Jeremiah 9-10 for discussion on Thursday March 4, 2010
God is speaking through Jeremiah and He is delivering a very important message to His chosen people. Who are the chosen? Whoever God chooses! He is God. We are not. Pretty simple stuff.
So, in Jeremiah’s day the chosen people were the people of Israel. In our day, because of Christ we are all chosen. Is being chosen the end of the story? Apparently not! Here is where the mystery appears. We have to do something. But, we cannot use our will. Mostly, the Israelites didn’t get. Neither do I. I just know, I am Frank and I am a sinner. Because of this I must live under the blessings of Grace and Mercy.
Jeremiah says in speaking for God, “Weep day and night”. We are to lament. God does. Do we? Are we truly sad for the state of the nations and ourselves? Does it make you sad that the people of the nations are so lost? Do you cry for them day and night?
Jeremiah goes on, “Oh, that there might be somewhere to hide”. This is so bad, why not just run from it and divorce ourselves from humanity and the world. We could just live as hermits in a cave, by ourselves. That might solve the problem. But no, there is no place to hid. We have been given these lives to live. Just get on with it. Do it wrong, you will get punished vs. 10:9. Faithfully trust and obey and God will be with you through thick and thin.
We can only trust God. We cannot trust our neighbors. But, we cannot run either. So, we need each other. We are in this together building the Body of Christ. We are continuing to build the Temple. We are faithful, trusting servants of God. We are His workers in the building of His Kingdom. We are creatures of God. Created by God. We are made in His image. But, we are less than God. He is God. We are not.
It is a mystery. We can have the power of God. But, we cannot have the Word of God. The power is available to us to do the Will of God as He pleases. So, the passages in JER 9:23+ and in 1COR 4:6, are very much alike. Warnings. Be careful not to think we are wise or strong or powerful. Then in Chapter 10 Jeremiah goes on with more warnings. How could we be so stupid to make false idols? Should we not know better? God makes men. Men cannot make God.
It seems to me, we have one alternative. Get passionate about God’s work. Turn our lives over to Him. Submit to His will. It can be a joyous adventure.
Next week we will tackle 1COR 5. See you on Thursday or I’ll hear from you.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Sunday, February 28, 2010
HUMBLE?
1 Corinthians 4 Lesson for Thursday February 25, 2010
For those of you following our study. First, we do two chapters of Jeremiah and then one chapter of Corinthians. I missed a couple of weeks due to recovery pains from having my left knee replaced. The first three weeks were not especially easy for me. But, now I am doing much better and well into the training for my tandem bike ride with son Bill. It is scheduled to begin some time the week of March 27, 2010. We will be departing from LeClaire, Ia. And, heading toward St. Louis along the MRT (Mississippi River Trails). All you who read this can pray that I get in good enough shape to make the trip. And, also pray that the late March early April weather is cooperative.
This is one of the chapters in the Bible that helps us define “humble”. Note the battle of words for Paul as he writes to the Corinthians about not fooling themselves by pretending to be faithful to the God of the universe. In verses 8-13 he lays it on pretty heavy about their treacherous deception. But, go back to verse 5 where Paul writes the source of my not so famous “Duck Rule”. The “Duck Rule” says that praise and ridicule should run off me like water off a duck’s back. I have not found very many folks who think that is a good rule. They say, how can anyone grow up in this world with a healthy attitude if they have not received some praise along the way. Now, I think encouragement is great. But, praise is a form of judgment. Who is the judge? Certainly not I. Deceiving a child or youth with regard to how they are doing when it is a positive statement might seem on the surface to be harmless or even beneficial. But, when that praise becomes addictive, then we see the problem the Corinthians were having. Do you think that people actually believe they can fool God? Maybe we can fool others for a while. Abraham Lincoln said, “ You can fool some of the people all the time and all the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all the people all the time”. Mostly I believe we try to fool ourselves thinking we are okay. But, Paul says no! Be humble leave it up to God. God will be our judge. If we are faithful, he will forgive our sins.
We do not need to make ourselves to be like God. And, we can’t. We need to decide to trust and obey so God’s Spirit will be able to use us for His purposes. Verse 20 is key here. It says, “For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power”.
