BibleTrekToday.com

Year: 2009

  • Wise Living When Days Are Evil!

    Scripture reading for December 1st: Ephesians 1-6

    Ephesians is one of my favorite letters from God through Paul.  It contains amazing spiritual truth and insight for those in Christ’s church.  There is a wealth of encouragement and some fantastic prayers that lift us into the realm of God.  The simple Gospel is explained in Ephesians 2:8-11 in an easily understandable form.  The church and it’s purposes are laid out in Ephesians 4:1-16.  Following that, there are practical instructions for wise living for those in Christ.  I have often used these chapters in counseling others over the years I have ministered.  The last chapter helps us with spiritual warfare and the armor of God.  We are all in a battle against wicked forces in the heavenly realm.

    “Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.  Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.  Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.  Sing and make music in your hearts to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Ephesians 5:15-20

    The only way to live wisely in these evil days is to be continuously filled with the Holy Spirit!  This is not a one-time experience of speaking in tongues or an emotional high at a Christian meeting.  It is a personal relationship with God the Holy Spirit.  As we live full of the Holy Spirit, we live a life of worship.  We do this when we are alone with God and when we are around others.  When we are filled with the Spirit, we speak graciously to others.  Our speech is pleasing and in harmony with the Spirit of God.

    Our speech is to be filled with thanksgiving to God the Father for everything.  We realize that everything we have is from God.  Our strength and health, as well as our material possessions, are gifts.  We are blessed by our relationship with God and realize all the blessing of being in Christ! (Ephesians 1:3-12)  Christ is the reason for all that we have and we bubble over with thanksgiving and melodious speech.  Psalms and hymns and spiritual songs come from our hearts as we are filled with thanksgiving!

    This is the secret to wise living in evil days!   Ask the Lord to fill you afresh with the Holy Spirit today!  Begin your day with worship!  Read some Psalms like 96-100!  Sing a spiritual song of love, thanksgiving to the Lord from your heart!  Decide to speak in harmony with the Holy Spirit to everyone you meet today!  What a difference!  You will make the most of every opportunity!  May God unveil all the spiritual blessing that are yours today in Christ Jesus!  Let all who are in Christ be “being filled with the Holy Spirit!”

  • Crucified and Risen With Christ!

    Scripture reading for November 30th: Galatians 1-6

    I hate legalism!  Some people, calling themselves Christians, make rules for how we must live and judge others by how they do or do not keep their rules.  They mean well but end up giving true Christianity a bad name. Some think that they are right to condemn others for the length of their hair, wearing make-up, or certain clothes.  Some judge others for having tattoos or body piercing .  Others are thrown out if they don’t believe in eternal security or baptism in the name of Jesus only.   The religious police are always out enforcing their version of “true” Christianity!

    The Apostle Paul dealt with some people who tried to add the Old Testament Law to faith in Christ.  His approach to that subject is laid out in this letter to the Galatians.  He wasted no time setting this group of believers straight.  Paul taught that any addition to the simple Gospel of salvation by grace through faith was a perversion that was no Gospel at all!  (Galatians 1:6-7)  Paul warned these believers that anyone, even if it was an angel from heaven or himself,  who tried to preach another Gospel should be eternally condemned!  (Galatians 1:8-9)  That is very strong language! It is very serious business because it affects our eternal salvation!

    This mixing of law and grace even affected Peter and Barnabas some 14 years after Paul’s conversion.  Paul found Peter withdrawing from the Gentiles and eating only with the Jewish believers who were teaching that circumcision was needed as well as faith.  (Galatians 2:11-16)  Paul rebuked Peter in front of them all for their hypocrisy!  They had given in to peer pressure and false teaching and moved away from the simple Gospel given them by the Lord Jesus.  This show us how easy it is to be taken in by legalism and false teaching.  If it could happen to Peter the Apostle and Barnabas, it could happen to us!

    Paul made a statement that is one of my favorite as he tried to counter these false teachers.  I used to sing it in a Scripture song that has stuck with me even today.  “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me.  The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.  I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing.” (Galatians 2:20-21)

    “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not earthly things.  for you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will also appear with Him in glory.” Colossians 3:1-3

  • Sunday Rest and Reflection: 2nd Corinthians 10-13

    Dear Friends,

    Welcome to another day of rest!  This cycle of working 6 and resting one day is really a gift from God for us!  God knows that we really need rest!  The rest we need is from trying to work for His approval!  In Christ, we are completely approved and accepted in the beloved!  Let’s enter this day fully resting in Christ!

