February 2011

"Creator"

February 16, 2011

“Creator…”

Blessings Folk!

Was catching up on the news early this morning…
Saw an update on the “computer playing Jeopardy” story…

The varied reporters, participants, commentators and the like were chasing around the thought of computers/machines becoming “smarter than man.”

Got me thinking…

First, I continued to be amazed a people’s lack of critical thinking and reasoning through issues. We’ll talk about that some other time...

Second, and more importantly, what is the relationship between creator and creation?

Yes, man has created/invented tools and instrumentation that enable more effective use of energy and time. But, just because a machine may do something “faster” does not mean that it is superior.

The Lord warned us about such.

Huh?

Man has a tendency to worship things other than Who we are to worship.
We have a tendency to worship in the way that we have designed - the error of Cain.

Read this…

Romans 1
 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

We have looked at this passage in the past.
We do well to review and remember.

“They” exchanged the truth of God, the Creator, for a lie.
“They” worship and serve the creature - the very thing the Creator made.

Who are “they”?

If we will remember the truths in these few verses we will be well equipped to understand much of what is occurring today.

Romans 1
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
 19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
 21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
 22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
 23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
 24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
 25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.

Know and remember this…

The Wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

The men - “they”…

- they suppress the truth

  • that which is known about God is evident within them, God made it evident (every person has an internal awareness that God exists)
  • that creation testifies of the truth of God - external awareness
    • God’s invisible attributes
    • God’s eternal power
    • God’s Divine Nature - KJV states “Godhead”
    • all these are understood by that which has been made… creation testifies of the glory of the Lord...meditate upon this truth...there are wondrous things to be understood.

  • they are without excuse - God has provided to every person an inward and outward testimony of His existence

  • they did/do not honor God - even though they knew Him
  • they did/do not give thanks to God
  • they did/do become futile in their speculations
  • their foolish heart was darkened
  • they profess to be wise, yet became fools
  • they exchanged the glory of incorruptible God for an image...of corruptible man, of birds, of four-footed animals, of crawling creatures.
  • they exchanged the truth of God for a lie
  • they worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator.

Therefore…

God gave them over… (this phrase appears three times in Romans 1&hellipWinking
They are without excuse.

Does this not describe things today?
Man continuously exchanges the truth they know for a lie.
Man thinks he is so wise.

Do you worship the creature or the Creator?
Do you worship the blessing or the Creator?

The Creator is always supreme.
Forget not.

Blessings!


"Love"

February 14, 2011

“Love…”

Blessings Folk!

Yeh, yeh...I’m a “fuddy-duddy”.

I make it a practice to avoid the world’s fertility celebrations - Valentine’s Day, “Easter” and the like.

Guess I’m a pagan-festival scrooge. Happy Happy

Yes, I’m aware of the supposed “christian” element of Valentine Day. Much the same that we see with “christmas” and “easter”...the “church’s” attempt at sanitizing pagan practices.

A little google research will reveal a broad spectrum of opinion and “history”.

Start here… http://www.biblestudy.org/basicart/what-is-true-origin-of-valentines-day.html

What should the true believer do?

Simple.

Love.

Always.
Without ceasing.
As the Lord commanded.

The Scripture has much...much!...to say about love.
Hear the Words of the Lord Jesus…

John 13
 33 "Little children, I am with you a little while longer You will seek Me; and as I said to the Jews, now I also say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.'
 34 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
 35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

John 14
15 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him."
 
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, what then has happened that You are going to disclose Yourself to us and not to the world?"
 
23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him.
 
24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine, but the Father's who sent Me.
 
25 "These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.

John 15
 8 "My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.
 9 "Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love.
 10 "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.


There is much more…
For today, let us determine to...

Love one another.
Love the Lord.
Evident by keeping His commandments.
Love your enemies. (Matt. 5:44, Luke 6:27, 35)
Abide in the love of the Father and Son.
Glorify Father by bearing much fruit, proving to be the Lord’s disciples.

Those of y’all in the local Precept night class - remember, we move to Monday evenings beginning today - 5:30 p.m.

Blessings!

"Motivation..."

