QT 31 Mar 11

Phil 3:12-14 (NIV) Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

NOTE:  When Paul says that he has not already obtained "this," the "this" refers to the previous paragraph of knowing Christ and becoming like Christ.  This is sanctification, the process of becoming and knowing Jesus Christ, not justification, which is our position in Christ.  In other words, the law holds no profit and is considered rubbish as far as pursuing a right relationship with Jesus Christ in this life.  One does not get to know God through the obedience to the OT law.  One gets to know God through his word and obedience to the commands of Jesus (which is not through legalistic righteousness to the OT law).  Jesus said, "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him" (John 14:21 NIV, emphasis mine).  Why is it that people want to attach themselves to the OT law?  What is it about rules that draws us to them?  Why is it so hard to develop a spirit of righteousness and not an external caricature of righteousness?  Father, protect me from the danger of evaluating my walk with you on externals.  I want to have a heart relationship with you, not a fake activity engagement with you.

QT 30 Mar 11

Phil 3:4b-11 (NIV) If anyone else thinks he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have  more: 5 circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a  Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6 as for zeal, persecuting the church;  as for legalistic righteousness, faultless.

7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I  consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my  Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but  that which is through faith in Christ — the righteousness that comes from God and is by  faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of  sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to  the resurrection from the dead.

Note: There can be no doubt that the discussion of confidence in the flesh is based on the  heresy of the Judaizers. But it is not just an  issue of salvation, it is a way of life. It is a discussion of how to please God. It is not just positional, it is "becoming," it is "attaining." Paul has considered all aspects  of that way of life as loss and as rubbish.  Knowing Christ Jesus is a far greater thing;  as the song, "knowing You Jesus," says.  I'm not sure I completely understand verse  10, but I do agree with Paul, I want to  know Jesus even more.

QT 29 Mar 11

Phil 3:1-4 (NIV) Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

2 Watch out for those dogs, those men who do evil, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh—

NOTE:  I really think that verse 1 precedes verse 2 with reason, and not as a totally new thought.  An attitude of rejoicing is a protection against the Judaizers.  They believed that you needed to be a Jew to be saved.  You needed to be circumcised and required to obey the law.  But the issue is not just salvation because by implication it refers to how you live your life as well.  Typically (but not always), those who emphasize the law are legalistic.  They put confidence in the flesh for the relationship with God.  They focus on the do's and don'ts of the law and not on the relational part of their faith.  They are confident in their relationship when they feel they have checked off certain activities, and so they ultimately are putting their confidence in the flesh.  And to a certain degree, that takes the joy out of our relationship with God which is not dependent upon externals but on the spirit, our heart response to Him.

QT 28 Mar 11

Phil 3:1 (NIV) Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

NOTE:  Three things stand out in this section of Paul's letter.  First, while there are still two chapters in length left, he is wrapping up with some final thoughts.  It takes a little effort to finish his final thoughts.  Second, his comment about writing the same things to you again is either a reference to an earlier part of the letter, or more likely a reference to a previous letter, now long lost.  But the third point is the most interesting, Paul says that rejoicing in the Lord is a safeguard for the believers.  Now, it could be a reference to the Judaizers who by their emphasis on the law take the joy out of the Christian life.  That would fit with the next verse when he tells them to watch out for the "mutilators of the flesh."  It could also be a protection against grumbling and complaining, which he just concluded in the previous section.  Clearly, an attitude of rejoicing over events (the "glad game" as Pollyanna calls it)is an effective tool to keep us from a spirit of grumbling and complaining.  So, instead of working at eliminating the grumbling and complaining, I need to work at increasing the rejoicing, so as to eliminate the latter by default. 

QT 23 Mar 11

Phil 2:12 (NIV) Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed — not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence — continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, ...

