Acts 3:12-19
12 When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, "You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk? 13 The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him. 14 But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses. 16 And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you. 17 "And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. 18 In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. 19 Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out.
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Meditation
In the book of Acts we find that the early church was able to support their witness of Jesus being the Messiah in four ways.
Apologetics – There was good reason to believe the gospel. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead was proof that he was the Messiah of Israel and chosen by God to be the Lord and Savior.
A dynamic community of love – The early church began caring for the poor like no other community before them. They began breaking down the barriers of human society. Eventually Jews of all different stripes, Samaritans, Gentiles, rich, poor, weak, powerful, young, old, men, and women would be in a loving community and worshiping together in a way that the world had never seen. The unity and love of the church was evidence that Jesus was alive and His life was manifested in this new community of love.
Miracles – As we see in this text here God allowed the Apostles and others to do miracles done in the name and authority of Jesus the Messiah to demonstrate that the powers of the age to come were now appearing in this age. In the age to come the sick will be healed and now in Jesus the Messiah the powers of the coming age are being released into the current age. The miracles were not just acts of power they were confirmation that Jesus the Messiah had in some way restored the Kingdom of God that the first Adam had lost.
Martyrdom – The witnesses to the resurrection were willing to die to demonstrate the amount of conviction they have that Jesus was the Messiah and had been raised from the dead. This willingness to die over the truthfulness of their testimony and the change of life they experienced after the resurrection still remain witnesses of the reality of the resurrected Jesus the Messiah even to this day.
The crippled man who begged had been healed by Peter focusing on him. Now the crowd is focused on Peter and John. They are not even focused on the healed man. Instead they are looking with awe and wonder at the apostles. The Greek word for this staring is atenizō, (3:12, 3:4). The term is commonly used in Acts for an almost trance-like encounter with transcendent glory (see 1:10; 3:4, 12; 6:15; 7:55).
Peter wants them to turn this worshipful gaze from them to Jesus the Son/servant, the holy one, the righteous one, and the author of life. This man was healed not because of the power or piety of Peter and John but because of the power and piety of Jesus the Messiah who they had crucified and declared a blasphemer. They must repent of this lie and turn to now surrender to Jesus as the true Messiah of Israel and the God given Savior to bring to them the forgiveness of their sins. They can have all of their failure to love God and others as they should wiped clean, even their rejection of the author of life, the Messiah Jesus.
Christological - This particular miracle was very much in line with the promises of Messiah coming and bringing in the Kingdom of glory to earth. The prophet had predicted
Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.
Say to those who are of a fearful heart, 'Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God. ...He will come and save you.'
Then the lame shall leap like deer...
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert" (Isaiah 35:3-6).
The lame were now leaping. The Kingdom of God had been restored in Jesus the resurrected Messiah. Now it was time to believe and repent that our sins might be wiped out.
Moral – Don’t worship the messenger, worship God.
Eternal – When we see our Lord Jesus the Messiah in heaven we will be focused (atenizō) on him forever. We will be in an encounter with Him in His transcendent glory and filled with joy and peace
Prayer – Lord, support the witness of your church today with your power that we might see people believe and repent. Give me boldness to witness! Amen
Contemplation – The Kingdom of God is at hand!
Action - Who do I know that has not yet believed and repented? How could I be the body of Christ to them today? Could I pray for them today? Could I say a word, do a deed, or express an attitude that would give witness of Jesus being the Messiah to them today? How could I bear witness that Jesus is the resurrected Messiah today? Could I make real the love of Christ today to some one in a real and deliberate manner?
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
SPRING FLING - APRIL 26TH - NOON TO 2
SUNDAY APRIL 26TH - SPRING FLING!
AT FIRST CHURCH WEST
12700 WEST BROWARD BLVD
PLANTATION, FLORIDA 33325
STARTING AT NOON
GET A FREE CAR WASH
FREE HOT DOG WITH CHIPS
GIVE BLOOD TO SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY
A FREE BOUNCE HOUSE FOR THE KIDS
START THE SPRING WITH A CLEAN CAR
NO DONATIONS ACCEPTED!
WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Psalm 30 - God saves a proud man
The Reading
NLT Psalm 30:1 A psalm of David, sung at the dedication of the Temple. I will praise you, LORD, for you have rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me. 2 O LORD my God, I cried out to you for help, and you restored my health. 3 You brought me up from the grave, O LORD. You kept me from falling into the pit of death. 4 Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. 5 His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning. 6 When I was prosperous I said, "Nothing can stop me now!" 7 Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered. 8 I cried out to you, O LORD. I begged the Lord for mercy, saying, 9 "What will you gain if I die, if I sink down into the grave? Can my dust praise you from the grave? Can it tell the world of your faithfulness? 10 Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me. Help me, O LORD." 11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, 12 that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!
In this psalm we find a simple pattern. The psalmist is in trouble, he prayed about it, and got a dramatic answer from God that saved him from his trouble, and now he is dedicated to praise and worship of God. This type of psalm can be found in several psalms such as 18, 34,,40,50,66,116, and 130. This psalm is very personal. It apparently is a psalm of David that was sung after his death at the dedication of the Temple under Solomon.
We find here a parallel structure that is the characteristic of Hebrew poetry. This type of poetic structure is called chiasm. Chiasm is a literary structure used in the Torah, the Bible, as well as in other works. Concepts or ideas are placed in a special symmetric order or pattern to emphasize them.
Vs. 1. I will praise you, LORD, for you have rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me
Vs. 11 & 12 11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, 12 that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!
This psalm is one of thanksgiving and praise. The reason for that there was a time of loss and mourning only which God amazingly turned into a time of blessing and joy. It would be what we would feel if suddenly we found the stock market at 40,000 and our income doubled. It would be as if the war in Iraq was over and all terrorists had laid down their weapons. Or perhaps if every person in our family that was sick was suddenly made physically whole and also all our lost relatives trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We would have reason to be thankful. We all have enemies. Either people or events can be opposed to our plans, hopes, and dreams. Imagine how you would feel if all your “enemies” were defeated and you had total victory over everything that was not as you desired in your life. Would that give you joy?
We see the parallel structure also work out as we compare vs. 2 with vs. 10.
. 2 O LORD my God, I cried out to you for help, and you restored my health.
10 Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me. Help me, O LORD."
Here we find the simple, direct, and passionate prayer that brought about this great deliverance. It was a “cry for help”. The Hebrew suggests it was loud “shout” to the heavens for help. There was no incantation or magic here. This prayer was simply a desperate man of faith in desperate need.
