David (Part 7) Pertinent by Ben Fronczek

http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?p=1628

David (Part 7) Pertinent

Over the past 6 weeks I have been bringing you lessons on one of the most famous men in all the Bible, David, and what I believe it took for him to become a man after God’s own heart. I am spending so much time on this because I believe that we likewise can become men and women of such character if we are made aware of what pleases God and apply it to our own life.

But as you know, like us, as good as David was, he was not perfect. Like all of us, he was guilty of sinning. His most notorious sin which is remembered by all is when he used his power to seduce a woman named Bathsheba while her husband was at war on his behalf. When she was found to be with his child, David arranged for her husband Uriah to be killed in battle to cover up the matter. David was an adulterer and a murderer. And some could wonder why such a man could be even considered a man after God’s own heart. (Read the story in 2 Samuel 11 & 12)

But God said that he was. When God was directing Samuel the prophet to anoint a new king over Israel after He had rejected Saul, He told Samuel; “The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”        (I Samuel 16:7)

After David sinned, the Lord sent him Nathan the prophet to confront him. And instead of a denial or excuses, David comes clean and admits; “I have sinned against the Lord.” (2 Samuel 12:13)

But if that was all we were told about the incident we would have no idea about the depth of grief he felt or the desire for repentance he sought. Actually his predecessor, King Saul, when he was confronted he also admitted that he sinned on different occasions. But our Lord God could see that which others cannot. He can see what’s going on in one’s heart. And that’s where Saul failed.

Fortunately in Psalm 51 David actually gives us a glimpse of what’s going on in his heart. In that psalm he pours his soul out before the Lord with great transparency and brokenness of spirit.

So despite his sin, God still loved David. I believe in David we have a glimpse into the heart which God so treasured when we read Psalm 51. It is a prayer of repentance and is truly one of the great prayers of the Bible. READ: Psalm 51

– In this psalm David asks God to do a number of things. First he asks that He would have mercy on him or show him grace. Not so much of because of who he was , but rather because of who God was, one who has unfailing love and because He can show great compassion. David knew he messed up, and he also knew that God could totally destroy him. God was not one to mess with. But more importantly despite the fact he knew he was a sinner from his youth he understood that our God is a loving God, and will He will show compassion on those who humbly seek it. We need to understand that as well.

– And because of that David goes on to ask God to blot out his sin and transgressions. We all know what it is to blot out a stain or smudge. We may drop something like food on our shirt, pants, or even table cloth… at least I do. And when I do I take a clean cloth, wet it a little and wipe or try to blot out that stain before it sets in.

In verse 1 and 2 David prays “Blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” And then in verse 7 he prays “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.”

Hyssop or better known as Ezov was used for religious ritual purification. When the death angel was about to pass through Egypt and kill all the first born, God instructed Moses to take Hyssop branches and dip them in the sacrificed lamb’s blood and sprinkle it on their door entry ways so that they would be passed over. Likewise David wanted to become ceremonially clean and passed over by God’s righteous judgment.

After knowing what he did, and how much it displeased God, David himself felt real bad and was filled with guilt. When you hurt someone you really love it does that; you feel guilty and even miserable until you make it right.

David really cared about what God thought of him showing that he really was a man after God’s own heart. But sad to say a person can get to the point where they no longer feel guilt for sinning any more. They don’t even think about it, or maybe they don’t even care about how God looks at their actions. The Bible implies that such a person’s heart has become hard. These people just make excuse for those actions. Some even try to justify sinful actions.

What about you? Do you make excuses or try to justify an action that you know may displease God?

So the next thing I see David asking for here in this psalm is to have that terrible feeling of guilt removed, to be freed of it and to feel joy again and to feel God Spirit restored in Him.

In Vs. 8 he prays, “Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.”

Vss. 10-12 says “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

And finally he comes to the point in Vs. 14 when he prays, “Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, you who are God my Savior”

Beyond being forgiven and cleansed, David wanted restoration.                This is something we should all seek. He does not want to be stuck in (or with) the guilt of his sin as he moves into the future. David wants to repent and be done with it all. Knowing God has removed his sin from him, David wants to experience joy again.

This is a wonderful hallmark of forgiveness from the Lord. If we truly repent, he removes our sins from us as far as the east is from the west. (See Psalm 103:12-17) We are free to move forward as if the sin never existed at all.

We don’t have to wallow in and keep feeling guilty for forgiven sin. If we do not let the guilt and despair go after we have repented it can cripple us.      Yes we are to learn from our mistakes but also we need to move on from them. I am again reminded of the Apostle Paul. Yes he sinned against Jesus by persecuting the early Christians, and yes he felt bad about it. But then after he was forgiven he moved on and did his best to serve Jesus.

Likewise David said in this Psalm vss. 12-13 “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, so that sinners will turn back to you.”

What freedom! That release from guilt is what enabled people like David and Paul able to give back to the Lord.

Have you ever noticed that those who have truly repented and received complete forgiveness are usually open and forthright about their past sin? Some will even stand up and publicly tell the stories of their lives as alcoholics, adulterers, thieves, drug traffickers and more.

This week I read the remarkable testimony of David Berkowitz, the notorious “Son of Sam” serial killer who terrorized New York in the 1970s. The transforming power and grace of Jesus Christ touched his life and he tells his story without hesitation.

Paul did not hide the fact that he persecuted the church in his early years, rather he spoke of it and how God forgave him to exemplify God’s grace which is for all.

When people listen to stories of God’s great grace they often feel that their own case is not hopeless and their own sin not unforgivable. The same thing happened to the apostle Paul. People saw the joy on the face of this former sinner and they wanted the same. And God is still there to offer it.

As you read Psalm 51, what do you find you identify with the most?  Is there a hidden sin that you need to repent of with the same heart David had?

Do you find you haven’t been completely honest with God?

Are you willing to accept the deep cleansing David desired?

Do you need to have the joy of God’s salvation restored to you?

Do you desire to have your testimony of God’s grace touch the lives of others?

David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51 is one of the great prayers of the Bible. After you read it, it isn’t so hard anymore to understand why David was a man after God’s own heart. You and I can hold that same title; we can be men and women after God’s own heart. Repentance is the entryway. I what to close with what David realized and prayed toward the of this Psalm, in            vss. 16-17. He said

“You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart…”

You and I can also become a man or woman after God’s own heart; but its takes developing an unyielding faith and love for God and His word. It not only about being faithful, loyal, courageous, and thankful, God loves a humble soft heart that is willing to repent and learn from one’s mistake. I pray that you may develop such a heart so that you can be one with Him!

(Some of this Sermon is Based on an article by B. Lardinais)

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

God’s Anger by Caleb Colley, Ph.D.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=1462

God’s Anger

by	Caleb Colley, Ph.D.

While it is true that God is loving (Romans 8:39), merciful (Psalm 57:2-3), and willing to offer His grace to all (Titus 2:11), one striking characteristic of the Almighty is His fierce anger. The most common Hebrew term for anger is ’ap, which can be used to denote either divine or human anger (Genesis 27:45; Numbers 11:1, et al.). The term refers to “nostril,” which the ancients thought to be the locale of anger (Harrison, 1979, 1:127), while the word ’anap (which is used exclusively to denote the anger of God; Deuteronomy 4:21, 1 Kings 11:9) means “to breathe hard.” The Bible writers clearly have revealed that God is capable of being angry with a righteous indignation (see Miller, 2003). Consider a sampling of the passages that bear out this idea:

Deuteronomy 29:27-28: “Then the anger of the Lord was aroused against this land, to bring on it every curse that is written in this book. And the Lord uprooted them from their land in anger, in wrath, and in great indignation, and cast them into another land, as it is this day” (emp. added).