NOTE: I have never really understood "work out your salvation" in verse 12.  The AMP uses "work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation" which makes more sense.  The NLT says to "work hard to show the results of your salvation."  The NCV says to "keep on working to complete your salvation."   Wuest uses "carry to its ultimate conclusion [likeness to the Lord Jesus] your own salvation."  The Greek word, katergazesthe, means to do something with success and / or thoroughness, and can be translated as to accomplish, to perform successfully, and to do thoroughly.  In other words, my salvation, which is not dependent on works (based on many other verses of scripture, Eph 2:8,9 and Tit 3:5 to name two), starts by faith, but is carried to completion with work and effort.  Yes, I need the power of the HS to live the Christian life, but it doesn't just happen.  I need to make effort to seek God, to pray, to make right choices, to obey when God speaks, and other actions.  God can give me strength beyond my self to live that life, but he cannot force me to walk with God.  If he did, we would be back to the argument about being robots, and robots cannot love.  Additionally, the church today is a massive example of people who are not bringing to completion the work that God started.  They are not obeying God's word, and ultimately their witness negatively affects the gospel. 

Lord, protect me from the draw of the world.  I want to serve you and to finish my Christian life strong.

Phil 2:12 (AMP) Therefore, my dear ones, as you have always obeyed [my suggestions], so now, not only [with the enthusiasm you would show] in my presence but much more because I am absent, work out (cultivate, carry out to the goal, and fully complete) your own salvation with reverence and awe and trembling (self-distrust, with serious caution, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation, timidly shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ).

QT 22 Mar 11

Phil 2:26-30 (NIV) For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

NOTE: One issue I encounter in discussions with other brothers is that there is a distinction between suffering as the result of health issues, and suffering that is the result of service or persecution.  I've met two totally different groups within Christendom, one that believe in the health and wealth gospel, and the other from the charismatic side, who believe we should always be whole (physically, spiritually, and mentally).  The latter believe a failure to be physically whole shows a lack of trust or spirituality or fullness of the Holy Spirit.  To the former group, I will ignore, because the arguments are well founded and strong against such a position.  But to the latter group, here is a case where Paul equates an illness suffered either while traveling or upon arrival in Rome, with service for the gospel, which would then equate illness with persecution.  Paul says Epaphroditus almost died.  His living was only the mercy of God, not the result of anyone's faith or the fullness of the Spirit.  In fact, Paul's response to his potential death was not guilt over a lack of the HS, but sorrow to miss a good friend for a short period of time.  Paul says E. almost died for the work of Christ.  Paul says E. risked his life for the gospel.  If we are supposed to be whole (physically), how could anyone risk their life with an illness, that would not show risk, but rather spiritual weakness.  I think this particular passage pretty much debunks the wholeness crowd. 

QT 17 Mar 11

Phil 2:5-8 (NIV) Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

6 Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

7 but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

8 And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death —

even death on a cross!

NOTE:  My attitude should be the same as that of Jesus Christ.  So how does Paul define Jesus' attitude?  First point is that he did not need to promote his importance or status.  He was God, but he did not emphasize that equality.  Now Jesus does make it clear in scripture that he is God, but this would also explain why the verses are few in number, enough to make the point, but not to overemphasize it.    He was God, but he did not come to earth to be treated as God.  The second aspect is that he became a servant.  He took the role of a slave to others for the sake of others.  The final aspect of his attitude was obedience, even unto death, even unto great pain and humiliation.  So for an attitude check, it would seem that humility, servanthood, and obedience were the hallmarks of Jesus attitude.

Where do I fall short or maybe the better question is, where do I not fall short?  My biggest weakness is making too much of my self.  So what if a person does not know my history -- is it really that important?  Forgive me Lord for promoting myself and not you.

QT 4 Mar 11

Phil 1:9-11 (NIV) And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ — to the glory and praise of God.

