IDOLS: Fake And False Gods Of Our Making
Theme For November 2009
Preventing Bibliolatry: A Strange Kind Of Idolatry
November 1, 2009
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Gen 15:1 After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, "Do not fear, Abram, I am a shield to you; Your reward shall be very great." 2 And Abram said, "O Lord GOD, what wilt Thou give me, since I am childless, and the heir of my house is Eliezer of Damascus?"
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3 And Abram said, "Since Thou hast given no offspring to me, one born in my house is my heir." 4 Then behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This man will not be your heir; but one who shall come forth from your own body, he shall be your heir."
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5 And He took him outside and said, "Now look toward the heavens, and count the stars, if you are able to count them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be."6 Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness.
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Distinguishing between:
FAKE GOD
FALSE GOD
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IDOLATRY:
EIDOLON (idol)
LATREIA (service- worship)
IDOLATRY: Making a fake god our god and a non-god a false god.
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BIBLIOLATRY:
Biblos (Book). Latreia (service or worship)
BIBLIOLATRY:
Making the Bible what it is not: equal with God or God’s rival.
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Bibliolatry Is Preventable. How?
Understand What the Bible Is Meant To Do In Our Lives:
Which is?
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I- The Word Of God Points Out The Wonderful Reality Of Our Relationship With God. (Gen. 15:1)
He is our God
He is our Shield
He is our Great Reward
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II- The Word Of God Points Out The Right Response To God And His Word: Conversation With God. (Gen. 15:1-6)
God spoke
Abraham Spoke
God spoke Again
Abraham spoke again
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III- The Word Of God Points Out Our Zero Ability And God’s Absolute Ability In Our Favor. (Gen. 15:2-6)
Abram was childless
Abram would be gifted with countless covenantal children
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What have we learned? (Summary)
I- The Word Of God Points Out The Wonderful Reality Of Our Relationship With God.
II- The Word Of God Points Out The Right Response To God And His Word: Conversation With God.
III- The Word Of God Points Out Our Zero Ability And God’s Absolute Ability In Our Favor.
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How is this related with us? (Application)
Idolatry is in our heart as sinners.
We can easily make the Bible a substitute for God in our lives.
We all need to deal with Bibliolatry
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How Should we respond? (Challenge)
Read the Bible to know who God is and how He wants us to relate with Him.
Converse with Him for prayer with bible-reading stifles and defeats Bibliolatry
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How Should We Respond Right Now? (Altar Call)
We ask God to forgive us for neglecting the Word or making the Word another god in our life
We will express gratitude to God for the Word He has given us.
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Saturday, October 31, 2009
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Those who have already left this world: A reflection on the All Souls and All Saints Day
YES THEY HAVE LEFT BUT NOT REALLY TO LEAVE US. THEIRS IS A DIFFERENT FLIGHT SCHEDULE THAN OURS ON OUR WAY TO OUR FINAL DESTINATION.
The morning was unusually quiet. Usual noises were almost muted and even the regular and punctual chirping competition between birds on the trees and shrubs around our place seemed to have been canceled that day. Everyone seems to be waiting for Ramil or Lupit to arrive. I was quiet for a different reason. I was going through the list of names of our brothers and sisters who have gone on ahead to heaven, the home of our Father and the place where we will all go one day. Every name evokes memories the consequence of which is that the wish for the old days invariably surfaces. We vividly recall the smiles, the deep and exciting ministry partnership, the merienda served in the homes of those who have gone on ahead and the many other smile-generating and heart-tugging effect of remembering those who are no longer with us.
How can one forget a loved one who has passed away? How can we forget families, friends and acquaintances who are no longer with us? That is not always possible since our brain works in a specific way: it stores information and does not technically delete. Sometimes, people make a scheduled remembrance so we now speak of the All Souls Day and the All Saints Day. These are scheduled remembrance and, in some ways, quite helpful for many.
ALL SOULS DAY AND ALL SAINTS DAY.
The Roman Catholic Church has designated November 1 as the ALL SAINTS DAY, a solemnity (celebrated annually) held in honor of the Saints, whether known or not. The most popular Solemnities in the RCC (aside from All Saints Day) are the Easter Sunday (called the Solemnity of Solemnities) and the Solemnity of the Rosary of the Most Blessed Virgin.
November 2 is also an important event in the life of a Roman Catholic population. It is called the ALL SOULS DAY, which is a remembrance of all the departed FAITHFUL as recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. Unlike the All Saints Day, All Souls Day is not fixed for November 2. If November 2 falls on a Sunday, or if a SOLEMNITY falls on November 2, All Souls day is moved to November 3. On this day, Requiem (literally- Rest) masses are offered for the souls that have not been perfectly cleansed from venial sins or from any sin or transgression that has not been atoned for. The masses on All Souls Day is premised on the belief that the souls are not in heaven but in purgatory as they have been barred from or not fully qualified to enter the BEATIFIC VISION (presence of God in heaven).
Admittedly then, there is no pain associated with the All Saints Day celebration. All Souls day, on the other hand, properly understood can bring pain and anxiety. First, it is premised on the belief that the departed one has not entered heaven and was therefore not admitted into the presence of God. Second, it is premised on the belief that the departed one in purgatory needs help from this side of the universe through prayers and good works. The anxiety is caused by the realization that nobody really knows how many years will a soul stay in purgatory (if such place existed) before he is allowed to enter the beatific vision. In worst situation are those who are no longer remembered by their loved ones and therefore no specific masses are offered in their favor.
In contrast, the Bible speaks of a reality that provides the assurance that a child of God can go directly into the presence of God after death. Let’s quote the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 from the Douay Rheims Catholic Bible : 1 For we know, if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolved, that we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven. 2 For in this also we groan, desiring to be clothed upon with our habitation that is from heaven. 3 Yet so that we be found clothed, not naked. 4 For we also, who are in this tabernacle, do groan, being burthened; because we would not be unclothed, but clothed upon, that that which is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now he that maketh us for this very thing, is God, who hath given us the pledge of the Spirit. 6 Therefore having always confidence, knowing that, while we are in the body, we are absent from the Lord. 7 (For we walk by faith, and not by sight.) 8 But we are confident, and have a good will to be absent rather from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 And therefore we labour, whether absent or present, to please him. 10 For we must all be manifested before the judgement seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, whether it be good or evil.
Verse 8 says: “ 8 But we are confident, and have a good will to be absent rather from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” Absent from the body, at home with the Lord. Death is said to be leaving the body or being absent from the body. From the body, the soul goes home to be with the Lord. The appropriate question then is: If dying means going home to be with the Lord, where exactly is the Lord Jesus now? Acts 1:11- Douay Rheims Catholic Bible. “11 Who also said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as you have seen him going into heaven.” Clearly then, Jesus left this world and went into heaven. 1 Thessalonians 1:10- Douay Rheims Catholic Bible: “10 And to wait for his Son from heaven (whom he raised up from the dead,) Jesus, who hath delivered us from the wrath to come.”
The Catholic Bible itself testifies that Jesus is in heaven. So when 2 Cor. 5:8 speaks of being absent from the body (the death event) and going home to be with the Lord, the Bible in fact refers to the reality of the believer going home to be with the Lord in heaven. He has, to borrow the phrase “entered the beatific vision” or the presence of God. It is for this reason that the family of the believer who recognizes that the departed one is already with the Lord in heaven, does not observe the All Souls Day in the same manner that it is commonly done; that is, by offering masses for the cleansing of the souls of the dead in purgatory. The issue is not even so much the existence or non-existence of purgatory. Granting - without conceding- that there is such a place called purgatory, one still realizes that there is a better option and that is to experience death as a doorway to enter heaven without passing through or without a stop-over called by any name.
Believers are not spared from the grief of losing someone to death. But, Paul reminds the believers that there is a proper way to grieve concerning those who have left us. He explains this to us in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. NASB
We grieve because grief is our all too human response to an experience of loss. But we do not grieve as those who have no hope. We know that the Lord Jesus is in heaven. This is the foundation of our hope and certainty. He who dies as a believer goes home to be with the Lord in heaven. It is not a strange place for heaven is a home. Heaven is not a lonely place for the Lord is there as well as those who have died in the Lord. Heaven is not a dangerous place for it is the home of the Lord who is Lord of Lords and King of kings.
We do not then, observe All Souls day by praying for the salvation of the souls of the dead in purgatory for our loved ones who died in the Lord are not in purgatory but in heaven, enjoying the presence and fellowship of the Lord. No wonder Paul can say: “To be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord.” We can, however, observe all souls day in a different way. We can use the day to hold a prayer time to say thank you to God for the number of years given to us and the one who has passed away.
Whether you have set aside a special day to remember those who have passed on, of you have decided to make remembrance a regular and repeated event, the principle of right remembering will not change. That is, we accept the reality of death as a human experience. Then we accept the reality of no longer being able to see the other person in this world. How is this possible?
We look at life like a book with two major phases with each phase having many chapters. The first PHASE is the life in this world. The second PHASE is the life in heaven for eternity. The first phase has many Chapters: childhood, teen-age years, employee chapter, etc. Phase 1 ends with death for the one who died but it is a chapter ending for the surviving member. The woman’s life-chapter as a wife of this man ends and another chapter begins. Death ends a phase, burial is the final event in that phase and the person begins his second phase in heaven.
When somebody leaves this world, we respond in grief. Acceptance is the most appropriate response to GRIEF. You cannot stop grief, you can only accept it. The core experience of mourning is Grief. And how should we describe grief? Someone has said: Grief is a widow trying to cope with her own pains of having lost someone and at the same time trying to see to it that the children are all right. Grief is the man so filled with uncertainty and confusion that he drowns himself in alcohol only to wake up the following day with the pain still battering his inner being. Grief is a mother walking daily to a nearby cemetery to stand quietly and alone a few minutes before going about the tasks of the day. She knows that part of her is in the cemetery, just as part of her is in her daily work. Grief is the silent, knife-like terror and sadness that comes a hundred times a day, when you start to speak to someone who is no longer there. Grief is the emptiness that comes when you eat alone after eating with another for many years.
But grief, for the believer, must always be tempered by gratitude. Sometimes we say: It’s all too short. God gave us only 20 years. To respond to it correctly, we can remind ourselves that it could have been a much shorter 10 0r 15 years. Let us be grateful for the years with our loved one. Then, we handle our grief by mourning correctly.
Mourning, as a cultural and personal experience, refers to a specific period devoted to honoring the one who passed away. Grief is different from mourning in that grief refers to the impact of loss on us while mourning is the process of dealing with our grief in the context of healing and family support.
This helps us to understand why God had to put a time for mourning and then he tells Joshua to get on with the duties of the present, pursuing the program for the future. In Mourning, we stop to express our Grief and then we are told to stop the period of mourning that the period of moving forward may begin. What happens when we become unable to move on from our grief and mourning? The following story will help us see the resulting event of grief not handled very well.
The home of Paul Laurence Dunbar, noted poet, is open to the public in Dayton, Ohio. When Dunbar died, his mother left his room exactly as it was on the day of his death. At the desk of this brilliant man was his final poem, handwritten on a pad. After his mother died, her friends discovered that Paul Laurence Dunbar's last poem had been lost forever. Because his mother had made his room into a shrine and not moved anything, the sun had bleached the ink in which the poem was written until it was invisible. The poem was gone. If we stay in mourning, we lose so much of life. That is why God allows grief but puts a time limit to it. We grieve, then we go forward walking with the timing and doing the program of God. This is part of our acceptance and adjustments in life.
ADJUSTMENT means that we, by the grace of God, intentionally take a step to move on and get on with our lives. That is what the Israelites did. But we do not forget. God does not want us to forget. When talking to the Israelites, God would usually say: I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, reminding them of those who have already left this world.
The most important mindset in making the adjustment is not to focus on the numbers of years that could not be given to you together but to focus on the number of years that you were allowed to share with each other. We move on but we do not forget. We move on but we never empty our hearts of the love and commitment that were there before.
Adjustment means teaching yourself to go to bed and to say good night to someone who is in your heart but no longer in your house. Adjustment means to face the door and to open it yourself knowing that he will not be there to open it for you. Adjustment means sometimes to continue serving coffee to the one who is not there anymore until we get use to the idea that we do not serve coffee anymore because the fullness of service had already been rendered before. Adjustment means to face a whole cluster of adjustments, apprehensions, and uncertainties that death brings to the home but to strand strong and firm and to say: I’m going to make it because God will sustain me.
All Souls Day is a Roman Catholic event but even non-Roman Catholics can pause on that day and offer a prayer of gratitude for the times given us and our loved ones who have passed away.
The morning was unusually quiet. Usual noises were almost muted and even the regular and punctual chirping competition between birds on the trees and shrubs around our place seemed to have been canceled that day. Everyone seems to be waiting for Ramil or Lupit to arrive. I was quiet for a different reason. I was going through the list of names of our brothers and sisters who have gone on ahead to heaven, the home of our Father and the place where we will all go one day. Every name evokes memories the consequence of which is that the wish for the old days invariably surfaces. We vividly recall the smiles, the deep and exciting ministry partnership, the merienda served in the homes of those who have gone on ahead and the many other smile-generating and heart-tugging effect of remembering those who are no longer with us.
How can one forget a loved one who has passed away? How can we forget families, friends and acquaintances who are no longer with us? That is not always possible since our brain works in a specific way: it stores information and does not technically delete. Sometimes, people make a scheduled remembrance so we now speak of the All Souls Day and the All Saints Day. These are scheduled remembrance and, in some ways, quite helpful for many.
ALL SOULS DAY AND ALL SAINTS DAY.
The Roman Catholic Church has designated November 1 as the ALL SAINTS DAY, a solemnity (celebrated annually) held in honor of the Saints, whether known or not. The most popular Solemnities in the RCC (aside from All Saints Day) are the Easter Sunday (called the Solemnity of Solemnities) and the Solemnity of the Rosary of the Most Blessed Virgin.
November 2 is also an important event in the life of a Roman Catholic population. It is called the ALL SOULS DAY, which is a remembrance of all the departed FAITHFUL as recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. Unlike the All Saints Day, All Souls Day is not fixed for November 2. If November 2 falls on a Sunday, or if a SOLEMNITY falls on November 2, All Souls day is moved to November 3. On this day, Requiem (literally- Rest) masses are offered for the souls that have not been perfectly cleansed from venial sins or from any sin or transgression that has not been atoned for. The masses on All Souls Day is premised on the belief that the souls are not in heaven but in purgatory as they have been barred from or not fully qualified to enter the BEATIFIC VISION (presence of God in heaven).