For those of you following our study. First, we do two chapters of Jeremiah and then one chapter of Corinthians. I missed a couple of weeks due to recovery pains from having my left knee replaced. The first three weeks were not especially easy for me. But, now I am doing much better and well into the training for my tandem bike ride with son Bill. It is scheduled to begin some time the week of March 27, 2010. We will be departing from LeClaire, Ia. And, heading toward St. Louis along the MRT (Mississippi River Trails). All you who read this can pray that I get in good enough shape to make the trip. And, also pray that the late March early April weather is cooperative.
This is one of the chapters in the Bible that helps us define “humble”. Note the battle of words for Paul as he writes to the Corinthians about not fooling themselves by pretending to be faithful to the God of the universe. In verses 8-13 he lays it on pretty heavy about their treacherous deception. But, go back to verse 5 where Paul writes the source of my not so famous “Duck Rule”. The “Duck Rule” says that praise and ridicule should run off me like water off a duck’s back. I have not found very many folks who think that is a good rule. They say, how can anyone grow up in this world with a healthy attitude if they have not received some praise along the way. Now, I think encouragement is great. But, praise is a form of judgment. Who is the judge? Certainly not I. Deceiving a child or youth with regard to how they are doing when it is a positive statement might seem on the surface to be harmless or even beneficial. But, when that praise becomes addictive, then we see the problem the Corinthians were having. Do you think that people actually believe they can fool God? Maybe we can fool others for a while. Abraham Lincoln said, “ You can fool some of the people all the time and all the people some of the time, but you can’t fool all the people all the time”. Mostly I believe we try to fool ourselves thinking we are okay. But, Paul says no! Be humble leave it up to God. God will be our judge. If we are faithful, he will forgive our sins.
We do not need to make ourselves to be like God. And, we can’t. We need to decide to trust and obey so God’s Spirit will be able to use us for His purposes. Verse 20 is key here. It says, “For the kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power”.
Monday, February 22, 2010
DECEPTION " A WAY OF LIFE"
Jeremiah 7,8 Deception is a way of life! February 18, 2010
Remember last week in 1 Corinthians 3 we were talking about “Lessons on How to Live”. The bottom line is to seek wisdom and the will of God. Do this by reading the Bible and praying. Remember prayer has a lot of listening time in it. And, finally to trust and obey. If you have any regrets, repenting is good also.
Now in Jeremiah 7, God is saying through the prophet Jeremiah that the people are pretending. They are practicing deception. They are going through the motions. Or, saying they are going through the motions. But, they are just pretending. I wonder who we think we are fooling? Since God is omnipotent and omnipresent we can’t be fooling Him. I guess we could be fooling our friends and neighbors. We could even be fooling our enemies. Or, possibly we are fooling ourselves.
In the OT time the chosen people were the Israelites who God brought out of Egypt using Moses and His mighty hand. In Exodus 33:19 and repeated again by Paul in Romans 9:15, God says He will determine who receives Mercy. Now since the death and resurrection of our Lord, all are subject mercy. But, we still need to trust and obey. So, what’s our problem? It has been the same old story for over 5,000 years. We look at the other guys and we are able to see how stupid they are. Yet we do exactly the same thing and believe we are wise. God tells us to get wisdom. And, we can have it all. However, the wisdom will always be God’s and not ours. We never get wise. Yet wisdom is available for us.
Take a look at your Federal, State and Local government officials. What are they claiming to do for you? You will be hard pressed to find a government official either elected or hired working on the high priority critical issues of today. We need to have government size and cost reduced in all sectors in order to save the country from self destruction. And, all the forenamed people are working to keep there jobs and make government bigger and less effective. You can read all about it in the books of Kings or any of the prophets or the current newspapers. You can hear about on TV. What’s more important to you, fiscal responsibility or the winter olympics? Do any of us have any idea where God’s will is on these issues?
This week we are going to do 1 Corinthians 4. This is good stuff. See you on Thursday. Or, write me a comment.
Remember last week in 1 Corinthians 3 we were talking about “Lessons on How to Live”. The bottom line is to seek wisdom and the will of God. Do this by reading the Bible and praying. Remember prayer has a lot of listening time in it. And, finally to trust and obey. If you have any regrets, repenting is good also.
