Theme of the day it seems: Where's your focus?
Sunday School: Psalm 119:105-120 Hebrew letters Nun and Samekh . Bart Lester teaching.
"Thy word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path," (so that you don't get lost in a morally dark world).
I saw this verse differently today than I ever have before. It is about spiritual maturity, in light of the rest of this section.
Imaging biblical times.....primarily, there was no light, except that of the heavenly lights. (sun, moon, stars). Any other light in the darkness was expensive and a luxury. A lamp for your footsteps and a light for the path in the darkness was a rare thing. Darkness was to be feared. And so this verse would mean a lot to the Israelite.
Here, physical darkness is compared to moral darkness. Compare Eph 4:13-16 about maturity, and not being tossed to and fro (in a morally dark world). Without God's word, we are in darkness in this world. So, in verse 106 it is stated that becauIse of the above......the psalmist will keep God's rules.
He is severely afflicted, But God's word gives him life; revives him.
There is give and take involved so to speak.....Verse 108: Spontaneous praise from the individual results in God's teaching him of His law.
Verse 109 was difficult for me....."I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law." He is on edge, on the brink of disaster. Notes in the RSB helped me see the meaning:
"The psalmist's obedience is not risk free, for it exposes him to the wiles of his enemies. He could wish to be free of the danger, but is more concerned to live a godly life in spite of it."
(I am studying, also, The Hole in our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung....chapter 3, where he speaks of the same thing in regard to holiness. It comes with the risk, even the guarantee of trials.)
The Psalmist states that in trials he will not waver, but will remain steady. Enemies, even in the Body are traps.......false teachings, slander, gossip, etc. Through all our focus must be God's Word/law/testimonies.
Long term, firm commitment is expressed because of the joy of knowing and abiding by God's law. The joys of earth are fickle and fleeting, but God's Word is stead and true.....and everlasting.
"Joy without obedience is frivolity, but obedience without joy is moralism." (Moyter sp?)
The double minded man is one who wavers and is led away....very unstable in his ways and beliefs. Relativism is a good example of this (many ways to the same end). The psalmist declares that he will not be so! There is one way.....God's way.....that is clearly revealed in His word.
Compare James 1:2-8. The one who doubts is double minded.
God's Word provides security and hope.
Verse 115 is about separation.....from evildoers. You becom like those you associat with.
Verse 116 is a prayer for help to live up to God's law during times of trouble. Make my hope visible to all.
verse 117 asks for encouragement and stability provided by God.
Verse 118....If I waver or reject God's word, he will turn from me. Hope would be lost. The wicked will be rejected, but the righteous will be saved....therefore, love God's word and have a proper fear of Him!
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Matthew 28:16-20, final sermon in Matthew by Bart Lester (133 in all! over 2 years)
Great commission: spoken primarily to the 11 apostles....who had been with Him for 3 years, then abandoned Him during His trial. Now He has them all together again, and charges them with this command.
Their reaction to the risen Lord: Worship, and doubt. Probably not doubt as in unbelief, although Thomas particularly did express this. More about wondering what's next, or where do we go from here. Here the cause they'd given up their livelihoods and families for seems to have come to a crashing halt. Jesus is with them again, but now He is going away. What's next? Surely there was great fear and apprehension among them!
Jesus tells them that He has been given all authority in heaven and earth...... a "cosmic transaction' beyond anything they can see or comprehend. They'd just seen him abased and humbled....and now glorified in this way? It seems backward.
But WHO he is has a direct effect on them. Universal Lordship demands a mission. Go. Make disciples. Baptize. Teach.........nations. How this must have flown in their faces! Jews.....peasants and fishermen. Go to the ens of the earth? What? To even 'unclean' peoples?
The vision is to incorporate disciples into the Body and for them to embrace the mission also.
We are to engage in personally evangelism.
Go. Send, Pray, Support. All these things are seen in light of Paul's journeys. Not all left their homes to go,.....some supported, some prayed, some sent.
Personally: you aren't off the hook. Pray....to live Christ before all contacts that you have. Pray for wisdom, discernment, opportunity and strength.
Evangelism isn't salesmanship, but sincere sharing of the Truth/Gospel.
Teach.....to observe all His commandments (by example, preaching, teaching, singing, praying, talking.).
The task of the new disciple is to be a learner. Seek, delight in, and do His Word!
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Sunday evening: Psalm 125 Henry Beaulieu
What do you put your trust in? What's is your protection?
Those who trust in the Lord are like Mt. Zion....(Jerusalem) that sits on a mountain with other mountains surrounding it. It is the place God established for His habitation among them.
The Lord surrounds His people like wise, so that they are like Jerusalem, and cannot be moved.
Times of trial may (will!) come, but their time is limited. The wicked will not be allowed to rule them for long.....and even when they do it is because of the sin of the people....being double minded (see notes above from James and Psalm 119). They put their focus on themselves rather than on Him, and they are disciplined (trained) for the sake of learning obedience.
The one with a good heart (trusting in the Lord) will be saved, but the one who turns aside to their on ways will be led away with the evildoers. This is a scary thought!
Focus!
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