Purity and Persecution
OCTOBER 31, 2018
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WEDNESDAY
31
1 Peter 4:1-5
SCRIPTURE
1 Peter 4:1-5 English Standard Version (ESV)
Stewards of God's Grace
4 Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh,[a] arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. 3 For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. 4 With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; 5 but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
OBSERVATION
What is the connection between suffering and purity for the Christian? These are not terms we usually consider together, but Peter says those who suffer physically cease from sin and no longer live for human lusts. Instead, they live for the will of God. That is not to say we’ll reach a level of sinless perfection but, rather, the power of sin in our lives will be broken.
According to today’s passage, we are engaged in a battle, and Peter says to arm ourselves with the same attitude Christ had in His suffering. Just as He willingly submitted to the Father’s will and went to the cross, so we must accept that suffering is likewise part of God’s will for our life. It’s one of the ways He purifies us and breaks any attachment to our previous sinful desires.
As believers, we are called to live differently from the world around us. This doesn’t mean we’re to be deliberately antagonistic, but our lifestyle should be an example of purity. Others may find this offensive because it exposes their sin, and then they may respond by maligning us in an attempt to make themselves feel better.
Although we want the world to be attracted to Christ by our transformed lives, in reality we may make others uncomfortable or perhaps even antagonistic. This is why so many Christians around the world are being persecuted and even killed for their faith. But every time the church has faced persecution, it has also been purified and made stronger. God never intends for suffering to defeat us. Rather, His purpose is for it to make us holy and effective witnesses for Christ.
Bible in One Year: John 1-3
Wednesday, October 31, 2018
Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Tuesday, October 30, 2018 - Transformed into Jesus Image
Transformed into Jesus image
Scripture
Ephesians 5:1-21 The Message (MSG)
Wake Up from Your Sleep
5 1-2 Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
3-4 Don’t allow love to turn into lust, setting off a downhill slide into sexual promiscuity, filthy practices, or bullying greed. Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, those who follow Jesus have better uses for language than that. Don’t talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn’t fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect.
5 You can be sure that using people or religion or things just for what you can get out of them—the usual variations on idolatry—will get you nowhere, and certainly nowhere near the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of God.
6-7 Don’t let yourselves get taken in by religious smooth talk. God gets furious with people who are full of religious sales talk but want nothing to do with him. Don’t even hang around people like that.
8-10 You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.
11-16 Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.
Wake up from your sleep,
Climb out of your coffins;
Christ will show you the light!
So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!
17 Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.
18-20 Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.
Relationships
21 Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.
Observation:
Transformed Into Jesus’ Image
OCTOBER 30, 2018
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Ephesians 5:1-21
As Christians, we are called to a high moral standard, yet we may feel as if we’re failing more than succeeding. Perhaps our language isn’t as pure as we know it should be, or we haven’t overcome some of our bad habits. It’s easy to become discouraged if we don’t understand what is hindering our progress.
Transformation begins in the mind, because the way we reason affects how we act. We can’t expect to progress in holiness if we’re undiscerning about what to allow into our thoughts. Paul admonishes us not to be conformed to the world but to be transformed by renewing the mind (Rom. 12:2). We must make an intentional effort to fill our mind with the truths of God’s Word to ensure that we are counteracting the world’s messages.
The influence of others is another avenue by which we can be helped or hindered in our pursuit of holiness. If we associate with people who don’t share our standards, we could be tempted to compromise. Mature believers, on the other hand, can detect obstacles hindering our growth and point out adjustments we need to make. I was greatly impacted by the biographies of godly men like Oswald Chambers, Charles Spurgeon, and Dwight L. Moody. As I read, I would see qualities in their lives that I wanted in my own. These traits formed the basis for many of my prayers.
What kinds of thoughts fill your mind? Are you being influenced by friends, television, or social media more than you are by the Word of God? As the Holy Spirit helps you replace wrong thoughts with godly ones, your behavior will also be transformed.
Bible in One Year: Luke 23-24
Scripture
Ephesians 5:1-21 The Message (MSG)
Wake Up from Your Sleep
5 1-2 Watch what God does, and then you do it, like children who learn proper behavior from their parents. Mostly what God does is love you. Keep company with him and learn a life of love. Observe how Christ loved us. His love was not cautious but extravagant. He didn’t love in order to get something from us but to give everything of himself to us. Love like that.
