September 19, 2013

From Gary... Maybe I should get a ball?


He almost says: want to PLAY???? This week both my dogs have both chosen to sleep in the living room; Buddy (the white one) on the pillow on the sofa and Pal in his cage (yes, he actually prefers it- and goes there often).  So, when I went in there early this morning to greet them and give them a treat, I was amazed at their reaction.  They both started to run from one end of the house to the other and back again. Not once, twice or even three times- but about five or more!!!  Then they both kept nudging me and wanted to play.  So, when I saw Walter Vogt's picture of his dog (sorry, but I have forgotten the dog's name) I was reminded of the episode of intense happiness I was exposed to this AM!!!  This in turn, reminded me of the following verse from the book of Philippians...


Philippians, Chapter 4

4 Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!”


The thing is: Are we like that?  I mean, do we love life because of what Jesus has done for us?  When was the last time you thought about how blessed you really are?  Does the very thought of being with God in heaven for eternity make you REJOICE????  Admittedly, some days I feel better than other (and I know it become obvious in my writing - I have been told so), but EVERY SINGLE DAY I think of heaven and what Christ has done for me.  Well, enough of writing- today, I am going to have some fun!!!

From Mark Copeland... The Fruit Of The Spirit - I (Galatians 5:22-23)



                     "THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS"

                 The Fruit Of The Spirit - I (5:22-23)

INTRODUCTION

1. In Galatians, Paul warned regarding the works of the flesh...
   a. They can destroy the liberty we enjoy in Christ - Ga 5:13-15
   b. They prevent us from following the Spirit and doing the things we
      wish - Ga 5:16-17
   c. They keep us from inheriting the kingdom of God - Ga 5:21

2. He also wrote concerning those led by the Spirit...
   a. They are not under the law (in particular, the Law of Moses) - Ga  5:18
   b. They produce fruit against which there is no law (i.e., no
      condemnation) - Ga 5:22-23

[Having examined the works of the flesh in previous lessons, let's now
turn our attention the fruit of the Spirit (Ga 5:22-23).  When we walk
by the Spirit instead of indulging the flesh, what fruit does the Spirit
produce in our lives...?]

I. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LOVE

   A. THE LOVE THE SPIRIT PRODUCES...
      1. Grk., agape - that love which seeks only the highest good of
         others
      2. Is the love of God poured into our hearts - Ro 5:5
      3. Which engenders a deeper love for God as our Father - Ro 8:
         14-15; Ga 4:6
      4. A love in Christ which "surpasses knowledge" - Ep 3:16-19
      5. And should produce love for one another - 1Jn 4:10-11,16,21
      -- Those "led by the Spirit" will produce the fruit of LOVE in
         their lives

   B. LOVE IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN...
      1. We are to walk in love - Ep 5:1-2
      2. We are to love one another fervently - 1Pe 1:22
      3. Love is to be the "tie that binds" the "garment" the Christian
         is to put on - Col 3:12-14
      4. It is to be the "universal motive" for all that we do - 1Co 16:14
      5. It is to prevent our Christian liberty from turning into
         destructive selfishness - Ga 5:13
      -- Do we manifest that we "walk by the Spirit" in regards to our
         LOVE?

[When the love which the Spirit produces is a dominant presence in our
lives, it is only natural that it be accompanied by joy...]

II. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS JOY

   A. THE JOY THE SPIRIT PRODUCES...
      1. Grk., chara - joy, gladness (Thayer), delight (Vine)
      2. Is integral to the kingdom of God - Ro 14:17
      3. Is a gift from God, closely related to our faith and hope - Ro  15:13
      4. Is a blessing to sustain us in times of persecution - 1Th 1:6
      5. Can be described as 'inexpressible and full of glory" - 1Pe 1:
         6-8
      -- Those "led by the Spirit" will produce the fruit of JOY in
         their lives

   B. JOY IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN...
      1. Should be a constant presence in our lives - Php 4:4
      2. Finding joy in our association together - Phm 1:7,20; 1Th 2:
         19-20
      3. Finding joy even in difficult circumstances - Jm 1:2-4
      4. Especially when suffering for Christ - 1Pe 4:13
      -- Do we manifest that we "walk by the Spirit" in regards to our
         JOY?

[Walking in love, experiencing joy, it is understandable that those led
by the Spirit would also have peace...]

III. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS PEACE

   A. THE PEACE THE SPIRIT PRODUCES...
      1. Grk., eireine- "peace between individuals, i.e., harmony,
         concord" - Thayer
      2. Is the result of those set their minds on the things of the
         Spirit - Ro 8:5-6
      3. Is also integral to the kingdom of God - Ro 14:17
      4. Is also a gift from God, closely related to our faith and hope
         - Ro 15:13
      -- Those "led by the Spirit" will produce the fruit of PEACE in
         their lives

   B. PEACE IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN...
      1. Involves peace with God, when justified by faith - Ro 5:1
      2. Involves peace with man, made possible by Jesus' death - Ep 2:
         11-19
      3. Involves peace within self, received from God through prayer
         - Php 4:6-7
      -- Do we manifest that we "walk by the Spirit" in regards to our
         PEACE?

CONCLUSION

1. What a contrast between the Spirit and the flesh...!
   a. Those who walk by the Spirit experience love, joy, and peace
   b. Those who indulge lusts of the flesh experience hatred,
      jealousies, and outbursts of wrath

2. Which would you rather have...?
   a. A life infused with love, joy, and peace, by the Spirit of
      Almighty God?
   b. A life inflicted by hatred, jealousies, and outbursts of wrath,
      due to fleshly lusts?

By the grace of God, all who have been born again of water and the
Spirit, and are willing to walk in the Spirit can experience this
wonderful love, joy, and peace (with even more, as we'll see in our next
two lessons).  How about you...?
 

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

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From Mark Copeland... The Fruit Of The Spirit - II (Galatians 5:22-23)




                     "THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS"

                 The Fruit Of The Spirit - II (5:22-23)

1. In discussing "the fruit of the Spirit", the nine graces are often
   divided into three groups...:
   a. Those graces which turns one's thought toward God...
      1) Love (for love is of God)
      2) Joy (for we rejoice in the Lord)
      3) Peace (for from God comes the peace that surpasses
         understanding)
   b. Those that directs our attention to our fellowman...
      4) Longsuffering
      5) Kindness
      6) Goodness
   c. Those which refer more directly to oneself...
      7) Faithfulness
      8) Gentleness (meekness)
      9) Self-control

2. Our previous study focused on the first triad of graces...
   a. Love - active good will, toward God and man
   b. Joy - gladness, delight, which is inexpressible and full of glory
   c. Peace - harmony, concord, that surpasses understanding

[We now turn our attention to the second triplet of graces:
longsuffering, kindness, and goodness...]

IV. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS LONGSUFFERING

   A. THE LONGSUFFERING THE SPIRIT PRODUCES...
      1. Grk., makrothumia ('patience' in the NASB)
         a. Literally, it means being "long-tempered" (the opposite of
            short-tempered)
         b. "patience, forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging
            wrongs" - Thayer
      2. "Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face of
         provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly
         punish. It is the opposite of anger and is associated with
         mercy, and is used of God." - Vine
      3. The purpose of God's longsuffering - cf. 2Pe 3:7-9
         a. That we might have salvation! - 2Pe 3:15
         b. That we might be led to repentance! - Ro 2:4
         c. That those who fear Him and keep His commandments might
            delight in His lovingkindness, even though they have sinned
            - cf. Ps 103:8-18
      -- Those "led by the Spirit" will produce the fruit of
         LONGSUFFERING in their lives

   B. LONGSUFFERING IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN...
      1. Necessary if we desire God to be longsuffering toward us - cf.
         Mt 18:32-35
      2. Necessary to maintain the unity of the Spirit - Ep 4:1-3
      3. Necessary for preachers and teachers of the gospel - 2Ti 2:
         24-26; 3:10; 4:2
      4. Developed through love and prayer - cf. 1Co 13:4-8a; Col 1:9-11
      -- Do we manifest that we "walk by the Spirit" in regards to
         LONGSUFFERING?