Now in Jeremiah 7, God is saying through the prophet Jeremiah that the people are pretending. They are practicing deception. They are going through the motions. Or, saying they are going through the motions. But, they are just pretending. I wonder who we think we are fooling? Since God is omnipotent and omnipresent we can’t be fooling Him. I guess we could be fooling our friends and neighbors. We could even be fooling our enemies. Or, possibly we are fooling ourselves.
In the OT time the chosen people were the Israelites who God brought out of Egypt using Moses and His mighty hand. In Exodus 33:19 and repeated again by Paul in Romans 9:15, God says He will determine who receives Mercy. Now since the death and resurrection of our Lord, all are subject mercy. But, we still need to trust and obey. So, what’s our problem? It has been the same old story for over 5,000 years. We look at the other guys and we are able to see how stupid they are. Yet we do exactly the same thing and believe we are wise. God tells us to get wisdom. And, we can have it all. However, the wisdom will always be God’s and not ours. We never get wise. Yet wisdom is available for us.
Take a look at your Federal, State and Local government officials. What are they claiming to do for you? You will be hard pressed to find a government official either elected or hired working on the high priority critical issues of today. We need to have government size and cost reduced in all sectors in order to save the country from self destruction. And, all the forenamed people are working to keep there jobs and make government bigger and less effective. You can read all about it in the books of Kings or any of the prophets or the current newspapers. You can hear about on TV. What’s more important to you, fiscal responsibility or the winter olympics? Do any of us have any idea where God’s will is on these issues?
This week we are going to do 1 Corinthians 4. This is good stuff. See you on Thursday. Or, write me a comment.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Lessons on How to Live
1 Corinthians 3 February 11,2010
One week later and I have started serious PT for “breaking in” the new knee. If I had known about this part ahead of time, I would have asked for one all ready to go. I am now off the pain medicine and ready for regular life to commence. So, the lesson for last Thursday was very appropriate. The translators of the New American Standard Bible call it “Foundations for Living” We could call it Paul’s lessons on how to live. One could read this chapter over and over and continue to glean great wisdom from Paul’s words.
Here are some comments and questions that might help you dig deeper into the text.
Follow God or you can call Him Jesus. They are pretty much the same. We are allowed to view them differently. But, the mystery of the Trinity makes Father, Son and Holy Spirit one and the same. So remember Jesus was and is fully man and fully God. How do we follow? First by learning who God is and doing what He wants us to do. Read your Bible. Know God’s Word.
Pray without ceasing. Prayer is some talk or transmission from you to God, I would say this talk is mostly about how you feel and what you think you need to know. The other side and equally important part of prayer is listening. Spend an inordinate amount of time listening. Listen while you do your work. Listen while you talk to others. Listen in every busy moment. Listen in every quiet time. God has promised to be with us, to guide our footsteps and to carry us through every situation we encounter. This leads us to the third part. Trust Him. Always trust Him. He is good and true.
All through history God has been busy building His temple. Read about the building and the re-building in the OT. Now in new testament times we are the temple of God. He is still busy building His temple. Now He is doing it through you. This is a true mystery. We are flesh and blood. He is God. He is using “mere men” to do His work. How can that be and are we up to the task? vs 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. And, then vs 3:11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. This just says again, we must know Christ and build on Him because he is the foundation of everything we do. All our work will be tested by fire and only the good work will survive. And, for that good work you will receive a reward. I have not discovered what that reward is but I am confident, it will be good.
Then Paul goes on to tell us that if we think we understand all this we are foolish. Look at v 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.
We have dominion over the things of God’s creation. He told us to subdue the earth to rule over it. I believe He meant that. Look at v 3:22b-23 ...all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.
One week later and I have started serious PT for “breaking in” the new knee. If I had known about this part ahead of time, I would have asked for one all ready to go. I am now off the pain medicine and ready for regular life to commence. So, the lesson for last Thursday was very appropriate. The translators of the New American Standard Bible call it “Foundations for Living” We could call it Paul’s lessons on how to live. One could read this chapter over and over and continue to glean great wisdom from Paul’s words.