3-4 Don’t allow love to turn into lust, setting off a downhill slide into sexual promiscuity, filthy practices, or bullying greed. Though some tongues just love the taste of gossip, those who follow Jesus have better uses for language than that. Don’t talk dirty or silly. That kind of talk doesn’t fit our style. Thanksgiving is our dialect.
5 You can be sure that using people or religion or things just for what you can get out of them—the usual variations on idolatry—will get you nowhere, and certainly nowhere near the kingdom of Christ, the kingdom of God.
6-7 Don’t let yourselves get taken in by religious smooth talk. God gets furious with people who are full of religious sales talk but want nothing to do with him. Don’t even hang around people like that.
8-10 You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do it.
11-16 Don’t waste your time on useless work, mere busywork, the barren pursuits of darkness. Expose these things for the sham they are. It’s a scandal when people waste their lives on things they must do in the darkness where no one will see. Rip the cover off those frauds and see how attractive they look in the light of Christ.
Wake up from your sleep,
Climb out of your coffins;
Christ will show you the light!
So watch your step. Use your head. Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!
17 Don’t live carelessly, unthinkingly. Make sure you understand what the Master wants.
18-20 Don’t drink too much wine. That cheapens your life. Drink the Spirit of God, huge draughts of him. Sing hymns instead of drinking songs! Sing songs from your heart to Christ. Sing praises over everything, any excuse for a song to God the Father in the name of our Master, Jesus Christ.
Relationships
21 Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another.
Observation:
Transformed Into Jesus’ Image
OCTOBER 30, 2018
Pause
Mute
Remaining Time -4:21
Fullscreen
Playing
BOOKMARK READ LATER SHARE
TUESDAY
30
Ephesians 5:1-21
As Christians, we are called to a high moral standard, yet we may feel as if we’re failing more than succeeding. Perhaps our language isn’t as pure as we know it should be, or we haven’t overcome some of our bad habits. It’s easy to become discouraged if we don’t understand what is hindering our progress.
Transformation begins in the mind, because the way we reason affects how we act. We can’t expect to progress in holiness if we’re undiscerning about what to allow into our thoughts. Paul admonishes us not to be conformed to the world but to be transformed by renewing the mind (Rom. 12:2). We must make an intentional effort to fill our mind with the truths of God’s Word to ensure that we are counteracting the world’s messages.
The influence of others is another avenue by which we can be helped or hindered in our pursuit of holiness. If we associate with people who don’t share our standards, we could be tempted to compromise. Mature believers, on the other hand, can detect obstacles hindering our growth and point out adjustments we need to make. I was greatly impacted by the biographies of godly men like Oswald Chambers, Charles Spurgeon, and Dwight L. Moody. As I read, I would see qualities in their lives that I wanted in my own. These traits formed the basis for many of my prayers.
What kinds of thoughts fill your mind? Are you being influenced by friends, television, or social media more than you are by the Word of God? As the Holy Spirit helps you replace wrong thoughts with godly ones, your behavior will also be transformed.
Bible in One Year: Luke 23-24
Monday, October 29, 2018
Monday, October 29, 2018 - Being Like Jesus - Daily Devotion - 2 Peter 3:17-18
BEING LIKE JESUS
Monday, October 29, 2018
2 Peter 3:17-18
2 Peter 3:17-18 The Message (MSG)
17-18 But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!
Scriptures:
1 John 3:1-3 The Message (MSG)
3 What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to.
2-3 But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own.
OBSERVATION
God has a plan for every believer, and salvation is just the first step. He wants His adopted children to develop a close family resemblance, and the Holy Spirit is in charge of transforming each one into the likeness of Jesus.
The moment we trust Christ as our personal Savior, we are born again and become newborn babies in a spiritual sense. One characteristic of a newborn is a craving for milk, and the same is true spiritually. New believers need continuous nourishment from God’s Word for growth in godliness, grace, and the knowledge of Christ.
As we read and meditate on Scripture, the Holy Spirit replaces our former thoughts and desires with a God-centered mindset and new longings for holiness. Instead of living to please ourselves, our desire will be to glorify God through obedience.
