Genesis 15:1-2 1After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, “Do
not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall
be very great.”
2Abram said, “O Lord GOD, what will You give me, since I am childless, and the
heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?”
The Difference between "LORD" and "Lord"
In our English Bibles, translators have done us a great favor. If you will take notice in the text above, two words are given different colors to show you the subject of today's blog: "LORD" and "Lord". What is the difference?
The one name spelled in all caps "LORD" refers to God's personal name: Jehovah or Yahweh, as it is in the original text. Meanwhile the other name rendered by "Lord" is referring to the name of God in the original text that is pronounced "Adonai".
When we are using the name "LORD", we are concerned with the identity and personal covenant commitment of the God of Scripture to His people. When we use the second title "Lord", we are speaking of the authority that this God has over our lives and all things. "LORD" is answering the question: "Who is God?" "Lord" on the other hand answers the question: "What does God do?"
The use of "LORD" and "Lord" in Old and New Testaments
Thankfully one does not have to know Old Testament Hebrew or New Testament Greek to know when the biblical authors are referring to Jehovah or Adonai. English translators have taken great pains to make these distinctions for us. In the King James for example, over 6,000 places mention the name "LORD" in both Old and New Testaments, whereas in over 300 places we find reference to the second title "Lord".
Basic uses of "LORD" and "Lord" in the Old Testament
Moses states in Genesis 15:1 that "The LORD" (Yahweh) brought a word to Abram. This is God in His personal dealings with the patriarch. It is He revealing His unending Deity and personal revelation to Abraham.
Abram then responds in Genesis 15:2 - "Abram said, "O Lord God, what will you give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?" This is the first time we come across this different spelling of "Lord". This reveals that Abram is calling God His Master (the root meaning of this name "Lord" or "Adonai")
Why the text mentions both of these names
Abram is relating to God as both Personal and Powerful. As the Personal God, He is Yahweh or LORD. As noted author Henry Blackaby observes: "When people have encountered God, they know two things: They know its God and they know what He's said". Moses is indicating that Abram knew Whom it was addressing Him, since this same God first called and spoke to Him back in Genesis 12. He also knows that the promise of God is yet to be fulfilled - thus the reason for the name "LORD".
The second name "Lord" is used by Abram to indicate his submission to the will of His Master. Though Abram was grappling with how the promise was going to come to pass, His use of "Lord" (Adonai, Master) indicates His willingness to be led.
We know Abram had faith for Genesis 15:6 states - "Then He believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to Him as righteousness". We know by the switching of spellings that Abram is believing God as both His Personal God "LORD", and that He will willing to follow Him from that point onward as His "Lord" or Master.
Why these different spelled names matter to the Christian
To know God is the chief end of the Christian. To know how God dealt with His people, and how they responded to what He reveals makes all the difference in our own knowledge of God. We see from these two names that He is both the Personal God of Revelation, Unending in His Deity, He is the one who Keeps His promises, He is Yahweh or "LORD".
Then He also is the One who leads us. He is the Shepherd, we are the sheep. He is the Master, we are the slaves. He is the Father, we are the sons. He is "Lord", "Master", "Adonai". As Yahweh we look to Him as the source of salvation and the goal of our worship and as Adonai we follow Him willingly and eagerly. Both names capture the true essence of what it means to be a child of God in covenant with the God of Glory.
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Friday, May 25, 2012
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
How to be effective for God
2 Samuel 23:1 Now these are the last words of David. David the son of Jesse
declares, The man who was raised on high declares, The
anointed of the God of Jacob, And the sweet psalmist of Israel,
Last words. David, the greatest king of Israel in the Old Testament, writes what are his final written words in the Bible. Throughout his life David made it a point to be a mighty man of God - which we explored yesterday. Today as we consider David's final words in 2 Samuel 23, we aim to understand another aspect of his life as a man of God - namely how he was an effective man of God.
How can we aim to be effective people of God in the 21st century? Let me sketch out some thoughts for you from 2 Samuel 23 that demonstrate how David did it by the Lord's strength:
1. Identification with God. 2 Samuel 23:1
David identifies himself with three titles: "The man who was raised on high; the anointed of God and the sweet Psalmist of Israel". Each of these titles respectively conveyed his strength, his approval by God and his affection from God. He never identified himself apart from God's strength, approval and affection.
2. Influence others for God. 2 Samuel 23:2-3
2 Samuel 23:2-3 notes - “The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue. 3“The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘He who rules over men righteously, Who rules in the fear of God". How was it that David operated as King? He did it in the fear of the Lord. He influenced others to the degree He was influenced by God. God was His Rock.
3. Illuminating Walk with God. 2 Samuel 23:4
As David walked with God, his chief concern was to walk under an open heaven with God. 1 John 1:6-8 speaks about "walking in the light as He is in the light". For the Christian, we walk as Jesus Himself walked. (1 John 2:6) The Apostle John also writes in 1 John 4:17b "As Jesus Christ is, so are we in this world".
At Jesus' baptism, the heavens parted and he began his public ministry under "an open heaven" fellowship with the Heavenly Father. On the Mount of transfiguration in Matthew 17, the glory cloud of God came down where Jesus was on top of the mountain and declared to the three disciples with Him: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Then When Jesus ascended into heaven, He did so under an open heaven.
Like Jesus, and like David, we too should make it our priority to walk under an open heaven, with fellowship with God as our chief priority. This is how we are effective as people of God. Then finally.....
4. Intention of Finishing well with God. 2 Samuel 23:5
David wrote: "Truly is not my house so with God?" This diagnostic question speaks to our spiritual condition - our Christian life - our "house". How is your heart? How is the estate of your spiritual house? David has the intention of finishing well for God as indicated by the word "all" here in verse 5:
"Ordered all things, and secured"; "For all my salvation"; "and all my desire".
