QT 31 Aug 16, 1 Pet 1:22-23, Belief in Jesus is obedience to the truth that saves us forever

1 Peter 1:22–23 (ESV) — 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God;

NOTE: The obedience to the truth is the placing of our faith in Jesus Christ -- that is what purifies our soul, not works in any general sense, but belief in Jesus, the one unpardonable sin (i.e., not believing in Jesus). As a result we are born again of an imperishable seed -- it can never die -- we can never die. That seed is the word of God which transforms us into new creatures who can now exercise sincere brotherly love, a love which we were created to experience and which few truly ever experience. This is why discipleship is so important, because we can begin experiencing brotherly love from others who are also being transformed, by application of the living word of God to our lives. I am excited and fearful as I look to the future, and realize the course our church has placed themselves. I am excited because I know God is going to change men and me. I am fearful because I know the enemy will fight back. But I must trust God. He who is in me is stronger than anything the enemy might throw against me. Father, protect us from the enemy. Keep us out of his hands.

QT 30 Aug 2016, 1 Pet 1:20-21, We are unique in our experience of a relationship with God

1 Peter 1:20–21 (ESV) — 20 He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you 21 who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.

NOTE: God knew, even before man fell that Jesus, his son, would come for our sake, our sin problem. God knew of our rebellion. God knew of the pain that sin would cause. And God knew that it was worth it. Freedom and love are worth the cost to obtain, but the price was steep. God knew the price before the foundation was even started, but he was willing to pay the price for our sakes, so that we could experience community, love, and freedom. Cynics seek to make the opposite argument, but for me, it is a glorious truth. We are loved by the Father immensely. He wanted us to experience the same community and relationship that exists in the Godhead. I do wonder about the servants of God, his angels. They have great privilege by their presence with God. But they don't understand what we have experienced. Satan exercised freedom, but he too does not understand our experience. Which would seem to explain why the demons experience no guilt or sense of remorse or desire to repent -- they just don't understand. We are unique in God's creation.

QT 29 Aug 16, 1 Pet 1:18-19, Living the lie, or living like we were created

1 Peter 1:18–19 (ESV) — 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

NOTE: The world's way of living, which the Gentiles had inherited from their fathers is futile. It gains nothing. It has no eternal value. It does not offer real life. What is the world's way of living? Doing good deeds (a few more than the bad) to earn acceptance by God. Putting yourself first and living for yourself, let everyone else worry about themselves. Eat, drink, and party your existence into the grave, at least you will have fun. But every one of those three statements are lies and are futile. The blood of Christ has rescued us from our blindness and that way of thinking. We can now experience real peace and real joy, just as God created us to experience life. We need to throw off the lie, and take hold of truth. Only then will we understand how much we had lost.

QT 26 Aug 16, 1 Sam 28:20-25, Who are we listening to?

1 Samuel 28:20–25 (ESV) — 20 Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. 21 And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, “Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me. 22 Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way.” 23 He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed. 24 Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, 25 and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.

NOTE: This is one of those sections that seems innocuous and you start to wonder why it is even there. But on further reflection it is there because it is extremely important. Saul's problems and the lack of a covenantal relationship came to a head when he could not wait upon Samuel, but started the sacrifice without him. He should have waited but he couldn't. He was afraid of losing men from his dwindling army. Here, he initially refused the women's request to share a meal, but upon the urging of his servants and the medium, he agrees. The woman kills (sacrifices) a calf for him and they share a meal. In other words, he participates in a covenant meal with a medium whereas his problems started when he did not participate in a covenant meal correctly with God. His priorities have been wrong from the start and his relationship with God has always been weak. Saul listens to the wrong people. He does not obey Samuel, but he does obey the medium. We have to ask ourselves two questions. One, who are we listening to? And two, who do we obey?