Like any growing child, we will stumble now and then by giving into temptation. However, our heavenly Father has given us the privilege of cleansing through confession of sins (1 John 1:9). He also exercises loving discipline by revealing attitudes, behaviors, and practices that are displeasing to Him. His chastisement is always meant to train us and produce in us the “peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12:11).
At no point are we abandoned or rejected by our heavenly Father. He watches over every step we take, hears our prayers, comforts us, and encourages us to love and obey His Word. He promises that we’ll become complete in our likeness to Christ on the day we see Him in heaven (1 John 3:1-3).
Bible in One Year: Luke 20-22
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Monday, October 29, 2018
2 Peter 3:17-18
2 Peter 3:17-18 The Message (MSG)
17-18 But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!
Scriptures:
1 John 3:1-3 The Message (MSG)
3 What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to.
2-3 But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning. Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him—and in seeing him, become like him. All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own.
OBSERVATION
God has a plan for every believer, and salvation is just the first step. He wants His adopted children to develop a close family resemblance, and the Holy Spirit is in charge of transforming each one into the likeness of Jesus.
The moment we trust Christ as our personal Savior, we are born again and become newborn babies in a spiritual sense. One characteristic of a newborn is a craving for milk, and the same is true spiritually. New believers need continuous nourishment from God’s Word for growth in godliness, grace, and the knowledge of Christ.
As we read and meditate on Scripture, the Holy Spirit replaces our former thoughts and desires with a God-centered mindset and new longings for holiness. Instead of living to please ourselves, our desire will be to glorify God through obedience.
Like any growing child, we will stumble now and then by giving into temptation. However, our heavenly Father has given us the privilege of cleansing through confession of sins (1 John 1:9). He also exercises loving discipline by revealing attitudes, behaviors, and practices that are displeasing to Him. His chastisement is always meant to train us and produce in us the “peaceful fruit of righteousness” (Heb. 12:11).
At no point are we abandoned or rejected by our heavenly Father. He watches over every step we take, hears our prayers, comforts us, and encourages us to love and obey His Word. He promises that we’ll become complete in our likeness to Christ on the day we see Him in heaven (1 John 3:1-3).
Bible in One Year: Luke 20-22
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Wednesday, October 24, 2018
Wednesday, October 24, 2018 - Bible Class HW - Finish Reading Isaiah 49
Finish Reading Isaiah 49
Isaiah 49 The Message (MSG)
A Light for the Nations
49 1-3 Listen, far-flung islands,
pay attention, faraway people:
God put me to work from the day I was born.
The moment I entered the world he named me.
He gave me speech that would cut and penetrate.
He kept his hand on me to protect me.
He made me his straight arrow
and hid me in his quiver.
He said to me, “You’re my dear servant,
Israel, through whom I’ll shine.”
4 But I said, “I’ve worked for nothing.
I’ve nothing to show for a life of hard work.
Nevertheless, I’ll let God have the last word.
I’ll let him pronounce his verdict.”
5-6 “And now,” God says,
this God who took me in hand
from the moment of birth to be his servant,
To bring Jacob back home to him,
to set a reunion for Israel—
What an honor for me in God’s eyes!
That God should be my strength!
He says, “But that’s not a big enough job for my servant—
just to recover the tribes of Jacob,
merely to round up the strays of Israel.
I’m setting you up as a light for the nations
so that my salvation becomes global!”
7 God, Redeemer of Israel, The Holy of Israel,
says to the despised one, kicked around by the nations,
slave labor to the ruling class:
“Kings will see, get to their feet—the princes, too—
and then fall on their faces in homage
Because of God, who has faithfully kept his word,
The Holy of Israel, who has chosen you.”
8-12 God also says:
“When the time’s ripe, I answer you.
When victory’s due, I help you.
I form you and use you
to reconnect the people with me,
To put the land in order,
to resettle families on the ruined properties.
I tell prisoners, ‘Come on out. You’re free!’
and those huddled in fear, ‘It’s all right. It’s safe now.’
There’ll be foodstands along all the roads,
picnics on all the hills—
Nobody hungry, nobody thirsty,
shade from the sun, shelter from the wind,
For the Compassionate One guides them,
takes them to the best springs.
I’ll make all my mountains into roads,
turn them into a superhighway.
Look: These coming from far countries,
and those, out of the north,
These streaming in from the west,
and those from all the way down the Nile!”