[When one possesses the quality of longsuffering, kindness naturally
follows...]

V. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS KINDNESS

   A. THE KINDNESS THE SPIRIT PRODUCES...
      1. Grk., chrestotes - this word describes "the sympathetic
         kindliness or sweetness of temper which puts others at their
         ease, and shrinks from giving pain" - Plummer
         a. It therefore describes a quality that makes other people
            feel at ease when with you
         b. They know you will be kind, or gentle
      2. In the Septuagint, it is used of God more than anyone else
         a. Where it is often translated as 'good' - cf. Ps 106:1;
            145:9
         b. Referring not to God's moral goodness, but rather to His
            kindness, expressed in His mercy
      3. In the New Testament, we read of the kindness of God
         a. In nature, even to ungrateful and evil men - Lk 6:35; cf. Mt  5:45
         b. In the giving of His Son, in whom we have salvation - Tit 3:
            4-7
         c. Even in the ages to come - Ep 2:7
      -- Those "led by the Spirit" will produce the fruit of KINDNESS in
         their lives

   B. KINDNESS IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN...
      1. Is part of the Christian "garment" we are to put on - cf. Co
         3:12
      2. Should characterize our treatment of one another - Ep 4:31-32
      3. Do we act with kindness toward others?
         a. So that others are "at ease" in our presence?
         b. So that others feel they can draw close to us?
      4. Or do we with sharp words, cold shoulders, or arrogant
         condescension discourage others from feeling comfortable around
         us?
      -- Do we manifest that we "walk by the Spirit" in regards to
         KINDNESS?

[Putting the spirit of kindness into action is the quality of
goodness...]

VI. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS GOODNESS

   A. THE GOODNESS THE SPIRIT PRODUCES...
      1. Grk., agathosune - active goodness, benevolent - Complete
         WordStudy Dictionary
         a. "It is more than chrestotes, gentleness, kindness, a
            mellowing of character." - ibid.
         b. "It is character energized, expressing itself in agathon,
            benevolence, active good." - ibid.
      2. Barnabas was a good man - Ac 11:24
         a. He was happy to see the progress of others; i.e., he was not
            envious - Ac 11:23
         b. He was an encourager of others - Ac 11:23
         c. He was liberal with his good words, which is how he got his
            name - cf. Ac 4:36
         d. He was generous with his possessions - cf. Ac 4:32-37
      3. Dorcas was a good woman - Ac 9:36
         a. She was "full of good works and charitable deeds"
         b. Even in her death, her goodness was being felt - cf. Ac 9:39
      -- Those "led by the Spirit" will produce the fruit of GOODNESS in
         their lives

   B. GOODNESS IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN...
      1. Those led by the Spirit of God will produce the quality of
         "goodness" - cf. Ep 5:8-9
      2. We have been created in Christ for this very purpose! - Ep 2:10
      3. We should do good unto all men, especially their brethren - Ga 6:10
      4. The Scriptures furnish us completely for this task - 2Ti 3:
         16-17
      -- Do we manifest that we "walk by the Spirit" in regards to
         GOODNESS?

CONCLUSION

1. Again we note the contrast between the Spirit and the flesh...
   a. Those who walk by the Spirit experience longsuffering, kindness,
      and goodness
   b. Those who indulge fleshly lusts experience contentions, envy, and
      selfish ambitions

2. Which would you rather have...?
   a. A life developing longsuffering, kindness, and goodness, with the
      help of the Holy Spirit?
   b. A life devastated by contentions, envy, and selfish ambitions, due
      to your own fleshly lusts?

In the words of Paul (Ga 5:16):  "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and
you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh."  Are you walking in the
Spirit, allowing Him to produce His fruit in your life...?



Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Mark Copeland... The Fruit Of The Spirit - III (Galatians 5:22-23)



                     "THE EPISTLE TO THE GALATIANS"

                The Fruit Of The Spirit - III (5:22-23)

INTRODUCTION

1. This is our third and final study on "The Fruit Of The Spirit"...
   a. Fruit born by those who walk in the Spirit, who are led by the
      Spirit
   b. As opposed to those who succumb to their carnal lusts, producing
      the works of the flesh

2. Our first study on the fruit of the Spirit focused on the first triad
   of graces...
   a. Love - active good will, toward God and man, that passes knowledge
   b. Joy - gladness, delight, which is inexpressible and full of glory
   c. Peace - harmony, concord, that surpasses understanding

3. Our second study examined the second triad of graces...
   a. Longsuffering - patience, self-restraint in the face of
      provocation
   b. Kindness - sweetness of temper that places others at ease, born of
      mercy
   c. Goodness - benevolence, kindness in action

[The third triad of graces include faithfulness, gentleness (meekness,
KJV), and self-control.  Thus we note that...]

VII. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS FAITHFULNESS

   A. THE FAITHFULNESS THE SPIRIT PRODUCES...
      1. Grk., pistis - often used in the NT of a conviction or belief
         in respect to God and Christ
      2. But it also is used to describe the quality of "fidelity,
         faithfulness"
         a. "the character of one who can be relied on..." - Thayer
         b. "faithful, to be trusted, reliable..." - Vine
         c. William Barclay calls it "the virtue of reliability"
      3. This virtue, unfortunately, is not too common...
         a. While many may claim it, the wise man declared it hard to
            find - Pr 20:6
         b. The Psalmist decried the lack of "faithfulness" in his day,
            describing a condition that sounds much like our situation
            today - Ps 12:1-2
      -- Those "led by the Spirit" will produce the fruit of
         FAITHFULNESS in their lives

   B. FAITHFULNESS IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN...
      1. Faithfulness is essential for those who would receive the crown
         of life - Re 2:10
      2. Some areas in which we need faithfulness:
         a. The use of our 'talents' (i.e., abilities, opportunities)
            - Mt 25:21,24-26
         b. Our duties to the church (e.g., its assemblies) - He 10:
            24-25
         c. Our duties as parents, spouses, children - Ep 6:4; Tit 2:3-5;
            Ep 5:22-23; 6:1-3
      3. Those who are faithful will be blessed by the Lord - Ps 31:23;
         Pr 28:20
      -- Do we manifest that we "walk by the Spirit" in regards to
         FAITHFULNESS?

[Next we observe that...]

VIII. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS GENTLENESS

   A. THE GENTLENESS (MEEKNESS, KJV) THE SPIRIT PRODUCES...
      1. Grk., prautes - gentleness; by implication humility: - meekness
         - Strong
      2. "the ability to bear reproaches and slights with moderation,
         and not to embark on revenge quickly, and not to be easily
         provoked to anger, but to be free from bitterness and
         contentiousness, having tranquillity and stability in the
         spirit." - Aristotle, On Virtues And Vices
      3. Gentleness (or meekness), then, is that virtuous quality by
         which "we treat all men with perfect courtesy, that we can
         rebuke without rancor, that we can argue without intolerance,
         that we can face the truth without resentment, that we can be
         angry and sin not, that we can be gentle and yet not weak."
         - Barclay
      4. A virtue displayed by both Moses and Jesus - Num 12:3; Mt 11:
         28-30
      -- Those "led by the Spirit" will produce the fruit of GENTLENESS
         in their lives

   B. GENTLENESS IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN...
      1. We are to receive the Word of God with meekness (prautes) - Ja
         1:21
      2. We must approach brethren in error with a spirit of gentleness
         (prautes) - Ga 6:1
      3. We must correct those in opposition with humility (prautes)
         - 2Ti 2:24-25
      4. We are to answer inquiries concerning our hope with meekness
         (prautes) - 1Pe 3:15
      5. Meekness (prautes) is necessary for the Christian man who would
         be wise - cf. Jm 3:13-18
      6. Meekness (prautes) is necessary for the Christian woman who
         would be precious in the sight of God - 1Pe 3:1-6
      -- Do we manifest that we "walk by the Spirit" in regards to
         GENTLENESS?

[Finally, we consider that virtue which is most needed in dealing with
fleshly lusts...]