QT 25 Aug 16, 1 Sam 28:11-19, Saul saw God as his servant, not himself as God's servant

1 Samuel 28:11–19 (ESV) — 11 Then the woman said, “Whom shall I bring up for you?” He said, “Bring up Samuel for me.” 12 When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.” 13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” 14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage. 15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and God has turned away from me and answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.” 16 And Samuel said, “Why then do you ask me, since the Lord has turned from you and become your enemy? 17 The Lord has done to you as he spoke by me, for the Lord has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David. 18 Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not carry out his fierce wrath against Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19 Moreover, the Lord will give Israel also with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons shall be with me. The Lord will give the army of Israel also into the hand of the Philistines.”

NOTE: There are a couple of things to note in trying to understand this passage. The first thing is the surprise of the medium who "cried out with a loud voice." Why? This seemed unexpected even from her experience. Which is not to say that she did not experience supernatural events, although probably evil workings of the devil. But this surprised her, probably because it was so real. Second to understanding this passage is that Samul came 'up. as opposed to 'down.' At this time, prior to Jesus' resurrection, paradise was down in the earth located next to hell, but with a very wide chasm between the two. After Jesus' death, he shuts down paradise and transfers the saints (Ephesians says he descended and then ascended leading a host of captors in his train) to heaven with God, above and not below the earth. This is why all the prophets spoke of going down when they die. So Samuel is coming from the right direction, but probably coming from a different location then maybe the woman has seen in the past (paradise versus hell), and probably his appearance was different as well. So, in this case, I think God actually caused Samuel's spirit to rise. Everything Samuel says is word-for-word what he said in the past. And the things he say that are new, are absolutely correct; on the next day, Saul and his sons and the army of Israel will fall by the hand of the Philistines. In fact, this may be the reason that God removed David and his men from this attack, because David would have certainly turn on the Philistines and routed them by virtue of a two-pronged attack. But what is the point. Saul has been judged because of his refusal to do things God's way, and I also believe by his treatment of God, seeing God as Saul's servant in times of crisis, instead of Saul being God's servant. How do we treat God?

QT 24 Aug 16, 1 Sam 28:3-7, Saul's foolishness was years in development

1 Samuel 28:3–7 (ESV) — 3 Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land. 4 The Philistines assembled and came and encamped at Shunem. And Saul gathered all Israel, and they encamped at Gilboa. 5 When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. 6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets. 7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Seek out for me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.” And his servants said to him, “Behold, there is a medium at En-dor.”

NOTE: The key is verse 3, the last Judge of Israel has died. The leadership of the nation has passed on to the kings, although in a very short time, Saul will die as well. Saul, though rejected by God, leaned on Samuel. The problem is that Saul never leaned on God. Saul even did religious things, like banishing the occult from the land, but in the end, Saul was a hypocrite. What he told other people not to do and punished other people for doing, he now does himself--he seeks out a medium. One could reply that he sought God and God did not answer. But the problem with that argument is that Saul never sought God except in crisis. Saul saw God as serving him, that he could call on him as he called on any servant to do his wishes. Saul did not realize that he was supposed to serve God, not the other way around. He never made a habit of seeking God, so why should he expect an answer from God now, just because Saul summoned God. So, instead he summons Samuel (or something else) from the dead to speak. Saul was foolish, but the foolishness wasn't born of the moment. It was a foolishness developed through years of neglect of the one true relationship he needed, a relationship with God.

QT 23 Aug 16, 1 Sam 30:1-10, Two bad decisions, but two different results

1 Samuel 30:1–10 (ESV) — 1 Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire 2 and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. 3 And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. 4 Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. 5 David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail the widow of Nabal of Carmel. 6 And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

7 And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David. 8 And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue after this band? Shall I overtake them?” He answered him, “Pursue, for you shall surely overtake and shall surely rescue.” 9 So David set out, and the six hundred men who were with him, and they came to the brook Besor, where those who were left behind stayed. 10 But David pursued, he and four hundred men. Two hundred stayed behind, who were too exhausted to cross the brook Besor.