2 Chronicles 29:10: “Now it is in my heart to make a covenant with the Lord God of Israel, that His fierce wrath may turn away from us” (emp. added, cf. 30:8; 32:26).

Nehemiah 9:17: “They refused to obey, and they were not mindful of Your wonders that You did among them. But they hardened their necks, and in their rebellion they appointed a leader to return to their bondage. But You are God, ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, abundant in kindness, and did not forsake them” (emp. added, cf. Psalms 103:8; 145:8, et al.).

Hebrews 10:26-27: “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries (emp. added).

God’s fierce anger is such an essential aspect of His divine nature that Bible writers (and people whose words are recorded in Scripture) sometimes referred to “the wrath,” knowing that readers would understand exactly Whose anger was under consideration. Consider the words John the Baptizer spoke to the Pharisees and Sadducees: “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?” (Matthew 3:7; cf. Numbers 1:53; Joshua 22:20). In John 2:14-17, we read of Jesus’ righteous indignation at those who turned God’s house into a “house of merchandise.” Christ certainly knew how to utilize anger properly, thereby giving us an example of how one’s temper can be used to the glory of God (see Butt, 2001). Paul instructed the Ephesian Christians: “Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath” (Ephesians 4:26). Anger has its place. It can be greatly beneficial, and God is our perfect example in this area. What is it about the anger of Christ that makes it righteous?

Observe that, unlike many humans, God does not become angry because of the “heat of the moment” or because He possesses a confusing, constantly fluctuating emotionality. On the contrary, God’s anger is rationally retributive. His anger is His direct, calculated response to sin. Nowhere is His anger observed more clearly than in the pages of the Old Testament, where we read often of God exhibiting His anger at the children of Israel in a very demonstrative and graphic manner. Remember, however, that God never became angry at the children of Israel unless they breached their covenant with Him; if God was angry, it was Israel’s fault (see Deuteronomy 11:17; 29:24-28; Ezra 8:22; Nehemiah 13:18, et al.).

The psalmist wrote that God is “angry with the wicked every day” (7:11). F.K. Farr stated regarding the English word “anger”: “As…denoting God’s ‘anger,’ the English word is unfortunate so far as it may seem to imply selfish, malicious or vindictive personal feeling. The anger of God is the response of His holiness to outbreaking sin. Particularly when it culminates in action is it rightly called His ‘wrath’” (1956, p. 135).

The redemptive work of Christ on the cross does not indicate that God relinquished His wrath in New Testament times. On the Day of Judgment, His wrath will be exercised against the unrighteous. Paul said: “…He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained” (Acts 17:31). We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:10), and if we are saved, our salvation through Christ will be salvation from God’s wrath (Romans 5:9). In a sense, the wrath of God already rests upon impenitent humans, because they have rejected the only means of salvation available to them. John the Baptizer said: “…he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him” (John 3:36). Paul wrote: “…forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost” (1 Thessalonians 2:16; see Simpson, 1988, p. 1135).

How wonderful it is to serve a God Who understands all of our emotions perfectly, to learn from His wisdom, to hold dear His utter hatred of evil, and to obey His command to be cautious in how we act upon our anger (Ephesians 4:26-31; James 1:19).

REFERENCES

Butt, Kyle (2001), “Even Jesus Had a Temper,” [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/1611.

Farr, F.K. (1939), “Anger,” The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ed. James Orr (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson) 1:135.

Harrison, Roland K. (1979), “Anger,” The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans) 1:127.

Miller, Dave (2003), “God’s Fierce Anger,” [On-line], URL: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/2242.

Simpson, John W. (1988), “Wrath; anger,” The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, ed. Geoffrey W. Bromiley (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans) 4:1135.

God’s Ceramics Are More Than Pottery by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=1234

God’s Ceramics Are More Than Pottery

by	Kyle Butt, M.Div.

Scientists all over the world are constantly looking for better materials with which to build things. Companies need stronger metals, more flexible nylon, and tougher fabrics. This intense demand for better “building blocks” often makes it difficult for scientists to originate new ideas fast enough to keep pace. One approach that has greatly enhanced scientists’ ability to supply fresh, practical ideas has been to turn to nature and copy the structures found there. Copying design in nature has become so prevalent that the scientific community has named the field of study “biomimicry.” From the research done in this field, it has become obvious that nature’s Designer is possessed of far more creative ability than anything humanity has been able to produce.

Specific examples of excellent design in nature abound. In an article for Technology Review,Katherine Bourzac recently detailed one such example. In her article, titled “Ceramics That Won’t Shatter,” she mentioned the challenge that materials scientists face when working with ceramics. Ceramics can be an excellent construction material since they are hard and lightweight. One major drawback of using ceramics, however, is the fact that they fracture and break, much like a flower pot or dinner plate. Bourzac summarized this difficulty by saying that scientists are trying to find ceramics “that combine strength (a measure of resistance to deformation) with toughness (a measure of resistance to fracture)” (2008). Interestingly, researchers have discovered exactly what they are looking for in “the porous but resilient material called nacre that lines abalone shells.”

Bourzac explained the marvelous design of nacre, also known as mother-of-pearl. It is a combination of calcium carbonate, which breaks very easily, and special natural glue. Combined, these two substances are “3,000 times tougher than either constituent.” The efficiency of this composite material is amazing. Robert Ritchie, a scientist from the University of California who co-led the research and development of the new biomimetic ceramic, said: “When nature makes composites, the properties are better” (as quoted in Bourzac). The list of possible applications for the new ceramic is virtually endless. The new material could be used to make lightweight automobile frames, airplane hulls, bulletproof vests, and military vehicle armor.

Ritchie and his team are still working to perfect the new ceramic that is based on the natural mother-of-pearl structure. He noted that in nature, the ceramic has structures that are “smaller and closer together,” qualities that the team hopes to mimic in newer versions of their ceramic. The researchers are optimistically hopeful that they can come even closer to designing a ceramic that can be mass-produced, and that combines the strength and toughness of the natural material.

While the discovery of a new, efficient ceramic is interesting, it pales to insignificance in light of the necessary implication that should be drawn from such a discovery. If brilliant scientists have only recently discovered this technological wonder of the natural world, and they cannot mimic the structure as effectively as nature constructs it, then it must be admitted by the honest observer that nature’s Designer possesses superior mental abilities to those of the scientists. And yet, as clear and straightforward as this implication is, millions of people will utilize technology based on God’s original designs, but claim that random, chance processes of evolution should be given the credit.

In the Old Testament book of Job, the Bible records one of the most interesting verbal exchanges in all of human history (chapters 38-42). Job wanted an answer from God about why he was suffering. God spoke to Job with a series of questions that Job could not possibly answer. God asked where was Job when God hung the foundation of the world on nothing (38:4)? Could Job command the morning to occur or cause the dawn to break (38:12)? Could Job count the clouds (38:37) or cause the hawk to fly (39:26)? After God’s intense questioning, Job realized that he could not begin to answer God’s questions, much less possess the power to accomplish the things that are necessary for the Universe to continue to exist. Job responded to God by saying: “I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You.... Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me which I did not know” (42:2-3, emp. added). We in the 21st century would do well to learn from Job’s wise response. The fact that we are just now scratching the surface of the technology found in a “simple” abalone shell should force us to humble ourselves and worship nature’s divine Designer.

