Saturday Easter Week Four -- May 17
HealthFitNow
Posts: 1,205 Member
Meditation
Saturday, Easter Week Five lessons fly in the face of ‘prosperity gospel’ which suggests that if you get your heart and soul right with God that you will find yourself with an abundance. I believe that God wants us to have abundance but sometimes, we go through awful times, first.
The Old Testament lesson in Jeremiah, addressed two prophets, Uriah and Jeremiah, during the time of King Jehoiakim (a bad king of Judah in Southern Israel). Uriah walked favorably with God and preached the bleak forecast of Israel and the King sought to kill him. Uriah fled to Egypt; the King sent men to capture, return him and killed him. A friend of Jeremiah hid him like many hid Jews during the Holocaust. But sometimes, things don’t go well for people who do God’s will.
The Psalmist cried out for salvation from persecution. Again, even those who are obedient to God run into problems.
The bottom line is that God is glorified when people suffer and rise above; demonstrating faith and power. God is also glorified when things go well. God may call us to suffer for Christ’s sake. God will equip us to the task.
Even the New Testament lesson addressed persecution of Jesus in the Gospel of John. First the leaders of the Jews accused Jesus of being a Samaritan and possessed with a devil. Quite the commentary on how the Jews regarded the Samaritans—equating them with being possessed of a devil. But Jesus calmly responded by calling attention to their dishonor of God because they dishonored Jesus.
Jesus was a little cryptic, though, by stating that anyone who obeyed his word would never see death.
This tripped up the leaders, who used Abraham’s death to document that he couldn’t be telling the truth.
Jesus confused them further by saying that Abraham was delighted when he saw Jesus’ had come to earth; that God was glorified by Jesus’ obedience since Jesus knew God and the leaders of the Jews did not. Jesus was scathing—he called them liars. Not all Jews were liars, but these leaders that Jesus faced were evil. They feared Jesus and sought to kill him.
But the time for Jesus to be glorified was not yet come, so Jesus made it impossible for them to ‘see Jesus’ and he walked out of the temple in the midst of them.
I have sometimes looked for something and it was under my nose, but I couldn’t see it. These leaders of the Jews couldn’t see Jesus.
The Psalmist cried for protection from persecution. Uriah was murdered. Jeremiah was saved. Jews tried to kill Jesus, but he hid himself from their eyes and walked out in the middle of them. The others watching this play out must have chuckled behind their hands, seeing Jesus walk in the middle of them, while they ‘were looking for him.’ If we had had TV, it might have been as good as the Keystone Cops. Them falling all over themselves while Jesus walks in plain sight.
The bottom line—
God was glorified in Uriah’s sacrifice;
God was glorified in Jeremiah being shielded.
God was glorified in Jesus walking through the middle of them, unharmed and untouched.
We can call upon God to protect us from evil, but we may be called to sacrifice for the cause. Or we may have the benefit of prosperity. Whatever works to bring glory to God is why things must happen as they do. We give praise and glory to God, and God works things together for our good.
In addition, the concept that people who obey Christ will not taste death creates problems for most. We know that people will die physical deaths on this earth, so what does he mean? Like the Jewish leaders, we ask, “How could someone who has died, not taste death?”
Christ was clearly talking about a different kind of death.
The dictionary speaks of a ‘permanent ending of life.’ Death for believers means a ceasing of this physical body, but a continuation of the spirit, so not really a ‘death of the personality,’ only a death of the body. Christians see death—not as an end, but a beginning—it is a portal to the after-life. If believers do not taste death, yet die physically then the death Christ spoke of has to have meant a permanent disconnect from God and the life-giving spirit that comes from God. To have no access to God is a death. Access to God is life. The thief on the cross knew that he would be with God that day, even though his physical body died with Christ, his soul—his psyche—his personality remained alive with God. Christ was speaking of the permanent disconnect from God—a true spiritual death, where the spirit can no longer thrive. Believers can celebrate that we will not taste death.
