Week of 12 Pentecost - C - August 15 - 21, 2010

Week of 12 Pentecost - 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 (Please bookmark this link).

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 and Panopreter Basic text-to-speech are available at:

http://shepboy.snow.prohosting.com/dw_bible2/C%20Year/wklx_c.html

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.

This entry is a test incorporating the texts with the citations, useful, I hope, to readers, and particularly valuable to podcast listeners.

Podcast Download: Week of - 12 Pentecost - C

Sunday - 12 Pentecost - C
First Posted August 15, 2010;
Podcast: Sunday - 12 Pentecost - C

Genesis 15:1-6 – The Covenant with Abraham;
Psalm 33 – Praise to Our Creator;
Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16 – Examples of Faith;
Luke 12:32-40 – On Watchfulness;

Genesis Paraphrase:

After Abraham (Abram) had rescued his nephew, Lot, from King Chedorlaomer and his three allies (Genesis 14:1-16), and his encounter with Melchizedek, King of Salem and Priest of God (Genesis 14:17-24), Abraham had a vision through which he received the Word of God. God promised to be Abraham's shield, and that Abraham's reward would be very great. But Abraham asked the Lord what the Lord would give him, since he was still childless, and his only heir would be his slave and steward, Eliezer of Damascus. But the Lord promised that Abraham's own son, not Eliezer, would be his heir. Then the Lord took him outside and showed him the night sky. The Lord told Abraham that his descendants would be as vastly innumerable as the stars in the sky. “And he believed the Lord; and he [the Lord] reckoned it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6).

Psalm Paraphrase:

Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord! The praise of the upright is fitting. Let us praise the Lord with the accompaniment of stringed instruments. Sing to him a new song with skillful stringed accompaniment, and with loud shouts! The Lord's Word is upright, and all his deeds are done in faithfulness. He delights in righteousness and justice, and the Lord's steadfast love fills the earth.

The heavens were made by the Lord's Word; by his breath all the living creatures were created. He restrained the waters as in a bottle, and the deeps as in storehouses.

Fear the Lord, all the earth; let everyone on earth be in awe of him! What he spoke came into existence; at his command it stood forth. He brings to nothing, all the counsel of the nations; he frustrates the peoples' plans. The Lord's counsel stands for ever. His meditations will endure through all generations. “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage” (Psalm 33:12). From heaven the Lord sees all the descendants of mankind. From his throne he looks forth upon all the inhabitants of the earth, and sees their deeds. “A king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. The war horse is a vain hope for victory, and by its great might it cannot save” (Psalm 33:16-17).

Look and see, the Lord watches over those who fear him and rely on his steadfast love, in order to deliver their souls from death and sustain them during famine.

The Lord is our help and shield; let our souls wait patiently for the Lord. Let us trust in his holy name (his total person and character), so that we can rejoice in him. May his steadfast love be upon us as we hope in him.

Hebrews Paraphrase:

One aspect of faith is confidence that we will receive what we hope for, the certainty of things unseen. Our forefathers received the Lord's approval because they had faith in him. By faith, we believe that the universe was created by God's Word. What is visible has been created from what is unseen.

When the Lord called Abraham to go to a place he had never seen, which was going to be his inheritance, he obeyed, not knowing where he was going. He lived in tents in the land like a sojourner, with his son Isaac and grandson Jacob, who were his heirs, because he anticipated the (heavenly) city, built on foundations (unlike tents). Because Sarah believed that the Lord is faithful, she received the ability to conceive and bear a child after she was past the age of childbearing. So from one old man (and woman) near the ends of their lives, were born descendants as numerous as the stars in heaven, or the grains of sand on the beach.

These all died in faith, not having received what had been promised, but having seen and greeted it in a vision of the future. They acknowledged that they were just passing through in this world, and were seeking a better homeland. They could have returned to their ancestral home if they had chosen to, but they sought a better, heavenly, homeland. So the Lord is not ashamed to be their God, and he has prepared an eternal city for them.

Luke Paraphrase:

Jesus told his disciples not to be afraid, because it is God the Father's pleasure to give them the kingdom of heaven. We should sell [excess] possessions, and make donations for the poor. Then we will have purses that don't wear out and heavenly bank accounts that do not fail, where there are no thieves, and there is no wasting away as by moth. Our hearts will be tied down wherever we store our treasure.

