Category: Thinking

How to Make Creation Subject to You (Insights in NT)

4/7/2013

Because Jesus is heir of all things, Creator, radiance of God's glory, sustainer, purifier of sin, sits on God's righteous throne and defeated Satan's power of death, all of creation can be subject to you (Heb. 1-3).

You make creation subject to you by responding in faith to the gospel message, allowing God's word judge your thoughts, praying with confidence to received mercy and grace, offering prayers with tears to learn obedience,
studying God's word to learn good from evil, being diligent to help His people and waiting patiently to receive His promise.

Respond in Faith to Gospel Message
Be careful not to fall short of the promise in entering God's rest. The gospel message was of no value to Israel because they did not respond in faith. They did not enter into rest (Psalm 95:5,11). God finished His work since creating the world and resting on the seventh day. Disobedience to the gospel prevented Israel from entering His rest. David said to not harden one's heart when hearing His voice. A person who entered God's Sabbath rested from his work (Heb. 4:1-11). Respond in faith to the gospel message so you enter God's rest.

Allow God's Word Judge Your Thoughts
The word of God was living, active and sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrated to the dividing of soul and spirit to judge the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Everything was uncovered and laid bare before God's eyes (Heb. 4:12-13). Allow the living and active word of God judge your thoughts.

Pray in Confidence to Receive Grace
Hold firmly to faith because of Jesus, the Son of God. As the high priest, He sympathized with weaknesses since He was tempted in every way like humankind, except without sin. Approach the throne of grace with confidence to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Heb. 4:14-16). Pray with confidence to receive grace in time of need since He was tempted like you without sin.

Offer Prayers with Tears to Learn Obedience
High priests offered sacrifices for sins and dealt gently with the ignorant and those who went astray. Jesus was a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. On earth, Jesus offered up prayers with tears to God who could save Him from death and was heard because of His reverent submission. Jesus learned obedience from what He suffered and once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation to all who obeyed Him (Heb. 5:1-10). Offer prayers with tears to learn obedience from suffering and receive eternal salvation.

Study God's Word to Learn Good from Evil
They needed someone to teach them milk or the elementary truths of God's word, not solid food, because they were slow to learn. Those who lived on milk as an infant were not acquainted with righteousness. Solid food was for the mature who trained themselves constantly to distinguish good from evil. They were to leave the elementary teachings about Christ and pursue maturity, not laying the foundation of repentance from acts that led to death, faith in God, instruction about baptisms, laying on of hands, resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment (Heb. 5:11-6:3). Study God's word to learn good from evil.

Be Diligent to Help God's People
It was impossible for those who once been enlightened and tasted the heavenly gift, Holy Spirit, goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance because they subject Him to public disgrace. Land that produced thorns and thistles was worthless, in danger of being cursed and burned. The author was confident of things that accompanied salvation. God was not unjust and did not forget their work and love shown Him as they continued to help His people. The author wanted them to always be diligent, make their hope sure and imitate those who through faith and patience inherited what had been promised (Heb. 6:4-12). Be diligent to help God's people in demonstrating faith.

Wait Patiently to Receive God's Promise
After God promised Abraham descendants and blessings, he waited patiently to receive it. God confirmed His promise with an oath to make it unchangeable. This hope was the anchor of their souls, firm and secure. Jesus went behind the curtain and entered the inner sanctuary to go before them. He became the high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek (Heb. 6:13-20). Wait patiently to receive God's promise as the firm anchor of your soul.

Which of the following will you apply to make creation subject to you:
1. Respond in faith to the gospel message
2. Allow God's word judge your thoughts
3. Pray with confidence to received mercy and grace
4. Offer prayers with tears to learn obedience
5. Study God's word to learn good from evil
6. Be diligent to help His people
7. Wait patiently to receive His promise

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Prioritize Knowing and Making Christ Known (Insights in NT)

1/19/2013

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"Bad will be the day, for every man when he becomes absolutely contented with the life that he is living, with the thoughts that he is thinking, with the deeds that he is doing, when there is not forever beating at the doors of his soul some great desire to do something larger, which he knows that he was meant and made to do because he is still, in spite of all, the child of God" (Phillips Brooks).

A life focus on Christ transforms a person's goals, prayer life, perspective, attitudes and calling. He prioritizes knowing and making Christ known.

