October 21- Pinhead Or Patriot?

October 21, 2011

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 37:1-38:28; 1 Timothy 6:1-21;
Psalm 89:38-52; Proverbs 25:28

Are you a pinhead or a patriot?  
~Bill O'Reilly

Jeremiah 37:1-38:28

Bill O'Reilly is a famous talking head in America.  As the host of the nightly Bill O'Reilly Show, Bill claims that his show is fair and balanced.  One line he uses is "The spin stops here."  Another segment on his show is called "Pinheads and Patriots."  In this segment, Bill decides if the actions of a person were detrimental or helpful to the country as a whole.  If Bill decides a person is a pinhead, that person has done something that is bad for America.  If the person is a patriot, the person has done or said something that benefits American society. 

Today, the people of Jerusalem have their own opinions as to whether or not the prophet Jeremiah is a pinhead or a patriot.  It just so happens that because Jeremiah has been advocating for Jerusalem and Judah to surrender to King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon to avoid captivity, Jeremiah is considered a traitor.  Had Bill O'Reilly had a television show in ancient Jerusalem, he would very likely have followed the crowd and called Jeremiah a pinhead.

King Zedekiah is on the throne of Jerusalem.  He is secretly asking for Jeremiah to pray about the national situation. The Egyptians are helping Judah by coming to the southern border and scaring off the Babylonians.  God tells Jeremiah to inform Zedekiah that the Egyptians cannot be trusted as an ally and they will leave.  The Babylonians are going to return and capture the city. 

When the Babylonians leave temporarily, Jeremiah decides to go look at the property in the land of Benjamin that the Lord told him to buy.  As he is leaving the city, he is arrested for abandonment to the Babylonians.  Because of all that he has been saying about surrendering to the Babylonians, Jeremiah is considered a traitor by some people. He is flogged and thrown into the dungeon of Jonathan, the secretary.

King Zedekiah secretly asks for a meeting with Jeremiah to confirm what God says will happen.  With honesty, Jeremiah states God's plans. Jeremiah requests to not be sent back to the dungeon.  The king allows Jeremiah to be imprisoned in the palace courtyard. Jeremiah continues to tell people to surrender.  Court officials consider this treason and feel that Jeremiah is undermining the soldiers' morale.  They get permission to deal with him from the king.  These officials lower Jeremiah into a muddy cistern.  He sinks down into the mud and risks starving to death at the bottom of an abandoned well.

An Ethiopian named Ebed-melech thinks Jeremiah is a patriot for trying to save Judah through God's prophesies.  He begs the king to let him save Jeremiah.  The king allows it. It takes thirty men to pull Jeremiah out of the well. Once again, the king requests to see Jeremiah.  Jeremiah is faithful to his message and recommends surrender.  The king admits that he is scared to surrender to King Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah tries to convince Zedekiah that his life will be spared only if he will listen to God.

Zedekiah has Jeremiah promise to not tell anyone what they have spoken about.  Jeremiah honors the king's request.

Do you sometimes think people feel you are a pinhead for listening to and obeying God?  Do you face trials like being thrown in a well for your Biblical stands?

1 Timothy 6:1-21

Paul encourages Timothy to teach the truths that Paul has laid out in his letter.  He is encouraging Timothy to do this in the face of possibly appearing to be a pinhead!  Paul reminds Timothy that people who quibble over little things and stir up trouble are often using religion to get rich.  Boy, do we have this happening in our day.  Many ministries are started by people who are hoping to profit off of the good will of others.

Paul explains that true religion that is marked by contentment is the best kind of wealth.  Here is a wise statement from Paul, "After all, we didn't bring anything with us when we came into the world, and we certainly cannot carry anything with us when we die."  Because of this, we should be content if we have enough food to eat and enough clothing to wear.  This truth really hit home for me when my mother passed away.  It was sobering to go through her belongings realizing that she left this world and the belongings she had acquired were useless to her in the next world. Many of the items she had were given away to others. She was unable to take any possessions with her as she crossed over.

Paul explains that those who long to be rich get themselves into all kinds of temptations and troubles in the pursuit of money. The love of money is the root of all evil.  Please note that money itself is not evil.  It is the love of it that is bad. The love of money can lead to sinful behaviors done in order to get that money.

