Friday, July 30, 2010

July 30 :: Psalms 51-53; Romans 2

Romans 2:17-24  
Let's check this out in 2 different versions to help us understand what Paul is saying in Romans...the last line here just GETS me. Let us not be a hindrance, but a light - the only way to be that light is through God's power, not our own.

New International Version

"The Jews and the Law"

Now you, if you call yourself a Jew; if you rely on the law and brag about your relationship to God; if you know his will and approve of what is superior because you are instructed by the law; if you are convinced that you are a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants, because you have in the law the embodiment of knowledge and truth— you, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal? You who say that people should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who brag about the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."

The Message

"Religion Can't Save You"

If you're brought up Jewish, don't assume that you can lean back in the arms of your religion and take it easy, feeling smug because you're an insider to God's revelation, a connoisseur of the best things of God, informed on the latest doctrines! I have a special word of caution for you who are sure that you have it all together yourselves and, because you know God's revealed Word inside and out, feel qualified to guide others through their blind alleys and dark nights and confused emotions to God. While you are guiding others, who is going to guide you? I'm quite serious. While preaching "Don't steal!" are you going to rob people blind? Who would suspect you? The same with adultery. The same with idolatry. You can get by with almost anything if you front it with eloquent talk about God and his law. The line from Scripture, "It's because of you Jews that the outsiders are down on God," shows it's an old problem that isn't going to go away. 

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

July 29 :: Psalms 49-50; Romans 1

Introduction of Romans



Author: Paul

Date Written: 57-59 A.D.

The Church in Rome at This Time:

Although Paul & Peter were martyred in Rome, it is thought that neither of them actually founded the church in Rome. It could have possibly been some converted at Pentecost (Acts 2:10) who took the gospel back to Rome, or it could have also been one of Paul's or the apostle's apostles. The Church in Rome at this time was mostly Gentiles.

Why Romans Was Written:

Paul had not yet been to Rome since the Church began there and was eager to minister to them. Three years passed before he was able to make it however since the letter was written, because he was arrested. He finally made it to Rome as a prisoner years later. Phoebe most likely delivered the letter to Rome.

Contents: explains justification through faith in a systematic way

1. Theme of Righteousness (Romans 1:16-17)
2. Natural Revelation (1:19-20)
3. Universality of Sin (3:9-20)
4. Justification (3:24)
5. Propitiation (3:25)
6. Faith (Ch 4)
7. Original Sin (5:12)
8. Union with Christ (Ch 6)
9. Election & Rejection of Israel (Ch's 9-11)
10. Spiritual Gifts (12:3-8)
11. Respect for Government (13:1-7)

Timeline of Romans (A.D.):

33: Paul's Conversion
47-48: Paul's 1st Missionary Trip
49-50: Jerusalem Council, Galatians Written
49-52: Paul's 2nd Missionary Trip
51: 1 & 2 Thessalonians Written
55-56: 1 & 2 Corinthians Written
56-58: Paul's 3rd Missionary Trip
58: Romans Written, Paul Imprisoned in Caesarea
60-61: Paul under house arrest in Rome
67: Paul Martyred
70: Destruction of Jerusalem

Information retrieved from Ryrie's Study Bible (Expanded Edition); Moody; Pgs 1786-88

July 28 :: Psalms 46-48; Acts 28


Psalm 46:10

Monday, July 26, 2010

July 27 :: Psalms 43-45; Acts 27:27-44

Psalm 44:5-7

Through you we push back our enemies;
       through your name we trample our foes.
I do not trust in my bow,
       my sword does not bring me victory;
but you give us victory over our enemies,
       you put our adversaries to shame. 

Without the Lord, we cannot accomplish anything for His kingdom. I was just thinking about this today regarding a ministry to which He has called me. No matter how much I strive with my own drives, motivations, and energies in the ministry - unless I am trusting in HIM to do the work and listening to HIM for direction...it is for naught. So let us be trusting only in God if we desire to make a real change, for He is the victor.


Sunday, July 25, 2010

July 26 :: Psalms 40-42; Acts 27:1-26

Psalm 42:5

"Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why have you become disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him."

Psalm 42:7-8

"Deep calls to deep at the sound of Your waterfalls;
All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me.
The LORD will command His loving kindness in the daytime;
And His song will be with me in the night,
A prayer to the God of my life."

And now, some waterfalls...



Saturday, July 24, 2010

July 25 :: Psalms 37-39; Acts 26

Acts 26: 4-8

Paul defending himself in the court in front of King Agrippa...

"The Jews all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that according to the strictest sect of our religion, I lived as a Pharisee. And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our fathers that I am on trial today. This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. O king, it is because of this hope that the Jews are accusing me. Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?"