    In order to complete our reading this year, we must read for 5 more Sundays!  In our devotion, I have picked out several key scriptures to meditate on today.  May you find God speaking to you through His Word!

    “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ.” 2nd Corinthians 10:4-5

    “For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ.  And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.  It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.  Their end will be what their actions deserve.” 2nd Corinthians 11:13-15

    “But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.””  “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.  That’s why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2nd Corinthians 12:9-10

    “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.  Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you–unless, of course, you fail the test? 2nd Corinthians 13:5

    “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” 2nd Corinthians 13:14

    Resting in His matchless love,  Pastor John

  • Abounding Grace!

    Scripture reading for November 28th: 2nd Corinthians 6-9

    “Remember this:  Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.  And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2nd Corinthians 9:6-8

    I love this passage of Scripture.  As a farmer who has sowed many fields with seed, I understand the principles of sowing and reaping.  When you sow seed, if you are stingy and sow less than needed, you will have a problem with weeds.  Weeds will come up and choke out the small amount of seed that you placed in the ground.  If you sow plenty of seed, it will produce an abundant crop.  A farmer must be willing to let go of the seed.  Sowing with a bad attitude doesn’t bring blessing.  The seed must be turned loose and let go of into the earth in order to produce.  We can’t hold onto it and expect a crop!  Sowing must be done in faith that a harvest will come.  Our hope is in the seed and the Lord’s grace to provide water and weather.

    Our giving to God’s work is the same way.  The money is like seed.  It represents our life energy that we have spent working or investing.  As we give to God the tithe that belongs to Him and offerings, it is like seed sown into the kingdom of God.  We must turn loose of it and let it do it’s work of multiplication.  We give cheerfully and in faith believing that God will faithfully multiply the seed.  He is willing and able to make all grace abound to us!

    I like the emphasis on the word “all” in this simple passage.  “All Grace” abounds to the cheerful giver.  The giver has “all he needs” in “all things” at “all times”. God wants us to know abundance in our lives.  When we sow, we can expect blessing and sufficiency.  We actually set up a cycle of blessing that is described later in this chapter.  Our giving brings thanksgiving to God from those that are helped.  God gets tickled and gives you more seed to sow again.  This meets the needs of others who again thank God.  God gets tickled again and pours out even more blessing and multiplied seed so you can give even more!  More people are helped and thank God and the cycle goes on!  All grace abounds and you have all you need in all things at all times!  That’s a cycle of abounding grace that all believers should tap into!

  • New Creation Realities!

    Scripture reading for November 27th: 2nd Corinthians 1-5

    Many Christians don’t realize who they really are in Christ.  They struggle with low self-esteem and feelings of inferiority. They try to be different and keep the rules or commandments but always fail or fall short. “Try harder!”, some well-meaning saints encourage!   But the harder they try, the more frustrated they become. The secret is in knowing who we are in Christ.

    When we are truly ‘born again’, we are transformed inside by the Holy Spirit into new creations. (John 3:3-8) (2nd Corinthians 5:17)   As God blew breath into Adam and he became a living being, so the breath of God comes into us by the Holy Spirit and we become alive to God!  We haven’t just added a set of rules to live by.  We don’t just learn a creed of ethics that makes us different from other religions.  We don’t just go to church and sing songs and learn traditions.  Our life is brand new at it’s core, in our heart and spirit! We now have an eternal relationship with Father, Son (Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit.

    “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to Himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.  And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation.  We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making His appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf:  Be reconciled to God.  God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2nd Corinthians 5:17-21

    We have a new identity!  The new creation that is formed in us by the Holy Spirit is reconciled to God.  We are no longer cut off from Him by sin.  God did this work of reconciliation at the cross.  He put our sins on His Son and the Son paid the penalty. We are adopted into God’s family and given the task of appealing to others on Christ’s behalf.   Our position is “ambassador” of Christ.  We are to implore men and women to be reconciled to God.  We have a divine purpose and our identity is with Christ instead of self and sin.  Low self-esteem is an old thing that is vanquished!  The new has come and is from God!

    What a blessing to be forgiven!  What freedom to know eternal life and a relationship with our heavenly Father!  These new creation realities must be appropriated by faith and lived out daily.  Our God is for us and now we are for Him!  Appropriate your “ambassador” status today and implore someone you know to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ!  It’s who you really are and your divine purpose!

  • Raised from the Dead!

    Scripture reading for November 26th: 1st Corinthians 15-16

    One of the stumbling blocks for intellectuals is the resurrection.  This was so in the Corinthian culture of the early church.  The resurrection is foreign to anything our mind can truly understand.  Death seems to the natural eye to be irreversible.  Doctors can treat a person, but they can’t keep them from dying, and raising someone from the dead so that he will never die has not yet happened.  The Apostle Paul addresses the subject of resurrection in our reading today.