David subsumed every nook and cranny of his life under the Sovereign Covenant that God had made with him almost 33 years prior in 2 Samuel 7:13-16. From the get-go David desired to finish well for God. Would we be a people who are effective for Jesus' sake. May we...
1. Identify with God
2. Influence others for God
3. Have an illuminating walk with God
4. Intend to finish well for God.
Last words. David, the greatest king of Israel in the Old Testament, writes what are his final written words in the Bible. Throughout his life David made it a point to be a mighty man of God - which we explored yesterday. Today as we consider David's final words in 2 Samuel 23, we aim to understand another aspect of his life as a man of God - namely how he was an effective man of God.
How can we aim to be effective people of God in the 21st century? Let me sketch out some thoughts for you from 2 Samuel 23 that demonstrate how David did it by the Lord's strength:
1. Identification with God. 2 Samuel 23:1
David identifies himself with three titles: "The man who was raised on high; the anointed of God and the sweet Psalmist of Israel". Each of these titles respectively conveyed his strength, his approval by God and his affection from God. He never identified himself apart from God's strength, approval and affection.
2. Influence others for God. 2 Samuel 23:2-3
2 Samuel 23:2-3 notes - “The Spirit of the LORD spoke by me, And His word was on my tongue. 3“The God of Israel said, The Rock of Israel spoke to me, ‘He who rules over men righteously, Who rules in the fear of God". How was it that David operated as King? He did it in the fear of the Lord. He influenced others to the degree He was influenced by God. God was His Rock.
3. Illuminating Walk with God. 2 Samuel 23:4
As David walked with God, his chief concern was to walk under an open heaven with God. 1 John 1:6-8 speaks about "walking in the light as He is in the light". For the Christian, we walk as Jesus Himself walked. (1 John 2:6) The Apostle John also writes in 1 John 4:17b "As Jesus Christ is, so are we in this world".
At Jesus' baptism, the heavens parted and he began his public ministry under "an open heaven" fellowship with the Heavenly Father. On the Mount of transfiguration in Matthew 17, the glory cloud of God came down where Jesus was on top of the mountain and declared to the three disciples with Him: "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." Then When Jesus ascended into heaven, He did so under an open heaven.
Like Jesus, and like David, we too should make it our priority to walk under an open heaven, with fellowship with God as our chief priority. This is how we are effective as people of God. Then finally.....
4. Intention of Finishing well with God. 2 Samuel 23:5
David wrote: "Truly is not my house so with God?" This diagnostic question speaks to our spiritual condition - our Christian life - our "house". How is your heart? How is the estate of your spiritual house? David has the intention of finishing well for God as indicated by the word "all" here in verse 5:
"Ordered all things, and secured"; "For all my salvation"; "and all my desire".
David subsumed every nook and cranny of his life under the Sovereign Covenant that God had made with him almost 33 years prior in 2 Samuel 7:13-16. From the get-go David desired to finish well for God. Would we be a people who are effective for Jesus' sake. May we...
1. Identify with God
2. Influence others for God
3. Have an illuminating walk with God
4. Intend to finish well for God.
Defining Kingdom men (people)
1 Chronicles 11:10 Now these are the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who gave him strong
support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to
the word of the LORD concerning Israel.
Over the past few days we have looked at what it means to be a might man (or woman) of God and an effective person for the Lord. In today's blog we want to look at what it means to be a Kingdom man. King David had a group of men who had come to serve him and support him in his rise as Israel's King. Much of what we read of their efforts can apply directly to believers aiming to be about God's Kingdom buisness.
Concerning the contents of 1 Chronicles 11, and how they relate to God's Kingdom work, Matthew Henry notes:
"David reckoned his success as not from the mighty men that were with him, but from the Mighty God, Whose presence is all in all. In strengthening him, they (David's mighty men) strengthened themselves and their own interests. His (King David's) advancement was theirs. We shall gain by what we do in our places for the support for the kingdom of the Son of David."
That last comment on the "kingdom of the Son of David" is of course in reference to the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ - who touching His humanity was descended from David. (please compare Romans 1:1-3)
So what does it take to be a man (or woman) of Christ's Kingdom?
1. Strong Support for Christ's Kingdom
A Kingdom man will first and foremost be supportive of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is the domain of His authority in believer's hearts, in the church and ulitmately over the whole world. Clearly the Kingdom right now is primarily invisible, however the day will come when the Kingdom is more visible than invisible at Christ's second coming.
God's Kingdom refers to the work He is doing calling people to Himself through Christ through the Gospel. We read in 1 Chronicles 11:10 Now these are the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Jesus notes in Matthew 6:33 to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all of these things will be added unto you."
2. Stand their ground
Kingdom men not only support the work of the Kingdom (whether it be through their efforts, giving, time), but secondly in their resolve to take a stand for the Kingdom. In 1 Chronicles 11:14 an episode is recounted where in Israel's history, enemies were stealing farmlands from God's people. It was a time of war and some men rose up and stood their ground for the Kingdom of Israel. We read in the text: "They took their stand in the midst of the plot and defended it, and struck down the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great victory."
Standing ground for Jesus' sake isn't easy. Sometimes the very ones you have to stand against may very well be a friend or close associate. (As in the case of Paul confronting Peter in Galatians 2:11-21) God's Kingdom must be established at all cost. In your own life, are you standing the ground of your heart, guarding it against influences opposite of Christ? Anyone who takes a stand for the Kingdom must be prepared to stand their ground. (Ephesians 6:11-12)
3. Seek to please the Master
In 1 Chronicles 11:17-21 David had in times past craved some fresh water from the srpings of Bethelehem. The men who were with him pushed past enemy lines, at the risk of their own life, to please their master. They returned with the water, only to watch David pour it out on the ground!
Now when I have read this text, I think to myself: "good grief David, could you had not at least took a sip and then poured it out on the ground?" But note what David said in 1 Chronicles 11:19 “....Be it far from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did." David viewed his love and honor for these men above fulfilling the desires of his flesh. David aimed to please His Master - the Lord.