February 7, 2011

“Motivation…”

Blessings Folk!

Locally we have been spending an extended period of time studying the Kings and Prophets of the Old Testament...10 courses over a period of a year or so…and this is just a start...Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel upcoming… Happy

It has been, and continues to be, time well spent.

The Lord has given us His written Word for a purpose…

Romans 15
4 For whatever was written in earlier times was written for our instruction, so that through perseverance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

The things “written in earlier times” at the time of Paul’s receiving the Word to the Romans was a reference to the Old Testament.

We as believers are to know the entirety of the Word - Old and New.

Yet, most believers choose not to spend time in the Word.

Why?
Sometime it is the distraction of the cares and concerns of the world.
Sometime it is the lies of the evil one.
Sometime it is idolatry - giving greater heed to the things of the flesh rather than to the Lord.
Sometime folk simply do not know.

I am amazed at how much so-called “church leadership” is deceived in this manner.

The Word brings encouragement, yet we seek the word of man.
The Word brings perseverance, yet we seek the “motivation” of man.
The Word brings hope, yet we seek the affirmation of that about us for hope.

As of this writing I am watching/reading blog/tweets of folk that are gathered to “get motivated.”

Now, there is nothing wrong with listening to a couple of championship football coaches.

There is nothing wrong with listening to a born-again, business man who markets motivation.

There
is something seriously wrong with turning to a couple of extremely corrupt politicians for “motivation” and “leadership” skills.

The Word of the Lord reveals all that is needed for motivation and leadership.

Want a guide?

The Lord led me to this resource one day - in what we would call a “supernatural” way...another story for another time.

http://www.amazon.com/Making-Leader-Frank-Damazio/dp/0914936840/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1297104389&sr=8-3

I have noted through the years that folk will gather together to hear/learn of something, but will quickly scatter when time comes to do it.

Study the Word?
Read the Word?
Meditate upon the Word?
Speak the Word?

Wonderful!
But when it comes to doing it?….fade away…

Same with prayer.

I noted many years ago that the more a gathering of leadership within the local church prayed together, the less of them came to the meetings. Sad.

Where is the true hunger for the Word of the Lord?

We seek and pursue the patterns of man and the word of man and use this as the measure of success of the Kingdom of God.

This is a grave error.
One that is revealed in the Word.

The Northern Kingdom of Israel was doing this.
The Word of the Lord was spoken through Amos and addressed the situation.

The Northern Kingdom had created its own form of worshipping the True God.
They had perverted the true worship as designed by God for the sake of “convenience for the people” and control of the people.

King Jeroboam, son of Nebat, did the following…

  • established “their” way to worship
  • 2 golden calves, one placed in Dan, another in Bethel (I guess he built two because it worked out so well the first time…where is the sarcasm emoticon when you need it?)
  • built altars
  • established a “priesthood” from whoever wanted to be a priest
  • told the folk not to go to Jerusalem, they could worship here
  • several other things, you get the idea.

This led them to the point that the Word of the Lord comes to them through Amos.
Read the book when you can.

Thomas Constable summarized the first portion…

In summary, the reasons for Israel's coming judgment that Amos identified in these five messages were legal injustice, economic exploitation, religious hypocrisy, luxurious self- indulgence, and boastful complacency. These sins involved unfaithfulness to Yahweh, the supreme, all powerful Lord of Israel with whom the Israelites lived in covenant relationship. Though national judgment was inevitable, individuals who repented could escape punishment.

This describes our society.
Sadder, it describes most of the Body of Christ.

They thought all was well because…
  • they worshipped God there own way
  • they were “successful”...basically peaceful, prosperous...so, God must be pleased

Yet…
  • injustice reigned
  • they abused the poor, needy and humble
  • they were hypocrites as regard to their faith in the Lord
  • they were self-indulgent...God actually calls the women “cows of Bashan”
  • they were complacent...thought God was not talking to them about judgment

They would soon learn about judgement.
Judgment for the nation was determined. Nothing would change that.
Individuals could do something...God tells them three times “seek me that you might live”.

So, what motivates you?
The words/experience/strategies/”successes” of man?
Or…
Is your hope, encouragement and perseverance found in the Word of the Lord God Most High?

