Genesis 7-8: Noah's Obedience and Patience

Noah's Obedience and Patience

Please forgive me for missing last week. My schedule had changed drastically and I also had 3 finals to do as well as trying to sleep. I will still be doing this weekly, Lord willing.

As we read through Genesis 7-8, there are points to take and questions to ask. I may not have answers to the questions that I propose, but we should always ask questions about scripture in order to bookmark (in a sense) how we think and answers that we seek to find in their proper context.

One point to take home is from Genesis 7:5, "And Noah did all that the Lord had commanded him." Think about that. When the Lord commanded Noah to do something, he did it. He did not fight God for years and try to figure out why God was wrong, Noah just did it , like Nike. That paid off major dividends for Noah and his family as they were spared during the flood. When you do what God wants you to, He is sparing you from what is inevitable trouble if you do not follow through with what he said.

Also, there is another take home point from Genesis 8. The water was subsiding, but not quickly like a drain in a sink or bathtub. It took over 10 months for Noah to see the tops of mountains. That takes much patience. Now we also see that Noah kept checking for the development of what had happened to see if it was safe to exit the arc. Noah sent a Raven and then a dove to test the earth. When the dove no longer returned, another 50+ days later- Genesis 8:12, Noah knew then it was time to exit the arc. Do you see the obedience and the patience this man had? No wonder God spared him. That was not some guy that just reacted to everything on an emotional whim. He did what God said. Period.

A question I had was regarding the earth. I wondered if the flood covered the literal earth as in our entire planet, or did the flood cover the earth that surrounded Noah. I did not think I would come up with an answer (probably THE answer) so quickly. In Genesis 8:21 it reads "And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done." We know that there are still floods that happen on earth, but there are not major floods that have covered the entire earth/planet. So, we can understand the flood was covering the entire planet and not just a small portion of it.

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Rveelation 13: His Number is 666

His Number is 666

Remember the red dragon that represents Satan from Chapter 12? Well, the dragon has an understudy so to speak. The understudy is to have ten horns, seven heads with physical characteristics like a leopard, lion and bear. This beast will worship the dragon (Revelation 13:1-3). The beast will also have authority for 42 months and will blaspheme (curse) God. 

The second beast will have 2 horns and will speak like the dragon (Satan). It will have the same authority as the first beast and makes others worship the first beast. The "mark of the beast" will be obtained from this beast on the right hand or forehead. The beast's number is 666 (Revelation 13:11-18).

Once again, these are not literal beasts, but representations of evil. The number 666 could represent a false Christ (messiah) and also could represent a good man who turned evil, as it would be mocking Solomon who also made six hundred and sixty-six talents per year.

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3 John 1: Imitating Evil or Good

Imitating Evil or Good

Our choices in life are our choices in life. There are choices we make on a daily basis. We make choices on who to call, who to visit, whether or not to call in sick to work....you get my point. If you are a Christ follower, your choices should be reflective of that spirit of Jesus, the Holy Spirit, leading you to interact with people a certain way. The Spirit leads you to do what is Godly. So when those thoughts come, do you follow what the Spirit say, or do you make your own decision to do something different. In 3 John 1:11, we are instructed to imitate what is good, not what is evil. What is evil is not of God but what will pull you away from God. When you are evil you have not known God. Why would you know God and then continue to do evil? Misstep is one thing...but a consistent practice is another.

 

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2 Peter 2: Rescue the Righteous

Rescue the Righteous

In reading through 2 Peter, verse 9 jumps out at me. It says "the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials." This stems from the understanding in verses 4-8 regarding saving angels, saving Noah before the flood and saving Lot from Sodom and Gomorrah. Knowing that God saved those that were righteous when they were among evil, then we also see that God will save us, if we too are righteous and amongst evil, God will save us. The rest of verses 9-10 tell us "and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority." That means if you are doing wrong and living wrong God will punish you. You cannot escape God even when you use various sins to escape. God knows all and sees all.

