June 3, 2019

Facing the mirror by Gary Rose



Ridiculous picture, true saying. Truthfully, nobody looks that bad. Human beings are born, grow old and die; this is our destiny. But, for the Christian, there is far more to the story. We have been born again (John 3:1-6; Acts 2:36-40; Romans 6:1-11). Our future involves the resurrection of our dead body into a new spiritual one (1 Corinthians 15:1-22). We have HOPE that because Jesus was raised from the dead, so will we be. In the meantime, we obey the teaching of Jesus and his apostles found in the Bible on a daily basis and long for a better, truly perfect life in heaven. But, living the Christian lifestyle is not an easy thing, for the world will throw every thing against us that it can to destroy our spiritual lives. As I think on this, a chapter of the Bible comes to mind…


2 Corinthians 4 ( World English Bible )
2Co 4:1, Therefore seeing we have this ministry, even as we obtained mercy, we don’t faint.
2Co 4:2, But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by the manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.
2Co 4:3, Even if our Good News is veiled, it is veiled in those who perish;
2Co 4:4, in whom the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving, that the light of the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should not dawn on them.
2Co 4:5, For we don’t preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake;
2Co 4:6, seeing it is God who said, “Light will shine out of darkness,”* who has shone in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2Co 4:7, But we have this treasure in clay vessels, that the exceeding greatness of the power may be of God, and not from ourselves.
2Co 4:8, We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair;
2Co 4:9, pursued, yet not forsaken; struck down, yet not destroyed;
2Co 4:10, always carrying in the body the putting to death of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.
2Co 4:11, For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus may be revealed in our mortal flesh.
2Co 4:12, So then death works in us, but life in you.
2Co 4:13, But having the same spirit of faith, according to that which is written, “I believed, and therefore I spoke.”* We also believe, and therefore also we speak;
2Co 4:14, knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus, and will present us with you.
2Co 4:15, For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.
2Co 4:16, Therefore we don’t faint, but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day.
2Co 4:17, For our light affliction, which is for the moment, works for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory;
2Co 4:18, while we don’t look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.


Though our way may be difficult at times, we have in this earthly vessel of flesh, the seal of the Holy Spirit as a promise (Acts 2:38) and the knowledge that we have obeyed the glorious gospel of our savior, Jesus Christ. So, as time passes and we come to the golden years of our existence, we have comfort and encouragement to know that though we are outwardly decaying, yet we are being spiritually renewed on a daily basis (2 Corinthians 4:16-17 above). This knowledge will help us as Christians see our physical existence for what it really is; the co-existence of a born-again spiritual being with a body of human flesh. This is the best possible news to think about at the beginning of the day, when we look into the mirror and ask yourself- Is that really me? And if you can visualize the truth of our combined physical/spiritual existence, then you are the most blessed of human beings and are ready to take on the world!

ARE WE READY YET?

Bible Reading June 3, 4 by Gary Rose


Bible Reading June 3, 4

World English Bible
June 3
Ruth 3, 4

Rth 3:1 Naomi her mother-in-law said to her, My daughter, shall I not seek rest for you, that it may be well with you?
Rth 3:2 Now isn't Boaz our kinsman, with whose maidens you were? Behold, he winnows barley tonight in the threshing floor.
Rth 3:3 Wash yourself therefore, and anoint yourself, and put your clothing on yourself, and go down to the threshing floor, but don't make yourself known to the man, until he has finished eating and drinking.
Rth 3:4 It shall be, when he lies down, that you shall mark the place where he shall lie, and you shall go in, and uncover his feet, and lay down; then he will tell you what you shall do.
Rth 3:5 She said to her, All that you say I will do.
Rth 3:6 She went down to the threshing floor, and did according to all that her mother-in-law told her.
Rth 3:7 When Boaz had eaten and drunk, and his heart was merry, he went to lie down at the end of the heap of grain: and she came softly, and uncovered his feet, and laid her down.
Rth 3:8 It happened at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself; and behold, a woman lay at his feet.
Rth 3:9 He said, Who are you? She answered, I am Ruth your handmaid: spread therefore your skirt over your handmaid; for you are a near kinsman.
Rth 3:10 He said, Blessed are you by Yahweh, my daughter: you have shown more kindness in the latter end than at the beginning, inasmuch as you didn't follow young men, whether poor or rich.
Rth 3:11 Now, my daughter, don't be afraid; I will do to you all that you say; for all the city of my people does know that you are a worthy woman.
Rth 3:12 Now it is true that I am a near kinsman; however there is a kinsman nearer than I.
Rth 3:13 Stay this night, and it shall be in the morning, that if he will perform for you the part of a kinsman, well; let him do the kinsman's part: but if he will not do the part of a kinsman for you, then will I do the part of a kinsman for you, as Yahweh lives: lie down until the morning.
Rth 3:14 She lay at his feet until the morning. She rose up before one could discern another. For he said, Let it not be known that the woman came to the threshing floor.
Rth 3:15 He said, Bring the mantle that is on you, and hold it; and she held it; and he measured six measures of barley, and laid it on her: and he went into the city.
Rth 3:16 When she came to her mother-in-law, she said, Who are you, my daughter? She told her all that the man had done to her.
Rth 3:17 She said, These six measures of barley gave he me; for he said, "Don't go empty to your mother-in-law."
Rth 3:18 Then she said, "Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will fall; for the man will not rest, until he has finished the thing this day."