July 24 :: Psalms 35-36; Acts 25

Psalm 36:1-2

An oracle is within my heart
       concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
       There is no fear of God
       before his eyes.
For in his own eyes he flatters himself
       too much to detect or hate his sin. 

What is this saying about being wicked? We are wicked when we...
1. Do not fear GOD
2. Flatter ourselves
3. Do not see our sin and/or if we do see it, we do not hate it


You don't want to be this chick...

July 23 :: Psalms 33-34; Acts 24

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

July 21 :: Psalms 29-30; Acts 23:1-15



Psalm 30:1-5  
David remembers his past sin and continually rejoices because of God

I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up, 
And have not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O LORD my God, I cried to You for help, and You healed me.
O LORD, You have brought up my soul from Sheol;
You have kept me alive, that I would not go down to the pit.
Sing praise to the LORD, you His godly ones, 
And give thanks to His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime;
Weeping may last for the night, 
But a shout of joy comes in the morning.

Monday, July 19, 2010

July 20 :: Psalms 26-28; Acts 22



 

Part of Paul's Testimony:

"But it happened that as I was on my way, approaching Damascus about noontime, a very bright light suddenly flashed from heaven all around me, and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.' And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me. And I said, 'What shall I do, Lord?' And the Lord said to me, 'Get up and go on into Damascus, and there you will be told of all that has been appointed for you to do.'"

Acts 22:6-10

Saturday, July 17, 2010

July 18 :: Psalms 20-22; Acts 21:1-17


   On the next day we left and came to Caesarea, and entering the house of Philip the evangelist, who was one of the seven, we stayed with him.
   Now this man had four virgin daughters who were prophetesses.
   As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea.
   And coming to us, he took Paul's belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, "This is what the Holy Spirit says: 'In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.'"
   When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem.
   Then Paul answered, "What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus."

July 17 :: Psalms 18-19; Acts 20:17-38

Psalm 19:12-14 (David speaking)

Who can discern his errors? Acquit me of hidden faults. 

Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous sins;
Let them not rule over me;
Then I will be blameless,
And I shall be acquitted of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.

* Hidden faults: sins of ignorance
* Presumptuous sins: deliberate violations

How great is the Lord that He can clean our hearts from sins that we don't even know we have? He makes all things new, even when we have no clue!!! And the things we know are sins, but do them anyways? He will not allow them to rule us. He is so good!!! Can you think of anything you have done this week that came from your sin?

Thursday, July 15, 2010

July 16 :: Psalms 16-17; Acts 20:1-16

July 15 :: Psalms 13-15; Acts 19:21-41


Psalm 13

For the director of music. A psalm of David.
How long, O LORD ? Will you forget me forever?
       How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
       and every day have sorrow in my heart?
       How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.
       Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death;
my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
       and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
But I trust in your unfailing love;
       my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
       for he has been good to me.


Tuesday, July 13, 2010

July 14 :: Psalms 10-12; Acts 19:1-20


"So the word of the Lord was growing 
mightily and prevailing." 
- Acts 19:20



Events pointed out to show the cause 
& effect of the growth of the Word...
The What's and How's:

HOW: Paul speaks with reason and persuades

"And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God." - Acts 19:8 

WHAT: Paul performs miracles

"God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out." - Acts 19:11-12

WHAT: Magicians try to use the name of Jesus in exorcism, but are ineffective because they are not devoted to Him.

"And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified."- Acts 19:15-16

HOW: Destruction of 138 years' worth of pay in magical spell books

"And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver."

Monday, July 12, 2010

July 13 :: Psalms 7-9; Acts 18


Introduction of Psalms

Photobucket

Dates -

Various, but mostly written in 10th century B.C. during the time of David & Solomon.

Authorship -

David (73) :: Book 1, 37; Book 2, 18; Book 3, 1; Book 4, 2; Book 5, 15
Asaph (12) :: Pss. 50, 73-83
Koraites (12) :: Pss. 42-49, 84, 85, 87, 88
Solomon (2) :: Pss. 72, 127
Moses (1) :: Ps. 90
Ethan (1) :: Ps. 89

Types of Psalms -

Messianic :: speak of the who God is and of His work
Lament :: a cry to God
Testimonial :: tells others what He has done
Pilgrim :: sung during pilgrimage to the holy city of Jerusalem
Imprecatory :: request for judgment of the wicked
Penitential :: sorrow over sin
Wisdom :: guidelines for godly people
Historical :: looking back at how God dealt with Israel
Nature :: speaks of God's handiwork

Structure - 

Use of parallelism :: second line will either present a very similar or opposite view to the first.