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1 Peter 4: Suffer and Glorify

Suffer and Glorify

When someone murders, steals, meddles in others business or generally does evil and gets caught it can be very shameful. No one feels good after getting caught in doing something wrong. They suffer from the shame. But, if someone is to suffer as 1 Peter 4:16 points out for being a Christian, then do not be ashamed. Why would you be ashamed for being a Christian/Christ follower? instead of being ashamed, glorify God's name as the rest of 1 Peter 4:16 says. That is our focus in our life. Yes we slip, stumble and fall, but overall, where are we centered and where and to what are we grounded? Let the Lord be glorified.

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James 4: Draw Near to God

Draw Near to God

No matter how strong of a believer you are, we all need reminders. These reminders come in various ways from different sources and are solidified by other reminders. We are reminded to draw near to God and know that He will draw near to us (James 4:8). We cannot be double minded and me must purify our hearts and minds. We do this by drawing near to God. Also, we need to resist the devil (James 4:7) and not make friends with the world as in James 4:4 (live according to what the world says is okay).

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James 3: Tame the Tongue

Tame the Tongue

James 3:5 compares the tongue to a ship's rudder or the bit places in a horse's mouth. Those items are used to control a ship and a large land animal. Our tongues also guide us and should be used with caution. Verses 7-8 tell us that every beast can be tamed, but no one can tame the tongue. We use our tongue on a contradictory basis to bless God and curse others made in the likeness of God (James 3:9). These things should not happen as they do not exemplify what it is to be a Christ follower. 

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2 Timothy 3: Continue With the Learning

Continue With the Learning

Paul makes a great point in 2 Timothy 3:14. He says to Timothy "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it." In verses 10-13, Paul is commending Timothy for following his example as a mentor and then tells him that Christ followers will be persecuted and that evil people will continue doing what they do being deceived and deceiving others. I think that is (while it is very specific to Timothy) great encouragement to continue in the faith while others will not and try to persuade you not to. I know far too many people who have a problem with me having the faith that I have in an "invisible God." They lack faith and do not understand Jesus's life as I do. But I will continue in my learning of who God is, who Christ is and who I am with the holy spirit.

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1 Timothy 6: Fight the Good Fight

Fight the Good Fight

I know that 1 Timothy 6 is known for its verse on the love of money being the root of all evil. Many think it is money that is evil, but the Word clearly states that it is the love of money that is evil, not the money itself. The Word also clearly states to Timothy (from Paul in verses 11-12) to "pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness." Doing this shows our love for God. We can learn from Paul's letter to Timothy to stay strong in the faith and not fall for worldliness. 
 

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2 Thessalonians 2: The Man of Lawlessness

The Man of Lawlessness

While it is very tempting to use some of these verses to apply to some people who currently walk the earth and may be horrible representations of their country or of people, this section (verses 1-12) applies to the revealing of the antichrist. That is not a title to just throw around to people because you don't like what they stand for. It is deeper than that. You would need to read through Revelations to understand the coming if the antichrist and the destruction that will follow. One may say, "why does the antichrist have to come?" Well in verses 11-12 we read "Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false, in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." In other words, God allows for this to happen to really show the difference between believers in the almighty God and the faith of others that they have in false teachers and false prophets. Either get right....or get left.

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Colossians 3: Put On the New Self

Put On the New Self

When you are done doing one thing and do another it takes a changing of the mind to begin the changing of an action. The more you focus on changing your mind and actions, then the heart can be changed as well as you grow into loving what it is you do and why you do what you do. This is our walk with Christ. We leave humanly and divinely divisive things like sexual immorality, impurity, evil passions, evil desire, coveting. We put away all anger, wrath, malice, slander, partiality and obscene talk from our mouths. We do not lie to one another because that is the old self. We have to put on the new self of what is holy and beloved, compassionate, kind, humble, meek, and patient. We bear with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, we forgive each other as the Lord has forgiven us (Colossians 3:5-17). In the old self we did things wrong and did not see their impact. In the new self, we seek to be right with God for His purposes. 
 

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Ephesians 6: What is the Real Battle?

What is the Real Battle?


In Ephesians 6:12, Paul points out that we are not just battling flesh and blood. When it comes to self control, that isn't about just making better decisions. When it comes to dissension in the church, that is not just about "I have to be nicer because God wants me to be." Paul says that there is battle, spiritually, cosmically, against the authorities over present darkness. Paul says that there are "spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places." That means we are not just trying to be better people, but we are battling Satan. We are battling the one who bring evil into the church and creates problems. Paul then tells us to "armor up" by putting on the full armor of God. When we have this, it is no longer me vs Satan, but is me in God and God in me vs. Satan. There is a big difference between going to war and going to war with the proper equipment. Paul knew that too.
 

