told. Note, There are many who hear the sound of God's word, but do not feel the power of it. "
This is where we are now. We have the Bible, people can see it and read it, but most people do not perceive their own concern in it.
Monday, September 17, 2007
Salted with fire
Mark 9:43-50
43. And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
49. For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
50. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
The commentaries have trouble with this verse, and they all try to change it a little, to say in effect that the unsaved are salted with fire, but it doesn’t say that. In fact, scriptures say that we will be tried as though by fire. Many times you told me that our works will go through the fire and the hay and stubble will be consumed.
43. And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
44. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
45. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
46. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
47. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out: it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire:
48. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
49. For every one shall be salted with fire, and every sacrifice shall be salted with salt.
50. Salt is good: but if the salt have lost his saltness, wherewith will ye season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another.
The commentaries have trouble with this verse, and they all try to change it a little, to say in effect that the unsaved are salted with fire, but it doesn’t say that. In fact, scriptures say that we will be tried as though by fire. Many times you told me that our works will go through the fire and the hay and stubble will be consumed.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
The first commandment
Mark 12:29-34
29. And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33. And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
I like this passage. And it is both easy to keep and a struggle to keep. We need to keep the Lord always first. He is easy to love. And yet, we are distracted by things here on earth and if we do not have daily study and / or communion with God, how can we claim that we are loving Him with all our mind and with all our strength? But, I still like the passage. And I strive to keep it. And I like knowing that if I just keep this one, everything else will take care of itself. This one commandment will lead us into all righteousness.
29. And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord:
30. And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
32. And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33. And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34. And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
I like this passage. And it is both easy to keep and a struggle to keep. We need to keep the Lord always first. He is easy to love. And yet, we are distracted by things here on earth and if we do not have daily study and / or communion with God, how can we claim that we are loving Him with all our mind and with all our strength? But, I still like the passage. And I strive to keep it. And I like knowing that if I just keep this one, everything else will take care of itself. This one commandment will lead us into all righteousness.
Free to serve
Mark 12:20-25
20. Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
21. And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.
22. And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
23. In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
24. And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
25. For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
I am really grateful for this story. In heaven there will be no contention about the roles of men and women. We will be as the angels and we will ALL be free to worship and to serve. There will be no restrictions because of gender.
I guess that means that in God’s eyes we are already free from all that. After all, He IS in heaven.
20. Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
21. And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise.
22. And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also.
23. In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife.
24. And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
25. For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
I am really grateful for this story. In heaven there will be no contention about the roles of men and women. We will be as the angels and we will ALL be free to worship and to serve. There will be no restrictions because of gender.
I guess that means that in God’s eyes we are already free from all that. After all, He IS in heaven.
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