IX. THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT IS SELF-CONTROL

   A. THE SELF-CONTROL THE SPIRIT PRODUCES...
      1. Gr., egkrateia - it comes from the word "kratos" (strength),
         and means "one holding himself in" - Robertson
      2. Thayer defines it as:  "the virtue of one who masters his
         desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites"
      3. MacKnight adds the thought:  "Where this virtue subsists,
         temptation can have little influence."
      -- Those "led by the Spirit" will produce the fruit of
         SELF-CONTROL in their lives

   B. SELF-CONTROL IN THE LIFE OF THE CHRISTIAN...
      1. This virtue is necessary to overcoming the "works of the flesh"
         (such as fornication and outbursts of wrath) - cf. Ga 5:19-20
      2. The indwelling Spirit is given to the Christian to aid us in
         this regard - cf. Ro 8:11-14
      3. The Spirit's aid comes in response to asking for it in prayer
         - cf. Ep 3:16,20
      4. We must be willing to stand strong in the power of God's might
         - cf. Ep 6:12-18
      -- Do we manifest that we "walk by the Spirit" in regards to
         SELF-CONTROL?

CONCLUSION

1. In brief, the third triad of graces produced by the Spirit in the
   life of the Christian are...
   a. Faithfulness - the virtue of reliability, the character of one who
      can be depended upon
   b. Gentleness - kind treatment of others, born of humility
   c. Self-control - the ability to hold oneself in, mastering desires
      and passions

2. Previously we noted the following contrasts between the Spirit and
   the flesh...
   a. Those who walk by the Spirit experience love, joy, and peace
   b. Those who indulge lusts of the flesh experience hatred,
      jealousies, and outbursts of wrath
   c. Those who walk by the Spirit experience longsuffering, kindness,
      and goodness
   d. Those who indulge fleshly lusts experience contentions, envy, and
      selfish ambitions

3. Once more we note the contrast between the Spirit and the flesh...
   a. Those who walk by the Spirit experience faithfulness, gentleness,
      and self-control
   b. Those who indulge fleshly lusts experience jealousies,
      contentions, and immorality

4. Previously we asked:  Which would you rather have...?
   a. A life infused with love, joy, and peace, by the Spirit of
      Almighty God?
   b. A life inflicted by hatred, jealousies, and outbursts of wrath,
      due to fleshly lusts?
   c. A life developing longsuffering, kindness, and goodness, with the
      help of the Holy Spirit?
   d. A life devastated by contentions, envy, and selfish ambitions, due
      to your own fleshly lusts?

5. So again we ask:  Which would you rather have...?
   a. A life exuding faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control, with
      the aid of the Spirit?
   b. A life exhausted by jealousies, contentions, and immorality, due
      to your own fleshly lusts?

Jesus gives us a choice.  Through His blood He can cleanse us of sin;
through the Spirit He can empower us to live holy and righteous lives.
Are we willing to accept His gracious choice...?

   "I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust
   of the flesh." - Ga 5:16


Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Jim McGuiggan... ROMANCE AND HUMAN LOVES

ROMANCE AND HUMAN LOVES

Jesus didn’t come into the world to deprive us of life. He didn’t come into the world to make us miserable and draw us away from the creation and the joys of it. No, he came to redeem us. I mean by that that he came to save us from our sins, of course! Of course! But the redemption Jesus brings is not only from guilt and the God-appointed judgment that sinful rebellion inevitably leads the impenitent to. He came to redeem us from self-destruction, from ignorance and blindness, from frittering away our lives in empty pursuits and he came to redeem us to truth and light and joy lived out in the world in the glorious presence of God.
Without God we’re lost not only in some specialized religious sense—we’re lost to dreams we should dream, relationships we should enjoy and lost to purposes that dignify us as humans. He came to enable us to see life and the world in a new way and to live in response to that vision in a new way. Of course this new and redeemed way is the fulfilment of his old, eternal purpose.
Old things become new, worn out things are refreshed—the entire creation becomes a different place because we see it in and through him and gladly confess that that is how it should be seen if we are to enjoy life to the full in God’s creation.
Everything changes for the person who sees with Christ’s eyes. Oh I don’t mean they become as clear-sighted as Jesus but I do mean that they confess that Jesus’ vision is the true vision and to that degree they “re-envision” the world. It’s never the same after Him. The deeper their relationship with him the better they see things because they see them Jesus’ way. If any person is in Jesus he/she is part of a “new creation”; they don’t judge life and the people around them in the same way and the joys of life become more joyful. A poet said it like this:
Heaven above is softer blue
Earth beneath is sweeter green
Something lives in every hue
That Christless eyes have never seen
Birds with gladder songs overflow
Stars with deeper beauty shine
Since I know as now I know
I am his and he is mine.

Our vision, whatever its source and shape, shapes the world for us and if love of  the God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ is the central impulse it shapes the world accordingly. Love in the form of “romance” or “friendship” or “family” illustrates this perfectly. It’s true that “romance” can be a cheap and shallow and irresponsible thing, but it need not be. Maybe in our Western society it’s mainly those things but, again, it need not be and it’s surely a mistake to take the weakest and worst forms of it and make them the norm.
The musician who butchers Beethoven or Bach doesn’t reflect badly on the composers—he humbles himself and those who know the richness of the music roll their eyes, maybe in pain. Those who speak of friendship and merely use those they call friends mustn’t be taken as illustrating friendship. Professing Christians who devour all round them and bring shame on the very name of Jesus shouldn’t be used as examples of Christ’s followers and abusive, sadistic parents can hardly be thought of as an example of the essence of parenthood.

Many young people—it’s everywhere lamented—are leaving religion behind or going to religions that give them a buzz. Who can know how many reasons there are for this? I’m certain that one of them is that we’ve separated religion from life and reduced living—real living—to religious behavior within religious structures and people who want life want more than religious activity in a religious setting.

I think there’s little point in our denying that we reduce full life to religious activities. It’s characteristic of us to divide work into sacred and secular. Preachers call their congregations to get involved in “the work of the Lord” and they mean by that some kind of evangelistic outreach or the cultivation of the congregation in terms of size and strength. We shouldn’t think outreach and mutual edification and benevolence is unrelated to “the work of the Lord”—far from it, but we shouldn’t dismiss a man or woman’s ten-hours a day job in a factory or an office or a home, providing for their families and paying honest debts—we shouldn’t dismiss this as if it wasn’t “the work of the Lord”.

Jesus believed in friendship and romance and marriage and work and pleasure—these he saw as gifts of God and called people in the name of his Holy Father to rejoice in them to God’s glory. Instead of sidelining friendship, romance, marital relationships, parent/child links, dreams and life purposes—instead of making people feel half-guilty for being involved in them, instead of suggesting that these are necessary but that they’re not truly what we’re to be about, we should be seeing them as avenues of joy and service to God. We’re to live, fully live, in all our human experiences as people attuned to God.

It’s true beyond debate that “romance” that isn’t shaped and expressed and rejoiced in as part of our living to God and his purposes mustn’t be the entire story. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do,” Paul said in 1 Corinthians 10:31, “do it all to the glory of God.” How tragic it would be, and in fact is, when we knowingly exclude romance or any other human experience from that call.

Love—love of people, love of creation, love of life and supremely, love of God—gives us vision that loveless eyes can’t have. It makes sense to say that “love is blind” and yet we never see so well as when we love someone. Many parents and friends have said of some fine young woman that she is wasting herself on such and such a young man. They say things like, “I don’t know what she sees in him!” Precisely! They don’t and can’t see what she sees in him because they don’t love him.
This vision doesn’t only come to lovers who love other humans. It’s experienced by someone who has come to see God and love him. John Masefield has that incredible poem The Everlasting Mercy that tells us of the conversion of Saul Kane, a hard-drinking, hard-living and hard-fighting sinner. Once smitten by the thought of Jesus he says this about the world around him:
       O glory of the lighted mind
       How dead I’d been, how dumb, how blind.
       The station brook, to my new eyes,
       Was babbling out of Paradise;
       The waters rushing from the rain
       Were singing Christ has risen again.
       I thought all earthly creatures knelt
       From rapture of the joy I felt.