The comparison of thought continues in verses 3 &9
. 3 You brought me up from the grave, O LORD. You kept me from falling into the pit of death8 4 Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name.
8 I cried out to you, O LORD. I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,, 9 "What will you gain if I die, if I sink down into the grave? Can my dust praise you from the grave? Can it tell the world of your faithfulness?
The Old Testament people of God had less revelation about the after life than we have in the New Testament. The term “grave” here is SHEOL in which it appears that the person who died was in a shadowy existence in the inner parts of the earth. It appears the psalmist may have feared that he was lost and would be cut of from God forever. In SHEOL the psalmist would be cut off from God and unable to praise God for his faithfulness. What profit did God gain from having the psalmist die in sin and defeat? Compare this with Psalm 23 in which an afterlife of great joy is envisioned.
Here the psalmist is recalling his prayer for deliverance and how it came about. It reflects the fear of being lost and the joy of being saved.
The structured comparison of thought continues in verses 5 and 7.
5 His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning
7 Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered
These verses point out how fragile we are. Today we have the favor of God in what we do. We become proud and look at our success as coming from our own hands. God who gave us success can remove it in a moment. Our lives can be shattered because we stand by grace alone. Yet, when we humble ourselves in prayer the LORD is able to bring back our joy as quickly as it was taken away.
In the movie “God of War” which portrays the beginning of the civil war they have Stone Wall Jackson who had been victorious and unstoppable be humbled at the death of a little girl with whom he had made friends. Despite the best efforts of his personal surgeons the young girl died. As he reflects on her death he says “Everything is so fragile”. This is the insight that the psalmist is sharing as well.
The focal point and center of this psalm is verse 6.
6. When I was prosperous I said, "Nothing can stop me now!"
Here was the fault of the psalmist. The LORD’s favor had made him wildly successful. He seemed to be an unstoppable force. In the midst of his success he lost his daily humble dependence on the LORD and felt that he had things under control. The LORD resists the proud and helps the humble. We are all fragile, only dust, and need the breathe of God upon us to give us life and fruitfulness. Without the LORD we can do nothing.
What do we do when we cry out to the LORD in our defeat and desperation and the LORD does not deliver us or our loved ones from destruction and defeat? Can we trust the LORD in the dark of defeat, disease, and death? Can we wait for the victory of eternity to give us joy? This is yet another dimension of faith that has to be faced.
Christological - NLT Romans 5:6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.
Moral - Never take success as something you are “due” or have “earned” it is by grace alone. It was given by grace and will only be maintained by grace. Run from pride and turn to the LORD in humble and needy faith.
Eternal - The promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ has allowed us who believe to never have to fear being cut off from God in SHEOL. Praise be the LORD.
Prayer - LORD HELP!
Contemplation - I resist the proud; but give grace to the humble.
Action: Pray for help and pray to be humble. Look inward to see if you have pride.
NLT Psalm 30:1 A psalm of David, sung at the dedication of the Temple. I will praise you, LORD, for you have rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me. 2 O LORD my God, I cried out to you for help, and you restored my health. 3 You brought me up from the grave, O LORD. You kept me from falling into the pit of death. 4 Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name. 5 His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning. 6 When I was prosperous I said, "Nothing can stop me now!" 7 Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered. 8 I cried out to you, O LORD. I begged the Lord for mercy, saying, 9 "What will you gain if I die, if I sink down into the grave? Can my dust praise you from the grave? Can it tell the world of your faithfulness? 10 Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me. Help me, O LORD." 11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, 12 that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!
In this psalm we find a simple pattern. The psalmist is in trouble, he prayed about it, and got a dramatic answer from God that saved him from his trouble, and now he is dedicated to praise and worship of God. This type of psalm can be found in several psalms such as 18, 34,,40,50,66,116, and 130. This psalm is very personal. It apparently is a psalm of David that was sung after his death at the dedication of the Temple under Solomon.
We find here a parallel structure that is the characteristic of Hebrew poetry. This type of poetic structure is called chiasm. Chiasm is a literary structure used in the Torah, the Bible, as well as in other works. Concepts or ideas are placed in a special symmetric order or pattern to emphasize them.
Vs. 1. I will praise you, LORD, for you have rescued me. You refused to let my enemies triumph over me
Vs. 11 & 12 11 You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy, 12 that I might sing praises to you and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give you thanks forever!
This psalm is one of thanksgiving and praise. The reason for that there was a time of loss and mourning only which God amazingly turned into a time of blessing and joy. It would be what we would feel if suddenly we found the stock market at 40,000 and our income doubled. It would be as if the war in Iraq was over and all terrorists had laid down their weapons. Or perhaps if every person in our family that was sick was suddenly made physically whole and also all our lost relatives trusted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. We would have reason to be thankful. We all have enemies. Either people or events can be opposed to our plans, hopes, and dreams. Imagine how you would feel if all your “enemies” were defeated and you had total victory over everything that was not as you desired in your life. Would that give you joy?
We see the parallel structure also work out as we compare vs. 2 with vs. 10.
. 2 O LORD my God, I cried out to you for help, and you restored my health.
10 Hear me, LORD, and have mercy on me. Help me, O LORD."
Here we find the simple, direct, and passionate prayer that brought about this great deliverance. It was a “cry for help”. The Hebrew suggests it was loud “shout” to the heavens for help. There was no incantation or magic here. This prayer was simply a desperate man of faith in desperate need.
The comparison of thought continues in verses 3 &9
. 3 You brought me up from the grave, O LORD. You kept me from falling into the pit of death8 4 Sing to the LORD, all you godly ones! Praise his holy name.
8 I cried out to you, O LORD. I begged the Lord for mercy, saying,, 9 "What will you gain if I die, if I sink down into the grave? Can my dust praise you from the grave? Can it tell the world of your faithfulness?
The Old Testament people of God had less revelation about the after life than we have in the New Testament. The term “grave” here is SHEOL in which it appears that the person who died was in a shadowy existence in the inner parts of the earth. It appears the psalmist may have feared that he was lost and would be cut of from God forever. In SHEOL the psalmist would be cut off from God and unable to praise God for his faithfulness. What profit did God gain from having the psalmist die in sin and defeat? Compare this with Psalm 23 in which an afterlife of great joy is envisioned.
Here the psalmist is recalling his prayer for deliverance and how it came about. It reflects the fear of being lost and the joy of being saved.