Admittedly then, there is no pain associated with the All Saints Day celebration. All Souls day, on the other hand, properly understood can bring pain and anxiety. First, it is premised on the belief that the departed one has not entered heaven and was therefore not admitted into the presence of God. Second, it is premised on the belief that the departed one in purgatory needs help from this side of the universe through prayers and good works. The anxiety is caused by the realization that nobody really knows how many years will a soul stay in purgatory (if such place existed) before he is allowed to enter the beatific vision. In worst situation are those who are no longer remembered by their loved ones and therefore no specific masses are offered in their favor.
In contrast, the Bible speaks of a reality that provides the assurance that a child of God can go directly into the presence of God after death. Let’s quote the words of the Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5:1-10 from the Douay Rheims Catholic Bible : 1 For we know, if our earthly house of this habitation be dissolved, that we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in heaven. 2 For in this also we groan, desiring to be clothed upon with our habitation that is from heaven. 3 Yet so that we be found clothed, not naked. 4 For we also, who are in this tabernacle, do groan, being burthened; because we would not be unclothed, but clothed upon, that that which is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now he that maketh us for this very thing, is God, who hath given us the pledge of the Spirit. 6 Therefore having always confidence, knowing that, while we are in the body, we are absent from the Lord. 7 (For we walk by faith, and not by sight.) 8 But we are confident, and have a good will to be absent rather from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 And therefore we labour, whether absent or present, to please him. 10 For we must all be manifested before the judgement seat of Christ, that every one may receive the proper things of the body, according as he hath done, whether it be good or evil.
Verse 8 says: “ 8 But we are confident, and have a good will to be absent rather from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” Absent from the body, at home with the Lord. Death is said to be leaving the body or being absent from the body. From the body, the soul goes home to be with the Lord. The appropriate question then is: If dying means going home to be with the Lord, where exactly is the Lord Jesus now? Acts 1:11- Douay Rheims Catholic Bible. “11 Who also said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as you have seen him going into heaven.” Clearly then, Jesus left this world and went into heaven. 1 Thessalonians 1:10- Douay Rheims Catholic Bible: “10 And to wait for his Son from heaven (whom he raised up from the dead,) Jesus, who hath delivered us from the wrath to come.”
The Catholic Bible itself testifies that Jesus is in heaven. So when 2 Cor. 5:8 speaks of being absent from the body (the death event) and going home to be with the Lord, the Bible in fact refers to the reality of the believer going home to be with the Lord in heaven. He has, to borrow the phrase “entered the beatific vision” or the presence of God. It is for this reason that the family of the believer who recognizes that the departed one is already with the Lord in heaven, does not observe the All Souls Day in the same manner that it is commonly done; that is, by offering masses for the cleansing of the souls of the dead in purgatory. The issue is not even so much the existence or non-existence of purgatory. Granting - without conceding- that there is such a place called purgatory, one still realizes that there is a better option and that is to experience death as a doorway to enter heaven without passing through or without a stop-over called by any name.
Believers are not spared from the grief of losing someone to death. But, Paul reminds the believers that there is a proper way to grieve concerning those who have left us. He explains this to us in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18: 13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve, as do the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive, and remain until the coming of the Lord, shall not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God; and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words. NASB
We grieve because grief is our all too human response to an experience of loss. But we do not grieve as those who have no hope. We know that the Lord Jesus is in heaven. This is the foundation of our hope and certainty. He who dies as a believer goes home to be with the Lord in heaven. It is not a strange place for heaven is a home. Heaven is not a lonely place for the Lord is there as well as those who have died in the Lord. Heaven is not a dangerous place for it is the home of the Lord who is Lord of Lords and King of kings.
We do not then, observe All Souls day by praying for the salvation of the souls of the dead in purgatory for our loved ones who died in the Lord are not in purgatory but in heaven, enjoying the presence and fellowship of the Lord. No wonder Paul can say: “To be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord.” We can, however, observe all souls day in a different way. We can use the day to hold a prayer time to say thank you to God for the number of years given to us and the one who has passed away.
Whether you have set aside a special day to remember those who have passed on, of you have decided to make remembrance a regular and repeated event, the principle of right remembering will not change. That is, we accept the reality of death as a human experience. Then we accept the reality of no longer being able to see the other person in this world. How is this possible?
We look at life like a book with two major phases with each phase having many chapters. The first PHASE is the life in this world. The second PHASE is the life in heaven for eternity. The first phase has many Chapters: childhood, teen-age years, employee chapter, etc. Phase 1 ends with death for the one who died but it is a chapter ending for the surviving member. The woman’s life-chapter as a wife of this man ends and another chapter begins. Death ends a phase, burial is the final event in that phase and the person begins his second phase in heaven.
When somebody leaves this world, we respond in grief. Acceptance is the most appropriate response to GRIEF. You cannot stop grief, you can only accept it. The core experience of mourning is Grief. And how should we describe grief? Someone has said: Grief is a widow trying to cope with her own pains of having lost someone and at the same time trying to see to it that the children are all right. Grief is the man so filled with uncertainty and confusion that he drowns himself in alcohol only to wake up the following day with the pain still battering his inner being. Grief is a mother walking daily to a nearby cemetery to stand quietly and alone a few minutes before going about the tasks of the day. She knows that part of her is in the cemetery, just as part of her is in her daily work. Grief is the silent, knife-like terror and sadness that comes a hundred times a day, when you start to speak to someone who is no longer there. Grief is the emptiness that comes when you eat alone after eating with another for many years.
But grief, for the believer, must always be tempered by gratitude. Sometimes we say: It’s all too short. God gave us only 20 years. To respond to it correctly, we can remind ourselves that it could have been a much shorter 10 0r 15 years. Let us be grateful for the years with our loved one. Then, we handle our grief by mourning correctly.
Mourning, as a cultural and personal experience, refers to a specific period devoted to honoring the one who passed away. Grief is different from mourning in that grief refers to the impact of loss on us while mourning is the process of dealing with our grief in the context of healing and family support.
This helps us to understand why God had to put a time for mourning and then he tells Joshua to get on with the duties of the present, pursuing the program for the future. In Mourning, we stop to express our Grief and then we are told to stop the period of mourning that the period of moving forward may begin. What happens when we become unable to move on from our grief and mourning? The following story will help us see the resulting event of grief not handled very well.
The home of Paul Laurence Dunbar, noted poet, is open to the public in Dayton, Ohio. When Dunbar died, his mother left his room exactly as it was on the day of his death. At the desk of this brilliant man was his final poem, handwritten on a pad. After his mother died, her friends discovered that Paul Laurence Dunbar's last poem had been lost forever. Because his mother had made his room into a shrine and not moved anything, the sun had bleached the ink in which the poem was written until it was invisible. The poem was gone. If we stay in mourning, we lose so much of life. That is why God allows grief but puts a time limit to it. We grieve, then we go forward walking with the timing and doing the program of God. This is part of our acceptance and adjustments in life.
ADJUSTMENT means that we, by the grace of God, intentionally take a step to move on and get on with our lives. That is what the Israelites did. But we do not forget. God does not want us to forget. When talking to the Israelites, God would usually say: I am the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, reminding them of those who have already left this world.
The most important mindset in making the adjustment is not to focus on the numbers of years that could not be given to you together but to focus on the number of years that you were allowed to share with each other. We move on but we do not forget. We move on but we never empty our hearts of the love and commitment that were there before.
Adjustment means teaching yourself to go to bed and to say good night to someone who is in your heart but no longer in your house. Adjustment means to face the door and to open it yourself knowing that he will not be there to open it for you. Adjustment means sometimes to continue serving coffee to the one who is not there anymore until we get use to the idea that we do not serve coffee anymore because the fullness of service had already been rendered before. Adjustment means to face a whole cluster of adjustments, apprehensions, and uncertainties that death brings to the home but to strand strong and firm and to say: I’m going to make it because God will sustain me.
All Souls Day is a Roman Catholic event but even non-Roman Catholics can pause on that day and offer a prayer of gratitude for the times given us and our loved ones who have passed away.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
The wise Know he lacks wisdom: a lesson on Sophia and Phronesis
THE WISE KNOWS HE LACKS WISDOM
Wisdom may not guarantee long life but it guarantees victory. James 1
SOPHIA - PHRONESIS
SOPHIA- Nature of things. Wisdom helps to understand why a problem is a problem.
PHRONESIS- Modes of Action (choices in terms of what should be done) with projected results. Phronesis helps us to understand what action must be taken, what its projected results would be. HOW DO YOU SWAT THE FLY?
James 1: 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind, and withers the grass; and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
7 For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 But let the brother of humble circumstances glory in his high position; 10 and let the rich man glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
The argument in James 1
Without wisdom, one gets defeated by his trials
With wisdom, one benefits from trials
The Value of Sophia and Phronesis
Wisdom requires understanding its value and understanding how to acquire and use it. Wisdom helps us in 3 specific ways:
1. WISDOM HELPS US TO:
A. Understand the reasons, meaning and value of our trials. James 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. NO TRIAL IS WITHOUT A REASON FOR OUR BENEFIT.
B. As a consequence, wisdom helps us gain joy out of our trials. James 1:2 Consider it all joy
2. WISDOM HELPS US TO:
Understand the mysteries of life:
The “high” position of the poor believer. James 1:9 But let the brother of humble circumstances glory in his high position; James is describing the poor’s discovery that once he becomes a Christian, he gets position in the kingdom of God that is equal with everyone, including the rich. This is something that he really had not hope of achieving by himself and by his own efforts.
The “humiliation” of the rich believer. James 1:10 and let the rich man glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind, and withers the grass; and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
The rich man here was someone who had always believed as culture for hundreds of years made him believe, that the glory of a man is in his riches. Once he becomes a Christian, he realizes that the rich and poor are the same in terms of the shortness of life and all the problems that come with being alive. He now knows that his wealth is not the ultimate reason for his confidence in life. In this sense, he has been humiliated.
3. WISDOM HELPS US TO:
Acquire the characteristics of the Victor:
Quick to hear- We listen to learn and we are listeners first of all before we are speakers.
Slow To speak- in the context it means not responding to a provocation right away but giving it time for processing.
Slow to anger- emotions can get in the way of our reaction to an issue. Don’t be. Control the emotions.
James 1:19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God
The Right Attitude Towards Sophia And Phronesis
Acquire- Ask it from God.
Apply- Use in making decisions everyday and planning for your future.
Assess the use of wisdom in your life. Find out if your decisions are palpak or pangpalakpak.
Wisdom may not guarantee long life but it guarantees victory. James 1
SOPHIA - PHRONESIS
SOPHIA- Nature of things. Wisdom helps to understand why a problem is a problem.
PHRONESIS- Modes of Action (choices in terms of what should be done) with projected results. Phronesis helps us to understand what action must be taken, what its projected results would be. HOW DO YOU SWAT THE FLY?
James 1: 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind, and withers the grass; and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
7 For let not that man expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9 But let the brother of humble circumstances glory in his high position; 10 and let the rich man glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
The argument in James 1
Without wisdom, one gets defeated by his trials
With wisdom, one benefits from trials
The Value of Sophia and Phronesis
Wisdom requires understanding its value and understanding how to acquire and use it. Wisdom helps us in 3 specific ways:
1. WISDOM HELPS US TO:
A. Understand the reasons, meaning and value of our trials. James 1:2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. NO TRIAL IS WITHOUT A REASON FOR OUR BENEFIT.
B. As a consequence, wisdom helps us gain joy out of our trials. James 1:2 Consider it all joy
2. WISDOM HELPS US TO:
Understand the mysteries of life:
The “high” position of the poor believer. James 1:9 But let the brother of humble circumstances glory in his high position; James is describing the poor’s discovery that once he becomes a Christian, he gets position in the kingdom of God that is equal with everyone, including the rich. This is something that he really had not hope of achieving by himself and by his own efforts.
The “humiliation” of the rich believer. James 1:10 and let the rich man glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with a scorching wind, and withers the grass; and its flower falls off, and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
The rich man here was someone who had always believed as culture for hundreds of years made him believe, that the glory of a man is in his riches. Once he becomes a Christian, he realizes that the rich and poor are the same in terms of the shortness of life and all the problems that come with being alive. He now knows that his wealth is not the ultimate reason for his confidence in life. In this sense, he has been humiliated.
3. WISDOM HELPS US TO:
Acquire the characteristics of the Victor:
Quick to hear- We listen to learn and we are listeners first of all before we are speakers.
Slow To speak- in the context it means not responding to a provocation right away but giving it time for processing.
Slow to anger- emotions can get in the way of our reaction to an issue. Don’t be. Control the emotions.
James 1:19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But let everyone be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God
The Right Attitude Towards Sophia And Phronesis
Acquire- Ask it from God.
Apply- Use in making decisions everyday and planning for your future.
Assess the use of wisdom in your life. Find out if your decisions are palpak or pangpalakpak.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Peacemakers not peacekeepers Matthew 5:9
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Saturday, October 17, 2009
Obey But Obey Correctly
Bread From Heaven Christian Fellowship
Thoughts For The Day . Oct. 19 to 25, 2009
Obey But Obey Correctly
“Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”
Read Genesis 22
A Song Of Confidence”
English:
I know that God will make a way for me; I know that God will make a way for me
If I live a holy life, shun the wrong and do the right, I that God will make a way for me
Filipino:
Alam kong may magagagawa ang Diyos, Alam kong may magagawa ang Diyos
Kung ako’y magtatapat, sa Kaniya’y maglilingkod, Alam kong may magagawa ang Diyos
God deals with us according to His kindness, grace and mercy. It is also true, however, that God is pleased with obedience that often He makes the step of obedience as the first key that opens the door to the impossible.
MONDAY: OBEDIENCE DOESN’T BEGIN AS AN ACT OF OBEDIENCE BUT A HEART THAT HEAR GOD WHEN HE CALLS.
Gen 22:1 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
HERE I AM. Imagine if God called and Abraham responded with; WHO, ME? Abraham was so sensitive to God’s call that he hears Him immediately when He calls. That doesn’t describe many believers today. Great men of God started as quick and good listeners to God’s call. Samuel, another great man of God, was a sensitive and good listener to God’s call. 1 Sam 3:10 Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for Thy servant is listening."
We can never hope to be really obedient unless and until we learn to be sensitive to God’s call. We need to hear Him right away as He calls. Obedience is carrying out God’s instruction. Sensitivity to God’s call is recognizing God’s voice. Obedience is not possible without sensitivity to God’s call. Sensitivity is the foundation to obedience. PRAYER: Father, I want to obey but I now understand that obedience is founded on the ability to recognize You when You speak and call. Grant me this sensitivity to Your voice. In the name of Jesus, amen.
TUESDAY: GOD’S CALL HAS A GENERAL CATEGORY AND A SPECIAL CATEGORY. GENERAL CALL IS FOR EVERYONE. SPECIAL CALL IS FOR ONE PERSON OR ONE FAMILY. THE CALL FOR YOU PERSONALLY IS A SPECIAL CALL.
