Notes from 1-20-2008 - "Reflections on Job"...

Everyone experiences a trial every now and them. Some seem to experience more than others…

However, in the first chapter of James we are all told to “2Consider it pure joy…whenever [we] face trials of many kinds, 3because [we] know that the testing of our faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that [we] may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of us lacks wisdom, we should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to us. 6But when we ask, we must believe and not doubt, because those who doubt are like the waves of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7[People like that] should not think they will receive anything from the Lord; 8 they are a double-minded person, unstable in all they do. 9The person in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10But the one who is rich should take pride in their low position, because they will pass away like a wild flower. 11For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. 12Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, because when they have stood the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14but each one is tempted when, by their own evil desire, they are dragged away and enticed. 15Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. 16Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. (James 1:2-18) So there is hope that we can, by the power of the Holy Spirit, overcome temptation, and survive the trials we go through…

The Greek words that are translated as “temptation,” or “trial,” or “test” in the English New Testament are all extremely similar, and all stem from the Greek word, "peirazo," which is understood to mean to "test,” “try” or “put to the proof.” They're also from the Greek word "peira," which is understood to mean to "attempt” or “know by experience.”

There's another Greek word, "dokime," which means to "test the genuineness of something,” also used. It's used in 1 Peter 1:7 where we read that how testing of faith is equated to assaying the quality and purity of gold.

James informs us that tests (peirasmos, 1:2) have a purpose and are, primarily, the process by which the genuineness of our faith is determined (dokime, v. 3). It is through this process that the quality of steadfast character is developed…

“For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer for it, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, nor was guile found in His mouth’; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously” - 1 Peter 2:19–23.

In English translations, the word “example” in verse 21, is from the Greek term "upogrammos," which is understood to refer to a "writing copy.” It was a term used for a school child’s copy book, in which a child, in copying every letter patterned on the page of the book, learns to carefully reproduce the letter patterns. In the spiritual sense, Jesus Christ is to be the pattern which we are to emulate.

In the opening chapter of the Book of Job, we are made witness to a conversation between God and Satan, in God's very throne room...as it unfolds, we are shown that a.) Satan has to answer to God prior to taking any action, and b.) It is God that allows the Temptor to do all that he does - and yet we are promised elsewhere in Scripture that God will not allow anything to befall us that we are unable to overcome...

Job 1: "1There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and turned away from evil. 2And there were born unto him seven sons and three daughters. 3His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she-asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east. 4And his sons went and held a feast in the house of each one upon his day; and they sent and called for their three sisters to eat and to drink with them. 5And it was so, when the days of their feasting were gone about, that Job sent and sanctified them, and rose up early in the morning, and offered burnt-offerings according to the number of them all: for Job said, It may be that my sons have sinned, and renounced God in their hearts. Thus did Job continually. 6Now it came to pass on the day when the sons of God came to present themselves before Jehovah, that Satan also came among them. 7And Jehovah said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it. 8And Jehovah said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job? for there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and turneth away from evil. 9Then Satan answered Jehovah, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10Hast not thou made a 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. 11But put forth thy hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will renounce thee to thy face. 12And Jehovah said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thy hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of Jehovah."

No matter what, God is in control...

MORE TO COME...

"Glue Traps" - 1-13-2008

After almost a decade of having lye soap from Dollywood hidden away in a box, mice found it when the situation and circumstances were right. We had to try a variety of bait to take care of the mice and, ultimately, we decided to use glue traps. Even in the glue traps, though, we put bait. And as time passed, I began to ponder that bait and view it as a deadly temptaion for the mice. What does the Bible say about temptation?

Matthew 6:13 – lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…

Matthew 26:41 – Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak. (repeated in Mark 14:38)

1 Corinthians 10:13 – There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

The opening of James chapter 1: 2My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. 7For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. 8A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

1 Peter 1: 3Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, 5Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: 9Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

2 Peter 2:9 – The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished…

Revelation 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…(verse 11: 11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.)