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Friday Foucs #26

What is Love?

This may be a topic I have done before, but you know what, it's important. So let's go over this...again.

We have heard this section of verses on love at wedding and I'm sure we have heard it in church when pastors discuss relationships be they friendship, dating or marriage. But when it comes to love, so often we think of the feeling of it. It is that flutter in your heart when you see them. It is that bond you feel when you talk to them and are around them. Sadly, love can come with conditions. "I love you as long as you do 'x' for me and make me feel like 'y.'" People love as long as they are treated a certain way. I'm here to tell you, if your love has an ending condition, that isn't love my friend.  So, what is love?

Paul writes to the Corinthian Christians on what love is. You can apply this to Valentine's Day or just relationships. But you can also see this from God's perspective. God wants us to be loving. This section of text was in relation to spiritual gifts that without love are just loud clanging symbols. So, no matter what you do with your life, if you do not understand or reject God's love for you (us) and Christ's sacrifice then how will you know that love is patient, kind, is not envious nor boastful nor arrogant (1 Corinthians 13:4)? God is patient with us in our sins and is kind in bestowing talents to us to honor Him. We should not be envious of one another nor should we boast. When you envy another you forget what God gave you. And when you boast, you overwrite what God has done for someone else like your boasting and arrogance says you are superior.

Love is not rude. Love does not insist upon its own way. Love is not irritable or resentful (1 Corinthians 13:5). How many times are you rude to others or insist upon your own way? That is not being loving in those moments. Love does not allow for irritability or resentment. Being irritable is like being agitated with a little extra on it. We have seen resentment before. That feeling you have when someone does or says something hurtful and you hang on to that every time you see or think of them. It's like bitterness. Love does not give birth to these things.

Love does not rejoice in wrong doing but rejoices with the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6). The wrong doing is not done in love. If you do wrong that cannot be done in love. Rejoicing in the truth is a way to show love as well. God is truth. God's word is truth. We rejoice in Him and His word. That is love.

Lastly, we must know that love bears, believes, hopes and endures all things (1 Corinthians 13:7-8). This does not mean that we believe everything we ever hear from anyone or any random source. We are believing in the best of others. We are being optimists. Love hopes for the best and endures the trying times of life. Love keeps you going even when that friend, significant other or person has done you wrong. Love keeps pushing through and does not allow for that person to become an enemy. Love has no end date. 

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Romans 12: Be a Living Sacrifice & Marks of a True Christian

Be a Living Sacrifice & Marks of a True Christian

There is so much in this chapter that we can pull out and apply to our lives in order to serve the Lord and serve others. Romans 12:1-2 tells us to be living sacrifices for God by being holy and acceptable. That is how we can worship God by not conforming the world's ways and doing what they think is okay, but by doing what is pleasing to God. We need to be transformed by renewing our mind. Then we can test that and see what the will of God is and what is perfect to Him. 

Romans 12:3-8 reminds us that we are not think more highly of ourselves than we ought to. We are to have sober judgement (not drunk with misconceptions or misunderstandings). We need to see ourselves as who we really are and that will keep us from being prideful or boastful in our work for the Lord. Even our being saved is a gift from God so there is no sense in being prideful in that. And we must understand that we are all (those who submit to Christ) in the body of Christ (the Christ follower community/the church) and we all have different roles and need to respect the roles others have. 

Romans 12:9-13 tells us to hate evil and love genuinely (don't fake your love for God or others). There is a focus on true humility when we are to out do one another in showing honor and contribute to the needs of the saints. We are to rejoice in our hope and be patient and prayerful in our tribulation (trials/problems/situations). 

The final section of the chapter tells us, in Romans 12:14-21, that we are to bless those who persecute us. We are to show empathy by weeping with those who weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. we need to live in harmony with others and not seek revenge on people. We have to remember that God will have his vengenace to those who do us wrong. We are to take care of our enemies because all that we do is to be done in love for God and for his creations. 