Timothy is encouraged not to be that kind of person.  He is to pursue a godly life with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. He is encouraged to fight to hold onto the eternal life, which is given to those who believe in God. Paul reminds Timothy that one day Christ will return to earth as the King of kings and the Lord of lords.  Christ, alone, can never die. Christ lives in a brilliant light.  Remember, we receive eternal life by having Christ's Spirit that can never die inside of  us.  The implication is that those who do not have God's Spirit will experience the second death that ends their existence. This should speed us to be obedience, living a life of contentment. Money should be used for good works. This stores up treasures in the coming world that lasts forever.

Timothy is encouraged to not waste his time in idle discussions with those who have no intention of following God.

Do you waste your time talking to people who despise God?  Do you love money and constantly think about how many more things you can acquire? Would you describe yourself as content?

Psalm 89:38-52

Vs. 47 says, "Remember how short my life is, how empty and futile this human existence!"

Proverbs 25:28

You put yourself at risk if you do not have self-control.

What did you learn today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton

October 20- Little Strips of Rebellion

October 20, 2011

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 35:1-36:32; 1 Timothy 5:1-25;
Psalm 89:14-37; Proverbs 25:25-27

"Maw, I found an old dusty thing high upon the shelf. Just look."

"Why, that's a Bible, Tommy dear, be careful.  That's God's book."

"God's book?" the young one said, "Then, Maw, before we lose it

We'd better send it back to God, 'cause you know we never use it."
~Anonymous

Jeremiah 35:1-36:32

I've known people over the years who take certain parts of the Bible and refuse to deal with what it says. They profess to love God and be Christians, but if the truth were told, they want to believe in God on their own terms and with their own ideas intact. They essentially take parts of the Bible, cut them out, and throw them into the trash. Today, King Jehoakim demonstrates this very attitude towards God's Word.

Jeremiah is told to begin with all that God has told him from the time of King Josiah through to the time of King Jehoakim about Judah and Jerusalem and God's coming judgment.  God wants all of the punishments that will come upon Jerusalem and Judah to be spelled out in hopes that the people will repent and avoid judgment.  Jeremiah dictates all of the prophesies and judgments to a man named Baruch.  Because of his imprisonment, Jeremiah asks Baruch to read these words from the scroll to the people in the Temple in Jerusalem.  It happens to be a holy time when people will be coming to the Temple.  Baruch faithfully reads the scroll publicly. 

When certain leaders and advisers to the king hear the prophesies and coming judgments, they ask for a private reading of the scroll.  Baruch obliges and the leaders are very frightened at the revelation from God in the scrolls.  They insist that the scrolls be brought to the king and  read in his presence.  A man named Jehudi is given this assignment.  As Jehudi reads the scroll, after each three or four column section, King Jehoakim takes his knife, slices the parchment, and throws the slices of the scroll into the fire. He does this section by section until the whole scroll is burned up.  Little by little, his disrespect for God's Word is revealed.  Jehoakim is boldly unrepentant in the face of his nation's sins.

The king commands that Jeremiah and Baruch be arrested, but they are hidden away, having anticipated the king's reaction. Jeremiah is told by God to re-dictate the whole scroll and add even more information.  King Jehoakim is given the prophecy that he will die a dishonorable death and will never have heirs sit on the throne of David.  This prophecy came true.  Jesus is not a descendant of Jehoakim.  He is a descendant of Nathan, not Solomon.

Do you ever act like Jehoakim by mentally burning sections of Scripture so that you do not have to listen to what God says?  Are there sections of the Bible that you refuse to believe?  Learn from the story of Jehoakim, be repentant rather than rebellious.

1 Timothy 5:1-25

We are in a gigantic financial mess in the United States because of the way we spend the money our government collects in taxes.  One of the issues facing our country is how to fund and administer programs designed to help the poor.  Initially, Social Security was set up to help widows and orphans.  It eventually expanded to include a retirement pension for every person over 55 years of age in the United States who had contributed in the work force.  Medicare/Medicaid and Obamacare are programs designed to help with medical costs for citizens of the United States. But are these programs biblical?  Today, we get a glimpse into God's ideas of who to help and how to help those in need.

Paul is advising Timothy on how to shepherd a group of Christians.  Part of leading a group is dealing with the financial needs of some of the people within the church.  This is a tricky situation, as churches are often the first place people go when they get in financial trouble.  What is the obligation of the local church to the poor?  What is God's vision for how society is to deal with those in need?