REFERENCE

Bourzac, Katherine (2008), “Ceramics That Won’t Shatter,” Technology Review, [On-line], URL:http://www.technologyreview.com/energy/21767/?nlid=1561&a=f.

God’s Longsuffering is Not Eternal by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=791

God’s Longsuffering is Not Eternal

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

One of God’s most encouraging attributes is His longsuffering. The merciful patience of God Almighty gives His redeemed, albeit imperfect, church hope and support. Immediately following a reminder to the Christians in Rome that the Old Testament was “written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope,” Paul referred to God as “the God of patience and comfort” (Romans 15:4-5). Throughout the Old Testament, Bible writers portrayed God as longsuffering (meaning, “to suffer long with”), especially in His dealings with the Israelites, who constantly rejected His guidance (cf. Numbers 13-14; 16; 21:4-9). Jesus and the New Testament apostles and prophets also spent ample time magnifying God’s merciful patience (cf. Romans 2:4; 1 Peter 3:20). The apostle Peter wrote: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise [of Jesus’ Second Coming], as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9, emp. added).

Unfortunately, the picture of God often painted in the 21st century seems to leave the impression that God’s longsuffering will go on forever. Portraits of God’s justice and vengeance often are neglected (Hebrews 10:26-39; Romans 12:19), while His compassionate patience toward sinners is so accentuated that God’s longsuffering is transformed into an eternal patience. Such a concept, however, stands in stark contradistinction to God’s revealed will.

The fact is, God will judge the world one day (Acts 17:30-31), and He will take “vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power” (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). His longsuffering is not an “eternal” suffering. The ungodly people of Noah’s day learned this point. God delayed His destruction of the world by water for many years (perhaps as many as 120 years; cf. Genesis 6:3) while Noah preached righteousness to them (2 Peter 2:5). Eventually, however, God’s longsuffering came to an end. Centuries later, God again revealed His mercy and longsuffering when He conversed with Abraham about Sodom and Gomorrah. Six times Abraham petitioned God not to destroy Sodom (Genesis 18:23-33), and six times God agreed to spare the city from His vengeance, even if as few as ten righteous people were found therein.

Time and again, God has dealt patiently with sinful mankind. Yet, we must recognize that God’s longsuffering with sinners eventually ends. It ended in the days of Noah. It ended for Sodom and Gomorrah in the days of Abraham. And, it eventually will end for all the unfaithful when Jesus returns (2 Peter 3:10). God most certainly is longsuffering, but such forbearance with wayward saints and alien sinners will end one day. “Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming” (Matthew 25:13).

"THE EPISTLE OF JAMES" Making Our Plans (4:13-17) by Mark Copeland

"THE EPISTLE OF JAMES"

Making Our Plans (4:13-17)
                                
INTRODUCTION

1. In the text for this study, James discusses the subject of making
   plans:

   13 Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such
   a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain:
   14 Whereas ye know not what [shall be] on the morrow. For what [is]
   your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time,
   and then vanisheth away. 15  For that ye [ought] to say, If the Lord
   will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 16  But now ye rejoice in
   your boastings: all such rejoicing is evil. 17  Therefore to him
   that knoweth to do good, and doeth [it] not, to him it is sin.
   (James 4)

2. This subject is very relevant for us today, for we all make plans of
   one sort or another...
   a. Plans for college, jobs
   b. Plans for marriage, family
   c. Plans for vacation, retirement

3. Making plans, in of itself, is not wrong...
   a. Paul often made plans in regard to his travels - Ac 15:36; 18:
      20-21; 1Co 16:5-9
   b. In fact, making plans (or setting goals) is a key to success in
      any venture we may undertake in life

4. But there is a "right" way to plan, and a "wrong" way; and James
   discusses both!

[First, let's consider the "right" way to "Making Our Plans"...]

I. WE CAN SUBMIT TO GOD'S WILL

   A. I.E., SUBMIT OUR PLANS TO THE WILL OF GOD...
      1. We can make our plans, but we should make them contingent to
         God's approval - "if the Lord wills" (15)
      2. This is what Paul did
         a. "God willing" - Ac 18:21
         b. "if the Lord permits" - 1Co 16:7
      3. Saying "if the Lord wills" assumes our faith in two things:
         a. That God does have a will for us (even in mundane matters)
         b. That God can intervene (via providence) to carry out His
            will
      4. The wisdom of making our plans contingent upon the will of God
         will become evident later, when we consider the "wrong" way to
         plan

   B. IF WE REALLY WANT OUR PLANS TO SUCCEED, THEN WE WILL SEEK FIRST
      TO DISCERN GOD'S WILL, AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY...
      1. To a great degree, this is possible, for God wants us to:
         a. Understand His Will - Ep 5:17
         b. Be filled with His Will - Col 1:9
         c. Prove His Will - Ro 12:2
      2. Of course, this relates especially to His "revealed" will
         a. Which pertains to matters right and wrong
         b. Which is found in the pages of the Bible
         c. When we know God's "revealed" will (from our study of the
            Bible), then we can act or plan accordingly
         d. Until then, the right way to plan is to show our submission
            to God by leaving our plans subject to His will
      3. There is also God's "permissive" will
         a. Which pertains to matters not right or wrong, but good and
            better
         b. Even so, we should still show our trust and dependence upon
            God in such matters by committing our plans to His Will

[Now let's look at the "wrong" way in "Making Our Plans"...]

II. WE CAN IGNORE GOD'S WILL

   A. TO PLAN THIS WAY IS FOLLY (13-15)
      1. Because life is COMPLEX (13)
         a. There are the complexities of TIME (today, tomorrow, when?)
         b. There are the complexities of ACTIVITIES (buy, sell?)
         c. So many decisions to make, so many mistakes might be made
         d. If it's possible to know God's will on any matter, that
            would increase the likelihood that our decisions and plans
            will be correct
      2. Because life is UNCERTAIN (14a)
         a. No one has a guarantee of tomorrow
            1) Whether there will even be one
            2) Or what will happen
         b. Only God can bring about what He wills for the future without
            fail
         c. Since this is true, we should certainly desire to make plans
            that are in keeping with "His" plans!
      3. Because life is FRAIL (14b)
         a. It is like a "vapor" - cf. Ps 39:5-6,11
         b. How substantial is a "vapor" or "shadow"?
         c. How quickly we can succumb to sickness or an accident
            illustrates how frail we really are
         d. It is foolish, then, to think "we" have the strength within
            ourselves to "make" our plans happen - remember Jm 1:10-11
      4. Because life is BRIEF (14c)
         a. "appears for a little time"
         b. This is something Job observed - Job 9:25-26; 14:1
         c. Since life is so short, it is important that we do God's
            will and not our own - cf. 1Jn 2:17

   B. TO PLAN THIS WAY IS BOASTFUL ARROGANCE (16a)
      1. To plan without taking into consideration God's will is to set
         ourselves up above God Himself!
      2. How could one be more arrogant than that?

   C. TO PLAN THIS WAY IS SIN (16-17)
      1. It is sin because it involves arrogance and boasting which is
         evil - 16
      2. It is sin because we who are Christians know better - 17
         a. We know what is good:  to plan with God's Will in mind
         b. To do otherwise is to sin!