We must be prepared, like servants waiting for their master's return from a wedding banquet, clothed and with lamps lit, so that they can open the door immediately when he comes and knocks. Those servants will be blessed, and their master will serve them their dinner. If he comes in the middle of the night (between 9:00 pm and 3:00 am), and finds them ready, they will be blessed. But remember that if a homeowner knew when a thief was coming, he would be prepared and would not let his house be broken into and robbed. So we also must be ready, because because Christ's return will be at an hour we do not expect.

Commentary:

God had promised to make of Abraham's descendants a great nation, and promised to give his descendants a country for their inheritance (Genesis 12:1-3). Abraham went to the new land God showed him and was now living in the Promised Land as a foreigner, without possessing the land, and he still had no heir to inherit the promise. The Lord reaffirmed his promise to Abraham and gave him a “visual aid:” the stars of the night sky.

God's Word is absolutely faithful and true. In fact, the test of God's Word is its fulfillment (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). God wants us to trust his Word, in the Bible, and in Jesus Christ, the “living Word” (John 1:1-5, 14) so that he can show us his faithfulness, and thereby cause our faith in him to grow.

God doesn't always fulfill his promises immediately. We need to learn to wait patiently for his fulfillment. It is a lesson we need to practice and learn by experience.

The only real security we can have in this world is faith (obedient trust in the Lord. No matter what we do, we cannot protect ourselves against every worldly trouble. Security always requires more material and human resources than we possess. In Jesus Christ, we can be assured that he can bring us through whatever befalls us, even physical death. He wants us to rely on him so that we can learn that he is powerful and able and willing to deliver us from every trial. As we put our faith and hope in him we will personally experience his steadfast love.

Faith is not getting whatever we believe if we believe “hard enough.” Faith is obedient trust in God's Word. As we do so we will grow in confidence in his Word. The kingdom of God is all around us, unseen. We are unable to see it except by faith (1 Corinthians 2:12-14). The Lord is near to each one of us, and he promises that when we begin to trust and obey him, he will reveal himself to us (John 14:15-17). We can't see him physically, but we can experience him spiritually, and know with certainty that he is the risen and ascended Jesus (1 John 4:1-2).

When I was first learning to walk with the Lord I had to learn to give up worldly confidence and worldly security. We're so used to instant answers and information by phone or computer; it is hard to wait for the Lord to answer. I had to resist phoning my pastor for advice so that I could receive the Lord's guidance.

Some things the Lord may lead us to do seem contrary to worldly wisdom, like when Abraham obeyed the Lord to leave his ancestral home to go to a new, unknown land. Please note that the Lord will never ask us to do anything to harm ourselves or others; if you think he is, you got it wrong! He isn't going to tell us to throw ourselves in front of a bus, for instance. But we need to learn from experience that his guidance is trustworthy and true.

Many, particularly in America, have closets, garages and storage lockers full of stuff they don't use or need, while others are doing without. At times I have felt really burdened with possessions that were deteriorating or were no longer useful. Have a garage sale; donate to Church-run charities. God created this world with enough resources for everyone. The reason for poverty is unjust distribution of resources. Some have more than they need; while others lack.

Jesus has promised to return and take his disciples to be with him forever in his eternal kingdom (1 Thessalonians 4:15-18). We should be ready for his return at any moment.

I truly believe that Christ's return is imminent. America and the American Church are the New Israel, the New Promised Land, and the New Jerusalem, the New City of God on earth. America and the nominal Church, at least in America are in much the same position as Israel and Judaism at the time of Christ's first coming. The temple had been corrupted by secular interests (Luke 19:45-46); the priests and leaders had forgotten they were to be stewards of God's people, and the priesthood had become a means of social status and power (Luke 20:46-47).

In many nominal churches today, ministry is a “career choice,” and churches are being run as personal empires for the leadership, for status and power. In too many instances secular influences have invaded the Church. America and the Church are urgently in need of revival. If Christ returns right now, are we any more ready for his return than the Jews were prepared for his first coming?

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)?

Monday - 12 Pentecost - C
First Posted August 16, 2010;
Podcast: Monday - 12 Pentecost - C

Psalm 82 – God's Judgment on Idolatry;

Background:

In antiquity it was believed that the earth was ruled by a council of gods. The psalmist visualized the Lord God standing in the midst of the council and judging the other members for ruling unjustly.

Psalm Paraphrase:

In the midst of the divine council, God has declared judgment on the others for judging unjustly and showing partiality to the wicked.