Thanks be to God.¬¬
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Season of Easter Bible Readings
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16;Jeremiah 26:20-24;John 8:48-59&version=NIV;ERV;GNT;NCV;KJV (multiple versions)
Saturday, Easter Week Five
Psalm 31:1-5
Psalm 31:15-16
Jeremiah 26:20-24
John 8:48-59
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Psalm 23 King James Version (KJV)
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3045/5797590971_abd3064752_z_d.jpg "The Good Shepherd 136" by Waiting For The Word; flickr
23 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
John 8:48-59
King James Version (KJV)
48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, Help our faith grow strong, when we face opposition for our faith or when we receive blessings. May your name be glorified by what we say and do.. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Saturday, Easter Week Five’s lesson dealt with the reality of many in service to God—people may try to kill you. Uriah, the Psalmist, Jeremiah and Jesus were all sought by the Jewish leaders so they could be killed. Uriah died and his remains desecrated by King Jehoiakim’s men.
The news reports out of Sudan declared a 27 year old pregnant mother of one to be whipped and hung because she did not recant her faith in Jesus. Her brother, a Muslim, brought the law against her because her father was Muslim and her mother a Christian. Raised mostly by the mother after her father left, the current Sudanese law says it is illegal to convert from Islam.
Pray for Meriam Yehya Ibrahim that her faith will grow stronger. That God will be glorified. That a miracle of intervention for her life may help people convert.
That is the bottom line. What glorifies God and brings people to a saving knowledge of Jesus?
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
Saturday, Easter Week Five lessons fly in the face of ‘prosperity gospel’ which suggests that if you get your heart and soul right with God that you will find yourself with an abundance. I believe that God wants us to have abundance but sometimes, we go through awful times, first.
The Old Testament lesson in Jeremiah, addressed two prophets, Uriah and Jeremiah, during the time of King Jehoiakim (a bad king of Judah in Southern Israel). Uriah walked favorably with God and preached the bleak forecast of Israel and the King sought to kill him. Uriah fled to Egypt; the King sent men to capture, return him and killed him. A friend of Jeremiah hid him like many hid Jews during the Holocaust. But sometimes, things don’t go well for people who do God’s will.
The Psalmist cried out for salvation from persecution. Again, even those who are obedient to God run into problems.
The bottom line is that God is glorified when people suffer and rise above; demonstrating faith and power. God is also glorified when things go well. God may call us to suffer for Christ’s sake. God will equip us to the task.
Even the New Testament lesson addressed persecution of Jesus in the Gospel of John. First the leaders of the Jews accused Jesus of being a Samaritan and possessed with a devil. Quite the commentary on how the Jews regarded the Samaritans—equating them with being possessed of a devil. But Jesus calmly responded by calling attention to their dishonor of God because they dishonored Jesus.
Jesus was a little cryptic, though, by stating that anyone who obeyed his word would never see death.
This tripped up the leaders, who used Abraham’s death to document that he couldn’t be telling the truth.
Jesus confused them further by saying that Abraham was delighted when he saw Jesus’ had come to earth; that God was glorified by Jesus’ obedience since Jesus knew God and the leaders of the Jews did not. Jesus was scathing—he called them liars. Not all Jews were liars, but these leaders that Jesus faced were evil. They feared Jesus and sought to kill him.
But the time for Jesus to be glorified was not yet come, so Jesus made it impossible for them to ‘see Jesus’ and he walked out of the temple in the midst of them.
I have sometimes looked for something and it was under my nose, but I couldn’t see it. These leaders of the Jews couldn’t see Jesus.
The Psalmist cried for protection from persecution. Uriah was murdered. Jeremiah was saved. Jews tried to kill Jesus, but he hid himself from their eyes and walked out in the middle of them. The others watching this play out must have chuckled behind their hands, seeing Jesus walk in the middle of them, while they ‘were looking for him.’ If we had had TV, it might have been as good as the Keystone Cops. Them falling all over themselves while Jesus walks in plain sight.