    “For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: That Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep.” (1st Corinthians 15:3-6)

    At the heart of the Gospel message is Christ’s resurrection.  First Jesus appeared to Mary at the tomb. (John 20:13-18)   Then Peter saw the Lord and then the Twelve, minus Judas, so Him (Mark 16:14)  The two disciples saw Him on the road to Emmaus. (Luke 24:31-32) Thomas got to put his fingers in the holes of Jesus resurrected body and became a believer. (John 20:26-28) Finally, Jesus appeared to over 500 brothers at the same time!  (1st Corinthians 15:16)  Christ’s resurrection was well documented.  These men were either lying or telling the truth.  If they were lying, many of them went to their death rather than change their story!

    Not only has Christ been raised from the dead, but all who believe in Him will also be raised from the dead!  Resurrection is a key truth of the Christian faith.  Christ’s resurrection guarantees our resurrection, if we are trusting in Him.  “But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.  For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man.  For in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.” (1st Corinthians 15:20-22)

    Our resurrection is like the planting of a seed.  A seed goes into the ground and dies.  At the proper time, the seed germinates and a new plant comes up.  It is not like the seed that was sown.  So is the resurrection body.  Our body is sown in weakness and decay; it will be raised in glory.  It is sown as perishable.  It will be raised eternal and imperishable!  It was sown a natural body, going back to dust.  It will be raised a spiritual body that lives forever! (1st Corinthians 15:42-44)

    This change will happen at the “last trumpet”!  In a split second, the perishable body will be changed into an imperishable eternal body.  Death will be swallowed up by victory in Christ’s eternal life!  What a glorious day that will be!  It is the hope of every true believer!

  • The Way of Love!

    Scripture reading for November 25th: 1st Corinthians 11-14

    Many people get excited about the spiritual gifts.  God gives each person gifts through the Holy Spirit that are to be used to build up the body of Christ.  (1st Corinthians 12:7)  These gifts may be characterized in three general categories.  There are those gifts that impart knowledge–word of wisdom, word of knowledge and prophesy.  Other gifts are used to do something: gifts of healing, miraculous powers, and faith.  Another type of gift is used to reveal something: discerning of spirits, tongues, and interpretation of tongues.  These gifts are given by the Lord through the Holy Spirit as He determines they are needed.  (1st Corinthians 12:11)

    In addition to these manifestations of the Spirit, God has also appointed different offices to people to help with the work of ministry.  Some are apostles, sent to evangelize and plant churches.  Others are prophets and teachers who equip the body for ministry.  Others work miracles and facilitate divine healing.  Others may be good at administration and management.  Still others speak in tongues and others interpret.  (1st Corinthians 12:28-31)  God places these gift-people in the body just as He sees fit!  (1st Corinthians 12:18)

    We are encouraged to eagerly desire the greater gifts!  But Paul cites the most excellent pursuit–the way of love! (1st Corinthians 13)  We can have any number of the gifts, but without love they are empty and useless.  Love is a vital ingredient because the gifts must be used with love and compassion.  God’s heart is to love and heal, not just to do something!  God Himself is love!  He is patient and kind with us.  He is not easily angered, but is always ready to forgive.  He forgives and never keeps a record of the wrongs done !  He delights in truth and righteousness.  He is a God of hope and His love never fails!

    He encourages us to love like He does.  We must grow up in our faith in order to do that.  Love is the greatest gift that we can ever have and give!  We must first follow the way of love and then desire the gifts.  (1st Corinthians 14:1)  Take time today to check your heart.  Are you following the way of love?  How’s your love life with God?  Are you taking time to love Him and allowing His love to flow through you?  Would people say that you were full of the love of God?  Invite the Holy Spirit to release a fresh ability to love others in your heart today.

  • Learning By Example!

    Scripture reading for November 24th:  1st Corinthians 7-10

    I chose my life theme from going through Army officer’s leadership school.  A key leadership principle that stuck with me was “Set the Example!”  I was taught that one of the most powerful influences that a leader can have on others is their example.  I find this to be biblical as well.  Jesus Christ modeled for us and his disciples the way to live.  He lived a life centered on doing God’s will and serving others.   The Bible records many examples that are not so good as well.  Someone has said, “if you are not good for anything else, you can always be a bad example!”  In today’s reading the Apostle Paul reminds the church at Corinth of examples that should help them and us to live a blessed life.

