Week of 2 Lent C - 02/28-03/6/2010

Week of 2 Lent C

This is a Three-Year Lectionary based on the Lutheran Book of Worship 3-year Lectionary (for public worship), "Prayers of the Day..." (Propers), p. 13-41, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978. It is based, with only minor variations, on the Revised Common Lectionary, used by many denominations, including the Episcopal, Lutheran, Presbyterian, and Methodist churches:

http://www.commontexts.org/

and:

http://www.commontexts.org/rcl/usage.html

The daily readings are the Propers (Lections) for the following Sunday, so that the daily devotions can prepare us for worship. Additional Lections are from Common Service Book of the Lutheran Church, "Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers," United Lutheran Church of America, General Rubrics VIII. Scripture lessons for Matins and Vespers, p. 299 - 304, Philadelphia, 1918.

The previous 2- year Bible Study based on the Lutheran Book of Worship, Daily Lectionary for personal devotions p.179-192, Augsburg Publishing House, Minneapolis, 1978, is available at:

http://shepboy.snow.prohosting.com

Journalspace.com, my former 'blog host is being reorganized under new ownership. I no longer publish there. I have also lost mypodcast.com, my podcast host. This 'blog is mirrored at:

http://shepboy.multiply.com/

.mp3 Podcasts via Linux Festival Text-to-speech are available at:

Daily Walk 3 Year C Weekly Lectionary

Please Note: I will post weekly by Saturday, noon, (God willing), Pacific time (UTC-8:00) for the week of the Church Season which begins on Sunday. Please scroll down for the desired day, or save the week to your desktop/hard drive.


Podcast: Week_of_2_Lent_C

2 Lent - Sunday C
First posted February 28, 2010
Podcast: 2 Lent Sunday C

Jeremiah 26:8-15 – The Temple Sermon;
Psalm 42:1-7, 11-- My Soul Thirsts;
Philippians 3:17-4:1-- Stand Firm in the Lord;
Luke 13:31-35 – Lament for Jerusalem;

Jeremiah:

When Jeremiah had spoken all the Word of God that the Lord had commanded him to proclaim in the temple, the priests and prophets and the people seized Jeremiah, saying that Jeremiah should be put to death for prophesying against the temple and city. Jeremiah had said that Jerusalem and the temple would be like Shiloh (a city about ten miles north of Bethel) completely desolate and without inhabitants.

When the princes of Judah (the royal officials of the southern kingdom of the divided monarchy) heard what was happening, they assembled in the entry of the New Gate (possibly the Benjamin Gate on the north of the temple; Jeremiah 20:2), the place where they routinely convened court. The religious leaders and the people told the princes that Jeremiah deserved to die for having prophesied against Jerusalem.

Then Jeremiah told the officials and people that the Lord had commanded him to prophesy against the temple and city all that they had heard Jeremiah say. Jeremiah said, “Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the Lord your God, and the Lord will repent of the evil which he has pronounced against you” (Jeremiah 26:13). Jeremiah said that he was under the power of the leaders and people, and that they could do whatever they considered good and right, but they should realize that if they put Jeremiah to death they would bring judgment upon themselves and the city for shedding innocent blood. Jeremiah testified that he had been commanded by the Lord to proclaim God's Word.

Psalm:

The psalmist longed for the Lord, like a deer (pursued by a hunter) longs for streams of water. The psalmist thirsted for the living God. He longed to behold God's face. The psalmist had been having trials and sorrow, and people thought his troubles were a sign that he had been abandoned by God.

The psalmist recalled how he went with the throng of pilgrims and led the procession to the temple, singing songs of thanksgiving, celebrating the festival. He was sad in his very soul, and he reminded himself to hope in the Lord, believing that he would again have occasion to praise the Lord, his help and his God.

The psalmist was sorrowful because he was at the northern border of Israel, Mount Hermon, at the sources of the Jordan River, far from Jerusalem and the temple. The thundering waterfalls were deep calling deep. The psalmist felt caught in floods and torrents of trouble.

He reminded himself, “Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you disquieted with me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my help and my God” (Psalm 42:11).