NOTE: This chapter has a lot of things to digest. David has just returned from the gathering of the Philistine armies for battle against Israel. David promised to fight the enemies of the king but was extremely vague in terms of what that means. The Philistines don't trust David and send him back home to Ziklag. Up until this point God's name has been surprisingly absent. David has lied repeatedly in order to protect himself and his men as to his actual activities. What happens next is in contrast to Saul's experience and either God's way of keeping David out of the fight or the consequence of David's choice to leave the land. The Amelekites attack Ziklag and take their wives, children, possessions, and burn down their homes. Everyone, including David, is in great pain. And many, not surprisingly, blame David, suggesting that David's game was not accepted by everyone in the group (not to mention that the group included a lot of misfits and rabble-rousers). David inquires of the Lord and God provides direction.

In contrast, the previous chapter is about Saul seeking direction. God does not answer Saul as the Philistines gather for battle. Saul chooses to go a medium to seek direction for the spirit of Samuel. Without getting into the story, suffice it to say that Saul does not receive direction. The problem is that Saul only seeks God when times are at severe cross-road. David, despite his lapses, does seek God regularly, not just when things are collapsing around him. One lives by religion whereas the other lives by a relationship. One thinks God is at his beck and call, while the other believes he serves God. One obeys when he thinks it is to his benefit, the other eagerly desires to obey all the time (but is not perfect and does fail more than once). The result will be disaster for Saul, the death of him and his sons, and ultimately the loss of his kingdom to Judah. David's result will be the return of all the wives and children and the recovery of a large amount of material possessions. Saul experiences the ultimate bad ending while David experiences the ultimate good ending. Both made poor choices, but David's heart was entirely different--he truly wanted to know God and serve him. What is our heart? Why is our real reason for going to church or pursuing religious instruction or claiming faith?

QT 22 Aug 16, 1 Sam 27:5-12, God's directions is really less painful than our directions

1 Samuel 27:5–12 (ESV) — 5 Then David said to Achish, “If I have found favor in your eyes, let a place be given me in one of the country towns, that I may dwell there. For why should your servant dwell in the royal city with you?” 6 So that day Achish gave him Ziklag. Therefore Ziklag has belonged to the kings of Judah to this day. 7 And the number of the days that David lived in the country of the Philistines was a year and four months. 8 Now David and his men went up and made raids against the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites, for these were the inhabitants of the land from of old, as far as Shur, to the land of Egypt. 9 And David would strike the land and would leave neither man nor woman alive, but would take away the sheep, the oxen, the donkeys, the camels, and the garments, and come back to Achish. 10 When Achish asked, “Where have you made a raid today?” David would say, “Against the Negeb of Judah,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Jerahmeelites,” or, “Against the Negeb of the Kenites.” 11 And David would leave neither man nor woman alive to bring news to Gath, thinking, “lest they should tell about us and say, ‘So David has done.’ ” Such was his custom all the while he lived in the country of the Philistines. 12 And Achish trusted David, thinking, “He has made himself an utter stench to his people Israel; therefore he shall always be my servant.”

NOTE: From one poor decision, others follow. David does not appear to have sought God in his move to live with the Philistines. I can only guess that he was tired of living in the wilderness being chased from one cave to the next. And with foresight, which David did not have, it appears it would be another nearly two years before conditions would change. But one bad decision seems to lead to another as David is reduced to lying in order to maintain his relationship with Achish. David could justify his actions because the real enemies he was defeating were common enemies to both Israel and to Philistia. Still, David is now reduced to a marauder. In some sense, the job did need to be done since Israel had never conquered the land the way God had commanded. And maybe we can even justify David's lying since it was to protect the lives of his men and their wives and children. But his lying doesn't actually save anyone, since the wives, children, and possessions will be attacked and stolen during his stay in Philistia (but also recovered). It is a restful, prosperous and yet ugly period of David's life. He is growing in riches, but he almost loses his men and everything he was working to accomplish. But in the midst of this, grace reigns, because God promises to work good for those who love him and are called to his purpose. In the end, David will reign over Judah, and in seven more years over all of Israel. What is the application? God's direction is really less painful than our choice.