Pray for Disciples' Knowledge and Discernment
Paul and Timothy thanked the believers, elders and deacons in Philippi as they remembered them in prayer because of their partnership in the gospel. God's completed His good work in them at the day of Christ because of Paul's heart for them. He prayed their heart abound in knowledge and insight to discern what was best leading to purity until the day of Christ being filled with His fruit of righteousness for God's glory (Phil. 1:1-11). Pray for knowledge, discernment, purity and righteousness in your disciples

Rejoice Over Circumstances Advancing the Gospel
Paul's circumstances advanced the gospel throughout the palace guard and encouraged others to speak God's word boldly. He rejoiced that Christ was preached from both selfish and loving motives. Their prayers allowed the Holy Spirit to deliver and exalt Christ in his body by life or death. Dying was the best outcome but living helped them progress in joyful faith. Paul exhorted them to stand firm in one spirit for the faith of the gospel. Opposition was a sign of their enemies being destroyed and they being saved by God. Paul's life showed that suffering followed believing (Phil. 1:12-30). Rejoice that your circumstances advance the gospel amid opposition.

Practice Christlike and Servant Attitude
The love and fellowship of Christ should motivate them toward like-mindedness and one purpose by looking out for others interests instead of selfish ambition. A Christlike attitude of servanthood and humility caused one to take up their cross, even to death. God exalted Christ by giving Him a name above every name so every tongue in heaven and earth confessed Jesus as Lord (Phil. 2:1-11). Practice a Christlike, humble and servant attitude without selfish ambition.

Work Out Salvation in God's Power
Paul exhorted them to work out their salvation with fear and trembling trusting in God's power to act according to His good purpose. By not complaining or arguing, they became blameless children of God in a crooked and depraved generation shining like stars as they held out the word of life. Paul poured himself out as a drink offering desiring they walk faithfully so he could boast on the day of Christ. He planned to send Timothy, his son in the faith, who took a genuine interest in their welfare to receive news about them. Epaphroditus took care of Paul's needs and almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help they could not give Paul (Phil. 2:12-30). Work out your salvation in God's power caring for others' welfare.

Prioritize Knowing Christ Through Sufferings
Paul reminded them to rejoice and glory in Christ through worship by the Holy Spirit as they watched out for evil men who put confidence in the flesh. Paul was tempted to glory in his circumcision from the tribe of Benjamin, expertise in the law, a Pharisee, zealous persecutor of the church and faultless in legalistic righteousness. He considered everything rubbish compared to the surpassing value of knowing Christ as Lord. His righteousness came from Christ, not the law. He wanted to know Christ by sharing in His sufferings and death before experiencing His resurrection (Phil. 3:1-11). Prioritize knowing Christ in His sufferings, death and resurrection.

Pursue God's Calling According to His Plan
Paul pressed on to lay hold of everything that Christ accomplished for him. He forgot the past and focused on winning the prize of God's calling in Christ. Paul exhorted them to embrace their citizenship in heaven instead of living with an earthly mindset like enemies of the cross whose destiny was destruction. Paul and his disciples waited for Christ, their heavenly Savior, to bring everything under His control and transform their bodies into a new and glorious one (Phil. 3:12-21). Pursue God's calling according to His sovereign plan allowing Him to supernaturally transform your life.

Pray Always and Think Truthfully
The Philippians rejoiced and showed gentleness because the Lord was near. Instead of being anxious, they prayed about everything with thanksgiving so God's peace guarded their hearts and mind in Christ. Their thinking was true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy to put into practice what they learned, received, heard and seen in Paul. He rejoiced over their renewed concern and learned the secret of contentment in any circumstance because of Christ's strength. Only the Philippians gave and received when he set out from Macedonia and repeatedly sent aid when Paul was in Thessalonica. He did not look for their gift but the acceptable sacrifice credited to their account. God supplied all their needs according to His glorious riches in Christ (Phil. 4:1-23). Pray always and think truthfully with thanksgiving leading to generous giving.

Answer the following questions to gauge your direction in life:
What are you praying about?
How do you view your circumstances?
What is your attitude toward others?
What are you striving for in life?
What are your priorities?
What is God's calling for your life?
What are you thinking about?

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How God Transforms and Multiplies Disciples (Insights in Prophets)

11/11/2012

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"All of us have wondered at times why God doesn't do more to fix our problems. But our human eyes often fail to see that God isn't rushing to change our circumstances because he is concerned with a much more serious problem - our character. While you struggle with the woes of this world, God's main occupation is preparing you for the world to come. The focus of what God is doing in your life takes place in you, not around you" (Andy Stanley).