Let the rulers of earth give justice to the weak and fatherless, and uphold the rights of the afflicted and destitute. May they rescue the weak and needy and deliver them from the power of the wicked.

All the rulers of earth are children of God; God's Word declares them gods (idols; compare John 10:34). They will all die like any other people, and will fall like any other prince.

“Arise, O God, judge the earth; for to thee belong all the nations” (Psalm 82:8)

Commentary:

The world is ruled by a council of “gods.” Satan is present ruler of this world. Earthly rulers are regarded as above ordinary people, but they are children of God because he is their Creator. They are all mortal; the Lord is the one and only true God.

Earthly leaders will ultimately be accountable to God for their performance of their duties. I don't have to look very far to find leaders who show partiality to the wicked and deny justice to the poor, weak and afflicted.

They have power and wealth now for a short time, but they will ultimately be accountable to God. Note well that those leaders who have shown partiality to the rich and powerful, and have denied justice to the poor, weak and afflicted will be condemned to eternal destruction in Hell with all evil. That includes governors and legislators who deny healthcare and financial aid to poor and disadvantaged children!

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)?

Tuesday - 12 Pentecost - C
First Posted August 17, 2010;
Podcast: Tuesday - 12 Pentecost - C

Jeremiah 23:23-29 – False Prophets;

Paraphrase:

God is both the God who is nearby, but also the God who is omnipresent (present everywhere at once), so there is nowhere one can go that God can't find and see him. God's presence fills heaven and earth. God is aware of the prophets who tell lies in his name, saying that they have had divine revelation in a dream! How long will lying prophets continue to prophesy lies from their deceitful hearts; who think they can cause God's people to forget God's name (his whole character and person), like their fathers who forgot the name of God in exchange for Ba'al?

Let the prophet who has had a dream tell his dream, but let the prophet who has the Word of God declare it faithfully. The prophet's messages will be like straw compared with wheat. God's Word is like fire and like a sledgehammer which breaks rock!

Commentary:

We cannot do anything that we know is wrong and hope that God won't find out. God knows the inner motives of our hearts. We can fool people by outward appearance, but we can't fool God.

The Word of God is unlike the word of mankind. God's Word has creative power (Genesis 1:3). “The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Jesus is the Word of God, fulfilled, embodied and exemplified in human flesh in this world (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus' word is the Word of God, with the creative power of God's Word (Mark 4:39-41; Compare Genesis 1: 9).

Jesus is Truth (John 14:6). We cannot come to Jesus without being truthful, inwardly and outwardly. Often we don't want to acknowledge, confess, and hear truth, but unless we do we cannot receive Jesus.

There are many false prophets in the world today (Matthew 24:24; 1 John 4:1). Paul prophesied that the time would come when people would not endure sound teaching, but would choose to be taught by teachers who would make them feel good about themselves (2 Timothy 4:3-4). That time has long since come!

The difference between the Word of God and the imagination of false prophets is like wheat and straw, but can we tell the difference? Straw would make one feel full, but has no nutritional value, and cannot sustain life, whereas one can live on wheat. Are we willing to hear truth even if it makes us uncomfortable?

There are plenty of examples of “prophets” in the nominal Church today who tell “dreams,” to make people “feel good.” There are many examples of nominal church “members” who have the outward appearance, but not the inner commitment, of discipleship by 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)?

Wednesday - 12 Pentecost - C
First Posted August 18, 2010;
Podcast: Wednesday - 12 Pentecost - C

Hebrews 12:1-13 – Spiritual Discipline;

Paraphrase:

We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, an audience of those believers who have successfully competed in discipleship before us (Hebrews 11:1-40). Now we are like athletes competing for a goal, so we must put aside those things which would interfere with our performance, and pursue with perseverance the testing which has been given us.

Let us keep our eyes upon Jesus who is the pioneer (the one who showed us the way) and perfecter of (who demonstrated perfect) faith (spiritual maturity). He despised the shame of the cross, but he endured it because of the glory that was to be his through it. As the result, he has been enthroned in heaven at the right hand of God. Let us remember the hatred that he endured. Then we, by comparison, will not get tired or give up. After all, we have not resisted to the point of actually shedding our own blood.

And don't forget that God's Word addresses us a sons. The anonymous author of this Letter to the Hebrews quotes Proverbs 3:11-12, teaching that God's discipline and punishment is that of a loving father intended to bring us to spiritual maturity.

