Daily Bread

Posted By Pastor Andrews on September 2, 2010

For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God].  And so faith, hope, love abide [faith--conviction and belief respecting man's relation to God and divine things; hope--joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love--true affection for God and man, growing out of God's love for and in us], these three; but the greatest of these is love.  (I Corinthians 13:12-13, Amplified)

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Posted By Pastor Andrews on September 1, 2010

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.  Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.”  (Philippians 3:12-15)

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Posted By Pastor Andrews on August 31, 2010

“Be honest in your judgment and do not decide at a glance (superficially and by appearances); but judge fairly and righteously.”  (John 7:24, Amplified)

John said to Him, “Teacher, we saw a man who does not follow along with us driving out demons in Your name, and we forbade him to do it, because he is not one of our band [of Your disciples].”  But Jesus said, “Do not restrain or hinder or forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in My name will soon afterward be able to speak evil of Me.  For he who is not against us is for us.” (John 9:38-40, Amplified)

“For we [Christians] are the true circumcision, who worship God in spirit and by the Spirit of God and exult and glory and pride ourselves in Jesus Christ, and put no confidence or dependence [on what we are] in the flesh and on outward privileges and physical advantages and external appearances.”  (Philippians 3:3)

You’ve heard it said, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”  Well, that’s sound scriptural advice.  This is not a call for us to set aside discernment by the Spirit; it’s just a reminder that we don’t always see into the hearts of people.

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Posted By Pastor Andrews on August 30, 2010

And Jesus said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”  (Luke 12:15)

Consider the case of Job:  He was “the richest man in the East” according to Job 1:3, and yet he can be considered the “poster child” for all who are attacked by Satan.  It’s been said over and over—“money can’t buy you happiness.”  Why don’t people believe this?  My guess is that things can assert power over a person who is unsuspecting; if this were not so, why would Jesus tell us to beware?

And what are we to beware?  Covetousness—the intense craving for more things.  Things are what money buys; money itself is just a medium of exchange.  And, contrary to popular opinion, money is not what “makes the world go around.”  It is God who gives life and breath to all living things; “He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”  (Matthew 5:45)

“The earth is the LORD’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.”  (Psalm 24:1)  Keeping this perspective will keep us from looking to anyone or anything else as our source of life.  “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”  (Matthew 6:33)

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Posted By Pastor Andrews on August 27, 2010

“I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.  O how love I thy law!  It is my meditation all the day.  Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.  I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.  I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts.  I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word.  I have not departed from thy judgments, for thou hast taught me. How sweet are thy words unto my taste!  Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!   Through thy precepts I get understanding, therefore I hate every false way.  Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  I have sworn, and I will perform it, that I will keep thy righteous judgments.  I am afflicted very much: quicken me, O LORD, according unto thy word.  Accept, I beseech thee, the freewill offerings of my mouth, O LORD, and teach me thy judgments.   My soul is continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.  The wicked have laid a snare for me: yet I erred not from thy precepts.  Thy testimonies have I taken as an heritage for ever: for they are the rejoicing of my heart.  I have inclined mine heart to perform thy statutes always, even unto the end.”  (Psalm 119:96-112)

I recognize that God is not as interested in us analyzing and dissecting His Word as He is in obeying it.  That said, though, I find it instructive in this passage in Psalm 119 that we find at least eight different Hebrew words describing shades of meaning for what we would basically call “the Word of God”:

Mitsvah:  “Commandment” (i.e., Requirements)

Torah:  “Law” (i.e., Instructions)

Eduth:  “Testimonies (i.e., Evidence)

Piqqud:  “Precepts” (i.e., Specific Details)

Dabar:  “Word” (i.e., Business)

Mishpat:  “Judgments” (i.e., Decisions)

Imrah:  “Words” (i.e., Utterances)

Choq:  “Statutes” (i.e., Prescription)

Perhaps the Psalmist is describing God’s Word in so many different ways in order to teach us how to apply it in our daily lives.   Notice the promises that accrue to those who live by the Word: 

More wisdom that our enemies, teachers, or even the wise men of old.

Understanding how to avoid evil and false ways.

Illumination for the pathways of our lives.

Help and healing in the midst of trouble.

A goodly heritage.

Joy.

Notice, too, how God’s Word (Dabar) can be translated to mean His “business.”  This is what Jesus meant when He told Mary and Joseph, “Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?”  (Luke 2:49)  In other words, the Word of God was “the Father’s business,” and Jesus was constantly about that!