The structured comparison of thought continues in verses 5 and 7.
5 His anger lasts for a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime! Weeping may go on all night, but joy comes with the morning
7 Your favor, O LORD, made me as secure as a mountain. Then you turned away from me, and I was shattered
These verses point out how fragile we are. Today we have the favor of God in what we do. We become proud and look at our success as coming from our own hands. God who gave us success can remove it in a moment. Our lives can be shattered because we stand by grace alone. Yet, when we humble ourselves in prayer the LORD is able to bring back our joy as quickly as it was taken away.
In the movie “God of War” which portrays the beginning of the civil war they have Stone Wall Jackson who had been victorious and unstoppable be humbled at the death of a little girl with whom he had made friends. Despite the best efforts of his personal surgeons the young girl died. As he reflects on her death he says “Everything is so fragile”. This is the insight that the psalmist is sharing as well.
The focal point and center of this psalm is verse 6.
6. When I was prosperous I said, "Nothing can stop me now!"
Here was the fault of the psalmist. The LORD’s favor had made him wildly successful. He seemed to be an unstoppable force. In the midst of his success he lost his daily humble dependence on the LORD and felt that he had things under control. The LORD resists the proud and helps the humble. We are all fragile, only dust, and need the breathe of God upon us to give us life and fruitfulness. Without the LORD we can do nothing.
What do we do when we cry out to the LORD in our defeat and desperation and the LORD does not deliver us or our loved ones from destruction and defeat? Can we trust the LORD in the dark of defeat, disease, and death? Can we wait for the victory of eternity to give us joy? This is yet another dimension of faith that has to be faced.
Christological - NLT Romans 5:6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.
Moral - Never take success as something you are “due” or have “earned” it is by grace alone. It was given by grace and will only be maintained by grace. Run from pride and turn to the LORD in humble and needy faith.
Eternal - The promise of eternal life in Jesus Christ has allowed us who believe to never have to fear being cut off from God in SHEOL. Praise be the LORD.
Prayer - LORD HELP!
Contemplation - I resist the proud; but give grace to the humble.
Action: Pray for help and pray to be humble. Look inward to see if you have pride.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Silent Before God
Psalm 62:5-12
5 For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 7 On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. (Selah)
9 Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. 10 Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them. 11 Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, 12 and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work
We live in a noisy age. We have T.V. radio, ipods, and mobile phone. Rarely do we stop hearing or talking. We most likely have more noise in our lives than any other generation or culture before us.
There comes a time to tell our soul to be quiet. One of the spiritual disciplines or exercises that have been traditionally practiced is that of silence. This is a time in which we do not speak in an effort to get our soul to “wait in silence” before the LORD. To learn to be silent is part of our spirituality.
Habakkuk: the earth should be silent in the presence of God in the temple (Habakkuk 2:20)
Job reduced to silence at the end, aware of his foolishness in the sight of God (Job 40:1-3)
Revelation 8:1: silence in heaven from human awe in the presence of God
Arthur Michael Ramsey (1904-88), Archbishop of Canterbury said about silence:
“Silence enable us to be aware of God, to let mind and imagination dwell upon his truth, to let prayer to be listening before it is talking, and to discover our own selves in a way that is not always possible when we are making or listening to noise. There comes sometimes an inner silence in which the soul discovers itself in a new dimension of energy and peace, a dimension which the restless life can miss. . . Into the Christian’s use of silence there may flow the wonder of God the creator, the recollection of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus, the recalling of scenes in his life, often a passage of the Bible, the glories of nature in which the finger of God is present, gratitude for personal blessings or the words of poets who tell of wonder and beauty”
In his silence the psalmist here comes to trust God as his one true hope, his rock, his salvation, his fortress, his firm foundation, his deliverer, the protector of his honor, his mighty rock, his refuge, the source of all power, the one who always loves him, and the judge of all human beings. This vision of God causes the Psalmist to want to proclaim to all humanity that they should trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as well. The LORD is trustworthy, caring, secure, and unchanging.
The other reality that comes to him in his silence is; do not put any ultimate trust in human beings. We are frail, broken, and inconsistent. Both rich and poor can be deceitful. Therefore, be on guard towards other human beings but fully release yourself into the loving care of God alone.
What if you fasted from noise for a day? No electronic noise. No unnecessary talking. What if you were totally in silence for one full hour and simply sat before God and your own soul? What might you see and know in that silence? This psalmist gained a lot from being silent before God.
Christological :NAU Matthew 14:13 Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; ….
ESV Mark 1:35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
ESV Mark 6:31 And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
ESV Luke 4:42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place…
Moral: NAU Psalm 56:11 In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?
NLT Psalm 146:3 Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.
Eternal: ESV Ezekiel 44:4 Then he brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple, and I looked, and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple of the LORD. And I fell on my face.
NLT Isaiah 41:1 "Listen in silence before me, you lands beyond the sea…..
Prayer: Help me to quiet my soul like a baby is made quiet by drinking from the breast of its mother. But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me. Allow me to know that quiet of being with you in love.
Contemplation: Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God”
Action: Plan one hour of total silence before God. Put it in your calendar. Go to a lonely place. This could be an empty church. It could be an empty beach. For an hour just “be” before God. Center yourself in his love, promises, and commitment to you in Jesus Christ. Gently turn from any “inner noise” and come back to seeing yourself simply before God as a little child. After this then write down what came to you during this time.
5 For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him. 6 He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. 7 On God rests my deliverance and my honor; my mighty rock, my refuge is in God. 8 Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. (Selah)
9 Those of low estate are but a breath, those of high estate are a delusion; in the balances they go up; they are together lighter than a breath. 10 Put no confidence in extortion, and set no vain hopes on robbery; if riches increase, do not set your heart on them. 11 Once God has spoken; twice have I heard this: that power belongs to God, 12 and steadfast love belongs to you, O Lord. For you repay to all according to their work
We live in a noisy age. We have T.V. radio, ipods, and mobile phone. Rarely do we stop hearing or talking. We most likely have more noise in our lives than any other generation or culture before us.
There comes a time to tell our soul to be quiet. One of the spiritual disciplines or exercises that have been traditionally practiced is that of silence. This is a time in which we do not speak in an effort to get our soul to “wait in silence” before the LORD. To learn to be silent is part of our spirituality.