Gen 22:1 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
“GOD SAID TO HIM…” This was certainly a special call. It was addressed to one person: Abraham. If you read the pages of the Bible, you can easily distinguish between general and special call. You will find that many people received special calls. Let me name some of them: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, and others. Not everyone received a special call but many did receive these special calls. Abraham was certainly one of those.
Let me tell you a secret. A Call to the ministry is always a special call. Let me add another secret. Being a husband and being a wife is a special call. The problem is sometimes we push the matter and marry the person we have not been called to marry. Let me add another secret since we have started talking about secrets. Forgiving someone is a special call in the category of a special instruction. You are the hurting person so the call to forgive goes to you.
Have you heard a special call recently? What did you do? How did you respond? PRAYER: Father, I thank you for the gift of sensitivity to Your voice. I ask for another gift: Make me hear Your special call. In the name of our Lord Jesus, amen.
WEDNESDAY: SENSITIVITY TO GOD’S CALL WILL MAKE YOU HEAR GOD’S SPECIAL CALL. THIS SPECIAL CALL REQUIRES PERSONAL AND not PROXY REPLY.
Gen 22:1 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
God called Abraham; Abraham heard God and responded personally. When it was Isaac’s time, God spoke to him personally and did not require Abraham as the spokesman. Same is true with Jacob and the rest. And, just as Abraham responded personally, Isaac also responded personally; so with Jacob and the rest.
What are we saying? If God gives you a personal call, He expects you respond personally and not let a proxy reply for you. This is not proxy voting but a personal call. Sometimes, we ask others to pray for us as we enter a ministry or as we take a major step like entering a work or getting married. There is nothing wrong with that but everything becomes wrong with that if you yourself did not make a personal reply to God. Sensitivity to God’s call is never by proxy. Listening to God’ special call is never by proxy. Likewise, responding to God’s call is never by proxy. Prayer: Father, it is a privilege to get a personal call from You. Help me to make a personal response.
THURSDAY: OBEDIENCE IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S INSTRUCTION. THEREFORE, UNDERSTANDING COMES BEFORE OBEDIENCE.
Genesis 21:2 And He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."
God called Abraham and He answered correctly. God gave him an instruction. Abraham carried out the instruction. We call this OBEDIENCE. Clearly, it would not have been possible for Abraham to have obeyed clearly if it were not for the fact that he understood clearly what God was saying to him. This was not an ordinary instruction. It required everything he had to obey. To give up his only son, the son who was the answer to his prayers and the fulfillment of his dream; this certainly was not easy. Such an instruction can only be obeyed accurately when it is understood correctly.
When we say that we want to obey God, it must come with a prior commitment: to understand what God is saying. In my years as a teacher of the Scriptures, I find this to be a disturbing truth: Many Christians do not give enough time and effort to understand the Word of God. Sometimes I get the feeling that what we often judge as disobedience among God’s people is not really disobedience first of all but a failure to understand the word of God. Yes you should obey but to really obey, you should first understand what God is saying. PRAYER: Father, I do want to obey. Please help me to have a mind and a heart that understand your word. I know I cannot obey without first understanding your Word.
FRIDAY: OBEDIENCE IS ALWAYS PRECISE AND PROMPT, OTHERWISE, IT IS NOT OBEDIENCE.
Genesis 21:3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
Abraham was given a hard task: give up your son and give him up to me as a burnt offering. No other command would be as hard and as heart-wrenching. But, Abraham obeyed and He obeyed with precision and promptness. Note what it says: Abraham rose in the morning (another way of saying- very early in the morning- not later). Then he saddled his donkey and took two of his young men. Then he split wood for the burnt offering. The precision of his obedience is evident. He was asked to carry out a task and he prepared everything that would be required for him to carry out the task.
His obedience was prompt, no doubt about it. Great men of God were known for this promptness. John Calvin himself had this personal motto: “Lord I offer myself to Thee promptly and sincerely.” Here is an example of an obedience that is not prompt and not precise. A man was told that he cannot marry a woman who is not a Christian. He decided to obey so no wedding took place. But he did not do anything to help the lady become a Christian. And, he would not part ways with her even when she said: I won’t ever agree to join your faith. He obeyed but it was neither prompt nor precise. In the end, it was not obedience. PRAYER: Father, I want to obey. I give my heart to you promptly and sincerely.
SATURDAY: OBEDIENCE IS PERSONAL, LITERAL AND SACRIFICIAL.
Gen 22:1 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 And He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." ..4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship and return to you." 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.
Part of the way, Abraham was accompanied by two young men, presumably his servants. The men went with him as far as the spot where he saw Mount Moriah at a distance. He then dismissed the two men and he and Isaac proceeded to the place; just the two of them. Why? The reason was that Abraham understood that obedience must be personal, literal and sacrificial. What do we mean?
The instruction was for him to take his son to Mount Moriah. No mention of taking the servants to mount Moriah. Literal obedience means not to take the two servants to Moriah. They were necessary to accompany them part of the way. It was also a personal obedience because he was told to offer his son, not let the servants offer his son. It must have been hard just thinking about offering his son. But Abraham understood that obedience is always literal, personal and also sacrificial because it involved giving up his only son. But, sacrifice is an act that can only be done by the person himself. We cannot have a proxy or representative sacrifice. For sinners like us, and Abraham too, sacrifice is always personal. We can’t let others make the offering for us since we are able to do that ourselves. PRAYER: Father, I know obedience is personal, literal and sacrificial. Help me to honor you by obeying in a personal, literal and sacrificial manner.
SUNDAY: OBEDIENCE IS NOT ALWAYS EASY BUT WHEN COMPLIED WITH, GOD MAKES A WAY FOR US. AS THE SONG WOULD SAY: “I KNOW THAT GOD WILL MAKE A WAY FOR ME.”
Genesis 21:15 Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and said, "By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham lived at Beersheba.
Abraham did what was very difficult to do. He offered his son although he was stopped at the last minute. God declared in his favor eternal blessings, continuing victory and a rare privilege of becoming an instrument to bless the whole world. There is no such thing as useless obedience. Obedience is always honored, recognized and ultimately rewarded.
Come to think of it, Abraham’s descendants did become the instruments of God’s blessings to the world. One example is John Calvin. Without probably knowing it, Calvin introduced biblical capitalism which effectively destroyed the power of feudalism as an oppressive system. I don’t know how you look at yourself. Here is something very clear. In God’s hand, your life will become a blessing to others. That is, actually, a great privilege. So, let us learn to obey correctly. PRAYER: Father, I do want to obey and I do want to become a blessing to others for your honor and for you glory. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Thoughts For The Day . Oct. 19 to 25, 2009
Obey But Obey Correctly
“Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”
Read Genesis 22
A Song Of Confidence”
English:
I know that God will make a way for me; I know that God will make a way for me
If I live a holy life, shun the wrong and do the right, I that God will make a way for me
Filipino:
Alam kong may magagagawa ang Diyos, Alam kong may magagawa ang Diyos
Kung ako’y magtatapat, sa Kaniya’y maglilingkod, Alam kong may magagawa ang Diyos
God deals with us according to His kindness, grace and mercy. It is also true, however, that God is pleased with obedience that often He makes the step of obedience as the first key that opens the door to the impossible.
MONDAY: OBEDIENCE DOESN’T BEGIN AS AN ACT OF OBEDIENCE BUT A HEART THAT HEAR GOD WHEN HE CALLS.
Gen 22:1 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
HERE I AM. Imagine if God called and Abraham responded with; WHO, ME? Abraham was so sensitive to God’s call that he hears Him immediately when He calls. That doesn’t describe many believers today. Great men of God started as quick and good listeners to God’s call. Samuel, another great man of God, was a sensitive and good listener to God’s call. 1 Sam 3:10 Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for Thy servant is listening."
We can never hope to be really obedient unless and until we learn to be sensitive to God’s call. We need to hear Him right away as He calls. Obedience is carrying out God’s instruction. Sensitivity to God’s call is recognizing God’s voice. Obedience is not possible without sensitivity to God’s call. Sensitivity is the foundation to obedience. PRAYER: Father, I want to obey but I now understand that obedience is founded on the ability to recognize You when You speak and call. Grant me this sensitivity to Your voice. In the name of Jesus, amen.
TUESDAY: GOD’S CALL HAS A GENERAL CATEGORY AND A SPECIAL CATEGORY. GENERAL CALL IS FOR EVERYONE. SPECIAL CALL IS FOR ONE PERSON OR ONE FAMILY. THE CALL FOR YOU PERSONALLY IS A SPECIAL CALL.
Gen 22:1 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
“GOD SAID TO HIM…” This was certainly a special call. It was addressed to one person: Abraham. If you read the pages of the Bible, you can easily distinguish between general and special call. You will find that many people received special calls. Let me name some of them: Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, David, Solomon, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, and others. Not everyone received a special call but many did receive these special calls. Abraham was certainly one of those.
Let me tell you a secret. A Call to the ministry is always a special call. Let me add another secret. Being a husband and being a wife is a special call. The problem is sometimes we push the matter and marry the person we have not been called to marry. Let me add another secret since we have started talking about secrets. Forgiving someone is a special call in the category of a special instruction. You are the hurting person so the call to forgive goes to you.
Have you heard a special call recently? What did you do? How did you respond? PRAYER: Father, I thank you for the gift of sensitivity to Your voice. I ask for another gift: Make me hear Your special call. In the name of our Lord Jesus, amen.
WEDNESDAY: SENSITIVITY TO GOD’S CALL WILL MAKE YOU HEAR GOD’S SPECIAL CALL. THIS SPECIAL CALL REQUIRES PERSONAL AND not PROXY REPLY.
Gen 22:1 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am."
God called Abraham; Abraham heard God and responded personally. When it was Isaac’s time, God spoke to him personally and did not require Abraham as the spokesman. Same is true with Jacob and the rest. And, just as Abraham responded personally, Isaac also responded personally; so with Jacob and the rest.
What are we saying? If God gives you a personal call, He expects you respond personally and not let a proxy reply for you. This is not proxy voting but a personal call. Sometimes, we ask others to pray for us as we enter a ministry or as we take a major step like entering a work or getting married. There is nothing wrong with that but everything becomes wrong with that if you yourself did not make a personal reply to God. Sensitivity to God’s call is never by proxy. Listening to God’ special call is never by proxy. Likewise, responding to God’s call is never by proxy. Prayer: Father, it is a privilege to get a personal call from You. Help me to make a personal response.
THURSDAY: OBEDIENCE IS NOT POSSIBLE WITHOUT CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF GOD’S INSTRUCTION. THEREFORE, UNDERSTANDING COMES BEFORE OBEDIENCE.
Genesis 21:2 And He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you."
God called Abraham and He answered correctly. God gave him an instruction. Abraham carried out the instruction. We call this OBEDIENCE. Clearly, it would not have been possible for Abraham to have obeyed clearly if it were not for the fact that he understood clearly what God was saying to him. This was not an ordinary instruction. It required everything he had to obey. To give up his only son, the son who was the answer to his prayers and the fulfillment of his dream; this certainly was not easy. Such an instruction can only be obeyed accurately when it is understood correctly.
When we say that we want to obey God, it must come with a prior commitment: to understand what God is saying. In my years as a teacher of the Scriptures, I find this to be a disturbing truth: Many Christians do not give enough time and effort to understand the Word of God. Sometimes I get the feeling that what we often judge as disobedience among God’s people is not really disobedience first of all but a failure to understand the word of God. Yes you should obey but to really obey, you should first understand what God is saying. PRAYER: Father, I do want to obey. Please help me to have a mind and a heart that understand your word. I know I cannot obey without first understanding your Word.
FRIDAY: OBEDIENCE IS ALWAYS PRECISE AND PROMPT, OTHERWISE, IT IS NOT OBEDIENCE.
Genesis 21:3 So Abraham rose early in the morning and saddled his donkey, and took two of his young men with him and Isaac his son; and he split wood for the burnt offering, and arose and went to the place of which God had told him.
Abraham was given a hard task: give up your son and give him up to me as a burnt offering. No other command would be as hard and as heart-wrenching. But, Abraham obeyed and He obeyed with precision and promptness. Note what it says: Abraham rose in the morning (another way of saying- very early in the morning- not later). Then he saddled his donkey and took two of his young men. Then he split wood for the burnt offering. The precision of his obedience is evident. He was asked to carry out a task and he prepared everything that would be required for him to carry out the task.
His obedience was prompt, no doubt about it. Great men of God were known for this promptness. John Calvin himself had this personal motto: “Lord I offer myself to Thee promptly and sincerely.” Here is an example of an obedience that is not prompt and not precise. A man was told that he cannot marry a woman who is not a Christian. He decided to obey so no wedding took place. But he did not do anything to help the lady become a Christian. And, he would not part ways with her even when she said: I won’t ever agree to join your faith. He obeyed but it was neither prompt nor precise. In the end, it was not obedience. PRAYER: Father, I want to obey. I give my heart to you promptly and sincerely.
SATURDAY: OBEDIENCE IS PERSONAL, LITERAL AND SACRIFICIAL.
Gen 22:1 Now it came about after these things, that God tested Abraham, and said to him, "Abraham!" And he said, "Here I am." 2 And He said, "Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I will tell you." ..4 On the third day Abraham raised his eyes and saw the place from a distance. 5 And Abraham said to his young men, "Stay here with the donkey, and I and the lad will go yonder; and we will worship and return to you." 6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son, and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So the two of them walked on together.
Part of the way, Abraham was accompanied by two young men, presumably his servants. The men went with him as far as the spot where he saw Mount Moriah at a distance. He then dismissed the two men and he and Isaac proceeded to the place; just the two of them. Why? The reason was that Abraham understood that obedience must be personal, literal and sacrificial. What do we mean?
The instruction was for him to take his son to Mount Moriah. No mention of taking the servants to mount Moriah. Literal obedience means not to take the two servants to Moriah. They were necessary to accompany them part of the way. It was also a personal obedience because he was told to offer his son, not let the servants offer his son. It must have been hard just thinking about offering his son. But Abraham understood that obedience is always literal, personal and also sacrificial because it involved giving up his only son. But, sacrifice is an act that can only be done by the person himself. We cannot have a proxy or representative sacrifice. For sinners like us, and Abraham too, sacrifice is always personal. We can’t let others make the offering for us since we are able to do that ourselves. PRAYER: Father, I know obedience is personal, literal and sacrificial. Help me to honor you by obeying in a personal, literal and sacrificial manner.