CONCLUSION

1. How do we make our plans?
   a. If we plan without considering the will of God, then we are
      foolish, arrogant, and sinful!
   b. If we make our plans subject to the approval of God, then we are
      wise, submissive, and righteous in God's sight!
   c. If we endeavor to plan as much as we can within the framework of
      God's "revealed" will, then we increase the likelihood of success!

2. What about your "plans" for eternity?
   a. There is no doubt what the Lord's will is on this subject - cf.
      Mt 28:19-20; Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:38; Ro 10:9-10; 2Pe 1:5-11;
      Re 2:10
   b. We can be certain of "success" if we submit to God's will in the
      matters of faith, repentance, confession, baptism, and living a
      faithful Christian life
   c. But to ignore it is folly in view of life's UNCERTAINTY, FRAILTY,
      and BREVITY!

Have you done "as" the Lord wills? (i.e., as "He" would have you do it?)

Note:  Parts of the material for this outline was adapted heavily
from The Bible Exposition Commentary, Volume 2, by Warren W. Wiersbe,
pages 366-370.

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

 

Treasure happiness by Gary Rose

Yes, I have used this picture before. I downloaded it yesterday by mistake and was about to delete it, when it reminded me of a passage from the sermon on the mount.

Jesus says…

Matthew 6 ( World English Bible )

Mat 6:19, “Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal;

Mat 6:20, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal;

Mat 6:21, for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (emphasis added)

Either you think about God and the things HE wants you to think about or you don’t. Jesus emphasizes treasures in heaven and so should his followers. The thing is… all the things of this world that most people think are important are not, but the spiritual things not of this world are the things that are of eternal value.

Either you are a Christian or you are not. If you belong to Jesus, you know genuine happiness; one that will be your treasure now and forever. And that’s better than any picture could ever be – even one as beautiful as this!

Bible Reading April 12-14 by Gary Rose

Bible Reading April 12-14

World  English  Bible

Apr. 12

Numbers 15, 16

Num 15:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num 15:2 Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, When you have come into the land of your habitations, which I give to you,

Num 15:3 and will make an offering by fire to Yahweh, a burnt offering, or a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or as a freewill offering, or in your set feasts, to make a pleasant aroma to Yahweh, of the herd, or of the flock;

Num 15:4 then he who offers his offering shall offer to Yahweh a meal offering of a tenth part of an ephah of fine flour mixed with the fourth part of a hin of oil:

Num 15:5 and wine for the drink offering, the fourth part of a hin, you shall prepare with the burnt offering, or for the sacrifice, for each lamb.

Num 15:6 Or for a ram, you shall prepare for a meal offering two tenth partsof an ephah of fine flour mixed with the third part of a hin of oil:

Num 15:7 and for the drink offering you shall offer the third part of a hin of wine, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.

Num 15:8 When you prepare a bull for a burnt offering, or for a sacrifice, to accomplish a vow, or for peace offerings to Yahweh;

Num 15:9 then shall he offer with the bull a meal offering of three tenth partsof an ephah of fine flour mixed with half a hin of oil:

Num 15:10 and you shall offer for the drink offering half a hin of wine, for an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.

Num 15:11 Thus shall it be done for each bull, or for each ram, or for each of the male lambs, or of the young goats.

Num 15:12 According to the number that you shall prepare, so you shall do to everyone according to their number.

Num 15:13 All who are native-born shall do these things after this manner, in offering an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.

Num 15:14 If a stranger lives as a foreigner with you, or whoever may be among you throughout your generations, and will offer an offering made by fire, of a pleasant aroma to Yahweh; as you do, so he shall do.

Num 15:15 For the assembly, there shall be one statute for you, and for the stranger who lives as a foreigner with you, a statute forever throughout your generations: as you are, so shall the foreigner be before Yahweh.

Num 15:16 One law and one ordinance shall be for you, and for the stranger who lives as a foreigner with you.

Num 15:17 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num 15:18 Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them, When you come into the land where I bring you,

Num 15:19 then it shall be that when you eat of the bread of the land, you shall offer up a wave offering to Yahweh.

Num 15:20 Of the first of your dough you shall offer up a cake for a wave offering: as the wave offering of the threshing floor, so you shall heave it.

Num 15:21 Of the first of your dough you shall give to Yahweh a wave offering throughout your generations.

Num 15:22 When you shall err, and not observe all these commandments, which Yahweh has spoken to Moses,

Num 15:23 even all that Yahweh has commanded you by Moses, from the day that Yahweh gave commandment, and onward throughout your generations;

Num 15:24 then it shall be, if it be done unwittingly, without the knowledge of the congregation, that all the congregation shall offer one young bull for a burnt offering, for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh, with the meal offering of it, and the drink offering of it, according to the ordinance, and one male goat for a sin offering.

Num 15:25 The priest shall make atonement for all the congregation of the children of Israel, and they shall be forgiven; for it was an error, and they have brought their offering, an offering made by fire to Yahweh, and their sin offering before Yahweh, for their error:

Num 15:26 and all the congregation of the children of Israel shall be forgiven, and the stranger who lives as a foreigner among them; for in respect of all the people it was done unwittingly.

Num 15:27 If one person sins unwittingly, then he shall offer a female goat a year old for a sin offering.

Num 15:28 The priest shall make atonement for the soul who errs, when he sins unwittingly, before Yahweh, to make atonement for him; and he shall be forgiven.

Num 15:29 You shall have one law for him who does anything unwittingly, for him who is native-born among the children of Israel, and for the stranger who lives as a foreigner among them.

Num 15:30 But the soul who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native-born or a foreigner, the same blasphemes Yahweh; and that soul shall be cut off from among his people.

Num 15:31 Because he has despised the word of Yahweh, and has broken his commandment, that soul shall utterly be cut off; his iniquity shall be on him.

Num 15:32 While the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering sticks on the Sabbath day.

Num 15:33 Those who found him gathering sticks brought him to Moses and Aaron, and to all the congregation.

Num 15:34 They put him in custody, because it had not been declared what should be done to him.

Num 15:35 Yahweh said to Moses, The man shall surely be put to death: all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside of the camp.

Num 15:36 All the congregation brought him outside of the camp, and stoned him to death with stones; as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Num 15:37 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num 15:38 Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them that they should make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put on the fringe of each border a cord of blue:

Num 15:39 and it shall be to you for a fringe, that you may look on it, and remember all the commandments of Yahweh, and do them; and that you not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you use to play the prostitute;

Num 15:40 that you may remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God.

Num 15:41 I am Yahweh your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am Yahweh your God.

Num 16:1 Now Korah, the son of Izhar, the son of Kohath, the son of Levi, with Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab, and On, the son of Peleth, sons of Reuben, took men:

Num 16:2 and they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred fifty princes of the congregation, called to the assembly, men of renown;

Num 16:3 and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron, and said to them, You take too much on you, seeing all the congregation are holy, everyone of them, and Yahweh is among them: why then lift yourselves up above the assembly of Yahweh?

Num 16:4 When Moses heard it, he fell on his face:

Num 16:5 and he spoke to Korah and to all his company, saying, In the morning Yahweh will show who are his, and who is holy, and will cause him to come near to him: even him whom he shall choose he will cause to come near to him.

Num 16:6 Do this: take censers, Korah, and all his company;

Num 16:7 and put fire in them, and put incense on them before Yahweh tomorrow: and it shall be that the man whom Yahweh does choose, heshall be holy: you take too much on yourselves, you sons of Levi.