Technical Terms -

Selah :: to pause, crescendo, or play a musical interlude
Maskil :: to be contemplative or didactic, done skillfully
Sheol :: place of the dead, hell

July 12 :: Psalms 4-6; Acts 17:16-34

Thursday, July 8, 2010

July 9 :: Job 38-40; Acts 16:1-21

 Job 39:1-3

"Do you know when the mountain goats give birth?
       Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn?
Do you count the months till they bear?
       Do you know the time they give birth?
They crouch down and bring forth their young;
       their labor pains are ended."

This passage is jam-packed with meaning - what do you see? Some things to note about what it says about God, who is speaking in it (bound to be good):

1. God shows Job what He knows, but what Job doesn't.
2. God pays loving & caring attention to even a doe on a mountainside bearing her fawn.
3. God times even the duration for which one is in the womb.
4. Pain ends once one has given birth (or perhaps bore fruit).
5. This leads me to conclude that perhaps what is birthed, what is fruitful, that which is considered fruit...has been orchestrated to come from pain.
6. God has set it that so sometimes out of great pain comes beauty.
7. Job has just learned a big lesson...problem of evil anyone?

July 8 :: Job 36-37; Acts 15:22-41


Job 36:13

"The godless in heart harbor resentment;
       even when he fetters them, they do not cry for help."

Job 36:16

"He is wooing you from the jaws of distress
       to a spacious place free from restriction,
       to the comfort of your table laden with choice food."


These two verses give us counter attitudes towards God: "we don't need You" and "we do need You."
So which will it be: Godless and resentful, with no intention of crying for help...or freed from distress comforted by God? What does that decision mean for your life...today?

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

July 7 :: Job 34-35; Acts 15:1-21

Read carefully...

Job 35:2-3

"Do you think this is just?
       You say, 'I will be cleared by God.
Yet you ask him, 'What profit is it to me,
       and what do I gain by not sinning?' 

Do you see how Job has lied to himself? He has said to God, "I will not gain anything by not sinning" and has also said, "God will clear my sins." He has admitted that God redeems, but not that he has anything from which God should redeem him... And later:


Job 35:13

Indeed, God does not listen to their empty plea;
       the Almighty pays no attention to it. 

Shall we pray now with honesty in our hearts towards God? He doesn't want empty prayers, prayers for our own self-advancement. He wants prayers that take us straight to His heart, which means...painfully and wonderfully so...we must be honest with ourselves. How can He fix what has not been brought into the light?  
So run to Him who saves precious ones. Admit to the wrongs in your own heart so that He can renew you. Amen! Thank you Lord. 


Tuesday, July 6, 2010

July 6 :: Job 32-33; Acts 14



Job 32:6-10

So Elihu son of Barakel the Buzite said:
       "I am young in years,
       and you are old;
       that is why I was fearful,
       not daring to tell you what I know.
I thought, 'Age should speak;
       advanced years should teach wisdom.'
But it is the spirit in a man,
       the breath of the Almighty, that gives him understanding.
It is not only the old who are wise,
       not only the aged who understand what is right.
"Therefore I say: Listen to me;
       I too will tell you what I know."

Elihu is one of the most interesting and powerful characters in the bible, because he holds such knowledge in his words and patience in his heart.

Saturday, July 3, 2010

July 4 :: Job 28-29; Acts 13:1-25

Proconsul = Governor, described as very intelligent.
Check out Paul's boldness here:

Acts 13:8-12

But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, "You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun."

Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.


Friday, July 2, 2010

July 3 :: Job 25-27; Acts 12

Acts 12:6-8

On the very night when Herod was about to bring him forward, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and guards in front of the door were watching over the prison. 

And behold, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and a light shone in the cell; and he struck Peter's side and woke him up, saying, "Get up quickly." And his chains fell off his hands.

And the angel said to him, "Gird yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me."

Matthew Henry Commentary on Acts 12 - Peter Delivered from Prison

"This deliverance of Peter represents our redemption by Christ, which not only proclaims liberty to the captives, but brings them out of the prison-house. Peter, when he recollected himself, perceived what great things God had donefor him. Thus souls delivered out of spiritual bondage, are not at first aware what God has wrought in them; many have the truth of grace, that want evidence of it. But when the Comforter comes, whom the Father will send, sooner or later, he will let them know what a blessed change is wrought."

Thursday, July 1, 2010

July 2 :: Job 22-24; Acts 11




Acts 11:21

"And the hand of the Lord was with them, and a large number who believed turned to the Lord."

It is interesting that there is a difference stated here between believing and turning to the Lord. It seems that many had already believed, yet had not turned to Him. Do you know anyone who believes, but has not submitted to Christ, desperately seeking His name? Have you perhaps experienced belief without actually living for Him? How do you think the difference is apparent?