13 Heavens, raise the roof! Earth, wake the dead!
Mountains, send up cheers!
God has comforted his people.
He has tenderly nursed his beaten-up, beaten-down people.
14 But Zion said, “I don’t get it. God has left me.
My Master has forgotten I even exist.”
15-18 “Can a mother forget the infant at her breast,
walk away from the baby she bore?
But even if mothers forget,
I’d never forget you—never.
Look, I’ve written your names on the backs of my hands.
The walls you’re rebuilding are never out of my sight.
Your builders are faster than your wreckers.
The demolition crews are gone for good.
Look up, look around, look well!
See them all gathering, coming to you?
As sure as I am the living God”—God’s Decree—
“you’re going to put them on like so much jewelry,
you’re going to use them to dress up like a bride.
19-21 “And your ruined land?
Your devastated, decimated land?
Filled with more people than you know what to do with!
And your barbarian enemies, a fading memory.
The children born in your exile will be saying,
‘It’s getting too crowded here. I need more room.’
And you’ll say to yourself,
‘Where on earth did these children come from?
I lost everything, had nothing, was exiled and penniless.
So who reared these children?
How did these children get here?’”
22-23 The Master, God, says:
“Look! I signal to the nations,
I raise my flag to summon the people.
Here they’ll come: women carrying your little boys in their arms,
men carrying your little girls on their shoulders.
Kings will be your babysitters,
princesses will be your nursemaids.
They’ll offer to do all your drudge work—
scrub your floors, do your laundry.
You’ll know then that I am God.
No one who hopes in me ever regrets it.”
24-26 Can plunder be retrieved from a giant,
prisoners of war gotten back from a tyrant?
But God says, “Even if a giant grips the plunder
and a tyrant holds my people prisoner,
I’m the one who’s on your side,
defending your cause, rescuing your children.
And your enemies, crazed and desperate, will turn on themselves,
killing each other in a frenzy of self-destruction.
Then everyone will know that I, God,
have saved you—I, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
Isaiah 49 The Message (MSG)
A Light for the Nations
49 1-3 Listen, far-flung islands,
pay attention, faraway people:
God put me to work from the day I was born.
The moment I entered the world he named me.
He gave me speech that would cut and penetrate.
He kept his hand on me to protect me.
He made me his straight arrow
and hid me in his quiver.
He said to me, “You’re my dear servant,
Israel, through whom I’ll shine.”
4 But I said, “I’ve worked for nothing.
I’ve nothing to show for a life of hard work.
Nevertheless, I’ll let God have the last word.
I’ll let him pronounce his verdict.”
5-6 “And now,” God says,
this God who took me in hand
from the moment of birth to be his servant,
To bring Jacob back home to him,
to set a reunion for Israel—
What an honor for me in God’s eyes!
That God should be my strength!
He says, “But that’s not a big enough job for my servant—
just to recover the tribes of Jacob,
merely to round up the strays of Israel.
I’m setting you up as a light for the nations
so that my salvation becomes global!”
7 God, Redeemer of Israel, The Holy of Israel,
says to the despised one, kicked around by the nations,
slave labor to the ruling class:
“Kings will see, get to their feet—the princes, too—
and then fall on their faces in homage
Because of God, who has faithfully kept his word,
The Holy of Israel, who has chosen you.”
8-12 God also says:
“When the time’s ripe, I answer you.
When victory’s due, I help you.
I form you and use you
to reconnect the people with me,
To put the land in order,
to resettle families on the ruined properties.
I tell prisoners, ‘Come on out. You’re free!’
and those huddled in fear, ‘It’s all right. It’s safe now.’
There’ll be foodstands along all the roads,
picnics on all the hills—
Nobody hungry, nobody thirsty,
shade from the sun, shelter from the wind,
For the Compassionate One guides them,
takes them to the best springs.
I’ll make all my mountains into roads,
turn them into a superhighway.
Look: These coming from far countries,
and those, out of the north,
These streaming in from the west,
and those from all the way down the Nile!”
13 Heavens, raise the roof! Earth, wake the dead!
Mountains, send up cheers!
God has comforted his people.
He has tenderly nursed his beaten-up, beaten-down people.
14 But Zion said, “I don’t get it. God has left me.
My Master has forgotten I even exist.”