The first thing Paul mentions to Timothy is that all people should be treated with respect.  With regard to widows, here are the stipulations:

• The church should care for the widows who have no other family to support them. Vs. 3
• If the woman has family including children or grandchildren, it is their responsibility to care for her first. Vs. 4
• The widow must be godly in her behavior in order to receive help from the church.  This would include having been a faithful wife, with no cheating, and she must be at least sixty years old. Vs. 9
• She must be well respected because of the good that she has done. Vs. 10
• She should have been kind to strangers, raised her children well, served humbly, helped others, and always been ready to do good. Vs. 10
•  Younger widows should remarry and not be supported by the church. Vs. 11
• The church can only care for widows who are truly alone. Vs. 16

We learn through this passage that God intends for the family unit to be the primary unit for support of individual needs.  The church is to supplement where there is no family.  Throughout this passage, Paul describes God being pleased when families care for their own and displeased when this responsibility is shirked. 

In light of this, do you think it is Biblical for the government to be supporting all of these individuals through social programs?  Is this God's best plan?  Why do you think God prefers for the family to be independent and self-sufficient?  Why do you think behavior is a key to receiving support from the Church which represents God?

Do we owe our money to the ungodly?  Is giving money to others a legitimate witnessing/missions tool according to Paul? Are you tempted to treat this part of Scripture by cutting it out and throwing it in the fire?  If you ignore these truths, you are doing just that.

Psalm 89:14-37

Read this psalm and picture Christ being an earthly ruler during a time of peace and prosperity on earth.

Proverbs 25:25-27

Compromise is not good and having correct and humble thinking is important.

What did you see today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton

October 19- Spoiler Alert!

October 19, 2011

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 33:1-34:22; 1 Timothy 4:1-16;
Psalm 89:1-13; Proverbs 25:23-24

Jeremiah 33:1-34:22

As our reading begins, Jeremiah is still in prison.  Nebuchadnezzar is going to overtake the city of Jerusalem, and Jeremiah has trusted and obeyed the Lord and bought a piece of property in the area, even though he has been told of the future destruction of Jerusalem.  Jeremiah is a man who is honest with God.  He is able to ask "why?" God gives Jeremiah a spoiler on how the story ends.  In answer to his question, God tells Jeremiah that He intends to bring the people of Israel back to the Promised Land in the future, and He is going to fulfill His promise to King David in 2 Samuel 7.  One of David's descendants is going to rule from the throne in Jerusalem. 

Who is this descendant who will rule?  Well, it is not the corrupt King Zedekiah.  We learn in today's reading that Zedekiah is going to be captured by King Nebuchadnezzar and carted away to Babylon.  God explains that another reason for Judah's captivity is their practice of enslaving their own people.  Slavery of fellow Israelites was allowed under the condition that the person was freed from slavery on the seventh year.  The Israelites were violating this covenant. God is anticipating a day in the future when a ruler will rule in Jerusalem with righteousness.  No covenants will be violated.  Who will this be? David's descendant is none other than Jesus Christ, who is alive and seated at the right hand of God the Father.  He will rule on this earth in the millennium and fulfill His promise to the nation of Israel.  God keeps reminding us in Scripture that God controls history.  This is His Story of redemption and restoration.  We are part of this story.  Jeremiah's prophesies were not only for the Jews of that day, but for all of mankind, who anticipate God's work on this earth.

The prophets in the Old Testament are given glimpses of the future.  God reveals that His promises will be fulfilled.  It is easy to see why the people of Jesus' day were anticipating this earthly rule of Christ on earth.  They conveniently ignored Isaiah's book about a suffering and bruised Savior.  They fast- forward to the triumphant son of David, who will rule in righteousness.  From our perspective, it is easy to only focus on Christ who died on the cross and saved us from our sins.  We, too, must look to Scripture to understand the end of the story.  We must have faith in the coming King.  We must realize that our future is a future where Christ rules in an earthly kingdom for one thousand years.  He fulfills His promise to be an earthly ruler. 

What do you think of this?  Do you look forward to having an earthly ruler who is actually just and righteous?  Can you imagine a system where fairness reigns?

1 Timothy 4:1-16

As we look to the letter to Timothy, we see that the Apostle Paul is having to warn Timothy that we are not in the perfect reign of Christ just yet.  Paul warns Timothy that in the end times the Church will accept false teachings and will become apostate.  To be apostate is to have professed faith in Christ and then turn from the truth of the teachings of Christ.  There have always been false teachers in the Church. 