Num 16:8 Moses said to Korah, Hear now, you sons of Levi:

Num 16:9 seems it but a small thing to you, that the God of Israel has separated you from the congregation of Israel, to bring you near to himself, to do the service of the tabernacle of Yahweh, and to stand before the congregation to minister to them;

Num 16:10 and that he has brought you near, and all your brothers the sons of Levi with you? and do you seek the priesthood also?

Num 16:11 Therefore you and all your company are gathered together against Yahweh: and Aaron, what is he that you murmur against him?

Num 16:12 Moses sent to call Dathan and Abiram, the sons of Eliab; and they said, We won't come up:

Num 16:13 is it a small thing that you have brought us up out of a land flowing with milk and honey, to kill us in the wilderness, but you must also make yourself a prince over us?

Num 16:14 Moreover you haven't brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey, nor given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: will you put out the eyes of these men? we won't come up.

Num 16:15 Moses was very angry, and said to Yahweh, "Don't respect their offering: I have not taken one donkey from them, neither have I hurt one of them."

Num 16:16 Moses said to Korah, You and all your company go before Yahweh, you, and they, and Aaron, tomorrow:

Num 16:17 and each man take his censer, and put incense on them, and each man bring before Yahweh his censer, two hundred fifty censers; you also, and Aaron, each his censer.

Num 16:18 They each took his censer, and put fire in them, and laid incense thereon, and stood at the door of the Tent of Meeting with Moses and Aaron.

Num 16:19 Korah assembled all the congregation against them to the door of the Tent of Meeting: and the glory of Yahweh appeared to all the congregation.

Num 16:20 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

Num 16:21 Separate yourselves from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment.

Num 16:22 They fell on their faces, and said, God, the God of the spirits of all flesh, shall one man sin, and will you be angry with all the congregation?

Num 16:23 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num 16:24 Speak to the congregation, saying, Get away from around the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.

Num 16:25 Moses rose up and went to Dathan and Abiram; and the elders of Israel followed him.

Num 16:26 He spoke to the congregation, saying, Depart, I pray you, from the tents of these wicked men, and touch nothing of theirs, lest you be consumed in all their sins.

Num 16:27 So they got them up from the tent of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram, on every side: and Dathan and Abiram came out, and stood at the door of their tents, and their wives, and their sons, and their little ones.

Num 16:28 Moses said, Hereby you shall know that Yahweh has sent me to do all these works; for I have not done them of my own mind.

Num 16:29 If these men die the common death of all men, or if they be visited after the visitation of all men; then Yahweh hasn't sent me.

Num 16:30 But if Yahweh make a new thing, and the ground open its mouth, and swallow them up, with all that appertain to them, and they go down alive into Sheol; then you shall understand that these men have despised Yahweh.

Num 16:31 It happened, as he made an end of speaking all these words, that the ground split apart that was under them;

Num 16:32 and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up, and their households, and all the men who appertained to Korah, and all their goods.

Num 16:33 So they, and all that appertained to them, went down alive into Sheol: and the earth closed on them, and they perished from among the assembly.

Num 16:34 All Israel that were around them fled at the cry of them; for they said, Lest the earth swallow us up.

Num 16:35 Fire came forth from Yahweh, and devoured the two hundred fifty men who offered the incense.

Num 16:36 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num 16:37 Speak to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, that he take up the censers out of the burning, and scatter the fire yonder; for they are holy,

Num 16:38 even the censers of these sinners against their own lives; and let them be made beaten plates for a covering of the altar: for they offered them before Yahweh; therefore they are holy; and they shall be a sign to the children of Israel.

Num 16:39 Eleazar the priest took the bronze censers, which those who were burnt had offered; and they beat them out for a covering of the altar,

Num 16:40 to be a memorial to the children of Israel, to the end that no stranger, who isn't of the seed of Aaron, comes near to burn incense before Yahweh; that he not be as Korah, and as his company: as Yahweh spoke to him by Moses.

Num 16:41 But on the next day all the congregation of the children of Israel murmured against Moses and against Aaron, saying, You have killed the people of Yahweh.

Num 16:42 It happened, when the congregation was assembled against Moses and against Aaron, that they looked toward the Tent of Meeting: and behold, the cloud covered it, and the glory of Yahweh appeared.

Num 16:43 Moses and Aaron came to the front of the Tent of Meeting.

Num 16:44 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num 16:45 Get away from among this congregation, that I may consume them in a moment. They fell on their faces.

Num 16:46 Moses said to Aaron, Take your censer, and put fire therein from off the altar, and lay incense thereon, and carry it quickly to the congregation, and make atonement for them: for there is wrath gone out from Yahweh; the plague is begun.

Num 16:47 Aaron took as Moses spoke, and ran into the midst of the assembly; and behold, the plague was begun among the people: and he put on the incense, and made atonement for the people.

Num 16:48 He stood between the dead and the living; and the plague was stayed.

Num 16:49 Now those who died by the plague were fourteen thousand and seven hundred, besides those who died about the matter of Korah.

Num 16:50 Aaron returned to Moses to the door of the Tent of Meeting: and the plague was stayed.

Apr. 13

Numbers 17, 18

Num 17:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num 17:2 Speak to the children of Israel, and take of them rods, one for each fathers' house, of all their princes according to their fathers' houses, twelve rods: write every man's name on his rod.

Num 17:3 You shall write Aaron's name on the rod of Levi; for there shall be one rod for each head of their fathers' houses.

Num 17:4 You shall lay them up in the Tent of Meeting before the testimony, where I meet with you.

Num 17:5 It shall happen, that the rod of the man whom I shall choose shall bud: and I will make to cease from me the murmurings of the children of Israel, which they murmur against you.

Num 17:6 Moses spoke to the children of Israel; and all their princes gave him rods, for each prince one, according to their fathers' houses, even twelve rods: and the rod of Aaron was among their rods.

Num 17:7 Moses laid up the rods before Yahweh in the tent of the testimony.

Num 17:8 It happened on the next day, that Moses went into the tent of the testimony; and behold, the rod of Aaron for the house of Levi was budded, and put forth buds, and produced blossoms, and bore ripe almonds.

Num 17:9 Moses brought out all the rods from before Yahweh to all the children of Israel: and they looked, and took every man his rod.

Num 17:10 Yahweh said to Moses, Put back the rod of Aaron before the testimony, to be kept for a token against the children of rebellion; that you may make an end of their murmurings against me, that they not die.

Num 17:11 Moses did so. As Yahweh commanded him, so he did.

Num 17:12 The children of Israel spoke to Moses, saying, Behold, we perish, we are undone, we are all undone.

Num 17:13 Everyone who comes near, who comes near to the tabernacle of Yahweh, dies: shall we perish all of us?

Num 18:1 Yahweh said to Aaron, You and your sons and your fathers' house with you shall bear the iniquity of the sanctuary; and you and your sons with you shall bear the iniquity of your priesthood.

Num 18:2 Your brothers also, the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, bring near with you, that they may be joined to you, and minister to you: but you and your sons with you shall be before the tent of the testimony.

Num 18:3 They shall keep your commands, and the duty of all the Tent: only they shall not come near to the vessels of the sanctuary and to the altar, that they not die, neither they, nor you.

Num 18:4 They shall be joined to you, and keep the responsibility of the Tent of Meeting, for all the service of the Tent: and a stranger shall not come near to you.

Num 18:5 You shall perform the duty of the sanctuary, and the duty of the altar; that there be wrath no more on the children of Israel.