We must endure for the sake of discipline. God is treating us as his children. What good earthly father doesn't discipline his children? We have all participated in discipline; if we go undisciplined then we are illegitimate, not true children of God. Our earthly fathers disciplined us and we respected them. Shouldn't we be much more subject to our spiritual father and have eternal life? Our earthly fathers disciplined us for a short time as they pleased, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we can share in his holiness. At the time all discipline is painful; but eventually it results in righteousness in people who are trained by it.

“Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your week knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed” (Hebrews 12:12-13).

Commentary:

A Christian is by definition a disciple of Jesus Christ (Acts 11:26c). Discipleship involves discipline. We must be willing to give up what we want, in order to do what the Lord wants us to do.

Disciples are like athletes in training. We must be willing to give up anything that will interfere with our performance. Discipleship requires effort and endurance in order to reach the goal and win the reward.

Jesus is our “Coach.” He underwent the same discipline we face, but to the maximum extreme, and he won the championship! The testing we face is not nearly as difficult as his. We can trust his guidance and follow his example of submission to discipline and his perseverance. When we experience suffering and abuse for the sake of the Gospel, let us remember what Jesus suffered. Then our own suffering will be endurable and we will persevere.

Disciples are like athletes, performing in the world arena, surrounded by a crowd of fans and spectators. Our fans are those disciples who have successfully competed in discipleship before us. Worldly spectators may “boo” and taunt us, but our fans cheer us on.

When I first was learning to be a disciple, I became involved in Social Ministry (concern for the poor and needy) in my congregation, and conducted a back-to-school free clothing exchange. As we set up and opened, I had the distinct sensation of being watched and rooted for by a cloud of successful disciples who had gone on to heaven.

When we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord we become adopted children of God. Discipleship is the process by which we are taught to be God's children. Discipleship is not optional. We either are disciples, or we are illegitimate; “church members,” perhaps, but not authentic Christians.

Unfortunately in many nominal Churches today including mainline denominations, these Churches have failed to make disciples, and have settled for making "members." In fact, some Churches have actually discouraged discipleship by teaching what Dietrich Bonhoeffer called "Cheap Grace:" The teaching of Salvation by Grace (unmerited favor; which is true), but without the requirement of discipleship and obedient trust in Jesus' teachings (which is false). Some Churches actually discourage their members from seeking spiritual "rebirth" by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, by teaching that the Holy Spirit is automatically conferred at water baptism; see False Teachings, "Cheap Grace" and Spiritual rebirth, sidebar, right).

The only way we can show love and gratitude to Jesus and God the Father for what they have done for us in Jesus Christ is by our obedient trust of God's Word in the Bible, and fulfilled, embodied, and exemplified in Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5, 14). Jesus taught that his disciples are those who do what he teaches (Luke 6:46; Matthew 7:21-27). Jesus promises to reveal himself to and abide with his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17; 21), and he does this by the “baptism” of the indwelling Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34).

By the baptism of the Holy Spirit, his disciples are “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) to eternal life. Then the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the risen Jesus (Romans 8:9), “disciples” us to spiritual maturity. He helps us understand the Bible scriptures (Luke 24:32, 45). He teaches us all things and recalls to our memory all that Jesus taught during Jesus' physical ministry on earth (John 14:25-26). The Holy Spirit will help us to know and do God's will for us personally, will give us the resources to endure discipline and accomplish accomplish our mission in Jesus Christ. 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).

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)?

Thursday - 12 Pentecost - C
First Posted August 19, 2010;
Podcast: Thursday - 12 Pentecost - C

Luke 12:49-53 – The End of the Age;

Paraphrase:

Jesus said that he had come to cast fire (judgment) upon the earth, and he wished that it had already begun. Jesus had a “baptism” (a commission; a command from God; his crucifixion) to be carried out, and he felt constrained (bound; having to endure trials) until his commission had been accomplished. Jesus knew and declared that his mission was not to bring peace on earth, but division. Households would be divided: some for and some against Jesus; father versus son, mother versus daughter, mother-in-law versus daughter-in-law.

Commentary:

Baptism is a covenant between the candidate and God. In infant baptism the covenant is between the parents and God on the candidate's behalf, to be “affirmed” (“confirmed”) by the candidate when the candidate reaches the age of informed consent.

