Tuesday, August 18, 2020

August 18

31 And taking the twelve, he said to them, "See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished.
32 For he will be delivered over to the Gentiles and will be mocked and shamefully treated and spit upon.
33 And after flogging him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise."
34 But they understood none of these things. This saying was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said.
35 As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging.
36 And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant.
37 They told him, "Jesus of Nazareth is passing by."
38 And he cried out, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!"
39 And those who were in front rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he cried out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!"
40 And Jesus stopped and commanded him to be brought to him. And when he came near, he asked him,
41 "What do you want me to do for you?" He said, "Lord, let me recover my sight."
42 And Jesus said to him, "Recover your sight; your faith has made you well."
43 And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God. - Luke 18:31-43

1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,
2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;
4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior. 
5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you-
6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.
7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain,
8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined.
9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. - Titus 1:1-9

1 The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down. 
2 Whoever walks in uprightness fears the LORD, but he who is devious in his ways despises him. 
3 By the mouth of a fool comes a rod for his back, but the lips of the wise will preserve them. 
4 Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox. 
5 A faithful witness does not lie, but a false witness breathes out lies. 
6 A scoffer seeks wisdom in vain, but knowledge is easy for a man of understanding. 
7 Leave the presence of a fool, for there you do not meet words of knowledge. 
8 The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving. 
9 Fools mock at the guilt offering, but the upright enjoy acceptance. 
10 The heart knows its own bitterness, and no stranger shares its joy. 
11 The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. 
12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. 
13 Even in laughter the heart may ache, and the end of joy may be grief. 
14 The backslider in heart will be filled with the fruit of his ways, and a good man will be filled with the fruit of his ways. 
15 The simple believes everything, but the prudent gives thought to his steps. 
16 One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless. 
17 A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated. 
18 The simple inherit folly, but the prudent are crowned with knowledge.  - Proverbs 14:1-18

1 These are the priests and the Levites who came up with Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua: Seraiah, Jeremiah, Ezra,
2 Amariah, Malluch, Hattush,
3 Shecaniah, Rehum, Meremoth,
4 Iddo, Ginnethoi, Abijah,
5 Mijamin, Maadiah, Bilgah,
6 Shemaiah, Joiarib, Jedaiah,
7 Sallu, Amok, Hilkiah, Jedaiah. These were the chiefs of the priests and of their brothers in the days of Jeshua.
8 And the Levites: Jeshua, Binnui, Kadmiel, Sherebiah, Judah, and Mattaniah, who with his brothers was in charge of the songs of thanksgiving.
9 And Bakbukiah and Unni and their brothers stood opposite them in the service.
10 And Jeshua was the father of Joiakim, Joiakim the father of Eliashib, Eliashib the father of Joiada,
11 Joiada the father of Jonathan, and Jonathan the father of Jaddua.
12 And in the days of Joiakim were priests, heads of fathers' houses: of Seraiah, Meraiah; of Jeremiah, Hananiah;
13 of Ezra, Meshullam; of Amariah, Jehohanan;
14 of Malluchi, Jonathan; of Shebaniah, Joseph;
15 of Harim, Adna; of Meraioth, Helkai;
16 of Iddo, Zechariah; of Ginnethon, Meshullam;
17 of Abijah, Zichri; of Miniamin, of Moadiah, Piltai;
18 of Bilgah, Shammua; of Shemaiah, Jehonathan;
19 of Joiarib, Mattenai; of Jedaiah, Uzzi;
20 of Sallai, Kallai; of Amok, Eber;
21 of Hilkiah, Hashabiah; of Jedaiah, Nethanel.
22 In the days of Eliashib, Joiada, Johanan, and Jaddua, the Levites were recorded as heads of fathers' houses; so too were the priests in the reign of Darius the Persian.
23 As for the sons of Levi, their heads of fathers' houses were written in the Book of the Chronicles until the days of Johanan the son of Eliashib.
24 And the chiefs of the Levites: Hashabiah, Sherebiah, and Jeshua the son of Kadmiel, with their brothers who stood opposite them, to praise and to give thanks, according to the commandment of David the man of God, watch by watch.
25 Mattaniah, Bakbukiah, Obadiah, Meshullam, Talmon, and Akkub were gatekeepers standing guard at the storehouses of the gates.
26 These were in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor and of Ezra, the priest and scribe.
27 And at the dedication of the wall of Jerusalem they sought the Levites in all their places, to bring them to Jerusalem to celebrate the dedication with gladness, with thanksgivings and with singing, with cymbals, harps, and lyres.
28 And the sons of the singers gathered together from the district surrounding Jerusalem and from the villages of the Netophathites;
29 also from Beth-gilgal and from the region of Geba and Azmaveth, for the singers had built for themselves villages around Jerusalem.
30 And the priests and the Levites purified themselves, and they purified the people and the gates and the wall.
31 Then I brought the leaders of Judah up onto the wall and appointed two great choirs that gave thanks. One went to the south on the wall to the Dung Gate.
32 And after them went Hoshaiah and half of the leaders of Judah,
33 and Azariah, Ezra, Meshullam,
34 Judah, Benjamin, Shemaiah, and Jeremiah,
35 and certain of the priests' sons with trumpets: Zechariah the son of Jonathan, son of Shemaiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Micaiah, son of Zaccur, son of Asaph;
36 and his relatives, Shemaiah, Azarel, Milalai, Gilalai, Maai, Nethanel, Judah, and Hanani, with the musical instruments of David the man of God. And Ezra the scribe went before them.
37 At the Fountain Gate they went up straight before them by the stairs of the city of David, at the ascent of the wall, above the house of David, to the Water Gate on the east.
38 The other choir of those who gave thanks went to the north, and I followed them with half of the people, on the wall, above the Tower of the Ovens, to the Broad Wall,
39 and above the Gate of Ephraim, and by the Gate of Yeshanah, and by the Fish Gate and the Tower of Hananel and the Tower of the Hundred, to the Sheep Gate; and they came to a halt at the Gate of the Guard.
40 So both choirs of those who gave thanks stood in the house of God, and I and half of the officials with me;
41 and the priests Eliakim, Maaseiah, Miniamin, Micaiah, Elioenai, Zechariah, and Hananiah, with trumpets;
42 and Maaseiah, Shemaiah, Eleazar, Uzzi, Jehohanan, Malchijah, Elam, and Ezer. And the singers sang with Jezrahiah as their leader.
43 And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away.
44 On that day men were appointed over the storerooms, the contributions, the firstfruits, and the tithes, to gather into them the portions required by the Law for the priests and for the Levites according to the fields of the towns, for Judah rejoiced over the priests and the Levites who ministered.
45 And they performed the service of their God and the service of purification, as did the singers and the gatekeepers, according to the command of David and his son Solomon.
46 For long ago in the days of David and Asaph there were directors of the singers, and there were songs of praise and thanksgiving to God.
47 And all Israel in the days of Zerubbabel and in the days of Nehemiah gave the daily portions for the singers and the gatekeepers; and they set apart that which was for the Levites; and the Levites set apart that which was for the sons of Aaron. - Nehemiah 12