Rth 4:1 Now Boaz went up to the gate, and sat him down there: and behold, the near kinsman of whom Boaz spoke came by; to whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. He turned aside, and sat down.
Rth 4:2 He took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit down here. They sat down.
Rth 4:3 He said to the near kinsman, Naomi, who has come back out of the country of Moab, is selling the parcel of land, which was our brother Elimelech's:
Rth 4:4 I thought to disclose it to you, saying, Buy it before those who sit here, and before the elders of my people. If you will redeem it, redeem it: but if you will not redeem it, then tell me, that I may know; for there is none to redeem it besides you; and I am after you. He said, I will redeem it.
Rth 4:5 Then said Boaz, On the day you buy the field from the hand of Naomi, you must buy it also from Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance.
Rth 4:6 The near kinsman said, I can't redeem it for myself, lest I mar my own inheritance: take my right of redemption on you; for I can't redeem it.
Rth 4:7 Now this was the custom in former time in Israel concerning redeeming and concerning exchanging, to confirm all things: a man drew off his shoe, and gave it to his neighbor; and this was the manner ofattestation in Israel.
Rth 4:8 So the near kinsman said to Boaz, Buy it for yourself. He drew off his shoe.
Rth 4:9 Boaz said to the elders, and to all the people, You are witnesses this day, that I have bought all that was Elimelech's, and all that was Chilion's and Mahlon's, of the hand of Naomi.
Rth 4:10 Moreover Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of Mahlon, have I purchased to be my wife, to raise up the name of the dead on his inheritance, that the name of the dead not be cut off from among his brothers, and from the gate of his place: you are witnesses this day.
Rth 4:11 All the people who were in the gate, and the elders, said, We are witnesses. Yahweh make the woman who has come into your house like Rachel and like Leah, which two built the house of Israel: and treat you worthily in Ephrathah, and be famous in Bethlehem:
Rth 4:12 and let your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the seed which Yahweh shall give you of this young woman.
Rth 4:13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife; and he went in to her, and Yahweh gave her conception, and she bore a son.
Rth 4:14 The women said to Naomi, Blessed be Yahweh, who has not left you this day without a near kinsman; and let his name be famous in Israel.
Rth 4:15 He shall be to you a restorer of life, and sustain you in your old age, for your daughter-in-law, who loves you, who is better to you than seven sons, has borne him.
Rth 4:16 Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse to it.
Rth 4:17 The women her neighbors gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they named him Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
Rth 4:18 Now this is the history of the generations of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron,
Rth 4:19 and Hezron became the father of Ram, and Ram became the father of Amminadab,
Rth 4:20 and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon became the father of Salmon,
Rth 4:21 and Salmon became the father of Boaz, and Boaz became the father of Obed,
Rth 4:22 and Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of David.