Say there are differences between loving God and loving another human—of course! But the psychological impact, the uplift of the heart, the strengthening of our purpose and the hopeful way we look at the world once loves enters feels the same. God is not ashamed of the truth that we experience joy with others humans as we do with him. Human loves are the gift and work of God!
I fully accept that romance is never romance as God would have it unless it has him in mind. I know too that as Ronnie Milsap put it in one of his songs, “love comes and goes just like the wind.” But again, to call a self-centered, self-serving mere feeling “romance” may be linguistically legitimate but we rage at its character and call it other things. Aristotle and Plato reminded us that we are not to take a stunted tree (or a stunted anything else) and treat it as though this was the measure of the rest. We shouldn’t do that with romance or friendship or family or any other relationship.
When we get tired or one of our loved ones has been mauled by what was called “love” or “romance” the world gets a little colder and gloomier and sourer. But at its best or at least when it moves in that direction, a friendship, a romance, a family, an employer, a teacher, a doctor— whatever—makes a believer out of you. One rugged, tender relationship of love stands as a challenge to all the fake stuff that a sinful human family comes up with.
The Christian will tell you that the supreme example of that is Jesus but God isn’t slow to acknowledge that there are people he looks at and feels proud of, people of whom we’re told he was not ashamed to be called their God. In a world of shallow promises and fickle people the glory of a man or woman, a couple or a family is a work of God and defies the sinister whisper that this entire creation enterprise is rotten and God-forsaken.
Charlie Chaplin said it well in a notable song to love’s deathless nature. This is my Song.  One of the lines in his eulogy to love is this: [CLICK to hear the song.]
The world cannot be wrong if in this world there’s you!
    Don’t give up on love—ignoring Paul’s immediate purpose there’s something lovely and strong in his claim that “Love never fails.”




©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Jim McGuiggan... FAITH-FILLED DEFIANCE

FAITH-FILLED DEFIANCE



Genesis 23 tells us that Abraham bought a grave. That was the only piece of the
Promised Land that he got and he had to pay for it. More than 1,500 years later Jeremiah
bought a piece of land in the face of foreign invasion. What these two men did were
acts of holy and faith-filled defiance. They looked steadily at the physical and political
situations, recognizing them for what they were (harsh realities) and they still
claimed that what God had promised he would fulfill. Abraham’s tomb said he
would inherit the land and Jeremiah’s purchase prior to exile said he would be
restored to it. Holy, trusting defiance—that’s what it was!
I suppose there are two ways to defy the world. One is to run from it, to refuse to be
part of it except to the degree that we can’t avoid it. We see that anti-culture approach
in a number of religious communities. It is possible, I suppose, to eat without rejoicing,
associate without nurturing friendship, cooperate but avoid love, and so on. If you don’t
love you won’t feel the loss, if you keep free of commitments you won’t suffer
disappointment and if you keep life at arm’s length then the grave won’t seem so bad.
Aside from the fact that this is anti-life, it’s a denial of the faith based on the Hebrew-Christian
scriptures. To deny the harsh realities of existence is a fool’s game but to deny the joys and
pleasures of life is crass nonsense.
When the Christian embraces all of lifein particular its joys and pleasuresit
doesn’t mean she doesn’t recognize their limits. A sandcastle is a sandcastle and
isn’t meant to stand for centuries—but it’s to be enjoyed just the same. In fact, it is a
sand
castle precisely because we are able to rejoice in sandcastles for the moment. If
it’s wrecked, the children often laugh and build another one. No serious loss has
been sustained and we can experience the pleasure of rebuilding all over again. A
castle of stone and iron wouldn’t work on the beach when a family has a few hours
together away from work and pressures and tough agendas. Much of life’s like that
and is supposed to be like that. To ask too much from what is designed to offer less
is to create disappointment for yourself and, maybe worse, the foolishness might
generate cynicism and sourness with life in general. We can’t expect health to last
forever—not in the present phase of human living anyway.
©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com

From Jim McGuiggan... THE HANGING TREE

THE HANGING TREE



In Euripides's Alkestis the Spartan king, Admetos, is to die unless he gets a substitute. His wife Alkestis becomes his substitute but the thought of losing her is driving Admetos crazy. Heracles (Hercules), son of the gods and a regular guest at Admetos's house comes to visit, learns of the situation and goes out and rescues her from Death.
The poet Robert Browning zeroes in on the reputation of Heracles as a helper of mankind against the forces that are too strong for it. He makes the point that this going to humanity's defense is one of the authenticating marks of genuine godhood. Here's how he puts it:
Gladness be with thee, Helper of our world!
I think this is the authentic sign and seal
Of Godship, that it ever waxes glad,
And more glad, until gladness blossoms, bursts
Into a rage to suffer for mankind,
And recommence at sorrow: drops like seed
After the blossom, ultimate of all.
Say, does the seed scorn the earth and seek the sun?
Surely it has no other end and aim
Than to drop, once more die into the ground,
Taste cold and darkness and oblivion there:
And thence rise, tree-like to grow through pain to joy,
More joy and most joy—do man good again.
Browning lays hold not only on the theme of suffering to help humanity, he stresses the gladness of heart in which the enterprise is undertaken. It isn't a grim, reluctant, foot-dragging approach to the matter (Heracles "strode" off to effect the rescue). And it was "for the joy set before him" our Savior despised the pain and loss barring his way.
As P.T. Forsyth insisted, the coming of God as the weak and wounded Jesus Christ is not only not surprising, it would be astonishing if he had not come in Jesus Christ in a rage to suffer on humanity's behalf. In this, Forsyth doesn't only have in mind the tender side of God, his gentle love and compassion though he does have that in mind; he's thinking of God's infinitely holy character. If God was moved in love, it was a holy love. Christ doesn't come simply blessing, being sweet, talking kindly and taking us in his loving arms—he comes sharing the suffering that exists in this pain-filled world, the suffering that under God is the out-working of our spellbinding slavery to sin.
This wasn’t salvation at a distance! God wasn’t shouting instructions to us on how to save ourselves; he didn’t send us religious tracts or writings nor did he send some exalted messenger—he came himself!
He came to rescue us from our self-destructive ways; he came to save us from the powers we corrupted, powers that then in their corrupted and corrupting state became our vicious and too-powerful enemies.
The forgiveness of sins, the reconciliation of the world is achieved through love's judgment on and exposure of evil—the word of the cross says that [John 12:31-32]!
It was God and it was God in and as Jesus Christ who came to our rescue. The motivation for this coming and sending is, “God so loved the world" (John 3:16-17).
Not to be able to see that in the cross blinds us to the possibility of seeing it anywhere else in the world.
And why would such a one bother with the likes of us? Yes, we’ve been told why but while that means we’re not left utterly in the dark, how much light does it really give us? He’s infinitely above and beyond us. It isn’t just his power and wisdom—it’s his character, his love and mercy and grace, they drive us to pile up words on words and phrases on phrases in a vain attempt to grasp and express something of the meaning of it all. It doesn’t surprise us to hear David ask in Psalm 8, "What are humans that you bother with them?"
But incredible as it seems and however often we look around to see if anyone else can believe it or if we’re the only ones who find it difficult to take in—incredible as it seems, it’s true! He cares about us.
Well, all right then, so it’s true, but can we gain access to him or must we always speak of him and deal with him at a great distance? If we do gain access to his presence, what is it that gives us this privilege? What hoops do we have to jump through? What great feats do we have to accomplish? What Herculean tasks do we have to undertake to be assured of entering into the company of the Great God? What assures us, even now, of his favor and of the claim that a day is coming when the communion we now enjoy by faith will have an added dimension—his very presence?  What gets us from the gutter, through the door and into the palace?
A wooden stake, a public gallows, on a little hill just outside ancient Jerusalem!
Why is that? Is there some magic in wood?
Is there a mysterious power in a hanging tree?
Does the cruel and brutal death of some young man make God cry and go all weak and tender? There have been millions of deaths like that down the centuries! How does that one, that particular one, enable us to enter God’s presence in peace (Ephesians 2:17-18)? What is it about that death that opens the gates to breathless wonder?
It isn’t God’s love of shed blood that opens his home to us! It’s God himself—his nature and character. His shed blood didn’t make him a loving or welcoming God—it proclaimed that he has eternally been like that! The hanging tree didn’t turn God into a gracious God—it revealed the truth that he already was this!
Nowhere else in time or limitless space can we find the proof that God wants us to be home with him. Nowhere else, only at the hanging tree! It’s only because of that that sinners like us dare to imagine we are welcomed home.
It is in and through this hanging tree that the power of God that opens our eyes and draws us to himself in Jesus. It is this love of Christ that creates the New Testament elect whose business is then to gospel to the world that God hasn’t abandoned it, that he will right all wrongs and on that day the glory of God will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.
©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Gary... Bible Reading and Study September 19