Paul describes these teachers as hypocrites and liars. They claim that marriage is wrong and eating certain foods is wrong.  This attempt to have spirituality determined by these man made rules infuriates Paul. He encourages Timothy to explain the truth to the brothers and sisters in the church in Ephesus, where Timothy is the pastor.

Paul likens spending time learning about God as spiritual exercise.  Just as physical exercise is good for the body and keeps you healthy, time spent in spiritual exercise helps you become fit for eternity.  The spiritual work you do on this earth is not time wasted.  Your growth will impact how you spend the rest of your time with God in eternity.  This is mind boggling.  You should all be happy that you have committed to studying the Bible this year.  You have developed nice spiritual muscles for eternity!

Timothy is encouraged to be an example of a strong Christian, even though he is a young person. This is an encouragement to all young people that they do not have to live lives of rebellion.  Even young people can have a mighty impact for the Lord. His life must reflect holiness and love. How should he pastor?  According to verse 13, Timothy should read the Holy Scriptures to the church, encourage believers, and teach them.  Our churches today would be good to get back to basics and focus on this.

Paul tells Timothy to throw himself into this work.  Always monitor your own progress.  Do you do this as a Christian?  Do you throw yourself into the study of God's Word? 

Psalm 89:1-13

This psalm focuses on the promise made to David that his descendant will be on the throne forever.  This is what God was explaining to Jeremiah today.

Proverbs 25:23-24

Contentious women are intolerable.  So are gossips.

What did you see as you read today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton

October 18- Putting The Law In Your Mind

October 18, 2011

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 31:27-32:44; 1 Timothy 3:1-16;
Psalm 88:1-18; Proverbs 25:20-22

Jeremiah 31:27-32:44

My husband went to law school.  I am proud to say that he graduated 14^th in his class and had the distinction of being named to the Order of the Coif.  That is an elite group of honor students.  It would be nice if this honor came with great ease, but the truth of the matter is that although my husband is very smart, he had to work many hours to become proficient in the law.  Hours and hours of study resulted in the law being firmly planted in his brain.  Today, God promises the people of Israel that in that future day when they are reconciled to Him, He will put the laws of God in their minds and will write them on their hearts automatically.  They will not even have to teach their children about God, because everyone will know Him intimately.  

Today, Jeremiah has to trust God with the future. In chapter 32, Jeremiah is told by God to buy a field from his cousin, Hananmel.  At this time, Jeremiah is in prison having been jailed by King Zedekiah.  King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon has breached the walls of Jerusalem and is prepared to conquer the city.  It is a dark time for Israel, and yet, the Lord is encouraging Jeremiah to purchase property.

This may seem like a strange thing for God to ask Jeremiah to do, but Jeremiah puts his trust in God and purchases the field.  The deed is put into a pottery jar for safe keeping and God declares that someday people will again own property in this land. 

Jeremiah cries out to God questioning the wisdom of buying property when God has declared that Babylon will conquer Jerusalem and take the people into captivity. We can all learn from Jeremiah’s faith and his honesty with God.  We can believe in God and yet cry out to Him with questions and concerns.

God responds that nothing is too hard for Him. Jerusalem will fall as a result of God’s punishment of the Israelites, but God will surely bring His people back to the land from all the countries where He scattered them. It is then that the law will be in their hearts and minds.  They will follow Him with one heart and one mind in the future.

Jeremiah is reassured by God that purchasing the field was no mistake.  Not only will a remnant of Israel be gathered back into the Promised Land in seventy years, they will one day be gathered back permanently to live with God in peace. What steps of faith have you taken based on God’s promises?

1 Timothy 3:16

Today we get more instruction from the Apostle Paul on how the Church should conduct itself.  Good leadership is the key to success in our endeavors here on this earth.  God inspires Paul to list the qualities that an elder of the Church must possess. This word is translated “bishop,” which means overseer.  This could also be called a shepherd, pastor, or minister.  This title was always meant as one who served the body of Christ, rather than one who was to rule over the church. 

Here are what qualifies someone to be a pastor/elder:

·        The husband of one wife. Polygamy was common in this day, but was not to be practiced by Christian leaders.

·        He must exhibit self-control, be serious about his position and have a good reputation in the community.

·        He is to be hospitable, able and willing to invite people into his home.

·        He must have the gift of being able to teach the Word of God to people.

·        He must not be a heavy drinker.  No need to explain this.