June 4
1 Samuel 1, 2

1Sa 1:1 Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim Zophim, of the hill country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite:
1Sa 1:2 and he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
1Sa 1:3 This man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to Yahweh of Armies in Shiloh. The two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, priests to Yahweh, were there.
1Sa 1:4 When the day came that Elkanah sacrificed, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
1Sa 1:5 but to Hannah he gave a double portion; for he loved Hannah, but Yahweh had shut up her womb.
1Sa 1:6 Her rival provoked her sore, to make her fret, because Yahweh had shut up her womb.
1Sa 1:7 as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of Yahweh, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
1Sa 1:8 Elkanah her husband said to her, Hannah, why do you weep? and why don't you eat? and why is your heart grieved? am I not better to you than ten sons?
1Sa 1:9 So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest was sitting on his seat by the doorpost of the temple of Yahweh.
1Sa 1:10 She was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to Yahweh, and wept sore.
1Sa 1:11 She vowed a vow, and said, Yahweh of Armies, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget your handmaid, but will give to your handmaid a boy, then I will give him to Yahweh all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come on his head.
1Sa 1:12 It happened, as she continued praying before Yahweh, that Eli marked her mouth.
1Sa 1:13 Now Hannah, she spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
1Sa 1:14 Eli said to her, How long will you be drunken? put away your wine from you.
1Sa 1:15 Hannah answered, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I poured out my soul before Yahweh.
1Sa 1:16 Don't count your handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken hitherto.
1Sa 1:17 Then Eli answered, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of him.
1Sa 1:18 She said, Let your handmaid find favor in your sight. So the woman went her way, and ate; and her facial expression wasn't sad any more.
1Sa 1:19 They rose up in the morning early, and worshiped before Yahweh, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and Yahweh remembered her.
1Sa 1:20 It happened, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she named him Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of Yahweh.
1Sa 1:21 The man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer to Yahweh the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
1Sa 1:22 But Hannah didn't go up; for she said to her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned; and then I will bring him, that he may appear before Yahweh, and there abide forever.
1Sa 1:23 Elkanah her husband said to her, Do what seems good to you; wait until you have weaned him; only Yahweh establish his word. So the woman waited and nursed her son, until she weaned him.
1Sa 1:24 When she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bulls, and one ephah of meal, and a bottle of wine, and brought him to the house of Yahweh in Shiloh: and the child was young.
1Sa 1:25 They killed the bull, and brought the child to Eli.
1Sa 1:26 She said, Oh, my lord, as your soul lives, my lord, I am the woman who stood by you here, praying to Yahweh.
1Sa 1:27 For this child I prayed; and Yahweh has given me my petition which I asked of him:
1Sa 1:28 therefore also I have granted him to Yahweh; as long as he lives he is granted to Yahweh. He worshiped Yahweh there.