15-18 “Can a mother forget the infant at her breast,
walk away from the baby she bore?
But even if mothers forget,
I’d never forget you—never.
Look, I’ve written your names on the backs of my hands.
The walls you’re rebuilding are never out of my sight.
Your builders are faster than your wreckers.
The demolition crews are gone for good.
Look up, look around, look well!
See them all gathering, coming to you?
As sure as I am the living God”—God’s Decree—
“you’re going to put them on like so much jewelry,
you’re going to use them to dress up like a bride.
19-21 “And your ruined land?
Your devastated, decimated land?
Filled with more people than you know what to do with!
And your barbarian enemies, a fading memory.
The children born in your exile will be saying,
‘It’s getting too crowded here. I need more room.’
And you’ll say to yourself,
‘Where on earth did these children come from?
I lost everything, had nothing, was exiled and penniless.
So who reared these children?
How did these children get here?’”
22-23 The Master, God, says:
“Look! I signal to the nations,
I raise my flag to summon the people.
Here they’ll come: women carrying your little boys in their arms,
men carrying your little girls on their shoulders.
Kings will be your babysitters,
princesses will be your nursemaids.
They’ll offer to do all your drudge work—
scrub your floors, do your laundry.
You’ll know then that I am God.
No one who hopes in me ever regrets it.”
24-26 Can plunder be retrieved from a giant,
prisoners of war gotten back from a tyrant?
But God says, “Even if a giant grips the plunder
and a tyrant holds my people prisoner,
I’m the one who’s on your side,
defending your cause, rescuing your children.
And your enemies, crazed and desperate, will turn on themselves,
killing each other in a frenzy of self-destruction.
Then everyone will know that I, God,
have saved you—I, the Mighty One of Jacob.”
Tuesday, October 23, 2018
Tuesday, October 23, 2018 - Bible Class Notes
Home work: Given Tuesday, 10/16/18
Who is Cyrus?
Answer:
SCRIPTURE
Who is Cyrus?
Answer:
Cyrus the Great (c. 600 or 576 – 530 BC) figures in
the Hebrew Bible as the patron and
deliverer of the Jews. He is mentioned 23
times by name and alluded to several times more.[1] According to the
Bible, Cyrus the Great, king of Persia, was the monarch under whom the Babylonian captivity ended. In the
first year of his reign he was prompted by God to decree that the Temple in Jerusalem should be rebuilt
and that such Jews as cared to might return to their land for this purpose.
Moreover, he showed his interest in the project by sending back with them the
sacred vessels which had been taken from the First Templeand a considerable sum of money with which to
buy building materials. The existence of the decree has been challenged.
SCRIPTURE
The Proclamation of Cyrus
1 In
the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth
of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of
Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put
it in writing:
2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God
of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to
build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God
be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the
house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he
is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he
sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods
and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in
Jerusalem.”
THE FALL OF BABYLON SURVIED
Different
accounts of the fall of Babylon survive. According to the Cyrus Cylinder,
the people opened their gates for Cyrus and greeted him as their
liberator. Isaiah 40–55 prophesied that the Persians would carry
off Babylonian women and cultic statues. Herodotus said
that Cyrus defeated the Babylonians outside their city, after which a siege began.
When this took too long, Cyrus diverted the Euphrates, so that
his troops could march into the city through the river bed.[17] Xenophon had a
similar view, but he did not mention the battle.[18] Finally, Berossus claimed
that Cyrus beat the Babylonian army but, this time, Nabonidus was supposed to
have fled to nearby Borsippa. There he hid, while Cyrus took Babylon and
demolished its outer walls. When Cyrus turned towards Borsippa, Nabonidus soon
surrendered.[19]
SCRIPTURES ON CYRUS THE GREAT
[ King Cyrus ] In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia—this fulfilled the message of God preached by Jeremiah—God moved Cyrus king of Persia to make an official
announcement throughout his kingdom; he wrote it out as follows: “From Cyrus king of Persia a proclamation: God, the
God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has also
assigned me to build him a Temple of worship at Jerusalem in Judah. All who
belong to God’s people are urged to return—and may your God be
with you! Move forward!”