Habakkuk: the earth should be silent in the presence of God in the temple (Habakkuk 2:20)
Job reduced to silence at the end, aware of his foolishness in the sight of God (Job 40:1-3)
Revelation 8:1: silence in heaven from human awe in the presence of God
Arthur Michael Ramsey (1904-88), Archbishop of Canterbury said about silence:
“Silence enable us to be aware of God, to let mind and imagination dwell upon his truth, to let prayer to be listening before it is talking, and to discover our own selves in a way that is not always possible when we are making or listening to noise. There comes sometimes an inner silence in which the soul discovers itself in a new dimension of energy and peace, a dimension which the restless life can miss. . . Into the Christian’s use of silence there may flow the wonder of God the creator, the recollection of the life and death and resurrection of Jesus, the recalling of scenes in his life, often a passage of the Bible, the glories of nature in which the finger of God is present, gratitude for personal blessings or the words of poets who tell of wonder and beauty”
In his silence the psalmist here comes to trust God as his one true hope, his rock, his salvation, his fortress, his firm foundation, his deliverer, the protector of his honor, his mighty rock, his refuge, the source of all power, the one who always loves him, and the judge of all human beings. This vision of God causes the Psalmist to want to proclaim to all humanity that they should trust in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as well. The LORD is trustworthy, caring, secure, and unchanging.
The other reality that comes to him in his silence is; do not put any ultimate trust in human beings. We are frail, broken, and inconsistent. Both rich and poor can be deceitful. Therefore, be on guard towards other human beings but fully release yourself into the loving care of God alone.
What if you fasted from noise for a day? No electronic noise. No unnecessary talking. What if you were totally in silence for one full hour and simply sat before God and your own soul? What might you see and know in that silence? This psalmist gained a lot from being silent before God.
Christological :NAU Matthew 14:13 Now when Jesus heard about John, He withdrew from there in a boat to a secluded place by Himself; ….
ESV Mark 1:35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
ESV Mark 6:31 And he said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while." For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.
ESV Luke 4:42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place…
Moral: NAU Psalm 56:11 In God I have put my trust, I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?
NLT Psalm 146:3 Don't put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there.
Eternal: ESV Ezekiel 44:4 Then he brought me by way of the north gate to the front of the temple, and I looked, and behold, the glory of the LORD filled the temple of the LORD. And I fell on my face.
NLT Isaiah 41:1 "Listen in silence before me, you lands beyond the sea…..
Prayer: Help me to quiet my soul like a baby is made quiet by drinking from the breast of its mother. But I have stilled and quieted myself, just as a small child is quiet with its mother. Yes, like a small child is my soul within me. Allow me to know that quiet of being with you in love.
Contemplation: Psalm 46:10: “Be still and know that I am God”
Action: Plan one hour of total silence before God. Put it in your calendar. Go to a lonely place. This could be an empty church. It could be an empty beach. For an hour just “be” before God. Center yourself in his love, promises, and commitment to you in Jesus Christ. Gently turn from any “inner noise” and come back to seeing yourself simply before God as a little child. After this then write down what came to you during this time.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
How A Skeptic Became A Believer
John 1:43-51
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." 49 Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." 51 And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
Meditation
1/16/2009
Literal - Jesus made a decision to go to Galilee. There he looked for and found Philip. He then told him to come and “follow me”.
Who is Philip? Philip’s name means lover of horses and some believe that the name means “war like” because of the uses of horses in battle. In this encounter with Jesus; Philip becomes an “apostle”, one chosen to be sent on a mission. The apostle Philip, was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter, (John 1:44) and apparently was among the Galilean peasants of that district who flocked to hear the preaching of John the Baptist.
The manner in which the Apostle John speaks of him indicates a previous friendship with the sons of Jona and Zebedee, and a consequent participation in their messianic hopes. The close union of the two in John 6 and 12 suggests that he may have owed to Andrew his first knowledge that the hope of Messiah coming had been fulfilled. Since in this encounter with Jesus it seems Philip is already convinced that Jesus is the Messiah. The statement that Jesus found him (John 1:43) perhaps implies a previous seeking or at the very least a very intentional effort on Jesus’ part to find him.
In the lists of the twelve apostles, in the Synoptic Gospel, his name is as uniformly at the head of the second group of four as the name of Peter is at that of the first, (Matthew 10:3; Mark 5:18; Luke 6:14). This indicates that Phillip provided a degree of group leadership among the Apostles. The facts recorded by St. John give the reason of this priority and position of leadership.
Philip apparently was among the first company of disciples who were with the Lord at the commencement of his ministry at the marriage at Cana, on his first appearance as a prophet in Jerusalem, John 2. The first three Gospels tell us nothing more of him individually. The Apostle John, with his characteristic fullness of personal reminiscences, records a few significant utterances. (John 6:5-9; 12:20-22; 14:8) No other fact connected with the name of Philip is recorded in the Gospels. He is among the company of disciples at Jerusalem after the ascension (Acts 1:13) and on the day of Pentecost. According to tradition Philip was sent with his sister Mariamme and Bartolomew to preach in Greece, Phrygia, and Syria and died at Hierapolis as a martyr being crucified upside down.
Now Philip comes to share his conviction that Jesus is the Messiah with Nathanael. Nathanael name means “a gift of God. Due to Philip’s witness, Nathanael meets Jesus and becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ.
What else do we know about Nathanael? Under that name at least, we learn from Scripture little more than his birthplace, Cana of Galilee, (John 21:2) and his simple, truthful character. (John 1:47) The name does not occur in the first three Gospels; but it is commonly believed that Nathanael and Bartholomew are the same person. The evidence for that belief is as follows: St, John who twice mentions Nathanael, never introduces the name of Bartholomew at all. St. Matthew, (Matthew 10:3) St. Mark, (Mark 3:18) and St. Luke, (Luke 8:14) all speak of Bartholomew but never of Nathanael. If this is correct then he was on of the twelve apostles and according to tradition preached in India.
Here we have the encounter of Jesus with a skeptic. His doubt is due to prejudice about any good thing coming from Nazareth. Nazareth in Christ's time was a city of 15,000 to 20,000 inhabitants, of some importance. The reason for Nathanael’s poor view of Nazareth, (John 1:47) is not known. All the inhabitants of Galilee were looked upon with contempt by the people of Judea because they spoke a ruder dialect, were less cultivated and were more exposed by their position to contact with the heathen. But it is clear here that Nathanael holds Nazareth in special contempt for some reason. Perhaps this is related to the Messiah coming from Bethlehem and not Nazareth and indicates a theological objection and not pure prejudice against the city (John 7:42).