1Sa 2:1 Hannah prayed, and said: My heart exults in Yahweh! My horn is exalted in Yahweh. My mouth is enlarged over my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation.
1Sa 2:2 There is no one as holy as Yahweh, For there is no one besides you, nor is there any rock like our God.
1Sa 2:3 Talk no more so exceeding proudly. Don't let arrogance come out of your mouth, For Yahweh is a God of knowledge. By him actions are weighed.
1Sa 2:4 The bows of the mighty men are broken. Those who stumbled are girded with strength.
1Sa 2:5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread. Those who were hungry have ceased to hunger. Yes, the barren has borne seven. She who has many children languishes.
1Sa 2:6 Yahweh kills, and makes alive. He brings down to Sheol, and brings up.
1Sa 2:7 Yahweh makes poor, and makes rich. He brings low, he also lifts up.
1Sa 2:8 He raises up the poor out of the dust. He lifts up the needy from the dunghill, To make them sit with princes, and inherit the throne of glory, for the pillars of the earth are Yahweh's. He has set the world on them.
1Sa 2:9 He will keep the feet of his holy ones, but the wicked shall be put to silence in darkness; for no man shall prevail by strength.
1Sa 2:10 Those who strive with Yahweh shall be broken to pieces. He will thunder against them in the sky. Yahweh will judge the ends of the earth. He will give strength to his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
1Sa 2:11 Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. The child did minister to Yahweh before Eli the priest.
1Sa 2:12 Now the sons of Eli were base men; they didn't know Yahweh.
1Sa 2:13 The custom of the priests with the people was that when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was boiling, with a fork of three teeth in his hand;
1Sa 2:14 and he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fork brought up the priest took therewith. So they did in Shiloh to all the Israelites who came there.
1Sa 2:15 Yes, before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man who sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have boiled flesh of you, but raw.
1Sa 2:16 If the man said to him, They will surely burn the fat first, and then take as much as your soul desires; then he would say, No, but you shall give it to me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
1Sa 2:17 The sin of the young men was very great before Yahweh; for the men despised the offering of Yahweh.
1Sa 2:18 But Samuel ministered before Yahweh, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
1Sa 2:19 Moreover his mother made him a little robe, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
1Sa 2:20 Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, Yahweh give you seed of this woman for the petition which was asked of Yahweh. They went to their own home.
1Sa 2:21 Yahweh visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bore three sons and two daughters. The child Samuel grew before Yahweh.
1Sa 2:22 Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did to all Israel, and how that they lay with the women who served at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
1Sa 2:23 He said to them, Why do you do such things? for I hear of your evil dealings from all this people.
1Sa 2:24 No, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: you make Yahweh's people disobey.
1Sa 2:25 If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against Yahweh, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they didn't listen to the voice of their father, because Yahweh was minded to kill them.
1Sa 2:26 The child Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with Yahweh, and also with men.
1Sa 2:27 There came a man of God to Eli, and said to him, Thus says Yahweh, Did I reveal myself to the house of your father, when they were in Egypt in bondageto Pharaoh's house?
1Sa 2:28 and did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?
1Sa 2:29 Why do you kick at my sacrifice and at my offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honor your sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel my people?
1Sa 2:30 Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, I said indeed that your house, and the house of your father, should walk before me forever: but now Yahweh says, Be it far from me; for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
1Sa 2:31 Behold, the days come, that I will cut off your arm, and the arm of your father's house, that there shall not be an old man in your house.
1Sa 2:32 You shall see the affliction of my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel; and there shall not be an old man in your house forever.
1Sa 2:33 The man of yours, whom I shall not cut off from my altar, shall be to consume your eyes, and to grieve your heart; and all the increase of your house shall die in the flower of their age.
1Sa 2:34 This shall be the sign to you, that shall come on your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die both of them.
1Sa 2:35 I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in my heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before my anointed forever.
1Sa 2:36 It shall happen, that everyone who is left in your house shall come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread, and shall say, Please put me into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a morsel of bread. 

Jun. 3, 4
John 10

Joh 10:1 "Most certainly, I tell you, one who doesn't enter by the door into the sheep fold, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
Joh 10:2 But one who enters in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.
Joh 10:3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name, and leads them out.
Joh 10:4 Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.
Joh 10:5 They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don't know the voice of strangers."
Joh 10:6 Jesus spoke this parable to them, but they didn't understand what he was telling them.
Joh 10:7 Jesus therefore said to them again, "Most certainly, I tell you, I am the sheep's door.
Joh 10:8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep didn't listen to them.
Joh 10:9 I am the door. If anyone enters in by me, he will be saved, and will go in and go out, and will find pasture.
Joh 10:10 The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.
Joh 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
Joh 10:12 He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who doesn't own the sheep, sees the wolf coming, leaves the sheep, and flees. The wolf snatches the sheep, and scatters them.
Joh 10:13 The hired hand flees because he is a hired hand, and doesn't care for the sheep.
Joh 10:14 I am the good shepherd. I know my own, and I'm known by my own;
Joh 10:15 even as the Father knows me, and I know the Father. I lay down my life for the sheep.
Joh 10:16 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will hear my voice. They will become one flock with one shepherd.
Joh 10:17 Therefore the Father loves me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again.
Joh 10:18 No one takes it away from me, but I lay it down by myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. I received this commandment from my Father."
Joh 10:19 Therefore a division arose again among the Jews because of these words.
Joh 10:20 Many of them said, "He has a demon, and is insane! Why do you listen to him?"
Joh 10:21 Others said, "These are not the sayings of one possessed by a demon. It isn't possible for a demon to open the eyes of the blind, is it?"
Joh 10:22 It was the Feast of the Dedication at Jerusalem.
Joh 10:23 It was winter, and Jesus was walking in the temple, in Solomon's porch.
Joh 10:24 The Jews therefore came around him and said to him, "How long will you hold us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly."
Joh 10:25 Jesus answered them, "I told you, and you don't believe. The works that I do in my Father's name, these testify about me.
Joh 10:26 But you don't believe, because you are not of my sheep, as I told you.
Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
Joh 10:28 I give eternal life to them. They will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
Joh 10:29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand.
Joh 10:30 I and the Father are one."
Joh 10:31 Therefore Jews took up stones again to stone him.
Joh 10:32 Jesus answered them, "I have shown you many good works from my Father. For which of those works do you stone me?"
Joh 10:33 The Jews answered him, "We don't stone you for a good work, but for blasphemy: because you, being a man, make yourself God."
Joh 10:34 Jesus answered them, "Isn't it written in your law, 'I said, you are gods?'
Joh 10:35 If he called them gods, to whom the word of God came (and the Scripture can't be broken),
Joh 10:36 do you say of him whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, 'You blaspheme,' because I said, 'I am the Son of God?'
Joh 10:37 If I don't do the works of my Father, don't believe me.
Joh 10:38 But if I do them, though you don't believe me, believe the works; that you may know and believe that the Father is in me, and I in the Father."
Joh 10:39 They sought again to seize him, and he went out of their hand.
Joh 10:40 He went away again beyond the Jordan into the place where John was baptizing at first, and there he stayed.
Joh 10:41 Many came to him. They said, "John indeed did no sign, but everything that John said about this man is true."
Joh 10:42 Many believed in him there.

