ISAIAH 66
Creator of world desires those who fear HIM verse 1- 4
Thus says the LORD
The heaven is MY throne – and the earth is MY footstool
Where is the house that ye build unto ME?
Where is the place of MY rest?
FOR all those things hath MINE hand made
and all those things have been – says the LORD
BUT to this man will I look
EVEN to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit
and trembles at MY word
He that kills an ox is as if he slew a man
He that sacrifices a lamb – as if he cut off a dog’s neck
He that offers an oblation – as if he offered swine’s blood
He that burns incense – as if he blessed an idol
YEA – they have chosen their own ways
and their soul delights in their abominations
I also will choose their delusions
and will bring their fears upon them
BECAUSE when I called – none did answer
when I spoke – they did not hear
BUT they did evil before MINE eyes
and chose that in which I delighted not
Creator of world deals with disobedient verse 5- 6
HEAR the word of the LORD
you that tremble at HIS word
your brethren that hated you
that cast you out for MY name’s sake
said
Let the LORD be glorified – BUT HE shall appear to your joy
and they shall be ashamed
A voice of noise from the city – a voice from the temple
a voice of the LORD that renders recompense
to HIS enemies
Creator of the world protects HIS nation verse 7- 9
Before she travailed – she brought forth
before her pain came – she was delivered of a man child
Who has heard such a thing?
Who has seen such things?
Shall the earth be made to bring forth in one day?
OR shall a nation be born at once?
for as soon as Zion travailed
she brought forth her children
Shall I bring to the birth – and not cause to bring forth?
says the LORD
Shall I cause to bring forth and shut the womb?
says your God
Creator of the world wants rejoicing in Jerusalem verse 10- 11
Rejoice you with Jerusalem – and be glad with her
all you that love her
Rejoice for joy with her – all ye that mourn for her
that you may suck
and be satisfied with the breasts of her consolations
that you may milk out
and be delighted with the abundance of her glory
Creator of the world gives peace to Jerusalem verse 12- 13
For thus says the LORD
BEHOLD – I will extend peace to her like a river
and the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing stream
THEN shall you suck – you shall be born upon her sides
and be dandled upon her knees
As one whom his mother comforts – so shall I comfort you
and you shall be comforted in Jerusalem
Creator of the world brings judgment verse 14- 16
AND when you see this – your heart shall rejoice
and your bones shall flourish like an herb
and the hand of the LORD shall be known
toward HIS servants
and HIS indignation toward HIS enemies
For – BEHOLD – the LORD will come with fire
and with HIS chariots like a whirlwind
to render HIS anger with fury
and HIS rebuke with flames of fire
For by fire and by HIS sword will the LORD plead with all flesh
and the slain of the LORD shall be many
Creator of the world deals with idol worshipers verse 17
They that sanctify themselves
and purify themselves in the gardens
behind one tree in the midst
eating swine’s flesh
and the abomination – and the mouse
shall be consumed together – says the LORD
Creator of the world calls nations to return Israelites verse 18- 21
For I know their works and their thoughts – it shall come
that I will gather all nations and tongues
and they shall come and see MY glory
AND I will set a sign among them
and I will send those that escape of them to the nations
to Tarshish – Pul – Lud – that draw the bow
to Tubal – Javan – the isles afar off
that have not heard MY fame
neither have seen MY glory
and they shall declare MY glory among the Gentiles
And they shall bring all your brethren for an offering unto the LORD
out of all nations upon horses – in chariots – in litters – upon mules
and upon swift beasts – to MY holy mountain Jerusalem
says the LORD
as the children of Israel bring an offering in a
clean vessel into the house of the LORD
AND I will also take of them for priests and for Levities
says the LORD
Creator of the world receives worship from all nations verse 22- 24
FOR as the NEW heavens and the NEW earth – which I will make
shall remain before ME – says the LORD
so shall your seed and your name remain
AND it shall come to pass – that from one new moon to another
and from one sabbath to another
shall all flesh come to WORSHIP before ME
says the LORD
AND they shall go forth –
and look upon the carcasses of the men that have
transgressed against ME
for their worm shall not die
neither shall their fire be quenched
and they shall be an abhorring
to all flesh
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 2 For all those things has mine hand made, and all those things have been, says the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembles at my word. (2730 “trembles” [chared] means fearful, frightened, reverence, afraid, or terrified.