NOTE: I am always intrigue by the prayers that men who wrote the scriptures used.  Paul's prayer is that their love may abound more and more.  First, their love was expressed in a financial gift for Paul.  Giving is a good thing, not just for the recipient but also for the person who gives.  He also wants their love to grow in knowledge and depth of insight -- that comes through the word of God, and not just a superficial understanding of the word, but one that goes deep.  The fact that Paul makes the subject "love" suggests that knowledge and depth of insight should affect us personally, in our character and actions.  He also prays for them to be able to discern what is best.  That follows from knowledge and insight, after having applied truth.  As our mind is affected by God's word we develop godly discernment.  We are not as easily fooled by Satan's deceits.  Paul also prays that they might be pure and blameless until Jesus returns.  Sin hurts our witness and takes away from God's glory on earth.  The more we keep our lives pure from sin, the more God is glorified by us.  Righteousness is the result of a life pure and blameless.  Also, a reward is awaiting us in heaven, as well as the words, "well done, good and faithful servant."  How I hope to hear those words some day.

QT 2 Mar 11

Phil 1:3-6 (Wuest NT) I am constantly thanking my God for my whole remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making supplication for all of you with joy. I am thanking my God constantly for your joint-participation [with me] in the furtherance of the good news from the first day [when Lydia opened her home for the preaching of the Word] until this particular moment [as characterized by the gift which you have sent], having come to this settled and firm persuasion concerning this very thing, namely, that He who began in you a work which is good [their financial support of Paul] will bring it to a successful conclusion right up to the day of Christ Jesus.

NOTE: I think Wuest's translation is probably closer to the mark.  Which is not to say that God does not do good works in our lives, it is just more specific in the context, and probably more general in the application.  The work that God began in the Philippian's heart was to support Paul financially.  It was extremely encouraging to Paul.  He called it a "partnership" or "joint-participation" in the gospel.  Their giving was a good thing, and giving to missions, when God has laid it on our hearts, is a good thing today.  But God also calls us into missions, sometimes overseas, and always where we are at.  Clearly we are to live a life that is a witness for Christ, but we are also to identify with the gospel verbally in a manner that is well understood.  Father, give me boldness to share your gospel verbally with others.

QT 28 Feb 11

Phil 1:1 (NIV) Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:

NOTE: The letter is addressed to the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, and also the overseers and deacons.  Since the overseers and deacons are an add-on, the saints refer to the rest of the church.  This verse, as clearly as any verses, teaches us that everyone who is a believer in Jesus, is a saint.  One does not have to be some spiritual giant to carry the name of saint.  There are qualifications for overseer and deacon, but the only qualification for saint is faith in Jesus. 

For some reason, our cultures and cultures before us, have identified a saint as some holy and amazingly spiritual individual.  To a certain extent, that definition is true.  As believers in Jesus, we have positional holiness.  We are spiritual, because we are temples of the living God.  We are special because Jesus died for our sins and bought us our redemption.  But we do live in sin-stained bodies and a world that is opposed to God.  And sometimes, we don't look much different than the world.  In a sense, that is our fault.  We have no excuse when we turn our eyes off of Jesus and fix them on the garbage in the world.  And so the world identifies a saint as something different than a Christian, because Christians are such a poor example of their savior.  That should not be.  My God has saved me, I need to live in that reality.

QT 17 Feb 11

2 Kings 22:20-23:3 (NIV) Therefore I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.'"

So they took her answer back to the king.

23:1 Then the king called together all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem. 2 He went up to the temple of the Lord with the men of Judah, the people of Jerusalem, the priests and the prophets — all the people from the least to the greatest. He read in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant, which had been found in the temple of the Lord. 3 The king stood by the pillar and renewed the covenant in the presence of the Lord-to follow the Lord and keep his commands, regulations and decrees with all his heart and all his soul, thus confirming the words of the covenant written in this book. Then all the people pledged themselves to the covenant.