Bible Reading and Study    
September 19


The World English Bible



Sept. 19
Psalms 83-85

Psa 83:1 God, don't keep silent. Don't keep silent, and don't be still, God.
Psa 83:2 For, behold, your enemies are stirred up. Those who hate you have lifted up their heads.
Psa 83:3 They conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones.
Psa 83:4 "Come," they say, "and let's destroy them as a nation, that the name of Israel may be remembered no more."
Psa 83:5 For they have conspired together with one mind. They form an alliance against you.
Psa 83:6 The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagrites;
Psa 83:7 Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Psa 83:8 Assyria also is joined with them. They have helped the children of Lot. Selah.
Psa 83:9 Do to them as you did to Midian, as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon;
Psa 83:10 who perished at Endor, who became as dung for the earth.
Psa 83:11 Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb; yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna;
Psa 83:12 who said, "Let us take possession of God's pasturelands."
Psa 83:13 My God, make them like tumbleweed; like chaff before the wind.
Psa 83:14 As the fire that burns the forest, as the flame that sets the mountains on fire,
Psa 83:15 so pursue them with your tempest, and terrify them with your storm.
Psa 83:16 Fill their faces with confusion, that they may seek your name, Yahweh.
Psa 83:17 Let them be disappointed and dismayed forever. Yes, let them be confounded and perish;
Psa 83:18 that they may know that you alone, whose name is Yahweh, are the Most High over all the earth.
Psa 84:1 How lovely are your dwellings, Yahweh of Armies!
Psa 84:2 My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Psa 84:3 Yes, the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young, near your altars, Yahweh of Armies, my King, and my God.
Psa 84:4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house. They are always praising you. Selah.
Psa 84:5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you; who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage.
Psa 84:6 Passing through the valley of Weeping, they make it a place of springs. Yes, the autumn rain covers it with blessings.
Psa 84:7 They go from strength to strength. Everyone of them appears before God in Zion.
Psa 84:8 Yahweh, God of Armies, hear my prayer. Listen, God of Jacob. Selah.
Psa 84:9 Behold, God our shield, look at the face of your anointed.
Psa 84:10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Psa 84:11 For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield. Yahweh will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly.
Psa 84:12 Yahweh of Armies, blessed is the man who trusts in you.
Psa 85:1 Yahweh, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes of Jacob.
Psa 85:2 You have forgiven the iniquity of your people. You have covered all their sin. Selah.
Psa 85:3 You have taken away all your wrath. You have turned from the fierceness of your anger.
Psa 85:4 Turn us, God of our salvation, and cause your indignation toward us to cease.
Psa 85:5 Will you be angry with us forever? Will you draw out your anger to all generations?
Psa 85:6 Won't you revive us again, that your people may rejoice in you?
Psa 85:7 Show us your loving kindness, Yahweh. Grant us your salvation.
Psa 85:8 I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, his saints; but let them not turn again to folly.
Psa 85:9 Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
Psa 85:10 Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Psa 85:11 Truth springs out of the earth. Righteousness has looked down from heaven.
Psa 85:12 Yes, Yahweh will give that which is good. Our land will yield its increase.
Psa 85:13 Righteousness goes before him, And prepares the way for his steps. 
 
The Composite Bible
The World English Bible
Darby's Translation
Young's Literal Translation

The Composite Bible is a effort to understand the Bible by considering it from different perspectives and different levels of literalcy. First, read the World English Bible (the least literal-black text) for comprehension of the text. Next, read both the World English Bible with the Darby Translation (more literal-blue text)to make comparisons and lastly, read all three versions (Young's is the most literal translation- red text) at one time to obtain an overview of the text. Doing this will make you think about what the Scriptures are actually saying and avoid reading in a superficial manner.
Psalms
 
