Archives for 2014

You shall not add to the word that I command you, nor take from it, that you may keep the commandments of the LORD your God that I command you. Deuteronomy 4:2 (ESV)

As Jesus states in Revelation 22:19 we are not to add to or take away from the word of God. Cults and Heretics will always add to the word of God some additional revelation and take aways from the divinity of Christ. We have seen this recently with the gnostic blasphemy of the Noah film (2014). We are called to take God at his word, believe, cherish, obey, think about it, study and live it.

Keep them and do them, for that will be your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples, who, when they hear all these statutes, will say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’ Deuteronomy 4:6 (ESV)

This is what distinguishes and defines the church, obedience to the word of God. Jesus said they will know us by our love and our love would be know by our obedience in John 13:34-35 and 14:15. We are seen as wise and understanding only when we walk in obedience and love.

“Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children— Deuteronomy 4:9 (ESV)

Passing the truth unto our children is a sure way for them to know the truth. Teaching the truth to them will help make it firm in our own hearts and help us watch over our own souls too.

For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God. Deuteronomy 4:24 (ESV)

This is an awesome attribute of God, he is not cold and indifferent or without emotion but is full of love, passion and emotion. God burns with holy love for his people and for his own name, he is jealous over his people in a holy way, they are precious to him and he will not sit ideally by while they are stolen away.

Our great passionate God pursues us with holy jealousy. This image of God as a consuming fire should fill us with confidence if we are in Christ, but fear if we are not. See Hebrews 12:28-29

To you it was shown, that you might know that the LORD is God; there is no other besides him. Deuteronomy 4:35 (ESV)

One of the great narratives of the old testament is God establishing himself through his revealed words and act with the people of Israel that he is the only God and there is no other god. This monotheism seems normal to us now but in the bronze age when Israel was coming into the promised land this was a radical new concept, as the rest of the world had been deceived into believing in many gods and idols.

This is a great attribute of God to mediate on, God is one, he is unique and is God alone, he has no equals or superiors. Our God is God!

For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. 2 Corinthians 1:20 (ESV)

Jesus has firmly fulfilled the promises made in the old testament to Israel, he is Gods great and sure yes for us today too. He calls himself the Amen. The strong yes of God to every promise. All of scripture points to Jesus. He fulfils the promise that the seed of Abraham would be a blessing and the promise to David concerning his kingdom. Jesus is the promised Messiah, the Saviour of the world.

We say amen to Gods fulfilment of his promise, we boldly affirm that yes Jesus is the Messiah, the prophecies and promises have been fulfilled and we joyfully praise God for his great affirmation of his love and faithfulness in his Son Jesus Christ. We affirm that God is true, dependable and the Gospel is the truth. The following is a useful definition of the word Amen.

Amen is a transliteration of the Heb. ’āmēn, derived from ’āman, show oneself firm, dependable, be durable, last; know oneself to be secure, have faith, and so it means certain, true.

‘Rise up, set out on your journey and go over the Valley of the Arnon. Behold, I have given into your hand Sihon the Amorite, king of Heshbon, and his land. Begin to take possession, and contend with him in battle. Deuteronomy 2:24 (ESV)

God was quite specific in his instructions to Israel, they were not to fight with the giant defeating people that were essentially family to them (mount Seir were the people of Esau, their brother and Moab and Ammon their cousins).

When it came time for this new generation to fight, they could do so with confidence and faith because God speaks through Moses saying he has already given Sihon into their hands. God calls us today like he called the new generation in the wilderness to begin to take ground and fight the enemy in battle, we must respond in faith because he has given us the victory already. See 2 Corinthians 10:4

just as you did partially understand us—that on the day of our Lord Jesus you will boast of us as we will boast of you. 2 Corinthians 1:14 (ESV)

When Paul speaks about boasting (verses 12-14) it can seem strange to us as boasting usually has a negative image of pride and lifting up ourselves. However the boasting Paul is talking about is a different kind of boasting, it is closely connected to the word confidence and declares he can boast in God and the cross.

This was a contradiction to the Corinthians who were still caught up in pride and had brought into the culture around them which taught them to belittle others and boast in ability, opportunity and status.

Paul’s life and the Gospel was a stark contradiction of these values as he was meek, humble and weak, not virtues esteemed among the Corinthians, they did not respect this about him or his ministry. Therefore Paul wants them to understand the core of the gospel and the life it produces, one of servanthood and humility and he wants their value system to be so transformed that they will boast in this weakness (ultimately the cross) with him.

Because I was sure of this, I wanted to come to you first, so that you might have a second experience of grace. 2 Corinthians 1:15 (ESV)

This second experience of grace would come through Paul’s visit, through which he would show them Gods grace, remind them of the message of Gods grace and give the opportunity to show Gods grace by giving to the poor saints in Jerusalem.

My times are in your hand; rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! Psalm 31:15 (ESV)

God is sovereign over our lives, he determines how long we live, when we live and the amount of time we are allotted in particular circumstances. With that sort of power we should trust him, knowing that our future is not in the enemies hands but God’s

Love the LORD, all you his saints! The LORD preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. Psalm 31:23 (ESV)

We can have confidence in Gods eternal preserving power over us if we love him in faithfulness Jesus prayed this in John 17

Then all of you came near me and said, ‘Let us send men before us, that they may explore the land for us and bring us word again of the way by which we must go up and the cities into which we shall come.’ Deuteronomy 1:22 (ESV)

As we read through Deuteronomy we will see Moses telling the new generation of Israel the story of the covenant and relationship between God and his people since leaving Egypt. In this account Moses mentions that the idea to send spies into the land did not come from God or himself but the people.

