BibleTrekToday.com

Righteousness, Peace, Joy!

Scripture reading for July 2nd:  Job 27-29, Romans 14

Key Scriptures: Romans 14:7-9, 17 “For none of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself.  For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord.  So then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord’s.  For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the  living.”  …”For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

Paul, writing to the Roman Christians, encouraged them to refrain from judging one another based on human rules and traditions.  They were judging others based on their habits.  The kingdom of God was not based on external habits, but brings the fruit of inner righteousness, peace and joy through the presence of God the Holy Spirit within.  The Holy Spirit gives each person a healthy “fear of the Lord”.

Job 29:28 “And He said to man, ‘ Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom, and to turn away from evil is understanding.'”

Prayer:  Lord, thank You for the indwelling Holy Spirit bringing us into Your kingdom.  Let me share the righteousness, peace and joy with others.  Amen.

Faith working through Love!

Scripture reading for July 1st:  Romans 14

Key Scriptures for over-comers:  Romans 14:19-23  “Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.  Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food.  All food is clean, but it is wrong for a man to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble.  It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother to fall.  So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.  Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.  But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because it is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.”

In Paul’s time, eating meat sacrificed to idols was a big issue.  Some believed that this meat would pollute them spiritually.  Others were concerned that this would cause unbelievers to think that believers were serving idols too. Paul taught the law of love.  When we love others, we do what is best for them and try and keep peace.  Each person should serve God with a clear conscience, acting in faith in whatever they believe in these disputable matters.  This doesn’t mean that we ignore sin and fail to lovingly pray for and confront believers that are still caught in sinful lifestyles.  We must do all that we do to the glory of God and live by faith to please Him!

Observations for over-comers: “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating or drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit!” (Romans 14:17)“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.  Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will turn back to You.”  (Psalm 51:12-13) 

Are you ‘weak’ or ‘strong’?

Scripture reading for July 2nd:  Romans 14

“For by the grace given me, I say to every one of you:  Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.”  (Romans 12:3)  Paul had exhorted the believers to dedicate their bodies to God and renew their minds with His word.  He had instructed them to think soberly about their own lives, calling, and gifts.  Some, however, were not as strong as others in their faith and walk of liberty with the Lord.

“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.  One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak eats only vegetables.  The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.  Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?  To his own master he stands or falls.  And he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand.”  (Romans 14:1-4)   Some of the believers with ‘stronger’ faith were passing judgment on those who limited what they could eat to vegetables.  Those with ‘weaker’ faith were also passing judgment on those who ate everything.  Under Christ’s New Covenant of grace, each person would answer to God in matters like diet that were disputable.

As New Testament believers and children of God, we must seek to please the Father by walking in faith.  It is Christ who will enable each believer to stand before the Father through what He has done on our behalf.  We must not judge one another on matters that are disputable!

Rigtheousness, peace and joy!

Scripture reading for July 31st: Romans 14:1-23

The body of Christ is composed of people from different walks of life and different spiritual experience.  Some come from religious backgrounds.  Others come with no spiritual training and are eager to learn what is expected.   Paul knew that the church at Rome was very diverse, with many Jews and Gentiles of different backgrounds.  He wrote to help them understand how to practice the command of Jesus to “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Romans 13:9-10)

“Accept him whose faith is weak, without passing judgment on disputable matters.  One man’s faith allows him to eat everything, but another man, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables.  The man who eats everything must not look down on him who does not, and the man who does not eat everything must not condemn the man who does, for God has accepted him.  Who are you to judge someone else’s servant?” (Romans 14:1-4a)   We enter into pride when we judge someone else.  Some matters, such as eating meat sacrificed to idols, are disputable.  The strong person knows that the idol is nothing and that the meat is made clean by prayer and thanksgiving.  The weaker person may feel polluted by the meat and believe that they have sinned by eating it.  As long as what they do is motivated by their faith, neither one is to judge the other and cause disunity or division over eating meat!  We do not show love when bringing strife over matters like this.

“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)  The Holy Spirit wants to lead us in loving our brothers and sisters, not in judging them on matters of conscience that are not clearly dealt with in Scripture.  We can please God by walking in love and faith that God will deal with each person according to their faith.

“So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God.  Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.  But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin.” (Romans 14:22-23)   Be quiet and live by faith!

Unpardonable sin?

Scripture reading for January 16th: Matthew 12:22-50, Psalm 11, Proverbs 3:13-18

Jesus healed a man who was both blind and mute so that the man could both see and talk again.  This miracle brought the charge from the Pharisees that He cast out devils by the prince of devils, Beelzebub.  Now this great miracle was an act of compassion and Jesus knew what they were thinking.  He spoke to these Pharisees, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.  If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself.  How then can his kingdom stand?  And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out?  But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” (Matthew 12:25-28)

His miraculous deliverance of this man came not by using Satan’s power, but by the Spirit of God.  If Satan was casting out Satan, his kingdom could not last!  There would be rebellion in the kingdom that would tear it apart from within.  This principle would apply to God’s rule as well, but God rules His kingdom and no rebellion will be allowed!  He has both the power and wisdom to deal with it and His team of “Father, Son and Holy Spirit” are always in unity!  Satan, himself, was cast down to earth because of this kind of selfish rebellion. (Isaiah14:12-15)

Jesus went on to give further truth and warning.  “He who is not with Me is against Me and he who does not gather with Me scatters.  And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven.  Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.” (Matthew 12:30-32)  This warning states that falsely charging the Holy Spirit with doing Satan’s work was very dangerous ground.  This sin will not be forgiven now or in the coming age!  This warning should cause us to think twice about our words and heart attitude toward the works of the Holy Spirit.  Let’s join with Jesus and gather souls!

Satan fell like lightning!

Scripture reading for October 23rd: Luke 10-12

The Kingdom of Heaven is in direct opposition to the kingdom of the devil.  The devil’s kingdom is one of dominance, manipulation, fear, and deceit.  God’s Kingdom is one of love, compassion, faith, and truth.  The devil uses sickness, oppression, depression, and poverty to imprison those made in God’s image.  God sends His people to heal the sick, deliver the oppressed, preach good news to the depressed and hopeless, and share His great riches with all who will receive!  These kingdoms are in a conflict that is raging around the earth.

Jesus sent out seventy-two disciples into this conflict. (Luke 10:1-4)  They were not to take a purse, bag, or sandals.  They were not to greet anyone on the road because they had a mission.  They were armed with His Word and authority and had prayed that the Lord would send out workers.   They were to live by faith and trust God for whatever they needed.  As they entered a town and were welcomed, they were to speak ‘peace’ to those who dwelt there. They were to heal the sick and tell them about the Kingdom of God.  (Luke 10:8-9)   If they were not welcomed, they were to shake the dust from their feet and warn the people that the Kingdom of God had come near to them. The dust would be a witness against them on judgment day.  (Luke 10:10-12)  It was a simple assignment!

As the seventy-two returned to Jesus, they were full of joy!  The demons had fled, sick people were healed, and Jesus’ authority had given them victory after victory!  Jesus Himself remarked: “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.  However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” (Luke 10:18-20)  Jesus was filled with joy at these disciples’ success, but  He cautioned them not to be filled with pride in their authority.  Grace is a gift!

Each day we are sent into this conflict.   Authority is ours to plunder the enemies’ camp!  All power of the enemy can be overcome by faith and the Word of God.  We must remain humble and under His authority.  Go out with humble boldness today and bring joy to God’s heart!