·        He must be gentle and oriented towards peace with others.

·        He must not love money and rely on it as an idol in his life.

·        He must be able to manage his own family well.  This shows wisdom and discernment. A man cannot serve the house of God if he cannot serve his own house well.

·        He should not be a new Christian.  Leadership would lead to pride in this case. 

Next, we have qualifications to be a deacon.  Deacon means servant or worker. These people deal with the practical and material concerns of the Church, but should also be spiritual in their qualifications. Here are the qualifications for a deacon:

·        A person who is respected and has integrity.  They must be honest in nature.

·        Should not be heavy drinkers.

·        Should not be greedy for money.

·        Should be committed to the truth of Christ and live lives of clear conscience.

·        Have proven their trustworthiness through other service to the Church.

·        Wives/families should not be gossips and speak evil of others.

·        They should be faithful to spouses and faithful in all things.

Paul reminds Timothy that everyone’s faith must rest on the mystery that Christ appeared in the flesh, was righteous by the Holy Spirit, was seen by angels and the nations, was believed and taken up into Heaven.  This is what leaders in the Church must believe.

Do you believe this?

Psalm 88:1-18

Read this as if you are hearing Christ in His death. These are the words of the God who died for our sins.

Proverbs 25:20-22

We are to care for our enemies according to the Bible.  This goes against human nature.

What did you notice as you read today?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton

October 17- The Beautiful Dream

October 17, 2011

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 30:1-31:26; 1 Timothy 2:1-15;
Psalm 87:1-7; Proverbs 25:18-19

I have a dream. 
~Martin Luther King, Jr.

Jeremiah 30:1-31:26

In 1955 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was one of the civil rights leaders who led the Montgomery bus boycott.  He was using a peaceful protest to try to change the condition of blacks in America. Trying to establish that people of every race were God's creations and worthy of equal rights in America, King fought.  His most famous speech was the "I Have A Dream" speech.  In it, King points to a future day when all of God's children will have equality and freedom. Jeremiah dreams of a day like this, also.  It occurs during Jesus' millennial reign on earth.  Today, we see Jeremiah's dream.

Yet in the end, they will be saved.  Today’s prophecy from Jeremiah is a word from God that Israel will not always be punished by God for her rebellion.  It is a message of hope and grace.  It is a message of fulfilled promises.  Because God is faithful and true, He will do what He said He would do for Abraham.  In that future day, foreigners will no longer be masters over the Jews. They will serve a son of David who will be raised up to rule the earth.  This is a strong description of Jesus, who was raised from the dead and will be Israel’s earthly king during the millennial reign.

Chapter 30 describes the Israelites being brought back from distant lands.  This is not fulfilled in our day, as most Jews are not back in the Promised Land.  There is also a promise of peace and quiet.  That also does not describe the present situation in Israel.

God describes Israel’s punishment as necessary because of their many sins and great guilt.  But God also promises to destroy Israel’s enemies in the future and heal Israel’s wounds.  God’s plans are graciously spelled out for His chosen ones.

Chapter 31 is a song of salvation.  Some call this chapter the “I will” chapter.  God describes what He will do.  These are His accomplishments born out of His mercy and love.  Here is a list of the “I will’s”:

·        I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people. Vs. 1

·        I will care for the survivors as they travel through the wilderness. Vs. 2

·        I will give rest to the people of Israel. Vs. 2

·        I will rebuild you, my virgin Israel. Vs. 4

·        I will bring them from the north and from the distant corners of the earth. Vs. 8

·        I will not forget the blind and lame, the expectant mothers and women about to give birth. 8

·        I will lead them home with great care. Vs. 9

·        I will gather them together and watch over them like a shepherd does his flock. Vs. 10

·        I will turn their mourning into joy. Vs. 13

·        I will comfort them and exchange their sorrow for rejoicing. Vs. 13

·        I will supply the priests with an abundance of offerings. Vs. 14

·        I will satisfy my people with my bounty.  I, the Lord, have spoken. Vs. 15

·        I will reward you. Vs. 16

This is a song of hope for a wayward daughter.  The future represents a life of reconciliation with God. For Israel, something new and different will occur.  Israel will embrace her God!

God intends to have a reign of peace, rest, and prosperity on the earth.  He intends to right all of the wrongs.  He will bring justice and righteousness to the earth.  And He will begin this process with the people through whom He chose to bring the message of God to the earth, the Jews.