NOTE: The prophetess clears Josiah because of his response to the word of God.  He could have lived out his life with that assurance, but instead he takes action to obey God's word, and even more importantly to involve the people in renewing the covenant.  Actually, this is a mistake that I think Hezekiah made.  While Hezekiah took action, he may have failed to make the case to the people that they needed to take action.  Consequently, the people never were really on-board, all too quickly abandoned Hezekiah's reforms when Manasseh comes on the scene.  I think for teachers and leaders, this example impresses upon me the importance of application.  I must always explore application to anything I teach.  And when I lead spiritually, I must establish the foundation of my actions upon the word of God, and communicate that to those I am leading (at least in a spiritual sense).  I'm not sure of the degree I can do that in the secular setting, or at least I must be very careful.

QT 16 Feb 11

2 Kings 22:8, 11-13 (NIV) Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, "I have found the Book of the Law in the temple of the Lord." He gave it to Shaphan, who read it. … 11 When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes. 12 He gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the secretary and Asaiah the king's attendant: 13 "Go and inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the Lord's anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us."

NOTE: The word of God is very powerful.  The first step in any endeavor needs to be reading the word of God, and then praying, talking back to God, about what the Lord has spoken through his word.  Josiah responds in repentance by tearing his clothes.  He immediately tries to seek guidance from the Lord.

How do we respond to God's word?  Do we take it for granted?  Has it become passé in our life?  How serious are we in getting the word of God into our life and allowing it to transform our life?  I need to renew my scripture memory habit.  It has been a good thing for many years, but I have allowed it to die a slow death.

QT 15 Feb 11

2 Kings 21:19-24 (NIV) Amon was twenty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem two years. His mother's name was Meshullemeth daughter of Haruz; she was from Jotbah. 20 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. 21 He walked in all the ways of his father; he worshiped the idols his father had worshiped, and bowed down to them. 22 He forsook the Lord, the God of his fathers, and did not walk in the way of the Lord.

23 Amon's officials conspired against him and assassinated the king in his palace. 24 Then the people of the land killed all who had plotted against King Amon, and they made Josiah his son king in his place.

NOTE:  Manasseh serves 55 years and Amon serves 2 years.  Manasseh's reign is the final straw that results in God's prophesied judgment against Israel.  Their combined reign only fills one chapter in the book of Kings, although I believe the other prophets includes more.  One chapter and 57 years to make a difference, and the difference they make is appallingly sad.  Neither of them had the strength of character to stand up to the people and do what was right, like Hezekiah, their forefather did.  Possibly, Judah might have been saved from the Babylonians, but then again, sooner or later the dark hearts of the people would have forsaken their God and broken the covenant, thereby incurring the curses of God written in the covenant.

The difference today is twofold.  One, we do not have the curses of the law hanging over us, and two, we have the Holy Spirit within us to help us and to teach us.  Clearly, for men, that does not seem to be enough.  Why?  Ultimately, we must choose to feed our spiritual soul and seek God.  Even the HS within us will not do that for us.  If he did, then all believers would live sold-out lives for the savior.  I do have a responsibility to seek God in prayer and in the word.  As I do that, he will protect me from the sins of Manasseh and Amon, which sought to please people and bowed to peer pressure, versus standing up for what is right as Hezekiah did.

QT 14 Feb 11

2 Kings 21:1-9 (NIV) Manasseh was twelve years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-five years. His mother's name was Hephzibah. 2 He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the detestable practices of the nations the Lord had driven out before the Israelites. 3 He rebuilt the high places his father Hezekiah had destroyed; he also erected altars to Baal and made an Asherah pole, as Ahab king of Israel had done. He bowed down to all the starry hosts and worshiped them. 4 He built altars in the temple of the Lord, of which the Lord had said, "In Jerusalem I will put my Name." 5 In both courts of the temple of the Lord, he built altars to all the starry hosts. 6 He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did much evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking him to anger.

7 He took the carved Asherah pole he had made and put it in the temple, of which the Lord had said to David and to his son Solomon, "In this temple and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will put my Name forever. 8 I will not again make the feet of the Israelites wander from the land I gave their forefathers, if only they will be careful to do everything I commanded them and will keep the whole Law that my servant Moses gave them." 9 But the people did not listen. Manasseh led them astray, so that they did more evil than the nations the Lord had destroyed before the Israelites.

