March 29, 2014

From Gary... Joy!!!




https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=763859733658385&set=vb.166337376743960&type=2&theater
Modern technology can be a truly wonderful thing!!!  When I think of all the medical progress that has occurred in my short lifetime, it is truly amazing. Think of it, artificial hearts, all sorts of organ transplants, non-invasive scans of all kinds and so many other things that I just can't think of at the moment. And then there is Jesus; 2000 years ago- healing all sorts of problems...
 
Luke, Chapter 7
19 John, calling to himself two of his disciples, sent them to Jesus, saying, “Are you the one who is coming, or should we look for another?”  20 When the men had come to him, they said, “John the Baptizer has sent us to you, saying, ‘Are you he who comes, or should we look for another?’” 

  21  In that hour he cured many of diseases and plagues and evil spirits; and to many who were blind he gave sight.  22 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John the things which you have seen and heard: that the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them.   23  Blessed is he who finds no occasion for stumbling in me.”
 Jesus performed miracles, genuine miracles!!!  The like of which even two millennia later- we still can not do. Scoff at this statement? Ask yourself, when was the last time you saw someone raised from the dead?  Yet, there are numerous instances in the Bible (John 11, Luke 7, Matthew 9 and 28, Mark 5).  And yet some people will not believe, no matter how many witnesses there are.  One thing is obvious; the lady in the video is overjoyed at being able to hear again. I am very happy for her and hope she completely recovers!!!  Imagine for a moment, the joy of every Christian, when they experience resurrection and the fellowship of heaven???  True joy- defined; beyond comprehension!!!!