DEVOTION: Isaiah continues to express the fact that there are two types of people in the world. There are those who reverence the LORD and those who do not.
God has communicated with the world through HIS prophets and apostles. The Word of God is based on the fact that the Holy Spirit moved holy men to write the Word of God without errors. This means that the Word of God gives us the truth of God in written form. It is the only absolute truth regarding the Creator of the Universe.
Some people continue to challenge the truthfulness of the Word of God. They believe that the men who wrote it were only humans and that there was no influence of God on their writings. They want us to believe that all these forty authors were just creating a religion out of the air. They believe that there is no absolute truth only human ideas that have evolved over the years.
The LORD wants individuals who are willing to reverence the Word of God. When they read the Word of God they are willing to apply it to their life. It becomes the standard by which they live. They are willing to share their beliefs with others because they believe it is TRUTH.
Those who walk away from the teaching of the Word of God were living in Jerusalem in the days of Isaiah. They were willing to eat swine’s flesh. They were willing to make broth of abominable things. They were willing to worship idols. They chose to go their own way, which was away from the commands of the LORD.
In fact, the LORD called out to them but they would not answer. HE spoke to them but they would not hear. They continually did things that were displeasing to the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Come to the LORD with a contrite spirit. HE wants us to be humble in HIS presence.)
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
: 4 I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spoke, they did not hear: but they did evil before MINE eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not. (8586 “delusions” [ta’aluwl] means wantonness, any kind of harsh treatment given to a person or people, wantonness, caprice, vexation, or adversity.)
DEVOTION: Only the LORD knows what will affect people the way HE wants it to affect them. There are people who are not willing to listen to the message of salvation that HE gave to HIS people and so HE had to vex them because of their attitude toward HIM and HIS provision of salvation.
HE calls to all who are on this earth to receive HIS call. Every person has an opportunity to become a follower of HIM but most chose not to listen to the call and refuse to follow HIM.
Once they have made this choice HE is going to let them believe the way they want to believe because they have made their choice not HIM. So many people try to use the excuse of “What about the heathens in countries that have never heard the Gospel?” The answer is the same as those in Israel who have had an opportunity to follow the LORD but chose not to.
There is not one person who can stand before the LORD and say, “I never had a change to follow YOU! That statement would be a lie because HE does give everyone who is every born to come to a saving knowledge of HIM if they will listen.
Too many today are not listening even in countries like America who have many opportunities to hear the gospel but chose to ignore it and then complain that the LORD is not giving them the right opportunities to follow HIM.
Even those who attend some churches that preach the gospel correctly don’t listen to the call to follow HIM. They are satisfied with just attending church when they feel like it and reading the Bible when they feel like it and think that they have not be given the right message to believe.
These individuals will stand before the LORD and say “We didn’t really get the message right!” It will not work because the LORD says that everyone will receive an opportunity to follow HIM if they are willing. The majority say NO!
CHALLENGE: If you are reading this and have never chosen to follow Jesus really, you can change and become a follower. If you are reading this and have made a decision to follow Jesus, are you being faithful to HIM daily? Don’t be fooled, the time is short!
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: 17 They that sanctify themselves, and purify themselves in the gardens behind one tree in the midst, eating swine’s flesh, and the abomination, and the mouse, shall be consumed together, says the LORD. (6942 “sanctify” [qadash] means dedicate, holy, consecrate, appointed, pure, clean, or sacred)
DEVOTION: This word should be only applied to those who worship the one TRUE GOD of the universe but here we find that there were individuals who were members of the tribes of Israel dedicating themselves to false gods.
They were individuals who didn’t have a problem with knowing that the LORD was the one true God yet thought that their false gods could help them because they were going through a hard time with the LORD because of HIS judgment on the tribes for their worshiping of false gods.
False worship has been happening from the beginning of time with the Tower of Babel being one example. Today we find that there are many churches that look like they are in place to have people worship the LORD but they are there just for a social gathering place that offers very little Bible and a lot of entertainment. This is another example of false worship.