Philippians:

Paul urged the Philippian Christians to follow the example of Paul and other mature believers. Many people (including professing Christians) are living as enemies of the cross of Jesus. Their desires are idolatrous; they enjoy what should cause them shame; their thoughts are focused on worldly things, and their eternal destiny will be destruction. But authentic Christian disciples are citizens of the heavenly kingdom, and we await the (second) coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He will change our earthly bodies to be like his glorified, eternal, imperishable body, by his power which enables him to conform all things to himself. Therefore Paul urges his beloved brethren with whom he longs to be, the source of his joy and his reward, to stand firm in the Lord.

Luke:

Jesus was traveling through Galilee and heading toward Jerusalem. Some Pharisees came to Jesus and warned him to leave the area because the ruler of the region, Herod Antipas (son of Herod the Great), was seeking to kill Jesus. Jesus told them to tell Herod, who was so cunningly shrewd, that Herod could not prevent Jesus from carrying out God's mission of physical and spiritual healing “today, and tomorrow; and the third day I finish my course” (Luke 13:32). Furthermore, Jesus would finish his missionary travel in the short time left, because it was impossible that he would be killed anywhere away from Jerusalem.

Jesus mourned for Jerusalem, which had a long history of killing the prophets sent to them by God. Jesus longed to gather them to himself like a hen gathers her chicks under the protection of her wings, but Israel would not. Jesus warned that the house of Israel was forsaken, and would not see their Messiah until they acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, coming in the name of the Lord.

Commentary:

The Word of God contains both great promises and ominous warnings. The warnings are intended to help us avoid the consequences of disobedience, so that we can receive the promises. Jeremiah proclaimed the whole Word of God, not just the parts that make people feel good (2 Timothy 4:3-4). The people who heard Jeremiah's message were enraged and wanted to kill the messenger, Jeremiah.

Jeremiah prophesied that unless Judah repented and returned to obedient trust in the Lord, that the Lord would destroy the temple and Jerusalem, like the destruction of Shiloh, (a city ten miles north of Bethel, so completely destroyed that there was no trace left; Jeremiah 26:6). Jeremiah warned the priests, prophets and princes of Judah to amend their ways and doings, and return to obedient trust in God's Word, and God would change his decision to destroy Jerusalem and the temple.

Throughout the history of God's dealings with Israel, Israel kept repeating a cycle of prosperity during which they developed a false sense of self-sufficiency, leading them to turn away from obedient trust in the Lord. The Lord would warn them by the prophets, but they often didn't repent and return to the Lord until it was too late. So the Lord would lift his favor and protection from them and allow them to suffer the consequences of their disobedience and faithlessness, in the hope that they would realize their dependence upon the Lord and return to him again.

This is the case with the prophecy of Jeremiah, who repeatedly warned Judah to repent and turn from disobedience and idolatry (anything one values as much or more than God). Jeremiah was acquitted in this instance, but later was imprisoned and his prophecy ignored until Jerusalem was conquered and the city and temple were destroyed by the army of Nebuchadnezzar, King of Babylon in 587 B.C..

Judah was the remnant of Israel after the fall of Samaria and the Northern Kingdom of the ten tribes, in 721 B.C.. Judah hadn't learned from the example of the fall of the Northern Kingdom. Judah was carried off into exile in Babylon for seventy years as Jeremiah had foretold (Jeremiah 25:11-12).

In this Temple Sermon Jeremiah testified that he had proclaimed the full Word of God. The test of prophecy is its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). God's Word is eternal and is always fulfilled, over and over as the conditions for its fulfillment are met.

After the exile in Babylon, Israel returned to their Promised Land, but soon forgot the lesson of the exile. Consequently they were unprepared for the coming of the promised Messiah, Jesus Christ. As a result, Israel was again destroyed by the Romans in 70 A.D., and effectively ceased to exist as a nation until re-established after World War II.

Sometimes God allows us to experience trouble as discipline to teach us obedience and reliance upon the Lord (Hebrews 12:5-13). Worldly people tend to think that prosperity is a sign of God's favor, and that tribulation indicates that God has abandoned us.

