Perceptive

Laying hold of, attaining, or perceiving things.

Monday, October 13, 2008: Philippians 3:12–14

Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Background: Paul is speaking about his new life in Christ, whom he previously persecuted.

What is the connection between the red words? They mean the same thing.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008: Romans 9:30–32

What shall we say then? That Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness of faith; but Israel, pursuing the law of righteousness, has not attained to the law of righteousness. Why? Because they did not seek it by faith, but as it were, by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumbling stone.

What is still the stumbling stone still being set by many preachers? Following the law instead of pleasing God by faith.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008: Acts 4:13–14

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus. And seeing the man who had been healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

Background: Peter and John were before the Sanhedrin because they healed the lame man and preached resurrection.

What was the big surprise to the learned Jews? Uneducated fishermen were speaking about spiritual truth with authority.

Thursday, October 16, 2008: John 12:35–36

Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.

What is the difference, according to Jesus Christ, between the sons of light and those who let darkness overtake them? The former attain the status by belief, not action: the latter by action, not belief.

Friday, October 17, 2008: 1 Thessalonians 5:2–4

For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief

Background Founded by Paul in his second missionary journey in A D 51, the young Church was standing up well under heavy persecution from the Jews. Paul encourages them with the message of the rapture in every chapter. This passage is widely read.

Is Paul’s admonition good today? Yes, we get so involved in the world, we do not see the end coming.

Wages

Monday, October 6, 2008: Haggai 1:6-7

“You have sown much, and bring in little;
You eat, but do not have enough;
You drink, but you are not filled with drink;
You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm;
And he who earns wages,
Earns wages to put into a bag with holes.”
Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Consider your ways!

Background: The Jewish exiles in Babylon had returned, started building the Temple, and had stopped. Haggai’s and Zechariah’s prophecies restarted them.

Why were the Jews unable to prosper? God asked them to examine themselves and see their neglect of God. Their wages were spent as if their purses had holes. Isn’t this reminiscent of today’s conditions?

Tuesday, October 7, 2008: 1 Samuel 2:5

Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,
And the hungry have ceased to hunger.
Even the barren has borne seven,
And she who has many children has become feeble.

Background: the time of the Judges ended in failure: everyone did what was right in his own sight. God brings in the prophet, the anointer of Kings, into history as the son Hanna (Samuel’s mother) prays for and receives.

What is the symbolic message in the parallel couplet of verses? Those who are unmindful of God’s purposes in their lives and dependent on self-accomplishment have to learn through difficult circumstances (which turn things around) that God is the blesser and from him material blessings flow.

Wednesday, October 8, 2008: Zechariah 8:10

For before these days
There were no wages for man nor any hire for beast;
There was no peace from the enemy for whoever went out or came in;
For I set all men, everyone, against his neighbor.
But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ says the Lord of hosts.

Background: same as Haggai.

What lies behind a time of trouble? God’s hand is present. We often depend on our own strength and resourcefulness only to find it lacking in such times.

Thursday, October 9 2008: Romans 4:2–8

For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt.
But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness, just as David also describes the blessedness of the man to whom God imputes righteousness apart from works:

Background: Paul writes about attitude that our work or good deeds are sufficient in God’s sight. He uses two prominent men of the Bible to demonstrate faith and forgiveness of sins.

Do good works set you right before God? No. If they did, then you could earn God’s favor. But even the patriarchs believed God and had their sins forgiven to the point that they were right before God.

Friday, October 10, 2008: Romans 6:22–23

But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

How are wages different from a gift? The former is earned the latter given free for the taking.

Human and Divine Forgiveness

Monday, September 29, 2008: Matthew 9:2

Then behold, they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, be of good cheer; your sins are forgiven you.”

What did Jesus Christ consider as the healing of greater importance? Spiritual forgiveness: then physical healing.

Tuesday, September 30, 2008: Matthew 9:6–7

But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Arise, take up your bed, and go to your house.” And he arose and departed to his house.

Did this action take faith on the part of the paralytic? Yes, he had to believe he could sit up and have the strength to pick up his bed and walk home.

Wednesday, October 1, 2008: Ephesians 1:7

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace

Why could the Lord Jesus forgive sins? His blood was shed not for Himself but for us.

Thursday, October 2, 2008: 1 John 2:12

I write to you, little children,
Because your sins are forgiven you for His name’s sake.

What is in the name, Jesus Christ, that forgives sin? Using the name Jesus Christ is placing our faith on the only one who has authority (power) to forgive sins.

Friday, October 3, 2008: 2 Corinthians 2:7–8

so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him

How is human forgiveness different from divine forgiveness? Divine forgiveness demands a just penalty, paid by Jesus Christ; human forgiveness requires one to overlook injustice in spite of the cost.

Work

Monday, September 22, 2008: Romans 8:28–29

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

What are the ‘things’ that work together for good? Circumstances, material possessions, and people are all in God’s plan.

