Saturday, February 29, 2020
Friday, January 31, 2020
FEBRUARY 2020.........WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE....A MESSAGE FOR EVERYONE
by Dr. Keith J. WiseI. INTRODUCTION: February is the month of "Ground Hog Day," "President's Day" along with "Valentines Day." What a contrast of anticipation of the future and a wholesome reflection of the past. In a humorous fashion we think about pulling a "ground-hog" out of its den after hibernation and determining if we are going to have six more weeks of winter, or if Spring is just around the corner. On President's Day we recognized the office of President of the United States. There have been all kinds and types of Presidents in the Oval Office. However, the idea behind this day is to remember that "God guides the heart of the king..." We as Americans have always understood that this country was conceived in an unusual providential fashion. Its leaders, to be effective, must look to God for wisdom and understanding, both of its people and the knowledge that their tenure is temporary. Furthermore, that future generations with judge them in their time. What about Valentine's Day? Where did it start? The tradition tells of a young Christian named Valentine, so one of the variations stories goes, was imprisoned in ancient Rome because of his faith. Longing for his loved ones, he sought a way to let them know of his well-being and affection for them. Within reach outside his cell window grew a cluster of violets. Picking some of them, he pierced the heart-shaped leaves and with these words, "Remember Your Valentine," he sent them off with a friendly dove. On subsequent days he sent more messages that simply said, "I love you." Since that time, it has become a tradition to send cards or flowers or remembrances of love.
II. DIGGING DEEPER... A Greek word study on "Inheritance"
In at least sixteen New Testament references our eternal hope as Christians is described as an "inheritance." The most visual and beautiful of these pictures is found in I Peter 1:3-5. Since all three words begin with the negative "a"in the Greek, is it good to use a devise in English to better understand their emphasis as "uncorruptible," "undefiled," and "unfading." Barnes, the commentator, aptly describes the glory of the inheritance, saying "Here, (on earth) no one can be heir of a large inheritance of gold or houses without danger of sinking into indolence, wickedness or vice; but there the inheritance may be enjoyed forever and the soul continually advance in knowledge, holiness, and active service of God..."
Some inheritances disappear through waste or dishonesty before they are claimed, but Peter affirms that this one is reserved for us by God the Father. Not only so, but we are "guarded" so that we shall be able to receive and enjoy it. This is a military term describing a garrison sentried carefully so that no enemy might intrude, and also that none within it might go out.
Finally, three prepositions explain fully the way we are garrisoned with the sacred enclosure that insures our inheritance: In the power of God; through our own faith; and unto salvation. In dramatic fashion these three prepositions declare respectively the 1.)means of our security--"the power of God" without which we would have no more chance of obtaining the inheritance than an ancient city would have for safety without a guarded wall; 2.) the method of our protection--"our faith" without which we would in fear or treachery forsake the fortress; and (3) the motive for the guardianship that we might receive the prepared salvation in heaven.
III. NUGGETS OF NOURISHMENT... A Sermon Outline of the Lord's Prayer
Title: "God Talk...Vistas of the Lord's Prayer"
Text: Matthew 6:5-13
Introduction: Have you ever thought about how you address God? If God the Father was so concerned about our lives to save us, then through Christ create a vibrant, loving relationship with us, it must be important in the way we address Him. Jesus in his masterful Sermon on the Mount, (Matthew chapters 5-7), prescribes and invites us to listen in on how we should address God. It reveals dynamic principles that can change us into a new reality of rebirth and life concerning our walk with God. In Luke's rendering of this occasion, the disciples were so impressed with the pattern of Jesus Christ that they beseeched him and and asked, "...Lord, teach us to Pray."(Luke 11: 1ff.) Let us take a minute and consider this as a beginning point of our intimacy with God as we finish the first month of 2020, and begin the second.
I. CORRECTIONS OF OUR DIRECTIONS TO OUR "GOD TALK."-Vs. 5-8
II. THE AWESOMENESS OF THE PERSON WE ADDRESS- BEYOND US YET 'WITH US.' (Immanuel)- Vs. 9
III. PROJECTION IN POSSIBILITIES OF OUR "GOD TALK." "KINGDOM COME", NOW AND NOT YET. Vs. 10 also note Mark 9:1-The Church as kingdom.
IV. PROVISION OF OUR "GOD TALK." Vs. 11 "This day.." living in the "NOW." Question: What is your provision need today?
V. ILLUMINATING OUR HEARTS WITH A NEW GRACE. Vs. 12, also 14,15)The Father wants nothing to spoil our hearts.
VI. OFFENSIVE HELP IN EQUIPPING US FOR OUR BETTER SELVES. (Vs. 13)
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IV. QUOTABLE QUOTES... Words to Live By...........................................
1. "Advice is like snow; the softer it falls the longer it dwells upon, the deeper it sinks into the mind." Samuel Coleridge
2. "Be Americans. Let East, or West; you are all dependent one on another, and should be one in union. Observe justice and good faith toward all nations; have neither passionate hatreds nor passionate attachments to any; and be independent politically of all. In one word, be a nation; be Americans, and be true to yourselves." George Washington- 1st President of the United States (1732-1799)
3. "Nothing will ever be attempted if all possible objections must first be overcome." Samuel Johnson
Monday, December 30, 2019
JANUARY 2020...NEW YEARS EDITION...WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE
I. INTRODUCTION: Here we are looking at the New Year of 2020. Thinking about this, time is one of those anomalies that has mystified man from the beginning. The God of the Bible is not controlled or servant of time, as He owns it. Christian Philosophers have been quoted as saying, "God moves in the present, past, and future at the same time." He is in the midst of time and His timing is always right.
I would like to divide this introduction into the tree general areas that consist of our human divisions of time and attempt to make sense looking through the lens of God's eternality. Each day and week is divided into YESTERDAY-TODAY-AND TOMORROW. Two of the three of these sections should be kept from our fears and apprehension. The first is Yesterday, with its mistakes and cares, its aches and pains, its faults and blunders. Yesterday has passed forever beyond our control. All the money in the world cannot bring back Yesterday. We cannot undo a single act we preformed; we cannot erase a single word we said; we cannot rectify a single mistake. Yesterday has passed forever beyond recall and we live with its consequences, but we should learn from it that we do not repeat its regretted decisions. Let it go!!
The other day we should not worry about is Tomorrow, with its possible adversities, its burdens, its large promise and poor performance. Tomorrow is also beyond our immediate control as we contemplate its "possibilities". Tomorrow's sun will rise either in splendor or behind a mass of clouds- but it will still rise. And until it does, we have no stake in tomorrow, because it is as yet unborn. How we have planned to use it in preparation is vital to its quality and satisfaction in our experience to come. But in reality "tomorrow is tomorrow."
This leaves us but one day- Today! We as a human race and as individuals can fight the battles of just one day. Our resources are limited and our faculties waning with time. Yesterday and Tomorrow are futile worries. Let us, therefore, resolve to journey no more than one day at a time as we seek wisdom from God and a loving cultivated spirit. As often quoted by AA, "...today is the first day of the rest of your life..." Happy New Year!!
II. WHAT ABOUT THE "Ekklesia" A DEFINITION OF MEANING... DIGGING DEEPER...
I haven't had a chance to do much exegeses over the last year and hope more can be done in the next year in this blog. The Koine (common) Greek language is the original language of the New Testament. It is precise and direct and rich with meaning and is considered a language preserved by a Lexicon. (see below)
Of all the words in the New Testament pregnant with meaning, there is no other as such at the Greek word "ekklesia." It comes from two words: ek, "out of," and klesis, "a calling." It basic meaning is Church.
The original linguistic framework of this term, and widely understood by the Roman-Hellenistic culture of the first century, was the Greek city state citizenry usage. When the trumpet was sounded, the "free citizens" assembled to discuss the affairs of state politically (Acts 19:32,39,41). The Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament, collects another image of the whole nation gathering (Deut. 4:10, 23:2; Acts 7:38; Heb. 2:12). The gathering of the church community was borrowed from this concept and provided an overall structure. Its concern was the early church gathering to consider its policies, doctrinal issues and body life.