Monday, August 17, 2020

Do You Believe Lies?


BIBLE MEDITATION

“Lest Satan should take advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
2 Corinthians 2:11 

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

A friend of mine told me one time about a film he saw. I haven’t seen it, but he explained it to me. He said they went up to the Canadian lakes and got one of these great Northern Pikes, a big fish, and put it in a huge aquarium with buckets of minnows. That pike thought he had died and gone to pike heaven.

But then they dropped in a glass cylinder, invisible to the pike. This time, they poured the minnows into the cylinder. The pike started for the minnows but bumped his snout.

He backed off and tried again. And again. And again. Finally, he made up his mind. “I’ll never have another minnow.” And he settled down to the bottom of that tank.

They pulled the glass tube out, and the minnows swam free, right up to his face, but the pike never moved. They had messed with his mind. He believed something that wasn’t true.

Child of God, the devil will mess with your mind. He’ll lie to you, just like he lied to Eve in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3). John 8:44 says, “…there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it.”

ACTION POINT

You’re surrounded with the blessings of God, but Satan has you believing they’re not yours. You say, “That might be for Pastor Rogers, but it’s not for me. God doesn’t expect me to live in victory.” Yes, He does. The devil has never done anything but lie to you. Stop believing the devil’s lie. Start believing Jesus, who said, “I’ve come that you may have life and have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

What It Means to Bless the Lord


Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! (Psalm 103:1)

The psalm begins and ends with the psalmist preaching to his soul to bless the Lord — “Bless the Lord, O my soul” — and preaching to the angels and the hosts of heaven and the works of God’s hands that they should do the same.

Bless the Lord, O you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his word,
obeying the voice of his word!
Bless the Lord, all his hosts,
his ministers, who do his will!
Bless the Lord, all his works,
in all places of his dominion.
Bless the Lord, O my soul!
(Psalm 103:20–22)

The psalm is overwhelmingly focused on blessing the Lord. What does it mean to bless the Lord?

It means to speak well of his greatness and goodness — and really mean it from the depths of your soul.