[ Cyrus King of Persia: “Build The Temple of God!” ] In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia—this fulfilled the Message of God preached by Jeremiah—God prodded Cyrus king of Persia to make an official
announcement throughout his kingdom. He wrote it out as follows: From Cyrus king of Persia, a Proclamation: God, the
God of the heavens, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth. He has also
assigned me to build him a Temple of worship in Jerusalem, Judah. Who among you
belongs to his people? God be with you! Go to Jerusalem which is in Judah and
build The Temple of God, the God of Israel, Jerusalem’s God. Those who
stay behind, wherever they happen to live, will support them with silver, gold,
tools, and pack animals, along with Freewill-Offerings for The Temple of God in
Jerusalem.
Also,
King Cyrus turned over to them
all the vessels and utensils from The Temple of God that
Nebuchadnezzar had hauled from Jerusalem and put in the temple of his
gods. Cyrus king of Persia put
Mithredath the treasurer in charge of the transfer; he provided a full
inventory for Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah, including the following: 30 gold
dishes 1,000 silver dishes 29 silver pans 30 gold bowls 410 duplicate silver bowls
1,000 miscellaneous items.
They
gave money to hire masons and carpenters. They gave food, drink, and oil to the
Sidonians and Tyrians in exchange for the cedar lumber they had brought by sea
from Lebanon to Joppa, a shipment authorized by Cyrusthe king of Persia.
Zerubbabel,
Jeshua, and the rest of the family heads of Israel said to them, “Nothing
doing. Building The Temple of our God is not the same thing to you as to us. We
alone will build for the God of Israel. We’re the ones King Cyrus of Persia commanded to do it.”
So
these people started beating down the morale of the people of Judah, harassing
them as they built. They even hired propagandists to sap their resolve. They
kept this up for about fifteen years, throughout the lifetime of Cyrus king of Persia and on into the reign
of Darius king of Persia.
“But
when Cyrus became king of
Babylon, in his first year he issued a building permit to rebuild this Temple
of God. He also gave back the gold and silver vessels of The Temple of God that
Nebuchadnezzar had carted off and put in the Babylon temple. Cyrus the king removed them from the
temple of Babylon and turned them over to Sheshbazzar, the man he had appointed
governor. He told him, ‘Take these vessels and place them in The Temple of
Jerusalem and rebuild The Temple of God on its original site.’ And Sheshbazzar
did it. He laid the foundation of The Temple of God in Jerusalem. It has been
under construction ever since but it is not yet finished.”
So
now, if it please the king, look up the records in the royal archives in
Babylon and see if it is indeed a fact that Cyrus the
king issued an official building permit authorizing the rebuilding of The
Temple of God in Jerusalem. And then send the king’s ruling on this matter to
us.
So
King Darius ordered a search through the records in the archives in Babylon.
Eventually a scroll was turned up in the fortress of Ecbatana over in the
province of Media, with this writing on it: Memorandum In his first year as
king, Cyrus issued an official
decree regarding The Temple of God in Jerusalem, as follows:
[ The Building Completed: “Exuberantly Celebrated the
Dedication” ] So the leaders of the Jews continued to build; the
work went well under the preaching of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of
Iddo. They completed the rebuilding under orders of the God of Israel and
authorization by Cyrus, Darius, and
Artaxerxes, kings of Persia. The Temple was completed on the third day of the
month Adar in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius.
He makes the magicians look ridiculous and turns fortunetellers into
jokes. He makes the experts look trivial and their latest knowledge look silly.
But he backs the word of his servant and confirms the counsel of his
messengers. He says to Jerusalem, “Be inhabited,” and to the cities of Judah,
“Be rebuilt,” and to the ruins, “I raise you up.” He says to Ocean, “Dry up.
I’m drying up your rivers.” He says to Cyrus, “My
shepherd— everything I want,
you’ll do it.” He says to Jerusalem, “Be built,” and to the Temple, “Be
established.”
[ The
God Who Forms Light and Darkness ] God’s
Message to his anointed, to Cyrus, whom he
took by the hand To give the task of taming the nations, of terrifying their
kings— He gave him free rein,
no restrictions: “I’ll go ahead of you, clearing and paving the road. I’ll
break down bronze city gates, smash padlocks, kick down barred entrances. I’ll
lead you to buried treasures, secret caches of valuables— Confirmations that it
is, in fact, I, God, the God of
Israel, who calls you by your name. It’s because of my dear servant Jacob,
Israel my chosen, That I’ve singled you out, called you by name, and given you
this privileged work. And you don’t even know me! I am God, the only God there
is. Besides me there are no real gods. I’m the one who armed you for this work,
though you don’t even know me, So that everyone, from east to west, will know
that I have no god-rivals. I am God, the only God there is. I form light
and create darkness, I make harmonies and create discords. I, God, do all
these things.