These three mighty men are never recorded as getting angry with David. To me that is the most curious aspect of the scripture at times - what is not said. May I suggest that the reason why the Bible doesn't record their response is because they weren't shocked. They so wanted to please their master, they knew him. They knew that his chief aim in life was to please the Lord above his fleshy appetites. David's pouring out of the water only communicated how much he honored their effort by an act of worship. Pouring out of liquid was an expression of worship. They aided in the one expression he was unable to do at the time of his exile under the regime of Saul - Worship!
4. Strength of character
So a Kingdom man will strongly support the Kingdom, Stand their ground for the Kingdom and Seek to Please the Master of the Kingdom. But notice lastly that a Kingdom man will possess Strength of character. 1 Chronicles 11:22 comments on one of David's mighty men - Beniah - "Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, mighty in deeds, struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion inside a pit on a snowy day."
Beniah came from a line of men who were valiant or of noble character. Furthermore he himself was "mighty in deeds". He never ran from trouble, he chased it, and killed it. A Kingdom man will be fearless, because He knows He has the power of God in and through Him. Benaiah is not noted for strong muscles, but rather his mighty deeds, due to a strong character. Jude 20 underscore this trait for the Christian - "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit".
Over the past few days we have looked at what it means to be a might man (or woman) of God and an effective person for the Lord. In today's blog we want to look at what it means to be a Kingdom man. King David had a group of men who had come to serve him and support him in his rise as Israel's King. Much of what we read of their efforts can apply directly to believers aiming to be about God's Kingdom buisness.
Concerning the contents of 1 Chronicles 11, and how they relate to God's Kingdom work, Matthew Henry notes:
"David reckoned his success as not from the mighty men that were with him, but from the Mighty God, Whose presence is all in all. In strengthening him, they (David's mighty men) strengthened themselves and their own interests. His (King David's) advancement was theirs. We shall gain by what we do in our places for the support for the kingdom of the Son of David."
That last comment on the "kingdom of the Son of David" is of course in reference to the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ - who touching His humanity was descended from David. (please compare Romans 1:1-3)
So what does it take to be a man (or woman) of Christ's Kingdom?
1. Strong Support for Christ's Kingdom
A Kingdom man will first and foremost be supportive of the Kingdom. The Kingdom of God is the domain of His authority in believer's hearts, in the church and ulitmately over the whole world. Clearly the Kingdom right now is primarily invisible, however the day will come when the Kingdom is more visible than invisible at Christ's second coming.
God's Kingdom refers to the work He is doing calling people to Himself through Christ through the Gospel. We read in 1 Chronicles 11:10 Now these are the heads of the mighty men whom David had, who gave him strong support in his kingdom, together with all Israel, to make him king, according to the word of the LORD concerning Israel. Jesus notes in Matthew 6:33 to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all of these things will be added unto you."
2. Stand their ground
Kingdom men not only support the work of the Kingdom (whether it be through their efforts, giving, time), but secondly in their resolve to take a stand for the Kingdom. In 1 Chronicles 11:14 an episode is recounted where in Israel's history, enemies were stealing farmlands from God's people. It was a time of war and some men rose up and stood their ground for the Kingdom of Israel. We read in the text: "They took their stand in the midst of the plot and defended it, and struck down the Philistines; and the LORD saved them by a great victory."
Standing ground for Jesus' sake isn't easy. Sometimes the very ones you have to stand against may very well be a friend or close associate. (As in the case of Paul confronting Peter in Galatians 2:11-21) God's Kingdom must be established at all cost. In your own life, are you standing the ground of your heart, guarding it against influences opposite of Christ? Anyone who takes a stand for the Kingdom must be prepared to stand their ground. (Ephesians 6:11-12)
3. Seek to please the Master
In 1 Chronicles 11:17-21 David had in times past craved some fresh water from the srpings of Bethelehem. The men who were with him pushed past enemy lines, at the risk of their own life, to please their master. They returned with the water, only to watch David pour it out on the ground!
Now when I have read this text, I think to myself: "good grief David, could you had not at least took a sip and then poured it out on the ground?" But note what David said in 1 Chronicles 11:19 “....Be it far from me before my God that I should do this. Shall I drink the blood of these men who went at the risk of their lives? For at the risk of their lives they brought it.” Therefore he would not drink it. These things the three mighty men did." David viewed his love and honor for these men above fulfilling the desires of his flesh. David aimed to please His Master - the Lord.
These three mighty men are never recorded as getting angry with David. To me that is the most curious aspect of the scripture at times - what is not said. May I suggest that the reason why the Bible doesn't record their response is because they weren't shocked. They so wanted to please their master, they knew him. They knew that his chief aim in life was to please the Lord above his fleshy appetites. David's pouring out of the water only communicated how much he honored their effort by an act of worship. Pouring out of liquid was an expression of worship. They aided in the one expression he was unable to do at the time of his exile under the regime of Saul - Worship!
4. Strength of character
So a Kingdom man will strongly support the Kingdom, Stand their ground for the Kingdom and Seek to Please the Master of the Kingdom. But notice lastly that a Kingdom man will possess Strength of character. 1 Chronicles 11:22 comments on one of David's mighty men - Beniah - "Benaiah the son of Jehoiada, the son of a valiant man of Kabzeel, mighty in deeds, struck down the two sons of Ariel of Moab. He also went down and killed a lion inside a pit on a snowy day."
Beniah came from a line of men who were valiant or of noble character. Furthermore he himself was "mighty in deeds". He never ran from trouble, he chased it, and killed it. A Kingdom man will be fearless, because He knows He has the power of God in and through Him. Benaiah is not noted for strong muscles, but rather his mighty deeds, due to a strong character. Jude 20 underscore this trait for the Christian - "But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit".
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Defining a mighty man (person) of God
1 Chronicles 11:1 Then all Israel gathered to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone
and your flesh.