Num 18:6 I, behold, I have taken your brothers the Levites from among the children of Israel: to you they are a gift, given to Yahweh, to do the service of the Tent of Meeting.

Num 18:7 You and your sons with you shall keep your priesthood for everything of the altar, and for that within the veil; and you shall serve: I give you the priesthood as a service of gift: and the stranger who comes near shall be put to death.

Num 18:8 Yahweh spoke to Aaron, I, behold, I have given you the command of my wave offerings, even all the holy things of the children of Israel; to you have I given them by reason of the anointing, and to your sons, as a portion forever.

Num 18:9 This shall be your of the most holy things, reserved from the fire: every offering of theirs, even every meal offering of theirs, and every sin offering of theirs, and every trespass offering of theirs, which they shall render to me, shall be most holy for you and for your sons.

Num 18:10 You shall eat of it like the most holy things. Every male shall eat of it. It shall be holy to you.

Num 18:11 This is yours, too: the wave offering of their gift, even all the wave offerings of the children of Israel. I have given them to you, and to your sons and to your daughters with you, as a portion forever. Everyone who is clean in your house shall eat of it.

Num 18:12 All the best of the oil, and all the best of the vintage, and of the grain, the first fruits of them which they give to Yahweh, to you have I given them.

Num 18:13 The first-ripe fruits of all that is in their land, which they bring to Yahweh, shall be yours; everyone who is clean in your house shall eat of it.

Num 18:14 Everything devoted in Israel shall be yours.

Num 18:15 Everything that opens the womb, of all flesh which they offer to Yahweh, both of man and animal shall be yours: nevertheless you shall surely redeem the firstborn of man, and you shall redeem the firstborn of unclean animals.

Num 18:16 You shall redeem those who are to be redeemed of them from a month old, according to your estimation, for five shekels of money, after the shekel of the sanctuary (the same is twenty gerahs).

Num 18:17 But you shall not redeem the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat. They are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar, and shall burn their fat for an offering made by fire, for a pleasant aroma to Yahweh.

Num 18:18 Their flesh shall be yours, as the wave offering breast and as the right thigh, it shall be yours.

Num 18:19 All the wave offerings of the holy things, which the children of Israel offer to Yahweh, have I given you, and your sons and your daughters with you, as a portion forever: it is a covenant of salt forever before Yahweh to you and to your seed with you.

Num 18:20 Yahweh said to Aaron, You shall have no inheritance in their land, neither shall you have any portion among them: I am your portion and your inheritance among the children of Israel.

Num 18:21 To the children of Levi, behold, I have given all the tithe in Israel for an inheritance, in return for their service which they serve, even the service of the Tent of Meeting.

Num 18:22 Henceforth the children of Israel shall not come near the Tent of Meeting, lest they bear sin, and die.

Num 18:23 But the Levites shall do the service of the Tent of Meeting, and they shall bear their iniquity: it shall be a statute forever throughout your generations; and among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

Num 18:24 For the tithe of the children of Israel, which they offer as a wave offering to Yahweh, I have given to the Levites for an inheritance: therefore I have said to them, Among the children of Israel they shall have no inheritance.

Num 18:25 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num 18:26 Moreover you shall speak to the Levites, and tell them, When you take of the children of Israel the tithe which I have given you from them for your inheritance, then you shall offer up a wave offering of it for Yahweh, a tithe of the tithe.

Num 18:27 Your wave offering shall be reckoned to you, as though it were the grain of the threshing floor, and as the fullness of the winepress.

Num 18:28 Thus you also shall offer a wave offering to Yahweh of all your tithes, which you receive of the children of Israel; and of it you shall give Yahweh's wave offering to Aaron the priest.

Num 18:29 Out of all your gifts you shall offer every wave offering of Yahweh, of all its best, even the holy part of it out of it.

Num 18:30 Therefore you shall tell them, When you heave its best from it, then it shall be reckoned to the Levites as the increase of the threshing floor, and as the increase of the winepress.

Num 18:31 You shall eat it in every place, you and your households: for it is your reward in return for your service in the Tent of Meeting.

Num 18:32 You shall bear no sin by reason of it, when you have heaved from it its best: and you shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, that you not die.

Apr. 14

Numbers 19, 20

Num 19:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,

Num 19:2 This is the statute of the law which Yahweh has commanded, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring you a red heifer without spot, in which is no blemish, and on which never came yoke.

Num 19:3 You shall give her to Eleazar the priest, and he shall bring her forth outside of the camp, and one shall kill her before his face:

Num 19:4 and Eleazar the priest shall take of her blood with his finger, and sprinkle her blood toward the front of the Tent of Meeting seven times.

Num 19:5 One shall burn the heifer in his sight; her skin, and her flesh, and her blood, with her dung, shall he burn:

Num 19:6 and the priest shall take cedar wood, and hyssop, and scarlet, and cast it into the midst of the burning of the heifer.

Num 19:7 Then the priest shall wash his clothes, and he shall bathe his flesh in water, and afterward he shall come into the camp, and the priest shall be unclean until the even.

Num 19:8 He who burns her shall wash his clothes in water, and bathe his flesh in water, and shall be unclean until the even.

Num 19:9 A man who is clean shall gather up the ashes of the heifer, and lay them up outside of the camp in a clean place; and it shall be kept for the congregation of the children of Israel for a water for impurity: it is a sin offering.

Num 19:10 He who gathers the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be to the children of Israel, and to the stranger who lives as a foreigner among them, for a statute forever.

Num 19:11 He who touches the dead body of any man shall be unclean seven days:

Num 19:12 the same shall purify himself with water on the third day, and on the seventh day he shall be clean: but if he doesn't purify himself the third day, then the seventh day he shall not be clean.

Num 19:13 Whoever touches a dead person, the body of a man who has died, and doesn't purify himself, defiles the tabernacle of Yahweh; and that soul shall be cut off from Israel: because the water for impurity was not sprinkled on him, he shall be unclean; his uncleanness is yet on him.

Num 19:14 This is the law when a man dies in a tent: everyone who comes into the tent, and everyone who is in the tent, shall be unclean seven days.

Num 19:15 Every open vessel, which has no covering bound on it, is unclean.

Num 19:16 Whoever in the open field touches one who is slain with a sword, or a dead body, or a bone of a man, or a grave, shall be unclean seven days.

Num 19:17 For the unclean they shall take of the ashes of the burning of the sin offering; and running water shall be put thereto in a vessel:

Num 19:18 and a clean person shall take hyssop, and dip it in the water, and sprinkle it on the tent, and on all the vessels, and on the persons who were there, and on him who touched the bone, or the slain, or the dead, or the grave:

Num 19:19 and the clean person shall sprinkle on the unclean on the third day, and on the seventh day: and on the seventh day he shall purify him; and he shall wash his clothes, and bathe himself in water, and shall be clean at even.

Num 19:20 But the man who shall be unclean, and shall not purify himself, that soul shall be cut off from the midst of the assembly, because he has defiled the sanctuary of Yahweh: the water for impurity has not been sprinkled on him; he is unclean.

Num 19:21 It shall be a perpetual statute to them: and he who sprinkles the water for impurity shall wash his clothes, and he who touches the water for impurity shall be unclean until even.

Num 19:22 Whatever the unclean person touches shall be unclean; and the soul that touches it shall be unclean until evening.

Num 20:1 The children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month: and the people abode in Kadesh; and Miriam died there, and was buried there.