Thus God,
The Holy of Israel, Israel’s Maker, says: “Do you question who or what I’m
making? Are you telling me what I can or cannot do? I made earth, and I created
man and woman to live on it. I handcrafted the skies and direct all the
constellations in their turnings. And now I’ve got Cyrus on the move. I’ve rolled out the red carpet before him.
He will build my city. He will bring home my exiles. I didn’t hire him to do
this. I told him.
I, God-of-the-Angel-Armies.”
“Think about this. Wrap your minds around it. This is serious
business, rebels. Take it to heart. Remember your history, your long and rich
history. I am God, the only God you’ve had or ever will have— incomparable, irreplaceable— From the
very beginning telling you what the ending will be, All along letting you in on
what is going to happen, Assuring you, ‘I’m in this for the long haul, I’ll do
exactly what I set out to do,’ Calling that eagle, Cyrus, out of the
east, from a far country the man I chose to help me. I’ve said it, and I’ll
most certainly do it. I’ve planned it, so it’s as good as done.
“Come
everybody, gather around, listen: Who among the gods has delivered the news?
I, God, love this man Cyrus,
and I’m using him to do what I want with Babylon. I, yes I, have spoken. I’ve
called him. I’ve brought him here. He’ll be successful. Come close, listen
carefully: I’ve never kept secrets from you. I’ve always been present with
you.”
Monday, October 22, 2018
Monday, October 22, 2018 - Daily Devotion
God’s Blessing of Brokenness
OCTOBER 22, 2018
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MONDAY
22
Exodus 2:11-15
Exodus 2:11-15
Moses Flees to Midian
11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people.[a] 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” 14 He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.
The Lord had a great calling in mind for Moses—to free more than 2,000,000 Israelites from Egyptian bondage. And the future liberator seemed qualified for the task. As Pharaoh’s adopted grandson, he would have had access to royal privilege, power, and education.
But Moses also had a strong independent spirit that could get in the way of his obedience to the Lord. God’s plan required a broken spirit that would follow Him and rest on His divine power.
A big mistake—killing an Egyptian for beating a slave (Ex. 2:11-12)—was Moses’ opportunity to learn this important lesson. Realizing the murder had been witnessed, he fled to the desert to escape Pharaoh’s wrath. It was there that he came to the end of himself.
Like Moses, we’re all born with a tendency toward selfishness and stubbornness and want things done our way. But God gives us opportunities to bring every area of our life to Him in submission.
Though few will be given a task on the scale of Moses’, the Father has a calling in mind for each believer. Whether His plan is that we raise a godly family, reach out to a neighbor, or run a business with integrity and consideration, He wants us to do so in His power. To prepare us for this work, He sometimes uses brokenness. That wouldn’t be our chosen method, but God knows hardship is sometimes necessary to strip us of our selfish ways.
Do you want to achieve what God has planned for you to do? In humility, ask Him to bring any brokenness that He deems necessary.
Bible in One Year: Luke 4-5
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OCTOBER 22, 2018
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MONDAY
22
Exodus 2:11-15
Exodus 2:11-15
Moses Flees to Midian
11 One day, when Moses had grown up, he went out to his people and looked on their burdens, and he saw an Egyptian beating a Hebrew, one of his people.[a] 12 He looked this way and that, and seeing no one, he struck down the Egyptian and hid him in the sand. 13 When he went out the next day, behold, two Hebrews were struggling together. And he said to the man in the wrong, “Why do you strike your companion?” 14 He answered, “Who made you a prince and a judge over us? Do you mean to kill me as you killed the Egyptian?” Then Moses was afraid, and thought, “Surely the thing is known.” 15 When Pharaoh heard of it, he sought to kill Moses. But Moses fled from Pharaoh and stayed in the land of Midian. And he sat down by a well.