From Gary... Bible Reading March 29



Bible Reading   
March 29

The World English Bible

Mar. 29
Leviticus 13, 14

Lev 13:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
Lev 13:2 "When a man shall have a rising in his body's skin, or a scab, or a bright spot, and it becomes in the skin of his body the plague of leprosy, then he shall be brought to Aaron the priest, or to one of his sons, the priests:
Lev 13:3 and the priest shall examine the plague in the skin of the body: and if the hair in the plague has turned white, and the appearance of the plague is deeper than the body's skin, it is the plague of leprosy; and the priest shall examine him, and pronounce him unclean.
Lev 13:4 If the bright spot is white in the skin of his body, and its appearance isn't deeper than the skin, and its hair hasn't turned white, then the priest shall isolate the infected person for seven days.
Lev 13:5 The priest shall examine him on the seventh day, and, behold, if in his eyes the plague is arrested, and the plague hasn't spread in the skin, then the priest shall isolate him for seven more days.
Lev 13:6 The priest shall examine him again on the seventh day; and behold, if the plague has faded, and the plague hasn't spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. It is a scab. He shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
Lev 13:7 But if the scab spreads on the skin, after he has shown himself to the priest for his cleansing, he shall show himself to the priest again.
Lev 13:8 The priest shall examine him; and behold, if the scab has spread on the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is leprosy.
Lev 13:9 "When the plague of leprosy is in a man, then he shall be brought to the priest;
Lev 13:10 and the priest shall examine him. Behold, if there is a white rising in the skin, and it has turned the hair white, and there is raw flesh in the rising,
Lev 13:11 it is a chronic leprosy in the skin of his body, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. He shall not isolate him, for he is unclean.
Lev 13:12 "If the leprosy breaks out all over the skin, and the leprosy covers all the skin of the infected person from his head even to his feet, as far as it appears to the priest;
Lev 13:13 then the priest shall examine him; and, behold, if the leprosy has covered all his flesh, he shall pronounce him clean of the plague. It has all turned white: he is clean.
Lev 13:14 But whenever raw flesh appears in him, he shall be unclean.
Lev 13:15 The priest shall examine the raw flesh, and pronounce him unclean: the raw flesh is unclean. It is leprosy.
Lev 13:16 Or if the raw flesh turns again, and is changed to white, then he shall come to the priest;
Lev 13:17 and the priest shall examine him; and, behold, if the plague has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him clean of the plague. He is clean.
Lev 13:18 "When the body has a boil on its skin, and it has healed,
Lev 13:19 and in the place of the boil there is a white rising, or a bright spot, reddish-white, then it shall be shown to the priest;
Lev 13:20 and the priest shall examine it; and behold, if its appearance is lower than the skin, and its hair has turned white, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy. It has broken out in the boil.
Lev 13:21 But if the priest examines it, and behold, there are no white hairs in it, and it isn't deeper than the skin, but is dim, then the priest shall isolate him seven days.
Lev 13:22 If it spreads in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is a plague.
Lev 13:23 But if the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn't spread, it is the scar from the boil; and the priest shall pronounce him clean.
Lev 13:24 "Or when the body has a burn from fire on its skin, and the raw flesh of the burn becomes a bright spot, reddish-white, or white,
Lev 13:25 then the priest shall examine it; and behold, if the hair in the bright spot has turned white, and its appearance is deeper than the skin; it is leprosy. It has broken out in the burning, and the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy.
Lev 13:26 But if the priest examines it, and behold, there is no white hair in the bright spot, and it isn't lower than the skin, but is faded; then the priest shall isolate him seven days.
Lev 13:27 The priest shall examine him on the seventh day. If it has spread in the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean. It is the plague of leprosy.
Lev 13:28 If the bright spot stays in its place, and hasn't spread in the skin, but is faded, it is the swelling from the burn, and the priest shall pronounce him clean; for it is the scar from the burn.
Lev 13:29 "When a man or woman has a plague on the head or on the beard,
