Archives for 2014

These were born to him in Jerusalem: Shimea, Shobab, Nathan and Solomon, four by Bath-shua, the daughter of Ammiel; 1 Chronicles 3:5 (ESV)

David is an example to us because of his faith in God, his courage, his heart to praise and worship God and to repent.

However we have just counted 7 wives. David is an example of how to be a bad father and husband.

From the very beginning God had intended man to have only one wife for life  as stated in Genesis 2:24. God also warned the children of Israel of the abusive way that kings would take many wives, in Deuteronomy 17:17 God commands kings not to do this.

The consequences of the breaking of these laws had dire consequences in David’s very fragmented family.

We see this problem in today’s society where men have a number of children by different women which was never God’s design and cause frustration and pain to all involved.

As Christians we must seek to uphold the Christian marriage and family in the midst of a culture which seeks to erode the place of the family and seeks to redefine marriage. See Ephesians 5:25 and Ephesians 6:4

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. 1 Chronicles 4:9–10 (ESV)

Contrary to the belief of naturalism and evolution we are not all just insignificant numbers, each one of us is precious in the sight of God. Jesus said that the very hairs of our heads are numbered in Luke 12:7. We matter to God despite the lies of the enemy. Jabez boldly stands out from the crowd.

In Jesus we can have the boldness and confidence in God to approach God and ask him to bless us like Jabez. Jesus said “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” in Matthew 21:22 and in John 14:13 “and Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

Later in James 4:3 we are reminded that when we ask we must do so in the right spirit “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.

So lets ask God in faith today.

Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory. 1 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)

Paul has just outlined the qualifications of church leaders and has given his reason for doing so in verse 15 where he states that we should know how to conduct ourselves as the church and declares the Church should be a pillar and buttress of truth.

Now with this ancient hymn about Christ we hear a wonderful summary of that truth found in the gospel message. This is the truth the church must uphold and defend

Your way, O God, is holy. What god is great like our God? You are the God who works wonders; you have made known your might among the peoples. Psalm 77:13–14 (ESV)

Only our God is the true God, he proves it through his wonderful acts

The sons of Judah: Er, Onan and Shelah; these three Bath-shua the Canaanite bore to him. Now Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death. 1 Chronicles 2:3 (ESV)

We just had an amazing early morning prayer meeting, Pastor Dennis led us from today’s reading focusing on this verse, showing us that God’s plan is to break the flow of evil in our lives as he did in the line of Judah… it was awesome, the slides will be available on the site and app today.

Ozem the sixth, David the seventh. 1 Chronicles 2:15 (ESV)

God choose David to be the line through which he would bring Jesus the Messiah, it is significant that he is the 7th son.

In one sense this makes him the least likely as the honour would usually be given to the firstborn. In another sense the number 7 speaks of God’s perfect and complete choice.

God shows his providence and sovereignty even over the tribe of Judah and the line of David, God chooses and orchestrates lives from generation to generation to bring his great promise to pass. Jesus is the Lion of the tribe of Judah. See Revelation 5:5

Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God’s church? 1 Timothy 3:2–5 (ESV)

Our post-modern culture pays no respect to experience, qualification, rules or structure. This mindset has infiltrated areas of the church and we must guard against it. Paul makes very clear the required qualifications for an overseer (other words for this include Pastor or Elder).

We should not try to throw any of these qualifications away in favour of modern philosophies and trends, we should hold to this very practical and faithful scripture for the sake of the Church for whom Christ died.

We should thank God that we have leaders that meet the requirements and pray that churches where the leadership is lacking or just plain wrong would submit to this scripture which will lead to the flourishing of God’s people

but it is God who executes judgment, putting down one and lifting up another. Psalm 75:7 (ESV)

We saw this in our OT reading today, as Pastor Dennis showed us in verse 3, God put down one and in verse 15 put one up. Promotion comes from the Lord, he is our sovereign king and we should trust him to exalt us in due time remembering 1 Peter 5:6–7 “Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.”

Adam, Seth, Enosh; 1 Chronicles 1:1 (ESV)

Modern scholars in a cowardly attempt to shoe horn the scriptures to fit into the story presented by the unproven naturalistic theory of evolution, have discounted Adam and Eve as either mythical figures or as the first ape-men that God specially selected from all the other Neanderthals… seriously… I know it just sounds crazy but that is what some are teaching in order to find acceptance in the worlds academies.

The bible actually teaches that Adam and Eve were the first ever created humans and that we are all descended from them, they were actual historical people as demonstrated by this and other biblical genealogies.

The historical person of Adam is so vital to the gospel message in terms of our bondage under sin and salvation in Jesus that Paul refers to Adam often, see Romans 5:14-19 and 1 Corinthians 15:21-22 for example.

Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth, and the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites. 1 Chronicles 1:13–16 (ESV)

It is of note that the descendants of Canaan did not populate Africa as many are led to believe. They in fact populated the land of Canaan in the middle east.

for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 1 Timothy 2:2 (ESV)

God wants us to pray for all people, not just an elect few who meet a certain criteria. Specifically we should pray for leaders so that the church and the gospel can flourish in freedom and peace. The reason for this is that the message can spread to all peoples because God desires all types of people to be saved so we need to have the freedom to preach the message everywhere to all people

who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:4 (ESV)

God doesn’t just want to save the Jews or those with the “secret knowledge” as the false teachers were proposing (see previous chapter), no, God wants salvation to be made available to all peoples for all nations, tribes and tongues.

This does not discount the fact that God chooses those that are saved as taught elsewhere. God’s desired will as displayed here and God’s decreed will as seen in election are two different things. God’s desired will is not enforced whereas God’s decreed will is.

 there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time. 1 Timothy 2:5–6 (ESV)

Jesus, not Mary is our mediator. Universalist take this scripture and twist it to say all have been ransomed. As mentioned before, the all can not be interpreted as everyone who ever lived but all in terms of type, Christ died for people form every nation and station in life

For Adam was formed first, then Eve; and Adam was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and became a transgressor. 1 Timothy 2:13–14 (ESV)

More evidence of the historical Adam as we mentioned in our note on the OT reading today. Also Paul’s rationale for male eldership and leadership in the church. It is getting harder to affirm the truth that leadership is male in today’s society but we must hold firm to the truthful teaching of the bible in spite of cultural moods

Yet God my King is from of old, working salvation in the midst of the earth. Psalm 74:12 (ESV)

Our God is the true King, Jesus is the king of our salvation