Here are some comments and questions that might help you dig deeper into the text.
Follow God or you can call Him Jesus. They are pretty much the same. We are allowed to view them differently. But, the mystery of the Trinity makes Father, Son and Holy Spirit one and the same. So remember Jesus was and is fully man and fully God. How do we follow? First by learning who God is and doing what He wants us to do. Read your Bible. Know God’s Word.
Pray without ceasing. Prayer is some talk or transmission from you to God, I would say this talk is mostly about how you feel and what you think you need to know. The other side and equally important part of prayer is listening. Spend an inordinate amount of time listening. Listen while you do your work. Listen while you talk to others. Listen in every busy moment. Listen in every quiet time. God has promised to be with us, to guide our footsteps and to carry us through every situation we encounter. This leads us to the third part. Trust Him. Always trust Him. He is good and true.
All through history God has been busy building His temple. Read about the building and the re-building in the OT. Now in new testament times we are the temple of God. He is still busy building His temple. Now He is doing it through you. This is a true mystery. We are flesh and blood. He is God. He is using “mere men” to do His work. How can that be and are we up to the task? vs 3:9 For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building. And, then vs 3:11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. This just says again, we must know Christ and build on Him because he is the foundation of everything we do. All our work will be tested by fire and only the good work will survive. And, for that good work you will receive a reward. I have not discovered what that reward is but I am confident, it will be good.
Then Paul goes on to tell us that if we think we understand all this we are foolish. Look at v 3:18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise.
We have dominion over the things of God’s creation. He told us to subdue the earth to rule over it. I believe He meant that. Look at v 3:22b-23 ...all things belong to you, and you belong to Christ; and Christ belongs to God.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
JEREMIAH 5,6
Jeremiah 5-6 February 4, 2010
I have missed two weeks. My left knee has be surgically replaced with an artificial device. Recovery and rehabilitation is progressing with some discomfort and complications. I could have done without the first two weeks. They were painful and not much fun. Monday (2/15/2010) I begin out patient therapy to achieve full use of the new knee. Right now it is still somewhat painful, stiff with limited range of motion and weak. Perhaps I will not complete the write ups for the missing weeks. Sorry about that missing information. I hope you all continue to read along and study the material anyway. The intermingling of Jeremiah and Corinthians should prove to be very revealing. It especially reveals the constant and unchanging nature of out God and Creator.
In Jeremiah 5-6 we hear again about how the Israelites turn away from God when then begin to fall back on their own understanding. They erroneously believe they can control their own lives and pick and choose their own gods. The fleshly life is appealing to them. They forget who created them and took care of them as individuals and as a nations for these many years. We can be very critical of their actions. But, we should be reminded how very much like them we are. God has a reason for our existence and is very jealous. While he loves us (His creation) very much, He will not tolerated disobedience. His wrathful judgement is inevitable. And because He loves us and will not be turned away form His objectives, He will allow and even cause the penalties of disobedience to be meted out on His people.
We may think that His actions are unjustified and not necessary. But, He is the sovereign creator and He will not be thwarted in His will to achieve His final objectives. His actions are often about our salvation. Remember it is His will and His alone to determine and choose who will be saved and who will be rejected. It is not our choice. We can fight His will, but, we cannot overcome or overturn His will. Therefore, I believe His actions are about much more than salvation. His plan and His goals are mostly about building His Kingdom. He desperately wants us to be part of the building and part of the end result of His plan. In His efforts, He only withholds one thing. And, that is the final choosing to be on the team. He will not put us on the team using His infinite power. He is leaving that choice to us.
As you read and study Jeremiah and Corinthians, see if you can see how He is calling you and I to be on the team.
I pray that my decision to have my knee replaced (an elective procedure) is in God’s will. And, as a result of the surgery I will become a more effective member of His team. How do your daily actions and decisions affect your ability to choose to be a faithful and effective member of God’s team?