We don’t have idols in our homes made into statutes usually but our idols are in the form of a box in the living room called a television. The next idol could be our phone or computer. Sometimes our idols are our homes or our cars or our vacations.
Our society is moving further and further away from the teachings of the Word of God. Most people don’t even carry a Bible on Sunday into churches that do preach the Good News. Many believers don’t what to take a stand on anything because they don’t want to offend anyone except God.
So we have to ask ourselves the question like the children of Israel: Are we worshiping the one true God of the Bible or false gods that are in our world?
CHALLENGE: We have a responsibility to do more than those who worship false gods. We need to make sure we are fully consecrated to the LORD each day and tell those who will listen if they are worshiping a false god or not worshiping anything more than themselves.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 24 And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcases of the men that have transgressed against me: for their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh. (8438 “worm” [tola’ath] means maggot, scarlet, or crimson.)
DEVOTION: This chapter is a continuation of the last chapter. It is talking about the time period of the Millennium and beyond. It is a warning to the children of Israel that God has a plan for the future and HE is working HIS plan. There are only two locations that are available in the future: heaven or hell.
Those who chose not to follow the LORD will go to a place that has fire that will not be quenched. This place is described in the New Testament as the “second death.” Only those who reject Christ will go to this place. Their names are not written in the book of life. This word carries the connotation of a relationship to a snake or dragon. There is a relationship to an created being who is called the snake of the Garden of Eden or that old dragon – the devil.
In John 8:44 Christ tells the Pharisees that they are the children of the devil and not Abraham. Apparently, these people in this verse are related to the devil and the part of them that will not die is their relationship to the devil and not to the LORD. They will spend eternity in this relationship. Mark 9: 44, 46, 48 repeat this verse in the New Testament.
We know that the book of Revelation tells us that the devil will go into the “lake of fire” for eternity. All those related to him will spend their time in the same location. Only the followers of Christ will avoid eternity in the lake of fire.
Our prayer is that everyone receiving these devotions is not going to the lake of fire but to heaven because of their relationship with Christ. Are we being the witness to our family and friends that we are called to do?
CHALLENGE: The Bible teaches that there is a place that the LORD has reserved for those who want nothing to do with HIM. It will last for eternity. There will be only judgment in this place. Warn your friends and family.
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DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
House Israel built for LORD verse 1, 20
Place of rest verse 1
Kills an ox verse 3
Sacrifice a lamb verse 3
Offer an oblation verse 3
Burn incense verse 3
Rejoice verse 10, 14
Offering verse 20
All flesh shall worship verse 23
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DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Word verse 2
Word of the LORD verse 5
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
LORD – Jehovah (Covenant keeping, Personal) verse 1, 2, 5, 6, 9, 12,
14-17, 20- 23
Heaven HIS throne verse 1
Earth HIS footstool verse 1
Creator verse 2, 22
God – Elohim (Creator, Sovereign) verse 9
Hand of the LORD verse 14
House of the LORD verse 20
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead –God/man, Messiah)
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Enemies verse 6, 14
Gentiles verse 12, 19
All flesh verse 16
All nations verse 18- 20
Tarshish verse 19
Pul verse 19
Lud verse 19
Tubal verse 19
Javan verse 19
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Idol verse 3
Chosen their own way verse 3
Delight in abominations verse 3
Delusions verse 4
Fears verse 4
Not answer the LORD verse 4
Not hear the LORD verse 4
Evil verse 4
Wrong choices verse 4
Hate verse 5
Cast out believers verse 5
Eating swine’s flesh verse 17
Abominations verse 17
Mouse verse 17
Transgressed verse 24
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Poor and of a contrite spirit verse 2
Trembles at LORD’S Word verse 2, 5
God calls verse 4
God spoke verse 4
Hear the Word of the LORD verse 5
Glorify the LORD verse 5
Joy verse 5
Rejoice verse 10, 14
Peace verse 12
Comfort verse 13
Servants verse 14
Sanctify verse 17
Purify verse 17
Worship verse 23
Israel (Old Testament people of God)
Zion verse 8
Jerusalem verse 10- 14, 20