What is a mighty man of God? 1 Chronicles 11 contains within its bounds a listing of King David and his mighty men. David himself was a mighty man of God - described in 1 Samuel 13:14 as "a man after God's own heart". In 1 Chronicles 11 we are taken into the scene of David's coronation as King of Israel. The people of Israel all gathered to David to not only proclaim him as thier king, but to acknowledge why it was they recognized him as their God-sent King. Their comments and David's response in 1 Chronicles 11:1-10 will provide us three characteristics required to be mighty in God.
1. A Mighty man of God prioritizes the word of God
1 Chronicles 11:2-3 records these words of the people: “In times past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and the LORD your God said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and you shall be prince over My people Israel.’” 3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD through Samuel.
These people affirmed the call of God on David's life. They brought back to his memory and their's the words God had spoken through various people to David in his 20 year journey from the shepherd's field to the throne. For instance, the prophet Samuel spoke in 1 Samuel 13:14 of how God had set his sights upon a "man after his own heart". That man of course would be David.
Or how about later on in the course of David's wanderings in the desert to get away from his enemies, where in 1 Samuel 25:30 a woman named Abigail would speak a prophetic word to David - signalling that all of God's purposes for Him would be accomplished.
David, the mighty man of God, heard and embraced these words in times of crisis and conflict. Any person who aims to be mighty in God, will only take seriously God's Word when they have embraced the scriptures in the times of weakness and distress. In David's life, the scriptures didn't have opportunity to gather dust. Crisis and conflict drove him to the text, since the grace of God was propelling Him forward to be Israel's next King.
2. A Mighty man of God prioritizes the worship of God
1 Chronicles 11:3 tells us that when the people said what they said, they anointed him "before the Lord". Everything that they and David did was in conscious awareness of the presence of God. A person who desires to be God-centered will do so to the degree they make conscious awareness of God and worship of God their priority.
Worship is not just confined to a couple of hours on a Sunday morning or singing a few songs out of a hymnal or song sheet. Worship is the Christian's life. The Older Christians used a Latin term to describe a lifestyle devoted to worship of God - Coram Dei (Co-ram day). It simply meant - "In the presence of God". Thus the Christian's aim, like David and His people, was to do everything with conscious acknowledgement of God's presence.
Worship of God recognizes His reign and rule in the realm of what we often term "secular" (from the latin "seculuum" meaning "that which is common"). Coronating a King would had been a public, commonly shared experience. Likewise these people equally recognized God's reign in the realm of the sacred (from the Latin "sacra" meaning holy), since they evoked the word of God spoken over David.
We are living in a culture that no longer recognizes the distinction between the sacred and the secular. Too often Christians relegate God only to the realm of the sacred. They come to houses of worship and sing the songs of praise, and yet throughout the rest of the week their time is viewed as "their time". Worship is to be a 24/7 affair for the believer. We must surely make that important distinction between sacred and secular, however we must equally affirm God's authority over both. Anyone who aims to be mighty in the Lord must be so saturated with a mindset of worship in everything that it becomes second nature. But notice thirdly how it is that David was a mighty man of God:
3. A Mighty man of God prioritizes Walking with God
We scan down to 1 Chronicles 11:9 and read these words in the NASB (New American Standard Bible) - "David became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with him." The Bible tells us that David became "greater and greater". In the original text we could translate: "David walked and walked more". In other words, throughout the course of David's public and private life, his "walk", his "relationship with God" grew deeper and deeper.
Yes there were those times where we clearly saw David's feet of clay. There were those moments where the grossest immorality and hatred leaked into his life. However David repented, exhibiting the chief mark of true conversion: repentance or turning away form one's sin in favor of fellowship and relationship with God. From beginning to end, David's overall pattern of life was that of "walking greater and greater" with God. The man with a feet of clay truly had a heart of gold beating for God.
May you and I be a people who prioritize three things:
1. The Word of God
2. Worship of God
3. Walking with God
When we do those things, we will then become mighty people of God.
What is a mighty man of God? 1 Chronicles 11 contains within its bounds a listing of King David and his mighty men. David himself was a mighty man of God - described in 1 Samuel 13:14 as "a man after God's own heart". In 1 Chronicles 11 we are taken into the scene of David's coronation as King of Israel. The people of Israel all gathered to David to not only proclaim him as thier king, but to acknowledge why it was they recognized him as their God-sent King. Their comments and David's response in 1 Chronicles 11:1-10 will provide us three characteristics required to be mighty in God.
1. A Mighty man of God prioritizes the word of God
1 Chronicles 11:2-3 records these words of the people: “In times past, even when Saul was king, you were the one who led out and brought in Israel; and the LORD your God said to you, ‘You shall shepherd My people Israel, and you shall be prince over My people Israel.’” 3So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before the LORD; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of the LORD through Samuel.
These people affirmed the call of God on David's life. They brought back to his memory and their's the words God had spoken through various people to David in his 20 year journey from the shepherd's field to the throne. For instance, the prophet Samuel spoke in 1 Samuel 13:14 of how God had set his sights upon a "man after his own heart". That man of course would be David.
Or how about later on in the course of David's wanderings in the desert to get away from his enemies, where in 1 Samuel 25:30 a woman named Abigail would speak a prophetic word to David - signalling that all of God's purposes for Him would be accomplished.
David, the mighty man of God, heard and embraced these words in times of crisis and conflict. Any person who aims to be mighty in God, will only take seriously God's Word when they have embraced the scriptures in the times of weakness and distress. In David's life, the scriptures didn't have opportunity to gather dust. Crisis and conflict drove him to the text, since the grace of God was propelling Him forward to be Israel's next King.
2. A Mighty man of God prioritizes the worship of God
1 Chronicles 11:3 tells us that when the people said what they said, they anointed him "before the Lord". Everything that they and David did was in conscious awareness of the presence of God. A person who desires to be God-centered will do so to the degree they make conscious awareness of God and worship of God their priority.