QT 18 Aug 18, 1 Sam 26:15-21, Saul lacks conviction and direction because he has no true heart for God or his word

1 Samuel 26:15–21 (ESV) — 15 And David said to Abner, “Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord. 16 This thing that you have done is not good. As the Lord lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the Lord’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was at his head.” 17 Saul recognized David’s voice and said, “Is this your voice, my son David?” And David said, “It is my voice, my lord, O king.” 18 And he said, “Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands? 19 Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the Lord who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the Lord, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the Lord, saying, ‘Go, serve other gods.’ 20 Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the Lord, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains.” 21 Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.”

NOTE: Twice now David has had opportunity to kill Saul and he has refused to lift his hand against God's anointed. David argues that he has done nothing wrong and he is not worth the King's time. Technically, the only person worth this effort would be a usurper, and David has definitely proved that his is not. Actually, David is a threat, not to Saul, but to Saul's line (which doesn't seem to bother Jonathan), and even more importantly, to the tribe of Benjamin. If David is not eliminated, in time, the tribe of Benjamin will lose their power and their cushy jobs to the tribe of Judah. That is how the system works, although David will try to parse out jobs to others besides fellow Judahites when he is king. No, the real reason for this emphasis on getting David is probably being fueled by other Benjaminites. They are a bad effect on Saul's feeble psyche. Saul is like a leaf blown to and fro by the wind. In this passage, Saul confesses his sin as he has done on other occasions, and except for David's next steps (he runs away to the Philistines), he would be back to the task of hunting down David shortly. Saul lacks stability. Unlike David, the word of God is not important to Saul. He has no heart for God and as such he is directionless.

QT 17 Aug 16, 1 Sam 26:1-12, The great Will of God debate: act or wait?

1 Samuel 26:1–12 (ESV) — 1 Then the Ziphites came to Saul at Gibeah, saying, “Is not David hiding himself on the hill of Hachilah, which is on the east of Jeshimon?” 2 So Saul arose and went down to the wilderness of Ziph with three thousand chosen men of Israel to seek David in the wilderness of Ziph. 3 And Saul encamped on the hill of Hachilah, which is beside the road on the east of Jeshimon. But David remained in the wilderness. When he saw that Saul came after him into the wilderness, 4 David sent out spies and learned that Saul had indeed come. 5 Then David rose and came to the place where Saul had encamped. And David saw the place where Saul lay, with Abner the son of Ner, the commander of his army. Saul was lying within the encampment, while the army was encamped around him. 6 Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab’s brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, “Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?” And Abishai said, “I will go down with you.” 7 So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him. 8 Then Abishai said to David, “God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice.” 9 But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the Lord’s anointed and be guiltless?” 10 And David said, “As the Lord lives, the Lord will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish. 11 The Lord forbid that I should put out my hand against the Lord’s anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go.” 12 So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul’s head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the Lord had fallen upon them.

NOTE: Abishai believed in action. He is carnal in his view of life. He fails to accurately bring in the spiritual dimension nor respect the expressed will of God. He uses spirituality to argue for his desired behavior, but he denies obedience to those very commandments. Abishai sees opportunity and coincidence as God's hand and approval to disobey God's injunction. David does not make that mistake. God's word is his final authority; circumstance, coincidence, and opportunity do not take precedence over God's word. To David, this is a clear case of waiting upon God and not taking matters into your own hand. But Abishai, who is the contrast here, views life from a worldly perspective. He does not pray but he is quick to suggest God's will.

Sometimes there is good reason to act prudently when opportunity presents itself, but never in contradiction to the expressed will of God. In decision making, we put God's commands first. We act prudently when it does not violate a command of God. We wait if it does or if God has made it clear that he wants us to wait.