Num 20:2 There was no water for the congregation: and they assembled themselves together against Moses and against Aaron.

Num 20:3 The people strove with Moses, and spoke, saying, Would that we had died when our brothers died before Yahweh!

Num 20:4 Why have you brought the assembly of Yahweh into this wilderness, that we should die there, we and our animals?

Num 20:5 Why have you made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in to this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.

Num 20:6 Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and fell on their faces: and the glory of Yahweh appeared to them.

Num 20:7 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

Num 20:8 Take the rod, and assemble the congregation, you, and Aaron your brother, and speak to the rock before their eyes, that it give forth its water; and you shall bring forth to them water out of the rock; so you shall give the congregation and their livestock drink.

Num 20:9 Moses took the rod from before Yahweh, as he commanded him.

Num 20:10 Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, Hear now, you rebels; shall we bring you water out of this rock for you?

Num 20:11 Moses lifted up his hand, and struck the rock with his rod twice: and water came forth abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.

Num 20:12 Yahweh said to Moses and Aaron, Because you didn't believe in me, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.

Num 20:13 These are the waters of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with Yahweh, and he was sanctified in them.

Num 20:14 Moses sent messengers from Kadesh to the king of Edom, Thus says your brother Israel, You know all the travail that has happened to us:

Num 20:15 how our fathers went down into Egypt, and we lived in Egypt a long time; and the Egyptians dealt ill with us, and our fathers:

Num 20:16 and when we cried to Yahweh, he heard our voice, and sent an angel, and brought us forth out of Egypt: and behold, we are in Kadesh, a city in the uttermost of your border.

Num 20:17 Please let us pass through your land: we will not pass through field or through vineyard, neither will we drink of the water of the wells: we will go along the king's highway; we will not turn aside to the right hand nor to the left, until we have passed your border.

Num 20:18 Edom said to him, You shall not pass through me, lest I come out with the sword against you.

Num 20:19 The children of Israel said to him, We will go up by the highway; and if we drink of your water, I and my livestock, then will I give its price: let me only, without doing anything else, pass through on my feet.

Num 20:20 He said, You shall not pass through. Edom came out against him with much people, and with a strong hand.

Num 20:21 Thus Edom refused to give Israel passage through his border, so Israel turned away from him.

Num 20:22 They traveled from Kadesh: and the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, came to Mount Hor.

Num 20:23 Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron in Mount Hor, by the border of the land of Edom, saying,

Num 20:24 Aaron shall be gathered to his people; for he shall not enter into the land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you rebelled against my word at the waters of Meribah.

Num 20:25 Take Aaron and Eleazar his son, and bring them up to Mount Hor;

Num 20:26 and strip Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son: and Aaron shall be gathered to his people, and shall die there.

Num 20:27 Moses did as Yahweh commanded: and they went up into Mount Hor in the sight of all the congregation.

Num 20:28 Moses stripped Aaron of his garments, and put them on Eleazar his son; and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain: and Moses and Eleazar came down from the mountain.

Num 20:29 When all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they wept for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.

Apr. 12, 13

Luke 8

Luk 8:1 It happened soon afterwards, that he went about through cities and villages, preaching and bringing the good news of the Kingdom of God. With him were the twelve,

Luk 8:2 and certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out;

Luk 8:3 and Joanna, the wife of Chuzas, Herod's steward; Susanna; and many others; who served them from their possessions.

Luk 8:4 When a great multitude came together, and people from every city were coming to him, he spoke by a parable.

Luk 8:5 "The farmer went out to sow his seed. As he sowed, some fell along the road, and it was trampled under foot, and the birds of the sky devoured it.

Luk 8:6 Other seed fell on the rock, and as soon as it grew, it withered away, because it had no moisture.

Luk 8:7 Other fell amid the thorns, and the thorns grew with it, and choked it.

Luk 8:8 Other fell into the good ground, and grew, and brought forth fruit one hundred times." As he said these things, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

Luk 8:9 Then his disciples asked him, "What does this parable mean?"

Luk 8:10 He said, "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the Kingdom of God, but to the rest in parables; that 'seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.'

Luk 8:11 Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.

Luk 8:12 Those along the road are those who hear, then the devil comes, and takes away the word from their heart, that they may not believe and be saved.

Luk 8:13 Those on the rock are they who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; but these have no root, who believe for a while, then fall away in time of temptation.

Luk 8:14 That which fell among the thorns, these are those who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with cares, riches, and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to maturity.

Luk 8:15 That in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and bring forth fruit with patience.

Luk 8:16 "No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a container, or puts it under a bed; but puts it on a stand, that those who enter in may see the light.

Luk 8:17 For nothing is hidden, that will not be revealed; nor anything secret, that will not be known and come to light.

Luk 8:18 Be careful therefore how you hear. For whoever has, to him will be given; and whoever doesn't have, from him will be taken away even that which he thinks he has."

Luk 8:19 His mother and brothers came to him, and they could not come near him for the crowd.

Luk 8:20 It was told him by some saying, "Your mother and your brothers stand outside, desiring to see you."

Luk 8:21 But he answered them, "My mother and my brothers are these who hear the word of God, and do it."

Luk 8:22 Now it happened on one of those days, that he entered into a boat, himself and his disciples, and he said to them, "Let's go over to the other side of the lake." So they launched out.

Luk 8:23 But as they sailed, he fell asleep. A wind storm came down on the lake, and they were taking on dangerous amounts of water.

Luk 8:24 They came to him, and awoke him, saying, "Master, master, we are dying!" He awoke, and rebuked the wind and the raging of the water, and they ceased, and it was calm.

Luk 8:25 He said to them, "Where is your faith?" Being afraid they marveled, saying one to another, "Who is this, then, that he commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him?"

Luk 8:26 They arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.

Luk 8:27 When Jesus stepped ashore, a certain man out of the city who had demons for a long time met him. He wore no clothes, and didn't live in a house, but in the tombs.

Luk 8:28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, and fell down before him, and with a loud voice said, "What do I have to do with you, Jesus, you Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don't torment me!"

Luk 8:29 For Jesus was commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For the unclean spirit had often seized the man. He was kept under guard, and bound with chains and fetters. Breaking the bands apart, he was driven by the demon into the desert.

Luk 8:30 Jesus asked him, "What is your name?" He said, "Legion," for many demons had entered into him.

Luk 8:31 They begged him that he would not command them to go into the abyss.

Luk 8:32 Now there was there a herd of many pigs feeding on the mountain, and they begged him that he would allow them to enter into those. He allowed them.

Luk 8:33 The demons came out from the man, and entered into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake, and were drowned.

Luk 8:34 When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled, and told it in the city and in the country.

Luk 8:35 People went out to see what had happened. They came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, clothed and in his right mind; and they were afraid.

Luk 8:36 Those who saw it told them how he who had been possessed by demons was healed.

Luk 8:37 All the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them, for they were very much afraid. He entered into the boat, and returned.

Luk 8:38 But the man from whom the demons had gone out begged him that he might go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying,

Luk 8:39 "Return to your house, and declare what great things God has done for you." He went his way, proclaiming throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him.

Luk 8:40 It happened, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him.

Luk 8:41 Behold, there came a man named Jairus, and he was a ruler of the synagogue. He fell down at Jesus' feet, and begged him to come into his house,

Luk 8:42 for he had an only daughter, about twelve years of age, and she was dying. But as he went, the multitudes pressed against him.