The idea that Nathanael’s objection was theological seems more in line with Jesus’ evaluation that he is an honest man. Prejudice and honesty rarely are in the same person. When Jesus demonstrates knowledge of Nathanael and relates his honesty to some event under a fig tree that only Nathanael knew about, this demonstration of prophetic knowledge and insight provided for Nathanael a reason to believe. He seems in fact to go from doubt to firm faith very quickly proclaiming Jesus both Son of God (Psalm 2) and Messianic King.
Jesus seems almost amused at how little it took for Nathanael to move from skeptic to believer. He assures him that he will see far greater things. For after the resurrection he will see Jesus ascending with angels surrounding Him as He goes to sit at God’s right hand (Gen 28:12). Here is an example of one man’s doubts being overcome with an encounter with Jesus.
Many doubters today need an encounter with Jesus. Here we do not see all the intellectual and theological questions answered. But we see Jesus coming to the man and “pushing the right buttons” to create in him faith. Jesus knew exactly what Nathanael would need to believe and provides it. So today Jesus can do the same thing for those He has chosen to become followers of His way. Jesus is the creator of or our faith.
Christocentric - NAU Mark 16:6 And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.
Moral - Honesty of heart places us in a good place to encounter truth in Jesus the Nazarene.
Eternal - Every believer will see greater things than they have seen in this life. The glory of God in heaven and the vision of Jesus Christ upon the throne will be far greater than our wildest imaginations of it. Our faith will turn to seeing. We will then reach a level of conviction we have never felt before as we see the wonder of the eternal spiritual reality before our eyes.
Prayer - Lord, give me an honest heart and let me have encounters with you that will increase my faith.
Contemplation - I will show you greater things
Action: Make a list of your questions, struggles, and doubts. Set this before the Lord. Ask Him to give you encounters of faith that will help you see beyond these questions to Him as the truth.
43 The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, "Follow me." 44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter. 45 Philip found Nathanael and said to him, "We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth." 46 Nathanael said to him, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see." 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him, he said of him, "Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!" 48 Nathanael asked him, "Where did you get to know me?" Jesus answered, "I saw you under the fig tree before Philip called you." 49 Nathanael replied, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!" 50 Jesus answered, "Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these." 51 And he said to him, "Very truly, I tell you, you will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man."
Meditation
1/16/2009
Literal - Jesus made a decision to go to Galilee. There he looked for and found Philip. He then told him to come and “follow me”.
Who is Philip? Philip’s name means lover of horses and some believe that the name means “war like” because of the uses of horses in battle. In this encounter with Jesus; Philip becomes an “apostle”, one chosen to be sent on a mission. The apostle Philip, was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter, (John 1:44) and apparently was among the Galilean peasants of that district who flocked to hear the preaching of John the Baptist.
The manner in which the Apostle John speaks of him indicates a previous friendship with the sons of Jona and Zebedee, and a consequent participation in their messianic hopes. The close union of the two in John 6 and 12 suggests that he may have owed to Andrew his first knowledge that the hope of Messiah coming had been fulfilled. Since in this encounter with Jesus it seems Philip is already convinced that Jesus is the Messiah. The statement that Jesus found him (John 1:43) perhaps implies a previous seeking or at the very least a very intentional effort on Jesus’ part to find him.
In the lists of the twelve apostles, in the Synoptic Gospel, his name is as uniformly at the head of the second group of four as the name of Peter is at that of the first, (Matthew 10:3; Mark 5:18; Luke 6:14). This indicates that Phillip provided a degree of group leadership among the Apostles. The facts recorded by St. John give the reason of this priority and position of leadership.
Philip apparently was among the first company of disciples who were with the Lord at the commencement of his ministry at the marriage at Cana, on his first appearance as a prophet in Jerusalem, John 2. The first three Gospels tell us nothing more of him individually. The Apostle John, with his characteristic fullness of personal reminiscences, records a few significant utterances. (John 6:5-9; 12:20-22; 14:8) No other fact connected with the name of Philip is recorded in the Gospels. He is among the company of disciples at Jerusalem after the ascension (Acts 1:13) and on the day of Pentecost. According to tradition Philip was sent with his sister Mariamme and Bartolomew to preach in Greece, Phrygia, and Syria and died at Hierapolis as a martyr being crucified upside down.
Now Philip comes to share his conviction that Jesus is the Messiah with Nathanael. Nathanael name means “a gift of God. Due to Philip’s witness, Nathanael meets Jesus and becomes a disciple of Jesus Christ.
What else do we know about Nathanael? Under that name at least, we learn from Scripture little more than his birthplace, Cana of Galilee, (John 21:2) and his simple, truthful character. (John 1:47) The name does not occur in the first three Gospels; but it is commonly believed that Nathanael and Bartholomew are the same person. The evidence for that belief is as follows: St, John who twice mentions Nathanael, never introduces the name of Bartholomew at all. St. Matthew, (Matthew 10:3) St. Mark, (Mark 3:18) and St. Luke, (Luke 8:14) all speak of Bartholomew but never of Nathanael. If this is correct then he was on of the twelve apostles and according to tradition preached in India.
Here we have the encounter of Jesus with a skeptic. His doubt is due to prejudice about any good thing coming from Nazareth. Nazareth in Christ's time was a city of 15,000 to 20,000 inhabitants, of some importance. The reason for Nathanael’s poor view of Nazareth, (John 1:47) is not known. All the inhabitants of Galilee were looked upon with contempt by the people of Judea because they spoke a ruder dialect, were less cultivated and were more exposed by their position to contact with the heathen. But it is clear here that Nathanael holds Nazareth in special contempt for some reason. Perhaps this is related to the Messiah coming from Bethlehem and not Nazareth and indicates a theological objection and not pure prejudice against the city (John 7:42).
The idea that Nathanael’s objection was theological seems more in line with Jesus’ evaluation that he is an honest man. Prejudice and honesty rarely are in the same person. When Jesus demonstrates knowledge of Nathanael and relates his honesty to some event under a fig tree that only Nathanael knew about, this demonstration of prophetic knowledge and insight provided for Nathanael a reason to believe. He seems in fact to go from doubt to firm faith very quickly proclaiming Jesus both Son of God (Psalm 2) and Messianic King.