NOTE: I'm not sure that Hezekiah was the one who failed in any of this. I think his decision to destroy all the idols, including the 700 year old bronze snake idol was not well received in the land. The phrase in verse 9 summarizes the real problem, "the people did not listen." They listened to Manasseh, but not to Hezekiah. They listened to Manasseh because he gave them what they wanted to hear. I think the people are the reason for the defeats at the hand of the Assyrian (46 towns taken) up to the point of Jerusalem, where God has mercy for Hezekiah's sake (185K soldiers killed). Yes, the leader is important, but the people also have a responsibility to pursue a walk with God. And at some point, God will hold the people responsible, not the leaders.

QT 12 Jan 11

2 Kings 4:7-10 (NIV) She went and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."

8 One day Elisha went to Shunem. And a well-to-do woman was there, who urged him to stay for a meal. So whenever he came by, he stopped there to eat. 9 She said to her husband, "I know that this man who often comes our way is a holy man of God. 10 Let's make a small room on the roof and put in it a bed and a table, a chair and a lamp for him. Then he can stay there whenever he comes to us."

NOTE: Two stories, one of a very poor woman about to be sold into slavery and one of a rich woman who prepares a place for Elisha to stay. One is not more important than the other or any different. They are the same to God. But the rich woman is very smart. She seeks to use her wealth for good. Even when Elisha presses her for some kind of favor in return, she refuses to provide one. She is a good example of a person who uses God's blessings for good and not for herself.

QT 11 Jan 11

2 Kings 4:3-7 (NIV) Elisha said, "Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don't ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side."

5 She left him and afterward shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, "Bring me another one."

But he replied, "There is not a jar left." Then the oil stopped flowing.

7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, "Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left."

NOTE: While we rarely see the creative act of God in the day of his rest, he still, on rare occasion, creates out of nothing something of value. In Jesus' day, it was wine from water. In Elijah's day, it was grain and oil. Here it is an abundance of oil. There are other ways that God could have answered the woman's prayer and her subsequent faith, but he chose this way. It is an interesting time in Israel. There are numerous miracles, but the faith of Israel does not change. Israel, and its leaders continue to follow the sin of Jeroboam, son of Nebat.

What does it take to get our attention in a rationalistic, technology-centric, and cult-piqued society? Maybe it is too late. We made our choice and we now live with the results of our rebellion until we realize how little our rebellion from God has gained us.

QT 28 Dec 10

1 Kings 13:33-34 (NIV) Even after this, Jeroboam did not change his evil ways, but once more appointed priests for the high places from all sorts of people. Anyone who wanted to become a priest he consecrated for the high places. 34 This was the sin of the house of Jeroboam that led to its downfall and to its destruction from the face of the earth.

NOTE: Jeroboam is guilty of a number of sins. The foremost was the creation of the two idols on high places. The second is appointing priests incorrectly. At the time, they had to be members of the Levites. One could not just choose to be a priest; they could choose to be a teacher of the law provided they are recognized by two other teachers of the law. By allowing anyone to be a priest, Jeroboam takes the position away from being a sacred duty to a common job. When the position was maintained within a tribe, the tribe self-assessed itself. Now, there is no history of correct activity, but any idea or practice can be added into the worship. And the worship is no longer valid anyway, since it is a worship of idols and demons. To a certain extent, Solomon is also guilty in this result. His wives and his choices at the end confused the people. Jeroboam's leadership in this regard is even worse and he basically throws standards, and the checks and balances out the window for the purpose of power.

We are not under the law, and in fact, we are a kingdom of priests, a holy nation. We have the temple of God within us, and the Spirit of God resides in each believer. In that sense, little of the example of Jeroboam applies. Obviously, we cannot make idols or worship idols. Our idols and our worship of them are much more sophisticated. Rather than an idol on the wall, our homes and possessions have become for many their idol. And like, Jeroboam, many allow any old idea to take up residence in their mind regarding God and worship, rather than taking the thought or idea up against the standard given to us in the word of God. Not all ideas are equal, or even good, despite how they sound. God has given us his word, a mind to think, and the His Spirit within us to discern truth. But, we need to use them! Just having them, does us no good if they are not utilized.