What David is doing in the first and last verses of this psalm, when he says, “Bless the Lord, O my soul,” is saying that authentic speaking about God’s goodness and greatness must come from the soul.

Blessing God with the mouth without the soul would be hypocrisy. Jesus said, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Matthew 15:8). David knows that danger, and he is preaching to himself. He is telling his soul not to let this happen.

“Come, soul, look at the greatness and goodness of God. Join my mouth, and let us bless the Lord with our whole being. Soul, we are not going to be a hypocrite!”

John Piper 

August 17

18 And a ruler asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
19 And Jesus said to him, "Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.
20 You know the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, Do not murder, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honor your father and mother.'"
21 And he said, "All these I have kept from my youth."
22 When Jesus heard this, he said to him, "One thing you still lack. Sell all that you have and distribute to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."
23 But when he heard these things, he became very sad, for he was extremely rich.
24 Jesus, seeing that he had become sad, said, "How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!
25 For it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God."
26 Those who heard it said, "Then who can be saved?"
27 But he said, "What is impossible with man is possible with God."
28 And Peter said, "See, we have left our homes and followed you."
29 And he said to them, "Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God,
30 who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life." - Luke 18:18-30

1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom:
2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,
4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
6 For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.
9 Do your best to come to me soon.
10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.
11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.
12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus.
13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments.
14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds.
15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message.
16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!
17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.
18 The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
19 Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.
20 Erastus remained at Corinth, and I left Trophimus, who was ill, at Miletus.
21 Do your best to come before winter. Eubulus sends greetings to you, as do Pudens and Linus and Claudia and all the brothers.
22 The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you. - 2 Timothy 4

Proverbs 13:13–25 (ESV): Whoever despises the word brings destruction on himself, 
but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded. 
 14  The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life, 
that one may turn away from the snares of death. 
 15  Good sense wins favor, 
but the way of the treacherous is their ruin. 
 16  Every prudent man acts with knowledge, 
but a fool flaunts his folly. 
 17  A wicked messenger falls into trouble, 
but a faithful envoy brings healing. 
 18  Poverty and disgrace come to him who ignores instruction, 
but whoever heeds reproof is honored. 
 19  A desire fulfilled is sweet to the soul, 
but to turn away from evil is an abomination to fools. 
 20  Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, 
but the companion of fools will suffer harm. 
 21  Disaster pursues sinners, 
but the righteous are rewarded with good. 
 22  A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children, 
but the sinner’s wealth is laid up for the righteous. 
 23  The fallow ground of the poor would yield much food, 
but it is swept away through injustice. 
 24  Whoever spares the rod hates his son, 
but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him. 
 25  The righteous has enough to satisfy his appetite, 
but the belly of the wicked suffers want. 

1 Now the leaders of the people lived in Jerusalem. And the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in Jerusalem the holy city, while nine out of ten remained in the other towns.
2 And the people blessed all the men who willingly offered to live in Jerusalem.
3 These are the chiefs of the province who lived in Jerusalem; but in the towns of Judah everyone lived on his property in their towns: Israel, the priests, the Levites, the temple servants, and the descendants of Solomon's servants.
4 And in Jerusalem lived certain of the sons of Judah and of the sons of Benjamin. Of the sons of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, son of Zechariah, son of Amariah, son of Shephatiah, son of Mahalalel, of the sons of Perez;
5 and Maaseiah the son of Baruch, son of Col-hozeh, son of Hazaiah, son of Adaiah, son of Joiarib, son of Zechariah, son of the Shilonite.
6 All the sons of Perez who lived in Jerusalem were 468 valiant men.
7 And these are the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, son of Joed, son of Pedaiah, son of Kolaiah, son of Maaseiah, son of Ithiel, son of Jeshaiah,
8 and his brothers, men of valor, 928.
9 Joel the son of Zichri was their overseer; and Judah the son of Hassenuah was second over the city.
10 Of the priests: Jedaiah the son of Joiarib, Jachin,
11 Seraiah the son of Hilkiah, son of Meshullam, son of Zadok, son of Meraioth, son of Ahitub, ruler of the house of God,
12 and their brothers who did the work of the house, 822; and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, son of Pelaliah, son of Amzi, son of Zechariah, son of Pashhur, son of Malchijah,
13 and his brothers, heads of fathers' houses, 242; and Amashsai, the son of Azarel, son of Ahzai, son of Meshillemoth, son of Immer,
14 and their brothers, mighty men of valor, 128; their overseer was Zabdiel the son of Haggedolim.
15 And of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, son of Azrikam, son of Hashabiah, son of Bunni;
16 and Shabbethai and Jozabad, of the chiefs of the Levites, who were over the outside work of the house of God;
17 and Mattaniah the son of Mica, son of Zabdi, son of Asaph, who was the leader of the praise, who gave thanks, and Bakbukiah, the second among his brothers; and Abda the son of Shammua, son of Galal, son of Jeduthun.
18 All the Levites in the holy city were 284.
19 The gatekeepers, Akkub, Talmon and their brothers, who kept watch at the gates, were 172.
20 And the rest of Israel, and of the priests and the Levites, were in all the towns of Judah, every one in his inheritance.
21 But the temple servants lived on Ophel; and Ziha and Gishpa were over the temple servants.
22 The overseer of the Levites in Jerusalem was Uzzi the son of Bani, son of Hashabiah, son of Mattaniah, son of Mica, of the sons of Asaph, the singers, over the work of the house of God.
23 For there was a command from the king concerning them, and a fixed provision for the singers, as every day required.
24 And Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the sons of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king's side in all matters concerning the people.
25 And as for the villages, with their fields, some of the people of Judah lived in Kiriath-arba and its villages, and in Dibon and its villages, and in Jekabzeel and its villages,
26 and in Jeshua and in Moladah and Beth-pelet,
27 in Hazar-shual, in Beersheba and its villages,
28 in Ziklag, in Meconah and its villages,
29 in En-rimmon, in Zorah, in Jarmuth,
30 Zanoah, Adullam, and their villages, Lachish and its fields, and Azekah and its villages. So they encamped from Beersheba to the Valley of Hinnom.
31 The people of Benjamin also lived from Geba onward, at Michmash, Aija, Bethel and its villages,
32 Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,
33 Hazor, Ramah, Gittaim,
34 Hadid, Zeboim, Neballat,
35 Lod, and Ono, the valley of craftsmen.
36 And certain divisions of the Levites in Judah were assigned to Benjamin. - Nehemiah 11