Worship is not just confined to a couple of hours on a Sunday morning or singing a few songs out of a hymnal or song sheet. Worship is the Christian's life. The Older Christians used a Latin term to describe a lifestyle devoted to worship of God - Coram Dei (Co-ram day). It simply meant - "In the presence of God". Thus the Christian's aim, like David and His people, was to do everything with conscious acknowledgement of God's presence.
Worship of God recognizes His reign and rule in the realm of what we often term "secular" (from the latin "seculuum" meaning "that which is common"). Coronating a King would had been a public, commonly shared experience. Likewise these people equally recognized God's reign in the realm of the sacred (from the Latin "sacra" meaning holy), since they evoked the word of God spoken over David.
We are living in a culture that no longer recognizes the distinction between the sacred and the secular. Too often Christians relegate God only to the realm of the sacred. They come to houses of worship and sing the songs of praise, and yet throughout the rest of the week their time is viewed as "their time". Worship is to be a 24/7 affair for the believer. We must surely make that important distinction between sacred and secular, however we must equally affirm God's authority over both. Anyone who aims to be mighty in the Lord must be so saturated with a mindset of worship in everything that it becomes second nature. But notice thirdly how it is that David was a mighty man of God:
3. A Mighty man of God prioritizes Walking with God
We scan down to 1 Chronicles 11:9 and read these words in the NASB (New American Standard Bible) - "David became greater and greater, for the LORD of hosts was with him." The Bible tells us that David became "greater and greater". In the original text we could translate: "David walked and walked more". In other words, throughout the course of David's public and private life, his "walk", his "relationship with God" grew deeper and deeper.
Yes there were those times where we clearly saw David's feet of clay. There were those moments where the grossest immorality and hatred leaked into his life. However David repented, exhibiting the chief mark of true conversion: repentance or turning away form one's sin in favor of fellowship and relationship with God. From beginning to end, David's overall pattern of life was that of "walking greater and greater" with God. The man with a feet of clay truly had a heart of gold beating for God.
May you and I be a people who prioritize three things:
1. The Word of God
2. Worship of God
3. Walking with God
When we do those things, we will then become mighty people of God.
Monday, May 21, 2012
The Cure for spiritual leprosy
Luke 17:11-13 While He was on the way to Jerusalem, He was passing between Samaria and
Galilee. 12As He entered a village, ten leprous men who
stood at a distance met Him; 13and they
raised their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!”
Yesterday we considered how sin can be likened to spiritual leprosy by comparing it to the leprosy spoken of in Leviticus 13. Today we want to know: What is the cure for spiritual leprosy? By way of review, here is what we discovered about sin or spiritual leprosy and its characteristics:
1. It Deteriorates the soul
2. It Debilitates the soul
3. It Deforms the soul
4. It Destroys the soul
5. It Defiles the soul
Jesus confronts two types of leprosy
Jesus was on his way to Jersualem, passing between Samaria and Galilee. Like the priests in Leviticus 13-14, whenever it came time to go and inspect a leprous person, they would journey outside the camp of Israel. Jesus, the Great High Priest, was about 45 miles North of Jerusalem.
On his way he was met by 10 lepers. Now these men did not cry out what was prescribed by the law: "Unclean, Unclean". Rather they were so desperate that they cried out: "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" They did not want to be made ritually clean only, they wanted healing. The Bible states after Jesus told them to go on their way, they were cleansed. God in human flesh had done a great work - Christ had healed these men.
However He told them to go to the priests at the temple. Now this was impossible for two reasons - first these men were Samitans - and Samaritans were forbidden on The Temple Grounds. Second, the priests would have to go to the lepers, rather than the lepers going to the priests.
For whatever reason only one came back to Jesus. That one leper saw the impossibility of being able to follow through with what Jesus said. We must remember that the law of God is prescribed to man to point the way to Jesus Christ. Only when I by grace am brought to terms with my own inability to contribute saving benefits for my own salvation from the law will I then come to Jesus to be saved. The law cannot impart healing of spiritual leprosy, rather it points to the One who alone can cure - Christ. Thus he came back and thanked Him. Jesus, upon seeing this man, said literally in the Greek text of Luke 17:19 "Rise up and go, your faith has saved you". This man not only had his physical leprosy cured, but moreso his spiritual leprosy.
What was needed, and is still needed to cure spiritual leprosy
What happened that led to the curing of this man's spiritual leprosy? Let me suggest four elements that were present that led to the cure of this man's spiritual leprosy:
1. Priestly Representative. Luke 17:11-13 This man, being a Samaritan, could not go to the priests in Jerusalem. He sought the only one who could represent Him - Christ. According to Hebrews 5 and 7, Christ is the believer's High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek. This man saw no remedy in the Law, He fled into the arms of grace - Christ the Priestly representative.
2. Provision of the blood. Luke 17:14-18 Now in Leviticus 13,14 and 15, whenever the people sought cleansing, the priest would offer a sacrifice and sprinkling of blood. Blood of an innocent was shed on their behalf. As believers we have the provision of blood that was shed on our behalf by the Lord Jesus Christ. Now you may say: Wait a minute - in Luke 17 Jesus had not yet went to the cross. As true as that is, we do know that the affects of the cross not only reach forward to us today who by grace through faith believe on Christ and His work, but that work also reached backward into time.
All the Old Testament saints were saved by believing on the Promise of God pointing to the cross, whereas we are saved by the Person of God in Jesus Christ who accomplished salvation on the cross. This man was healed due to what Christ would accomplish. Another passage, Matthew 8:17, quoted prior to Jesus' going to the cross, credits that future work for the healing of Peter's Mother-in-law. No doubt, there was provision of blood that enabled this man to be forgiven of his spiritual leprosy.