In today's world, the concept of the ekklesia in terms of its distinctives is primarily a picture of the church. It is a "gathering" and or "scattering" of the church body itself. It is God's people viewed together as a new and whole community of life at various levels. It worships with the Lord present in a unique way with unique features such as the Lord's Day, or Sunday. (It's singing, prayers, communion, offering and fellowship (koinonia) in its various ways. It also has emphasized a "lifestyle of worship,"outside the regular gathering on Sundays. How does one "live out" the life the ekklesia? Historically, the ekklesia has seen itself "full of, or under the control of the Holy Spirit" in corporate and non-corporate settings. It project Christ in community and into society.
Without listing all the plethora of fabulous scriptures that encompass this name of the church, lets return and consider the context of the ekklesia and its setting of the New Testament.
- A group consisting of "professed and baptized Christians." After and within the book of Acts there was not such individual as an "unbaptized" Christian. See the conversion record in the book of Acts.
- Gatherings for worship.
- A house congregation or small groups that met in homes in the 1st century.
- Most recorded Christians living in large cities. (See Paul's journeys)
- Local communities.
- A large geographic district, such as Asia or Galatia, than included more than one "gathering."
- The whole body of the redeemed throughout the present era.
The word ekklesia is never used to refer to a building specifically used for worships services in the New Testament. It was always the "people" the "body of Christ." The early Christians did not meet in public buildings at least for the first 120 years of the Christian era. The New Testament portrays the ekklesia as a network of intimate, loving, and serving communities of Christ followers. Primary in their goal was seeking to emulate the Lord himself to the world.
Sources of Reference:
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. (Edinburgh: T.&T. Clark, 1937), 138-39.
William F. Arndt and F. Wilbur Gingrich, A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature. (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1957), 240-241.
Lawrence O. Richards, Expository Dictionary of Bible Words. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1985), 164-167.
W. E. Vine, Vines Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, Unabridged Edition. (McLean, Virginia; MacDonald Publishing House), 85-86.
III. NUGGETS OF NOURISHMENT... A New Years Sermon...
Title: Carpe Diem: Seize the Day-
Scripture Text: Philippians 3: 7-16
Introduction: A number of years ago a movie starring Robin Williams came out called "The Dead Poets Society." One of the phrases that was used repeatedly was the resurrection of a long forgotten Latin phrase, "Carpe Diem." This word simply means, "Seize the Day." As we begin to enter a new year the Apostle Paul in the text above gives us three simple "cheer like" admonitions to help us as we enter 2020.
I. FIND YOUR PURPOSE... Why are you here? Your purpose is so important to you and to your life. As I also have noted a number of times that your purpose is enhanced by the "meaning driven life."
II. FORGET THE PAST... Including Forgetting the "Bad" and also Forgetting the "Accomplishments." Attempt to learn from both!!
III. FACE THE PRESENT... Facing the present is to put our Faith into action each and every day. Trust God, not only for your salvation but your vocation in life. Trust him through the trouble and in the blessings of life. "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may lift your up..."
IV. LOOK UPWARD TO THE FUTURE... Keep a positive attitude as you look to tomorrow. One issue is always before us... Life is always changing...allow God to make those changes in us to procure a more productive future. He is our answer!!
Conclusion: A new year stretches out before us. Like a blank sheet of paper, we can write a story of victory or defeat. By trusting God day by day through these simple initiations of Find Your Purpose, Forget the Past..(bad and good) and Face the Present...and Looking Upward to the Future... we can look back with thanksgiving and praise for the grace offered to us and to others in the new year.
IV. QUOTABLE QUOTES... For the New Year...2020
1. "I don't know what your destiny will be, but one thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve." Albert Schweitzer
2. "If we are going to continue to be proud that we are Americans, there must be no weakening of the code by which we have lived." Dwight D. Eisenhower
3. "Especially for Americans, so bewitched by our own strength, it's important that we understand our limitations and our weaknesses. We need humility. Through it we can avoid the sin of thinking too highly of ourselves." Reinhold Niebuhr- 20th Century Theologian-
4. "All progress is made by men of faith who believe in what is right and, what is more important, actually do what is right in their own private affairs." Thomas Dreier
5. "Seeing much, suffering much, and studying much are the three pillars of learning." Disraeli
Saturday, November 30, 2019
DECEMBER EDITION...CHRISTMAS TOPICS...2019
WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE... by Dr. Keith J. Wise
INTRODUCTION: For Christians, the month of December centers around the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. By cultural reckoning, most scholarship tells us he was not born in December but probably in the late summer or fall. But amazingly, to commemorate the coming of "Immanuel" or "God with us..."(Isaiah 7:14) has to be one of the greatest phenomena and revelations ever known to the human race, and commands our attention and awe.
I would like to center in this introduction, the geographic place of his birth on the planet, or Bethlehem. It has an interesting history and activity. To many, Bethlehem in the best loved spot on the planet. Christians from all over the world still venture there every year to note the birthplace of Jesus. The word "Bethlehem" means "House of Bread." It is not irrelevant that the birth of Jesus was associated with such a name as "bread." He fed the multitudes (Matt.14:13ff., Mark 6:32ff., Luke 9:10ff., John 6:1ff.). This is the only miracle recorded by all four Gospels. He taught His followers to pray, "give us this day our daily bread" (Matt.6:11, Luke 11:3). One of His great claims was "I am the bread of life" (John 6:35). It is the only bread that satisfies the hunger of the human soul (John 6:35). Because all need it, it is the Bread which may be bought "without money and without price." (Isaiah 55:1)
When the Emperor Hadrian of the Roman Empire crushed the second Jewish Revolt under Bar Kokhba in A.D. 132, he singled out the centers of Christian and Jewish devotion for complete destruction. Among them were the sites of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, and the town of Bethlehem. He applied a scorched-earth policy to the town of David. His soldiers plowed the ruins into the soil, and planted a grove to the pagan god Adonis. This shows that even before A.D. 132, Bethlehem was a famous place of Christian pilgrimage. The Apostle John takes it for granted that his readers know the story of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. (John 7:41f.).
In Jewish writings of the Old Testament, Bethlehem is called "Ephrath" or "Ephratah." In (Micah 5:2), it is an epithet given to it because of its fruitfulness. Some scholars note it as a geographic designation or meaning "in the south" as compared to another "city of Bethlehem" in the north in Zebulun. It is now in ruins and noted only once in the Bible in Joshua 19:10,15. Further references is that it was formerly a stronghold of the Jebusites (II Sam.5:7,9 and I Chron. 11:5,7). Our noted Bethlehem appears in the Old Testament chiefly, but not exclusively, in connection with the house of David. It was Rachel, Jacob's dearly beloved wife, who died in childbirth near Bethlehem. Rachael's tomb is still shown today, a little outside the city where the road to Bethlehem turns off from the main thoroughfare. It was known to be a center of pilgrimage for Jews in Israel until the end of the Monarchical period. The Crusaders of the twelfth century built a domed structure over the "Twelve Stones" put there by Jacob to represent the eventual Twelve Tribes of Israel. Ruth could not foresee that she would find acceptance in Bethlehem. Samuel journeyed to Bethlehem to anoint the youthful David to be the successor of King Saul (I Samuel 16:1ff.). Philistine marauders captured Bethlehem during the turbulent days of the early kingdom, and David was hard pressed by them. The Old Testament expressly states that Bethlehem is to be the birthplace of the Messiah (Micah 5:2). The Jews never questioned this. They never doubted the literal fulfillment of this prophecy or its references by scribes and scholars to Herod in his fruitless search for the infant Jesus. (Matt. 2:6; John 7:42).
When Jesus was born, Bethlehem was a sleepy market town. The bustle and confusion of the enrollment soon passed, and it soon returned to its quiet existence. Noted history gives us a bit of irony as we consider that when the city of Rome was later sacked by Alaric and his Visigothic hordes on August 24, A.D. 410, some of its noblest patrician families who had become Christians, fled to Bethlehem, where they found refuge. My friends and readers, remember a portion of the lyrics from "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem;" "...the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight." Lets give praise this season as we remember where and when Jesus Christ was born. "Be born in us today..."