The Psalmist had learned from times of trouble that the Lord would not abandon him, and would restore him again. As we learn to live daily in obedient trust in God's Word, we will learn from good times and bad that the Lord would bring us through them.

Professing (as distinct from “practicing”) Christians, who do not become disciples, aren't learning to trust and obey the Lord on a daily basis. As long as things are going well they believe they have God's approval, but if they're pursuing their own worldly desires and possessions they are actually working against the Lord's ministry. They are also deceiving themselves, thinking they are “saved” when they're really headed for eternal destruction (1 John 1:6-10; Matthew 7:21-27). When trouble comes, they blame God.

In contrast, practicing Christian disciples have learned from experience that the Lord is faithful and able to bring them through whatever comes. When we're feeling anxious or sad, we can recall the blessings of the past. New Christians who may be experiencing trouble for the first time as believers can open the Bible to Psalms and start reading the testimonies of believers who have experienced God's love and faithfulness in the past.

Jesus came to free us from the fear of death (Hebrews 2:14-15). Jesus' resurrection demonstrates that there is existence after physical death. Jesus came to make it possible for us to receive the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). Through the Holy Spirit we have fellowship with the risen Jesus. We know with certainty that Jesus lives eternally, and that we've been spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life by the presence of the Holy Spirit within us. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Jesus knew that no earthly ruler could thwart God's plan. He knew that he was heading for Jerusalem where he would be crucified and raised again on the third day.

Jesus warned Israel that they would be forsaken and would not see the coming of their Messiah until they recognized and acknowledged Jesus as Savior and Lord (Matthew 21:19-21). That is in fact what has happened. The Jews are not irrevocably “lost,” but must accept salvation through Jesus Christ.

The Jews are in the same situation as “professing” Christians; they claim God as their Lord, but do not trust and obey Jesus because they refuse to acknowledge him as their Messiah (“Christ;” the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word Messiah). If they knew God they would have recognized Jesus as God's Son (John 8:19; 14:7-9; Matthew 11:27).

Many Jews today have fallen away from faith in God because of the “holocaust,” their great tribulation of World War II. They can't believe that God would allow that to happen to them, as if God was obligated to spare them because they were keeping the Law of Moses. They ask, “where was God during the holocaust?” Where were they during Jesus' crucifixion (Matthew 27:22-25)? Jesus' blood shed on the cross will condemn the unbeliever but will save all who will accept it by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.

In a sense we are all guilty of crucifying Jesus because we have all sinned (disobeyed God's Word) and fall short of God's righteousness (Romans 3:23) and made his sacrifice on the cross necessary for our forgiveness and salvation (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right). The Jews are no more guilty than anyone. We can be grateful that Jesus came and died as the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God for the complete forgiveness of all our sins. All we need to do is to claim our salvation by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

2 Lent - Monday C
First posted March 1, 2010
Podcast: 2 Lent Monday C

Psalm 126 – Restore our Fortunes, Lord;

Remember when the Lord restored the fortunes (or brought back those who returned to Zion); we thought we were dreaming. We were filled with laughter and shouts of joy. The nations (Gentiles; non-believers) realized that the Lord had done great things for us, for indeed he has.

Restore our fortunes again, O Lord! May we be like rivers in the Negeb (a desert region south of Israel)! “May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy! He that goes forth weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him” (Psalm 126:5-6).

Commentary:

The psalmist recalled past times when the Lord had restored his people. One of the great memorable saving acts of the Lord was in keeping his promise to bring back the Exiles from Babylon and restore them to the Promised Land after seventy years, as Jeremiah had prophesied (Jeremiah 25:11-12). Who would have imagined that Cyrus of Persia would conquer Babylon and allow the Exiles, the remnant of Israel, to return to their homeland. Even more amazingly, he returned the precious sacred vessels of gold, silver and bronze, which were looted from the temple by the armies of Nebuchadnezzar. Cyrus also gave them money and aid from the provincial governors to rebuild the temple and the walls of Jerusalem!