QT 22 Dec 10

1 Kings 12:26-33 (NIV) Jeroboam thought to himself, "The kingdom will now likely revert to the house of David. 27 If these people go up to offer sacrifices at the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem, they will again give their allegiance to their lord, Rehoboam king of Judah. They will kill me and return to King Rehoboam."

28 After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves. He said to the people, "It is too much for you to go up to Jerusalem. Here are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt." 29 One he set up in Bethel, and the other in Dan. 30 And this thing became a sin; the people went even as far as Dan to worship the one there.

31 Jeroboam built shrines on high places and appointed priests from all sorts of people, even though they were not Levites. 32 He instituted a festival on the fifteenth day of the eighth month, like the festival held in Judah, and offered sacrifices on the altar. This he did in Bethel, sacrificing to the calves he had made. And at Bethel he also installed priests at the high places he had made. 33 On the fifteenth day of the eighth month, a month of his own choosing, he offered sacrifices on the altar he had built at Bethel. So he instituted the festival for the Israelites and went up to the altar to make offerings.

NOTE: When it is all about me, the decisions made are usually not good ones. Even worse, Jeroboam repeats the worse sin of Israel (the golden calf) that occurred during the Exodus. For that sin, God was ready to abandon his people, except for the pleading of Moses. And even then, it appears that the tabernacle remained outside of the main camp, instead of in the middle. Now Jeroboam doubles down on the sin by creating two golden calves on opposite ends of the nation. Not only is God reduced to an image, but the one God is now two gods. And he creates a new festival for the eight month. Interestingly, the eight month had no festivals, the festivals occurred on the first, third, and seventh month. So, the eight month could properly be termed the month of the golden calf, and rebellion to doing it God's way. Lord, protect me from the sin of Jeroboam, the sin of making it all about me.

QT 20 Dec 10

1 Kings 12:6-11 (NIV) Then King Rehoboam consulted the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. "How would you advise me to answer these people?" he asked.

7 They replied, "If today you will be a servant to these people and serve them and give them a favorable answer, they will always be your servants."

8 But Rehoboam rejected the advice the elders gave him and consulted the young men who had grown up with him and were serving him. 9 He asked them, "What is your advice? How should we answer these people who say to me, 'Lighten the yoke your father put on us'?"

10 The young men who had grown up with him replied, "Tell these people who have said to you, 'Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but make our yoke lighter'-tell them, 'My little finger is thicker than my father's waist. 11 My father laid on you a heavy yoke; I will make it even heavier. My father scourged you with whips; I will scourge you with scorpions.'"

NOTE: I don't think the issue is that Rehoboam listened to younger, less wise advice than older, mature wisdom. I think Rehoboam knew what he wanted and he rejected those who did not give him the answer he wanted. He went to the elders first, and would have probably taken their advice if it had been advice he wanted. To loosen the load on the people would have meant a change in income level for Rehoboam. He was not willing to reduce his standard of living. He wasn't interested in serving people but in being served. And finally, he was young and foolish. Quite a contrast for having the wisest father the world would ever know. Your family does not determine your direction. Your desires, your sin, your choices make you into the person you are. We like to blame others for faulty counsel or a bad environment, but really we are covering up our own choices that are to blame.

QT 14 Dec 10

Eph 6:17-18 Take ... and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

NOTE: Five times the Spirit is mentioned, in regards to the Holy Spirit, in the first three chapters of Ephesians. If I shorten these two verses down, I get, "take the sword of the Spirit, the word of God, and pray in the Spirit." As others have mentioned, this is the only offensive weapon, but there is no action prescribed for its use other than praying. And since the author clearly references God's word, the completing thought is that our prayers should be based on promises in the Word of God. As an application, I am going to go back to using "Face to Face" for my prayer times.