II. DIGGING DEEPER... A Comparisons of the Genealogies of Matthew and Luke concerning Jesus.
Over the years as a professor and minister of the gospel I have had numerous questions in a variety of areas. One of the most interesting query that comes up around the Christmas season is concerning the seeming contradiction between Matthew and Luke's geologies of Jesus.
At first glance, the impression is created that both accounts are tracing the family line of Jesus through His earthly father Joseph, in which case we would be faced with an obvious contradiction, because Matthew 1:16 indicates Jacob is Joseph's father, while Luke 3:23 tells us that Heli is the father of Joseph.
A plausible solution to this difficulty is to understand that Matthew is indeed giving us Joseph's family line, but Luke is tracing the genealogy of Mary. The reason that Mary is not mentioned in Luke 3 is because she has already been designated the earthly mother of Jesus in several other references.
The usual practice of a Jewish genealogy is to give the name of the father, grandfather, etc., of the person in view. Luke follows this pattern, and does not mention the name of Mary, but the name of the legal father. However, Luke is quick to add that Joseph is not, in reality or literally the father of Jesus, since Jesus had been virgin born.(Luke 1:34,35).
A literal translation of Luke 3:23 would be, "Jesus, when He began, was about thirty years old, being the son of Joseph, as it was thought, of Heli..." In the wider scope of Hebrew meaning, this does not at all mean that Jesus was the son of Heli, but that Jesus was a descendant, of His mother's side of Heli. The word "son" has this wider meaning from the Hebrew culture. Thus, Luke is tracing the roots of Jesus through his mother, Mary, who was a descendant of Heli, etc. Joseph's name is mentioned, according to the common practice, but he is clearly portrayed as the supposed father of Jesus, and God as the actual father.
The purpose of the two genealogies is to demonstrate that Jesus was in a complete and legal sense a descendant of David. Through His foster father, Joseph, He inherited-by law-the royal line, albeit a deposed line according to Jeremiah 22:28-30. More importantly in this comparison, through His mother He was a flesh and blood descendant of King David through David's son Nathan. Thus, in the eyes of Jewish legal law and comparisons, Jesus had the proper credentials of the messiah through of David.
III. DID YOU KNOW...That Christmas Has a Context in History and Time...
When we celebrate the Christmas season we may forget it is about the fulfillment and reality of the coming of a Jewish Messiah, Jesus. The Hebrew Scriptures we call the Old Testament is one that declares his coming in more scriptures than we can recount in this short excerpt. But if we look at a little verse in the New Testament in Galatians 4:4 we will see the timing of God in this matter. In says in part "...in the fullness of time, God sent forth His Son, born of a women, born under the law..." This word "fullness" in the original language is "pleroma." In Vines Expository Dictionary this nuance of the word is defined as "the end of an appointed period."(pg.137) This fullness did not just appear, but was in a calculated cycle of God's providence. Malachi ends the Old Testament with Israel back in the land of promise in the Second Temple period as scholars call it. The 400 years between Malachi and Matthew visibly and collectively pull us to the manger on that dramatic night in which the Angles sang and Shepherds hurried to the stable in Bethlehem. But wait, the world had changed since the days of Malachi. What were the changes in times and space to bring about this accurate visitation from God himself?
There were a number of empires that shaped the world of that day and process in remarkable ways by the observation of "preparation" of God's work. Lets look at these and see, at least on the surface, some of the highlights of these empires and their providential impact.
A. The Persian Empire- (529-333 B.C.)
Palestine remained largely unmolested by war of invasion during the 200 year age of Persian control. Daniel is a significant figure in Babylon when it fell in 539B.C. to the Medo-Persian coalition under Cyrus the Great. Haggai and Zechariah promoted and completed the Second Temple in 515 B.C. in noted fashion. Esther was queen to Xerxes (Ahasuerus) and the Persian who defeated the Greeks on land at Thermopylae but were defeated at sea at Salamis in 480 B.C. Under Artaxerxes the Persian, Ezra returned to the land (458 B.C.) as did Nehemiah (444 B.C.). The "governor" of Malachi 1:8 would be a Persian governor. Therefore, the Persian Empire played a major role in releasing the Jews from their 70 year Babylonian exile. (Jeremiah 25:12; Daniel 9:2).
B. The Greek-Macedonian or (Hellenistic Empire)- (333-63 B.C.)
Within the course of recorded history, there will appear individuals who are absolutely seminal "change agents" in this divine process. One of these individuals will be Alexander the Great. Some historians call him a "meteor" like figure in his appearance and effect. He becomes as some descriptive sources call him, "the apostle of Hellenism." As one looks at a map of this period and later, a new vision of a world order appears. He left his mark everywhere. By the time of the writing of the New Testament we see terms that echo Alexander the Great's fingerprints. For instance Philippi a city to which the Apostle Paul visited and wrote was named after Alexander's father Phillip. Thessalonica (another city in Macedonia) is named for the half sister of Alexander the Great. The famous city in Egypt, Alexandria, is obviously named after Alexander and includes less notably, about seventy cities in his empire with the same name "Alexandria."
Prophetic writers in the Old Testament such as Daniel predicts in visionary fashion, pictures and images as in Daniel 8:20-21 that of a two-horned ram and goat. "The two-horned ram that you saw represents the kings of Media and Persia. The shaggy goat is the king of Greece, and large horn between his eyes is the first king [i.e., Alexander the Great]." Concerning the Alexander symbol, Daniel 8:4 stated: "No animal could stand against him...He did as he pleased and became great."
Furthermore, many contemporary scholars see an unmistakable reference to the reference to his rise and power in Zechariah 9:1-8. In these references it depicts an attack against the Mediterranean coastline and the seemingly unconquerable city of Tyre. This city had withstood a thirteen year siege by the Babylonians and never surrendered, but were conquer by Alexander and his engineers in a "causeway" from the mainland to the island. Another interesting legend was a fulfillment of Zechariah 9:8 when Alexander's forces enter the holy land of Israel and a brilliantly robed Jewish high priest went out to meet him. With such splendor and recognition, Alexander spared Jerusalem and it inhabitants. Zechariah had designated Alexander by "him that passeth by..." (Zechariah 9:8) kjv.
C. Hellenistic Kingdoms- (Ptolemies, Seleucid, Maccabeans)
With the death of Alexander the Great in 323 B.C. his generals will take over and give their names to some specific geographic areas they will control. The ruling lines of the Ptolemies will have their center in Egypt and their capital in Alexandria, while the ruling line of the Seleucid will be centered in Syria with their capital at Antioch. Lets look at these two offshoots of Alexander's empire and consider their influence.
PTOLEMIES-
The Jews will be under the control of the Ptolemies from 323 B.C. until 198 B.C. According to some sources the first Ptolemies had 100,000 Jews transported to Egypt. Here they will be centered in Alexandria and eventually will make up half the population of that city. By Roman times Alexandria will be one of the most important and populated cities in the Roman Empire. Under Ptolemy II, Alexandria became very significant for the future of Christianity and the transmission of the Hebrew Scriptures and the New Testament. The famed library at Alexandria housed more than half of million volumes. It was at Alexandria that the Hebrew Scriptures was translated into Koine Greek. This version of the Hebrew Scriptures translated into Greek from the Hebrew is known as the Septuagint, abbreviated LXX (for the round number of about 70 translators).
The Septuagint is so significant because it can be shown to have been the Bible used by Jesus and the apostles and distributed among the synogogues in the Roman Empire. Some sources have indicated that out of the thirty-seven Old Testament quotations credited to Jesus in the gospels, thirty-three are from the Septuagint. About 80 percent of the Old Testament quotations in the New Testament have their origin in the Septuagint.