I have missed two weeks. My left knee has be surgically replaced with an artificial device. Recovery and rehabilitation is progressing with some discomfort and complications. I could have done without the first two weeks. They were painful and not much fun. Monday (2/15/2010) I begin out patient therapy to achieve full use of the new knee. Right now it is still somewhat painful, stiff with limited range of motion and weak. Perhaps I will not complete the write ups for the missing weeks. Sorry about that missing information. I hope you all continue to read along and study the material anyway. The intermingling of Jeremiah and Corinthians should prove to be very revealing. It especially reveals the constant and unchanging nature of out God and Creator.
In Jeremiah 5-6 we hear again about how the Israelites turn away from God when then begin to fall back on their own understanding. They erroneously believe they can control their own lives and pick and choose their own gods. The fleshly life is appealing to them. They forget who created them and took care of them as individuals and as a nations for these many years. We can be very critical of their actions. But, we should be reminded how very much like them we are. God has a reason for our existence and is very jealous. While he loves us (His creation) very much, He will not tolerated disobedience. His wrathful judgement is inevitable. And because He loves us and will not be turned away form His objectives, He will allow and even cause the penalties of disobedience to be meted out on His people.
We may think that His actions are unjustified and not necessary. But, He is the sovereign creator and He will not be thwarted in His will to achieve His final objectives. His actions are often about our salvation. Remember it is His will and His alone to determine and choose who will be saved and who will be rejected. It is not our choice. We can fight His will, but, we cannot overcome or overturn His will. Therefore, I believe His actions are about much more than salvation. His plan and His goals are mostly about building His Kingdom. He desperately wants us to be part of the building and part of the end result of His plan. In His efforts, He only withholds one thing. And, that is the final choosing to be on the team. He will not put us on the team using His infinite power. He is leaving that choice to us.
As you read and study Jeremiah and Corinthians, see if you can see how He is calling you and I to be on the team.
I pray that my decision to have my knee replaced (an elective procedure) is in God’s will. And, as a result of the surgery I will become a more effective member of His team. How do your daily actions and decisions affect your ability to choose to be a faithful and effective member of God’s team?
Monday, January 11, 2010
1 CORINTHIANS 1
1 Corinthians 1: January 7, 2010
A letter from Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ
Called by the will of God.
A messenger of God.
A letter to the church at Corinth.
Those called to be saints.
And, sanctified by Jesus Christ.
The Message
Reminding them of God’s grace.
Recognizing their gifts.
Reminding them of God’s faithfulness.
Exhorting them to unity with now divisions.
Warning them not to turn away.
Reminding them to remain faithful to the only one worthy of trust and obedience.
The Corinthians, like us and the people of Jeremiah’s time, had difficulty keeping their eyes on God. All these believers have promised to trust and obey God. But, if we are not diligent we will turn away believing we can handle any situation because we have God on our side. And, God is always on our side. However, we are not always on God’s side. Paul’s words continue to remind, warn and exhort us to be steadfast as God is steadfast. Jeremiah warned the people of his time about the same sinful ways. We know what happened to them. Why are we the same?
What false God’s do we follow? Why do we insist on redefining God? Why don’t we earnestly and zealously seek after the true God of Heaven? We should strive to know Him better and then believe that He is God and He is right.
Wednesday I will be having surgery to replace my left knee with and artificial one. I will not be at breakfast on Thursday morning with all of you who attend. Go ahead and discuss Jeremiah 3,4. Continue to seek out the following:
What characteristics of God stand out in the message?
What are the people doing that God does not like?
Why are they doing it?
Why does God not like it?
How can we avoid this mistake?
A letter from Paul an apostle of Jesus Christ
Called by the will of God.
A messenger of God.
A letter to the church at Corinth.
Those called to be saints.
And, sanctified by Jesus Christ.
The Message
Reminding them of God’s grace.
Recognizing their gifts.
Reminding them of God’s faithfulness.
Exhorting them to unity with now divisions.
Warning them not to turn away.
Reminding them to remain faithful to the only one worthy of trust and obedience.
The Corinthians, like us and the people of Jeremiah’s time, had difficulty keeping their eyes on God. All these believers have promised to trust and obey God. But, if we are not diligent we will turn away believing we can handle any situation because we have God on our side. And, God is always on our side. However, we are not always on God’s side. Paul’s words continue to remind, warn and exhort us to be steadfast as God is steadfast. Jeremiah warned the people of his time about the same sinful ways. We know what happened to them. Why are we the same?