God transforms and multiplies disciples by removing obstacles, bringing righteousness and strength, setting captives free, destroying wrong thinking, refining His people and leading people in the right way. Through this process, people experience peace leading to multiplied disciples.

God Transforms People
God told His servant Jacob whom He chose and helped to not fear since He poured water on thirsty land and streams on dry ground. He poured out His Spirit and blessing so His descendants understood they belonged to Him. Israel was His witness to proclaim that there was no other God or Rock than Him. Those who made idols were blind, ignorant and shameful. The idols they treasured were worthless. Craftsmen, blacksmiths and carpenters shaped idols in the form of man in all his glory to worship them as their god. They misunderstood that a block of wood could not save them. Their heart lied to them since they could not save themselves. Israel must return to God since He redeemed and swept away their sins like a morning mist. He displayed His glory through creation. God overthrew false prophets and the learning of the wise. He fulfilled His servants' predictions. God restored the ruins in Jerusalem and Judah. He directed Cyrus as His shepherd to rebuild Jerusalem and lay the foundations of the temple (Is. 44:1-28). God displays His glory in transforming people by revealing the worthlessness of idols.

God Removes Obstacles
God used Cyrus to subdue nations and open doors. God went before Israel to level mountains, break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. He gave them riches stored in secret places so they would know the true Lord. He called them by name, bestowed a title of honor and strengthened them even though they did not acknowledge God. He showed the whole earth that there was no other god except the Lord who formed light, created darkness, brought prosperity and created disaster. God rained down righteousness so salvation would spring up. The clay cannot say to the potter, "What are you making?" or to his parents, "What have you brought to birth?" God made the earth and created mankind upon it. He raised up Cyrus to rebuild Jerusalem and set His exiles free. The products of Egypt and merchandise of Cush would be theirs when people saw God was with them. The makers of idols were shamed and disgraced, but Israel would have eternal salvation without shame or disgrace (Is. 45:1-17). God removes obstacles and opens doors in providing financial resources so the world can be saved.

God Brings Righteousness and Strength
God created the heavens and earth to be inhabited. He did not want Jacob's descendants to seek Him in vain. The righteous God and Savior called the earth to turn to Him and be saved. Every knee and tongue would bow saying that in the Lord alone was righteousness and strength. Everyone who raged against Him would be shamed, but in the Lord all Israel's descendants were found righteous and exulted (Is. 45:18-25). God enables His disciples to seek Him for righteousness and strength.

God Sets Captives Free
The idols of Babylon, Bel and Nebo, were unable to rescue them from the weary burden and captivity to sin. God carried, sustained and rescued Israel from birth through old age. Comparing God to riches was futile since it could not save them from their troubles. He used men to fulfill His purpose planned from the beginning of time. His righteousness was near and would not be delayed as He granted salvation and splendor to Israel (Is. 46:1-13). God works through His people to set captives free from sin.

God Destroys Wrong Thinking
Babylon would no longer be called tender, delicate or the queen of kingdoms. God took vengeance, exposed her nakedness and uncovered her shame. He was angry with His people and gave them into Babylon's hand. They showed no mercy with Israel and even laid a heavy yoke on the aged. Babylon lounged in security not knowing that widowhood and loss of children would occur on a single day. They trusted in wickedness and were misled in their wisdom, knowledge, self-sufficiency, magic spells and sorceries. Wrong counsel wore them out. They could not, along with anyone else, save themselves from the power of the flame (Is. 47:1-15). God exposes and destroys wrong thinking and self-sufficiency.

God Refines His People
Israel invoked God's name without truth and righteousness.
They called themselves citizens of the holy city but were stubborn like a bronze forehead. God announced new things before they happened so they could not say their idols ordained them. He tested and refined them in the furnace of affliction for His own name's sake. The Lord's chosen ally carried out His purpose against Babylon that God made successful (Is. 48:1-15). God tests and refines His people in the furnace of affliction for His name's sake.

God Leads People In Right Way
God taught Israel what was best and directed them in the way they should go. Their peace would be like a river and righteousness like the waves of the sea if they listened to His commands. Their descendants would be like sand and their name maintained before God. Announce their flight from Babylon with shouts of joy saying the Lord redeemed His servant Jacob. God led Israel and made water flow from the rock in the deserts. There was no peace for the wicked (Is. 48:16-22). God leads His people in the right way to experience peace and multiply disciples.