SELEUCIDS-
Palestine was notoriously a bridge for battles between major powers in recorded history. The dominant Hellenistic Kingdom of the Seleucids of Syria, wrested in 198 B.C. the area of Palestine from the Ptolemies. Antiochus III captured this area of Palestine and began one of the darkest periods of Jewish history. Unlike the Ptolemies, the Seleucids were "radical Hellenist." This meant they had taken the superiority claims of Greek culture and negatively suppressed other peoples with Greek Philosophy, Science and lifestyle. Antiochus III's successor was Antiochus IV also known as Antiochus Epiphanes. He liked this designated name because it meant "illustrious one or divine one." He had a delusional view of himself and power fueled by this radical Hellenistic "theology." His hatred of the Jews was so profound that he has been "Hitler before Hitler." In fact the Jews had a play on this title name. They called him Antiochus "Epimanes" or "crazy one."
His anti-Semitic policies were numerous such as making it a capital offense for Jews to own their sacred scriptures, observe the Sabbath or circumcise their male children, etc. His most memorable act was to erect an altar to Jupiter on the altar of burnt offering at temple in Jerusalem. Here a "pig sow," an unclean animal in Jewish law, was sacrificed so that the altar would be desecrated. In a prophetic note here, Daniel centuries before prophesied of this and called it an "abomination of desolation." (Daniel 11:31)
MACCABEANS TO INDEPENDENT ISRAEL-
This period is a transitional one beginning 167 B.C. Here the tyranny of the Seleucids is clearly displayed. Into a town about 15 or 20 miles from Jerusalem came a Syrian officer to force Jews to do pagan sacrifice. The elderly high priest Mattathias killed the Syrian as well as the renegade Jew who also participated in such a sacrifice.
Enter a colorful figure known is some circles as the "Jewish Zorro!" Judas Maccabeus, (meaning the hammer) was a genius in guerrilla warfare. Like Zorro, he would swoop out of the hills and scourge the Seleucids troops. Because of Judas Maccabeus, the Jerusalem Temple was cleansed and rededicated exactly three years to the day of its desecration, on December 25th. Thus, Jews celebrate Hanukkah, or the Festival of Lights, for eight days.
Later, a relative of the Maccabean family John Hyrcanus consolidated and advanced Jewish causes. It is during this era that a rift emerged that eventually resulted in a group of Jews who leaned toward Hellenistic culture and life (ultimately the politically minded Sadducees) and those opposing secularization (the Pharisees).
From about 100 B.C. till the coming of Jesus Christ, intrigue erupted regularly in political as well as religious circles. The priesthood vied for control and by 63 B.C., independent Israel had lasted as a weakened state for less than 80 years.
THE ROMAN REPUBLIC AND EMPIRE- (63 B.C. onward)
The Western Mediterranean had for several centuries seen the rise of an interesting and powerful state call Rome. This small but might city state that had arisen to power through numerous means and was a remarkable player. She had since her wars with Carthage, known as the Punic Wars, been drawn to the East to suppress Hellenistic Kingdoms and deal with the Pirates that threaten her lucrative trade from Egypt and Asia Minor. The Roman Senate sent a powerful general named Pompey to suppress pirates and while there with army, enclosed the Eastern Mediterranean kingdoms including splintered Israelite political and geographic interests. In 63 B.C. Pompey entered Jerusalem (including the Holy of Holies) and in due course put to death 12,000 Jews. Consequently, Palestine came under Rome's aegis. The father of Herod the Great, Antipater, was named a "rex socii or allied king. He was designated by Rome to keep the peace for the Romans as a "puppet" king in the east, as Rome continued to add real estate to her Republic and eventually under the Emperor Augustus for her Empire.
It is under the Emperor Augustus that Jesus is born and the political fortunes of Rome were tied to Christ in His passion, His Church, and the future of Christianity. So the trail of Christianity has a providential preparation in three dynamic areas: 1.) Politically- One empire with roads that would carry the gospel to the Mediterranean basin. 2.) Linguistically- the Koine Greek as a universally written and spoken language to spread the good news to a literate population with the Septuagint as a foundation. 3.)Religiously- Pagan gods having disillusioned the gentile populations into stagnation, and the Jews anticipating a Messianic figure to arise as they became obsessed with ceremonial cleanliness, and Jewish feasts that had seemed more meaningless, drew the Mediterranean world into a perfect storm of change that would emerge to eventually bless the world in a message of hope and love.
IV. NUGGETS OF NOURISHMENT: Sermon: A NEW PERSPECTIVE AND VISTA OF CHRISTMAS...
Text: John 1: 1-14
Introduction: So often at this time of year we emphasis the "event" of Christmas and of Jesus coming into the world. There are Shepherds, Angles, Wise Man and Mary with Joseph and their accompanying caste. However, when one takes a look in hindsight through the eyes of the Gospel writers and their Jewish roots, our perspective of the Messiah is in Jesus. We see a totally encompassing experience before the "event" and the subsequent impact and reality for the world after this "event." (read text above...and consider)
A. The Origination- John 1:1-2 also consider Colossians 1:16; Hebrews 1:1-2.
B. The Creation- John 1:3.
C. The Preparation- John 1: 6-7.
D. The Manifestation- John 1: 4.
E. The Regeneration- John 1: 12-13.
F. The Incarnation- John 1: 14.
Conclusion: When we contemplate the total perspective of Jesus, Immanuel and all the names and significant empowerments given to him by God the Father, we are overwhelmed with the love made manifest at Christmas for the world. (John 3:16)
V. QUOTABLE QUOTES... Words to Consider at Christmas...
1. "There never was found in any age of the world, either philosopher or sect, or law, or discipline, which did so highly exalt the public good as faith, hope, and love." (Roger Bacon)
2. "Let no pleasure tempt thee, no profit allure thee, to do anything which thou knowest to be evil; so shall thou always live jollily; for a good conscience is a continual Christmas." (Ben Franklin)
3. "He who has no Christmas in his heart will never find Christmas under a tree." (Billy Graham)
4. "The gift without the giver is bare; who gives of himself with his alms feeds three; himself, his hungering neighbor, and me." (James Russell Lowell)
5. MERRY CHRISTMAS in any language: English, "Merry Christmas." German, "Froeliche Weinachten." French, "Joyeux Noel." Spanish, "Felices Pasuas." Italian, "Buon Natale." Danish, "Glaedelig Jul." Swedish, "God Jul." Finnish, "Hauskaa Joulua." Dutch, "Hartelijke Kerestgroeten." Portuguese, "Boas Festas," Romanian, "Nosteria Lui Christos Sa Va Kie de Folos." Brazilian, "Boas Festus, Feliz Natal!"
Thursday, October 31, 2019
NOVEMBER EDITION...2019...WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE
By Dr. Keith J. Wise
INTRODUCTION: November is a wonderful month, filled with the continued reminders that harvest has come and the blessings of thanksgiving are upon us. As we begin to see the ebbing of 2019 and the prospects of 2020 we are reminded where our sources of thanksgiving emanate. Long before the modern science of psychology a psychiatry, God the creator of all of us thrust forth the principle of thanksgiving. Giving thanks is truly the sign of a healthy outlook on life. All of us would benefit from doing it more often.
Being thankful and thinking about our blessings will flush out the anxiety of daily life. We certainly bring to mind those peoples, places and things that are readily around us. Family, jobs, security etc. all encompass our universe of thankfulness. Furthermore, that simple quiet reflection on our source of thanksgiving comes from God and we acknowledge Him. He has sent His counselor (the Holy Spirit) to administer healing to our minds and hearts. Scripture tells us, "...it is a good thing to give thanks unto God...it is good to give thanks to Him..." (Psalm 92:1). In the New Testament there is the injunction "...Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God"(Phil. 4:6). To be honest, we could go on and on with the numbers of passages that include what I like to call the vitamin of "Thanksgiving" for the heart, mind and soul. I once knew an Elder in a church that I served who lived to be over a hundred years old. He told to begin as a young man to be thankful for "everything" that comes your way in life. Furthermore he added, it will extend the quality and attitude of all you do he so wisely counseled.
So today my readers, do not be troubled by the latest news reports, or issues of pressure you are facing daily, but pause and thank God for what He has done. Such questions as "what are you teaching me today in my relationships or how can I make my present situation glorify you?" Overall, this will jettison so many triggers of our modern life through the portal of Thanksgiving.