Lev 13:30 then the priest shall examine the plague; and behold, if its appearance is deeper than the skin, and the hair in it is yellow and thin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean: it is an itch, it is leprosy of the head or of the beard.
Lev 13:31 If the priest examines the plague of itching, and behold, its appearance isn't deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it, then the priest shall isolate him the person infected with itching seven days.
Lev 13:32 On the seventh day the priest shall examine the plague; and behold, if the itch hasn't spread, and there is no yellow hair in it, and the appearance of the itch isn't deeper than the skin,
Lev 13:33 then he shall be shaved, but he shall not shave the itch; and the priest shall shut him up who has the itch seven more days.
Lev 13:34 On the seventh day, the priest shall examine the itch; and behold, if the itch hasn't spread in the skin, and its appearance isn't deeper than the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. He shall wash his clothes, and be clean.
Lev 13:35 But if the itch spreads in the skin after his cleansing,
Lev 13:36 then the priest shall examine him; and behold, if the itch has spread in the skin, the priest shall not look for the yellow hair; he is unclean.
Lev 13:37 But if in his eyes the itch is arrested, and black hair has grown in it; the itch is healed, he is clean. The priest shall pronounce him clean.
Lev 13:38 "When a man or a woman has bright spots in the skin of the body, even white bright spots;
Lev 13:39 then the priest shall examine them; and behold, if the bright spots on the skin of their body are a dull white, it is a harmless rash, it has broken out in the skin; he is clean.
Lev 13:40 "If a man's hair has fallen from his head, he is bald. He is clean.
Lev 13:41 If his hair has fallen off from the front part of his head, he is forehead bald. He is clean.
Lev 13:42 But if there is in the bald head, or the bald forehead, a reddish-white plague; it is leprosy breaking out in his bald head, or his bald forehead.
Lev 13:43 Then the priest shall examine him; and, behold, if the rising of the plague is reddish-white in his bald head, or in his bald forehead, like the appearance of leprosy in the skin of the flesh,
Lev 13:44 he is a leprous man. He is unclean. The priest shall surely pronounce him unclean. His plague is on his head.
Lev 13:45 "The leper in whom the plague is shall wear torn clothes, and the hair of his head shall hang loose. He shall cover his upper lip, and shall cry, 'Unclean! Unclean!'
Lev 13:46 All the days in which the plague is in him he shall be unclean. He is unclean. He shall dwell alone. Outside of the camp shall be his dwelling.
Lev 13:47 "The garment also that the plague of leprosy is in, whether it is a woolen garment, or a linen garment;
Lev 13:48 whether it is in warp, or woof; of linen, or of wool; whether in a skin, or in anything made of skin;
Lev 13:49 if the plague is greenish or reddish in the garment, or in the skin, or in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything made of skin; it is the plague of leprosy, and shall be shown to the priest.
Lev 13:50 The priest shall examine the plague, and isolate the plague seven days.
Lev 13:51 He shall examine the plague on the seventh day. If the plague has spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in the skin, whatever use the skin is used for, the plague is a destructive mildew. It is unclean.
Lev 13:52 He shall burn the garment, whether the warp or the woof, in wool or in linen, or anything of skin, in which the plague is: for it is a destructive mildew. It shall be burned in the fire.
Lev 13:53 "If the priest examines it, and behold, the plague hasn't spread in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin;
Lev 13:54 then the priest shall command that they wash the thing in which the plague is, and he shall isolate it seven more days.
Lev 13:55 Then the priest shall examine it, after the plague is washed; and behold, if the plague hasn't changed its color, and the plague hasn't spread, it is unclean; you shall burn it in the fire. It is a mildewed spot, whether the bareness is inside or outside.
Lev 13:56 If the priest looks, and behold, the plague has faded after it is washed, then he shall tear it out of the garment, or out of the skin, or out of the warp, or out of the woof:
Lev 13:57 and if it appears again in the garment, either in the warp, or in the woof, or in anything of skin, it is spreading. You shall burn with fire that in which the plague is.
Lev 13:58 The garment, either the warp, or the woof, or whatever thing of skin it is, which you shall wash, if the plague has departed from them, then it shall be washed the second time, and it will be clean."
Lev 13:59 This is the law of the plague of mildew in a garment of wool or linen, either in the warp, or the woof, or in anything of skin, to pronounce it clean, or to pronounce it unclean.