Psalms 83 1
God, don`t keep silent. Don`t keep silent, and don`t be still, God.
{A Song; a Psalm of Asaph.} O God, keep not silence; hold not thy peace, and be not still, O
·God:
A Song, -- A Psalm of Asaph. O God, let there be no silence to Thee, Be not silent,
nor be quiet, O God.
Psalms 83 2
For, behold, your enemies are stirred up. Those who hate you have lifted up their heads.
For behold, thine enemies make a tumult; and they that hate thee lift up the head.
For, lo, Thine enemies do roar, And those hating Thee have lifted up the head,
Psalms 83 3
They conspire with cunning against your people. They plot against your cherished ones.
They take crafty counsel against thy people, and consult against thy hidden ones:
Against Thy people they take crafty counsel, And consult against Thy hidden ones.
Psalms 83 4
"Come," they say, "and let us destroy them as a nation, That the name of Israel may be
remembered no more."
They say, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation, and let the name of Israel be
mentioned no more.
They have said, `Come, And we cut them off from [being] a nation, And the name of
Israel is not remembered any more.`
Psalms 83 5
For they have conspired together with one mind. They form an alliance against you.
For they have consulted together with one heart: they have made an alliance together
against thee.
For they consulted in heart together, Against Thee a covenant they make,
Psalms 83 6
The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites; Moab, and the Hagrites;
The tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, Moab and the Hagarites;
Tents of Edom, and Ishmaelites, Moab, and the Hagarenes,
Psalms 83 7
Gebal, Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; Philistia, with the inhabitants of Tyre;
Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek, Philistia with inhabitants of Tyre,
Psalms 83 8
Assyria also is joined with them. They have helped the children of Lot. Selah.
Asshur also is joined with them: they are an arm to the sons of Lot. Selah.
Asshur also is joined with them, They have been an arm to sons of Lot. Selah.
Psalms 83 9
Do to them as you did to Midian, As to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the river Kishon;
Do unto them as to Midian; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the torrent of Kishon:
Do to them as [to] Midian, As [to] Sisera, as [to] Jabin, at the stream Kishon.
Psalms 83 10
Who perished at Endor, Who became as dung for the earth.
Who were destroyed at Endor; they became as dung for the ground.
They were destroyed at Endor, They were dung for the ground!
Psalms 83 11
Make their nobles like Oreb and Zeeb; Yes, all their princes like Zebah and Zalmunna;
Make their nobles as Oreb and as Zeeb; and all their chiefs as Zebah and as Zalmunna.
Make their nobles as Oreb and as Zeeb, And as Zebah and Zalmunna all their
princes,
Psalms 83 12
Who said, "Let us take possession Of God`s pasturelands."
For they have said, Let us take to ourselves God`s dwelling-places in possession.
Who have said, `Let us occupy for ourselves The comely places of God.`
Psalms 83 13
My God, make them like tumbleweed; Like chaff before the wind.
O my God, make them like a whirling thing, like stubble before the wind.
O my God, make them as a rolling thing, As stubble before wind.
Psalms 83 14
As the fire that burns the forest, As the flame that sets the mountains on fire,
As fire burneth a forest, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire,
As a fire doth burn a forest, And as a flame setteth hills on fire,
Psalms 83 15
So pursue them with your tempest, Terrify them with your storm.
So pursue them with thy tempest, and terrify them with thy whirlwind.
So dost Thou pursue them with Thy whirlwind, And with Thy hurricane troublest
them.
Psalms 83 16
Fill their faces with confusion, That they may seek your name, Yahweh.
Fill their faces with shame, that they may seek thy name, O Jehovah.
Fill their faces [with] shame, And they seek Thy name, O Jehovah.
Psalms 83 17
Let them be put to shame and dismayed forever. Yes, let them be confounded and perish;
Let them be put to shame and be dismayed for ever, and let them be confounded and
perish:
They are ashamed and troubled for ever, Yea, they are confounded and lost.
Psalms 83 18
That they may know that you alone, whose name is Yahweh, Are the Most High over all the
earth. Psalm 84 For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by the sons of
Korah.
That they may know that thou alone, whose name is Jehovah, art the Most High over all
the earth.
And they know that Thou -- (Thy name [is] Jehovah -- by Thyself,) [Art] the Most
High over all the earth!
Psalms 84 1
How lovely are your dwellings, Yahweh of Hosts!
{To the chief Musician. Upon the Gittith. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.} How amiable are
thy tabernacles, O Jehovah of hosts!
To the Overseer. -- `On the Gittith By sons of Korah.` -- A Psalm. How beloved Thy
tabernacles, Jehovah of Hosts!
Psalms 84 2
My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of Yahweh. My heart and my flesh cry out for the
living God.
My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of Jehovah; my heart and my flesh cry
out for the living ·God.
My soul desired, yea, it hath also been consumed, For the courts of Jehovah, My
heart and my flesh cry aloud unto the living God,
Psalms 84 3
Yes, the sparrow has found a home, And the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young, Near your altars, Yahweh of Hosts, My King, and my God.
Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she layeth
her young, thine altars, O Jehovah of hosts, my King and my God.
(Even a sparrow hath found a house, And a swallow a nest for herself, Where she
hath placed her brood,) Thine altars, O Jehovah of Hosts, My king and my God.
Psalms 84 4
Blessed are those who dwell in your house. They are always praising you. Selah.
Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be constantly praising thee. Selah.
O the happiness of those inhabiting Thy house, Yet do they praise Thee. Selah.
Psalms 84 5
Blessed is the man whose strength is in you; Who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage.
Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee, -- they, in whose heart are the highways.
O the happiness of a man whose strength is in Thee, Highways [are] in their heart.
Psalms 84 6
Passing through the valley of Weeping, they make it a place of springs. Yes, the autumn
rain covers it with blessings.
Passing through the valley of Baca, they make it a well-spring; yea, the early rain
covereth it with blessings.
Those passing through a valley of weeping, A fountain do make it, Blessings also
cover the director.
Psalms 84 7
They go from strength to strength. Everyone of them appears before God in Zion.
They go from strength to strength: [each one] will appear before God in Zion.
They go from strength unto strength, He appeareth unto God in Zion.
Psalms 84 8
Yahweh, God of hosts, hear my prayer. Listen, God of Jacob. Selah.
Jehovah, God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
O Jehovah, God of Hosts, hear my prayer, Give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.
Psalms 84 9
Behold, God our shield, Look at the face of your anointed.
Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.
Our shield, see, O God, And behold the face of Thine anointed,
Psalms 84 10
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house
of my God, Than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.
For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather stand at the threshold of
the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
For good [is] a day in Thy courts, O Teacher! I have chosen rather to be at the
threshold, In the house of my God, Than to dwell in tents of wickedness.
Psalms 84 11
For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield. Yahweh will give grace and glory. He withholds no good
thing from those who walk blamelessly.
For Jehovah Elohim is a sun and shield: Jehovah will give grace and glory; no good thing
will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
For a sun and a shield [is] Jehovah God, Grace and honour doth Jehovah give. He
withholdeth not good To those walking in uprightness.
Psalms 84 12
Yahweh of Hosts, Blessed is the man who trusts in you. Psalm 85 For the Chief Musician.
A Psalm by the sons of Korah.
Jehovah of hosts, blessed is the man that confideth in thee!
Jehovah of Hosts! O the happiness of a man trusting in Thee.
Psalms 85 1
Yahweh, you have been favorable to your land. You have restored the fortunes of Jacob.
{To the chief Musician. Of the sons of Korah. A Psalm.} Thou hast been favourable, Jehovah,
unto thy land; thou hast turned the captivity of Jacob:
To the Overseer. -- By sons of Korah. A Psalm. Thou hast accepted, O Jehovah, Thy
land, Thou hast turned [to] the captivity of Jacob.
Psalms 85 2
You have forgiven the iniquity of your people. You have covered all their sin. Selah.
Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people; thou hast covered all their sin. Selah.
Thou hast borne away the iniquity of Thy people, Thou hast covered all their sin.
Selah.
Psalms 85 3
You have taken away all your wrath. You have turned from the fierceness of your anger.
Thou hast withdrawn all thy wrath; thou hast turned from the fierceness of thine anger.
Thou hast gathered up all Thy wrath, Thou hast turned back from the fierceness of
Thine anger.
Psalms 85 4
Turn us, God of our salvation, And cause your indignation toward us to cease.
Bring us back, O God of our salvation, and cause thine indignation toward us to cease.
Turn back [to] us, O God of our salvation, And make void Thine anger with us.
Psalms 85 5
Will you be angry with us forever? Will you draw out your anger to all generations?
Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger from generation to
generation?
To the age art Thou angry against us? Dost Thou draw out Thine anger To
generation and generation?
Psalms 85 6
Won`t you revive us again, That your people may rejoice in you?
Wilt thou not revive us again, that thy people may rejoice in thee?
Dost Thou not turn back? Thou revivest us, And Thy people do rejoice in Thee.
Psalms 85 7
Show us your lovingkindness, Yahweh. Grant us your salvation.
Shew us thy loving-kindness, O Jehovah, and grant us thy salvation.
Show us, O Jehovah, thy kindness, And Thy salvation Thou dost give to us.
Psalms 85 8
I will hear what God, Yahweh, will speak, For he will speak peace to his people, his saints; But
let them not turn again to folly.
I will hear what ·God, Jehovah, will speak; for he will speak peace unto his people, and to
his godly ones: but let them not turn again to folly.
I hear what God Jehovah speaketh, For He speaketh peace unto His people, And
unto His saints, and they turn not back to folly.
Psalms 85 9
Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, That glory may dwell in our land.
Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him, that glory may dwell in our land.
Only, near to those fearing Him [is] His salvation, That honour may dwell in our
land.
Psalms 85 10
Mercy and truth meet together. Righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
Loving-kindness and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each
other:
Kindness and truth have met, Righteousness and peace have kissed,
Psalms 85 11
Truth springs out of the earth. Righteousness has looked down from heaven.
Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from the heavens.
Truth from the earth springeth up, And righteousness from heaven looketh out,
Psalms 85 12
Yes, Yahweh will give that which is good. Our land will yield its increase.
Jehovah also will give what is good, and our land shall yield its increase.
Jehovah also giveth that which is good, And our land doth give its increase.
Psalms 85 13
Righteousness goes before him, And prepares the way for his steps. Psalm 86 A Prayer by
David.
Righteousness shall go before him, and shall set his footsteps on the way.
Righteousness before Him goeth, And maketh His footsteps for a way!
 Study Questions

God is over __________ __________ ___________? 83:18
The prayer in Psalm 84 is directed to? 84:8
Salvation is near those who? 85:9
The World English Bible
 