I. DIGGING DEEPER... A Practical Application to Personal Problems
In his book, The Carpenter and You, Dr. Karl Menninger, a well know psychiatrist from the past from Topeka, Kansas, discusses a number of personal problems. Much of this book has some real insights into problems often brought on by our own conduct with others with whom we deal on a daily basis. In his referenced book, the author cites eleven rules governing our conduct. I believe your will find them practical and meaningful in the coming month of November.
1. Be truly interested in the happiness and well-being of every person with whom you work. Attempt to learn the first name of every person with whom you work and interact.
2. Control your temper, and even if you don't feel like it, when at all possible, with a good, warm attitude.
3. Be slow to condemn but be ready always to praise, to compliment, to show appreciation.
4. Ask no more of another person than you are ready to give.
5. Be quick to ask forgiveness when you make a mistake. Be quick to forgive another person when he apologizes.
6. Ta which Jesus was keeping with his disciples. ke a real interest in the welfare of your company, community and other inner-related communications. He notes, if we do our work well as possible you will inspire others around you.
7. Develop the imagination to see significance in your work, no matter how humble it is. Recognize the place of the person or persons who works over you and let him/her know that you recognize that place.
8. If a person blows up or is mean or acts badly, don't resent it. Remember, that no man is big enough to hate and every person is really big enough to appreciate.
9. Be kind, as much as possible, in every contact with other people. Be gentle.
10. Be the kind of person you want the other person to be, then more than likely the business of getting along well and with others will take care of itself.
11. Remember in a dispute that a solution is found not by fixing blame but in giving understanding and mutual helpfulness. To get along happily, do not be so eager to find who is right, as what is right. Find that, then act on the basis of it.
II. DID YOU KNOW???- Interesting Questions and Biblical Answers...
1. When and What did Jesus sing? (Answer) "And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives." (Mark 14:26). In the margin it has "psalm" in the place of "hymn" in a number of translations. This occasion was the regular Passover supper which Jesus was keeping with his disciples. It was the Jewish custom as the Passover supper unfolded to sing "The Great Hallel" which consisted of Psalms 113 to 118 and 136. The part of this which was sung after the meal was Psalm 115 to 118, or, according to the Jewish school of Shammai, 114 to 118.
2. Where was the only library mentioned in the Bible? (Answer) In Ecbatana, Ezra 6:1-2. "Then Darius the king made a decree, and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon. And there was found at Achmetha, in the palace that is in the province of the Medes, a roll, and therein was a record..." Marginal references give "books" in place of "rolls," and "Ecbatana" in place of "Achmetha." Evidently the writer was hazy on his geography and thought that Babylon included Media. Ecbatana was the capital of Media. Probably the house of the books was one building int eh group known collectively as he palace. Most scholarship now know that he books were very likely not "rolls" but clay tablets.
3. What author gave a copy of his book to an officer and told him to tie a stone to it and throw it into the river? (Answer)- (Jeremiah), Jeremiah 51:59-64 (RV) "... Now Seraiah was chief chamberlain. And Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon...And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, 'When you come to Babylon, then see that you read these words, ...An it shall be, when you come to the end of your reading of this book, that you should bind a stone to it, and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates: and you shall say, 'Thus shall Babylon sink,and shall not rise again...' "
III. NUGGETS OF NOURISHMENT... A Sermon for Thanksgiving
(In part, a contribution of Mr. John Robinson-Minister's Luncheon Study-(1998)
A. Text: Ephesians 5:20; I Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)
B. Introduction: The Bible teaches us to give thanks in every circumstance of life. At times this seems hard to do, however it is possible. All of us have much to be thankful for as we express our gratitude to God. By using the letters of the word THANKS, this acrostic will enable us to focus on this great spiritual, physical and emotional vitamin as we move toward the holiday of Thanksgiving.
1. THORNS:
A. James 1:2-4 tells us our trials work to bring the best out of us in Christ.
B. In trying times, we have God's help, knowing He is all sufficient.
C. We know that "all" things will work together for the good. The trying times are just pieces of a picture, without which the picture would not be complete.
2. HOME:
A. How often have we wanted to make home improvements simply because we want something different?
B. How often have we let family members be the source of getting on our nerves? Then do we begin complaining when we become so lonely?
C. Be thankful!!
1. We have shelter from inclement weather.
2. We have privacy and a place to regroup our resources.
3. We have loving memories therein, even if only of loved ones now gone.
4. We have a "safe haven" form the storms of life and literally outside our door.
- A Family Prayer of Thanksgiving: "Lord, thank you for this sink of dirty dishes: it shows we have good food to eat. Thank you for this pile of dirty laundry: it reveals we have nice clothing to wear. I'd like to thank you for these unmade beds: it gives testimony that all were comfortable last night."
3. AMERICA:
A. The miracle of our representative republic known as the United States of America is truly masterful. We can voice our approval or disapproval without the fear of prison or death. Pulpits can still ring with the voices of the prophets and teachings of Jesus, the Son of God. Praise God for our freedoms.
B. We live in a land of vast prosperity and conveniences that we forget that most of the world sees our poor and laughs. You can still get an education and find work if you are motivated. Praise God for our prosperity...God shed His Grace on Thee...(America).
4. NEARNESS OF GOD:
A. We are never alone!! He has come to establish a "relationship" with us. He knows when the sparrow falls and He has number the hairs of our head.
B. He knows and understands us. He became like us, so we could become like Him.
Consider: Illustration: The Footprints in the Sand Poem-
5. KINDNESS AND LOVE SHOWN TO US:
A. We often take for granted His mercy and grace to us. When we realized how much God through Christ has done in His kindness, it teaches us to be kind to others.
B. How often has someone done a small deed just to help us out? How about your local Church assembly? Simply, the Christian exhibiting love.
C. We have the love of our mate, our parents and our children and friends. I know you can think of other like your neighbors and so on.
6. SALVATION:
A. The sacrifice of Jesus, the Son of God, for our sins.
B. We have freedom from guilt and the eternal consequences of sin.
C. We can look forward to our heavenly home prepared for us.
Conclusion: In these and many others, let us say THANKS to God and to those around us. We best demonstrate our thankfulness to God as we submit our lives to His will and obey His commands.
IV. QUOTABLE QUOTES:
Note: All of the following quotes are from A.W. Tozer.
1. Many times we try to rest our faith on texts and promises. True faith can rest only on the character of God. I believe, and I have faith, because I believe in the One in whom my faith is placed.
2. Faith wakes at the voice of truth but responds to no other sound.
3. The great test of faith is if we can wait on God, not push it, and expect immediate results and action.
4. Your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
5. If you do not know who God is and what God is like, your faith will never mount up.
Saturday, October 5, 2019
OCTOBER EDITION 2019... WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE...
by Dr. Keith J. Wise
I. INTRODUCTION: In the month of October the leaves are turning and thoughts of Summer are fading. In Michigan and in many parts of the Mid-West and New England, this annual event presents some awesome experiences in what the locals call "leaf peeping." This little phrase is a way to say we appreciate and sometimes become vividly aware the glory of color of the changing scenery around us. I was born and lived in the industrial city of Steubenville, Ohio. My section of town was called Lincoln Heights. Here "baby boomer" children and youth grew-up in safety and discovered the world. My grandmother lived on the other block and it was my custom to walk between 549 Dresden Avenue and 506 Lincoln Boulevard. Often in the Fall I remember seeing any number of trees shed their leaves and provide a series of glorious reviews on sunny days and even on those rainy fall gloomy days. My 5th grade teacher use to say to us, "...the changing of the colors of the leaves, remind us that God's tapestries are beyond words..." I would second that motion and encourage you, no matter where you live to talk walks and see the ever changing world in the month of October.
II. DIGGING DEEPER... Some Interesting Details Concerning the Bible...
I believe I ran this series of materials in one of my earlier blogs, but I thought it was interesting and informative and thought you would enjoy reading it again.