Lev 14:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Lev 14:2 "This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing. He shall be brought to the priest,
Lev 14:3 and the priest shall go forth out of the camp. The priest shall examine him, and behold, if the plague of leprosy is healed in the leper,
Lev 14:4 then the priest shall command them to take for him who is to be cleansed two living clean birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop.
Lev 14:5 The priest shall command them to kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water.
Lev 14:6 As for the living bird, he shall take it, and the cedar wood, and the scarlet, and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the living bird in the blood of the bird that was killed over the running water.
Lev 14:7 He shall sprinkle on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy seven times, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird go into the open field.
Lev 14:8 "He who is to be cleansed shall wash his clothes, and shave off all his hair, and bathe himself in water; and he shall be clean. After that he shall come into the camp, but shall dwell outside his tent seven days.
Lev 14:9 It shall be on the seventh day, that he shall shave all his hair off his head and his beard and his eyebrows, even all his hair he shall shave off. He shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his body in water, then he shall be clean.
Lev 14:10 "On the eighth day he shall take two male lambs without blemish, and one ewe lamb a year old without blemish, and three tenths of an ephah of fine flour for a meal offering, mingled with oil, and one log of oil.
Lev 14:11 The priest who cleanses him shall set the man who is to be cleansed, and those things, before Yahweh, at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
Lev 14:12 "The priest shall take one of the male lambs, and offer him for a trespass offering, with the log of oil, and wave them for a wave offering before Yahweh.
Lev 14:13 He shall kill the male lamb in the place where they kill the sin offering and the burnt offering, in the place of the sanctuary; for as the sin offering is the priest's, so is the trespass offering. It is most holy.
Lev 14:14 The priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering, and the priest shall put it on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.
Lev 14:15 The priest shall take some of the log of oil, and pour it into the palm of his own left hand.
Lev 14:16 The priest shall dip his right finger in the oil that is in his left hand, and shall sprinkle some of the oil with his finger seven times before Yahweh.
Lev 14:17 The priest shall put some of the rest of the oil that is in his hand on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, upon the blood of the trespass offering.
Lev 14:18 The rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed, and the priest shall make atonement for him before Yahweh.
Lev 14:19 "The priest shall offer the sin offering, and make atonement for him who is to be cleansed because of his uncleanness: and afterward he shall kill the burnt offering;
Lev 14:20 and the priest shall offer the burnt offering and the meal offering on the altar. The priest shall make atonement for him, and he shall be clean.
Lev 14:21 "If he is poor, and can't afford so much, then he shall take one male lamb for a trespass offering to be waved, to make atonement for him, and one tenth of an ephah of fine flour mingled with oil for a meal offering, and a log of oil;
Lev 14:22 and two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, such as he is able to afford; and the one shall be a sin offering, and the other a burnt offering.
Lev 14:23 "On the eighth day he shall bring them for his cleansing to the priest, to the door of the Tent of Meeting, before Yahweh.
Lev 14:24 The priest shall take the lamb of the trespass offering, and the log of oil, and the priest shall wave them for a wave offering before Yahweh.
Lev 14:25 He shall kill the lamb of the trespass offering. The priest shall take some of the blood of the trespass offering and put it on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot.
Lev 14:26 The priest shall pour some of the oil into the palm of his own left hand;
Lev 14:27 and the priest shall sprinkle with his right finger some of the oil that is in his left hand seven times before Yahweh.
Lev 14:28 Then the priest shall put some of the oil that is in his hand on the tip of the right ear of him who is to be cleansed, and on the thumb of his right hand, and on the big toe of his right foot, on the place of the blood of the trespass offering.
Lev 14:29 The rest of the oil that is in the priest's hand he shall put on the head of him who is to be cleansed, to make atonement for him before Yahweh.
Lev 14:30 He shall offer one of the turtledoves, or of the young pigeons, such as he is able to afford,
Lev 14:31 even such as he is able to afford, the one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering, with the meal offering. The priest shall make atonement for him who is to be cleansed before Yahweh."
Lev 14:32 This is the law for him in whom is the plague of leprosy, who is not able to afford the sacrifice for his cleansing.
Lev 14:33 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
Lev 14:34 "When you have come into the land of Canaan, which I give to you for a possession, and I put a spreading mildew in a house in the land of your possession,
Lev 14:35 then he who owns the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, 'There seems to me to be some sort of plague in the house.'
Lev 14:36 The priest shall command that they empty the house, before the priest goes in to examine the plague, that all that is in the house not be made unclean: and afterward the priest shall go in to inspect the house.
Lev 14:37 He shall examine the plague; and behold, if the plague is in the walls of the house with hollow streaks, greenish or reddish, and it appears to be deeper than the wall;
Lev 14:38 then the priest shall go out of the house to the door of the house, and shut up the house seven days.
Lev 14:39 The priest shall come again on the seventh day, and look. If the plague has spread in the walls of the house,
Lev 14:40 then the priest shall command that they take out the stones in which is the plague, and cast them into an unclean place outside of the city:
Lev 14:41 and he shall cause the inside of the house to be scraped all over, and they shall pour out the mortar, that they scraped off, outside of the city into an unclean place.
Lev 14:42 They shall take other stones, and put them in the place of those stones; and he shall take other mortar, and shall plaster the house.
Lev 14:43 "If the plague comes again, and breaks out in the house, after he has taken out the stones, and after he has scraped the house, and after it was plastered;
Lev 14:44 then the priest shall come in and look; and behold, if the plague has spread in the house, it is a destructive mildew in the house. It is unclean.
Lev 14:45 He shall break down the house, its stones, and its timber, and all the house's mortar. He shall carry them out of the city into an unclean place.
Lev 14:46 "Moreover he who goes into the house while it is shut up shall be unclean until the evening.
Lev 14:47 He who lies down in the house shall wash his clothes; and he who eats in the house shall wash his clothes.
Lev 14:48 "If the priest shall come in, and examine it, and behold, the plague hasn't spread in the house, after the house was plastered, then the priest shall pronounce the house clean, because the plague is healed.
Lev 14:49 To cleanse the house he shall take two birds, and cedar wood, and scarlet, and hyssop.
Lev 14:50 He shall kill one of the birds in an earthen vessel over running water.
Lev 14:51 He shall take the cedar wood, and the hyssop, and the scarlet, and the living bird, and dip them in the blood of the slain bird, and in the running water, and sprinkle the house seven times.
Lev 14:52 He shall cleanse the house with the blood of the bird, and with the running water, with the living bird, with the cedar wood, with the hyssop, and with the scarlet;
Lev 14:53 but he shall let the living bird go out of the city into the open field. So shall he make atonement for the house; and it shall be clean."
Lev 14:54 This is the law for any plague of leprosy, and for an itch,
Lev 14:55 and for the destructive mildew of a garment, and for a house,
Lev 14:56 and for a rising, and for a scab, and for a bright spot;
Lev 14:57 to teach when it is unclean, and when it is clean. This is the law of leprosy.
 