Jesus seems almost amused at how little it took for Nathanael to move from skeptic to believer. He assures him that he will see far greater things. For after the resurrection he will see Jesus ascending with angels surrounding Him as He goes to sit at God’s right hand (Gen 28:12). Here is an example of one man’s doubts being overcome with an encounter with Jesus.
Many doubters today need an encounter with Jesus. Here we do not see all the intellectual and theological questions answered. But we see Jesus coming to the man and “pushing the right buttons” to create in him faith. Jesus knew exactly what Nathanael would need to believe and provides it. So today Jesus can do the same thing for those He has chosen to become followers of His way. Jesus is the creator of or our faith.
Christocentric - NAU Mark 16:6 And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who has been crucified. He has risen; He is not here; behold, here is the place where they laid Him.
Moral - Honesty of heart places us in a good place to encounter truth in Jesus the Nazarene.
Eternal - Every believer will see greater things than they have seen in this life. The glory of God in heaven and the vision of Jesus Christ upon the throne will be far greater than our wildest imaginations of it. Our faith will turn to seeing. We will then reach a level of conviction we have never felt before as we see the wonder of the eternal spiritual reality before our eyes.
Prayer - Lord, give me an honest heart and let me have encounters with you that will increase my faith.
Contemplation - I will show you greater things
Action: Make a list of your questions, struggles, and doubts. Set this before the Lord. Ask Him to give you encounters of faith that will help you see beyond these questions to Him as the truth.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
The Almost Daily Devotional
ESV 1 Thessalonians 2:1 For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed- God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
Meditation
Literal: Paul’s goal as he entered a city was to form a “gospel community” of people. This “gospel community” would be the long term center for the ongoing work of making disciples and teaching them to observe all things that the Messiah Jesus had taught. In this “gospel community” those who believe in Jesus would have there spiritual family, center of worship, and school of discipleship. If Paul did not build a “gospel community” then his ministry in a city was a failure.
The first step in building such a community the first thing that Paul did was to present the gospel in boldness before God and men in presenting the gospel without fear. The Greek word for boldness is parrhsia,zomai parresiazomai and means to speak freely or boldly (Acts 9:27; 13:46; 14:; 18:26; 19:8; 26:26; Eph. 6:20; 1 Thess. 2:2) This word reflects the Greco-Roman philosophical concept of "bold speech." “This expression was used in antiquity to indicate freedom of speech and courage to speak in the face of opposition. It is used with political connotations of not allowing civic authorities to stem protests or the cry of the mob from preventing the proclamation of what is right.”[1] Although what Paul declared was unpopular, he declared it boldly. Even when such bold presentation of the gospel lead to being shamefully treated, it did not silence Paul.
The next step in building community was that Paul and his “gospel community” planting team lived lives of personal integrity. Paul and his team have been tested by God to make sure that they are involved in the ministry only to present the truth and not to manipulate the people. Their goal, as true lovers of the divine wisdom, is not to make human beings happy with their message, to teach and practice the truth. Those we minister to must know that we are not there to flatter them, take their money, or seek fame. While having a true spiritual authority there is great care not to be religiously abusive. To some extent the gospel could be trusted because the messengers of the gospel were trust worthy people. A healthy “gospel community” must have integrity as one of its core values.
The final step in building community was emotional commitment and bonding. Here we see Paul using the illustration of a nursing mother to describe how open, transparent, dedicated, steadfast, and caring he was with those who had come to faith. He shared his soul with the people he discipled. He had real empathy for them. He was not cold, professional, or distant. A healthy community must be one where the disciples are real and open with each other. There must be a dedication to giving to each other from the heart.
So this passage tells us what we need to encourage, pray for, and work towards in order for us to see our churches become healthy “gospel communities”. Every believer has a role to play in boldly declaring the gospel, living a life worthy of the gospel, and emotionally embracing the other disciples even as Christ has embraced us. As these three core values dominate our churches we will see them become fruitful “gospel communities” in the midst of our culture.
Christocentric: Jesus the Christ was the incarnation of the Gospel and came boldly into a rebellious world, living a perfect life of grace and truth, and totally giving His life in sacrifice for us that we might live. Messiah Jesus is the ultimate builder of “gospel communities” for He is the one building His Church in every nation.
Moral: To preach the gospel without living the gospel is hypocrisy. To live the gospel without preaching the gospel is cowardice. To preach and live the gospel without compassion is slander to the heart of God.
Eternal: There will be a day when we will see the wonder and glory of the eternal “gospel community” which will be made up of a great multitude of every people group, language, culture, skin color, nation, tribe, and group. We will know an eternal fellowship with our gospel brothers and our gospel sisters for all eternity before the accepting and loving face of our Lord Jesus forever and ever. Amen
Prayer
Lord, help me be a builder of your “gospel community” and not one that would tear it down or do it harm. Help me love your people as much as you love your people. Help me to believe in the gospel’s power to save as much as you believe in the gospel’s power to save. Give me boldness, integrity, and compassion for your glory and my good.
Contemplation
I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.
Action
Where could I present the gospel boldly today? How could I live the gospel boldly today? How could I boldly open my heart to another believer today?
\
[1] 1 Thessalonians 2:1–8 Commentary by Richard Ascough
Meditation
Literal: Paul’s goal as he entered a city was to form a “gospel community” of people. This “gospel community” would be the long term center for the ongoing work of making disciples and teaching them to observe all things that the Messiah Jesus had taught. In this “gospel community” those who believe in Jesus would have there spiritual family, center of worship, and school of discipleship. If Paul did not build a “gospel community” then his ministry in a city was a failure.
The first step in building such a community the first thing that Paul did was to present the gospel in boldness before God and men in presenting the gospel without fear. The Greek word for boldness is parrhsia,zomai parresiazomai and means to speak freely or boldly (Acts 9:27; 13:46; 14:; 18:26; 19:8; 26:26; Eph. 6:20; 1 Thess. 2:2) This word reflects the Greco-Roman philosophical concept of "bold speech." “This expression was used in antiquity to indicate freedom of speech and courage to speak in the face of opposition. It is used with political connotations of not allowing civic authorities to stem protests or the cry of the mob from preventing the proclamation of what is right.”[1] Although what Paul declared was unpopular, he declared it boldly. Even when such bold presentation of the gospel lead to being shamefully treated, it did not silence Paul.