We had no real trouble with the glue traps until one day, Francis - when he was a little baby - saw some glue traps under the door, where no one else could see them, and where they were a temptation for no one else…but the timing and the circumstances, and situation proved ripe for disaster, and he reached under the door and grabbed three glue traps with his tiny, baby fingers...

There's a famous story about Jesus and a woman who, like Francis, took the bait of temptation: The Woman Taken in Adultery, John 8: 1Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them. 3And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act. 5Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. 7So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. 9And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

The story of the woman taken in adultery is very similar to the story of another woman who gave in to the bait of temptation – the woman at the well...

John chapter 4: 5Then cometh he to a city of Samaria, which is called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6Now Jacob's well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied with his journey, sat thus on the well: and it was about the sixth hour. 7There cometh a woman of Samaria to draw water: Jesus saith unto her, Give me to drink. 8(For his disciples were gone away unto the city to buy meat.) 9Then saith the woman of Samaria unto him, How is it that thou, being a Jew, askest drink of me, which am a woman of Samaria? for the Jews have no dealings with the Samaritans. 10Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. 11The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? 12Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? 13Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: 14But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. 15The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. 16Jesus saith unto her, Go, call thy husband, and come hither. 17The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: 18For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. 19The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet. 20Our fathers worshipped in this mountain; and ye say, that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship. 21Jesus saith unto her, Woman, believe me, the hour cometh, when ye shall neither in this mountain, nor yet at Jerusalem, worship the Father. 22Ye worship ye know not what: we know what we worship: for salvation is of the Jews. 23But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. 24God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth. 25The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. 26Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he. 27And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? 28The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30Then they went out of the city, and came unto him. 31In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. 32But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of. 33Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? 34Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. 35Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. 36And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. 37And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. 38I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. 39And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. 40So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.

· That poor woman went to draw water during the hottest part of the day…probably to avoid clucking tongues…

· People probably ran her down because of her lifestyle…

· But Jesus didn’t; he didn’t want her living like that, but he didn’t point out all her faults...

There was more to the story about Francis and the mouse traps…

· Baby Francis took the bait…

· Francis could see the allure of the bait when no one else could…

· When Francis took the bait, it impacted us all; we all got dirty from that glue trap…

· We realized he couldn’t resist those traps, so we cleaned him up, and kept our mouths shut.

Sometimes, though, we see people take the bait of temptation – give in to its trap – and then we can’t keep our mouths shut…and no good comes from that…

There's a story about a preacher and a gossip whom he advised once to put a feather on the doorstep of every person spoken ill of, leave it over night, and try to reclaim it the next day. It proved to be impossible - once we take the bait of temptation, we cannot undo the past. All we can do is as Jesus advised, and "Go, and sin no more."

Selected Notes for Epiphany Sunday...

Matthew Chapter 2 details the story of the Wise Men…

1…when (better translated as ‘after’) Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, 2Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in (better translated as ‘from’) the east, and are come to worship him. 7…Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. (He wanted to know when Jesus was born) 10When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. 11And when they were come into the house (not a stable), they saw the young child (not a baby) with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh. (because three gifts were mentioned, it has always been assumed that there were three wise men, but we’re never actually told their number)…13And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. (I can’t help but wonder if they met up with, and followed the wise men) 14When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: 15And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son. (there is irony here, since Egypt was the Land of Persecution for the Israelites during the time of Moses)… 16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. (So Jesus was about 2 years old when he first met the wise men) Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, 18In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not. 19But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, 20Saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life. 21And he arose, and took the young child and his mother, and came into the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee: 23And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He shall be called a Nazarene. (And we can only speculate how much interaction Jesus had with the wise men, and how much of an influence they had on him)…

Wise Men – referenced all throughout the Old Testament, but a reference in Daniel 2:2 best categorizes them - 2So he called in his counselors, advisors, magicians, and wise men…

The Wise Men of the Bible are individuals who possess secret knowledge, or hidden knowledge; they are sometimes called ‘Magi’ because the word ‘Magi’ means ‘hidden, secret knowledge,’ and a ‘Magus’ is someone who possesses hidden or secret knowledge…MAGI is the root word for MAGIC and MAGICIAN…

There is a mysteriousness to the Magi of the Scriptures…they remind me of another mysterious character who makes one appearance in the Old Testament, and vanishes: Melchizedek

Genesis 14:18-20

18…Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Hebrews 7 refers to Melchizedek in some detail…

1…Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all, first being translated “king of righteousness,” and then also king of Salem, meaning “king of peace,” 3 without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, to whom even the patriarch Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils.