What false God’s do we follow? Why do we insist on redefining God? Why don’t we earnestly and zealously seek after the true God of Heaven? We should strive to know Him better and then believe that He is God and He is right.
Wednesday I will be having surgery to replace my left knee with and artificial one. I will not be at breakfast on Thursday morning with all of you who attend. Go ahead and discuss Jeremiah 3,4. Continue to seek out the following:
What characteristics of God stand out in the message?
What are the people doing that God does not like?
Why are they doing it?
Why does God not like it?
How can we avoid this mistake?
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
BIBLE STUDY DECEMBER 31, 2009
My Thursday Men’s Group has started a new study and I have decided to add the weekly notes to my blog so any who like can join in the study. Let me know if you want more. ensign43@yahoo.com
Jeremiah 1,2 (Thursday morning group lesson for December 31,2009)
We are currently studying Jeremiah and Corinthians. The Bible is the written Word of God. The Bible can be used effectively as a handbook for life. But, it is first and foremost the introduction and revelation of God to Man. God knows man (each one of us) intimately. God desperately wants us to know Him. Reading and studying the Bible is the first and most important effort in that endeavor. Do this one thing if you don’t do any other. This study of Jeremiah and The Corinthians is extra curricular work. Each of us should be systematically reading through the Bible everyday of the year. We should make it all the way through at least once per year. I recommend "The One Year Bible" by Tyndale Publishing.
Here are the key points in Jeremiah 1,2:
Jeremiah was when chosen by God to prophesy to the nations, an ordinary, young jewish man. vs 1:1-8. He was a man no different than any of us.
God chose him before he was born. Each of us has a specific reason, purpose for being created.
God equipped Jeremiah to do his job just as He equips us to do our job.
God’s chosen people had sinned against God. His people had committed two evils. vs 2:13.
The people had turned away from God.
The people had chosen for themselves false gods. And, they had announced that they were not guilty and had not sinned.
Some questions to ask yourself about these two chapters.
How am I like Jeremiah?
Are you ready to do God’s work?
Why did God pick Jeremiah? Why not just tell the people himself?
How do you think Jeremiah approached this task? What would you have done?
Are you always faithful to your God? How am I like the people of Jeremiah's time?
Do you have any false gods?
What does it mean to be chosen by God?
As a chosen disciple of Jesus what is your responsibility?
On Thursday January 7, 2010 we will be reading and studying 1 Corinthians 1.
Jeremiah 1,2 (Thursday morning group lesson for December 31,2009)
We are currently studying Jeremiah and Corinthians. The Bible is the written Word of God. The Bible can be used effectively as a handbook for life. But, it is first and foremost the introduction and revelation of God to Man. God knows man (each one of us) intimately. God desperately wants us to know Him. Reading and studying the Bible is the first and most important effort in that endeavor. Do this one thing if you don’t do any other. This study of Jeremiah and The Corinthians is extra curricular work. Each of us should be systematically reading through the Bible everyday of the year. We should make it all the way through at least once per year. I recommend "The One Year Bible" by Tyndale Publishing.
Here are the key points in Jeremiah 1,2:
Jeremiah was when chosen by God to prophesy to the nations, an ordinary, young jewish man. vs 1:1-8. He was a man no different than any of us.
God chose him before he was born. Each of us has a specific reason, purpose for being created.
God equipped Jeremiah to do his job just as He equips us to do our job.
God’s chosen people had sinned against God. His people had committed two evils. vs 2:13.
The people had turned away from God.
The people had chosen for themselves false gods. And, they had announced that they were not guilty and had not sinned.
Some questions to ask yourself about these two chapters.
How am I like Jeremiah?
Are you ready to do God’s work?
Why did God pick Jeremiah? Why not just tell the people himself?
How do you think Jeremiah approached this task? What would you have done?
Are you always faithful to your God? How am I like the people of Jeremiah's time?
Do you have any false gods?
What does it mean to be chosen by God?
As a chosen disciple of Jesus what is your responsibility?
On Thursday January 7, 2010 we will be reading and studying 1 Corinthians 1.
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