SUNDAY: OBEDIENCE IS NOT ALWAYS EASY BUT WHEN COMPLIED WITH, GOD MAKES A WAY FOR US. AS THE SONG WOULD SAY: “I KNOW THAT GOD WILL MAKE A WAY FOR ME.”
Genesis 21:15 Then the angel of the LORD called to Abraham a second time from heaven, 16 and said, "By Myself I have sworn, declares the LORD, because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son, 17 indeed I will greatly bless you, and I will greatly multiply your seed as the stars of the heavens, and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your seed shall possess the gate of their enemies. 18 And in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice." 19 So Abraham returned to his young men, and they arose and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham lived at Beersheba.
Abraham did what was very difficult to do. He offered his son although he was stopped at the last minute. God declared in his favor eternal blessings, continuing victory and a rare privilege of becoming an instrument to bless the whole world. There is no such thing as useless obedience. Obedience is always honored, recognized and ultimately rewarded.
Come to think of it, Abraham’s descendants did become the instruments of God’s blessings to the world. One example is John Calvin. Without probably knowing it, Calvin introduced biblical capitalism which effectively destroyed the power of feudalism as an oppressive system. I don’t know how you look at yourself. Here is something very clear. In God’s hand, your life will become a blessing to others. That is, actually, a great privilege. So, let us learn to obey correctly. PRAYER: Father, I do want to obey and I do want to become a blessing to others for your honor and for you glory. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Bible Study /Sermon Sample in Taglish
KNOWING GOD AND HIS WILL:
SERIES OF BIBLE LESSONS FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Exodus 20:1-17. Lesson 1:
1. What is God’s relationship with the people of Israel? Who was He to them? Ano ang kaugnayan ng Diyos sa bayan ng Israel? Sino ba Siya para sa kanila? (v2).
He is the Lord their God. “I am the Lord YOUR God…”
2. What did God do for the people of Israel? Ano ang ginawa ng Diyos para sa mga taga Israel?
He brought them of Egypt. V 3. “I BROUGHT YOU OUT of Egypt…”
3. What was wrong with Egypt? V 2. It was a house of slavery. The Israelites were slaves in the land of Egypt and God does not want His people to be slaves.
Application question: God does not want His people to be slaves to anything. (Ayaw ng Diyos na ang Kaniyang mga anak ay magiging alipin ng anumang masama). In our times today, what are the forms of slavery that we might fall into? Sa ating panahon ngayon, anong uri ng pagkakaalipin maaring kahulugan natin?
Romans 6:19. We use our bodies to be slaves of impurity (anything not acceptable to God) and ever increasing wickedness. In other words, people become slaves of sin so easily.
4. What happens to us when we do not get freed from being slaves to sin?
Rom. 6:16. Slavery to sin leads to death.
5. Since slavery to sin leads to death, if I die, does this mean that I have already paid for my being slaves to sin?
Rom. 6:33. No. One sin leads to one death. Since we have many sins, we can will need to die many times. That is why Jesus died for our sins.
6. What does God prohibit in the first commandment? Ano ang ipinagbabawal ng Diyos sa unang kautusan (v 3)?
God does not want His people to have other gods.
7. Why did God mention other gods? Were there really other gods other than our God? Bakit binanggit ng Diyos ang tungkol sa ibang mga diyos-diyosan? Mayroon ba talagang biang mga diyos?
Isaiah 45:5. There is no other God other than the true God. However, most nations and cities during those days believed that there were gods. Each city, therefore, had their gods. Judges 10:6. (Name the people and their gods).
8. In our time today, what gods should we avoid?
9. Jesus said in Mt. 22:37 (read) that we should love of with all of our heart, soul and mind. If we love or give time to someone or something greater than our love for God, that person or work becomes our god.
Application question: Is there anything in your life that takes you away from God? Is there someone who takes you away from God? What will you do about it?
10. What does God prohibit in the second commandments (v 4).
Answer: the making of idols.
11. Read verse 4 again and list down the forms of idols that are prohibited.
Forms that have likeness in heaven above (stars, etc.), on the earth (man, animals, etc.) or in the waters under the earth (fish, etc.)
12. Aside from making idols, what else does god prohibit in the second commandment?
Answer: (v 50. We are not to worship them or serve them.
13. Since we are prohibited from making idols, what about idols or the apostles like Peter, James, John?
Answer: If we make the idols in the form of men, that is already prohibited according to verse 4.
14. When we violate this commandment, how many generations will be affected by the result of our disobedience?
Answer: Read verse 5. It says from the father, to the children, to the grandchildren and to the great grandchildren.
15. Why does God become angry when we have other gods or when we make idols?
Answer: Read verse 5. Because He is a jealous God, meaning, he wants to be the only God in our life; no one else.
Questions for application: What gods and idols do we have in our life? What should we do with them now that we understand that we cannot make them or have them?
Journey Phase 4 – MEQ
I. FIRST: THE BASIS OF THE COMMANDMENTS: RELATIONSHIP
God’s relationship with us is the basis of His will.
Note: You don’t begin by trying to understand his will for daily life we begin by finding out whether we are, in fact, related with God. The more we affirm that relationship and proclaim that relationship, the more the will of God becomes clear and understandable to us.
Note: The work of counseling is basically finding out God’s will for a particular person and a specific situation. Many people have trained as Counselors, awarded decrees in psychology, gone through so many books but some of them will end up killing themselves out of frustration of being unable to face the issues of life.
On the other hand, here is a lady who has not studied counseling. She ahs read her Bible cover to cover many times and uses this knowledge to help others. She is effective in providing guidance. Why is this? This is because the work of counseling is basically finding out God’s will and he who is walking with God correctly will have this knowledge. The will of God is revealed in the context of a relationship with Him.
Challenge: May be you are finding it difficult to discover God’s will. May be the issue: How close is your relationship with God?
II. SECOND: THE NATURE OF COMMANDMENTS: DIRECTIVE
It provides directions for life. The commandments are not only relational, they are also directional.
The directions are stated in the You shall and You shall not forms:
Unique features of these directions: They state the explicit and require the implicit.
Ex. Honor your father and mother. Explicitly for children. Implicit: For parents to be honorable before their children.
The Directive Will of God is one of the major types of the Will of God.
The other major type is Decreed Will- Unchanging and eternal. Nothing we can do to change it. Ephesians 1- Choosing people for salvation. The decreed will is mostly not know to us.
The Directive Will: Directs life
1. Capable of being disobeyed
2. May be transitory in nature – limited to a certain time-frame. Jesus told his disciples to get a donkey that he will use to enter Jerusalem.
3. Progressive – given according to the demands of time. The law of divorce was given as a response to the abuse in marital relationships.
In terms of its effect, it is called Directive Will of God. In terms of how people respond to it, it is sometimes called Permissive Will of God.
Ex. You drive your car to a parking lot at Makati. A man approaches you and at gunpoint diverts you of your wallet and your car key- including the car- Was that God’s will? Did God ordered that to happen? No, the commandment of the will of God as far as right behavior is clear- he should not coveted his neighbors wallet and his neighbors’ car keys. But, he disobeyed and God allowed it to happen. It is often called permissive will.
The secret of knowing the directive will of God is a regular, consistent and proper exposure to God’s Word. How is your Bible training?
II. THE INTENT OF THE COMMANDMENTS: PROTECTIVE
It Protects and Promotes the following:
3.1. PROTECTS AND PROMOTES GOD’S HONOR BY NOT HAVING OTHER GODS
and by obeying all the commandments
3.2. PROTECTS THE FAMILY WELFARE BY:
• Honoring the parents and parents making themselves honorable
• Not committing adultery
• Not committing idolatry for it brings evil effects up to the fourth generations
• Not bearing false witness against each other
• Not misusing the name of the Lord our God in vain
• Observing the Sabbath
3.3. PROTECTS THE NEIGHBORS’ WELFARE:
• By not bearing false testimony. Don’t make your neighbor look bad I the eyes of others
SERIES OF BIBLE LESSONS FROM THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Exodus 20:1-17. Lesson 1:
1. What is God’s relationship with the people of Israel? Who was He to them? Ano ang kaugnayan ng Diyos sa bayan ng Israel? Sino ba Siya para sa kanila? (v2).
He is the Lord their God. “I am the Lord YOUR God…”
2. What did God do for the people of Israel? Ano ang ginawa ng Diyos para sa mga taga Israel?
He brought them of Egypt. V 3. “I BROUGHT YOU OUT of Egypt…”
3. What was wrong with Egypt? V 2. It was a house of slavery. The Israelites were slaves in the land of Egypt and God does not want His people to be slaves.
Application question: God does not want His people to be slaves to anything. (Ayaw ng Diyos na ang Kaniyang mga anak ay magiging alipin ng anumang masama). In our times today, what are the forms of slavery that we might fall into? Sa ating panahon ngayon, anong uri ng pagkakaalipin maaring kahulugan natin?
Romans 6:19. We use our bodies to be slaves of impurity (anything not acceptable to God) and ever increasing wickedness. In other words, people become slaves of sin so easily.
4. What happens to us when we do not get freed from being slaves to sin?
Rom. 6:16. Slavery to sin leads to death.
5. Since slavery to sin leads to death, if I die, does this mean that I have already paid for my being slaves to sin?
Rom. 6:33. No. One sin leads to one death. Since we have many sins, we can will need to die many times. That is why Jesus died for our sins.
6. What does God prohibit in the first commandment? Ano ang ipinagbabawal ng Diyos sa unang kautusan (v 3)?
God does not want His people to have other gods.
7. Why did God mention other gods? Were there really other gods other than our God? Bakit binanggit ng Diyos ang tungkol sa ibang mga diyos-diyosan? Mayroon ba talagang biang mga diyos?
Isaiah 45:5. There is no other God other than the true God. However, most nations and cities during those days believed that there were gods. Each city, therefore, had their gods. Judges 10:6. (Name the people and their gods).
8. In our time today, what gods should we avoid?
9. Jesus said in Mt. 22:37 (read) that we should love of with all of our heart, soul and mind. If we love or give time to someone or something greater than our love for God, that person or work becomes our god.
Application question: Is there anything in your life that takes you away from God? Is there someone who takes you away from God? What will you do about it?
10. What does God prohibit in the second commandments (v 4).
Answer: the making of idols.
11. Read verse 4 again and list down the forms of idols that are prohibited.
Forms that have likeness in heaven above (stars, etc.), on the earth (man, animals, etc.) or in the waters under the earth (fish, etc.)
12. Aside from making idols, what else does god prohibit in the second commandment?
Answer: (v 50. We are not to worship them or serve them.
13. Since we are prohibited from making idols, what about idols or the apostles like Peter, James, John?
Answer: If we make the idols in the form of men, that is already prohibited according to verse 4.
14. When we violate this commandment, how many generations will be affected by the result of our disobedience?
Answer: Read verse 5. It says from the father, to the children, to the grandchildren and to the great grandchildren.
15. Why does God become angry when we have other gods or when we make idols?
Answer: Read verse 5. Because He is a jealous God, meaning, he wants to be the only God in our life; no one else.
Questions for application: What gods and idols do we have in our life? What should we do with them now that we understand that we cannot make them or have them?
Journey Phase 4 – MEQ
I. FIRST: THE BASIS OF THE COMMANDMENTS: RELATIONSHIP
God’s relationship with us is the basis of His will.
Note: You don’t begin by trying to understand his will for daily life we begin by finding out whether we are, in fact, related with God. The more we affirm that relationship and proclaim that relationship, the more the will of God becomes clear and understandable to us.
Note: The work of counseling is basically finding out God’s will for a particular person and a specific situation. Many people have trained as Counselors, awarded decrees in psychology, gone through so many books but some of them will end up killing themselves out of frustration of being unable to face the issues of life.
On the other hand, here is a lady who has not studied counseling. She ahs read her Bible cover to cover many times and uses this knowledge to help others. She is effective in providing guidance. Why is this? This is because the work of counseling is basically finding out God’s will and he who is walking with God correctly will have this knowledge. The will of God is revealed in the context of a relationship with Him.
Challenge: May be you are finding it difficult to discover God’s will. May be the issue: How close is your relationship with God?
II. SECOND: THE NATURE OF COMMANDMENTS: DIRECTIVE
It provides directions for life. The commandments are not only relational, they are also directional.
The directions are stated in the You shall and You shall not forms:
Unique features of these directions: They state the explicit and require the implicit.
Ex. Honor your father and mother. Explicitly for children. Implicit: For parents to be honorable before their children.
The Directive Will of God is one of the major types of the Will of God.
The other major type is Decreed Will- Unchanging and eternal. Nothing we can do to change it. Ephesians 1- Choosing people for salvation. The decreed will is mostly not know to us.
The Directive Will: Directs life
1. Capable of being disobeyed
2. May be transitory in nature – limited to a certain time-frame. Jesus told his disciples to get a donkey that he will use to enter Jerusalem.
3. Progressive – given according to the demands of time. The law of divorce was given as a response to the abuse in marital relationships.
In terms of its effect, it is called Directive Will of God. In terms of how people respond to it, it is sometimes called Permissive Will of God.
Ex. You drive your car to a parking lot at Makati. A man approaches you and at gunpoint diverts you of your wallet and your car key- including the car- Was that God’s will? Did God ordered that to happen? No, the commandment of the will of God as far as right behavior is clear- he should not coveted his neighbors wallet and his neighbors’ car keys. But, he disobeyed and God allowed it to happen. It is often called permissive will.
The secret of knowing the directive will of God is a regular, consistent and proper exposure to God’s Word. How is your Bible training?
II. THE INTENT OF THE COMMANDMENTS: PROTECTIVE
It Protects and Promotes the following:
3.1. PROTECTS AND PROMOTES GOD’S HONOR BY NOT HAVING OTHER GODS
and by obeying all the commandments
3.2. PROTECTS THE FAMILY WELFARE BY:
• Honoring the parents and parents making themselves honorable
• Not committing adultery
• Not committing idolatry for it brings evil effects up to the fourth generations
• Not bearing false witness against each other
• Not misusing the name of the Lord our God in vain
• Observing the Sabbath
3.3. PROTECTS THE NEIGHBORS’ WELFARE:
• By not bearing false testimony. Don’t make your neighbor look bad I the eyes of others
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Transfered from the other blogspot
Note: I am discontinuing the other blogspot to focus on this one. These lessons have been transferred there. That blogspot will cease to exists when all the contents have been transferred to this blogspot.
Counseling lesson # 2:
UNDERSTANDING AND HANDLING OUR EMOTIONS
A Series Leading To Biblical Counseling
Lesson 2
Gen 4:1-16
4:1 Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man." 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" 10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth." 13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." 15 But the LORD said to him, "Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. NIV
Discussion:
1. Identify the characters in the story and their relationship with each other.
2. The crime of Cain: what was it exactly?
3. Take note and find out how crime started. Can you identify the specific issues that transformed Cain from being a brother to a brother’s murderer? What conclusions do you think Cain made about his situation?