According to Wikipedia sources, some believe that the Old Testament prophet Daniel (who was a master of sacred scribes) entrusted a Messianic vision (to be announced in due time by a "star") to a secret sect of the Magi for its eventual fulfillment, per Daniel 4:9, which reads, “ 9 O Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in thee, and no secret troubleth thee, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and the interpretation thereof,” and Daniel 5:11, which reads, “ 11 There is a man in thy kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of thy father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, was found in him; whom the king Nebuchadnezzar thy father, the king, I say, thy father, made master of the magicians, astrologers, Chaldeans, and soothsayers.” – This is entirely speculation, but stems from the understanding that, in the Old Testament, witchcraft of any sort was strictly forbidden, and punishable by death – so why does Daniel sanction and endorse these magicians? They must not have been magicians as we understand them; they must have been wise men, is the argument.

Other historians contend that the Magi were a sect from ancient Persia, who — prior to the conquest of the Medes in 550 BC — were responsible for religious and funerary practices, which might explain the gifts presented to the young Jesus.

Melchior, Balthazar, and Gasper are the three traditional names given to the wise men who visited Jesus…but, again, we don’t really know how many wise men there were…around 1270 a.d., the travelor Marco Polo claimed to have seen their graves in what is today the district of Saveh, near Tehran…he wrote of this:

“In Persia is the city of Saba, from which the Three Magi set out and in this city they are buried, in three very large and beautiful monuments, side by side. And above them there is a square building, beautifully kept. The bodies are still entire, with hair and beard remaining.”

The gifts of the three wise men are prophetic — gold as a symbol of kingship on earth, frankincense (an incense) as a symbol of priestship, and myrrh (an embalming oil) as a symbol of death. Sometimes this is described more generally as gold symbolizing virtue, frankincense symbolizing prayer, and myrrh symbolizing suffering.

What subsequently happened to these gifts is never mentioned in the scripture, but several traditions have developed One story has the gold being stolen by the two thieves who were later crucified alongside Jesus. Another tale has it being entrusted to and then misappropriated by Judas. Another story is that the family quickly pawned or sold them and later used the money to finance their flight to Egypt; it seems probable that it would be the only way to pay for such a voyage.

12-30-2007 - "When God Repents..."

When God Repents…

There are multiple instances in Scripture where we see God actually repenting…changing his mind about what He intended to do…usually because He sees humans repent…

Genesis 6
1And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, 2That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose. 3And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years. 4There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown. 5And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. 6And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. 7And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. 8But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD…

Genesis 8
20And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar. 21And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. 22While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Exodus 4
24And it came to pass by the way in the inn, that the LORD met him, and sought to kill him. 25Then Zipporah took a sharp stone, and cut off the foreskin of her son, and cast it at his feet, and said, Surely a bloody husband art thou to me. 26So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.

(Amplified Bible):

Along the way at a (resting) place, the Lord met Moses and sought to kill him (made him acutely and almost fatally ill). (Now apparently he had failed to circumcise one of his sons, his wife being opposed to it; but seeing his life in such danger) Zipporah took a flint knife and cut off the foreskin of her son and cast it to touch Moses' feet, and said, Surely a husband of blood you are to me! When He let Moses alone (to recover), Zipporah said, A husband of blood are you, because of the circumcision" (Ex. 4:24-26).