The Bible as a library of books, has blessed the world with its message from its Judaeo-Christian roots. It has been loved and cherished in one setting and despised and ridiculed in another. However, it has endured the challenges and perversions of its message for the ages and is still the "best" seller of all volumes.
The Bible is spoken of to be the Sword of the Spirit (Eph.6:17). Therefore, one desiring to be a disciple of the Lord should spend time in its study in order to prepare, meditate and share it with others, and when necessary, correct false teaching that is not aligned with its clear historical and theological injunctions (II Tim.2:15; 3:16; II Peter 3:15).
The numerous translations of the Bible will have similar statistics that I will be sharing here, but for all intents and purposes, we will digest the King James Version. The (KJV) contains 3,566,480 letters, 773,746 words, 31,102 verses, 1,189 chapters, and 66 books. There are 39 books in the Old Testament, and 27 books in the New. The Bible is composed of writings from about 40 men, writing over a period of some 1600 years; from 1500 B.C. to A.D. 100. It was primarily written in Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic.
The word "Jehovah" appears 6,855 times; "Lord" 1,853 times; "and" occurs 46,277 times and the words "reverend", "grandmother" and "gnat" appear only one time each. The book of Esther has ten chapters, but the words "Lord" and "God" are not found within it. The shortest chapter in the Bible is also the middle chapter, Psalm 117. The middle verse is Psalm 118:6; the middle book of the Old Testament is Proverbs; and the middle verse in the Old Testament is II Chronicles is 20:13. The shortest verse in the Old Testament is I Chronicles 1:25; and the longest is Esther 8:9.
In the New Testament, the middle book is II Thessalonians.; the middle chapter is between Rom.13 and 14; the middle verse is Acts 17:17; the shortest verse is John 11:35 in English, but in I Thess. 5:16 in Greek. The longest verse in the Bible is Esth. 8:9, which is ninety words. The longest word in the Bible is in Isa.8:1; and all the letters in the alphabet are found in Ezra 7:21, except the letter "j". Two chapters in II Kings 19 and Isaiah 37, are almost identical.
The Bible holds the distinction of being the first book printed with movable type, in 1450. The first Bible printed in America was in the native American language, by John Eliot. The King James version was published in 1611. The American Standard version was published in 1901, and the New International version was completed in 1978. Revisions has been made in it and any number of other translations and paraphrases have followed. The Bible was divided into chapters by Cardinal Hugo in 1250. The New Testament was divided into verses by Sir Robert Stephens in 1551. The entire Bible was divided into chapters and verses in the "Geneva Bible" which was translated in 1560. This was also knows as the "Breeches Bible" because it read, "They sewed fig leaves together and made themselves breeches." (Gen. 3:7)
The Red Letter Edition Bible was a product of Louis Klopsch. He was the first editor of the "Christian Herald" magazine. He printed the Red Letter Edition in 1901. He based it from Luke 22:20, "This cup is the new Testament in my blood, which is shed for you." He reasoned that all blood is red, thus Christ's words should be in red, as a constant reminded to the reader.
The Bible has been translated into almost every language and dialect in the world. It is the only book that gives a definitive answer to the question of man's origin, mission and destiny. Above all else, the Bible is a textbook on salvation, and should be seriously examined and studied, then carefully accepted and obeyed, and lastly, it should be religiously taught unto all men. It is to that end that this material has been gathered for your interests and edification. (Note: This material was in part the product of Dr. Hoyt Allen, at the time Evangelist with the KYOWVA Evangelistic Associated of Ironton, Ohio)
III. DID YOU KNOW??? How Could All the Animals Fit in the Ark?
This is one of those surface questions often ask by honest people and some skeptics seeking a few answers concerning the universal flood of Genesis. There are some statistics and logic that answer in practical form this question and others in regards to the capacity and dimensions of the Ark.
John Whitcomb and Henry Morris, in their book, The Genesis Flood, did an exceptionally thorough job of analyzing the data relating to the physical dimensions and carrying capacity of the ark. They noted that the ark would have been 437.5 feet in length, 72.92 feet in width, and 43.75 feet in height (given from 17.5 inches per cubit).
The ark had three decks (Gen. 6:16), so the total deck area was approximately 95,700 square feet, and the total volume 1,396,000 cubit feet. The gross tonnage of the ark would have been approximately 13,960 tons, which is comparable to some large, modern day vessels.
The carrying capacity of the ark would, therefore, be equal to 522 standard railroad stock cars, each of which could carry 240 sheep. The ark could have accommodated at least 125,000 sheep. Additionally, Genesis 6:14 tells us that besides having three decks, nests or rooms were constructed to house the animals. Beside all of this, we now know from genetic information that the ark would have been a virtual "gene pool" for future procreation and adaption in a post flood world. A known writer in this field is Frank Lewis Marsh. He has noted that "...over 500 varieties of sweet pea have been developed from a single type pea since the year 1700; and that over 200 distinct varieties of dogs, that are different from each other as the dachshund and the collie, have developed from a very few wild dogs."
III. NUGGETS OF NOURISHMENT... A Sermon: "Who's That Beside You?"
Text: I Timothy 4:16-18
Introduction: No mater your age or place in life, sooner or later you will need someone to stand beside you and with you. Such was the case of the Apostle Paul who finds himself in Rome having been put on trial with no one to stand with him. Demas, a Christian brother and co-worker had deserted him, Paul said, "having loved this present world," and only Luke had returned. (vs.11) He recounts a man by the name of Alexander the metalworker who had "done him great harm..." (vs.14). So in this circumstance Paul gives us a hint how we can endure and thrive even in the midst of rejection and pain.
A. Believe: (have faith)-
Edwin McManus, a Christian writer has said: "You and I were not created to believe in nothing." But believing in God is not something done for our own sake. Trusting belief in God enable us to believe in each other. He empowers that perspective. We also need people around us who believe in us. Let's be honest, isn't it great to have people in your life who believe in you? In short definition, we would agree with the 19th century poet Cyprian Norwid who wrote: "...To be what we define as happy we need to have, 1)something to live on ("meaning"), 2) something to live for ("purpose"), 3) something to die for ("destiny")." These are all wrapped up in the drama and tragedy of life. Jesus provides all the above and more...with much more to come.
B. Belong: (Community)
As a people we are here making the Church one community of faith and love. Only such genuine belonging can fill the void inside each of us. Realize that in this imperfect community here, you will let people down and they will let you down. As much as we would like, no human being will ever love you the way you want to be loved, basically because of our own imperfect perceptions of love and life. (Illust: Fred Rogers of "Mister Rogers" fame, built his whole program on the idea that everyone longs to be loved and longs to know that he or she is lovable. Like it or not, we belong to others at some level.
C. Become: (Grow and Mature)
If you stop and think bout it, we are one of the few creatures in God's creation that can become "more" than we are from every perspective. Our more noble-self can emerge in the midst of any crisis we face. This can happen both for us and for others. We often hear about frailty and weakness, which is self evident. But when Christ enters the picture a new confidence and new direction emerges. We need the positive challenges of life and friends to help us. Let us look beyond our confines, beyond our restrictions and fears to positive answers and life. As we look to Christ today we are enabled to go beyond yourselves to grow and mature.
Conclusion: (Poem-"I believe...") So Believe, Belong, Become and gain that new perspective.
IV. QUOTABLE QUOTES... Words to Live By or Ponder...
1. "It is not enough to learn the tricks of the the trade...you must learn the trade." (Ben Franklin)
2. "One of the most important lessons that experience teaches is that, on the whole, success depends more upon character than upon either intellect or fortune." (William Edward H. Lecky)
3. "The aim of education should be to convert the mind into a living fountain, and not a reservoir. That which is filled by merely pumping in, will be emptied by pumping out..." (John M. Mason)
4. "...within man's reasoning he pardons his actions through the court of his mind" (William Locksey)
Saturday, August 31, 2019
SEPTEMBER EDITION- 2019 WONDERFUL WORDS OF LIFE
by Dr. Keith J. Wise
I. Introduction: We enter the month of September with an air of expectancy. Most schools are now in session and the regular schedules of most families begin again. This reminds me of measured insights on education. What does it mean to be educated? Does education enhance our lives? Is it more than an accumulation of facts or answers on a "smart phone?" These and other questions can be magnified and simplified in ways that are understandable and enlightening. If we have a biblical perspective we see the enhancement of information coupled with the correlation of wisdom. The category of "Wisdom Literature" in the Old Testament (Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon,), magnify the important qualities of education and practical application into our daily lives.