The bottom line—
God was glorified in Uriah’s sacrifice;
God was glorified in Jeremiah being shielded.
God was glorified in Jesus walking through the middle of them, unharmed and untouched.
We can call upon God to protect us from evil, but we may be called to sacrifice for the cause. Or we may have the benefit of prosperity. Whatever works to bring glory to God is why things must happen as they do. We give praise and glory to God, and God works things together for our good.
In addition, the concept that people who obey Christ will not taste death creates problems for most. We know that people will die physical deaths on this earth, so what does he mean? Like the Jewish leaders, we ask, “How could someone who has died, not taste death?”
Christ was clearly talking about a different kind of death.
The dictionary speaks of a ‘permanent ending of life.’ Death for believers means a ceasing of this physical body, but a continuation of the spirit, so not really a ‘death of the personality,’ only a death of the body. Christians see death—not as an end, but a beginning—it is a portal to the after-life. If believers do not taste death, yet die physically then the death Christ spoke of has to have meant a permanent disconnect from God and the life-giving spirit that comes from God. To have no access to God is a death. Access to God is life. The thief on the cross knew that he would be with God that day, even though his physical body died with Christ, his soul—his psyche—his personality remained alive with God. Christ was speaking of the permanent disconnect from God—a true spiritual death, where the spirit can no longer thrive. Believers can celebrate that we will not taste death.
Thanks be to God.¬¬
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Season of Easter Bible Readings
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16;Jeremiah 26:20-24;John 8:48-59&version=NIV;ERV;GNT;NCV;KJV (multiple versions)
Saturday, Easter Week Five
Psalm 31:1-5
Psalm 31:15-16
Jeremiah 26:20-24
John 8:48-59
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
Psalm 23 King James Version (KJV)
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3045/5797590971_abd3064752_z_d.jpg "The Good Shepherd 136" by Waiting For The Word; flickr
23 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
John 8:48-59
King James Version (KJV)
48 Then answered the Jews, and said unto him, Say we not well that thou art a Samaritan, and hast a devil?
49 Jesus answered, I have not a devil; but I honour my Father, and ye do dishonour me.
50 And I seek not mine own glory: there is one that seeketh and judgeth.
51 Verily, verily, I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.
52 Then said the Jews unto him, Now we know that thou hast a devil. Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and thou sayest, If a man keep my saying, he shall never taste of death.
53 Art thou greater than our father Abraham, which is dead? and the prophets are dead: whom makest thou thyself?
54 Jesus answered, If I honour myself, my honour is nothing: it is my Father that honoureth me; of whom ye say, that he is your God:
55 Yet ye have not known him; but I know him: and if I should say, I know him not, I shall be a liar like unto you: but I know him, and keep his saying.
56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, Help our faith grow strong, when we face opposition for our faith or when we receive blessings. May your name be glorified by what we say and do.. In Jesus name, Amen
Conclusion
Saturday, Easter Week Five’s lesson dealt with the reality of many in service to God—people may try to kill you. Uriah, the Psalmist, Jeremiah and Jesus were all sought by the Jewish leaders so they could be killed. Uriah died and his remains desecrated by King Jehoiakim’s men.
The news reports out of Sudan declared a 27 year old pregnant mother of one to be whipped and hung because she did not recant her faith in Jesus. Her brother, a Muslim, brought the law against her because her father was Muslim and her mother a Christian. Raised mostly by the mother after her father left, the current Sudanese law says it is illegal to convert from Islam.
Pray for Meriam Yehya Ibrahim that her faith will grow stronger. That God will be glorified. That a miracle of intervention for her life may help people convert.
That is the bottom line. What glorifies God and brings people to a saving knowledge of Jesus?
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.
0
This discussion has been closed.