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Acts 19: Paul's Healings and Exorcising Without Jesus

Paul's Healings and Exorcising Without Jesus

We have seen Paul uncover idols and heal people in the name of the Lord. We have seen him drive home the point of faith in Christ over Mosiac Law in terms of salvation. But in this chapter we see the Holy Spirit so infused in Paul that even Paul touching items of cloth allowed for him to have healing powers. People were being healed of sicknesses and evil spirits came out of people (Acts 19:11-12).

When seven traveling Jewish men sought to exorcise a man who had been overcome by evil spirits, they referred to the Jesus that Paul spoke of. That was their mistake, it was not the Jesus that they knew, but someone else's relationship with Jesus. The evil spirit did not know who they were but it knew Paul and Jesus. The evil spirit made the man attack the seven men and left them fleeing, naked and wounded. Many people found out about this and around the same time those who had become believers came forward to admit doing magic arts. In an attempt to rid themselves of those ways they burned their books that were altogether worth 50 thousand pieces of silver (Acts 19:13-20).

Without the Holy Spirit what can you do? You can do things on your own power. There are people who are very successful in life and do not have the Holy Spirit. They do not know Jesus. Do you see how Paul's faith in the Holy Spirit and God using him allowed for pieces of clothing and cloths to be used as healing agents as long as Paul touched them? Yet, with the 7 men that tried to exorcise an evil spirit without them having Jesus as their personal Lord became useless. See the difference? With Jesus/God/the Holy Spirit you can work wonders. Without either of them it is a wonder anything would ever work.

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Friday Focus #8

Why Are We Arguing? 

Have you ever been in an argument? Do you get into arguments on a regular basis? Why even argue? Is it necessary? There is a point when a conversation turns from talking to arguing.

There is a lot of pride that goes into arguments. People want to be heard and understood on one hand and on the other hand, they want you to agree with them. If you don't agree with them then they disrespect your opinion and position even if it is only an opinion. In Proverbs 15:28 we read that the righteous ponder on how to answer questions while the wicked person's mouth just lets things pour out.

Jesus says in Matthew 15:19 that out of the heart comes evil thoughts and slander. There should be a heart check if we are in an argument? Why do you need someone to agree with you so much? Why does it matter what they think or what their view is? It is okay to disagree. Isn't it.

We have to turn away arguments with soft answers and that do not stir up more angry responses. Proverbs 15:1 gives us that insight. Who wants to argue with someone who doesn't want to argue? It is not an argument if the other person is not arguing.

And lastly, in James 1:19, we are taught to be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to become angry. If we really take time to listen and even inquire for more information and clarification we might become less angry because we have gotten then answer we needed to understand the other person. When we are slow to speak that means we are still listening and not interrupting someone. And when we are not angry we are less subjected to not being Christ-like in these situations. Being Christ-like is our goal.

source utilized: Bibleinfo.com

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Mark 7:21-23- From Within

The old way of thinking was that if a person did not wash their hands before eating, then what ever they touched and then ate would defile their soul. Jesus said that this is not true. It was not about how you washed your hand or what you ate that would defile you, it was about what was in your heart, mind and soul and what came out of your mouth.

Your soul cannot be ruined by the food you eat. That belief was not from God, that belief came from man (see Mark 7:2-5). Jesus pointed out that the Pharisees were holding on man's laws more than God's. We do need to obey laws that are on earth, but ultimately God's law is more important. God's law gets overtaken for the beliefs that elders put in place.

Jesus made it very clear that the evil thoughts we have come from within. The sexual immorality we have comes from within. The theft, murder and adultery we commit comes from within. All things wicked that man expresses outwardly, starts inwardly. Remember that God's will and ways are far more important than man's.

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Matthew 13:49-50

Matthew 13:49-50 "So it will be at the end of age. The angels will come out & separate the evil from the righteous & throw them into the fiery furnace."  commentary- When Jesus explains the parables of the sowers, treasure, pearl of  great value, he is saying that those who will enter heaven are those who followed him & obeyed God's will. "The fiery furnace" which we understand is hell is where the evil/disobedient will go at the end of age. Jesus's words were not & are not to be taken lightly. You will see through much of scripture a common theme is "do God's will." Got it?