In the early 1960's a concern of the parents of the "baby boomers" were the application of educational principles. Here are some of those items they emphasized then and are still relevant today if we are to raise a generation of truly educated individuals.
- Mastery of the fundamentals in writing, speech, mathematics. These explore the varieties of human thinking of the brain. They open the windows of mental perception. Situational awareness is not new concept.
- Goal setting is eventually looking toward selecting a vocation. In other words, how does this education I receive improve me, my life, my community and mankind as a whole? Great buildings are built one stone upon another. An old quote is applicable at this point to say "...to fail to plan is to plan to fail..."
- This may sound like a simple principle, but personal hygiene helps us to interact with others around us. People still matter in our education process, and how we present ourselves can make a difference. Bathing, Dental Care and proper nutrition are always emphasized in relation to others. Another generation is re-discovering this today.
- Good citizenship is vital if the nation is to prosper. Our nation has been bless by God and informed people are interested in the next generation while improving their own. To remedy flaws we must have educated people at all levels to vote and see the value of the United States of America. Her achievements far exceed her flaws. "One nation under God..."
- Historically, the one agency that has built a moral fiber in the community of society has been the Church. We hear the cry today for "Ethics" at every level of business, education, science and even the church itself. This is only accomplished when morally driven individuals considers that higher power that takes account of our actions, thoughts and motives.
- Although vocation and education is vital, how we use our "leisure time" can also speak of the "fruits" of our labor. We are not made to work 24/7. We need time to reflect, create, and refresh ourselves in a meaningful fashion so that we might enhance the overall lifestyle of the culture of our society. Our forefathers called this "finding a hobby." What do you do "away" from the job? There will be a life beyond what you did for your livelihood.
These obviously are not all the principles we could mention. We might say they are a good guidepost to make us all more aware and educated in ourselves and others around us. Consciously treating one another with kindness as we function in our day to day activities will reap benefits. I believe such "self awareness" energizes a true satisfaction in life.
II. DIGGING DEEPER... Beyond Samuel and Saul to David...
A. David as King: We have been looking at the drama of the Prophet and Judge Samuel. In the clearest sense, Saul is no longer God's choice for king, Samuel immediately anoints David (I Sam.16:1-13). (see August study) Not only that, the Spirit of the LORD who empowers Saul, now comes upon David and leaves Saul (16:13-14). In a very real sense, David is a "King without a throne": (I Samuel 16-18). David, though unknown publicly as king, begins to carry out his anointed task. We insert a little note here because the story of David and Goliath is a highlight to underline the actions of a Judge, (one who provides a great delivery), and the actions of a king. Yes, David and Goliath is about faith-but faith about Israel's new and unknown king, rather than a little boy who has enough faith to go around killing giants like and Old Testament Jack-in-the-Beanstalk.
David wins this initial victory as a "hidden king" figure, but no one recognizes its full significance. David's continuing success, however, alerts Saul to his true purpose (18:5-8). When David does not die in battle against great odds, Saul tries to directly kill David. Optics are very important here, in that while David is facing a giant, Saul is huddling in his tent. The rest of I Samuel finds Saul chasing David around the wilderness of Judah trying to kill him. It is a time for David to learn security in the midst of vulnerability (Psalm 4:8). Saul becomes increasingly unstable as he tries to fight against the word of judgment through Samuel. Another insight here is that we find David administrating through example, the"dignity of the office" of king with-outright saying so. He does this by not killing or assassinating Saul, although he could have done so on at least two occasions. Assassination would not be introduced by David in his kingship, but would be used by later kings in their conformity to the blindness of power similar to their pagan royalty.
B. David as the Model King: II Samuel 1-10. With the death of Saul, David is quickly anointed king over Judah. Saul's surviving son reigns over the rest of the tribes, but the real power behind his throne is his general, Abner. David conducts this struggle without animosity. He laments the deaths of Saul and Johnathan (II Samuel 1). He congratulates the men of Jabesh Gilead who rescued Saul's body from further dishonor (2:4-7). He punishes the "news bearers" of Saul who thought David would reward them (II Sam. 4:9-10). The one blot on his record is the death of Abner who was visiting to arrange terms of peace (3:12-37). He was killed by Joab. This was not by David's order. The writer of II Samuel clearly explains that a "Bethlehem Mafia" if you will, surrounds David. Most readers miss it, however, because they don't recognized the names. This material deserves some attention in our story as we put the pieces together.
For instance, who is Zeruiah 2:18? This is the name of David's sister (I Chronicles 2:13-16). The three "sons of Zeruiah" are David's nephews. Joab is one of these. Joab with his brother are a continuing challenge for King David throughout the book. The king often sees them as thorns in his royal side (3:39,16:10,19:22). Joab's murder of Abner incenses David. He calls down a curse on Joab's house and personally mourns the death of Abner. Somehow David is able to avoid major crisis as the rest of Israel recognizes that Abner's death was Joab's personal vendetta that did not involve the king.
After being anointed king over all Israel, (all twelve tribes), David succeeds in various areas against Israel's enemies. He conquers the seemingly secures the Jebusites at Jerusalem and defeats the Philistines, who take their best shot at nipping this rising monarch before he blooms(5:6-25).
David establishes Jerusalem as his capital and moves the ark of the covenant there. His desire to build a permanent temple for the Lord is refused, but he receives a promise that more than compensates for the immediate disappointment. (chapter 7 of II Sam.) Yahweh gives David more military successes(8:1-14,10:1-19), and David does what is "just and right for all his people" (8:15). This includes even the house of Saul and Jonathan, as David seeks to show kindness to their remaining heir(chap. 9).
As David and many other leaders learn in the future, success must be handled with wisdom as does adversity. Next month we will see a side of David that makes him wither because of poor choices and sin before a living and just God.
III. DID YOU KNOW... Surprises and Points of Interest...
1. F.W. Woolworth founder of the five-and-dime chain, was once hired as a janitor for fifty cents a day by a retail store owner who didn't think Woolworth had enough business sense to wait on customers.
2. The first time George Gershwin ever played the piano on the stage, he was laughed out of the theater by both the audience and his fellow actors.
3. Albert Einstein's teachers classified him as a dunce, and even his parents thought him backward.
4. When Thomas A. Edison was in school, he was always at the end of his class because he could not remember his lessons in the three R's. His teachers called him stupid, and doctors predicted that he would have serious brain trouble.
IV. NUGGETS OF NOURISHMENT... A Sermon Outline of Faith
Title: Abraham: When God's Promises Seem Impossible
Text: Genesis 12:1-9
Introduction: Years ago, Isaiah Moore, a professor of the College of the Scriptures in Louisville, Kentucky decided he would remarry when he was widowed for the fifth time at the age of eighty-nine. Wayne Smith, one of our well known preachers in Lexington, Kentucky asked him why he was marrying again at that age. Professor Moore quipped, "I've always wanted a son." Moore and his new bride even bought a new house near an elementary school. Wayne Smith with his intense sense of humor said to Moore, "Brother Moore, you ought to be the president of the Optimist Club."
God made a bold promise to Abraham in our text: "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you..." (Gen.12:2). That promise seemed impossible to believe because Abraham's wife Sarah, never had children and she was approximately sixty-five years of age. There were some great principles of faith Abraham had to learn as we do, since we all travel on this spiritual journey. Lets consider today the lessons of Abraham and instructions for our faith.