Mar. 29, 30
Luke 1

Luk 1:1 Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us,
Luk 1:2 even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us,
Luk 1:3 it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus;
Luk 1:4 that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.
Luk 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth.
Luk 1:6 They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord.
Luk 1:7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years.
Luk 1:8 Now it happened, while he executed the priest's office before God in the order of his division,
Luk 1:9 according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
Luk 1:10 The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
Luk 1:11 An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense.
Luk 1:12 Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.
Luk 1:13 But the angel said to him, "Don't be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John.
Luk 1:14 You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth.
Luk 1:15 For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
Luk 1:16 He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God.
Luk 1:17 He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
Luk 1:18 Zacharias said to the angel, "How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years."
Luk 1:19 The angel answered him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news.
Luk 1:20 Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn't believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time."
Luk 1:21 The people were waiting for Zacharias, and they marveled that he delayed in the temple.
Luk 1:22 When he came out, he could not speak to them, and they perceived that he had seen a vision in the temple. He continued making signs to them, and remained mute.
Luk 1:23 It happened, when the days of his service were fulfilled, he departed to his house.
Luk 1:24 After these days Elizabeth, his wife, conceived, and she hid herself five months, saying,
Luk 1:25 "Thus has the Lord done to me in the days in which he looked at me, to take away my reproach among men."
Luk 1:26 Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
Luk 1:27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin's name was Mary.
Luk 1:28 Having come in, the angel said to her, "Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!"
Luk 1:29 But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be.
Luk 1:30 The angel said to her, "Don't be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.
Luk 1:31 Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and bring forth a son, and will call his name 'Jesus.'
Luk 1:32 He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father, David,
Luk 1:33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom."
Luk 1:34 Mary said to the angel, "How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?"
Luk 1:35 The angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God.
Luk 1:36 Behold, Elizabeth, your relative, also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren.
Luk 1:37 For everything spoken by God is possible."
Luk 1:38 Mary said, "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; be it to me according to your word." The angel departed from her.
Luk 1:39 Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
Luk 1:40 and entered into the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth.
Luk 1:41 It happened, when Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, that the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.
Luk 1:42 She called out with a loud voice, and said, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!
Luk 1:43 Why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
Luk 1:44 For behold, when the voice of your greeting came into my ears, the baby leaped in my womb for joy!
Luk 1:45 Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of the things which have been spoken to her from the Lord!"
Luk 1:46 Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord.
Luk 1:47 My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,
Luk 1:48 for he has looked at the humble state of his handmaid. For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.
Luk 1:49 For he who is mighty has done great things for me. Holy is his name.
Luk 1:50 His mercy is for generations of generations on those who fear him.
Luk 1:51 He has shown strength with his arm. He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
Luk 1:52 He has put down princes from their thrones. And has exalted the lowly.
Luk 1:53 He has filled the hungry with good things. He has sent the rich away empty.
Luk 1:54 He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,
Luk 1:55 As he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and his seed forever."
Luk 1:56 Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her house.
Luk 1:57 Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she brought forth a son.
Luk 1:58 Her neighbors and her relatives heard that the Lord had magnified his mercy towards her, and they rejoiced with her.
Luk 1:59 It happened on the eighth day, that they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of the father.
Luk 1:60 His mother answered, "Not so; but he will be called John."
Luk 1:61 They said to her, "There is no one among your relatives who is called by this name."
Luk 1:62 They made signs to his father, what he would have him called.
Luk 1:63 He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, "His name is John." They all marveled.
Luk 1:64 His mouth was opened immediately, and his tongue freed, and he spoke, blessing God.
Luk 1:65 Fear came on all who lived around them, and all these sayings were talked about throughout all the hill country of Judea.
Luk 1:66 All who heard them laid them up in their heart, saying, "What then will this child be?" The hand of the Lord was with him.
Luk 1:67 His father, Zacharias, was filled with the Holy Spirit, and prophesied, saying,
Luk 1:68 "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, for he has visited and worked redemption for his people;
Luk 1:69 and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David
Luk 1:70 (as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets who have been from of old),
Luk 1:71 salvation from our enemies, and from the hand of all who hate us;
Luk 1:72 to show mercy towards our fathers, to remember his holy covenant,
Luk 1:73 the oath which he spoke to Abraham, our father,
Luk 1:74 to grant to us that we, being delivered out of the hand of our enemies, should serve him without fear,
Luk 1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him all the days of our life.
Luk 1:76 And you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the face of the Lord to make ready his ways,
Luk 1:77 to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the remission of their sins,
Luk 1:78 because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the dawn from on high will visit us,
Luk 1:79 to shine on those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death; to guide our feet into the way of peace."
Luk 1:80 The child was growing, and becoming strong in spirit, and was in the desert until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