Exodus 32
1And when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down out of the mount, the people gathered themselves together unto Aaron, and said unto him, Up, make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him. 2And Aaron said unto them, Break off the golden earrings, which are in the ears of your wives, of your sons, and of your daughters, and bring them unto me. 3And all the people brake off the golden earrings which were in their ears, and brought them unto Aaron. 4And he received them at their hand, and fashioned it with a graving tool, after he had made it a molten calf: and they said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 5And when Aaron saw it, he built an altar before it; and Aaron made proclamation, and said, To morrow is a feast to the LORD. 6And they rose up early on the morrow, and offered burnt offerings, and brought peace offerings; and the people sat down to eat and to drink, and rose up to play. 7And the LORD said unto Moses, Go, get thee down; for thy people, which thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves: 8They have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them: they have made them a molten calf, and have worshipped it, and have sacrificed thereunto, and said, These be thy gods, O Israel, which have brought thee up out of the land of Egypt. 9And the LORD said unto Moses, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiffnecked people: 10Now therefore let me alone, that my wrath may wax hot against them, and that I may consume them: and I will make of thee a great nation. 11And Moses besought the LORD his God, and said, LORD, why doth thy wrath wax hot against thy people, which thou hast brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power, and with a mighty hand? 12Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. 13Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever. 14And the LORD repented of the evil which he thought to do unto his people. 15And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, and the two tables of the testimony were in his hand: the tables were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. 16And the tables were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, graven upon the tables.

1 Samuel 15:35
And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the Lord repented that he had made Saul king over Israel…

2 Kings 20
1In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live. 2Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the LORD, saying, 3I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore. 4And it came to pass, afore Isaiah was gone out into the middle court, that the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 5Turn again, and tell Hezekiah the captain of my people, Thus saith the LORD, the God of David thy father, I have heard thy prayer, I have seen thy tears: behold, I will heal thee: on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the LORD. 6And I will add unto thy days fifteen years; and I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria; and I will defend this city for mine own sake, and for my servant David's sake. 7And Isaiah said, Take a lump of figs. And they took and laid it on the boil, and he recovered.

Some rather big questions remain in the face of these instances where we see God repenting…

Repentance on our end is usually due to a failing on our part; when God repents in Scripture, does this mean that He failed? No – it merely means that He changed His mind about what He intended to do because He saw the individuals His wrath was intended for turn from their wicked ways…

In Ezekiel 33:11 we read, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 we read, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

The New Year is about to begin…for most of us, the New Year is a time when we make resolutions to do better…to repent from bad habits and poor practices of the past…when God repents in Scripture, He is establishing a pattern of behavior He wants us to emulate...

Surely, if our perfect God can change His mind, and can go forth in a different direction than He initially intended – so can we, His people…

We can stop committing the sins that are kinking up our relationship with God; we can kick bad habits that are doing nothing more than killing us; we can do better – with God’s help…He has not placed upon us more temptation than we can handle, for 1 Corinthians 10:13 tells us, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”

Let’s look to 2008 not only a New Year, but as a New Beginning…

Corinthians 5:17 – “…if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”

Revelation 21:5 – “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.”

God can give us a brand new start. Will we let Him?

December 23rd, 2007

On the morning of December the 23rd, our Choir presented an awesome Christmas Cantata to a church filled with close to 140 people; later that evening, both UMYF groups presented "A Charlie Brown Christmas 2007" and, after the play, a special snow-haired visitor stopped by, and we all exchanged presents - it was a wonderful, memorable day...

Notes from Sunday, December 16th, 2007

Jesus told the Disciples to pay special attention to the times in which he might be revealed...note his wording, and how these phrases were later echoed in the same Gospel, either literally, or implicitly...

Mark 13:33-37

33 Take heed, watch and pray: for you do not know what time it is. 34 For the Son of man is like a man going on a journey to a far away place, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. 35 Watch therefore: for you do not know when the master of the house will be returning. It might be in the evening, or at midnight, or when the cock crows, or in the morning: 36 If he returns suddenly, will he find you sleeping? 37 What I say unto each of you individually, I say unto you all, Watch.