Can’t be both…

Blessings!

"Sharp"

February 4, 2011

“Sharp…”

Blessings Folk!

What brings you life?

What is the source of energy, of work, of effective power in your life?

What sets you apart?

What leads you in the setting apart?

How do you judge the intention of your thoughts?

How do you now where your heart stands?

Consider this…

Heb 4:12
12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
NASU

The Word of God.

The Word of God is living - Greek word is “zao”...means to live, to have life.

The Word of God is active - Greek word is “energes”...referring to energy, i.e. engaged in work, capable of doing, active, powerful, effective.

The Word of God is sharp and piercing...even to the degree of being able to divide/discern between the soul and spirit. (Gives us understanding as to the triune nature of man)

The Word of God is able to judge the thoughts of our heart.

The Word of God is able to judge the intentions of the heart.

This is the reason that the enemy so strongly seeks to keep folk from the Word.


Do you know the Word?
Are you immersed in the Word?
Are you studying, meditating, reflecting upon the Word?
Are you allow the Word to transform you and conform you to His likeness?

If not, you are falling short of that which the Lord has for you.

Do you lack life?
Seek the Word

Do you lack energy?
Do you find yourself ineffective?
Seek the Word.

Are you confused in the intentions of your thoughts and heart?
Are the fiery darts of the evil one penetrating and having effect?
Seek the Word.

Try it.
Spend time in the Word of God.
Do not seek an academic exercise.
Seek the Creator of all.
Come before Him in humility and be prepared for that which He reveals.

Blessings!




"Direction"

February 2, 2011

“Direction…”

Blessings Folk!

I’m drawn again to a passage that continues to be helpful and comforting.

I have a decision to make.

Most of us do.

In this passage, Paul and his entourage (including Luke, the writer of the passage) are traveling.

Acts 16

6 They passed through the Phrygian and Galatian region, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia;
 7 and after they came to Mysia, they were trying to go into Bithynia, and the Spirit of Jesus did not permit them;
 8 and passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
 9 A vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing and appealing to him, and saying, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."
 10 When he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

They were making decisions as to where to go.

Here is a map...click to view... (may or may not come through in your particular form of communication. If you can not see the map, go to http://www.dalemoore.tv to read this.)

pastedGraphic



I’m certain that they were seeking the Lord in the decision process, yet note what occurs.

They were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. How this was communicated we are not told. God did not want the Gospel to go east at this time.

After arriving in Mysia they sought to go in the Bithynia region.
The Spirit of Jesus did not permit them.

Looks like the Lord was “corraling” them in the direction He wanted them to go.

Every had that happen?

I have.

It was not that they were not seeking the Lord...I assume.
I would like to think that Paul and the gang were praying and seeking.

I believe the Lord was teaching them many things about following Him.

He does the same for us.

They came to Troas.
There a “vision appeared to Paul in the night”...a man in Macedonia appealing and saying “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

This was a big moment.
They would be crossing the water...but it is more than this.
They were moving from Asia to Europe (our terms).
They were moving further geographically from the Jew to the Gentiles…further from the Holy Land to the pagan land.
So many things...

Paul discussed it with the group.
How do I know?
Verse 10 says “immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”
“We...concluded…”
They conferred.
They considered.
They immediately pressed on.

Again, I find this comforting and somewhat humorous.
Why humorous?
Well, they had arrived from the south.
They tried to go east - Holy Spirit forbid it.
They tried to go north - the Spirit of Jesus did not permit.
The only direction left was west…

But, should they go?

The Lord revealed/confirmed the direction in a vision.

Surely they rejoiced!

May we seek the Lord.
He will direct us.
How?
Through…

  • His written Word
  • His Spirit...still small voice, Gifts of the Spirit
  • His Body
  • Dreams, Visions…

If we seek Him, He will direct.

Join with me that I will know…
I will do likewise with you…

Blessings!!