Sept. 19
1 Corinthians 15

1Co 15:1 Now I declare to you, brothers, the Good News which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand,
1Co 15:2 by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you--unless you believed in vain.
1Co 15:3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,
1Co 15:4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
1Co 15:5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
1Co 15:6 Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.
1Co 15:7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
1Co 15:8 and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.
1Co 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.
1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was bestowed on me was not futile, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
1Co 15:11 Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed.
1Co 15:12 Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
1Co 15:13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised.
1Co 15:14 If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain.
1Co 15:15 Yes, we are found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn't raise up, if it is so that the dead are not raised.
1Co 15:16 For if the dead aren't raised, neither has Christ been raised.
1Co 15:17 If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.
1Co 15:18 Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
1Co 15:19 If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.
1Co 15:20 But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep.
1Co 15:21 For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man.
1Co 15:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
1Co 15:23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ's, at his coming.
1Co 15:24 Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power.
1Co 15:25 For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
1Co 15:26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
1Co 15:27 For, "He put all things in subjection under his feet." But when he says, "All things are put in subjection," it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him.
1Co 15:28 When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all.
1Co 15:29 Or else what will they do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead aren't raised at all, why then are they baptized for the dead?
1Co 15:30 Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour?
1Co 15:31 I affirm, by the boasting in you which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.
1Co 15:32 If I fought with animals at Ephesus for human purposes, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then "let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."
1Co 15:33 Don't be deceived! "Evil companionships corrupt good morals."
1Co 15:34 Wake up righteously, and don't sin, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
1Co 15:35 But someone will say, "How are the dead raised?" and, "With what kind of body do they come?"
1Co 15:36 You foolish one, that which you yourself sow is not made alive unless it dies.
1Co 15:37 That which you sow, you don't sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe of wheat, or of some other kind.
1Co 15:38 But God gives it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own.
1Co 15:39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
1Co 15:40 There are also celestial bodies, and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial.
1Co 15:41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
1Co 15:42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.
1Co 15:43 It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
1Co 15:44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body.
1Co 15:45 So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
1Co 15:46 However that which is spiritual isn't first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual.
1Co 15:47 The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven.
1Co 15:48 As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
1Co 15:49 As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let's also bear the image of the heavenly.
1Co 15:50 Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can't inherit the Kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption.
1Co 15:51 Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
1Co 15:52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
1Co 15:53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
1Co 15:54 But when this corruptible will have put on incorruption, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
1Co 15:55 "Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?"
1Co 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
1Co 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord's work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

 
The Composite Bible
The World English Bible
Darby's Translation
Young's Literal Translation