Jesus did not baptize with water; only his disciples did (John 4:2). The Church is the heir to the water baptism of John the Baptizer, for repentance and spiritual cleansing, to prepare people to receive Jesus (John 3:1-6) by the “baptism” of the Holy Spirit, which only Jesus gives (John 1:31-34), only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17). By the baptism of the Holy Spirit we are spiritually “born-again” to eternal life. Jesus did not baptize with water; only his disciples did (John 4:2).

Jesus had to endure and persevere in excruciating (the word itself refers to) suffering of the cross, in order to fulfill the commission he had been given by God. There were many things that he personally would rather not have had to do, but he was obligated to fulfill God's will and commission.

Jesus knew that his coming would cause division even among the closest of relationships. The vast majority of his own people refused to welcome and receive him, and demanded his crucifixion (John 1:11; Matthew 27:23-25).

Worldly people hate Jesus because they do evil. Evil is anything contrary to God's Word. Evil is symbolized as spiritual darkness, and righteousness as light (John 3:19). Jesus' coming brought judgment upon the world (John 3:18). We judge ourselves by our response to Jesus.

We are all sinners and fall short of God's standard of righteousness (Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8-10). The penalty for sin (disobedience of God's Word) is eternal death. Jesus is God's only provision for our forgiveness and salvation from eternal destruction. Only as we acknowledge our sinfulness can we receive the forgiveness and salvation which only Jesus provides (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right). The righteousness of Christ is attributed to us by God through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:21-22; 4:4-5).

Jesus has promised to return at the end of the age to judge the living (“quickened”) and the dead, in both physical and spiritual senses (John 5:28-29; 1 Peter 4:5). Those who have accepted Jesus as their Savior and Lord, and have trusted and obeyed his teachings will enter eternal life in heaven with Jesus. Those who have rejected Jesus as their Savior and Lord, who have refused or failed to trust and obey Jesus' teachings will be condemned to eternal death and destruction in hell with all evil (Matthew 25:31-46; 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10).

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)?

Friday - 12 Pentecost - C
First Posted August 20, 2010;
Podcast: Friday - 12 Pentecost - C

2 Corinthians 3:4-11-- New Covenant;

Paraphrase:

Paul's confidence in his ministry of the Gospel was from God through Jesus Christ. Paul didn't claim to be sufficient for the ministry in himself; his sufficiency was from God. It was God who qualified Paul to be a minister of a new covenant. The new covenant is not based on written laws, but upon the Spirit. The written law condemns us to [eternal] death, but the spirit gives [eternal] life.

If the giving of the law of death, carved in stone, came with so much splendor that Moses had to cover his face because of its radiance, although fading, won't the dispensation of the Spirit be accompanied by even greater splendor? If the dispensation of condemnation was accompanied by splendor, won't the dispensation of righteousness exceed it? In that case, what was once considered splendor will have no splendor, in comparison to the splendor which surpasses it. If what faded away was accompanied by splendor, what is unfading must have more splendor.

Commentary:

Paul (Saul of Tarsus) is deliberately intended by God to be the prototype and example of a modern, post-resurrection, “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciple (student) and apostle (messenger; of the Gospel) of Jesus Christ. Paul didn't decide on his own to become a minister of the Gospel, and he didn't learn the Gospel from men or receive authority from men to preach it (Galatians 1:11-12, 15-17). Paul received it directly from Jesus by the “dispensation” (gift; “anointing”) of the Holy Spirit upon him (Acts 9:1-22).

The Old Covenant (Testament) of Law was mediated by Moses (Moses was the intermediary between God and God's People), based on the Law which he received on stone tablets from God on Mt. Sinai (Mt. Horeb). No one can keep all the Law, all the time (James 2:10; Galatians 2:16), so the Old Covenant required constant sacrifices for the forgiveness of sin (disobedience of God's Word; the Law).

Jesus mediates the New Covenant (Testament) of Grace to be received by faith (obedient trust; Ephesians 2:8-9) in Jesus, which he initiated at the Last Supper, on the night of his betrayal and arrest (Matthew 26:26-28). Jesus' death on the cross, once for all time and all people willing to receive it by faith, is now the one and only sacrifice acceptable to God for the forgiveness of sin (see God's Plan of Salvation, sidebar, right, home.

The Lord's Supper was Jesus' last celebration of the Feast of Passover with his disciples. Jesus gave his body to provide the bread, and his blood marks us to be “passed over” by the destroying angel.