Children of Israel verse 20
Priests verse 21
Levites verse 21
Church (New Testament people of God)
Last Things (Future Events)
New heavens and New earth verse 22
Worm shall not die verse 24
Fire not quenched verse 24
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QUOTES regarding passage
24. Remarkably there is a cemetery by the city, and when ‘all flesh’ comes to worship they make a point to go out and look at the fate from which they have been rescued. They enjoy the day of salvation, but they do not allow themselves to forget the day of vengeance. These are dead because the judgment of God is for real: they are those ‘slain by the Lord’ (16). The accusation levelled and made out against them is that they rebelled: they knew the word of the Lord but deliberately and wilfully went their own way (4). Consequently, the worm in the bud—the heart of rebellion, the corrupt, fallen nature—was the winner, and it is their endless lot to live the life of corruption (their worm will not die) under the endless antagonism of divine holiness, i.e. the unquenched fire. On the lips of Jesus, these words are used to express the burning ‘life’ of Gehenna (Mark 9:43–48), and ultimately they become the reality of the second death, a final change of place and state with continuity of person (Rev. 20:15). The purpose of visiting the cemetery is not to gloat (it is too awful for that), nor even to pity (though who could restrain pity?), but rather to register again something loathsome (dērā’ôn, cf. Dan. 12:2), to be repelled and revolted; that is to say, to see again the wages of sin and the fruit of rebellion, and thereby to be newly motivated to obedience and love of the word of God. There is also another thought which we noted in verse 14: it is part of the saints’ sense of the reality of their security to be assured that the Lord has dealt, finally and fully, with everything that could ever threaten or blight their eternal joy. (Motyer, J. A. (1999). Isaiah: an introduction and commentary (Vol. 20, pp. 460–461). Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press.)
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22–24 God here makes the greatest and most comprehensive of all his promises: the guarantee of his pledges to his people. He further affirms that the wider vision of the worship of all mankind will also find its fulfillment. This is expressed in terms of the old God-given Jewish system of special days and Sabbaths for worship and, with many other aspects of these two final chapters, raises important questions of interpretation (see Introduction). The prophecy ends on a note of the starkest realism. It pictures vividly the lessons to be learned from the eternal judgment of God on sinners for their rebellion against him. It should be noted that this judgment will have the approval of men. This reminds us of the awesome “Hallelujah!” of Revelation 19:1. God’s people must agree with all he says, for he is God. (Grogan, G. W. (1986). Isaiah. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel (Vol. 6, p. 353). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
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66:22–24. Israel will be as enduring as the new heavens and the new earth (see comments on 65:17). All mankind (i.e., people from all nations) will worship the Lord, bowing down before Him. As Isaiah had frequently written, these righteous ones will contrast greatly with those who rebelled (pāša‘; see comments on 1:2) against the Lord. They will suffer eternal torment (cf. Mark 9:48). This awesome way in which the majestic Book of Isaiah concludes points to the need for unrepentant people to turn to the Lord, the only God, the Holy One of Israel. (Martin, J. A. (1985). Isaiah. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 1, p. 1121). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
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He returns to this motif in the last verse of the prophecy (66:24) as a perpetual reminder that God’s judgment on the wicked is everlasting and that those who have been condemned to separation from him in life will suffer eternal separation in death. (Elwell, W. A. (1995). Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, Is 66:18–24). Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House.)
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66:24 worm will not die … fire will not be quenched. The corpses of those enduring everlasting torment will serve as a vivid reminder to all of the grievous nature and terrible consequences of rebellion against God. In referring to this verse, Jesus referred to the Valley of Hinnom—i.e., Gehenna—where a continually burning trash-heap pictured the never-ending pain of the lost (Mk 9:47, 48). See note on Jer 19:6. (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Is 66:24). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers.)