3. Pronouncement of cleansing. Luke 17:19Jesus tells this man that as a result of his faith, he has been made well. The Greek word there for "well" is "saved". Thus this man is pronounced clean, pure, innocent in the sight of God. This is what Bible teachers call "justification by faith". Christ judicially declared this man clean. For every child of God at saving faith, God's divine declaration of the sinner's innocence occurs the moment the sinner repents and believes on Christ.
On the cross Christ took on my spiritual leprosy. Though never having sinned, he was "credited" or "declared sin". When I by grace through faith believed on Jesus Christ, though it was clear I sinned, yet Christ's work and character was "credited" to me. I was declared "righteous" due to Christ's righteousness. Thus a spiritual leper is declared "clean" as a result of the application of blood by the Eternal High Priest.
4. Persist to live for God. Luke 17:19 Jesus told this man to "stand up and go". All of those who were former spiritual lepers should not desire to remain in the leprous state of this world. So often Christians are tempted to go back to the way they were, not realizing that having been healed. They have freedom to not only walk in the courts of fellowship with God, they have full access. In Jesus Christ the saint of God is given power and priviledge to live the Christian walk. It is our duty and delight to go tell a world full of spiritual lepers how they too can be cured of their spiritual leprousy.
Yesterday we considered how sin can be likened to spiritual leprosy by comparing it to the leprosy spoken of in Leviticus 13. Today we want to know: What is the cure for spiritual leprosy? By way of review, here is what we discovered about sin or spiritual leprosy and its characteristics:
1. It Deteriorates the soul
2. It Debilitates the soul
3. It Deforms the soul
4. It Destroys the soul
5. It Defiles the soul
Jesus confronts two types of leprosy
Jesus was on his way to Jersualem, passing between Samaria and Galilee. Like the priests in Leviticus 13-14, whenever it came time to go and inspect a leprous person, they would journey outside the camp of Israel. Jesus, the Great High Priest, was about 45 miles North of Jerusalem.
On his way he was met by 10 lepers. Now these men did not cry out what was prescribed by the law: "Unclean, Unclean". Rather they were so desperate that they cried out: "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" They did not want to be made ritually clean only, they wanted healing. The Bible states after Jesus told them to go on their way, they were cleansed. God in human flesh had done a great work - Christ had healed these men.
However He told them to go to the priests at the temple. Now this was impossible for two reasons - first these men were Samitans - and Samaritans were forbidden on The Temple Grounds. Second, the priests would have to go to the lepers, rather than the lepers going to the priests.
For whatever reason only one came back to Jesus. That one leper saw the impossibility of being able to follow through with what Jesus said. We must remember that the law of God is prescribed to man to point the way to Jesus Christ. Only when I by grace am brought to terms with my own inability to contribute saving benefits for my own salvation from the law will I then come to Jesus to be saved. The law cannot impart healing of spiritual leprosy, rather it points to the One who alone can cure - Christ. Thus he came back and thanked Him. Jesus, upon seeing this man, said literally in the Greek text of Luke 17:19 "Rise up and go, your faith has saved you". This man not only had his physical leprosy cured, but moreso his spiritual leprosy.
What was needed, and is still needed to cure spiritual leprosy
What happened that led to the curing of this man's spiritual leprosy? Let me suggest four elements that were present that led to the cure of this man's spiritual leprosy:
1. Priestly Representative. Luke 17:11-13 This man, being a Samaritan, could not go to the priests in Jerusalem. He sought the only one who could represent Him - Christ. According to Hebrews 5 and 7, Christ is the believer's High Priest according to the order of Melchizedek. This man saw no remedy in the Law, He fled into the arms of grace - Christ the Priestly representative.
2. Provision of the blood. Luke 17:14-18 Now in Leviticus 13,14 and 15, whenever the people sought cleansing, the priest would offer a sacrifice and sprinkling of blood. Blood of an innocent was shed on their behalf. As believers we have the provision of blood that was shed on our behalf by the Lord Jesus Christ. Now you may say: Wait a minute - in Luke 17 Jesus had not yet went to the cross. As true as that is, we do know that the affects of the cross not only reach forward to us today who by grace through faith believe on Christ and His work, but that work also reached backward into time.
All the Old Testament saints were saved by believing on the Promise of God pointing to the cross, whereas we are saved by the Person of God in Jesus Christ who accomplished salvation on the cross. This man was healed due to what Christ would accomplish. Another passage, Matthew 8:17, quoted prior to Jesus' going to the cross, credits that future work for the healing of Peter's Mother-in-law. No doubt, there was provision of blood that enabled this man to be forgiven of his spiritual leprosy.
3. Pronouncement of cleansing. Luke 17:19Jesus tells this man that as a result of his faith, he has been made well. The Greek word there for "well" is "saved". Thus this man is pronounced clean, pure, innocent in the sight of God. This is what Bible teachers call "justification by faith". Christ judicially declared this man clean. For every child of God at saving faith, God's divine declaration of the sinner's innocence occurs the moment the sinner repents and believes on Christ.
On the cross Christ took on my spiritual leprosy. Though never having sinned, he was "credited" or "declared sin". When I by grace through faith believed on Jesus Christ, though it was clear I sinned, yet Christ's work and character was "credited" to me. I was declared "righteous" due to Christ's righteousness. Thus a spiritual leper is declared "clean" as a result of the application of blood by the Eternal High Priest.
4. Persist to live for God. Luke 17:19 Jesus told this man to "stand up and go". All of those who were former spiritual lepers should not desire to remain in the leprous state of this world. So often Christians are tempted to go back to the way they were, not realizing that having been healed. They have freedom to not only walk in the courts of fellowship with God, they have full access. In Jesus Christ the saint of God is given power and priviledge to live the Christian walk. It is our duty and delight to go tell a world full of spiritual lepers how they too can be cured of their spiritual leprousy.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Sin is Spiritual Leprosy
Leviticus 13:1-2 Then the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
2“When a man has on the skin of his body a
swelling or a scab or a bright spot, and it becomes an infection of leprosy on
the skin of his body, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of
his sons the priests.