When we trust and obey God, he will show us his power and faithfulness to restore and bless us. Through our daily walk through life, he causes our faith to grow, building on what he has done for us in the past. He wants us to live in trust and obedience to his Word, so that he can show us his help and salvation. When trouble comes, we can recall his great saving help in the past. New believers can read the testimonies of believers of old recorded in the Psalms and find hope and encouragement.

The Lord uses the trials of life to discipline and teach us. When we choose to do our own will instead of seeking God's will, like the Judeans had done, resulting in the Exile, he lifts his favor and protection from us and allows us to experience the consequences of willfulness and disobedience, in the hope that we will realize our need for God's help and protection.

Streams of water flowing in the desert transform barren land into lush landscape (Isaiah 41:18). It is water that gives life to the wilderness. Jesus is the source of spiritual “living water” (John 4:10). The “baptism” (gift; anointing; infilling) of the Holy Spirit is the “artesian spring” of water welling up to eternal life (John 4:13-14). Only Jesus gives the “baptism” (gift; anointing) of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is given to transform Jesus' disciples from barrenness to bountiful productivity; to be a river flowing through us and out into the wilderness of this lifetime, bringing true life to others (John 7:38-39).

We are all born into this world physically alive but spiritually unborn. This lifetime is our opportunity to seek, find and have fellowship with God our creator (Acts 17:26-27) and this is only possible through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. This lifetime is our only opportunity to be “born-again” to spiritual, eternal life.

Jesus came into this world to give true eternal life. Jesus is the only way to know divine eternal truth, the only way to be forgiven and restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin (disobedience of God's Word), the only way to true eternal life (John 14:6). We are spiritually “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Jesus has commanded his disciples to go into all the world, only after they have been “born-again” (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4:5, 8), and make “born-again” disciples, baptizing them in the name of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit (the Trinity) and teaching them to trust and obey all that Jesus teaches (The Great Commission; Matthew 28:19-20).

New believers are to stay in the Church (the “New Jerusalem”) being “discipled” by “born again” disciples until they have received the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Christ's Great Commission cannot be accomplished by our own human power and ability, but only by the guidance and empowerment of the Holy Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). “Born-again” disciples can only be made by “born-again” disciples. How can someone who doesn't know what he's missing and doesn't know how to get it to help someone else?

The world hated Jesus and cannot be expected to treat his disciples any better (John 15:18-19). Christians have to expect to sow the seed of the Gospel with tears, but will bring home the spiritual harvest with shouts of joy. I personally testify that it will cost Christian disciples tears and sorrows to proclaim the Gospel, but the Lord is with us through them, and we will also experience great joy along the way.

How is the Church doing? In many instances the nominal Church is failing to require discipleship and to make disciples. Sadly, too many instances nominal Church leaders are unregenerate (not “born-again"). If the Church isn't led by “born-again” disciples, it cannot make “born-again” disciples from whom to draw “born-again” leaders. Too often the Church has settled for making members and building buildings.

The place for us to start to change this is to commit ourselves to being obedient trusting disciples of Jesus Christ. We should read the Bible entirely so that we have some idea what it does and doesn't contain (See Free Bible Study Tools, sidebar top right). That way we can guard ourselves against false teachings (see False Teachings, sidebar, top right). Then we should begin to apply Jesus' teachings in our daily lives. If we seek the Lord he will allow himself to be found by us (Deuteronomy 4:29; 1 Chronicles 28:9; John 14:21). Be guided by God's Word one day at a time (Matthew 6:11, 34), with prayer and meditation; and pray to seek and be guided to a Bible believing, Bible teaching congregation that emphasizes discipleship and spiritual growth.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

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In the American Colonial era Congregational Church, “Prior to 1662, membership in the church required 'regeneration' and credible testimony of a specific conversion experience.”* I think that would not be a bad idea today. People could attend, but could not become leaders until they could convince the church board of their conversion and regeneration.

*1st Great Awakening "A DRAMATIC REVIVAL: THE FIRST GREAT AWAKENING IN CONNECTICUT" (scroll to sub head 2, paragraph 3).