Jesus is the true light that enlightens every man. by Roy Davison

http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/light.html


Jesus is the true light that enlightens every man.

We need spiritual enlightenment.
Our society is bathed in artificial light and submerged in spiritual darkness. There is no lack of light except in the hearts of the people.
Two thousand years ago John the Baptizer condemned the spiritual darkness of his time. He warned people to repent.
Thousands turned away from sin to serve God. They were immersed in water, baptized, for the forgiveness of their sins (Mark 1:4).
“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light. The true light that enlightens every man was coming into the world” (John 1:6-9 RSV).
John the Baptizer was the forerunner of God’s Messiah, the Christ, who would bring spiritual enlightenment and forgiveness of sins to all mankind.
Jesus is the morning star,1 who has come “to give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death” (Luke 1:79). “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4, 5 RSV).
To be enlightened spiritually, one must find the light, believe in the light, come to the light, put on the armor of light, and walk in the light.

Where can light be found?
Can you find spiritual light in a disco? I have never been to one, but I understand that they often have hypnotic flashing lights, and loud, deafening music. No, definitely not. Discos and dance halls are dens of darkness, places to avoid if you want spiritual enlightenment. The flashing lights blind you and the loud music deafens you.
When a former teacher of mine, Cecil T. Bailey, was a young man, worldly young people kept trying to get him to go to a dance hall. Finally he agreed to go, but he took his Bible along and sat in a corner reading his Bible. Soon, he was asked to leave!
Can you find spiritual light in the universities? Paul wrote: “The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God” (1 Corinthians 3:19). Not much spiritual light can be found in the universities. Philosophy and theology are human endeavors of limited value, but they are not significant sources of spiritual enlightenment.
A professor asked his class, “How many of you believe in prayer?” My father and two girls raised their hands. The professor continued, “You three, pray then that this glass beaker will not break.” He dropped it and it broke. He then smirked, “How many still believe in prayer?” This time, only my father raised his hand. The professor said, “Well, Davison. How can you still believe in prayer?” My father replied, “I didn’t pray. Without God’s permission, your experiment was not valid.”
Can you find spiritual light in the traditional churches? Some light is there, but it is hidden under a basket of human dogmas, ecclesiastical politics and financial interests.
To the pious traditionalists2 of His time, Jesus said: “Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition. Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying: ‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men’” (Matthew 15:6-9).
To the religious liberals3 of His time, Jesus said: “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God?” (Mark 12:24).
Can you find spiritual light in a sect? Some are attracted to sects because they require extreme devotion. A sect, however, is a human system based on social pressure, brain-washing and mind control, rather than spontaneous personal faith in God. A sect usually has one powerful leader. He is sometimes called ‘father’. He is often considered to be infallible, and members must always submit to his authority. A sect usually uses hierarchical, army-like control. 
Jesus said: “You know that those who are considered rulers over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you” (Mark 10:42, 43).
All hierarchical religious systems are anti-Christian. Beware of people who try to dominate you in the name of religion. Your service to God must come from your heart. It may not be based on social pressure, coercion or hierarchical control.
Jesus said: “But you, do not be called ‘Rabbi’; for One is your Teacher, the Christ, and you are all brethren. Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven. And do not be called teachers; for One is your Teacher, the Christ” (Matthew 23:8-10). God is our spiritual Father and we may not have any other father in a spiritual sense. Jesus is our spiritual Leader, and we may not have a spiritual guide, mentor or ‘discipler’ other than Christ.
Jesus Himself is our source of light. We must go directly to Him for spiritual enlightenment, and not allow the divine light to be obscured by traditions and denominations of human origin.
Jesus said: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Do we really want to find the light?
Although Jesus brought light, there is still much spiritual darkness because most people prefer darkness: “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:19-21).
Someone who wants to hid his sin, shuns the light. To find the light we must admit our need for enlightenment.
But just finding the light is not enough.