Whenever you hear words like "cancer" or "AIDS", instant images and dread grips the mind. In human history we have read about diseases that turned into outright plagues - killing millions of people. However there is one disease that has killed billions - the S-I-N virus.
In Leviticus 13, 14 and 15 we see the profane nature of sin illustrated by God in three sets of instructions given to His people. I would classify Leviticus 13,14,and 15 as among the more grossest chapters to read - however that estimation is how we should regard sin. Sin should repulse us - just like the three word pictures employed by Moses: Leprosy (Leviticus 13); Mold (Leviticus 14) and Uncleanliness (Leviticus 15).
What kind of disease was leprosy, and how does it picture sin?
Various commentators have attempted to identify what exactly Moses was referring to when God gave sanitary laws dealing with leprous infections. Some have suggested the dreaded "Hansen's" disease or what is known as modern day leprousy, where quite literally the human body destroys itself. Others have suggested various skin ailments. Whatever the disease may be, we do know that the disease followed a predicted pattern and produced definite outcomes. By viewing these outcomes, we can see why God used this disease in Leviticus 13 to illustrate sin as "spiritual leprosy". Note the five characteristics of sin as spiritual leprosy:
1. Like leprosy, sin deteriorates. Leviticus 13:1-13
2. Like leprosy, sin debilitates. Leviticus 13:14-28
3. Like leprosy, sin deforms. Leviticus 13:29-37
4. Like leprosy, sin destroys. Leviticus 13:38-46
5. Like leprosy, sin defiles. Leviticus 13:47-52
As you read through Leviticus 13, though you are reading about a serious disease dealt with back in the days of ancient Israel, you are ultimately getting a word picture of why it is sin must be hated and why only God in Christ can provide the cure. Throughout the scriptures, leprosy, though not in every case, was nonetheless used on occassion to illustrate sinful rebellion. Gehazi in 2 Kings 5:27 and Uzziah in 2 Kings 15:5 both broke out in leprosy for their rebellion against God and His authority.
Leprosy was virtually incurable, and in human terms was incurable by human medicine. Only God could cure the leper. God healed the Syrian general Naaman in 2 Kings 5 and Jesus healed lepers in Matthew 8:1-13 and Luke 17:11-19. Like the leprosy in those cases, our sin and shame before a Holy God can only be dealt with effectively through faith and trust in Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:24 states - "and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed."
Whenever you hear words like "cancer" or "AIDS", instant images and dread grips the mind. In human history we have read about diseases that turned into outright plagues - killing millions of people. However there is one disease that has killed billions - the S-I-N virus.
In Leviticus 13, 14 and 15 we see the profane nature of sin illustrated by God in three sets of instructions given to His people. I would classify Leviticus 13,14,and 15 as among the more grossest chapters to read - however that estimation is how we should regard sin. Sin should repulse us - just like the three word pictures employed by Moses: Leprosy (Leviticus 13); Mold (Leviticus 14) and Uncleanliness (Leviticus 15).
What kind of disease was leprosy, and how does it picture sin?
Various commentators have attempted to identify what exactly Moses was referring to when God gave sanitary laws dealing with leprous infections. Some have suggested the dreaded "Hansen's" disease or what is known as modern day leprousy, where quite literally the human body destroys itself. Others have suggested various skin ailments. Whatever the disease may be, we do know that the disease followed a predicted pattern and produced definite outcomes. By viewing these outcomes, we can see why God used this disease in Leviticus 13 to illustrate sin as "spiritual leprosy". Note the five characteristics of sin as spiritual leprosy:
1. Like leprosy, sin deteriorates. Leviticus 13:1-13
2. Like leprosy, sin debilitates. Leviticus 13:14-28
3. Like leprosy, sin deforms. Leviticus 13:29-37
4. Like leprosy, sin destroys. Leviticus 13:38-46
5. Like leprosy, sin defiles. Leviticus 13:47-52
As you read through Leviticus 13, though you are reading about a serious disease dealt with back in the days of ancient Israel, you are ultimately getting a word picture of why it is sin must be hated and why only God in Christ can provide the cure. Throughout the scriptures, leprosy, though not in every case, was nonetheless used on occassion to illustrate sinful rebellion. Gehazi in 2 Kings 5:27 and Uzziah in 2 Kings 15:5 both broke out in leprosy for their rebellion against God and His authority.
Leprosy was virtually incurable, and in human terms was incurable by human medicine. Only God could cure the leper. God healed the Syrian general Naaman in 2 Kings 5 and Jesus healed lepers in Matthew 8:1-13 and Luke 17:11-19. Like the leprosy in those cases, our sin and shame before a Holy God can only be dealt with effectively through faith and trust in Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:24 states - "and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed."
Saturday, May 19, 2012
The inerrant Bible is the Holy Bible
Romans 1:1-3Paul, a bond-servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for
the gospel of God, 2which He promised beforehand through His prophets
in the holy Scriptures, 3concerning
His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh,
Yesterday we considered why the Holy Bible is the Holy Bible. We looked at its characteristics in light of what we have studied in the realm of holiness. Having seen that the Bible alone can be considered "Holy" or "Sacred" in the authoritative sense, today we want to elaborate on the one trait that demonstrates the Bible to be "The Holy Bible" - inerrancy.
The scripture is pure and undefiled, qualifying it to predict events accurately.