Ask God to transform and multiply disciples among yourself, family members and friends through the following process:
1. God reveals His glory by revealing the worthlessness of idols
2. God removes obstacles and opens doors in providing financial resources so the world can be saved
3. God enables His disciples to seek Him for righteousness and strength
4. God works through His people to set captives free from sin
5. God exposes and destroys wrong thinking and self-sufficiency
6. God tests and refines His people in the furnace of affliction for His name's sake
7. God leads His people in the right way to experience peace and multiply disciples

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How to Protect the Institution of Marriage (Insights in Law)

8/25/2012

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Spiritually battle through prayer and hearing God's word to do His will. Follow God and renew your thinking in Christ to prevent worldliness and idols. Learn from the bad fruit of Israel's history when they did not follow the Lord. These spiritual disciplines equip you to do God's mission and discover your unique inheritance. Then you can exercise justice in the church and community to atone for bloodshed in the land, which will protect the institution of marriage.

Spiritually Battle
The Lord told Moses to take full vengeance on the Midianites using 1,000 men from each tribe along with Phinehas the priest who killed every male and five kings of Midian and Balaam. Moses was angry they spared the women who followed Balaam as he caused them to sin against the Lord at Peor before the plague struck God’s people. He told them to kill every boy and women who had slept with a man along with purifying themselves, captives and clothes. Moses instructed them to count and divide the booty between the soldiers who fought the battle and the rest of the community. They levied a tax for the Lord from those who went out to battle, one in 500 persons and cattle as a half-share to give to Eleazar the priest as an offering to the Lord. They took one out of every 50 persons and cattle to give to the Levites who kept charge of the tabernacle. Moses and Eleazar took the gold articles to make atonement for themselves and brought it to the tent of meeting as a memorial for Israel before the Lord (Num. 31:1-54). All believers spiritually battle through prayer and hearing His word to do God's will.

Follow God
Reuben and Gad with large livestock herds asked Moses if they could possess Gilead on the east side of the Jordan. Moses asked why their brothers would go to war and be discouraged from crossing the Jordan into land the Lord gave them while they sat in Gilead. He accused them of following their fathers’ example of sinning in not following the Lord fully by taking the land and wandering 40 years in the wilderness. Reuben and Gad said they would build cities for their children and be armed and ready to cross the Jordan until Canaan was possessed. Moses said they would be free from obligation and gave Gad, Reuben and the half-tribe of Manasseh the land and cities of Sihon, king of the Amorites, kingdom of Og and king of Bashan. They drove out the Amorites who were in the land (Num. 32:1-42). Follow God fully to enable your family and congregation embrace His kingdom purpose.

Renew Thinking
Moses recorded the journeys of Israel coming out of Egypt by armies under his and Aaron’s leadership according to their starting places. Israel started out boldly and the Lord executed judgment on the Egyptian gods. After crossing the Jordan into Canaan, they drove out all the inhabitants of the land and destroyed the carved images and cast idols, and demolished all the high places to take possession and live in the land. They inherited it by lot according to their families with the larger ones getting more inheritance and smaller less. If they did not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those remaining became barbs in their eyes and thorns in their sides to give them trouble. Then God would do to Israel what He planned to do with them (Num. 33:1-56). Renew your thinking in Christ so you reject worldliness and idols.

Do Mission
When they entered Canaan, the Lord through Moses gave specific boundaries for the land allotted to them as an inheritance. He assigned the land by lot as an inheritance to 9 ½ tribes because Reuben, Gad and half-tribe of Manasseh received theirs on the east side of the Jordan River. Eleazar the priest, Joshua and one leader from each tribe helped assign the land for an inheritance (Num. 34:1-29). Do God's mission and discover your unique inheritance.

Exercise Justice
Moses commanded Israel to give the Levites cities and pasture lands surrounding them to live in according to specific dimensions. Six cities of refuge (three on each side of the Jordan) were assigned so someone who killed a person accidentally could flee and 42 other towns were given to the Levites in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe. The cities of refuge would be places to protect someone accused of murder before he stood trial with the murderer put to death. The accused would stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest and then could return to his own property. Anyone killing a person would be put to death on the testimony of at least two witnesses. Bloodshed polluted the land and atonement could only be made for the land by shedding the blood of the one responsible. Do not defile the land where you live for God dwelled among the Israelites (Num. 35:1-34). Exercise justice in the church and community to atone for polluting the land with bloodshed.