4. In a “counseling” situation, God helped Cain understand what he was going through. What, according to God, was the explanation for rejection of his offering?
5. What was Cain’s punishment? Can you explain this punishment in terms of its impact on the social image of Cain?
6. What was one thing that Cain was afraid of after he heard what the punishment was?
7. How can we prevent a Cain-like emotions in our own life?
Remember the relationship between: Mental conclusion, emotions and Action. Apply this in the case of Cain and his crime.
Heb 11:4. By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. (NIV)
Now, let’s try to “Counsel” Cain (Payuhan natin si Cain). If you were there and talking to Cain while he was clearly showing disturbed emotions, what would you have said to him or what questions would you have asked or encouragement that you have given to him?
SOME BEAUTIFUL DOCTRINES/ TEACHINGS YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS:
1. In verse 1, there is teaching about the morality and spirituality of marriage, can you find it? (clue: It is an implicit and not an explicit teaching).
2. In verses 4 and 5, we find God looked with favor upon Abel and his offering but did not look with favor upon Cain and his offering. What is the difference between these statements: “ Abel was God’s favorite” and “ God looked with favor upon Abel and his offering?”
3. In verses 6 and 7, God asked a series of questions. Since God is all-knowing, He could not have asked these questions in order to acquire information. Here is wisdom about how to use a question. Do you know what this question is called?
4. In verse 8, ask a pair of questions (as many you can make). The first question uses WHAT and the paired question uses WHY. The second question uses WHERE as its first question and the paired questions is WHY. The third pair uses WHAT for the first question and uses WHY as the other question.
4.1. First pair of questions: What- why
4.2. Second Pair of questions: Where- Why
4.3. Third Pair of Questions: What-Why
5. The “brother’s keeper” concept is found in verse 9. The core ideas of the “Brother’s Keeper” concept are:
You know where your family member is.
You know the condition of your family member.
You have done whatever was necessary to ensure the welfare of your family member.
Question: Can you say yes to all these 3 statements? (Praise God). If not, why not?
6. The word STIGMA is not mentioned in the story but it is clearly there. Can you find it?
Important lessons:
They say that anger is our response to perceived threat or pain. If you note the word PERCEIVE, you would notice that it has something to do with the thinking rather than the feeling part of our life. This is a simple truth that we all must and can learn to help us in anger management. Here is how we should understand anger: It has 3 parts of components:
INTELLECTUAL ANGER: Anger begins with our intellectual conclusion. When we conclude that we have been betrayed or taken advantaged of, we naturally judge it as wrong and we judge it REALLY wrong because it is directed at us.
EMOTIONAL ANGER: Our intellectual conclusion triggers emotional response so we FEEL our anger. Emotions can be contained but many times they are difficult to contain so we generate the third component.
BEHAVIORAL ANGER: When we make intellectual conclusion, we start feeling something in relation to our conclusions. Naturally, our emotions would want to find a release- thus there is an urge to do something about it to express it. Anger then gets expressed as behavior.
Note: Behavioral expression or acting out our emotions can either soften or harden our emotions. When what we do hardens our emotions, we become MORE GALIT and so we make more conclusions which, in turn, will cause to seek to have more expressions of our emotions.
It is then important to handle our emotions by dealing with the perception or intellectual conclusions that generate our emotions. That is why God asked Cain to focus on the WHY of his anger. Our behavior is generated and dependent on our emotions. Our emotions are generated and dependent on the intellectual conclusions that we make. When we positively change our intellectual conclusions, our emotions are also positively changed and finally, our behavior will also change for the better.
Posted by Pastor Doy at 1:49 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Friday, October 2, 2009
A PRAYER MEDITATION:Facing The Pain Of Ondoy’s Afflictions And The Threats Of Parma And Melor
Let us read the text for our first meditation: “Ps 90:1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. 2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
Let us learn the lessons from the text:
A dwelling place describes the home and the comfort that such a home brings. But, the dwelling place is more than a home. The word MAOWN (translated as Dwelling place) is the habitation of God. That is the place of His special presence. We are in His special presence for He is our dwelling place.
Let us respond in prayer: “Lord, we thank You that You are not only our God but You are also our dwelling place. We thank You for the comfort that the name Dwelling Place brings. We are reminded that it means we live in your presence, inside the walls of Your love and protection and under the roof of your grace. You are our Dwelling Place. We are grateful. Help us to face these calamities and threats with courage.”
Let us read the text for our second meditation: Luke 8:24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters ; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."
Let us learn the lessons from this text:
The presence of the Lord is our comfort but the presence is never intended to give a false picture of a trouble-free life. The Lord was with the disciples but they were still threatened by strong wind and raging waters. They were in danger. Note the lessons: 1: The Presence of the Lord is ours because we belong to Him. 2: The Presence of the Lord does not guarantee the absence of threats and dangers. 3: The Presence of the Lord guarantees divine intervention. He rebuked the wind and it quieted down.
Let us respond in prayer: Lord Jesus, this passage reminds us of the reality that your presence is our comfort but Your presence was never meant to guarantee a trouble-free life but a life where divine intervention is available at the right time. You are able Lord and You can rebuke the wind. We pray that You would consider rebuking the winds of Parma and Melor and please order then to quiet down, dissipate and leave us in peace. We are grateful for your presence.
Let us read the text for our third meditation: Isa 54:7 "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. 8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you," says the LORD your Redeemer. 9 "To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. 10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”
Let us learn the lessons: The love of God is eternal but there are brief moments when we cannot feel the love of God. This happens when we offend Him in an arrogant manner and try to live our lives our way. This generates the so-called BRIEF MOMENTS OF ABANDONMENT. There are- as there have been, momentary hiding of His face. But let us be comforted by these lessons: 1. His love for us is everlasting. That will not change. 2: His brief moments of abandonment are just that: brief moments. Repentance ends those brief moments quickly. 3: His promise is clear: His unfailing love for us will not be shaken and His covenant of peace will not be removed.
Let us respond in prayer: Our Father, we know we have offended you many times and in many ways. During times when our lives were not threatened by dangers and calamities, we dishonored you by our failure to recognize You as the source of all our blessings. We managed our lives our way. Please forgive us. We are grateful to you that we experience brief moments of abandonment and not prolonged hiding of Your face. Thank You for Your forgiveness. Father, please speak to the winds of Parma and Melor to quiet down, dissipate and leave us alone in peace and in Your presence.
FINALLY: We are in God’s hand. Let us face this threat and let us rebuild our lives with unity and peace. God will listen to us.
Posted by Pastor Doy at 6:25 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Understanding and Handling our emotions (a series)
UNDERSTANDING AND HANDLING OUR EMOTIONS
(Introduction to Biblical counseling)
Introduction:
Everything you know and are aware of is called CONSCIOUSNESS OR AWARENESS. CONSCIOUSNESS has two parts: COGNITIVE (KNOWLEDGE) and EMOTION (FEELING).
CONSCIOUSNESS OR AWARENESS
Cognitive = totality of knowledge. Emotion- Trained feeling response to stimulating experience.
Question: Where did we get the contents of our CONSCIOUSNESS or AWARENESS?
Answer: Consciousness is the sum total of our EXPERIENCES and MEMORIES.
Question: What is the distinction between Experience and Memory?
Answer: Experience is everything we go through during our conscious state. After the experience is completed, it becomes memory.
Lesson 1: A good memory is a product of a good experience. A bad memory is a product of a bad experience. When Memory becomes disruptive, the process used to overcome it is usually called INNER HEALING.
Lesson 2: Although emotion is the feeling side of our experience, it is usually a product of the cognitive part of our Awareness. In simple English, it means that our feelings trace their roots from our knowledge.
Lesson 3: Emotions may be one of 3 types: primitive, developed, and disciplined. Primitive emotion does not require much knowledge (the bonding of the mother and offspring among animals); the developed type is a product of accumulated experiences while disciplined emotion is a product of careful and intentional training. Is love in human courtship primitive, developed or disciplined emotion?
Lesson 4: The more common emotions are the following: Acceptance, Affection, Aggression, Ambivalence, Anger, Apathy, Anxiety, Compassion, Depression, Disgust, Doubt, Ecstasy, Empathy, Envy, Embarrassment, Euphoria, Fear, Forgiveness, Frustration, Guilt, Gratitude, Grief, Happiness, Hatred, Hope, Horror, Hostility, Homesickness, Hysteria, Loneliness, Love, Paranoia, Pity, Pleasure, Pride, Rage, Regret, Remorse, Sadness, Shame, Suffering, Surprise, Sympathy
THE EMOTIONS FOR TODAY’S STUDY: ANGER AND HURT
Bible Passage For Study: Luke 15:11-32.
11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. 25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' 28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' 31 "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"
Summary of the story:
The father had two sons. The younger son took his share of the property, went away and wasted his wealth. He became very poor. The Older brother remained with the father and continued his hard work.
When the younger son became poor, he came back and his hope was that his father would take him only as a worker so he can eat. But the father saw him coming, embraced him and restored him to his status as a son. The father was not angry. The older brother came home in the midst of the celebration and became angry. Let’s try to understand the anger of the older son and the absence of anger on the part of the father.
Question 1: Did the younger son do something really wrong? What exactly did he do?
His crime or sin is called IMPROPER INDEPENDENCE or disrespect for the father expressed in 3 ways:
A. I don’t want parental intervention over how I should spend my money. I want my money.
B. I don’t want parental intervention over where I should go. I will go where I want to go.
C. I don’t want parental intervention over what I would do. I will do what I want to do.
Question 2: Look at the list of emotions above. What emotions do you think the younger son experienced when he asked for the money? What about during his difficult times?
Question 3: What made his restoration possible?
1. Realization. 2. Repentance 3. request to be forgiven
Question 4: What made the older son angry?
A. This tells you that the most common cause of anger is resentment .
B. The other reason for anger is the sense that what is happening is unfair.
C. The other reason for anger is the sense that one’s importance has not been rejected.
Question 4: Look at the list of emotions above. Which ones do you think the father experienced when the son left with such an attitude? Read verses 31 and 32.
Question 5: Apparently the father was not angry when he saw the son coming back. How do you explain this? Clue: one emotion is often aggravated or rendered powerless by another emotion.
Conclusion for today’s lesson:
From the cognitive side of our Awareness, we have developed a fairly refined set of STANDARDS or what is acceptable and not acceptable (Pamantayan). From the Cognitive side we have developed a list of what we consider as our NEEDS in life. Often, these are types of emotions. The cognitive and emotion will usually work together to generate the appropriate behavior.
Here is an explanation of the relationship of the 3- Knowledge, Emotions and Behavior. Step one: I get to know something from what I know that is not good (KNOWLEDGE). Based on what I know, I disapprove of what had happened. Step 2: As a consequence I feel bad (EMOTIONS). Step 3: Because I feel bad, I will want to express it in action (BEHAVIOR) Clearly, you cannot change your behavior without changing your emotions but you also cannot change your emotions without changing their cognitive roots.
Note: This is lesson one in a series. It is intended to benefit those who want to be a people-helper (counselor) using biblical and cultural models. If you are interested to study the series, please post a reply here indicating your intention. If not, I will not post the second and subsequent lessons.
Posted by Pastor Doy at 5:14 AM 2 comments Links to this post
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Doing Good
DOING GOOD
Introduction:
The Greek New Testament uses two important words which are both translated as GOOD in English. One is AGATHOS which describes that which is good because it is good in its character and also beneficial in its impact. Example: A Good tree (the tree is good) produces good fruit (impact). The other word is KALOS which describes that which is good in character but also good as beautiful, honorable and able to adjust to its circumstances. The distinction is simple: Agathos- good with a good or beneficial impact. Kalos- Good with a beneficial impact but is also beautiful (as in admirable)at the same time.
One verse uses both Agathos and Kalos: Luke 8:15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble (Kalos) and good (Agathos) heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Anything that you do must be both Agathos and Kalos.
What is the believer’s belief concerning good works or good deeds? The Lord Jesus tells us how we should view Good deeds or good works: Matt 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
1. It is a command (respond by obedience),
2. It is a commitment (choose to make it happen).
3. It must have social visibility (that they may see).
4. It has an ultimate goal - with the glory God as the ultimate goal (glorify God your Father in heaven)
Paul explains why this is so: Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. We were created for GOOD WORKS and God prepared beforehand these good works beforehand for us.
From Galatians, we learn very specific principles and guidelines about doing what is good:
Gal 6:9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
I- DOING GOOD WORKS IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE; IT IS VERY MUCH A MATTER OF OPPORTUNITY. While we have opportunity. Why not always possible? Good as beautiful, honorable, helpful or beneficial is not always possible. Some people who are not believers may not even want us near them when life is okay. They do not need anything beneficial from us because they are self-sufficient. But, during a calamity, the opportunity to do good opens up. The rich and the poor, when hit by something really hard, will need friends, comfort and our presence.
II- DOING GOOD HAS A SPECIFIC RULE: BELIEVERS FIRST AND THEN EVERYONE. All men but the household of faith first.
III- DOING GOOD HAS AN ENEMY: IT IS CALLED DONOR FATIGUE OR GOOD WORKS FATIGUE. It is also known as losing heart. The answer to this:
1. Decide that this is beautiful in God’s sight.
2. Determine the act that is really beneficial to the recipient. It brings joy.
3. Develop a system of doing this as a group because there is strength in doing this together.
Posted by Pastor Doy at 10:19 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Let me tell you about the birds and the brook
Title : LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE BIRDS AND THE BROOK
Text : Read the entire 1 Kings 17
Summary : Sometimes we find ourselves in an I DON’T LIKE This SITUATION. We ask the question why.
Introduction:
This is a story that involves the birds and a brook. Elijah was one of the settlers of Gilead. Did you notice what it says? He was one of the settlers. What is a settler? Someone who has settled (in contrast with someone who live a nomadic or palipatlipat lifestyle). Elijah had, in other words, a fairly stable community life. What was Gilead like?
Gilead was a land blessed with sufficient rainfall (cooler than Tagaytay at 3,000 feet) and so vegetation grew quite well. It was thickly wooded that it served a hiding place for someone people. It also had a rich gracing land. It was also exporting the Balm of Gilead, a medicine that we do not much about but was a popular medical product in those days..
The point is that you wont’ want to leave Gilead. But, Elijah was called to leave Gilead to carry out a work of God. This is a true sacrifice on Elijah’s part but obedience is always sacrificial.
So Elijah went to the king. The message was not exactly encouraging. It was a judgment message: no ran. For a nation that depended on rain for its survival, it was a a rather harsh judgment. But, it was the message of God and Elijah had to deliver it. Then, after delivering the message, God told him to go and hide. GO AND HIDE! Yes, that is what told him. God and hide.