Holiness or sacredness includes purity. Theologians refer to the scriptures as being inerrant and infallible - that is, without error and incapable of error. Five phrases above lead us to the thought of how crucial inerrancy is to the Holy character of scripture:
1. "the Gospel of God" or the Message of the inerrant scripture
2. "promised before hand" (i.e predictive prophecy) or the Method of inerrant scripture
3. "through his servants the prophets" or the Means by which came inerrant scripture
4. "in the Holy Scriptures" or the Manufacturing of inerrant scripture
5. "concerning His Son" or the Majesty of Christ, the focus of inerrant scripture
In order for the Bible to predict events accurately, it had to be without error. Now lets break these series of phrases down to explain further why biblical inerrancy is necessary in order the Holy Bible to be the Holy Bible:
a. The Message of Inerrant Scripture - "The Gospel of God." This is the "Good News" of God's Mission to rescue sinful man from the death of sin. It was first proclaimed in Genesis 3:15 and throughout the 10 generations from Adam to Noah in Genesis 5-6. Abraham heard it in Genesis 12,15,17. Isaac and jacob and the Patriarchs were repeated the "promise" of the Gospel throughout the rest of Genesis.
b. The Method of Inerrant Scripture - "Promised before hand".
Moses later on spoke of this promise of the Gospel and predicted a Prophet to come in Deuteronomy 18. David was promised the coming of a King from his blood line in 2 Samuel 7:13-16. By the time we reach the New Testament, we discover that in all, 332 prophecies were made about Jesus Christ, the subject of all prophecy. If one of those predictions had been wrong, the whole fabric of scripture would had unraveled.
c. The Means by which came inerrant scripture - "Through His Servants the prophets".
If the Gospel was the message, and the predictions and promises were the method, then the prophets themselves were the means through which God revealed the Holy Scriptures. These men wrote as they were "carried along" by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21). Those men were at times sinful, yet the Spirit of God gave the Grace of inspiration in order to preserve what they wrote from error. No other book had this Divine protection accompanying its composition like the Bible - thus making it Holy.
d.The Manufacture of inerrant scripture - "In the Holy Scriptures"
With the Holy message, method and means we now come to the Holy manufacturing of the scriptures themselves. They are termed "Holy Scriptures". In order to be Holy, they were not merely "deemed Holy", they were Holy. The level of holiness invested in the sacred text of scripture is such that they are without error.
e. The Majesty of Christ, the focus of inerrant scripture - "Concerning His Son"
The Majesty of the Son is the focal point of all scripture. What would happpen if the message would had been inaccurate? Or how about the method - predictive prophecy? What if the Holy Spirit had not preserved the means of communication - the prophets words? Or how about the manufacturing of the scriptures in their original form? If any part of that process would had been unholy - we would not know the Holy Majesty of Christ.
As you can see, if the Bible had even one error, it would not be pure and thus it would be incapable of accurately communicating the Majesty of Jesus Christ. For these reasons the inerrancy of scripture is why we can see that the Holy Bible is the Holy Bible.
Yesterday we considered why the Holy Bible is the Holy Bible. We looked at its characteristics in light of what we have studied in the realm of holiness. Having seen that the Bible alone can be considered "Holy" or "Sacred" in the authoritative sense, today we want to elaborate on the one trait that demonstrates the Bible to be "The Holy Bible" - inerrancy.
The scripture is pure and undefiled, qualifying it to predict events accurately.
Holiness or sacredness includes purity. Theologians refer to the scriptures as being inerrant and infallible - that is, without error and incapable of error. Five phrases above lead us to the thought of how crucial inerrancy is to the Holy character of scripture:
1. "the Gospel of God" or the Message of the inerrant scripture
2. "promised before hand" (i.e predictive prophecy) or the Method of inerrant scripture
3. "through his servants the prophets" or the Means by which came inerrant scripture
4. "in the Holy Scriptures" or the Manufacturing of inerrant scripture
5. "concerning His Son" or the Majesty of Christ, the focus of inerrant scripture
In order for the Bible to predict events accurately, it had to be without error. Now lets break these series of phrases down to explain further why biblical inerrancy is necessary in order the Holy Bible to be the Holy Bible:
a. The Message of Inerrant Scripture - "The Gospel of God." This is the "Good News" of God's Mission to rescue sinful man from the death of sin. It was first proclaimed in Genesis 3:15 and throughout the 10 generations from Adam to Noah in Genesis 5-6. Abraham heard it in Genesis 12,15,17. Isaac and jacob and the Patriarchs were repeated the "promise" of the Gospel throughout the rest of Genesis.
b. The Method of Inerrant Scripture - "Promised before hand".
Moses later on spoke of this promise of the Gospel and predicted a Prophet to come in Deuteronomy 18. David was promised the coming of a King from his blood line in 2 Samuel 7:13-16. By the time we reach the New Testament, we discover that in all, 332 prophecies were made about Jesus Christ, the subject of all prophecy. If one of those predictions had been wrong, the whole fabric of scripture would had unraveled.
c. The Means by which came inerrant scripture - "Through His Servants the prophets".
If the Gospel was the message, and the predictions and promises were the method, then the prophets themselves were the means through which God revealed the Holy Scriptures. These men wrote as they were "carried along" by the Holy Spirit. (2 Peter 1:21). Those men were at times sinful, yet the Spirit of God gave the Grace of inspiration in order to preserve what they wrote from error. No other book had this Divine protection accompanying its composition like the Bible - thus making it Holy.
d.The Manufacture of inerrant scripture - "In the Holy Scriptures"
With the Holy message, method and means we now come to the Holy manufacturing of the scriptures themselves. They are termed "Holy Scriptures". In order to be Holy, they were not merely "deemed Holy", they were Holy. The level of holiness invested in the sacred text of scripture is such that they are without error.
e. The Majesty of Christ, the focus of inerrant scripture - "Concerning His Son"
The Majesty of the Son is the focal point of all scripture. What would happpen if the message would had been inaccurate? Or how about the method - predictive prophecy? What if the Holy Spirit had not preserved the means of communication - the prophets words? Or how about the manufacturing of the scriptures in their original form? If any part of that process would had been unholy - we would not know the Holy Majesty of Christ.
As you can see, if the Bible had even one error, it would not be pure and thus it would be incapable of accurately communicating the Majesty of Jesus Christ. For these reasons the inerrancy of scripture is why we can see that the Holy Bible is the Holy Bible.
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