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Ver. 24. And they shall go forth, &c.] That is, those constant and spiritual worshippers shall go forth from the holy mountain Jerusalem, the church of God, whither they are brought as an offering to the Lord, and where they worship him; for this is not to be understood of going out of Jerusalem literally, as Aben Ezra and Kimchi; or of their going out of their graves after the resurrection, as others; but either out of the Christian assemblies, or out of the houses of the saints, and the beloved city, when fire shall come down from heaven, and destroy the wicked, Rev. 20:9: and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me. The Targum is, “against my Word;” against Christ, whose person they blasphemed, denying him to be God; whose office, as a Mediator and Saviour, they rejected; whose doctrines they contradicted; and whose ordinances they despised: these are not the carcasses of the camp of Gog and Magog, the Jews so call, as Kimchi interprets it; though it may have reference to the carcasses of Gog’s army, the Turks, that will be slain in their attempt to recover Judea, Ezek. 38 and 39 or else the carcasses of those that will be slain at the battle at Armageddon, Rev. 16:16 and 19:18–21 or the army of Gog and Magog, at the end of the thousand years, Rev. 20:8, 9. The Talmudists observe from hence, that the wicked, even at the gate of hell, return not by repentance; for it is not said, that have transgressed, but that transgress; for they transgress, and go on for ever; and so indeed the word may be rendered, that transgress, or are transgressing; for they interpret it of the damned in hell, as many do; and of whom the following clauses may be understood: for their worm shall not die; with which their carcasses shall be covered, they lying rotting above ground; or figuratively their consciences, and the horrors and terrors that shall seize them, which they will never get rid of. The Targum is, “their souls shall not die;” as they will not, though their bodies may; but will remain to suffer the wrath of God to all eternity: neither shall their fire be quenched; in hell, as Jarchi interprets it; those wicked men, the followers and worshippers of antichrist, will be cast into the lake which burns with fire and brimstone; they will for ever suffer the vengeance of eternal fire; and the smoke of their torment shall ascend for ever and ever, Rev. 14:10 and 19:20: and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh; the true worshippers of God, ver. 23 to whom their carcasses will be loathsome, when they look upon them; and their souls abominable, because of their wicked actions; and who cannot but applaud the justice of God in their condemnation; and admire distinguishing grace and mercy, that has preserved them from the like ruin and destruction. The Targum is, “and the ungodly shall be judged in hell, till the righteous shall say concerning them, we have seen enough;” see Mark 9:44, 46, 48 where our Lord mentions and repeats some of the clauses of this text, and applies them to the torments of hell. (Gill, J. (1810). An Exposition of the Old Testament (Vol. 5, p. 398). London: Mathews and Leigh)
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FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
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Deuteronomy 30
Restoration is promised to the Israelites.
INSIGHT
Where would we be without forgiveness? In his weakness, man is not able to sustain any relationship without eventually needing to forgive and to be forgiven. This includes his relationship with God. Unless God were willing to forgive us, we could have no relationship with Him, for we are unable to be sinless before Him.
What a warm and tender chapter comes on the heels of the curses. God says, “If you turn from Me, I will pour out on you the curses. But if you repent and return to Me, I will forgive you and restore you.” What a comfort. What a wonderful God (Quiet Walk)
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Proverbs 31
An excellent wife cares for her home, is kind to the needy, and is an example of good character.
INSIGHT
One view of women is that they are merely caretakers of the home and have no role other than changing diapers, cooking, and cleaning house. Another view seeks to free women from the responsibilities at home. Both are wrong. Women are to care for their homes and maintain certain responsibilities–just as men should. But their role carries with it great flexibility and variety. The Proverbs 31 woman is a skillful, industrious person who models integrity and esteems her home and family highly.
(QuietWalk)
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The Watchman Held Accountable
“Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel:…When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning…the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” (Ezekiel 3:17-18)
Our text comprises part of Ezekiel’s commission as prophet to Judah. His function was compared to a watchman on the city walls whose duty was to warn the city of impending danger. Ezekiel was to warn the apostate people of Jerusalem of the coming invasion by the Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar. God warned Ezekiel that if he refused to pass on whatever messages he received from God, he himself would be held accountable.
On the other hand, Ezekiel was not accountable for the response of the hearer. “Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness…he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul” (Ezekiel 3:19). He would also be requested to give similar injunctions and warnings to righteous men who had fallen into sin, but again he was not held accountable for their response (vv. 20-21).
A corresponding teaching is found in the New Testament. “Obey them that have rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account” (Hebrews 13:17). Church leaders, we are told, will give an account before the Lord someday as to how those in their flock have fared. They will not be accountable for the response of others but are required to see to it that each person in their care clearly and lovingly understands the truth and the consequences of disobedience. This is a heavy responsibility!