Some of the tings God does are not always logical by our standards and not always easy to understand. He was asked to go and hide alongside the Brook Cherith or as the NIV puts it,in Kerith ravine. What about his needs? the birds will bring him meat and bread and the brook supplied his water needs.
Why would a powerful God, in fact, omnipotent or all powerful, want his servant to hide from someone who is not God’s equal. That is the point of obedience; God does not have to be logical. To complicate matters, Elijah was a man of great fear and doubts. But Elijah must have done quite well for God rewarded him with an unusual reward; in fact two great rewards: He went up to heaven on a chariot of fire and he came back to earth during the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus.
What can we learn from Elijah’s BROOK CHERITH experience?
I- ELIJAH CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD WHICH WORD, SOUND, EVENT WERE CONSIDERED DIVINE REVELATIONS.
1. The word to go and hide seem impossible for God to say but Elijah understood that as words of the Lord so he obeyed. God and hide.
2. The sounds of the flapping wings was divine revelation concerning his provisions.
3. The sound of the brook and later its silence were both signs of God’s revelations.
Elijah’s skills was that he can easily identify which word, which sound and which event are God’s revelations. He was able to obey because he was able to distinguish clearly the will of God.
What about us? Can we distinguish when a newspaper report contains divine revelation or not? From the words of people around you, can you identify which one is divine revelation? From your pains, can you identify which ones are divine revelations?
II- ELIJAH UNDERSTOOD CLEARLY THE MEANING OF DIVINE TIMING. HE HONORED IT.
1) His literal confinement in a very lonely place simply means that his public ministry had to be done at another time. The brook Cherith experience must have been lonesome and completely against the usual wishes of Elijah but he accepted it and waited. Why? He understood divine timing.
2) His provisions from the bird was a lesson in humility and patience, traits that ll servants of God must learn with all their heart. Sometimes we want a problem solved right away but God has a different timing. Sometimes, we want a family situation resolved right away or a family member changed completely ASAP but God has His own timing. We need to learn to wait for God who alone has the perfect timing.
III- ELIJAH UNDERSTOOD THAT OBEDIENCE IS HIGHER THAN EMOTIONAL INCLINATIONS.
On the way to Sidon, God promised Elijah that a widow will provide for Him. Reaching Sidon, Elijah saw a widow too poor to have another meal. She was preparing for the last mean for her and the son. But, God had told Elijah that a widow will provide for him. How can a widow who is about to have the last supper provide for him? Of course, there was only one answer: If the widow provides for Elijah first, she will continue to have enough so she can continually supply Elijah’s needs. Asking the widow to make a bread for him first must have been emotionally disturbing but Elijah overruled his emotions and acted on obedience. The word you will provide so provide me with food. To ask for food from a starving woman was not selfishness as it seems appear but a test of Elijah’s degree of trust on God’s word. God did say that a widow will provide for him and this woman is a widow. To ask for blessings to those within his reach was the favor he asked from God. It was given. This is also our role in life. Food for the widow. Life for her son. Later, blessings on the land.
Kerith Ravine was the place that fully represents the truth that without God, we are nothing and there is really nothing that we can do.
Why do we have Kerith Ravines in life? For one, we need to be trained in wisdom.Also we need to be trained in obedience in the proper sense of the word. We are to obey without questioning the wisdom of God. Kerith Ravine offers nothing attractive but God told him” go and hide” so Elijah went and hid himself. Second, God allows a Kerith Ravine because we need to be trained in patience. Later in life Elijah would show indications of being impatient. God ordered him to a place where there is nothing at all that will and can happen. The greatest test of our patience is a lack of anything to do and the seeming meaninglessness of the whole thing. But God has said, go and hide so he hid himself and waited until God told him to get out of there. That is patience. Patience cannot be separated from obedience. In fact, only obedience will develop patience. Third, we need to be trained in DEPENDENCE. We tend to be the “I can do it” independent type of persons. We worship God but we sometimes manifest an “I can manage even without God’s help” attitude. If we become so self-supporting and self-managing then where is the glory of God?
Elijah was a man of great power. But before he can use those powers from God, he had to learn wisdom and the ability to discern God’s revelations. He had to learn OBEDIENCE, PATIENCE AND DEPENDENCE AND CONTROL OF EMOTIONS. May be you are going through your own Kerith Ravine experience. Be wise enough to know that a Kerith Ravine is a temporary experience. It is a training school where we learn OBEDIENCE, PATIENCE AND DEPENDENCE. But, not to worry, even while in Kerith Ravine, the brook will provide us with water and the ravens will provide our food. Sometimes your neighbor is the brook and sometimes he is the raven. God will provide.
To the WISE, OBEDIENT, PATIENT, DEPENDENT AND EMOTIONALLY CONTROLLED PERSON, God will reveal His wonderful plan and then we understand that our Kerith Ravine is nothing but a training institute so that we become productive, effective and submissive.
1 Kings 17
17:1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word." 2 And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 3 "Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 And it shall be that you shall drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there." 5 So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook. 7 And it happened after a while, that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
8 Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 9 "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, "Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink." 11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, "Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand." 12 But she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die." 13 Then Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first, and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. 14 For thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.'" 15 So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah.
17 Now it came about after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick; and his sickness was so severe, that there was no breath left in him. 18 So she said to Elijah, "What do I have to do with you, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my iniquity to remembrance, and to put my son to death!" 19 And he said to her, "Give me your son." Then he took him from her bosom and carried him up to the upper room where he was living, and laid him on his own bed. 20 And he called to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, hast Thou also brought calamity to the widow with whom I am staying, by causing her son to die?" 21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and called to the LORD, and said, "O LORD my God, I pray Thee, let this child's life return to him." 22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned to him and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down from the upper room into the house and gave him to his mother; and Elijah said, "See, your son is alive." 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth." NASB
“Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”
Posted by Pastor Doy at 7:33 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
God accuses His People
WHEN GOD ACCUSES HIS PEOPLE
The Book of Malachi. Reading Malachi 1
Introduction:
Salvation as a removal of eternal punishment. The issue of sins today: What happens when God’s people insist on violating God’s commandments? Our eternal security does not imply that our sins on earth will not have consequence.
When the people of Israel were exiled 150 years before the time of prophet Malachi, the years of the exile were years of pain, suffering and a degradation that Israelites as God’s people need not go through but did. The longing of those years was to be given the chance to go back to the native land and build the temple, to worship God freely, to be a nation once more.
Then, finally, the thirst of their longing was quenched partially for some of them were allowed to return. In 516 BC, the returned exiles finished the temple. Then Ezra the Priest came and strengthened the people with his teachings. Then in 445 BC, Nehemiah returned and led the rebuilding of the wall. During his time, the years of the Jews were exciting and glorious. The walls were finally up and the honor of the city was once more secure. The temple was up and operational. The Jews can be Jews once more without fear. Those were good years. Those were exciting years. Something beautiful, something grand. But, the situation deteriorated and at the time of the prophet Malachi, the deteriorated situation was desperately embarrassing in its corruptness and perversion that God had to confront His people through the prophet Malachi with word that are unusually harsh and even threatening in nature.
Today, I would like to examine with you the sins of God’s people. We must guard against such sins in our life not only because they are wrong but also because of the magnitude of the disaster that they can bring into our lives. What were the sins of God’s people during those days? Do we still have the same sin today in our lives?
I THE SINS OF GOD’S PEOPLE
1. Corrupting Marriage
• Wrong choice of a marriage partner
Marrying a daughter of a foreign god. : 2:11-12. The way you go about choosing your partner is a reflection of your spiritual maturity.
• Choice of Divorce as an option in marriage 2:15-16
The only reason allowed for divorce. What is allowed need not be our option.
• Choice of Adultery as an extra marital option 3:5
2. Corrupting the Love your neighbor principle
• Oppression of the Fatherless and widows (the defense and the needy) 3:5
• Oppression of the laborers – 3:5
The Promotion of human rights is a very biblical issue. But, the promotion of human rights begins by being sensitive to the needs of the disadvantaged such as the fatherless and the widows.
• Corrupting personal dependence of God
Sorcery – 3:5. Sorcery involves spirits. This is in fact a rejection of God’s sufficiency in our lives.
• Corrupting the Tithe and the Offering:
• Tithe is the whole tithe or the full 10% of our income. 3:8-10
Anything less than the full tithe is robbery or stealing from God.
• Offering is : According to God’s status and honor. 1:6, 7, 12-14.
Anything less than the best we can do is called Contempt of the Lord’s Name or despising God’s name. 1:6
• Corrupting the faith
• By doubting God’s love. 1:2 and 1:6
But you ask – How have you loved us? God says, I have loved you. And the people answered, Talaga? If you doubt about my love for you, just see how I have treated your nation (Jacob) in contrast with what is happening in the nation of Esau. And the people responded “GANOON?”
Why did this happen? The Israelites have waited for a long time for the coming of the Messiah or of God to rescue His people from their oppressors. The temple was up. The law was once more available to the people. Yet God did not come as was promised. So, they started doubting God’s love.
Are you beginning to doubt the love of God because you were asking for something and this something seems to be far away yet?
• Departing from the Lord’s teaching 2:1-9
The Priests were not teaching properly
The people have stumbled because of the lack of good teaching 2:8
“If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just. He will forgive and cleanse you.”
II THE SENTENCE ON GOD’S PEOPLE
• Judgment: Detestable by God’s standards. Consequence. Death 2:12 (cut off from the tents of Jacob) or separation from family and blessings of companionship.
• Judgment: You don’t fear God so I will come to testify against you. 3:5. Specially, when God comes to testify against us, it will: turn our blessings into curses (2:1-2). How fearful to have the hearing judge testify against the accused. There is no place to run.
• Judgment: Thieves (3:8-10). The punishment for thieves is the affliction coming from the agricultural devourer.
III THE SALVATION OF GOD’S PEOPLE
3:7-10. Repentance (return) and Repair (of marriages) and restitution (of what we owe God). Curses will be turned into blessings.
Your option today: Your blessings turned into a curse. Or the effects of former curses in our lives, turned into blessings.
Counseling lesson # 2:
UNDERSTANDING AND HANDLING OUR EMOTIONS
A Series Leading To Biblical Counseling
Lesson 2
Gen 4:1-16
4:1 Adam lay with his wife Eve, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Cain. She said, "With the help of the LORD I have brought forth a man." 2 Later she gave birth to his brother Abel. Now Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the LORD. 4 But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The LORD looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 5 but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast. 6 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it." 8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." And while they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him. 9 Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is your brother Abel?" "I don't know," he replied. "Am I my brother's keeper?" 10 The LORD said, "What have you done? Listen! Your brother's blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. 12 When you work the ground, it will no longer yield its crops for you. You will be a restless wanderer on the earth." 13 Cain said to the LORD, "My punishment is more than I can bear. 14 Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence; I will be a restless wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me." 15 But the LORD said to him, "Not so; if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over." Then the LORD put a mark on Cain so that no one who found him would kill him. 16 So Cain went out from the LORD's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden. NIV
Discussion:
1. Identify the characters in the story and their relationship with each other.
2. The crime of Cain: what was it exactly?
3. Take note and find out how crime started. Can you identify the specific issues that transformed Cain from being a brother to a brother’s murderer? What conclusions do you think Cain made about his situation?
4. In a “counseling” situation, God helped Cain understand what he was going through. What, according to God, was the explanation for rejection of his offering?
5. What was Cain’s punishment? Can you explain this punishment in terms of its impact on the social image of Cain?
6. What was one thing that Cain was afraid of after he heard what the punishment was?
7. How can we prevent a Cain-like emotions in our own life?
Remember the relationship between: Mental conclusion, emotions and Action. Apply this in the case of Cain and his crime.
Heb 11:4. By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead. (NIV)
Now, let’s try to “Counsel” Cain (Payuhan natin si Cain). If you were there and talking to Cain while he was clearly showing disturbed emotions, what would you have said to him or what questions would you have asked or encouragement that you have given to him?
SOME BEAUTIFUL DOCTRINES/ TEACHINGS YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS:
1. In verse 1, there is teaching about the morality and spirituality of marriage, can you find it? (clue: It is an implicit and not an explicit teaching).
2. In verses 4 and 5, we find God looked with favor upon Abel and his offering but did not look with favor upon Cain and his offering. What is the difference between these statements: “ Abel was God’s favorite” and “ God looked with favor upon Abel and his offering?”
3. In verses 6 and 7, God asked a series of questions. Since God is all-knowing, He could not have asked these questions in order to acquire information. Here is wisdom about how to use a question. Do you know what this question is called?
4. In verse 8, ask a pair of questions (as many you can make). The first question uses WHAT and the paired question uses WHY. The second question uses WHERE as its first question and the paired questions is WHY. The third pair uses WHAT for the first question and uses WHY as the other question.
4.1. First pair of questions: What- why
4.2. Second Pair of questions: Where- Why
4.3. Third Pair of Questions: What-Why
5. The “brother’s keeper” concept is found in verse 9. The core ideas of the “Brother’s Keeper” concept are:
You know where your family member is.
You know the condition of your family member.
You have done whatever was necessary to ensure the welfare of your family member.
Question: Can you say yes to all these 3 statements? (Praise God). If not, why not?
6. The word STIGMA is not mentioned in the story but it is clearly there. Can you find it?
Important lessons:
They say that anger is our response to perceived threat or pain. If you note the word PERCEIVE, you would notice that it has something to do with the thinking rather than the feeling part of our life. This is a simple truth that we all must and can learn to help us in anger management. Here is how we should understand anger: It has 3 parts of components:
INTELLECTUAL ANGER: Anger begins with our intellectual conclusion. When we conclude that we have been betrayed or taken advantaged of, we naturally judge it as wrong and we judge it REALLY wrong because it is directed at us.
EMOTIONAL ANGER: Our intellectual conclusion triggers emotional response so we FEEL our anger. Emotions can be contained but many times they are difficult to contain so we generate the third component.
BEHAVIORAL ANGER: When we make intellectual conclusion, we start feeling something in relation to our conclusions. Naturally, our emotions would want to find a release- thus there is an urge to do something about it to express it. Anger then gets expressed as behavior.
Note: Behavioral expression or acting out our emotions can either soften or harden our emotions. When what we do hardens our emotions, we become MORE GALIT and so we make more conclusions which, in turn, will cause to seek to have more expressions of our emotions.
It is then important to handle our emotions by dealing with the perception or intellectual conclusions that generate our emotions. That is why God asked Cain to focus on the WHY of his anger. Our behavior is generated and dependent on our emotions. Our emotions are generated and dependent on the intellectual conclusions that we make. When we positively change our intellectual conclusions, our emotions are also positively changed and finally, our behavior will also change for the better.