Jeremiah wakes up at the end of this dream and looks around.  His sleep has been sweet. 

Do you dream of a day when there is no sorrow on the earth?  Do you hope and yearn for righteousness for all?  God promises this to all who believe in Jesus Christ and are trusting in Him.  May you sleep sweetly knowing that God is in control.

1 Timothy 2:1-15

Paul is teaching Timothy how to shepherd the Church. 

Prayer for the Church

One of the most important aspects of leading people is having a heart of prayer for those you lead. What is one to pray?

·        Pray for God to have mercy upon them. Vs. 1

·        Thank God for them. Vs. 1

·        Pray for those who have governmental authority over the land. This will promote the ability to be able to spread the truth about Christ. Vs. 2

Paul explains to Timothy that Jesus is the only person who can reconcile us to God the Father because He is the Mediator.  Jesus gave his life in order to purchase freedom for mankind.  Paul has been chosen by God to give this Good News to the Gentiles.

Conduct in the Church

Men

The Church should be a place where men lift their hands in prayer free from anger and controversy. Please note that the greatest point in this passage is not whether a person has their hands lifted while they pray, but that they have a proper attitude as they approach God.  They are not to be filled with sinful anger and bitterness.  Remember that Christ taught the Lord’s Prayer, where the believer is to ask for sins to be forgiven, just as the person praying has forgiven those who have sinned against them.  Paul is harkening back to this concept.

Women

Women should be modest in their dress. They should draw attention to themselves by their good works, not their good looks. I need to take a moment to explain, based on my research, what Paul is trying to emphasize with regard to women and the Church.  We need context for what Paul was dealing with in the Roman and Greek religions of his day.

In the Roman world of Paul’s day, women were a principle part of pagan worship.  They were the leaders of the heathen religions and held prominent positions.  In the city of Corinth, the temple of Aphrodite was a place of religious prostitution. There were thousands of vestal virgins, who were housed in the temple at the top of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece. They were characterized by their flowing and disheveled hair.  This is why the Apostle Paul encourages women to cover their heads.  He is trying to separate Christianity from the pagan religions of his day. In Ephesus, where Timothy is pastoring, women held prominent positions in the temple of Diana. As priestesses, sex was part of the mystery religions.

Paul is trying to set a context for Christianity to be a light among dark practices. Women’s roles in worship needed to be addressed. Paul wants women in the Christian churches to distinguish themselves as having different roles than the women in pagan religions.

According to Paul, women were to pray, but Paul is emphasizing that they should not present themselves like the heathens who emphasized the physical over the spiritual.  Women were not to be sex objects in worship.  The Gentiles needed this instruction, since their culture promoted women as religious prostitutes.

With regard to women being silent and not teaching in the church, some of the commentary I have read indicate that Paul did not want women to teach by making an appeal for people to follow Christ based on sex, as was done in the pagan religions. This is what he is talking about, rather than never having a woman teach anything, ever. He did not want invitations to follow Christ to be made to look like propositions to have sex in God’s name.  Christianity had to distinguish itself from pagan mystery religions. 

God has used women throughout history for ministry and His work.  Deborah, Esther, Ruth, Lydia, Joanna, Priscilla, and Phoebe are Biblical examples of women who God used for His purposes.  In modern times, the likes of Gladys Aylward, Amy Carmichael, Elisabeth Elliot, Anne Graham Lotz, Kay Arthur, and Beth Moore are evidence that God uses women to draw people to Christ. With this being said, I think it is important to maintain balance in the roles between men and women in the church.  Women should promote males being in leadership in the Church.  It is easy for women to overwhelm and dominate situations.  Women tend to be more verbal and willing to be involved. This passage of Scripture encourages women to allow men to take the leadership roles in the local church.  This does not mean that women are to never teach.

The next section deals with Adam being made first and then, Eve.  Sin comes into the world through women because women bear all children and all people are sinners.  Therefore, women are the vessels through which sin comes into the world.  The flip side of this is that a woman is also the vessel through which the problem of sin is solved by the Child that she bears.  Paul’s phrase “women will be saved by childbearing” can also be interpreted to mean “women will be saved by the birth of the Child.”  Everyone is saved by the fact that the virgin Mary bore a child who would redeem the world. That child was Jesus Christ. This is the child that was promised to the world in the Garden of Eden.  Mankind has always been aware that Eve was given this promise. Rather than being a section of Scripture that relegates women to a silent cast of baby producers, Paul is actually elevating women as the creatures who brought salvation to the world.  He does use this as a means to say that women are valuable, even in the case of men being in the leadership roles in the church.