Each of these unique turns of phrase re-appeared in the same Gospel, either literally, or contextually, and each time it served to remind us of God's holy, appointed time:

• In the evening… Mark 14:17-18 – the Last Supper: “17 And in the evening he went with the twelve. 18 And they sat, and they ate…” (He warns Peter about denying him, and refers to the cockcrow again…)
• At midnight… Later, in Mark 14, we read of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, saying to the sleeping Apostles, in 14:41, “Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.”
• When the cock crows… Mark 14:66-72 – “66 And as Peter was beneath in the palace, there came one of the maidens of the high priest: 67 And when she saw Peter warming himself, she looked at him, and said, And you also were with Jesus of Nazareth. 68 But he denied this, saying, I do not know, nor understand, what you are saying. And he went out onto the porch; and the cock crew. 69 And the maiden saw him again, and began to say to them that stood by, This is one of them. 70 And he denied it again. And a little while after, they that stood by again said to Peter, Surely you are one of them: for you are a Galilaean, and your speech proves this . 71 But he began to curse, and to swear, saying, “I know not this man of whom you speak!” 72 And the cock crew the second time. And Peter remembered the words that Jesus had said to him, ‘Before the cock crows twice, you shall deny me three times. And when he thought about this, he wept.”
• Or in the morning… Mark 16:2 – ”And very early in the morning the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.”

Humans have always struggled with understanding God's timing, because His ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are not our thoughts. As we make preparation for Christmas this year, may we be reminded that the Advent season is also a period in which we await the Return and Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let us strive to do our best to be ready, so we won't be caught offguard.

Notes for the sermon 'Christmas and the Bible'...

The Birth of Jesus is described in the Gospel of Matthew, with a detailed geneology of his lineage…traces his ancestry all the way back to the House of David…but notes, in verses 18-25:

18Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. 19Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. 20But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. 21And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. 22Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 23Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. 24Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: 25And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.

Matthew Chapter 2 details the story of the Wise Men, who arrived on the scene much later…

Luke chapter 1 discusses the promised coming of Jesus to the Virgin Mary, and the birth of John the Baptist, and his foretold coming as well…

Luke Chapter 2 details the story of the birth of Jesus, the shepherds, the circumcision of Jesus, and his blessing by Simeon and Anna at the Temple when he was a baby…

Some have misinterpretted Jeremiah 10:3-5 as being an anti-Christmas text, but it's actually about idols with a human form, not a Christmas tree when read in its proper context:

3For the customs of the people are vain: for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. 4They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it move not. 5They are upright as the palm tree, but speak not: they must needs be borne, because they cannot go. Be not afraid of them; for they cannot do evil, neither also is it in them to do good.

2 Corinthians 6:16-18 does indeed speak against idolatry, but no one worships a Christmas tree in the same way pagans once worshipped false gods...


16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

When it comes to celebrating Christmas, or any holiday for that matter, the entire chapter of Romans 14 clarifies this matter…however, the book of Esther features texts that parallel the modern Christmas celebration in practice and concept, if not in terms of length:


Esther 9:17-22

17On the thirteenth day of the month Adar; and on the fourteenth day of the same rested they, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 18But the Jews that were at Shushan assembled together on the thirteenth day thereof, and on the fourteenth thereof; and on the fifteenth day of the same they rested, and made it a day of feasting and gladness. 19Therefore the Jews of the villages, that dwelt in the unwalled towns, made the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, and a good day, and of sending portions one to another. 20And Mordecai wrote these things, and sent letters unto all the Jews that were in all the provinces of the king Ahasuerus, both nigh and far, 21To stablish this among them, that they should keep the fourteenth day of the month Adar, and the fifteenth day of the same, yearly, 22As the days wherein the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month which was turned unto them from sorrow to joy, and from mourning into a good day: that they should make them days of feasting and joy, and of sending portions one to another, and gifts to the poor.