Posted by Pastor Doy at 1:49 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Friday, October 2, 2009
A PRAYER MEDITATION:Facing The Pain Of Ondoy’s Afflictions And The Threats Of Parma And Melor
Let us read the text for our first meditation: “Ps 90:1 Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. 2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
Let us learn the lessons from the text:
A dwelling place describes the home and the comfort that such a home brings. But, the dwelling place is more than a home. The word MAOWN (translated as Dwelling place) is the habitation of God. That is the place of His special presence. We are in His special presence for He is our dwelling place.
Let us respond in prayer: “Lord, we thank You that You are not only our God but You are also our dwelling place. We thank You for the comfort that the name Dwelling Place brings. We are reminded that it means we live in your presence, inside the walls of Your love and protection and under the roof of your grace. You are our Dwelling Place. We are grateful. Help us to face these calamities and threats with courage.”
Let us read the text for our second meditation: Luke 8:24 The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters ; the storm subsided, and all was calm. 25 "Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."
Let us learn the lessons from this text:
The presence of the Lord is our comfort but the presence is never intended to give a false picture of a trouble-free life. The Lord was with the disciples but they were still threatened by strong wind and raging waters. They were in danger. Note the lessons: 1: The Presence of the Lord is ours because we belong to Him. 2: The Presence of the Lord does not guarantee the absence of threats and dangers. 3: The Presence of the Lord guarantees divine intervention. He rebuked the wind and it quieted down.
Let us respond in prayer: Lord Jesus, this passage reminds us of the reality that your presence is our comfort but Your presence was never meant to guarantee a trouble-free life but a life where divine intervention is available at the right time. You are able Lord and You can rebuke the wind. We pray that You would consider rebuking the winds of Parma and Melor and please order then to quiet down, dissipate and leave us in peace. We are grateful for your presence.
Let us read the text for our third meditation: Isa 54:7 "For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with deep compassion I will bring you back. 8 In a surge of anger I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness I will have compassion on you," says the LORD your Redeemer. 9 "To me this is like the days of Noah, when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth. So now I have sworn not to be angry with you, never to rebuke you again. 10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.”
Let us learn the lessons: The love of God is eternal but there are brief moments when we cannot feel the love of God. This happens when we offend Him in an arrogant manner and try to live our lives our way. This generates the so-called BRIEF MOMENTS OF ABANDONMENT. There are- as there have been, momentary hiding of His face. But let us be comforted by these lessons: 1. His love for us is everlasting. That will not change. 2: His brief moments of abandonment are just that: brief moments. Repentance ends those brief moments quickly. 3: His promise is clear: His unfailing love for us will not be shaken and His covenant of peace will not be removed.
Let us respond in prayer: Our Father, we know we have offended you many times and in many ways. During times when our lives were not threatened by dangers and calamities, we dishonored you by our failure to recognize You as the source of all our blessings. We managed our lives our way. Please forgive us. We are grateful to you that we experience brief moments of abandonment and not prolonged hiding of Your face. Thank You for Your forgiveness. Father, please speak to the winds of Parma and Melor to quiet down, dissipate and leave us alone in peace and in Your presence.
FINALLY: We are in God’s hand. Let us face this threat and let us rebuild our lives with unity and peace. God will listen to us.
Posted by Pastor Doy at 6:25 PM 0 comments Links to this post
Understanding and Handling our emotions (a series)
UNDERSTANDING AND HANDLING OUR EMOTIONS
(Introduction to Biblical counseling)
Introduction:
Everything you know and are aware of is called CONSCIOUSNESS OR AWARENESS. CONSCIOUSNESS has two parts: COGNITIVE (KNOWLEDGE) and EMOTION (FEELING).
CONSCIOUSNESS OR AWARENESS
Cognitive = totality of knowledge. Emotion- Trained feeling response to stimulating experience.
Question: Where did we get the contents of our CONSCIOUSNESS or AWARENESS?
Answer: Consciousness is the sum total of our EXPERIENCES and MEMORIES.
Question: What is the distinction between Experience and Memory?
Answer: Experience is everything we go through during our conscious state. After the experience is completed, it becomes memory.
Lesson 1: A good memory is a product of a good experience. A bad memory is a product of a bad experience. When Memory becomes disruptive, the process used to overcome it is usually called INNER HEALING.
Lesson 2: Although emotion is the feeling side of our experience, it is usually a product of the cognitive part of our Awareness. In simple English, it means that our feelings trace their roots from our knowledge.
Lesson 3: Emotions may be one of 3 types: primitive, developed, and disciplined. Primitive emotion does not require much knowledge (the bonding of the mother and offspring among animals); the developed type is a product of accumulated experiences while disciplined emotion is a product of careful and intentional training. Is love in human courtship primitive, developed or disciplined emotion?
Lesson 4: The more common emotions are the following: Acceptance, Affection, Aggression, Ambivalence, Anger, Apathy, Anxiety, Compassion, Depression, Disgust, Doubt, Ecstasy, Empathy, Envy, Embarrassment, Euphoria, Fear, Forgiveness, Frustration, Guilt, Gratitude, Grief, Happiness, Hatred, Hope, Horror, Hostility, Homesickness, Hysteria, Loneliness, Love, Paranoia, Pity, Pleasure, Pride, Rage, Regret, Remorse, Sadness, Shame, Suffering, Surprise, Sympathy
THE EMOTIONS FOR TODAY’S STUDY: ANGER AND HURT
Bible Passage For Study: Luke 15:11-32.
11 Jesus continued: "There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, 'Father, give me my share of the estate.' So he divided his property between them.
13 "Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20 So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22 "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate. 25 "Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27'Your brother has come,' he replied, 'and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.' 28 "The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, 'Look! All these years I've been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!' 31 "'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.'"
Summary of the story:
The father had two sons. The younger son took his share of the property, went away and wasted his wealth. He became very poor. The Older brother remained with the father and continued his hard work.
When the younger son became poor, he came back and his hope was that his father would take him only as a worker so he can eat. But the father saw him coming, embraced him and restored him to his status as a son. The father was not angry. The older brother came home in the midst of the celebration and became angry. Let’s try to understand the anger of the older son and the absence of anger on the part of the father.
Question 1: Did the younger son do something really wrong? What exactly did he do?
His crime or sin is called IMPROPER INDEPENDENCE or disrespect for the father expressed in 3 ways:
A. I don’t want parental intervention over how I should spend my money. I want my money.
B. I don’t want parental intervention over where I should go. I will go where I want to go.
C. I don’t want parental intervention over what I would do. I will do what I want to do.
Question 2: Look at the list of emotions above. What emotions do you think the younger son experienced when he asked for the money? What about during his difficult times?
Question 3: What made his restoration possible?
1. Realization. 2. Repentance 3. request to be forgiven
Question 4: What made the older son angry?
A. This tells you that the most common cause of anger is resentment .
B. The other reason for anger is the sense that what is happening is unfair.
C. The other reason for anger is the sense that one’s importance has not been rejected.
Question 4: Look at the list of emotions above. Which ones do you think the father experienced when the son left with such an attitude? Read verses 31 and 32.
Question 5: Apparently the father was not angry when he saw the son coming back. How do you explain this? Clue: one emotion is often aggravated or rendered powerless by another emotion.
Conclusion for today’s lesson:
From the cognitive side of our Awareness, we have developed a fairly refined set of STANDARDS or what is acceptable and not acceptable (Pamantayan). From the Cognitive side we have developed a list of what we consider as our NEEDS in life. Often, these are types of emotions. The cognitive and emotion will usually work together to generate the appropriate behavior.
Here is an explanation of the relationship of the 3- Knowledge, Emotions and Behavior. Step one: I get to know something from what I know that is not good (KNOWLEDGE). Based on what I know, I disapprove of what had happened. Step 2: As a consequence I feel bad (EMOTIONS). Step 3: Because I feel bad, I will want to express it in action (BEHAVIOR) Clearly, you cannot change your behavior without changing your emotions but you also cannot change your emotions without changing their cognitive roots.
Note: This is lesson one in a series. It is intended to benefit those who want to be a people-helper (counselor) using biblical and cultural models. If you are interested to study the series, please post a reply here indicating your intention. If not, I will not post the second and subsequent lessons.
Posted by Pastor Doy at 5:14 AM 2 comments Links to this post
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Doing Good
DOING GOOD
Introduction:
The Greek New Testament uses two important words which are both translated as GOOD in English. One is AGATHOS which describes that which is good because it is good in its character and also beneficial in its impact. Example: A Good tree (the tree is good) produces good fruit (impact). The other word is KALOS which describes that which is good in character but also good as beautiful, honorable and able to adjust to its circumstances. The distinction is simple: Agathos- good with a good or beneficial impact. Kalos- Good with a beneficial impact but is also beautiful (as in admirable)at the same time.
One verse uses both Agathos and Kalos: Luke 8:15 But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble (Kalos) and good (Agathos) heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. Anything that you do must be both Agathos and Kalos.
What is the believer’s belief concerning good works or good deeds? The Lord Jesus tells us how we should view Good deeds or good works: Matt 5:16 "Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
1. It is a command (respond by obedience),
2. It is a commitment (choose to make it happen).
3. It must have social visibility (that they may see).
4. It has an ultimate goal - with the glory God as the ultimate goal (glorify God your Father in heaven)
Paul explains why this is so: Eph 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. We were created for GOOD WORKS and God prepared beforehand these good works beforehand for us.
From Galatians, we learn very specific principles and guidelines about doing what is good:
Gal 6:9 And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. 10 So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
I- DOING GOOD WORKS IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE; IT IS VERY MUCH A MATTER OF OPPORTUNITY. While we have opportunity. Why not always possible? Good as beautiful, honorable, helpful or beneficial is not always possible. Some people who are not believers may not even want us near them when life is okay. They do not need anything beneficial from us because they are self-sufficient. But, during a calamity, the opportunity to do good opens up. The rich and the poor, when hit by something really hard, will need friends, comfort and our presence.
II- DOING GOOD HAS A SPECIFIC RULE: BELIEVERS FIRST AND THEN EVERYONE. All men but the household of faith first.
III- DOING GOOD HAS AN ENEMY: IT IS CALLED DONOR FATIGUE OR GOOD WORKS FATIGUE. It is also known as losing heart. The answer to this:
1. Decide that this is beautiful in God’s sight.
2. Determine the act that is really beneficial to the recipient. It brings joy.
3. Develop a system of doing this as a group because there is strength in doing this together.
Posted by Pastor Doy at 10:19 AM 0 comments Links to this post
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Let me tell you about the birds and the brook
Title : LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE BIRDS AND THE BROOK
Text : Read the entire 1 Kings 17
Summary : Sometimes we find ourselves in an I DON’T LIKE This SITUATION. We ask the question why.
Introduction:
This is a story that involves the birds and a brook. Elijah was one of the settlers of Gilead. Did you notice what it says? He was one of the settlers. What is a settler? Someone who has settled (in contrast with someone who live a nomadic or palipatlipat lifestyle). Elijah had, in other words, a fairly stable community life. What was Gilead like?
Gilead was a land blessed with sufficient rainfall (cooler than Tagaytay at 3,000 feet) and so vegetation grew quite well. It was thickly wooded that it served a hiding place for someone people. It also had a rich gracing land. It was also exporting the Balm of Gilead, a medicine that we do not much about but was a popular medical product in those days..
The point is that you wont’ want to leave Gilead. But, Elijah was called to leave Gilead to carry out a work of God. This is a true sacrifice on Elijah’s part but obedience is always sacrificial.
So Elijah went to the king. The message was not exactly encouraging. It was a judgment message: no ran. For a nation that depended on rain for its survival, it was a a rather harsh judgment. But, it was the message of God and Elijah had to deliver it. Then, after delivering the message, God told him to go and hide. GO AND HIDE! Yes, that is what told him. God and hide.
Some of the tings God does are not always logical by our standards and not always easy to understand. He was asked to go and hide alongside the Brook Cherith or as the NIV puts it,in Kerith ravine. What about his needs? the birds will bring him meat and bread and the brook supplied his water needs.
Why would a powerful God, in fact, omnipotent or all powerful, want his servant to hide from someone who is not God’s equal. That is the point of obedience; God does not have to be logical. To complicate matters, Elijah was a man of great fear and doubts. But Elijah must have done quite well for God rewarded him with an unusual reward; in fact two great rewards: He went up to heaven on a chariot of fire and he came back to earth during the transfiguration of the Lord Jesus.
What can we learn from Elijah’s BROOK CHERITH experience?
I- ELIJAH CLEARLY UNDERSTOOD WHICH WORD, SOUND, EVENT WERE CONSIDERED DIVINE REVELATIONS.
1. The word to go and hide seem impossible for God to say but Elijah understood that as words of the Lord so he obeyed. God and hide.
2. The sounds of the flapping wings was divine revelation concerning his provisions.
3. The sound of the brook and later its silence were both signs of God’s revelations.
Elijah’s skills was that he can easily identify which word, which sound and which event are God’s revelations. He was able to obey because he was able to distinguish clearly the will of God.
What about us? Can we distinguish when a newspaper report contains divine revelation or not? From the words of people around you, can you identify which one is divine revelation? From your pains, can you identify which ones are divine revelations?
II- ELIJAH UNDERSTOOD CLEARLY THE MEANING OF DIVINE TIMING. HE HONORED IT.
1) His literal confinement in a very lonely place simply means that his public ministry had to be done at another time. The brook Cherith experience must have been lonesome and completely against the usual wishes of Elijah but he accepted it and waited. Why? He understood divine timing.
2) His provisions from the bird was a lesson in humility and patience, traits that ll servants of God must learn with all their heart. Sometimes we want a problem solved right away but God has a different timing. Sometimes, we want a family situation resolved right away or a family member changed completely ASAP but God has His own timing. We need to learn to wait for God who alone has the perfect timing.
III- ELIJAH UNDERSTOOD THAT OBEDIENCE IS HIGHER THAN EMOTIONAL INCLINATIONS.
On the way to Sidon, God promised Elijah that a widow will provide for Him. Reaching Sidon, Elijah saw a widow too poor to have another meal. She was preparing for the last mean for her and the son. But, God had told Elijah that a widow will provide for him. How can a widow who is about to have the last supper provide for him? Of course, there was only one answer: If the widow provides for Elijah first, she will continue to have enough so she can continually supply Elijah’s needs. Asking the widow to make a bread for him first must have been emotionally disturbing but Elijah overruled his emotions and acted on obedience. The word you will provide so provide me with food. To ask for food from a starving woman was not selfishness as it seems appear but a test of Elijah’s degree of trust on God’s word. God did say that a widow will provide for him and this woman is a widow. To ask for blessings to those within his reach was the favor he asked from God. It was given. This is also our role in life. Food for the widow. Life for her son. Later, blessings on the land.