Paul wants women to be cherished, rather than reduced to religious prostitutes.  Goddess worship was a distortion of the promise that the Redeemer Child would enter the world through a woman.  Paul is attempting to squelch the misinformation propagated by goddess worship (Asherah, Diana/Artemis, Aphrodite). Christians should not take this teaching to mean that women cannot be productive members of the modern church.  God has gifted both men and women with the ability to teach, evangelize, and spread His Good News. God always has and always will use both genders for His purposes.

Psalm 87:1-7

Here is a psalm describing what Jerusalem will be like when Christ is reigning on earth.  Notice that people from all over the world will be considered citizens of Jerusalem.  The millennial reign is for all people groups on the earth.

Proverbs 25:18-19

Lies wound people.

What did you learn today?  Please share.

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton

October 16- For I Know The Plans I Have For You

October 16, 2011

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 28:1-29:32; 1 Timothy 1:1-20;
Psalm 86:1-17; Proverbs 25:17

For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good 
and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." 
~Jeremiah 29:11

Jeremiah 28:1-29:32

Do you ever wonder what in the world the future holds for you?  I remember when I graduated from college the economy was bad.  Jobs were scarce.  I got a job offer from ABC television in Dallas, Texas for a management training position, but the details of the contract were oppressive.  I did not feel that the Lord was leading me to take that job.  There were many question marks in my life.  I wanted answers from God on what direction I should take.  What was God's will for me? Looking back, I see that life is a journey of faith.  As we trust God, the details unfold before us.  Today, Jeremiah has the privilege of unfolding the details of God's will for the people of Judah.  His prophecies include comforting words from our detail-oriented God.

Before the comforting words, Jeremiah has uncomfortable words for a man named Hannaniah.  Hannaniah is a false prophet who was well respected in Jerusalem.  Both he and Jeremiah are left in Jerusalem when the majority of the people have been exiled to Babylon.  Hannaniah prophesies that the people will return from Babylon in just two years.  Hannaniah boldly takes the wooden yoke that Jeremiah was told by God to wear and he breaks it in two.  God tells Jeremiah to go to Hannaniah and say that he has broken a wooden yoke, but that the Lord is going to put an iron yoke on him, the yoke of death.  Hannaniah dies within two months.

After this incident, Jeremiah is compelled by God to write a letter to the exiles in Babylon, which include King Jehoiachin, the queen mother, the court officials, and the leaders of Judah. It also includes the craftsmen and skilled artisans. The letter encourages the Jews to settle in the land of Babylon.  They were to work, marry, and have children.  God even commands that they pray for Babylon and the cities in which they live. God warns them not to listen to false prophets and mediums. The truth is that they will live in the land for seventy years. God promises to bring them home again after that time. There is a look into the far distant future when Israel will seek God and find Him.  This is a reference to Christ's millennial reign. Here is where God promises that He knows the plans He has for His people.  They are plans for good and not for evil. Ultimately, they are plans to prosper those who love Him. God intends to gather the Jews from the many nations, where they are scattered, and bring them back to the Promised Land.

Now we have a prophecy about the mistreatment of Jews that we have seen in modern times, including the Holocaust.  In Jeremiah 25:18 it says,

"Yes, I will pursue them with war, famine, and disease, and I will scatter them around the world. In every nation where I send them, I will make them an object of damnation, horror, contempt, and mockery." 

This is also part of God's providential plan for Israel.  Sometimes, God's ways are hard to comprehend.  Jeremiah's prophesies are designed to show us that God is in control of His Story.  Can you accept this?

1 Timothy 1:1-20

Today, Paul asserts his apostleship in a letter to Timothy, his spiritual son.  As a matter of fact, Paul explains that he is an apostle by the command of Jesus.  This is a strong statement and confirms that Paul is the twelfth apostle upon whom the foundations of the Church are built.  This is appropriate because the next three epistles we will read are written by Paul and concern how one is to pastor the Church.  1 and 2 Timothy and the book of Titus are the pastoral letters of Paul.

We see that Paul has left Timothy at the church established in Ephesus.  In the early church, Christians did not build independent buildings for their churches.  They met in homes or in public buildings. Paul is encouraging Timothy to deal with the wrong doctrine that is cropping up in the assembly. Paul emphasizes that teaching should encourage people to be filled with love that develops from a pure heart, clear conscience, and sincere faith. 