Let each of us respond properly to the truth as presented by our church leaders, that they may minister with joy and not with grief. JDM
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THE WILL OF GOD
Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. Luke 22:42
The person who has eternal life loves to do the will of God. This is the logical sequence. The man who loves is the man who is anxious to please the object of his love. There is no better test of love than that, and unless you desire to please someone whom you claim to love, then I assure you, you do not love that person. Love always wants to be pleasing and to give itself, and anyone who loves God wants to do the will of God
If you look at Christ, you see that the whole of His life, His one object, was to do the will of His Father. He did not care what it was; even in the Garden of Gethsemane when He faced the one thing He did not want, even there He said, “Nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done.” He says, “I do not want to drink this cup, but if it is doing Thy will, I will do even that.” That is love at its maximum and its best, and it is true of all who have His life. The chief end of the true Christian is the glory of God; therefore he spends his time seeking to know the will of God and doing it.
He strives to do it, and he loves to do it. He is controlled by this one idea. Having learned what God has done for him and what God is to him, having realized something of this love of God, he says,“Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.” Anyman, therefore, who has eternal life has this as the supreme objectand desire of his life—to do the will of God.
The ultimate manifestation of the possession of eternal life is that it produces certain results in our lives. Fortunately for us they have all been set out in a very brief compass in Galatians 5:22-23, where the apostle Paul speaks of the fruit of the Spirit. These verses are rightly called “the shortest biography of Christ that has ever been written.”
A Thought to Ponder: The true Christian spends his time seeking to know the will of God and doing it. (Saved in Eternity, pp. 168-169, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
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Seducing Spirits
“Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” (1 Timothy 4:1)
These “latter days” are surely characterized by the tragic departure from the faith on the part of many. Unfortunately, even many of our churches have followed what should certainly be exposed as “seducing spirits,” embracing lies taught under the influence of Satan. A list of such false teachings and practices within the church would surely implicate many. Let us look at the examples Paul gives in the next few verses.
First, he identifies the leaders and teachers of these errors as hypocritical liars who intentionally deceive their prey. They have deadened any possibility of right attitude by hardening their minds and searing their consciences (v. 2).
Next, we are given examples of their heresy: “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving” (v. 3).
Many cults and pseudo-Christian groups have fallen into these traps, but both the institution of marriage and the provision of foods were specifically created by God for man’s enjoyment and blessing (marriage: see Genesis 1:28; 2:18, 24; foods: Genesis 1:29; 9:3). They are to be “received with thanksgiving” to a loving Creator, “sanctified by the word of God and prayer” (1 Timothy 4:4-5). Each of these and all of God’s creation are “very good” (Genesis 1:31), if used properly.
But the main point of this passage is that we should guard against the heresy of false teachers and from imposing on ourselves and our fellow Christians a false piety—practices which may make us feel “holier than thou” but which, in reality, impugn God and His creation. Rather, let us be among those “which believe and know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:3) of God’s loving provision of creation. (JDM, The Institute for Creation Research)
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When Paul wrote this statement, he used a verb tense that means “keep on doing this,” as opposed to a one-time action. In other words, it’s not “think about heaven at this moment.” It’s “Keep on keeping your mind immersed in God and His Word, all the time.” This is a discipline too few of us have mastered: the art of heaven-based thinking. Some call it the practice of the presence of God. (p. 119)
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Vance Havner put it this way: “Christians are not citizens of earth trying to get to heave, but citizens of heaven making their way through this world.” (p.119
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Instead of sitting around worrying about the stock market, housing, or unemployment, is there any reason, after all these thousands of years, for God to no longer protest us? Our security is not found in the things of earth, but in our position with Christ, in God – where we are hidden. (p. 127)
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In John Orberg’s book, Faith and Doubt, he reminds us that to stay centered in Christ, we will need to learn the difference between hoping for something and hoping in Someone. (p. 128, Living With Confidence in a Chaotic World by Dr. David Jeremiah)
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Kathy quotes (AL): You are not too dirty for God to cleanse. You are not too broken for God to fix. You are not too far from God to reach. You are not too guilty for God to forgive. And you are not too worthless for God to love.
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