From Mark Copeland... A Call To Be Content (Hebrews 13:5-6)

                      "THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"

                     A Call To Be Content (13:5-6)

INTRODUCTION

1. In this final chapter of "The Epistle To The Hebrews", we have 
   noticed exhortations...
   a. To let brotherly love continue - He 13:1
   b. To show love toward strangers - He 13:2
   c. To remember those in prison and others who are mistreated 
      - He 13:3
   d. To hold marriage in honor, abstaining from fornication and 
      adultery - He 13:4

2. We now find a warning against covetousness - He 13:5a
   a. The previous verse was a warning against "the lust of the flesh"
      (immorality)
   b. Here we have a warning against "the lust of the eyes"
      (materialism)
   -- Both of which are contrary to the love of the Father - 1Jn 2:
      15-17

3. Covetousness, a strong desire for material things, is strongly 
   condemned in the Bible...
   a. Jesus said it defiles a man, and that we should beware of it 
      - Mk 7:21-23; Lk 12:15
   b. Paul taught that covetousness...
      1) Will keep one out of the kingdom of God - 1Co 6:9-10
      2) Like fornication, should not even be named among us - Ep 5:3
      3) Is nothing less than idolatry - Ep 5:5; Col 3:5
 
4. The antidote to covetousness is contentment - He 13:5b-6
   a. If we are content, then we won't be covetous
   b. Contentment is therefore an important virtue for Christians to
      develop...
      1) But what is "contentment"?
      2) What is the key to being content?
   
[In this lesson, "A Call To Be Content", we shall seek to answer these
questions, using the text of our lesson (He 13:5-6) and other 
scriptures that deal with the subject of contentment...]

I. THE VIRTUE OF "CONTENTMENT"

   A. CONTENTMENT DEFINED...
      1. The English word "content" means "desiring no more than what 
         one has"
      2. The Greek word is arkeo {ar-keh'-o}, which means "to be 
         satisfied"
      -- When one is content, they are satisfied with what they have; 
         with no desire for more, covetousness no longer becomes a 
         problem!

   B. THE VALUE OF "CONTENTMENT"...
      1. From the pen of uninspired men...
         a. "He is richest who is content with the least." (Socrates)
         b. "He is well paid that is well satisfied." (William 
            Shakespeare)
         c. "He who is content can never be ruined." (Chinese Proverb)
         d. "He who wants little always have enough." (Johann Georg 
            Zimmerman)
         e. "If you are not satisfied with a little, you will not be 
            satisfied with much." (Unknown)
         f. "The contented man is never poor, the discontented never 
            rich." (George Eliot)
      2. Paul wrote that "...godliness with contentment is great gain."
         - 1Ti 6:6
         a. Godliness, which is godly living expressed in devotion to 
            God, is of great value only when accompanied with 
            contentment
         b. For as we have seen, covetousness (a lack of contentment)
            would render any service to God of no value

   C. CONTENTMENT EXEMPLIFIED...
      1. In Fanny Crosby (1820-1925), a blind songwriter who wrote:
            O What a happy soul am I!
            Although I cannot see,
            I am resolved that in this world
            Contented I will be;
            How many blessings I enjoy
            That other people don't!
            To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
            I cannot, and I won't.
      2. In Helen Keller (1880-1968); blind, deaf, and mute, yet she 
         wrote:
            They took away what should have been my eyes,
            (But I remembered Milton's Paradise)
            They took away what should have been my ears,
            (Beethoven came and wiped away my tears)
            They took away what should have been my tongue,
            (But I talked with God when I was young)
            He would not let them take away my soul,
            Possessing that, I still possess the whole.
      3. In the aged prisoner, Paul the apostle...
         a. Who saw how his imprisonment accomplished much good - Php 1:
            12-14
         b. Who had learned contentment - Php 4:10-12

[The virtue of contentment richly blessed the lives of these and 
countless others.  But as Paul indicated, contentment is something 
"learned".  How then does one develop contentment?]