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2 Lent - Tuesday C
First posted March 3, 2010
Podcast: 2 Lent Tuesday C

Exodus 3:1-8b, (10-15) – The Burning Bush;

Background:

Moses had been raised by a daughter of Pharaoh, but he identified with the Israelites. As an adult, he intervened in a dispute between an Egyptian taskmaster and an Israelite, and killed the Egyptian. So Moses was forced to flee for refuge in the desert with the Midianites (distant relatives of Israel; Genesis 25:1-2), where he married a daughter of Jethro, the priest of Midian.

Exodus:

Moses was herding his father-in-laws flocks in the vicinity of Horeb (Sinai), the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to Moses “in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush” (Exodus 3:2a). The bush appeared to be on fire, but was not consumed. Moses went for a closer look and the Lord called him by name and told him to take off his shoes because the place where Moses stood was holy. God identified himself as the God of the patriarchs of Israel: Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Moses covered his eyes because he was afraid to look at God.

God told Moses that he had seen the suffering of Gods people in Egypt and had come down to Moses to deliver them from slavery and to deliver them to a good and broad land flowing with milk and honey...

God told Moses that he was sending Moses to Pharaoh to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt. Moses objected, saying that he was not equal to the task. But God told Moses that God would be with him, and as a sign that Moses had been sent by God, Moses would serve God upon Mt. Horeb, when the people of Israel had been led out of Egypt.

Moses again raised an objection, saying that, if questioned, he did not know the name of the God of the fathers of Israel. God said, “I AM who I AM.” God told Moses to tell the people of Israel that I AM had sent him to them. God told Moses that God was to be known through all generations as the Lord, the God of the fathers of Israel, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Commentary:

Moses is intended by God to be a forerunner and illustration of the promised Messiah (“Christ;” both mean “anointed” in Hebrew and Greek, respectively). Moses was a shepherd of his father-in-laws flocks who was called by God to be the “shepherd” of the people of Israel, to lead them out of bondage in Egypt, and into the land which God promised to give them. (David, the great human shepherd-king of Israel is another forerunner and illustration of the promised Messiah.)

The Exodus of Israel from Egypt is intended by God to be a parable, a metaphor, for the meaning and purpose of life in this world. We are all in bondage to sin and death in the “Egypt” of this present world order. Satan is “Pharaoh,” the present ruler of this world; Jesus is the “Moses” whom God sent, to lead us out of “bondage” to sin and death, through the “Sea” of baptism into Jesus Christ, through the wilderness of this lifetime, guided by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the “pillar of cloud and fire.” Jesus is the “Joshua” (“Jesus” means Jehovah the Savior, “Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua) who leads us through the “river” of physical death (without getting our feet wet; i.e., without being affected; Joshua 3:12-13, 17), and into the eternal “Promised Land” of paradise restored in Gods kingdom in heaven.

God revealed himself to Moses in the supernaturally “burning” bush. God reveals himself to us in the “burning bush,” the “pillar of fire” of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11; Luke 3:16; Acts 2:1-4; compare Exodus 13:21-22; see Personal Testimonies, sidebar, top right, home). He calls us to lead others who are in bondage to sin and death into the eternal kingdom of God by faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ.

The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of God, the Spirit of Christ (Romans 8:9). Only Jesus gives the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a personally discernible, ongoing, daily experience. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

The Holy Spirit is “holy” (completely sinless; wholly consecrated to Gods will and service). We cannot enter into the presence of the Lord by the Holy Spirit except as we are spiritually cleansed by the blood of Jesus, his blood sacrifice on the cross. We must put on the forgiveness and salvation provided by Christ through faith (obedient trust), as Moses had to remove his shoes representing his sinful nature.

The baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit, is the requirement for spiritual “rebirth” to eternal life (John 3:3, 5-8), which we must have in order to see Gods eternal kingdom all around us now, and to see and enter it in eternity. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is the requirement we must have to carry on the Gospel (good news of forgiveness of sin and salvation from eternal condemnation), the mission of Christ in the world (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:4-5, 8).