The next step in building community was that Paul and his “gospel community” planting team lived lives of personal integrity. Paul and his team have been tested by God to make sure that they are involved in the ministry only to present the truth and not to manipulate the people. Their goal, as true lovers of the divine wisdom, is not to make human beings happy with their message, to teach and practice the truth. Those we minister to must know that we are not there to flatter them, take their money, or seek fame. While having a true spiritual authority there is great care not to be religiously abusive. To some extent the gospel could be trusted because the messengers of the gospel were trust worthy people. A healthy “gospel community” must have integrity as one of its core values.
The final step in building community was emotional commitment and bonding. Here we see Paul using the illustration of a nursing mother to describe how open, transparent, dedicated, steadfast, and caring he was with those who had come to faith. He shared his soul with the people he discipled. He had real empathy for them. He was not cold, professional, or distant. A healthy community must be one where the disciples are real and open with each other. There must be a dedication to giving to each other from the heart.
So this passage tells us what we need to encourage, pray for, and work towards in order for us to see our churches become healthy “gospel communities”. Every believer has a role to play in boldly declaring the gospel, living a life worthy of the gospel, and emotionally embracing the other disciples even as Christ has embraced us. As these three core values dominate our churches we will see them become fruitful “gospel communities” in the midst of our culture.
Christocentric: Jesus the Christ was the incarnation of the Gospel and came boldly into a rebellious world, living a perfect life of grace and truth, and totally giving His life in sacrifice for us that we might live. Messiah Jesus is the ultimate builder of “gospel communities” for He is the one building His Church in every nation.
Moral: To preach the gospel without living the gospel is hypocrisy. To live the gospel without preaching the gospel is cowardice. To preach and live the gospel without compassion is slander to the heart of God.
Eternal: There will be a day when we will see the wonder and glory of the eternal “gospel community” which will be made up of a great multitude of every people group, language, culture, skin color, nation, tribe, and group. We will know an eternal fellowship with our gospel brothers and our gospel sisters for all eternity before the accepting and loving face of our Lord Jesus forever and ever. Amen
Prayer
Lord, help me be a builder of your “gospel community” and not one that would tear it down or do it harm. Help me love your people as much as you love your people. Help me to believe in the gospel’s power to save as much as you believe in the gospel’s power to save. Give me boldness, integrity, and compassion for your glory and my good.
Contemplation
I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it.
Action
Where could I present the gospel boldly today? How could I live the gospel boldly today? How could I boldly open my heart to another believer today?
\
[1] 1 Thessalonians 2:1–8 Commentary by Richard Ascough
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Almost Daily Devotional
Almost Daily Devotional
Reading
NLT Deuteronomy 34:1 Then Moses went to Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab and climbed Pisgah Peak, which is across from Jericho. And the LORD showed him the whole land, from Gilead as far as Dan; 2 all the land of Naphtali; the land of Ephraim and Manasseh; all the land of Judah, extending to the Mediterranean Sea; 3 the Negev; the Jordan Valley with Jericho-- the city of palms-- as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I told them I would give it to their descendants. I have now allowed you to see it, but you will not enter the land." 5 So Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, just as the LORD had said. 6 He was buried in a valley near Beth-peor in Moab, but to this day no one knows the exact place. 7 Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. 8 The people of Israel mourned thirty days for Moses on the plains of Moab, until the customary period of mourning was over. 9 Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 10 There has never been another prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. 11 The LORD sent Moses to perform all the miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and his entire land. 12 And it was through Moses that the LORD demonstrated his mighty power and terrifying acts in the sight of all Israel.
Meditation
Moses was informed in advance of his upcoming death (Numbers 27:12, Deuteronomy 31:14, 16, and 32:49-50), thus giving him some time to reflect upon it. Why would God have to tell Moses on numerous occasions that he would die and not enter the Promised Land? Would not a single time have sufficed? It is very possible that Moses was having a hard time accepting this reality. He hoped against hope that perhaps God would relent and allow him to enter the land. He had sinned by striking the rock and claiming credit for giving water but he hoped perhaps the consequences of that action would be taken away (Num. 20:11). However this was not to be the case for teachers of the law are held to a stricter judgment.
Was Moses Afraid to Die? In Deuteronomy 3:24-25, Moses recalls a time when he said, "O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your might; what god in heaven or on earth can perform deeds and mighty acts like yours! Let me cross over to see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and the Lebanon. It is hard to tell whether it was death or not reaching His life time goal of brining the people into the Promised Land that Moses feared. It seems most likely that it was not reaching the Promised Land and bringing the people into that land that was what caused the heartache in Moses rather than a fear of death itself.
When Moses is ready to obey God's instruction to ascend the mountain, he takes one last opportunity to speak to his community, the Israelites, offering a generous and stunning blessing upon them. Some of Moses' best leadership skills and characteristics reveal themselves as he offers a very faith filled, optimistic prayer.
"There is none like God, O Jeshurun," says Moses, "who rides through the heavens to your help, majestic through the skies (Deuteronomy 33:26)," and then, "Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph! (33:29)."
The desire of Moses to encourage the people is demonstrated by his calling them “Jeshurun” which most likely means “supremely happy. It is used four times in the Old Testament as a symbolical name for Israel in (32:15; 33:5,26; Isaiah 44:2) It is most probably derived from a root signifying "to be blessed." With the intensive termination Jeshurun would then denote Israel as supremely happy or prosperous, and to this signification the context in (32:15) points. Though most blessed, Israel sinned, yet the LORD did not forsake them. This is amazing grace.
How Much Could Moses See from the Mountain? "Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah..., and the Lord showed him the whole land...: Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain...as far as Zoar (34:1-3)." This is quite a view! This is not just a natural looking out that Moses has here but a divine vision of the Promised Land. Some have suggested that Moses did not just see the land but God showed him the whole future of Israel and the final fulfillment of every promise in the final Kingdom of God. This we cannot know. But what God did do was allow him to see what His heart so desired to claim. This was an act of kindness by God as He brought His servant home.
The Bible's Final Tribute to Moses is one that sees him as the greatest prophet of the Hebrew era. The proposal that God himself would take be concerned about Moses' burial is astounding The reason, then, that no one knows where Moses is buried is explained by the fact that God took care of it and didn't tell anyone. God was Moses pallbearer since He was Moses friend.
The Bible's final acknowledgment to Moses in Deuteronomy 34:10 is remarkable: "Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face." What an epitaph! Moses, was by the grace of God a prophet, a lawgiver, a teacher, a philosopher, a general, a king, a sage, and most important a friend of God. Moses finished well. Not perfect but well.