Luk 8:43 A woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living on physicians, and could not be healed by any,

Luk 8:44 came behind him, and touched the fringe of his cloak, and immediately the flow of her blood stopped.

Luk 8:45 Jesus said, "Who touched me?" When all denied it, Peter and those with him said, "Master, the multitudes press and jostle you, and you say, 'Who touched me?' "

Luk 8:46 But Jesus said, "Someone did touch me, for I perceived that power has gone out of me."

Luk 8:47 When the woman saw that she was not hidden, she came trembling, and falling down before him declared to him in the presence of all the people the reason why she had touched him, and how she was healed immediately.

Luk 8:48 He said to her, "Daughter, cheer up. Your faith has made you well. Go in peace."

Luk 8:49 While he still spoke, one from the ruler of the synagogue's house came, saying to him, "Your daughter is dead. Don't trouble the Teacher."

Luk 8:50 But Jesus hearing it, answered him, "Don't be afraid. Only believe, and she will be healed."

Luk 8:51 When he came to the house, he didn't allow anyone to enter in, except Peter, John, James, the father of the child, and her mother.

Luk 8:52 All were weeping and mourning her, but he said, "Don't weep. She isn't dead, but sleeping."

Luk 8:53 They were ridiculing him, knowing that she was dead.

Luk 8:54 But he put them all outside, and taking her by the hand, he called, saying, "Child, arise!"

Luk 8:55 Her spirit returned, and she rose up immediately. He commanded that something be given to her to eat.

Luk 8:56 Her parents were amazed, but he commanded them to tell no one what had been done.

Apr. 14

Luke 9

Luk 9:1 He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

Luk 9:2 He sent them forth to preach the Kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.

Luk 9:3 He said to them, "Take nothing for your journey-neither staffs, nor wallet, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats apiece.

Luk 9:4 Into whatever house you enter, stay there, and depart from there.

Luk 9:5 As many as don't receive you, when you depart from that city, shake off even the dust from your feet for a testimony against them."

Luk 9:6 They departed, and went throughout the villages, preaching the Good News, and healing everywhere.

Luk 9:7 Now Herod the tetrarch heard of all that was done by him; and he was very perplexed, because it was said by some that John had risen from the dead,

Luk 9:8 and by some that Elijah had appeared, and by others that one of the old prophets had risen again.

Luk 9:9 Herod said, "John I beheaded, but who is this, about whom I hear such things?" He sought to see him.

Luk 9:10 The apostles, when they had returned, told him what things they had done. He took them, and withdrew apart to a deserted place of a city called Bethsaida.

Luk 9:11 But the multitudes, perceiving it, followed him. He welcomed them, and spoke to them of the Kingdom of God, and he cured those who needed healing.

Luk 9:12 The day began to wear away; and the twelve came, and said to him, "Send the multitude away, that they may go into the surrounding villages and farms, and lodge, and get food, for we are here in a deserted place."

Luk 9:13 But he said to them, "You give them something to eat." They said, "We have no more than five loaves and two fish, unless we should go and buy food for all these people."

Luk 9:14 For they were about five thousand men. He said to his disciples, "Make them sit down in groups of about fifty each."

Luk 9:15 They did so, and made them all sit down.

Luk 9:16 He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to the sky, he blessed them, and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude.

Luk 9:17 They ate, and were all filled. They gathered up twelve baskets of broken pieces that were left over.

Luk 9:18 It happened, as he was praying alone, that the disciples were with him, and he asked them, "Who do the multitudes say that I am?"

Luk 9:19 They answered, " 'John the Baptizer,' but others say, 'Elijah,' and others, that one of the old prophets is risen again."

Luk 9:20 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered, "The Christ of God."

Luk 9:21 But he warned them, and commanded them to tell this to no one,

Luk 9:22 saying, "The Son of Man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up."

Luk 9:23 He said to all, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.

Luk 9:24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever will lose his life for my sake, the same will save it.

Luk 9:25 For what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits his own self?

Luk 9:26 For whoever will be ashamed of me and of my words, of him will the Son of Man be ashamed, when he comes in his glory, and the glory of the Father, and of the holy angels.

Luk 9:27 But I tell you the truth: There are some of those who stand here, who will in no way taste of death, until they see the Kingdom of God."

Luk 9:28 It happened about eight days after these sayings, that he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray.

Luk 9:29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face was altered, and his clothing became white and dazzling.

Luk 9:30 Behold, two men were talking with him, who were Moses and Elijah,

Luk 9:31 who appeared in glory, and spoke of his departure, which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem.

Luk 9:32 Now Peter and those who were with him were heavy with sleep, but when they were fully awake, they saw his glory, and the two men who stood with him.

Luk 9:33 It happened, as they were parting from him, that Peter said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here. Let's make three tents: one for you, and one for Moses, and one for Elijah," not knowing what he said.

Luk 9:34 While he said these things, a cloud came and overshadowed them, and they were afraid as they entered into the cloud.

Luk 9:35 A voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him!"

Luk 9:36 When the voice came, Jesus was found alone. They were silent, and told no one in those days any of the things which they had seen.

Luk 9:37 It happened on the next day, when they had come down from the mountain, that a great multitude met him.

Luk 9:38 Behold, a man from the crowd called out, saying, "Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child.

Luk 9:39 Behold, a spirit takes him, he suddenly cries out, and it convulses him so that he foams, and it hardly departs from him, bruising him severely.

Luk 9:40 I begged your disciples to cast it out, and they couldn't."

Luk 9:41 Jesus answered, "Faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here."

Luk 9:42 While he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him violently. But Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the boy, and gave him back to his father.

Luk 9:43 They were all astonished at the majesty of God. But while all were marveling at all the things which Jesus did, he said to his disciples,

Luk 9:44 "Let these words sink into your ears, for the Son of Man will be delivered up into the hands of men."

Luk 9:45 But they didn't understand this saying. It was concealed from them, that they should not perceive it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.

Luk 9:46 There arose an argument among them about which of them was the greatest.

Luk 9:47 Jesus, perceiving the reasoning of their hearts, took a little child, and set him by his side,

Luk 9:48 and said to them, "Whoever receives this little child in my name receives me. Whoever receives me receives him who sent me. For whoever is least among you all, this one will be great."

Luk 9:49 John answered, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he doesn't follow with us."

Luk 9:50 Jesus said to him, "Don't forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us."

Luk 9:51 It came to pass, when the days were near that he should be taken up, he intently set his face to go to Jerusalem,

Luk 9:52 and sent messengers before his face. They went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, so as to prepare for him.

Luk 9:53 They didn't receive him, because he was traveling with his face set towards Jerusalem.

Luk 9:54 When his disciples, James and John, saw this, they said, "Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from the sky, and destroy them, just as Elijah did?"

Luk 9:55 But he turned and rebuked them, "You don't know of what kind of spirit you are.

Luk 9:56 For the Son of Man didn't come to destroy men's lives, but to save them." They went to another village.

Luk 9:57 As they went on the way, a certain man said to him, "I want to follow you wherever you go, Lord."

Luk 9:58 Jesus said to him, "The foxes have holes, and the birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head."

Luk 9:59 He said to another, "Follow me!" But he said, "Lord, allow me first to go and bury my father."

Luk 9:60 But Jesus said to him, "Leave the dead to bury their own dead, but you go and announce the Kingdom of God."

Luk 9:61 Another also said, "I want to follow you, Lord, but first allow me to bid farewell to those who are at my house."

Luk 9:62 But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God."