II. THE KEY TO CONTENTMENT

   A. TRUSTING IN GOD'S PROVIDENTIAL CARE...
      1. This is the reason given in our text for us to be content 
         - He 13:5-6
         a. God has promised never to leave nor forsake us
         b. With the Lord as our helper, what can man do? - 1Jn 4:4
      2. This is the reason Jesus gave for us not to worry - Mt 6:25-32
         a. We are of greater value to God than the birds or flowers
         b. He providentially cares for them, will He not do the same
            for us?
         -- The key to receiving this care is to put God's will first 
            in our lives - Mt 6:33
      3. Contentment comes, then, when we trust God will provide what
         we need!

   B. KNOWING WHAT YOU CAN'T TAKE WITH YOU...
      1. As Paul discussed contentment, he pointed out certain truths 
         - 1Ti 6:7
         a. We brought nothing into this world
         b. It is certain we can carry nothing out! (have you ever seen
            a hearse pulling a U-Haul trailer?)
      2. Why then become anxious or worked up over things...
         a. That at best are only temporary
         b. That will wear out, be stolen, or left behind (or burned up
            at the coming of the Lord - 2Pe 3:10)
      3. Contentment comes, then, from knowing that material things are
         only temporary

   C. REALIZING WHAT IS TRULY "ESSENTIAL" FOR LIFE...
      1. Paul also revealed what are the only true "essentials" to 
         sustain life - 1Ti 6:8
         a. They are "food and clothing"
         b. Anything beyond this is a "luxury", for which we ought to 
            be thankful
            1) That includes "shelter", which many believe is a 
               necessity
            2) But millions live without shelter, and such is possible
               with the proper clothing
      2. Since God has promised to provide food and clothing (Mt 6:25-
         33), we can rest knowing that our "essentials" will be 
         provided
      3. Contentment comes, then, by realizing what is truly
         "essential" for life, for then we will realize how richly 
         blessed we really are!

   D. UNDERSTANDING THAT MATERIAL THINGS DO NOT SATISFY...
      1. Solomon observed this inadequacy of material things - Ec 5:10
         a. Those who love silver (money) will never be satisfied
         b. The same is true with those who love abundance (what money
            can buy)
      2. Material things do not meet the true needs of the soul - Ecc 6:7; cf. Isa 55:1-3
         a. C. S. Lewis suggested that God placed a longing in man, 
            that man might seek for God - cf. Ac 17:26-27
         b. Sadly, many people try to fulfill that longing with 
            material things
         c. They never succeed, for only one thing can fulfill it:  God
            Himself!
      3. Contentment comes, then, from understanding that material 
         things will never provide lasting satisfaction

   E. FINALLY, TRUE CONTENTMENT IS A GIFT FROM GOD...
      1. Here is another observation Solomon made in his search for 
         life's meaning:
         a. The ability to enjoy the fruits of one's labor is a gift 
            from God - Ec 2:24-26; 3:12-13; 5:18-20
         b. On the other hand, many are allowed to "gather" and 
            "collect", but will not enjoy the fruits of their labor 
            - cf. Ec 2:26b; 6:1-2
      2. God has the ability to provide lasting satisfaction - Psa 107:8-9
         a. He promises to give that which truly satisfies (makes one 
            content) - Isa 55:1-3
         b. And in Christ, He enables one to be content - Php 4:11-13
      -- Contentment comes, then, when God sees fit to bless us with 
         that which truly satisfies: "the sure mercies of David" (i.e.,
         the blessings promised through the coming Messiah)

CONCLUSION

1. The virtue of contentment is a wonderful blessing, one that comes 
   from God Himself...
   a. Whose Word reveals to us:
      1) The temporary nature of material things
      2) The inadequacy of material things to satisfy man
      3) The things that are truly essential in life
   b. Who has promised to us:
      1) To never leave us nor forsake us
      2) To provide the true essentials in life
      3) To fill our soul with that which truly satisfies
      4) To enable us to enjoy the material blessings we do acquire in
         life

2. But what God has promised is contingent upon what Jesus said...

   "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all
   these things will be added to you" - Mt 6:33

If you desire to be truly content, you must set as your priority the
Will of God.  Have you made His Will the primary focus of your life?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011