Completed the videos of the “Passing the Mantle” course that we completed last fall...41 videos...all are short… Happy You can view it here… (I hope this link works)

http://www.youtube.com/user/jubileeprecept?feature=mhum#g/c/58DA590A113CBDB1

or here…

http://alabamaprecept.blip.tv/
(You can watch previous courses/videos...click “Episode Archive”. You can also subscribe via Itunes, etc. to receive automatically)

"Power to Help, Bring Down, Give"

February 1, 2011

“Power to Help, Bring Down, Give”

Blessings Folk!

Read the following passage.
Ask the Lord to reveal the Truth He has for you.
Then, we’ll focus on a couple of things.

2 Chronicles 25

5 Moreover, Amaziah assembled Judah and appointed them according to their fathers' households under commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds throughout Judah and Benjamin; and he took a census of those from twenty years old and upward and found them to be 300,000 choice men, able to go to war and handle spear and shield.
 
6 He hired also 100,000 valiant warriors out of Israel for one hundred talents of silver.
 
7 But a man of God came to him saying, "O king, do not let the army of Israel go with you, for the LORD is not with Israel nor with any of the sons of Ephraim.
 
8 "But if you do go, do it, be strong for the battle; yet God will bring you down before the enemy, for God has power to help and to bring down."
 
9 Amaziah said to the man of God, "But what shall we do for the hundred talents which I have given to the troops of Israel?" And the man of God answered, "The LORD has much more to give you than this."

 10 Then Amaziah dismissed them, the troops which came to him from Ephraim, to go home; so their anger burned against Judah and they returned home in fierce anger.

Obviously we are jumping into the middle of a story…

Amaziah is King of Judah, the southern Kingdom.
He gathers 300,000 choice men for battle.
He then hires 100,000 warriors from Israel, the northern Kingdom.

But, a man of God - unnamed - comes and tells King Amaziah…

  • do not let the army of Israel go with you
  • the Lord is not with Israel
  • the Lord is not with any of the sons of Ephraim

Point 1
Do not go with those whom the Lord is not with.

A principle of life, business, etc.
(Why was the Lord not “with Israel”? Their first king, Jeroboam, had set up a false religious system whereby to worship God. Jeroboam thought he had a better way than the way designed by God. Israel worshipped God with false worship. They also worshipped pagan gods. Much of the professing “church” today does likewise.)

Then the man of God tells him…
  • but if you do go, do it, be strong for the battle...yet…
  • God will bring you down before the enemy...for

Point 2
God has power to help and to bring down!

Think on that.
God has power.
God builds up and God tears down.

Amaziah responded as many would - “but, what about the money I’ve paid them”?

Amaziah was concerned about the resources he had invested.
Should he let the silver, no small amount, go?
Could he let the silver go?
What would people think?

I love this response of the Lord through the man of God.

Point 3
The Lord has much more to give you than this.

Selah.

We are so distracted by the cares and concerns of the world.
We are so oriented around material provision and gain.

The truth is the Lord has much more to give us than the things we usually pursue.

Amaziah followed the word of the Lord.
He dismissed the troops from Israel. (They were filled with fierce anger. Why? They had their payment. They wanted battle so as to gain the spoil of battle!)

As for us….

Will we follow the Word of the Lord, especially a corrective directive such as Amaziah received?

Are we willing to be the “man of God” who brings the Word of the Lord?

Will we live pursuing the “much more” that the Lord has for us?

Remember…
Do not go with those whom the Lord is not with.
God has power to help and to bring down.
The Lord has much more to give you than this.

How exciting!

Quick reminder…

You may/may not know that many of our local Bible study times are available for viewing online in a redacted version.

These are short videos that give the gist of the lesson.
The earlier ones were usually 8-10 minutes long...usually one video per lesson.

Recently I refined the format.

Now, they are usually 3-4 minutes long with several videos per lesson.

Smaller bites.
Greater truth.

Happy

You can view them at a couple of place…

Blip.tv - http://alabamaprecept.blip.tv/ (Click “Episode Archive” for all programs available. They are in order of most recent back to oldest”

YouTube - http://www.youtube.com/jubileeprecept

You can also view the “Answers” program - http://answers.blip.tv/
As well as “Prayerline” - http://prayerline.blip.tv/

Blessings!
Press on!
Be obedient and faithful!