We cannot carry out the mission of Christ in our own human strength and understanding, but only by the power of the Holy Spirit within and through us (Zechariah 4:6). The Holy Spirit gives Jesus’ disciples what to say at the moment it is needed (Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11-12). It is only possible for us to truly praise, glorify and worship the Lord by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3; Romans 8:15-16).

God promised to be with Moses, and that Moses would serve God on Mt. Horeb, as a sign that Moses had been called and sent by God. When we begin to trust and obey Gods Word, we receive the fulfillment of his promises. The Lord is with “born-again” Christians through the baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit. We will fulfill the ministry he has called us to, as a sign for ourselves and others that we have been called by God.

God is the only true God there is; he is, always was and always will be. He will be known personally by all generations who accept him as Lord, and trust and obey his Word, in the Bible and in the teachings and example of Jesus Christ, the “living Word,” fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus is God in human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

2 Lent - Wednesday C
First posted March 3, 2010
Podcast: 2 Lent Wednesday C

1 Corinthians 10:1-13 – Warning Against Overconfidence;

Remember that our (spiritual) ancestors were all baptized into Moses in the cloud (the visible presence of the Holy Spirit; Exodus 13:21) and in the sea (of baptism), and all ate the same supernatural food (manna; Exodus 16:4, 15) and drank the same supernatural drink (water from the Rock; Numbers 20:7-11; The Rock prefigured the Christ). But participation in these elements was not enough to save them, as they died in the wilderness.

These things are recorded as warnings for us. We must not desire evil as they did. The Bible records that the people participated in idolatrous worship with feasting and dancing (or laughing; celebration; Exodus 32:4-6). We must not indulge in immorality (Numbers 25:6-9). We must not test the Lord (Numbers 21:5-6). We must not complain against the Lord (Numbers 16:14, 49). All those who did these things were destroyed in the wilderness. “Now these things happened to them as a warning, but they were written down for our instruction, unto whom the climax of God's eternal plan has been revealed. Let us not be overly confident in our security; when we think we're secure, we are in danger of stumbling. Temptations are common to all people. God is faithful and will not allow us to be tempted beyond our ability to resist. He will provide a way to escape from the temptation, so that we can endure it.

Commentary:

Mere participation in Church rites, such as baptism, the Lord's Supper (Holy Communion; the Eucharist), Church membership or participation in public worship, do not assure our salvation.

God's Word is not only the historical record of God's dealing with Israel, but is also intended to be a metaphor for life in this world. The central example is God's saving act of bringing his people out of slavery in Egypt and into the Promised Land.

Jesus is the “Moses” who brings us out of slavery to sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10) and death (Romans 6:23) by Satan, who is “Pharaoh” in “Egypt,” through the “sea” of baptism into Jesus, through the “wilderness” journey of this lifetime, where we are to learn to trust and obey God, through the “river” of physical death, and into the Promised Land of God's eternal kingdom in heaven. The indwelling “baptism” of the Holy Spirit is the pillar of cloud and fire which is given to lead us through the wilderness. Christ is the Rock, the solid foundation (Matthew 7:24-27) and source of “living water” (John 4:10; 7:38-39).

“Manna” foreshadows the “bread” from heaven, Jesus Christ, whose flesh became the spiritual sacrificial feast of Holy Communion. The wine of Communion is the supernatural drink which corresponds to the water from the Rock in the wilderness.

Under the Law of Moses, Jews were forbidden to drink blood (Leviticus 3:17), because it was believed that its blood contained the spirit, the life, of the animal. God doesn't want us to be filled with the spirits of animals, he wants us to be filled with his spirit!

Jesus came to be the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God to cleanse us of all sin, so that we can individually become temples of the Holy Spirit. Only Jesus “baptizes” with the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

The “baptism” of the Holy Spirit is the spiritual “rebirth” which we must have (John 3:3, 5-8) to have eternal life, to see the kingdom of God all around us now, and to enter it ultimately in heaven, after this lifetime. Jesus is the only way to be saved from God's eternal condemnation for sin (Acts 4:12; Colossians 2:8-9). Jesus is the only way to know divine eternal truth, the only way to be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin, and the only way to true eternal life (John 14:6; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).