We must believe in the Light.
Jesus is the light of the world, He is our God-given source of spiritual enlightenment. But we must believe in that light. Jesus said: “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light” (John 12:36). And: “I have come as a light into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness” (John 12:46).
Many people stumble along in spiritual darkness because they do not believe in the light. Paul wrote: “But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:3-6).
But just believing in the light is also not enough.

We must come to the Light.
Many people have been deluded into thinking they can be saved by faith alone. It is not true: “You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only.” ... “For as the body without the spirit is dead; so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:24, 26).
Faith in the Light is the first step, but we must also come to the Light. This means that we must turn away from sin and dedicate our lives to God. This is called ‘repentance’ in the Scriptures.
“For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed” (John 3:20).
Many people have a superficial, standoffish faith. They know exactly where the light is! But they keep their distance, to hide their sin. We must come to the Light so God’s word can correct our lives.
Jesus sent Paul to the nations “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18).
On the basis of our faith in the Light, we must turn away from evil and come to the Light.

We must put on the armor of light.
“The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in licentiousness and lewdness, not in strife and envy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts” (Romans 13:12-14).
We must “put on the armor of light” and “put on the Lord Jesus Christ.” How do we put on Christ? “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Galatians 3:26, 27). We put on the armor of light, we put on Christ, by being baptized into Christ.
This must be our own, personal decision. The so-called baptism of babies is contrary to the word of God.
Just as John the Baptizer told people to repent and be baptized, we too must repent, turn away from the works of darkness, come to the Light, and be baptized. Peter said: “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins” (Acts 2:38).
When we put on Christ in baptism, God removes us from darkness. We can then rejoice “giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:12-14). 

We must walk in the light.
After finding the light, believing in the light, coming to the light, and putting on the armor of light, we must walk in the light.
Obviously, we may not walk in darkness. Paul warned: “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), proving what is acceptable to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8-10).
We must expose works of darkness.4 “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,5 but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. Therefore He says: ‘Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light’” (Ephesians 5:11-14).
Jesus is our source of light. We learn about Him, we learn to be like Him, not via some tradition or some sect, but through the Scriptures: “We also have the prophetic word made more sure, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts; knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit” (2 Peter 1:19-21).
The Holy Scriptures are a beacon of light in a dark world. Through the Scriptures we learn about God. “This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:5-7). God has called us “out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9).6 Christians are “sons of light and sons of the day” (1 Thessalonians 5:5).7 
It is not easy to walk in the light, surrounded by a world of darkness. We shine as lights in the world: “Do all things without murmuring and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life” (Philippians 2:14, 15). 
To be a church of Christ, we must be a congregation of believers who have found the light, who believe in the light, who have come to the light, who have put on the armor of light, and who walk in the light.
By the grace of God, you can walk in the light. If you believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, that He died for your sins, that He rose from the dead the third day, if you are willing to turn your back on the works of darkness and come to the Light of God, if you desire to put on the armor of light, to put on Christ in baptism, let us know, and we will help you.
Roy Davison
The Scripture quotations in this article are from The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers unless indicated otherwise. Permission for reference use has been granted.
Endnotes:

1 Revelation 22:16.

2 The Pharisees.

3 The Sadducees.

4 “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

5 “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14).

6 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy” (1 Peter 2:9, 10).

7 “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation” (1 Thessalonians 5:4-8).