Christological - NLT John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. Jesus was the prophet like himself that Moses prophesied would come in Deuteronomy 18:15. Jesus is the second and greater Moses. He is the final and ultimate prophet, priest, and king.
Moral: Be aware that sin can cost you even when it is forgiven. There are consequences to sin that remain even when we have been pardoned and accepted by God.
Eternal: We now just see through a mirror dimly the wonderful promised land of the eternal kingdom of God. Like Moses, God has given us a vision of that paradise. But there is coming a day when we will fully experience and be allowed to enter into the glory of the full experience of God’s promises. What total joy that will bring to our hearts.
Prayer
Dear Lord, help me to finish well. Forgive me my acts of rebellion and pride. Allow me to leave a good legacy for my children and your Church. Amen
Action
If God told you the day of your death what changes would you make in your life? Are you living today in such a way that you believe that it will produce the life that you want reported at your funeral? List the things you would change. Begin developing a plan for each of these items that will bring about a healthier and more faithful lifestyle.
Reading
NLT Deuteronomy 34:1 Then Moses went to Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab and climbed Pisgah Peak, which is across from Jericho. And the LORD showed him the whole land, from Gilead as far as Dan; 2 all the land of Naphtali; the land of Ephraim and Manasseh; all the land of Judah, extending to the Mediterranean Sea; 3 the Negev; the Jordan Valley with Jericho-- the city of palms-- as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said to Moses, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I told them I would give it to their descendants. I have now allowed you to see it, but you will not enter the land." 5 So Moses, the servant of the LORD, died there in the land of Moab, just as the LORD had said. 6 He was buried in a valley near Beth-peor in Moab, but to this day no one knows the exact place. 7 Moses was 120 years old when he died, yet his eyesight was clear, and he was as strong as ever. 8 The people of Israel mourned thirty days for Moses on the plains of Moab, until the customary period of mourning was over. 9 Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him and did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses. 10 There has never been another prophet like Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face. 11 The LORD sent Moses to perform all the miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt against Pharaoh, all his servants, and his entire land. 12 And it was through Moses that the LORD demonstrated his mighty power and terrifying acts in the sight of all Israel.
Meditation
Moses was informed in advance of his upcoming death (Numbers 27:12, Deuteronomy 31:14, 16, and 32:49-50), thus giving him some time to reflect upon it. Why would God have to tell Moses on numerous occasions that he would die and not enter the Promised Land? Would not a single time have sufficed? It is very possible that Moses was having a hard time accepting this reality. He hoped against hope that perhaps God would relent and allow him to enter the land. He had sinned by striking the rock and claiming credit for giving water but he hoped perhaps the consequences of that action would be taken away (Num. 20:11). However this was not to be the case for teachers of the law are held to a stricter judgment.
Was Moses Afraid to Die? In Deuteronomy 3:24-25, Moses recalls a time when he said, "O Lord God, you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your might; what god in heaven or on earth can perform deeds and mighty acts like yours! Let me cross over to see the good land beyond the Jordan, that good hill country and the Lebanon. It is hard to tell whether it was death or not reaching His life time goal of brining the people into the Promised Land that Moses feared. It seems most likely that it was not reaching the Promised Land and bringing the people into that land that was what caused the heartache in Moses rather than a fear of death itself.
When Moses is ready to obey God's instruction to ascend the mountain, he takes one last opportunity to speak to his community, the Israelites, offering a generous and stunning blessing upon them. Some of Moses' best leadership skills and characteristics reveal themselves as he offers a very faith filled, optimistic prayer.
"There is none like God, O Jeshurun," says Moses, "who rides through the heavens to your help, majestic through the skies (Deuteronomy 33:26)," and then, "Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you, a people saved by the Lord, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph! (33:29)."
The desire of Moses to encourage the people is demonstrated by his calling them “Jeshurun” which most likely means “supremely happy. It is used four times in the Old Testament as a symbolical name for Israel in (32:15; 33:5,26; Isaiah 44:2) It is most probably derived from a root signifying "to be blessed." With the intensive termination Jeshurun would then denote Israel as supremely happy or prosperous, and to this signification the context in (32:15) points. Though most blessed, Israel sinned, yet the LORD did not forsake them. This is amazing grace.
How Much Could Moses See from the Mountain? "Then Moses went up from the plains of Moab to Mount Nebo, to the top of Pisgah..., and the Lord showed him the whole land...: Gilead as far as Dan, all Naphtali, the land of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Western Sea, the Negeb, and the Plain...as far as Zoar (34:1-3)." This is quite a view! This is not just a natural looking out that Moses has here but a divine vision of the Promised Land. Some have suggested that Moses did not just see the land but God showed him the whole future of Israel and the final fulfillment of every promise in the final Kingdom of God. This we cannot know. But what God did do was allow him to see what His heart so desired to claim. This was an act of kindness by God as He brought His servant home.
The Bible's Final Tribute to Moses is one that sees him as the greatest prophet of the Hebrew era. The proposal that God himself would take be concerned about Moses' burial is astounding The reason, then, that no one knows where Moses is buried is explained by the fact that God took care of it and didn't tell anyone. God was Moses pallbearer since He was Moses friend.
The Bible's final acknowledgment to Moses in Deuteronomy 34:10 is remarkable: "Never since has there arisen a prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face." What an epitaph! Moses, was by the grace of God a prophet, a lawgiver, a teacher, a philosopher, a general, a king, a sage, and most important a friend of God. Moses finished well. Not perfect but well.
Christological - NLT John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; God's unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. Jesus was the prophet like himself that Moses prophesied would come in Deuteronomy 18:15. Jesus is the second and greater Moses. He is the final and ultimate prophet, priest, and king.
Moral: Be aware that sin can cost you even when it is forgiven. There are consequences to sin that remain even when we have been pardoned and accepted by God.
Eternal: We now just see through a mirror dimly the wonderful promised land of the eternal kingdom of God. Like Moses, God has given us a vision of that paradise. But there is coming a day when we will fully experience and be allowed to enter into the glory of the full experience of God’s promises. What total joy that will bring to our hearts.
Prayer
Dear Lord, help me to finish well. Forgive me my acts of rebellion and pride. Allow me to leave a good legacy for my children and your Church. Amen
Action
If God told you the day of your death what changes would you make in your life? Are you living today in such a way that you believe that it will produce the life that you want reported at your funeral? List the things you would change. Begin developing a plan for each of these items that will bring about a healthier and more faithful lifestyle.
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