A. Abraham Trusted God's Provision When He Was Called to Move.
B. Abraham Trusted God's Power When He Was Called to Sacrifice Isaac.
Note: There was an unreasonable command. (Gen.22)
1. Abraham's unconditional obedience- (Hebrews 11:17-19) His mindset.
2. An unexpected provision-(Genesis 22:11-13) Ram in the Thicket...
3. An unequivocal blessing- (Genesis 22:15-18)
C. Have Faith! God Keeps His Word... Consider the following...
1. God will meet all your needs. (Phil. 4:9)
2. God will help you overcome temptation. (I Cor.10:13)
3. The peace of God will guard you heart and mind. (Phil. 4:6-7)
4. God will reward faithful financial giving. (Malachi 3:10)
5. The earth will endure until Christ returns. (Genesis 8:22)
6. The Christian will be resurrected into a new body. (John 6:4)
Conclusion: An old quote says, "...if we remain in the "present" and stay in His "presences" our faith will be real and our reward will be great.
IV. QUOTES OF NOTE... Some random quotes of truth...
1. Something is wrong in the life of any individual who constantly sees wrong in others. (from Daily Thoughts)
2. So long as you hesitate to undertake the big tasks, you are likely to remain near the bottom of the ladder. (from Above the Crowd)
3. Quality is not accidental-- it is the result of intelligent effort... (Sunshine Magazine)
4. A wholesome philosophy: Make the most of all that comes, and the least of all that goes. (Sunshine Magazine)
A. David as King: We have been looking at the drama of the Prophet and Judge Samuel. In the clearest sense, Saul is no longer God's choice for king, Samuel immediately anoints David (I Sam.16:1-13). (see August study) Not only that, the Spirit of the LORD who empowers Saul, now comes upon David and leaves Saul (16:13-14). In a very real sense, David is a "King without a throne": (I Samuel 16-18). David, though unknown publicly as king, begins to carry out his anointed task. We insert a little note here because the story of David and Goliath is a highlight to underline the actions of a Judge, (one who provides a great delivery), and the actions of a king. Yes, David and Goliath is about faith-but faith about Israel's new and unknown king, rather than a little boy who has enough faith to go around killing giants like and Old Testament Jack-in-the-Beanstalk.
David wins this initial victory as a "hidden king" figure, but no one recognizes its full significance. David's continuing success, however, alerts Saul to his true purpose (18:5-8). When David does not die in battle against great odds, Saul tries to directly kill David. Optics are very important here, in that while David is facing a giant, Saul is huddling in his tent. The rest of I Samuel finds Saul chasing David around the wilderness of Judah trying to kill him. It is a time for David to learn security in the midst of vulnerability (Psalm 4:8). Saul becomes increasingly unstable as he tries to fight against the word of judgment through Samuel. Another insight here is that we find David administrating through example, the"dignity of the office" of king with-outright saying so. He does this by not killing or assassinating Saul, although he could have done so on at least two occasions. Assassination would not be introduced by David in his kingship, but would be used by later kings in their conformity to the blindness of power similar to their pagan royalty.
B. David as the Model King: II Samuel 1-10. With the death of Saul, David is quickly anointed king over Judah. Saul's surviving son reigns over the rest of the tribes, but the real power behind his throne is his general, Abner. David conducts this struggle without animosity. He laments the deaths of Saul and Johnathan (II Samuel 1). He congratulates the men of Jabesh Gilead who rescued Saul's body from further dishonor (2:4-7). He punishes the "news bearers" of Saul who thought David would reward them (II Sam. 4:9-10). The one blot on his record is the death of Abner who was visiting to arrange terms of peace (3:12-37). He was killed by Joab. This was not by David's order. The writer of II Samuel clearly explains that a "Bethlehem Mafia" if you will, surrounds David. Most readers miss it, however, because they don't recognized the names. This material deserves some attention in our story as we put the pieces together.
For instance, who is Zeruiah 2:18? This is the name of David's sister (I Chronicles 2:13-16). The three "sons of Zeruiah" are David's nephews. Joab is one of these. Joab with his brother are a continuing challenge for King David throughout the book. The king often sees them as thorns in his royal side (3:39,16:10,19:22). Joab's murder of Abner incenses David. He calls down a curse on Joab's house and personally mourns the death of Abner. Somehow David is able to avoid major crisis as the rest of Israel recognizes that Abner's death was Joab's personal vendetta that did not involve the king.
After being anointed king over all Israel, (all twelve tribes), David succeeds in various areas against Israel's enemies. He conquers the seemingly secures the Jebusites at Jerusalem and defeats the Philistines, who take their best shot at nipping this rising monarch before he blooms(5:6-25).
David establishes Jerusalem as his capital and moves the ark of the covenant there. His desire to build a permanent temple for the Lord is refused, but he receives a promise that more than compensates for the immediate disappointment. (chapter 7 of II Sam.) Yahweh gives David more military successes(8:1-14,10:1-19), and David does what is "just and right for all his people" (8:15). This includes even the house of Saul and Jonathan, as David seeks to show kindness to their remaining heir(chap. 9).
As David and many other leaders learn in the future, success must be handled with wisdom as does adversity. Next month we will see a side of David that makes him wither because of poor choices and sin before a living and just God.
III. DID YOU KNOW... Surprises and Points of Interest...
1. F.W. Woolworth founder of the five-and-dime chain, was once hired as a janitor for fifty cents a day by a retail store owner who didn't think Woolworth had enough business sense to wait on customers.
2. The first time George Gershwin ever played the piano on the stage, he was laughed out of the theater by both the audience and his fellow actors.
3. Albert Einstein's teachers classified him as a dunce, and even his parents thought him backward.
4. When Thomas A. Edison was in school, he was always at the end of his class because he could not remember his lessons in the three R's. His teachers called him stupid, and doctors predicted that he would have serious brain trouble.
IV. NUGGETS OF NOURISHMENT... A Sermon Outline of Faith
Title: Abraham: When God's Promises Seem Impossible
Text: Genesis 12:1-9
Introduction: Years ago, Isaiah Moore, a professor of the College of the Scriptures in Louisville, Kentucky decided he would remarry when he was widowed for the fifth time at the age of eighty-nine. Wayne Smith, one of our well known preachers in Lexington, Kentucky asked him why he was marrying again at that age. Professor Moore quipped, "I've always wanted a son." Moore and his new bride even bought a new house near an elementary school. Wayne Smith with his intense sense of humor said to Moore, "Brother Moore, you ought to be the president of the Optimist Club."
God made a bold promise to Abraham in our text: "I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you..." (Gen.12:2). That promise seemed impossible to believe because Abraham's wife Sarah, never had children and she was approximately sixty-five years of age. There were some great principles of faith Abraham had to learn as we do, since we all travel on this spiritual journey. Lets consider today the lessons of Abraham and instructions for our faith.
A. Abraham Trusted God's Provision When He Was Called to Move.
B. Abraham Trusted God's Power When He Was Called to Sacrifice Isaac.
Note: There was an unreasonable command. (Gen.22)
1. Abraham's unconditional obedience- (Hebrews 11:17-19) His mindset.
2. An unexpected provision-(Genesis 22:11-13) Ram in the Thicket...
3. An unequivocal blessing- (Genesis 22:15-18)
C. Have Faith! God Keeps His Word... Consider the following...
1. God will meet all your needs. (Phil. 4:9)
2. God will help you overcome temptation. (I Cor.10:13)
3. The peace of God will guard you heart and mind. (Phil. 4:6-7)
4. God will reward faithful financial giving. (Malachi 3:10)
5. The earth will endure until Christ returns. (Genesis 8:22)
6. The Christian will be resurrected into a new body. (John 6:4)
Conclusion: An old quote says, "...if we remain in the "present" and stay in His "presences" our faith will be real and our reward will be great.
IV. QUOTES OF NOTE... Some random quotes of truth...
1. Something is wrong in the life of any individual who constantly sees wrong in others. (from Daily Thoughts)
2. So long as you hesitate to undertake the big tasks, you are likely to remain near the bottom of the ladder. (from Above the Crowd)
3. Quality is not accidental-- it is the result of intelligent effort... (Sunshine Magazine)
4. A wholesome philosophy: Make the most of all that comes, and the least of all that goes. (Sunshine Magazine)
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