There has always been a tendency for people to argue over points of doctrine and miss the larger goal of developing love for one another. Knit picking about points of the Law are not useful for instruction in faith.  Paul explains that the Law is really designed to convict the lawless.  It is to point us towards our need to be saved.

Paul uses himself as an example of a hopeless sinner who hunted down and harmed Christians.  By God's mercy, Paul was saved out of this ignorance and unbelief. Jesus came to save sinners of which he was the chief. Jesus is the eternal King and unseen God in the flesh.

Timothy will have to fight battles as a pastor. He must cling to his faith in Christ in order to do this. It is also important to have a clear conscience about his behavior.  Otherwise faith can be shipwrecked.  Apparently, two men named Hymenaeus and Alexander are examples of men whose behavior shipwrecked their faith and their public testimonies.

Do you have a similar testimony to Paul?  Has God saved you from a life of sin?

Psalm 86:1-17

This is a prayer for God to act in the psalmist's life.  Go back and circle the actions that this person is requesting of God. This person wants to know the plans that God has for them!

Proverbs 25:17

Good advice.  Don't visit your neighbors too often.  You will wear out your welcome!

What did you notice as you read today?  Did certain verses jump out at you?

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton

October 15- Submit To Babylon

October 15, 2011

Scripture Reading:
Jeremiah 26:1-27:22; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-18;
Psalm 85:1-13; Proverbs 25:16

Jeremiah 26:1-27:22

A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country according to Jesus.  Well, that is the case for Jeremiah.  Today, we see that as Jeremiah continues to prophecy of the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple, the king and his countrymen cry out for him to be killed.  Court is held at the new gate at the Temple and various witnesses come forth to either defend or witness against Jeremiah.  Discussion is raised that in the past, King Hezekiah got a similar prophecy from the prophet Micah.  He repented and averted disaster for Jerusalem.  Some people feel that Judah should repent.

We learn that Uriah is another prophet at this time and the Lord is giving him the same dire prophesies that Jeremiah is giving.  Uriah is threatened with death, flees to Egypt, is captured, brought back and killed by King Jehoiakim. 

Jeremiah wins his case in court and is not killed.

The Lord tells Jeremiah to make a yoke and put it on his own neck.  This is a picture/illustration for the people to see that Babylon will yoke many nations because the Lord is using this nation for His own purposes. Surrounding nations are encouraged to submit to Babylon, rather than being slaughtered by them. The Lord describes King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon as His servant.  God encourages nations to put themselves under Babylon's yoke. Jeremiah gives this message of surrender to the surrounding nations, King Zedekiah of Judah, and the priest and prophets of Jerusalem.

What do you think about God raising up nations to be conquerors on earth?  Are you comfortable with His participation in the history of this planet?  Do you see that God is in control of this universe for His own purposes?  Does it comfort you that God has a purpose for history that draws us towards Himself?

2 Thessalonians 3:1-18

The Apostle Paul asks his friend in Thessalonica to pray that the message of Jesus Christ would spread rapidly throughout the earth.  Paul prayer is still being answered 1900 years later. He also asks for prayer to be protected from evil people who would harm the messengers of God.  We see that Jeremiah had need to pray this same prayer.

Next, Paul deals with the problem of laziness that has infected the Thessalonian church.  Some of the members are waiting for Christ to return and have stopped working.  They are idle, which has led to freeloading, gossiping, and general trouble making.  Paul encourages the other Christians to rebuke these people, and if there is no repentance, do not associate with them.  This is not to be unloving, but it is a tough love tactic designed to bring them back into the fold with repentance. 

"If you do not work, you do not eat."  Christians would do well to remember this philosophy in our day of social justice.  Nobody said life was going to be easy.  Nobody claimed we would all have equal resources on this earth.  Nobody said that you should be given things without working.  Paul would not agree with a welfare state.  An able bodied person who can work, should work.  Help is to be offered to those who have earnestly tried to work and have been unable to find work.  Help should be offered to widows and orphans who have no means of support.  The Bible is very clear on this.

What have you learned from this book of 2 Thessalonians?


Psalm 85:1-13

Here is a psalm anticipating future salvation for the earth!

Proverbs 25:16

Too much of a good thing is not good. 

Blessings,

Jubilee Gal
Kathy Fullerton