Published in The Old Paths Archive
http://www.oldpaths.com

Teaching of Jesus From The Gospel of Luke (Part 1- While He was Tempted) By Ben Fronczek

http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=1741

Teaching of Jesus From The Gospel of Luke (Part 1- While He was Tempted)




By Ben Fronczek


Reading Luke 4:1-13
Today I would like to begin a new series of lessons – lessons that the Lord Jesus left for us as seen in the Gospel of Luke. There are all kinds of good lessons and teachings from God throughout the Bible but I thought it worthy to look at those God thought important enough to preserve for us while He lived among us in the flesh.
The Gospel of Luke is the longest book in the NT. There is much emphasis on the glory of God, prayer, miracles, the divine plan that Jesus fulfilled, believing, discipleship, forgiveness, and God’s Word. About 20 of
Jesus’ parables are unique to this Gospel. Luke also related certain events in Jesus’ life to secular history, and he emphasized Jesus’ final trip to Jerusalem.
Luke also seems to stress Jesus’ concern for all people, especially for individuals that Jewish society of His day looked down at, such as Gentiles, the poor, women, children, and “sinners.”
Someone once wrote concerning Luke’s Gospel account, “In terms of its worldview, its theology, and its practical presentation of principles, this Gospel explains how we can serve God better.”
No one knows Luke’s educational background, but clearly he had training in medicine as well as in Greek composition because he was a very talented writer. Luke used many words that the other Gospel writers did not, and many of them show a wide literary background. He also used several medical and theological terms that are unique.
We can learn lessons from Jesus not only by what He preached, but also by what he did as He lived out His life amongst us. I find it interesting that some of the first lessons taught by Jesus in Luke’s Gospel happened shortly after His baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit, and the Father’s proclamation that He was His son and that He was well pleased with Him as seen in Luke 3.
The very next scene is where Jesus was being led into the wilderness where He was along and He fasted and was being tempted by the devil.
As most of us already know, Jesus overcame the devil who opposed God’s plans. This story is also edifying because it helps believers understand how to recognize and overcome Satan’s attacks. We do so as Jesus did—by obeying God’s will as revealed in Scripture.
Read Luke 4:1-4   Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”
Lesson #1. One of the first things we see here is the fact that the devil is actually real. Not only that there isn’t anyone that he will not try to get to sin; which includes the Father’s one and only son.
In the OT there are actually very few references to Satan. There is one in 1 Chronicles, 2 in Zechariah, as well as some references in Job 1 and 2. Actually that’s it, with exception of the serpent mentioned in Genesis 3 which tempted and deceived Eve. Jesus brought the reality of the devil and his evil work right to the forefront. He is the one who wants to tempt and entice people to depart from God’s will. So it doesn’t matter how good you are, all will be tempted to stray from God and His will.
Lesson #2. All three of the tests recorded were an attempt to enticed Jesus to abandon His dependence on God. This first one was a temptation to gratify self, but not by doing something wicked, since eating is necessary. The devil seems to zero in on our appetites; our hunger for food, power, companionship sex entertainment, etc.
Lesson #3. The devil attacked Jesus where (and when) He was vulnerable. He was then “hungry.” We are likewise more susceptible to be tempted when we are weak and tired or even sick. Se we have to be more careful in such times.
Concerning this temptation a commentator wrote; “The Devil seems to suggests that (His) Sonship is a privilege to be exploited. Jesus is tempted to order His own affairs and provide for His own needs, rather than being nourished in and depending on God.” (Nolland)
But in all reality, it’s not always all about us and our needs. As important as food is because we need it to live it’s not the most important thing. Some things are simply more important than food and drink or other material things. How many parents around the world go without so their children can eat. Trusting God is even more important than food even though it may mean physical deprivation.
The temptation sounds innocent enough, doesn’t it? You could almost sense the innocence in the devil’s presentation of this temptation – ‘just make these stones into bread – what’s the big deal? You the Son of God – just do it! There is no law against turning stones into bread. It won’t hurt anything.’Jesus had been without food for almost six weeks! Because he was the Son of God He could have used His supernatural powers to do this. The temptation was very real. Jesus could have done it in an instant and His body was probably screaming, “Man do it.”
In reality Satan was tempting Jesus to disobey the Father’s will by using his divine power for His own purposes.
John Piper says that sin …”gets its power by persuading me to believe that I will be more happy if I follow it. The power of all temptation is the prospect that it will make me happier.” It is the temptation to take things into your own hands and do something for yourself without Father God’s approval.