    In 1st Corinthians 10, Paul uses the bad examples as warning for us today.  There were three main things that Paul exhorted the Corinthians to remember about the Israelites of the Old Testament.  They had some great spiritual experiences with the Lord leading them by the cloud and fire and taking them through the Red Sea in a type of baptism.  They got to eat “manna” from heaven and drink water from the “Rock” for forty years while they wandered in the desert.  They had God’s appointed leader, Moses, praying for them.  However, God was not pleased with them!  (1st Corinthians 10:1-5)

    In spite of being supernaturally delivered by God from idolatrous Egypt, many of them brought their idols with them!  They were taught by God to be true to their wives and to Him, but many were sexually immoral as they worshiped these idols and lived in fleshly indulgence.  Most grumbled against God and His provision and died from the bite of poisonous snakes and by the destroying angel of death that they had opened the door to.  Their hearts were not right with God in spite of all the supernatural power that they witnessed.  They thought they were alright with God because of God’s blessings.  They became examples for us!

    We should learn from their example. (1st Corinthians 10:8-10)  They did not keep God first.  Idolatry and sexual immorality always go hand in hand.  America is a land of idols!  Sports stars, entertainment figures, soap operas, movie stars, popular music stars and the like all serve as idols.  We are sexually immoral and glorify sexual freedom that mocks God and His word because we are idolatrous!  The church is even full of idolatrous behavior and sexual immorality!

    Grumbling against God because of unbelief was also a characteristic of the Israelites.  That grumbling kept them out of the land of promise and got a whole generation killed off in the desert.  The destroying angel, Satan, killed them because of their greed, idolatry, and sexually perversion.  These examples should warn us today and drive us to Christ Jesus.  He is our escape from sin, death and temptation.  He is always faithful and delivers those who depend on Him!

  • The Message of the Cross

    Scripture reading for November 23rd: 1st Corinthians 1-6

    To educated people, Christ and the cross seems to be a foolish idea.  It doesn’t make sense to the natural mind trained to trust senses, self, and science.  It is not logical or even believable to many who have college degrees and have embraced modern secular humanism. To these people, religion is fine, but the cross is offensive!  They are strong enough to handle life by themselves and want to live it up while they can.   But God chose the foolish things of this world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong! (1st Corinthians 1:27)

    The message of the cross is a message of God’s wrath against sin.  God has decreed that the soul that sins must die.  (Romans 6:23) Jesus Christ took the wages of man’s sin upon Himself and was beaten, mocked, spit upon, ridiculed, and crucified as a common criminal.  Isaiah says that we considered Him “stricken by God, smitten by Him, and afflicted.” (Isaiah 53:4)  The punishment that we deserved fell upon Him and by His stripes we are healed!  (Isaiah 53:5)  God’s wrath was directed against His own Son, that we might be free from that wrath! (2nd Corinthians 5:21)

    The message of the cross tells of God’s love for us who are made in His image.  God Himself being willing to send His only Son to earth just to die in our place tells the greatest love story ever told!  “Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)  He demonstrated His love for us in that Christ died for us while we were yet sinners!  (Romans 5:8)  God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe on Him would not perish, but have eternal life!  (John 3:16)

    The message of the cross demands repentance and faith.  We must turn from our self-centered ways and look to Jesus Christ for salvation and forgiveness of sin.  This message is the power of God for salvation to those who will believe!  (Romans 1:16-17)  “It is because of Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God–that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.”  (1st Corinthians 1:30)

    We must be humble to receive this message of the cross.  It is foolishness to those who claim worldly wisdom.  It is weakness to those who think themselves strong.  It is an offense to our intellect and strength, but it is God’s wisdom for the humble!  Oh how I love the cross and the One who gave His life for me!  May this message of God’s wrath against sin and God’s amazing love flow from us who believe each and every day!

  • Sunday Rest and Reflection:Romans 12-16

    Dear Friends,

    Greetings on this wonderful day of rest in Jesus Christ!  I have somehow gotten off in my writing and we will need to read for the next six Sunday’s in order to finish the Bible on December 31st!  I am not sure how this happened but ask your forgiveness and pray for grace!  If I do this next year, I pray that I keep on track!  I am resting in God’s grace and thankful that it works out by doing it this way!

    “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God–this is your spiritual act of worship.  Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–His good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:1-2

    “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow man has fulfilled the law.”  “Love does no harm to its neighbor. Love is the fulfillment of the law.” Romans 13:8,10

    “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.” Romans 14:17-18

    “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5-6

    “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13

    “Now to Him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made know through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey Him–to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen!” Romans 16:25-27

    In His Love, Pastor John