“Mine heart is turned within me.” Hosea 11:8 Conquerors, that plunder a conquered city, carry away the wealth of it, and, after some time, often return to burn it. God will not thus utterly destroy Israel. “For I am God, and not man.” “I will not carry it so far as to make a second destruction of Ephraim; so as to cut off those who escaped the first infliction of my punishments, and thereby wholly destroy them.” God’s heart here, expressed, an anthropomorphism, gives Him human traits for our understanding. In Hosea 11, God yearns for His people’s return and recoils at their reluctance. God’s chosen, unlike Admah and Zeboim, will not be utterly vanquished from the earth. Instead, God tells us, “Therefore, behold, I will hedge up thy way with thorns, and make a wall, that she shall not find her paths. And she shall follow after her lovers, but…
Category: <span>Liberty – Redemption</span>
“For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Hebrews 4:10 As we, through the cross of Christ and our co-crucifixion, cease the competition of the flesh, we discover God’s seasons spoken of by Solomon, “To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to count as lost,…
Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. Romans 5:17 “For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” Lewis Sperry Chafer explains the deep truth that the Scriptures teach. He says, “it is a universal, judicial decree which places the whole race absolutely without merit before God. From that position there is no escape other than through the exercise of pure grace on the part of God.” see Romans 3:23-24, Isaiah 1;6 With grace, (Divine favor), and a gifting of righteousness, (a freely given judicial standing before God), a person who simply believes can “reign” in life. so says Romans 5:17 No other way is given, no other name.…
The external world without focus is full of generalities, but requires deeper insight for accurate living. With my 600 ml. lens, I have opened the world of bird closeups. Colors come alive and details of body shapes, sizes and configurations. “”Species distinguishing” has become possible. Feeding habits, beak size, migration tendencies and flying techniques come alive. More and better lenses produce even more details. The world manifests itself visibly but also invisibly. In this invisible realm, the prayers of Paul speak in Ephesians –“The eyes of our understanding enlightened – hearts illuminated, — love seized upon, –and love possessed . In the same sense, The Psalmist prays, “Uncover my eyes to see previously undistinguished things.” Psalm 119:18 And a prophet, Elisha, prays for a young man to see angels — he does. 2Kings 6:17 “And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see.…
I want to see grace as a world view, a transfer of viewpoint, a new understanding and focus. Grace must become more than a definition, though it starts there. Grace teaches a particular mode of life as in Titus 2:11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Titus 2:11-12 Having detached from ungodliness and lust we live: First, “Soberly”, from Wesley, “Sobriety is no less than all the powers of the soul being consistently and constantly awake, duly governed by heavenly prudence, and entirely conformable to holy affections.” Second, “Righteously “— “Righteousness, distinguished here from godliness, consists in abstaining from injuring any one in his person, reputation, or fortune; in discharging all the duties belonging to the relations in which a man stands to others,…
Joshua 5:9 “And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal (rolling) unto this day. “ In the case of the children of Israel, they lived under the reproach of having surrendered to Egypt, being held as slaves in their dominion. Even after having escaped by the strong hand, and with the stretched out arm of God, they were mocked from Egypt, as seen in Exodus 32:12 . “Wherefore should the Egyptians speak, and say, For mischief did he bring them out, to slay them in the mountains, and to consume them from the face of the earth? Turn from thy fierce wrath, and repent of this evil against thy people. “ also in Moses prayer, in Numbers 14:14-16, ” And they (the Egyptians) will tell it to the inhabitants of this land:” “Now if…
Some folks always seem to want to assert their independence. (Self-dependence, self-reliance self-subsistence self-sufficiency self-support); these can do it all themselves without any help from others. They annoy us, especially when we see a need or way to assist them, and they refuse. It appears to be a betrayal to their true nature, which could allow for more “humility.” People do things for all kinds of reasons: personality, upbringing, environment, or genetics could all play a part. But, let’s consider the words of Paul to the Corinthians. ” For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: If so be that being clothed we shall not be found naked. For we that are in…
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 1Cointhians 1:18 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 1Cointhians 1:23-24 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 1Cointhians 2:2 Paul was not a people pleaser. Jews hoped for a “sign” and Greek folks sought wisdom. But Paul instead chose to proclaim the power of God and the wisdom which was God’s alone. It was Paul’s topic of choice. His preaching posture came with “feebleness (of body or mind); and, by implication, ‘malady’ or moral frailty.” “ (Paul), not only eschewed all affectation of cleverness or grandiloquence, but went to the opposite…
Jesus, throughout His earthly stay spoke often of the coming dispensation which would ultimately put an end to the then current one. The parables of Matthew 13 hint the Apostles and all of mankind to what was coming. Not a time where mere moral precept would need constant explanation and exercise, but instead, coming was a battle between light and darkness. Jesus, the Light Himself, and Way, Truth and Life represents the Kingdom of heaven, Satan and His armies, the opposition. Jesus starts with a parable in Matthew 13 –“Behold, a sower went forth to sow; “””some seeds fell by the way side, Some fell upon stony places, some fell among thorns, other fell into good ground.” In explanation Jesus speaks to the Apostles only, “When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in…
“And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” Psalm 106:15 “This effect often occurs. In the gratification of their desires, in great temporal success and prosperity, individuals, churches, nations, often forget their dependence on God; lose their sense of the value of spiritual privileges and blessings: are satisfied with their condition; become self-confident and proud, and forfeit the favor of God.” Barnes Psalm 106:13-14 teaches, “They soon forgat his works; they waited not for his counsel. But lusted exceedingly in the wilderness, and tempted God in the desert. “ “Of how many of us that has to be said! We remember pain and sorrow longer than joy and pleasure. It is always difficult to bridle desires and be still until God discloses His purposes. We are all apt to try to force His hand open, and to impose our wishes on Him, rather than to let His will…