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To God be the glory, great things He hath done!

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Until He Returns,

The Serpent

John 3:14-15
14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Numbers 21:4-9
4 From Mount Hor they set out by the way to the Red Sea, to go around the land of Edom. And the people became impatient on the way. 5 And the people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food and no water, and we loathe this worthless food.” 6 Then the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died. 7 And the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord, that he take away the serpents from us.” So Moses prayed for the people. 8 And the Lord said to Moses, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a pole, and everyone who is bitten, when he sees it, shall live.” 9 So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.

The Israelites were in a familiar situation. Life was tough. They were wandering in the wilderness, thinking they were brought there to die there. But God was delivering them. They complained, as usual, about the conditions (which they were responsible for in the first place). They said ‘there is no food’. But God had already proven He could meet their needs. They said ‘there is…no water’. Again, God had already proven His ability to provide (Chapter 20).

Here we see a perfect example of man and his desire for things of the world, not what God provides. They suffered the consequences for their sin. Notice in verse 6 that ‘the Lord sent fiery serpents among the people, and they bit the people, so that many people of Israel died’. I’m not a scholar or a preacher and I often times fear trying to expound on scripture, but it seems to me that the serpents represent the death we have in sin, the ‘sting’ of death. The people’s sin had brought judgment from God (He judges sin). It had brought death (‘the wages of sin is death – Rom. 6:23a).

Behold the salvation, the serpent on the pole. The serpent on the pole represents the sin of the people on the pole. It must have made no sense to the Israelites to look at a serpent on a pole to have life, but it was a beautiful foreshadowing of the Savior that would be lifted on a cross.

We all have sinned and death is waiting to sting us. But ‘as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness’ and saved the people from death, ‘so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.’ If we look to Christ (recognizing our sin) and trust in Him, we will be saved (but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord – Rom 6:23b).

I know this is elementary for most of you, unless I've fabricated the meaning of the serpent. But it spoke to me when I needed it. I know there's a lot more in there, too, but I didn't want to be too wordy. Perhaps someone sees it (bread).

looking to Christ

j

Which one do you want?

Matthew 27:17
So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" (ESV)

Did you know that some of the ancient manuscripts (Syriac, Armenian, Georgian, Origen) of Matthews gospel account list Barabbas' first name as being Jesus also.

The New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) translates it this way: "So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?”"

It is likely that Barabbas' first name was indeed "Jesus" and even his last name "Barabbas" has great significance.

Look at the name Barabbas closely:

Bar = Son of
Abba = the father

So, literally - Jesus son of the father.

Mark 15:7 states that Barabbas was among the "rebels" in prison for committing murder during a political uprising (the insurrection).

Pilate has just asked the masses which Jesus they wanted, the murdering political activist Jesus or Jesus the Messiah (The Anointed One).

John 8:39-47
39 They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, 40 but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41 You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” 42 Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. 43 Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. 46 Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? 47 Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”

Look closely at verse 44.

What Jesus do you want? Do you want the Jesus who is common to man, the politician, the murderer, the liar? Or do you want the Jesus who radically changes the very heart of mankind?

Everyday men, women and children are faced with the decision to choose between the Jesus born of their father the devil and Jesus the incarnate Son of God.

One life, One Choice, One Savior, One God.....

Until He Returns,

For those who wanted more info on "Align"

You can view it here.

Speechless

The sovereign Word is no longer enough. The beauty of a holy God reconciling wicked sinners unto Himself by the death of His own Son is apparently boring. The God I once hated I now love because His word teaches me how to have great sex and get ahead in life???!!!????!!!????

The push to make the Word relevant never ceases to amaze me.

For those who read this.... Don't get Aligned, get saved!

The Lord's Name

Some of us have talked a little about this before, but it was on my mind again. Also, my comments sound very 'preachy' but they're not intended to be. I was just looking at this commandment closely, writing down things that seemed to help me understand it better.



Exodus 20:7

7 “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain.

‘You shall not take…’

• I believe this implies more than just a single use of the word ‘LORD’ or ‘GOD’


• It implies a more constant action of ‘carrying’ or ‘bearing continuously’


• In 2 Corinthians, Paul calls Timothy and himself ambassadors for Christ, meaning they were representing God, speaking for Him, pleading for people to come to Him and be reconciled. Is this not our role as well? Is this not a way of ‘carrying His name’?

‘the name of the Lord your God…’

• God is holy and His name is holy. This is very much implied in the command.


• The Bible calls His name ‘glorious’.
  Psalm 72:19 says:
  Blessed be his glorious name forever;may the whole earth be filled with his glory!Amen and Amen!


• When Jesus taught the disciples the manner to pray, His first words were that God’s name be ‘hallowed’. This means to be kept holy or treated with reverence. Again, this implies speaking it correctly, but also seems to infer the bigger picture of honoring even the reputation of His name.

Notice 2 Samuel 12:14:
14 Nevertheless, because by this deed you have utterly scorned the Lord, the child who is born to you shall die.”

• This is Nathan confronting David after he had commited adultery with Bathsheba


• Had David ‘taken the name’ of the Lord in vain? Quite certainly he has dishonored God by his actions. The consequences of such actions hurt many people, and in so doing, did not show God’s name much honor, as David was the king called out by God Himself.

‘in vain…’

• Simply put, this means making meaningless use of the name of God. Causing it to be empty or of no value. This is definitely the case when the Lord’s name is used to spice up profane speech. In this manner, His name is ‘devalued’, or ‘not considered worthy’. Hearing this speech should sicken us.


• But what about those so-called Christians that live immorally, or use profanity, or cheat, or lie, or get drunk, you name it. What about these ‘Christians’ that turn the lost away from the grace of God, because even in their lost condition, they know that those actions are not of a holy God.


• Does it matter?

The way we live, as believers is serious business. The Bible is packed full of commands and guidance in issues for us to be able to live in a way that God is glorified. Some would say that I take this verse out of context or read too much into it.
While I believe I read it correctly, I am also convinced that I have broken this command. Even as a child of God.

Malachi 1:11
For from the rising of the sun to its setting my name will be great among the nations, and in every place incense will be offered to my name, and a pure offering. For my name will be great among the nations, says the Lord of hosts.

1 Corinthians 10:31

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Our Country 'Tis of Thee

Psalm 2
1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
7 I will tell of the decree:The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Recent public comments have been made that we know are birthed from hate, not love. Vengeance, not peace. But the great United States of America is indeed in store for a rude awakening. The souls that rest in her blanket of false salvation will soon stand before God. It will not matter whether they are rich or poor. Republican or Democrat. Black or white. Red or yellow. Male or female. Baptist or Catholic. Methodist or Presbyterian. It will not matter.

In the midst of the sins and pain that burden our neighbors day to day, there remains hatred toward God. Our country would rather do it our way. Without God. He laughs.

As the days get darker, may our Light shine brighter. As the world gets noisier, may the Word be louder. And as Satan stands on the brink of victory, our God will crush him and all who stand against the LORD!

Let us pray for our country. If there be no revival tomorrow, then there is judgment.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him!

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

j