In light of Moses earlier commands and encouragements from the Lord, this apparent pragmatism of the people expose a subtle mentality of lacking faith and doubt. We must not seek to figure out everything when God has made a promise, we need to just respond in faith and trust God because we walk by faith not by sight 2 Corinthians 5:7

Yet in spite of this word you did not believe the LORD your God, Deuteronomy 1:32 (ESV)

The problem here was faith in God. If we do not have faith in God we will not see God for who he is or remember / recognise what he has already done for us and therefore will not take him at his word regardless of how many times we hear his word. We must mix what we hear with faith, we must believe. See Hebrews 4:2

except Caleb the son of Jephunneh. He shall see it, and to him and to his children I will give the land on which he has trodden, because he has wholly followed the LORD!’ Deuteronomy 1:36 (ESV)

We should learn from Caleb and follow after God with our whole heart, we should not hold back in reservation or doubt but wholly cast ourselves upon God and his promises in faith. We should approach God with singleness of mind and heart James 1:7-8

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 2 Corinthians 1:3 (ESV)

Paul gives us some great insight through his own experience and knowledge of the truth of Gods character and attributes as the Father of all mercies and the God of all comfort, notice he is not called for example the God of all wrath or the father of judgement.

In other letters Paul shines light on other attributes of God including the following (with gratitude to D, E Garland for this list) the God of love and peace (2 Cor 13:11), the God of endurance and comfort (Rom 15:5), the God of hope (Rom 15:13), the God of peace (Rom 16:20; 1 Thess 5:23; 2 Thess 3:16), the God who gives endurance and encouragement (Rom 15:5).

Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. 2 Corinthians 1:7 (ESV)

Despite the western reluctance to accept it, suffering is a guaranteed part of life and the Christian life in particular It is when we stand up for God and his kingdom and do the work of the kingdom in the face of mockery, resistance and persecution that we truly experience the comfort and grace that can only come from God in our suffering. We are called to share in the sufferings of Christ and in his comfort. See Romans 8:17 and 2 Timothy 2:12

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 2 Corinthians 1:8 (ESV)

We must stay aware of what is happening in the church around the world, especially where the church is undergoing sever persecution, this is why we should be so grateful for ministries like Open Doors. Be informed.

You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. 2 Corinthians 1:11 (ESV)

We must pray for our leaders, for the spread of the gospel and God kingdom and for Christians undergoing persecution for taking a stand. Our prayers are not just an exercise in faith or a tradition, they actually do something when we pray in faith to God, he hears our prayers and answers (in this case Paul said that many blessings would be granted through the parers). See also Romans 15:30 and Philippians 1:19

Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O LORD, faithful God. Psalm 31:5 (ESV)

Jesus said this from the cross as recorded in Luke 23:46

I hate those who pay regard to worthless idols, but I trust in the LORD. Psalm 31:6 (ESV)

We should hate sin, sinning personally and even sinners or those who commit sin in the sense that we should not rejoice in their sin but call them to repent Romans 1:32

All the cities that you give to the Levites shall be forty-eight, with their pasturelands. Numbers 35:7 (ESV)

The cities of the levites were to be spread out across the land and serve as a reminder to the people of their calling to be a holy nation before God

For he must remain in his city of refuge until the death of the high priest, but after the death of the high priest the manslayer may return to the land of his possession. Numbers 35:28 (ESV)

We thank God that Jesus is both our city of refuge and our great High Priest. We run to Jesus our city of refuge and know we can stay under his protection for eternity because he lives as our High Priest forever as stated in Hebrews 4:14-15 and Hebrews 7:26-28

The inheritance of the people of Israel shall not be transferred from one tribe to another, for every one of the people of Israel shall hold on to the inheritance of the tribe of his fathers. Numbers 36:7 (ESV)

The case of these 5 daughters of Zelophehad reminds us of the parable Jesus taught in Matthew 25:1-13 with the five wise and five foolish virgins (Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Noah are the wise ones). The foolish virgins wanted to borrow oil from the wise but the oil was not transferable, they had to go and get their own. In the same way our inheritance in Jesus can not be transferred or imparted to someone else but belongs to us, each person must pursue and maintain their own inheritance before God.

On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. 1 Corinthians 16:2 (ESV)

Further evidence that from the earliest days of the church the body of Christ would meet for corporate worship on the first day of the week rather than the 7th day in honour of the resurrection of Jesus Christ as is also noted in Acts 20:7

for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. 1 Corinthians 16:9 (ESV)

When Paul mentions the great and effective open door he is pointing to the great reception his preaching and the gospel message has found as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 2:12, Colossians 4:3 and Acts 14:27.

However as we know the gospel message always meets with resistance as it challenges the pride of man causing many adversaries to rise up, see Philippians 1:28 and1 Thessalonians 2:2. We give thanks to god that hostility is no real hindrance to the gospel as Paul mentions in Philippians 1:12–14

Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. 1 Corinthians 16:13–14 (ESV)

In Paul’s conclusion to this letter he summarises the practical imperatives he has been talking about throughout the letter. He calls them to be watchful which is a call to holiness and sanctification. To stand firm in the faith is to uphold the gospel message as first preached and the godly traditions handed down to them. To act like men and be strong is to be mature in their thinking and behaviour. The call for everything to be done in love reminds us of the overarching love theme of the letter outlined back in chapter 13. We are called to grow up and live out the faith in love.

If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! 1 Corinthians 16:22 (ESV)

Love is not an option for us as Christians but an imperative command given by the Lord Jesus himself in John 13:34

For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning. Psalm 30:5 (ESV)

God is always displeased with sin and can never be indifferent to it, so he judges sin with a holy anger. However for his people God’s judgments and anger are short-lived and pass quickly while his favor lasts for our lifetime and on into eternity. We should be grateful today that Gods mercy, grace and love towards us outweighs his anger through Jesus.