The Composite Bible is a effort to understand the Bible by considering it from different perspectives and different levels of literalcy. First, read the World English Bible (the least literal-black text) for comprehension of the text. Next, read both the World English Bible with the Darby Translation (more literal-blue text)to make comparisons and lastly, read all three versions (Young's is the most literal translation- red text) at one time to obtain an overview of the text. Doing this will make you think about what the Scriptures are actually saying and avoid reading in a superficial manner.
1 Corinthians
1 Corinthians 15 1
Now I declare to you, brothers, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which you also stand,
But I make known to you, brethren, the glad tidings which I announced to you, which
also ye received, in which also ye stand,
And I make known to you, brethren, the good news that I proclaimed to you, which
also ye did receive, in which also ye have stood,
1 Corinthians 15 2
by which also you are saved, if you hold firmly the word which I preached to you -- unless you believed in vain.
by which also ye are saved, (if ye hold fast the word which I announced to you as the glad
tidings,) unless indeed ye have believed in vain.
through which also ye are being saved, in what words I proclaimed good news to
you, if ye hold fast, except ye did believe in vain,
1 Corinthians 15 3
For I delivered to you first of all that which also I received: that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures,
For I delivered to you, in the first place, what also I had received, that Christ died for our
sins, according to the scriptures;
for I delivered to you first, what also I did receive, that Christ died for our sins,
according to the Writings,
1 Corinthians 15 4
that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,
and that he was buried; and that he was raised the third day, according to the scriptures;
and that he was buried, and that he hath risen on the third day, according to the Writings,
1 Corinthians 15 5
and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve,
1 Corinthians 15 6
Then he appeared to over five hundred brothers at once, most of whom remain until now, but some have also fallen asleep.
Then he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the most remain until
now, but some also have fallen asleep.
afterwards he appeared to above five hundred brethren at once, of whom the
greater part remain till now, and certain also did fall asleep;
1 Corinthians 15 7
Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
Then he appeared to James; then to all the apostles;
afterwards he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.
1 Corinthians 15 8
and last of all, as to the child born at the wrong time, he appeared to me also.
and last of all, as to an abortion, he appeared to *me* also.
And last of all -- as to the untimely birth -- he appeared also to me,
1 Corinthians 15 9
For I am the least of the apostles, who is not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the assembly of God.
For *I* am the least of the apostles, who am not fit to be called apostle, because I have
persecuted the assembly of God.
for I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle,
because I did persecute the assembly of God,
1 Corinthians 15 10
But by the grace of God I am what I am. His grace which was bestowed on me was not found vain, but I worked more than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
But by God`s grace I am what I am; and his grace, which [was] towards me, has not been
vain; but I have laboured more abundantly than they all, but not *I*, but the grace of God
which [was] with me.
and by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace that [is] towards me came
not in vain, but more abundantly than they all did I labour, yet not I, but the
grace of God that [is] with me;
1 Corinthians 15 11
Whether then it is I or they, so we preach, and so you believed.
Whether, therefore, I or they, thus we preach, and thus ye have believed.
whether, then, I or they, so we preach, and so ye did believe.
1 Corinthians 15 12
Now if Christ is preached, that he has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?
Now if Christ is preached that he is raised from among [the] dead, how say some among
you that there is not a resurrection of [those that are] dead?
And if Christ is preached, that out of the dead he hath risen, how say certain
among you, that there is no rising again of dead persons?
1 Corinthians 15 13
But if there is no resurrection of the dead, neither has Christ been raised.
But if there is not a resurrection of [those that are] dead, neither is Christ raised:
and if there be no rising again of dead persons, neither hath Christ risen;
1 Corinthians 15 14
If Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain, and your faith also is in vain.
but if Christ is not raised, then, indeed, vain also [is] our preaching, and vain also your
faith.
and if Christ hath not risen, then void [is] our preaching, and void also your faith,
1 Corinthians 15 15
Yes, we are found false witnesses of God, because we testified about God that he raised up Christ, whom he didn`t raise up, if it is so that the dead are not raised.
And we are found also false witnesses of God; for we have witnessed concerning God that
he raised the Christ, whom he has not raised if indeed [those that are] dead are not
raised.
and we also are found false witnesses of God, because we did testify of God that He
raised up the Christ, whom He did not raise if then dead persons do not rise;
1 Corinthians 15 16
For if the dead aren`t raised, neither has Christ been raised.
For if [those that are] dead are not raised, neither is Christ raised;
for if dead persons do not rise, neither hath Christ risen,
1 Corinthians 15 17
If Christ has not been raised, your faith is vain; you are still in your sins.
but if Christ be not raised, your faith [is] vain; ye are yet in your sins.
and if Christ hath not risen, vain is your faith, ye are yet in your sins;
1 Corinthians 15 18
Then they also who are fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
Then indeed also those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished.
then, also, those having fallen asleep in Christ did perish;
1 Corinthians 15 19
If we have only hoped in Christ in this life, we are of all men most pitiable.
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are [the] most miserable of all men.
if in this life we have hope in Christ only, of all men we are most to be pitied.
1 Corinthians 15 20
But now Christ has been raised from the dead. He became the first fruits of those who are asleep.
(But now Christ is raised from among [the] dead, first-fruits of those fallen asleep.
And now, Christ hath risen out of the dead -- the first-fruits of those sleeping he
became,
1 Corinthians 15 21
For since death came by man, the resurrection of the dead also came by man.
For since by man [came] death, by man also resurrection of [those that are] dead.
for since through man [is] the death, also through man [is] a rising again of the dead,
1 Corinthians 15 22
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.
For as in the Adam all die, thus also in the Christ all shall be made alive.
for even as in Adam all die, so also in the Christ all shall be made alive,
1 Corinthians 15 23
But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, then those who are Christ`s, at his coming.
But each in his own rank: [the] first-fruits, Christ; then those that are the Christ`s at his coming.
and each in his proper order, a first-fruit Christ, afterwards those who are the
Christ`s, in his presence,
1 Corinthians 15 24
Then the end comes, when he will deliver up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he will have abolished all rule and all authority and power.
Then the end, when he gives up the kingdom to him [who is] God and Father; when he
shall have annulled all rule and all authority and power.
then -- the end, when he may deliver up the reign to God, even the Father, when he
may have made useless all rule, and all authority and power --
1 Corinthians 15 25
For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet.
For he must reign until he put all enemies under his feet.
for it behoveth him to reign till he may have put all the enemies under his feet --
1 Corinthians 15 26
The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
[The] last enemy [that] is annulled [is] death.
the last enemy is done away -- death;
1 Corinthians 15 27
For, "He put all things in subjection under his feet." But when he says, "All things are put in
subjection," it is evident that he is excepted who subjected all things to him.
For he has put all things in subjection under his feet. But when he says that all things
are put in subjection, [it is] evident that [it is] except him who put all things in
subjection to him.
for all things He did put under his feet, and, when one may say that all things have
been subjected, [it is] evident that He is excepted who did subject the all things
to him,
1 Corinthians 15 28
When all things have been subjected to him, then the Son will also himself be subjected to him who subjected all things to him, that God may be all in all.
But when all things shall have been brought into subjection to him, then the Son also
himself shall be placed in subjection to him who put all things in subjection to him, that
God may be all in all.)
and when the all things may be subjected to him, then the Son also himself shall
be subject to Him, who did subject to him the all things, that God may be the all in
all.
1 Corinthians 15 29
Or else what will they do who are baptized for the dead? If the dead aren`t raised at all, why
then are they baptized for the dead?
Since what shall the baptised for the dead do if [those that are] dead rise not at all? why
also are they baptised for them?
Seeing what shall they do who are baptized for the dead, if the dead do not rise at
all? why also are they baptized for the dead?
1 Corinthians 15 30
Why do we also stand in jeopardy every hour?
Why do *we* also endanger ourselves every hour?
why also do we stand in peril every hour?
1 Corinthians 15 31
I die daily, by your boasting which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Daily I die, by your boasting which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Every day do I die, by the glorying of you that I have in Christ Jesus our Lord:
1 Corinthians 15 32
If I fought with animals at Ephesus like men, what does it profit me? If the dead are not raised, then "let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die."
If, [to speak] after the manner of man, I have fought with beasts in Ephesus, what is the
profit to me if [those that are] dead do not rise? let us eat and drink; for to-morrow we
die.
if after the manner of a man with wild beasts I fought in Ephesus, what the
advantage to me if the dead do not rise? let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we
die!
1 Corinthians 15 33
Don`t be deceived! "Evil companionships corrupt good morals."
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
Be not led astray; evil communications corrupt good manners;
1 Corinthians 15 34
Wake up righteously, and don`t sin, for some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame.
Awake up righteously, and sin not; for some are ignorant of God: I speak to you as a
matter of shame.
awake up, as is right, and sin not; for certain have an ignorance of God; for shame
to you I say [it].
1 Corinthians 15 35
But some one will say, "How are the dead raised?" and, "With what kind of body do they come?"
But some one will say, How are the dead raised? and with what body do they come?
But some one will say, `How do the dead rise?
1 Corinthians 15 36
You foolish one, that which you yourself sow is not made alive unless it dies.
Fool; what *thou* sowest is not quickened unless it die.
unwise! thou -- what thou dost sow is not quickened except it may die;
1 Corinthians 15 37
That which you sow, you don`t sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe of wheat, or of some other kind.
And what thou sowest, thou sowest not the body that shall be, but a bare grain: it may be
of wheat, or some one of the rest:
and that which thou dost sow, not the body that shall be dost thou sow, but bare
grain, it may be of wheat, or of some one of the others,
1 Corinthians 15 38
But God gives it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own.
and God gives to it a body as he has pleased, and to each of the seeds its own body.
and God doth give to it a body according as He willed, and to each of the seeds its
proper body.
1 Corinthians 15 39
All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
Every flesh [is] not the same flesh, but one [is] of men, and another flesh of beasts, and
another [flesh] of birds, and another of fishes.
All flesh [is] not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, and another flesh of
beasts, and another of fishes, and another of birds;
1 Corinthians 15 40
There are also celestial bodies, and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from
that of the terrestrial.
And [there are] heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies: but different is the glory of the
heavenly, different that of the earthly:
and [there are] heavenly bodies, and earthly bodies; but one [is] the glory of the
heavenly, and another that of the earthly;
1 Corinthians 15 41
There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
one [the] sun`s glory, and another [the] moon`s glory, and another [the] stars` glory; for
star differs from star in glory.
one glory of sun, and another glory of moon, and another glory of stars, for star
from star doth differ in glory.
1 Corinthians 15 42
So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption.
Thus also [is] the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption, it is raised in
incorruptibility.
So also [is] the rising again of the dead: it is sown in corruption, it is raised in
incorruption;
1 Corinthians 15 43
It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power.
It is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power.
it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in
power;
1 Corinthians 15 44
It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body.
It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body: if there is a natural body, there is
also a spiritual [one].
it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body; there is a natural body, and
there is a spiritual body;
1 Corinthians 15 45
So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
Thus also it is written, The first man Adam became a living soul; the last Adam a
quickening spirit.
so also it hath been written, `The first man Adam became a living creature,` the
last Adam [is] for a life-giving spirit,
1 Corinthians 15 46
However that which is spiritual isn`t first, but that which is natural, then that which is
But that which is spiritual [was] not first, but that which is natural, then that which is
spiritual:
but that which is spiritual [is] not first, but that which [was] natural, afterwards
that which [is] spiritual.
1 Corinthians 15 47
The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven.
the first man out of [the] earth, made of dust; the second man, out of heaven.
The first man [is] out of the earth, earthy; the second man [is] the Lord out of
heaven;
1 Corinthians 15 48
As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.
Such as he made of dust, such also those made of dust; and such as the heavenly [one], such
also the heavenly [ones].
as [is] the earthy, such [are] also the earthy; and as [is] the heavenly, such [are]
also the heavenly;
1 Corinthians 15 49
As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let`s also bear the image of the heavenly.
And as we have borne the image of the [one] made of dust, we shall bear also the image of
the heavenly [one].
and, according as we did bear the image of the earthy, we shall bear also the
image of the heavenly.
1 Corinthians 15 50
Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can`t inherit the kingdom of God; neither does corruption inherit incorruption.
But this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit God`s kingdom, nor does
corruption inherit incorruptibility.
And this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood the reign of God is not able to
inherit, nor doth the corruption inherit the incorruption;
1 Corinthians 15 51
Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed,
Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all fall asleep, but we shall all be changed,
lo, I tell you a secret; we indeed shall not all sleep, and we all shall be changed;
1 Corinthians 15 52
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed.
in an instant, in [the] twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet shall
sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and *we* shall be changed.
in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, in the last trumpet, for it shall sound,
and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we -- we shall be changed:
1 Corinthians 15 53
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
For this corruptible must needs put on incorruptibility, and this mortal put on
immortality.
for it behoveth this corruptible to put on incorruption, and this mortal to put on
immortality;
1 Corinthians 15 54
But when this corruptible will have put on incorruption, and this mortal will have put on
immortality, then what is written will happen: "Death is swallowed up in victory."
But when this corruptible shall have put on incorruptibility, and this mortal shall have
put on immortality, then shall come to pass the word written: Death has been swallowed
up in victory.
and when this corruptible may have put on incorruption, and this mortal may
have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the word that hath been
written, `The Death was swallowed up -- to victory;
1 Corinthians 15 55
"Death, where is your sting? Hades, where is your victory?"
Where, O death, [is] thy sting? where, O death, thy victory?
where, O Death, thy sting? where, O Hades, thy victory?`
1 Corinthians 15 56
The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
Now the sting of death [is] sin, and the power of sin the law;
and the sting of the death [is] the sin, and the power of the sin the law;
1 Corinthians 15 57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
but thanks to God, who gives us the victory by our Lord Jesus Christ.
and to God -- thanks, to Him who is giving us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ;
1 Corinthians 15 58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord`s work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
So then, my beloved brethren, be firm, immovable, abounding always in the work of the
Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in [the] Lord.
so that, my brethren beloved, become ye stedfast, unmovable, abounding in the
work of the Lord at all times, knowing that your labour is not vain in the Lord.
 Study Questions

What did Paul make known to the Corinthians? 15:1
Salvation is conditional upon holding fast. True or False? 15:2
What are the elements of the gospel that Paul preached? 15:3-5
In Christ _________________________________________________________ 15:22