John the Baptizer called people to be baptized with water for repentance, to prepare them to receive Jesus Christ. Jesus' disciples continued the ministry of water baptism of John for the same reason. Jesus himself did not baptize anyone with water (John 4:2). The Church is the heir to the ministry of John the Baptizer. We are to call people to repent and be baptized with water in preparation for them to receive Jesus Christ and the baptism of the indwelling Holy Spirit which only Jesus gives.

God has given us his Word in the Bible and in Jesus Christ, the “living Word,” fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in human flesh in this world (John 1:1-5, 14).

This lifetime is our opportunity to seek, find, and have fellowship with God, our Creator (Acts 19:2). God wants to be found by us. He has been progressively revealing himself to us, first through the goodness and complexity of nature, then through his Word, the Bible, then through Jesus Christ to the world, and ultimately and personally through the indwelling Holy Spirit to his disciples.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

2 Lent - Thursday C
First posted March 4, 2010
Podcast: 2 Lent Thursday C

Luke 13:1-9 -- Repentance;

People think that human suffering is a sign of God's condemnation for evil. Jesus refuted that idea, but warned that all who persist in unrepentance will suffer a similar fate. Others suffered physical disaster at the collapse of a tower in Siloam (a section of Jerusalem), but the spiritual consequence depends upon their spiritual condition.

Jesus used a parable, a fictional story of common worldly experience, to teach spiritual truth. A landowner planted a fig tree on his property, and for three years he came to gather his fruit, but the tree had not produced any figs. So the landowner told his groundskeeper to remove the unproductive tree. The groundskeeper suggested that he cultivate and fertilize it for another year; then if the tree still failed to produce fruit he would remove it.

Commentary:

Human suffering is not an accurate indicator of spiritual condition. Often the righteous suffer while the unrighteous seem to thrive. But physical suffering is far better than spiritual punishment. Physical suffering is for a brief moment, but spiritual punishment is for eternity.

I'm truly amazed at people who cannot detect insincerity in others. I conclude that those who are themselves insincere have lost their objective standard.

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

2 Lent - Friday C
First posted March 5, 2010
Podcast: 2 Lent Friday C

Ephesians 5:1-9 – Christian Lifestyle;

Let us live according to God's righteousness, like children following their father's example. Let us follow the example of Christ's love for us, who sacrificed himself as a fragrant offering to God.

We should not even think or mention immorality, impurity or covetousness (idolatry) among us, as is the duty of saints (those who are consecrated to God's service). Let us not participate in obscenity, foolishness or vulgar humor; these are inappropriate for us. Instead let thankfulness reign in us. Know with certainty that no immoral, sinful or covetous (idolatrous) person can have any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Don't be deceived by anyone with false words, because it is by these things that God's wrath is coming upon the children of disobedience. So don't have fellowship with them. We were once in spiritual darkness but have now received the light of divine, eternal truth (John14:17), righteousness (John 3:19-21) and spiritual enlightenment (John 1:9) from the Lord (and light produces fruit which is good, right and true).

Commentary:

God has always intended, from the beginning of Creation to establish an eternal kingdom of his people who willingly choose to trust and obey God. God has designed this Creation from the very beginning to accomplish that eternal purpose. He has intentionally designed this world to not be eternal; this world and we ourselves are limited by time.

God designed this world to allow for the possibility of sin (disobedience of God's Word), so that we would be free to choose whether to trust and obey God's Word or not. But God is not willing to tolerate rebellion and disobedience forever. God designed Creation so that we are all guilty of sin (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10; Galatians 3:22), so that he can give us forgiveness and salvation as a free gift (“grace;” Romans 5:8; Ephesians 2:8-9; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right), not because any of us deserves it. Jesus Christ is God's one and only provision for forgiveness of our sin and our salvation from eternal destruction, designed into Creation from the very beginning (John 1:1-5, 14).