QT 15 Aug 16, 1 Pet 1:14-19, God calls us to holiness and we need to be courageous

1 Peter 1:14–19 (ESV) — 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” 17 And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, 18 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

NOTE: Given the exhortation, it is possible for a Christian to be conformed to the passions of our former ignorance, or in other words, "how we use to think to live." We now know better, but we still have a choice.  We are no longer ignorant. We know the truth of God's words. Our minds are opened to see and understand. The veil has been removed from our eyes. And yet many believers still choose to live according to the ways of the world and not according to God's command. God calls us to holiness, which by definition means to be separate. But we fear being different. We want to be like others. We don't have the courage to stand up for what God's says is true, and so we fail as witnesses of his grace and love. Lord forgive us for our lack of courage.

QT 11 Aug 16, 1 Pet 1:13, Use your minds, the evidence is overwhelming

1 Peter 1:13 (ESV) — 13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

NOTE: I think one of the major emphasis of the enemy has been to redefine Christianity as a belief not based on any intellectual acumen. I would strongly disagree for a number of reasons. One, the battle for our soul is fought in our minds. A renewal of the mind is the first step on a path to change. Second, the greatest intellectual argument for Christianity is the resurrection. The historicity of the event, of the life of Christ, of the disciples resulting change, the eye-witnesses, and the willingness of those who knew Jesus and the stories intimately to die for that knowledge. I am unimpressed by second-generation martyrs (as an apologetic argument for Christianity), but I am deeply impressed by first-generation eye-witnesses who gained so very little materially and went to early deaths because of their belief in the literal resurrection from the dead of Jesus. Men and women, who saw the miracles and witnessed first-hand the life and character of Jesus Christ. Men who wrote all 27 books of the New Testament during the lives of the first generation of eyewitnesses. Most of the books were completed within 30 years of Jesus' death and resurrection. John's books were written while he was in exile on Patmos, 50-60 years after Jesus' death and resurrection. Certainly, proving things true or false is a difficult proposition for both believer and denier. But intellectually, the evidence is heavily weighted toward the historicity of the gospels and the events described during those three years of Jesus' public ministry.

QT 10 Aug 16, 1 Pet 1:10-12, Experiencing grace is a great privilege

1 Peter 1:10–12 (ESV) — 10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

NOTE: The prophets were serving us. They understood, at some point, that they would not experience grace in this life, although in the future they would receive new bodies and experience grace and Christ's rule during the millennial kingdom. They will join us at the wedding feast of the lamb. I think we take for granted when we live, where we live, and the grace that we know. It is a precious thing and it is hard to think of life without the grace of God. And yet, people lived without grace and mostly without the Holy Spirit for thousands of years. Today, people still live without the Holy Spirit, and that should bother the church more. And worse, people, who know of grace, have not experienced the depth of a walk with Jesus Christ. As we move into creating a culture of discipleship, I am excited to think that people can have their eyes opened to what it really means to walk with God in the fullness of the Spirit. Lord, lead us to the right individuals. Protect us from the enemy. Use us to glorify your name in your church.

QT 2 Aug 16, 1 Pet 1:8-9, An inexpressible joy!

1 Peter 1:7d–9 (ESV) — … at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

NOTE: It is amazing, that a person we cannot see, we can love so greatly. How is it? I know of many historical persons, but I don't love them. I even see many famous persons, whom I have not met, but while I might greatly admire them, I don't love them. But this Jesus, historical and never truly seen, I love with all of my heart. Why? Because he is so very real to me. I know that he hears my prayers. I know that he cares for me. I know that he is hurt by my sin. I know that he is working in my life for good. And most importantly, I know that he died for my sin so that I may now experience eternal life, both in this physical world, and in the coming millennial kingdom, and the eternal age which follows. How can I know all that? It is strange. I do and I know it deep within me in a manner that is not easily explainable. Does that make it not true? No, there is no logical argument that the latter explanation is untrue. One can argue that it does not prove anything, and in that I would agree, but that is different from being untrue. How does one explain love for a child? How does one prove it? All the answers can be refuted, but while we might not be able to prove it, it does not make it untrue.