Tuesday, September 23, 2008: 1 Corinthians 3:12–15

Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

What is THE DAY? Judgment day!
What is the condition for salvation? The condition is that you build on One foundation: Jesus Christ.

Wednesday, September 24, 2008: Galatians 6:3–4

For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

What examination must our work pass? Answer: is it for self-glory or for God?

Thursday, September 25, 2008: Philippians 1:3–6

I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Who should be at work in your life? It should be God but it often is us.

Friday, September 26, 2008: 2 Thessalonians 2:7–8

For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

Who is the restrainer? The Holy Spirit in us.
When will He be taken out of the way? When the believers are raptured away.

Misconceptions in Revlation

Monday, September 15, 2008: Revelation 1:20

The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.

What is the mystery? The seven stars and seven lampstands are symbols.
What is the revelation? Stars are Angels (of each Church); lampstands are Churches.

Tuesday, September 16, 2008: Revelation 2:1a, 8a, 12a, 18a

“To the angel of the church of Ephesus write,
“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,
“And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write,
“And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write,

To whom was John told to write? John was to write to the Angels or Stars.
To whom was John NOT told to write? John was NOT told to write to the Churches or Candlesticks. Many preachers, pastors and priests confuse the two and read the passages as letters to Churches when the Bible says seven times they are not.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008: Revelation 3:1a, 7a, 14a

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write,
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
“And to the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write,
Revelation 1:11a
saying, “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches which are in Asia:

What was John told to do? The letters he was to write were not to be mailed to separate places; they were to be put in a book, Revelation.

Thursday, September 18, 2008: Revelation 2:7a, 11a, 17a, 29a

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’

Are these sections a letter, a text message or a voicemail? I believe this is closest to a text message. The ear is spiritual ear and the hearing spiritual hearing: it refers to those who read the book of Revelation.

Friday, September 19, 2008: Revelation 3:6, 13, 22

“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’
“He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”’”

Who speaks in these sections? The Holy Spirit speaks (through Christ)
To whom does He speak? To all seven Churches, NOT to a single Church.
To whom is the message? To anyone who reads Revelation.

Worship Service

Λατρεύω, latreuō
1) to serve for hire
2) to serve, minister to, either to the gods or men and used alike of slaves and freemen
i) in the NT, to render religious service or homage, to worship
ii) to perform sacred services, to offer gifts, to worship God in the observance of the rites instituted for his worship
(1) of priests, to officiate, to discharge the sacred office
Verb: from latris (a hired menial) adapted from Thayer's Greek Definitions.

Monday, September 8, 2008: Philippians 3:3

For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,

What is our circumcision? We have cut off, or have no confidence in the flesh, but worship God in the Spirit.

Tuesday, September 9, 2008: Hebrews 9:13–14

For if the blood of bulls and goats and the ashes of a heifer, sprinkling the unclean, sanctifies for the purifying of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

How are dead works different from living works? Dead works go only as far as remembering that you have sinned before God and have to sacrifice to ‘cover’ the sins every year. Living works start from a clean conscience cleaned by the blood of Christ and proceed to serving not self but God.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008: 2 Timothy 1:3

I thank God, whom I serve with a pure conscience, as my forefathers did, as without ceasing I remember you in my prayers night and day,

What is one of Paul’s service before God? Paul served by remembering fellow believers in prayers daily.

Thursday, September 11, 2008: Hebrews 12:28

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

What service is acceptable to God? The Savior said it all: “not My will but Yours be done.”

Friday, September 12, 2008: Hebrews 10:1–2

For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect.
For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins.

What is the difference between a shadow and an image of hope? A shadow reveals a dark silhouette or outline: an image has details, but in fewer dimensions than reality. Part of our worship is remembering what sacrifice gave us hope of eternal life.

ICQ

ICQ (pronounced: I Seek You)

Tuesday, September 2, 2008: Matthew 6:31–33

“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

Background: this is part of the ‘Sermon On The Mount.’

Is there an element of childlike faith in seeking after God’s kingdom first? Jesus Christ calls Him our Heavenly Father who is aware of our physical needs. The implication is that our eternal spiritual needs far outweigh what the world brings to our attention as important.

Wednesday, September 3, 2008: Luke 19:9–10

And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

Background: this is the end result of the change that took place in the life of Zacchaeus, a disliked tax collector.

What is the prerequisite to salvation? A realization that one is lost: if you think you know where you are and know the way, you cannot be saved.

Thursday, September 4, 2008: Luke 24:5

Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

Background: In spite of all that Jesus Christ had told His disciples, the human mind cannot conceive life after death, especially after crucifixion.

What was the effect of the question? It forced the disciples to realize that Jesus Christ was not dead but alive.

Friday, September 5, 2008: Hebrews 13:13–14

Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.

How can we seek for something that we know is not here? If we continue to look at life in the same manner as we did before we knew God and His salvation, we have missed the point about eternal life and its everlasting reward in pleasing God.