Jews were forbidden by the Law from drinking blood, or consuming flesh with its blood (Genesis 9:4). Blood was believed to contain the spirit, the life force, of the animal. The Lord doesn't want us to be filled with the spirit of animals; he wants us to be filled with his Holy Spirit. We are spiritually born-again to eternal life by the dispensation of the Holy Spirit upon us.

The blood sacrifice of Jesus on the cross makes it possible for us to be spiritually cleansed by faith, so that believers can individually and collectively become the temple of the 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).

To receive the Holy Spirit we must be committed to live according to his guidance. If we are obedient to the Holy Spirit, we are no longer obligated to the Law, because we will be able to fulfill the requirements of the Law not from fear but from love (Romans 8:1-11).

When Moses came from meeting with God, on the mountain, or at the tabernacle (portable temple), his face shone with the glory of God's presence, and the people were afraid to see it, so Moses put on a veil until the radiance faded (Exodus 34:33-35). By the Holy Spirit within born-again believers, we experience the presence and glory of God personally, and we reflect that unfading glory in our faces and in our lives.

Unfortunately, in parts of the nominal Church today, “ministry,” for some, is a career choice rather than the call of the Lord; they are learning their denominational “version” of the Gospel from men, and they must be “licensed” by Church headquarters in order to preach.

In too many instances the nominal Church has failed to make born-again disciples, and settled for making “members.” In some instances even in mainline denominations, the Church is actually discouraging its members from seeking spiritual rebirth (see False Teachings, sidebar, right, home). Churches who fail to make born-again disciples don't have any born-again candidates for ministry and leadership.

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)?

Saturday - 12 Pentecost - C
First Posted August 21, 2010;
Podcast: Saturday - 12 Pentecost - C

Mark 7:31-37 – Healing;

Paraphrase:

Jesus had been in the region of Tyre and Sidon, cities on the coast of the Mediterranean in the Roman Province of Syria at the time. They returned and went to the region of Decapolis, a federation of ten cities east of the Jordan River in Northern Palestine. A man who was deaf and had a speech impediment was brought to Jesus for healing. Jesus took the man aside privately, put his fingers in the man's ears and spat and touched the man's tongue, and said “Ephphatha” the Aramaic world meaning, “Be opened,” The man's ears were opened and his tongue was released so that he spoke plainly. Jesus told the people not to tell anyone, but the more he commanded them, they proclaimed it all the more zealously. And the people were utterly astonished, and said that Jesus did everything well; he even heals the deaf and mute.

Commentary:

Jesus' miracles of physical healing, feeding, and resurrection were intended to show that he can also heal, feed and raise from the dead, spiritually. Jesus tried to heal quietly, away from the crowd, without sensationalizing the healing.

Huge crowds coming to Jesus were only interested in what Jesus could do for them physically (John 6:25-27), and the crowds were making it difficult for Jesus to carry out his mission of preaching the Gospel. Those who came to Jesus only for physical miracles received only that, and missed out on the spiritual healing, feeding and resurrection only Jesus can provide.

They wanted physical miracles, but they weren't committed to trusting and obeying Jesus. They thought they were doing God's will by proclaiming Jesus; they thought they knew better than Jesus what was good for Jesus' ministry.

A lot of people are like that today. They want the Lord to provide their requests, without being committed to trust and obey him (see Conditions for Answered Prayer, sidebar, right, home). Too often people think that because they want to do God's will, that whatever they decide to do is God's will. People may pray to discover God's will and then do whatever they think is right, without waiting for God to reveal it and guide them.

One of the main purposes of discipleship is learning to surrender our own wills, and to seek to know and do the Lord's will. We must learn to hear what the Lord says and wait for the Lord's guidance.

The place to start is with daily devotions, or “quiet time,” to read a portion of the Bible, with meditation and prayer. The Lord wants to reveal his will for us one day at a time (Matthew 6:11, 34), but only if we are committed to doing it. Why should he reveal his will to someone who is not going to do it?

The place to begin with Bible-reading is to read it entirely in small portions daily. There are numerous 1-year-Bible-reading plans available (see Bible Study Tools, sidebar, right, home). I recommend one which has both Old and New Testament readings daily. When we think we hear the Lord saying something directly to us, we should “pray it back,” to be sure we understand. Remember that the Lord will never ask us to do anything to harm ourselves or others.

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)?