Protect Marriage
The Lord commanded Moses to give land by lot to Israel as an inheritance and to give the inheritance of Zelophehad to his daughters. If they married sons from other tribes, their inheritance would be withdrawn and added to the inheritance of the tribe they married into. When the Year of Jubilee came, their inheritance would be added to the tribe into which they married and property taken from the tribal inheritance of their forefathers. They could marry anyone they pleased within the tribal clan of their father. No inheritance could be transferred from tribe to tribe, for every Israelite would keep the tribal land inherited from his forefathers. Zelophehad’s daughters married within the clans of the descendants of Manasseh and their inheritance remained in their father’s clan and tribe (Num. 36:1-13). Protect marriage as the basic building block for a stable society through laws, mentoring and economic incentives.

Ask God to accomplish the following in your life and city:
1. All believers engage in the spiritual battle
2. Follow God fully to enable your family and congregation to embrace His kingdom purpose
3. Renew your thinking in Christ so you reject worldliness and idols
4. Do God's mission and discover your unique inheritance
5. Exercise justice in the church and community to atone for polluting the land with bloodshed
6. Protect marriage as the basic building block for a stable society through laws, mentoring and economic incentives

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Ways God Protects You (Insights in Prophets)

5/23/2011

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When danger chases after you, do you get angry, give up or fight it? When things don't go your way, do you run hoping the grass is greener on the other side? In 1 Sam. 23, we learn from David's experiences with Saul about specific strategies in protecting yourself from danger. Instead of defeat, become an overcomer. Although specific prayer provides a foundation, other people, your own thinking and God's sovereignty work together in helping you overcome danger and stress.

David learned Philistines were fighting Keilah and plundering threshing floors. David asked the Lord if he should go and attack the Philistines. The Lord said to attack the Philistines and deliver Keilah. David’s men said they were afraid in Judah. Then David inquired once more and the Lord answered, “Arise, go down to Keilah, for I will give the Philistines into your hand.” David and his men struck them with a great slaughter and delivered Keilah (1 Sam. 23:1-6). God gives specific strategies in answer to prayer in the midst of danger.

Abiathar the son of Ahimelech came down with the ephod in his hand. Saul summoned all the people to wage war against David in Keilah. He knew Saul was plotting evil against him and asked Abiathar the priest to the bring the ephod. David asked God if Saul would come to the city and whether Keilah would surrender him into his hand. After asking a second time, God said they would surrender him. David and his 600 men departed and he stayed in the wilderness in the strongholds as Saul sought him everyday but God did not deliver him into his hand. (1 Sam. 23:7-14). God provides wisdom in answer to specific prayer so you are protected from evil.

When David became aware that Saul was seeking his life, Jonathan encouraged him in God by saying not to be afraid as Saul wouldn't find him and he would eventually become king with Jonathan next to him. The two of them made a covenant before the Lord (1 Sam. 23:15-18). God uses accountability partners to encourage you during times of danger and stress.

The Ziphites suggested to Saul that David was hiding with them in strongholds at Horesh. Saul asked for verification of David's hiding place before he would go with them since he was aware of his cunning ways (1 Sam. 23:19-23). God uses sanctified and shrewd thinking for protection.

When Saul and his men went to find David, he stayed in the wilderness of Maon after being told of their search. Saul pursued him on one side of the mountain and David and his men stayed on the other side. A messenger came to Saul saying the Philistines made a raid on the land so he suspended his search of David. The place was called the Rock of Escape (1 Sam. 23:24-29). God sovereignly arranges circumstances for your protection.

Review the following strategies and ask how God wants you to apply them in your "dangerous" situation:
1. Ask God to show you how to respond in the situation.
2. Ask God for wisdom on how to be protected from evil.
3. Allow your accountability partner or friend to encourage you in times of danger.
4. Use sanctified and shrewd thinking to overcome danger.
5. Trust God's sovereignty to arrange circumstances for your protection.

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How to Make Creation Subject to You (Insights in NT)

Prioritize Knowing and Making Christ Known (Insights in NT)

How God Transforms and Multiplies Disciples (Insights in Prophets)

How to Protect the Institution of Marriage (Insights in Law)

Ways God Protects You (Insights in Prophets)

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