Jesus Answers (v. 4) “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” In other words, it’s not all about Me rather its all about Father God and doing His will.
Lesson #4.      I guess it makes a difference who we listen to for advice. If it’s advice or a suggestion from the devil or one of his own then we probably should ignore it because there is probably a catch.
We often brag that we are “people of the Word.” But are we really? The question is not how much Bible do we know, but how much of the Bible do we apply in our life.
Jesus lived by the word of God. The key phrase in each of His answers is, “it is written.” He did not allow the situation, or the circumstances, or even the enemy to dictate the truth. Jesus in His answer was saying, “ I will not complain. Neither will I take matters into my own hands and yield to you Satan. I will trust my Father and His word.” This is the 5th lesson we need to remember!
The devil’s ploy in this world is to make us believe that if we want something done we count on God, and therefore need to do it ourselves – and not wait on and trust God.
We regularly are tempted to take things into our own hands and go outside the confines of God’s will to satisfy our personal needs or desires. We do things outside God’s will thinking that they will make us feel good, or make us happier or fulfill us somehow, but in the end we feel guilty or find our self in some kind of trouble. That’s exactly what happened to Adam and Eve.
In the next temptation the devil entices Jesus to take the easy way out.Read (5-8)   The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.”
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”
In this temptation the devil was offering Jesus a kingdom without the cross. ‘Why go thru all that trouble and pain to win the world when it can be handed to you on a silver platter, No suffering, No Struggling, No Sacrifice. But a crown without the cross would mean that there would be no forgiveness for our sins. All Jesus had to do to sidestep all that pain and suffering was pay homage to and worship him and Satan would turn the world over to Jesus.
We do not have to look too far to see the application for today. Our world teaches us to ‘avoid pain, take the easy way, the path of least resistance. Avoid sacrifice. You deserve an easy life and to be happy.’
Our 6th lesson could be: Sometimes the best way is not the easiest way or the way that cost us less. Many times if we don’t pay the price up front it will cost us in the end.    Or if we don’t hold out for what’s best we shortchange ourselves. Buy the best you get the best. Put the full time into something and it will pay off in the end.
Jesus knew and so should we, that when it comes to God and obeying His will shortcuts are nothing less than sin and lead to great disappointments.
So then the Devil takes Jesus to Jerusalem and sets Him on top of the Temple. There he made Jesus very tempting offer.
Having seen Jesus defeat him two times by quoting Scripture, Satan now quotes it himself, for his own purposes (Read. 9-13).     The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10 For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; 11 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’
12 Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’”
13 When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
For Jesus to survive a fall from the pinnacle of the temple in the full view of the people, in a supernatural manner, it would have immediately identified Him as the Messiah.
This would have been another shortcut possibly keeping Jesus from the cross. But it was also pressing God the Father to act on His behalf to save Him from the fall. So Jesus answers by saying,   “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’
Jesus understood to start His ministry by dramatically jumping from the pinnacle of the Temple would be completely contrary to the will of God. To do so would be to test God. So He refused to take this shortcut.
Lesson # 7 There are many subtle ways that we can put God to the test. We may not jump from the top of the church – but we can do it in other ways.
We do it many times when we pray expecting God to yield to our will rather than accepting His will in a situation. We may even get mad that the prayers weren’t answered the way we wanted Him answer them.
Sometimes we even test the boundaries of known sin. Like a parent who tells their child “Don’t touch” we have to test the boundaries and reach out and touch. Jesus said, ‘No, I am not going to test God.’ And that’s another lesson for us: To trust God and His providence. To say, “Thy will be done and I trust you with this or that.”
All of these temptations were designed to somehow destroy His relationship with His heavenly Father, by taking things into His own hands and taking some serious shortcuts. The final verse says that the devil departed but it also indicated that he would be back again. Lesson #8. So there lies our final lesson from this text: Temptations may disappear for a while but he will never give up and he’ll be back another day until we depart from this earth and this life..
So remember to trust God and His will ALWAYS! Because He is the one in control now and for ever more.
For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566
All comments can be emailed to: bfronzek@gmail.com