Kerith Ravine was the place that fully represents the truth that without God, we are nothing and there is really nothing that we can do.
Why do we have Kerith Ravines in life? For one, we need to be trained in wisdom.Also we need to be trained in obedience in the proper sense of the word. We are to obey without questioning the wisdom of God. Kerith Ravine offers nothing attractive but God told him” go and hide” so Elijah went and hid himself. Second, God allows a Kerith Ravine because we need to be trained in patience. Later in life Elijah would show indications of being impatient. God ordered him to a place where there is nothing at all that will and can happen. The greatest test of our patience is a lack of anything to do and the seeming meaninglessness of the whole thing. But God has said, go and hide so he hid himself and waited until God told him to get out of there. That is patience. Patience cannot be separated from obedience. In fact, only obedience will develop patience. Third, we need to be trained in DEPENDENCE. We tend to be the “I can do it” independent type of persons. We worship God but we sometimes manifest an “I can manage even without God’s help” attitude. If we become so self-supporting and self-managing then where is the glory of God?
Elijah was a man of great power. But before he can use those powers from God, he had to learn wisdom and the ability to discern God’s revelations. He had to learn OBEDIENCE, PATIENCE AND DEPENDENCE AND CONTROL OF EMOTIONS. May be you are going through your own Kerith Ravine experience. Be wise enough to know that a Kerith Ravine is a temporary experience. It is a training school where we learn OBEDIENCE, PATIENCE AND DEPENDENCE. But, not to worry, even while in Kerith Ravine, the brook will provide us with water and the ravens will provide our food. Sometimes your neighbor is the brook and sometimes he is the raven. God will provide.
To the WISE, OBEDIENT, PATIENT, DEPENDENT AND EMOTIONALLY CONTROLLED PERSON, God will reveal His wonderful plan and then we understand that our Kerith Ravine is nothing but a training institute so that we become productive, effective and submissive.
1 Kings 17
17:1 Now Elijah the Tishbite, who was of the settlers of Gilead, said to Ahab, "As the LORD, the God of Israel lives, before whom I stand, surely there shall be neither dew nor rain these years, except by my word." 2 And the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 3 "Go away from here and turn eastward, and hide yourself by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 4 And it shall be that you shall drink of the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to provide for you there." 5 So he went and did according to the word of the LORD, for he went and lived by the brook Cherith, which is east of the Jordan. 6 And the ravens brought him bread and meat in the morning and bread and meat in the evening, and he would drink from the brook. 7 And it happened after a while, that the brook dried up, because there was no rain in the land.
8 Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, 9 "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you." 10 So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, "Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink." 11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, "Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand." 12 But she said, "As the LORD your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die." 13 Then Elijah said to her, "Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first, and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son. 14 For thus says the LORD God of Israel, 'The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the LORD sends rain on the face of the earth.'" 15 So she went and did according to the word of Elijah, and she and he and her household ate for many days. 16 The bowl of flour was not exhausted nor did the jar of oil become empty, according to the word of the LORD which He spoke through Elijah.
17 Now it came about after these things, that the son of the woman, the mistress of the house, became sick; and his sickness was so severe, that there was no breath left in him. 18 So she said to Elijah, "What do I have to do with you, O man of God? You have come to me to bring my iniquity to remembrance, and to put my son to death!" 19 And he said to her, "Give me your son." Then he took him from her bosom and carried him up to the upper room where he was living, and laid him on his own bed. 20 And he called to the LORD and said, "O LORD my God, hast Thou also brought calamity to the widow with whom I am staying, by causing her son to die?" 21 Then he stretched himself upon the child three times, and called to the LORD, and said, "O LORD my God, I pray Thee, let this child's life return to him." 22 And the LORD heard the voice of Elijah, and the life of the child returned to him and he revived. 23 And Elijah took the child, and brought him down from the upper room into the house and gave him to his mother; and Elijah said, "See, your son is alive." 24 Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God, and that the word of the LORD in your mouth is truth." NASB
“Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.”
Posted by Pastor Doy at 7:33 AM 1 comments Links to this post
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
God accuses His People
WHEN GOD ACCUSES HIS PEOPLE
The Book of Malachi. Reading Malachi 1
Introduction:
Salvation as a removal of eternal punishment. The issue of sins today: What happens when God’s people insist on violating God’s commandments? Our eternal security does not imply that our sins on earth will not have consequence.
When the people of Israel were exiled 150 years before the time of prophet Malachi, the years of the exile were years of pain, suffering and a degradation that Israelites as God’s people need not go through but did. The longing of those years was to be given the chance to go back to the native land and build the temple, to worship God freely, to be a nation once more.
Then, finally, the thirst of their longing was quenched partially for some of them were allowed to return. In 516 BC, the returned exiles finished the temple. Then Ezra the Priest came and strengthened the people with his teachings. Then in 445 BC, Nehemiah returned and led the rebuilding of the wall. During his time, the years of the Jews were exciting and glorious. The walls were finally up and the honor of the city was once more secure. The temple was up and operational. The Jews can be Jews once more without fear. Those were good years. Those were exciting years. Something beautiful, something grand. But, the situation deteriorated and at the time of the prophet Malachi, the deteriorated situation was desperately embarrassing in its corruptness and perversion that God had to confront His people through the prophet Malachi with word that are unusually harsh and even threatening in nature.
Today, I would like to examine with you the sins of God’s people. We must guard against such sins in our life not only because they are wrong but also because of the magnitude of the disaster that they can bring into our lives. What were the sins of God’s people during those days? Do we still have the same sin today in our lives?
I THE SINS OF GOD’S PEOPLE
1. Corrupting Marriage
• Wrong choice of a marriage partner
Marrying a daughter of a foreign god. : 2:11-12. The way you go about choosing your partner is a reflection of your spiritual maturity.
• Choice of Divorce as an option in marriage 2:15-16
The only reason allowed for divorce. What is allowed need not be our option.
• Choice of Adultery as an extra marital option 3:5
2. Corrupting the Love your neighbor principle
• Oppression of the Fatherless and widows (the defense and the needy) 3:5
• Oppression of the laborers – 3:5
The Promotion of human rights is a very biblical issue. But, the promotion of human rights begins by being sensitive to the needs of the disadvantaged such as the fatherless and the widows.
• Corrupting personal dependence of God
Sorcery – 3:5. Sorcery involves spirits. This is in fact a rejection of God’s sufficiency in our lives.
• Corrupting the Tithe and the Offering:
• Tithe is the whole tithe or the full 10% of our income. 3:8-10
Anything less than the full tithe is robbery or stealing from God.
• Offering is : According to God’s status and honor. 1:6, 7, 12-14.
Anything less than the best we can do is called Contempt of the Lord’s Name or despising God’s name. 1:6
• Corrupting the faith
• By doubting God’s love. 1:2 and 1:6
But you ask – How have you loved us? God says, I have loved you. And the people answered, Talaga? If you doubt about my love for you, just see how I have treated your nation (Jacob) in contrast with what is happening in the nation of Esau. And the people responded “GANOON?”
Why did this happen? The Israelites have waited for a long time for the coming of the Messiah or of God to rescue His people from their oppressors. The temple was up. The law was once more available to the people. Yet God did not come as was promised. So, they started doubting God’s love.
Are you beginning to doubt the love of God because you were asking for something and this something seems to be far away yet?
• Departing from the Lord’s teaching 2:1-9
The Priests were not teaching properly
The people have stumbled because of the lack of good teaching 2:8
“If you confess your sins, He is faithful and just. He will forgive and cleanse you.”
II THE SENTENCE ON GOD’S PEOPLE
• Judgment: Detestable by God’s standards. Consequence. Death 2:12 (cut off from the tents of Jacob) or separation from family and blessings of companionship.
• Judgment: You don’t fear God so I will come to testify against you. 3:5. Specially, when God comes to testify against us, it will: turn our blessings into curses (2:1-2). How fearful to have the hearing judge testify against the accused. There is no place to run.
• Judgment: Thieves (3:8-10). The punishment for thieves is the affliction coming from the agricultural devourer.
III THE SALVATION OF GOD’S PEOPLE
3:7-10. Repentance (return) and Repair (of marriages) and restitution (of what we owe God). Curses will be turned into blessings.
Your option today: Your blessings turned into a curse. Or the effects of former curses in our lives, turned into blessings.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
WICKEDNESS AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE: A TERRIBLE REALITY
TEXT NUMBERS 21
Main Truth: The joy of life, most of the time, is based on what is happening in our midst: Worship gives us a favorable experience but wickedness is a terrible experience.
Num 21:1 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. 2 Then Israel made this vow to the LORD: "If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities." 3 The LORD listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah. 4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" 6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived. NIV
INTRODUCTION:
Wickedness is terrible but it is even more terrible when it is found among God’s people. This is a sad reality. It does happen and the consequences are often far too devastating for most people to handle. Wickedness as a way of life is very costly.
I THE WICKEDNESS AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE IS REVEALED BY ITS SIGNS:
1. INGRATITUDE. Verse 5: they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" The manna became an object of complaint when the Manna was given because of their need. The Manna was a visible and undeniable proof of God’s concern for them but they were no longer grateful. Are we always grateful for what God has given us?
2. IMPATIENCE – Verse 4: They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way the way. Impatience is really arrogance and refusal to trust God and His timing. Impatience is not only I CAN’T WAIT. It is also : DON’T MAKE ME WAIT! around Edom would be a longer way. Before this, they tried to go through Edom
3. INSOLENCE- Verse 5: they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" The became disrespectful to the point of becoming insulting. They were insulting God for their perception about the quality of the manna. They were insulting Moses for the difficulties they encountered along the way.
Note: When wickedness comes in, ingratitude is often the first sign. But, it does not stop with ingratitude. Ingratitude gives birth to impatience and impatience gives birth to insolence.
II THE WICKEDNESS AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE GENERATES A DIFFICULT CONSEQUENCE.
In the case of the Israelites, two consequences, linked with each other, took place. Both are difficult to handle:
1. SNAKE BITE- Verse 6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.
2. DEATH FROM SNAKE BITE: When simple words of counsel would no longer work for us, the only remaining corrective instrument is pain or death. The pain is the kind that we can hardly cope with. This is the pain that cripples, the pain that forces us to admit that there is nothing we can do about it.
III THE WICKEDNESS AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE IS OFTEN COSTLY IN ITS SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM EFFECTS .
We are told that the people repented and Moses interceded for them. The people were forced to deal with their arrogance because the only for them to be spared from death is to again trust God’s Word. He says look at the snake. Does not seem to be too much and it seems a powerless method but that is the point of humility and trust. Trust God because He is the one giving the instruction. The bite of death was defeated with the look of faith. When bitten by the snake, all they had to do was look at the bronze snake believing that it was God’s answer to them and they got healed.
They looked at the snake and live, but some consequences were not removed.
1. The short-term effect is pain and death.
2. The long-term effect is the pain of those whose loved ones died because of the snake bite. Their families would never be complete again. Even when correction is effected, wickedness, often, has a lingering effect. The people who got bitten lived but the death has already invaded many families. Some losses cannot be recovered anymore.
Main Truth: The joy of life, most of the time, is based on what is happening in our midst: Worship gives us a favorable experience but wickedness is a terrible experience.
Num 21:1 When the Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev, heard that Israel was coming along the road to Atharim, he attacked the Israelites and captured some of them. 2 Then Israel made this vow to the LORD: "If you will deliver these people into our hands, we will totally destroy their cities." 3 The LORD listened to Israel's plea and gave the Canaanites over to them. They completely destroyed them and their towns; so the place was named Hormah. 4 They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way; 5 they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" 6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived. NIV
INTRODUCTION:
Wickedness is terrible but it is even more terrible when it is found among God’s people. This is a sad reality. It does happen and the consequences are often far too devastating for most people to handle. Wickedness as a way of life is very costly.
I THE WICKEDNESS AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE IS REVEALED BY ITS SIGNS:
1. INGRATITUDE. Verse 5: they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" The manna became an object of complaint when the Manna was given because of their need. The Manna was a visible and undeniable proof of God’s concern for them but they were no longer grateful. Are we always grateful for what God has given us?
2. IMPATIENCE – Verse 4: They traveled from Mount Hor along the route to the Red Sea, to go around Edom. But the people grew impatient on the way the way. Impatience is really arrogance and refusal to trust God and His timing. Impatience is not only I CAN’T WAIT. It is also : DON’T MAKE ME WAIT! around Edom would be a longer way. Before this, they tried to go through Edom
3. INSOLENCE- Verse 5: they spoke against God and against Moses, and said, "Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the desert? There is no bread! There is no water! And we detest this miserable food!" The became disrespectful to the point of becoming insulting. They were insulting God for their perception about the quality of the manna. They were insulting Moses for the difficulties they encountered along the way.
Note: When wickedness comes in, ingratitude is often the first sign. But, it does not stop with ingratitude. Ingratitude gives birth to impatience and impatience gives birth to insolence.
II THE WICKEDNESS AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE GENERATES A DIFFICULT CONSEQUENCE.
In the case of the Israelites, two consequences, linked with each other, took place. Both are difficult to handle:
1. SNAKE BITE- Verse 6 Then the LORD sent venomous snakes among them; they bit the people and many Israelites died. 7 The people came to Moses and said, "We sinned when we spoke against the LORD and against you. Pray that the LORD will take the snakes away from us." So Moses prayed for the people. 8 The LORD said to Moses, "Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live." 9 So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, he lived.
2. DEATH FROM SNAKE BITE: When simple words of counsel would no longer work for us, the only remaining corrective instrument is pain or death. The pain is the kind that we can hardly cope with. This is the pain that cripples, the pain that forces us to admit that there is nothing we can do about it.
III THE WICKEDNESS AMONG GOD’S PEOPLE IS OFTEN COSTLY IN ITS SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM EFFECTS .
We are told that the people repented and Moses interceded for them. The people were forced to deal with their arrogance because the only for them to be spared from death is to again trust God’s Word. He says look at the snake. Does not seem to be too much and it seems a powerless method but that is the point of humility and trust. Trust God because He is the one giving the instruction. The bite of death was defeated with the look of faith. When bitten by the snake, all they had to do was look at the bronze snake believing that it was God’s answer to them and they got healed.
They looked at the snake and live, but some consequences were not removed.
1. The short-term effect is pain and death.
2. The long-term effect is the pain of those whose loved ones died because of the snake bite. Their families would never be complete again. Even when correction is effected, wickedness, often, has a lingering effect. The people who got bitten lived but the death has already invaded many families. Some losses cannot be recovered anymore.
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