Jesus said that to see and enter the eternal kingdom of God, one must be (spiritually) born-again (John 3:3, 5-8), by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus “baptizes” with the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34), only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

This lifetime is our opportunity to seek and come to know and have fellowship with God our Creator (Acts 17:26-27). This lifetime is our only opportunity to be spiritually “reborn” to eternal life. These goals can only be accomplished through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way to know divine eternal truth, the only way to be restored to fellowship with God which was broken by sin (disobedience of God's Word) and the only way to have eternal life (John 14:6).

This lifetime is our opportunity to learn to know, trust and obey God's Word. This lifetime is our opportunity to learn to live according to God's standard of righteousness recorded in the Bible, and demonstrated in Jesus Christ.

Jesus warned that it is not those who claim to be Jesus' disciples but those who trust and obey God's Word who are Jesus' disciples (Matthew 7:21-27: Luke 6:46).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?

2 Lent - Saturday C
First posted March 6, 2010
Podcast: 2 Lent Saturday C

Luke 11:14-26 – Source of Jesus' Power;

Jesus cast out a demon who had caused a person to be mute; when the demon was cast out the man spoke and people were amazed. But some said that Jesus was casting out demons by Beelzebul, the prince of demons, and others wanted a sign from heaven as proof that Jesus' power was of God. Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he said that a kingdom or house divided against itself is destroyed. If Satan's kingdom is divided how can he prevail? So how can anyone think that Jesus casts out demons by Beelzebul. If Jesus casts out demons by Beelzebul, by whom did Jewish exorcists cast out demons? The people will be judged by them. But if Jesus cast out demons by the power of God, then the kingdom of God is present among them. When a fully armed strong person guards his house, his belongings are secure. But when one who is stronger overpowers him, and takes away his armor in which he trusts, the stronger man can take whatever he wants. Jesus declared that whoever does not join with Jesus is working against him, and those who do not gather, scatter.

When an evil spirit is cast out of a person, the spirit will have difficulty finding another abode and will try to return to the abode he had. His former abode will be much more attractive because it has been cleaned and set in order. Then the demon will invite seven other demons more evil than he, and the last state of the person will be worse than the first.

Commentary:

Jesus' miracles of physical healing and feeding were intended to show that he can also heal and feed spiritually. The mute man's disability was a physical manifestation of a spiritual condition.

We all have a spiritual disability, a terminal illness called sin (disobedience of God's Word; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin is eternal death (Romans 6:23). Only Jesus can heal us spiritually (Romans 5:8; John 3:16-17; Acts 4:12; see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar top right).

Jesus can heal, cleanse and set us in order spiritually, but we must then resist temptation to sin again. Otherwise our final state will be worse than our first. Those who have been cleansed and have experienced the goodness of God's Word and the joy of the the Lord's presence through the indwelling Holy Spirit cannot be restored if they then return to sin (Hebrews 6:4-6).

The Jews kept asking Jesus for a sign so that they could know with certainty that he was from God. Jesus had done numerous signs, like this healing, but the people refused to accept them. For people who demand proof in order to believe in Jesus, there is none, but, for those who believe, there is abundant proof (John 6:68-69).

The Bible reveals God's nature and character to us. Jesus is the revelation of God in human flesh to the world (John 14:7-11; Colossians 2:8-9). We can first know Jesus through the New Testament history of his physical ministry, and through the testimony of his disciples who knew him during his physical ministry. Anyone who concludes that Jesus was motivated and empowered by evil condemns himself to eternal destruction (John 3:17-18), because Jesus is the only one by whom we can be saved (Acts 4:12).

Jesus came to bring forgiveness, salvation from eternal condemnation, and eternal life to all who will trust and obey him. Those who accept him as Lord and Savior will carry on Jesus' mission to the world, guided and empowered by the “baptism” (gift; anointing; infilling) of the indwelling Holy Spirit. Only Jesus “baptizes” with the Holy Spirit (John 1:31-34) only his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that one is in Christ and has eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).

Those who accept Jesus as Lord and trust and obey him will experience the truth and goodness of God's Word. Those who do not accept Jesus as Lord, who don't trust and obey him are working for evil. Even those who call themselves “Christians” and call Jesus their Lord but fail to obey him are working against the kingdom of God (Matthew 7:21-23).

Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus' disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?