So “study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.”  (II Timothy 2:15)

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Posted By Pastor Andrews on August 26, 2010

When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.  Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while.  And he said to them: “Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men.  For some time ago Theudas rose up, claiming to be somebody. A number of men, about four hundred, joined him. He was slain, and all who obeyed him were scattered and came to nothing.  After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the census, and drew away many people after him. He also perished, and all who obeyed him were dispersed.  And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.” (Acts 5:33-39)

 Clearly, the Sanhedrin would not want to be found “fighting God.”  Nor would any of us.  But they were, in fact, fighting God by opposing the message of salvation through Jesus Christ that Peter and the Apostles were preaching.

But we?  How would we be unwittingly serving Satan?  There are many ways—too many to enumerate here.  One way will suffice for the present:

“When angry, do not sin; do not ever let your wrath (your exasperation, your fury or indignation) last until the sun goes down.  Leave no [such] room or foothold for the devil [give no opportunity to him].”  (Ephesians 4;26-27)  This passage reveals that unchecked anger allows Satan room to use us for his operations.  When people—even Christian people—are angry, they are prone to do or say things they later regret.  This is why we are told in James 1:19-20 to be “swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

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Posted By Pastor Andrews on August 25, 2010

O praise the Lord, all you nations!  Praise Him, all you people!  For His mercy and loving-kindness are great toward us, and the truth and faithfulness of the Lord endure forever.  Praise the Lord! (Hallelujah!)  (Psalm 117, Amplified)

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Posted By Pastor Andrews on August 24, 2010

What if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?  Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written:  “That You may be justified in Your words and may overcome when You are judged.”  (Romans 3:3-4)

There are several radical statements here if we look closely:

(1)     God is not harmed by people’s unbelief.  Even if it appears God failed, He is not hampered by that perception.  It’s not that He “doesn’t care;” it’s just that He has ways of doing and working things out that don’t require our acquiescence.

(2)     Every human being is inclined toward rejection of truth in some way or other—whether through active purveying of falsehood (i.e., lying) or even just going along with something evil out of ignorance.

(3)     God judges—not just on “Judgment Day,” but all the time, every day, on every occasion.  His Word “tries the hearts of mankind—where  we stand vis-à-vis His Word determines what we receive.

Our best choice is to believe God as much as we are able; and, beyond that, we must fall back on the prayer, “Lord, help my unbelief!”  (Mark 9:24)

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Posted By Pastor Andrews on August 23, 2010

“Forsaking the straight road they have gone astray; they have followed the way of Balaam [the son] of Beor, who loved the reward of wickedness.  But he was rebuked for his own transgression when a dumb beast of burden spoke with human voice and checked the prophet’s madness.”  (II Peter 2:15-16, Amplified)

What was “the way of Balaam?”  Jude verse 11 indicates that Balaam “abandoned himself for the sake of gain.”  Who did Balaam abandon himself to?  Satan, ultimately; but the immediate compromise was offered by Balak king of Moab and the Midianites, enemies of God’s people Israel. 

And so it still goes today.  Satan offers rewards to those who would curse, compromise, corrupt and confuse God’s children—through threats, false doctrines or licentiousness.  “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.  Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”  ( I Corinthians 10:11-12)  But lest you be discouraged by this prognosis, take note that God has promised to help you stand and not fall:

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.”  (I Corinthians 10:13)  That said, though, it is good for us to beware, “to keep Satan from getting the advantage over us; for we are not ignorant of his wiles and intentions.”  (II Corinthians 2:11, Amplified)

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Posted By Pastor Andrews on August 20, 2010

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?  Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?  So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?  “Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.  But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”  (Matthew 6:25-34)

We have no need to plead with, beg, cajole or pressure God in order to get Him to perform according to His Word, because His Word is the Law of the universe.  He Himself watches over it to perform it at all times (Jeremiah 1:12).  Jesus, as is said in Hebrews 1:3, “is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God's] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power.” 

Rather, what we need to do is to make sure we are on the right side of His Word; it has two sides, you know:  “I call heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live.”  (Deuteronomy 30:19, Amplified)  “Choosing life” means choosing to live according to the Spirit and not the flesh; “for if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever.”  (Romans 8:13, Amplified)

As the old hymn says, “what more can He say than to us He has said?”

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