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Be Confident in God Who Defeats Wickedness (Insights in Psalms)

10/18/2012

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Self-confidence fails but God-confidence succeeds. Place confidence in God's intercession since He lives. He finds strong and wise men to defeat wickedness, silences those who do not know Him, judges those who attack you, appoints a tragic end for the wicked and judges everyone with complete knowledge.

Job asked what ailed his friends since they were miserable comforters with long-winded speeches. If he was in their place, Job would encourage and bring them relief. God had worn him out, devastated his entire household and gnashed his teeth at him. Men also united together against Job. God turned him over to evil men, crushed and made him his target. Job wept and was free of violence. With pure prayer, he cried out knowing his intercessor was his friend who pleaded with God on his behalf (Job 16:1-22).
 Be confident in prayer knowing God intercedes when everyone is against you. 

Job's spirit was broken and his days cut short. Mockers surrounded Job but he was confident God would not let them triumph. They made him a byword to everyone causing grief. The innocent were aroused against the ungodly. The righteous held to their ways and grew stronger. Job doubted if he would find a wise man. His plans and desires of  his heart were shattered. He lost all hope when those in darkness said light was near (Job 17:1-16). Be confident knowing God will find wise and strong men to defeat wickedness.

Bildad asked Job when he would end speeches calling them stupid since the world would still go on. Those who do not know God have their vigor weakened, terrors startled them, memory of them perished, driven from light into darkness and no descendants among their people (Job 18:1-21). Be confident knowing that God will silence those who do not know Him.  

Job wondered how long torment would last since he was reproached ten times and shamelessly attacked. He received no justice or response when calling for  help. God blocked His way, stripped his honor, removed the crown from his head, uprooted his hope and counted an enemy. God alienated his brothers from him, forgotten by friends and counted as a stranger by guests and maidservants. Job's wife found his breath offensive, loathsome to his own brothers and ridiculed by little boys to become nothing but skin and bones. He knew his Redeemer lived and in the end He would stand upon the earth so Job would see God (Job 19:1-29). Be confident that your Redeemer lives and will judge those who attack you.

Zophar was greatly disturbed and reminded Job that the joy of the godless and prideful lasted briefly. God made him vomit riches he swallowed so he could not enjoy profit from his trading. He oppressed the poor and seized houses he did not build. His treasure could not save him, his prosperity did not endure, distress overtook him and fire consumed him (Job 20:1-29). Be confident that God appoints a tragic end for the wicked.  

Job admitted his impatience and trembling over the wicked who increase in power and prosper economically without fear. They requested God to leave them alone since they had no desire to know, serve or pray to Him.  Job asked that the wicked see their destruction and drink of God's wrath. No one taught knowledge to God since He judged even the highest. Those at ease and the bitter both die and decay. He wondered if the wicked would be made accountable for their actions (Job 21:1-34). Be confident that God judges everyone with complete knowledge. 


Remember God's promise in Heb. 7:25 when you see wickedness: Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.



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Cutting Against Cultural Christianity (Insights in Prophets)

2/20/2012

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Oswald Chambers wrote: "Today we hold conferences and conventions and give reports and make our programs. None of these things were in the life of Jesus, and yet every minute of His life He realized that He was fulfilling the purpose of His Father (John 9:4). How did He do it? By maintaining the one relationship, and it is that one relationship He insists on in His disciples, and it is the one we have lost in the rubbish of modern civilization. If we try and live the life Jesus Christ lived, modern civilization will fling us out like waste material; we are no good, we do not add anything to the hard cash of the times we live in, and the sooner we are flung out the better." God revealed priorities to Solomon that cut against cultural Christianity.  

Solomon assembled all the leaders and brought the ark of the covenant of the Lord from the city of David. Solomon and the congregation of Israel sacrificed many sheep and oxen. The priests brought the ark to the most holy place in the house under the wings of the cherubim. Inside the ark were two tablets of stone that Moses put there at Horeb. The cloud of glory filled the house of the Lord so the priests could not minister (1 Kings 8:1-11). God prioritizes the glory of the Holy Spirit over good works and intentions.

Solomon said he would build God a lofty house where the Lord would dwell in the thick cloud as a place for His dwelling forever. Solomon said God chose David instead of a city from the tribes to be over His people Israel. God said David did well by having a heart to build a house for His name.The Lord fulfilled His word for Solomon to build a house for His name where he could set the ark. Solomon asked God to confirm His promise to David in always having a son sit on Israel's throne if they walk similarly as him  (1 Kings 8:12-26). God prioritizes heart over human abilities plus God's help when needed.

Solomon prayed that since heaven could not contain God, how would He dwell in this house? He asked God to listen, be open and forgive. He asked that God would condemn the wicked and justify the righteous by giving according to His righteousness. If Israel was defeated by an enemy because of sin, but turn to God, confess His name, pray and intercede, then He would hear, forgive sin and bring them back to the land. If sin caused drought and they prayed, confessed and turned from their sin when He afflicted them, then God heard, forgave sin and taught the good way to walk. He sent rain on His land given as an inheritance, If there was famine, pestilence, blight, enemy, plague or sickness, then God heard prayer, forgave, acted and rendered to each according to his ways since He knew peoples' hearts (1 Kings 8:27-40). God prioritizes confession of sin and prayer over being strong, capable and confident in self.

God heard the prayers of the foreigner and did what he or she called so all the peoples of the earth would know His name, fear Him and know that Solomon's house was called by His name (1 Kings 8:41-43). God prioritizes His name being glorified over peoples' desire to please and not offend the world. 

God maintained the cause of His people when they battled the enemy by praying to Him. Sin caused them to be taken captive in the land of the enemy. If they returned with all their heart and soul, repented and interceded by saying they  sinned, God heard their prayers, maintained their cause and forgave them (1 Kings 8:44-53). God prioritizes His people resisting being taken captive by the enemy over success and acceptance by all people.

Solomon blessed the whole assembly saying that "not one word has failed of all His good promise, which He promised through Moses His servant." May the Lord not leave or forsake them, but incline their hearts to walk in His ways and maintain the cause of His servants as each day required so everyone would know the Lord as God. For 14 days, Solomon offered the sacrifice of peace offerings, burnt offering and grain offering to dedicate the house of the Lord  (1 Kings 8:54-66). God prioritizes time spent in relationship with God through His word over adapting the church to the "community" so everyone feels at home.

Which of the underlined insights convict you the most concerning God's priority versus cultural Christianity. Ask the Holy Spirit to work His priority in you. 


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    Mark Pomeroy

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    My goal is to ignite the hearts of people by explaining God's word in the Law, Prophets, Psalms and New Testament consecutively, much like the experience of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:32,44). I have been a missionary in Lincoln, NE, for 13 years with Christ For the City Int. and Sync with God.
     

    Sync with God is a highly versatile web app that hosts on-demand, virtual small groups. Sync is designed to connect young seekers in the faith and scripturally-trained mentors, even globally. It offers a safe, engaging interface for Millennials/Gen. Z and is readily adaptable to technical advances well into the future.

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