The Lord had a great calling in mind for Moses—to free more than 2,000,000 Israelites from Egyptian bondage. And the future liberator seemed qualified for the task. As Pharaoh’s adopted grandson, he would have had access to royal privilege, power, and education.
But Moses also had a strong independent spirit that could get in the way of his obedience to the Lord. God’s plan required a broken spirit that would follow Him and rest on His divine power.
A big mistake—killing an Egyptian for beating a slave (Ex. 2:11-12)—was Moses’ opportunity to learn this important lesson. Realizing the murder had been witnessed, he fled to the desert to escape Pharaoh’s wrath. It was there that he came to the end of himself.
Like Moses, we’re all born with a tendency toward selfishness and stubbornness and want things done our way. But God gives us opportunities to bring every area of our life to Him in submission.
Though few will be given a task on the scale of Moses’, the Father has a calling in mind for each believer. Whether His plan is that we raise a godly family, reach out to a neighbor, or run a business with integrity and consideration, He wants us to do so in His power. To prepare us for this work, He sometimes uses brokenness. That wouldn’t be our chosen method, but God knows hardship is sometimes necessary to strip us of our selfish ways.
Do you want to achieve what God has planned for you to do? In humility, ask Him to bring any brokenness that He deems necessary.
Bible in One Year: Luke 4-5
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Thursday, October 18, 2018
Thursday, October 18, 2018 - Proverbs 19:19 - The Consequences of Anger
Thursday, October 18, 2018
Scripture:
Proverbs 19:19
19
A man of great anger will bear the penalty [for his quick temper and lack of self-control];
For if you rescue him [and do not let him learn from the consequences of his action], you will only have to rescue him over and over again.
OBSERVATION
God feels anger, and He has given us this same ability. Anger is a common emotion that arises when we encounter threats, insults, injustices, or frustrations. However, because of our fallen nature, we often respond in a sinful manner when this intense feeling overwhelms us.
One sinful response is to hold on to anger until it becomes part of our character, taking up residence in our innermost being. There, it starts to twist thinking and agitate emotions. Peace and joy are noticeably absent because they can’t coexist with the anxiety and frustration that accompany bitterness.
After poisoning the character, anger spills over and affects others. We might throw hurtful words like flaming arrows, even at those who weren’t the cause of the rage. And then we raise shields of self-protection in an effort to avoid future hurts. But sadly, these behaviors lead to stressed relationships and isolation.
While anger can damage our character and connections with others, its most tragic consequence is broken fellowship with God. Wrath not only hinders His work in and through believers; it also grieves the Father’s heart. He desires to shower His children with blessings, but angry fists cannot receive His riches of character and calling.
Are you harboring anger? It could be so deeply buried within your soul that you are unaware of its presence. Since sustained, unresolved bitterness will affect every area of your life, ask God to reveal any hidden resentment. Then release it, and take hold of the riches of Christ.
Bible in One Year: Mark 13-14
Scripture:
Proverbs 19:19
19
A man of great anger will bear the penalty [for his quick temper and lack of self-control];
For if you rescue him [and do not let him learn from the consequences of his action], you will only have to rescue him over and over again.
OBSERVATION
God feels anger, and He has given us this same ability. Anger is a common emotion that arises when we encounter threats, insults, injustices, or frustrations. However, because of our fallen nature, we often respond in a sinful manner when this intense feeling overwhelms us.
One sinful response is to hold on to anger until it becomes part of our character, taking up residence in our innermost being. There, it starts to twist thinking and agitate emotions. Peace and joy are noticeably absent because they can’t coexist with the anxiety and frustration that accompany bitterness.
After poisoning the character, anger spills over and affects others. We might throw hurtful words like flaming arrows, even at those who weren’t the cause of the rage. And then we raise shields of self-protection in an effort to avoid future hurts. But sadly, these behaviors lead to stressed relationships and isolation.
While anger can damage our character and connections with others, its most tragic consequence is broken fellowship with God. Wrath not only hinders His work in and through believers; it also grieves the Father’s heart. He desires to shower His children with blessings, but angry fists cannot receive His riches of character and calling.
Are you harboring anger? It could be so deeply buried within your soul that you are unaware of its presence. Since sustained, unresolved bitterness will affect every area of your life, ask God to reveal any hidden resentment. Then release it, and take hold of the riches of Christ.
Bible in One Year: Mark 13-14
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