Sunday, August 16, 2020

Hitting the Dirt


Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? - Romans 6:3

he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, - Titus 3:5

For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. - Romans 10:10

35 "Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?" 
36 For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. - Romans 11:35-36

24 Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy,
25 to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. - Jude 1:24-25

Hitting the dirt is the act of death! 
It signifies being buried!
The human body is meant for destruction but the human soul is eternal!
There is a pull on your soul.
Satan is dragging you down. 
Run to the Lord, He along is able to deliver your soul.
Lift your voice in praise and raise Him higher!!
Hallelujah!
He alone is worthy and able!!
Worthy is the Lamb!!

9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 
10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth." 
11 Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands,
12 saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!" 
13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" 
14 And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped. - Revelation 5:9-14

Are You Thankful at Heart?



BIBLE MEDITATION

“Every good and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights.” James 1:17

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHT

A Congressman told his pastor about a time he took his son to McDonald's for some father-son fellowship. He said,

My son ordered a large order of fries. As I sat there, the fries smelled so good, I reached out my hand to get a couple. But my son said, “Hey! Those are mine!” It flew all over me. I started thinking, “Doesn’t he know who bought those fries and gave them to him? Doesn’t he know I could go up there and order twenty orders of fries and bury him in French fries? And that I could take them away or go buy some for myself? Doesn’t he know that I’m just trying to have fellowship with him?”

Then God spoke to my heart. “My son, that’s the way you are with Me sometimes. I’ve given you blessings, and when I ask for a part of that blessing, you say, ‘Hey, that’s mine.’ Son, don’t you know I could take that whole thing from you if I wanted to? And don’t you know, if I wanted to, I could give you more? And don’t you know that I don’t need that? I am God. I have anything I want, for “the earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness ” (Psalm 24:1). And don’t you know that I was wanting to have some fellowship with you?”

ACTION POINT

Oh, friend, may God have mercy upon the spirit of greed that’s in our hearts! May we understand that all that we have has come from God—and thank Him for all He has done for us.


LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers 

Why You Give In to Sexual Sin


Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. . . . Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. (Psalm 51:8, 12)

Why isn’t David crying out for sexual restraint? Why isn’t he praying for men to hold him accountable? Why isn’t he praying for protected eyes and sex-free thoughts? In this psalm of confession and repentance after essentially raping Bathsheba, you would expect David to ask for something like that.

The reason is that he knows that sexual sin is a symptom, not the disease.

People give way to sexual sin because they don’t have fullness of joy and gladness in Christ. Their spirits are not steadfast and firm and established. They waver. They are enticed, and they give way because God does not have the supreme place in their feelings and thoughts that he should.

David knew this about himself. It’s true about us too. David is showing us, by the way he prays, what the real need is for those who sin sexually: God! Joy in God.

This is profound wisdom for us.


John Piper