PROVERBS: Lesson 3

This week we completed Proverbs--the 3rd book in our Wisdom Book Series. Next will be Ecclesiastes. We will not have class on Sunday, December 25th, but will have one church service at 10:30. The decision has also been made that we will continue with one church service through the month of January. Bible study will be from 9:15 to 10:15 with one church service beginning at 10:30.

In this week's lesson, I looked at how prayer, belief, and faith are interconnected.

PRAYER: Last week, in preparation for class, I began meditating on one very simple verse in Proverbs--actually it was the second part of a verse: Proverbs 15:8(b) - "...the prayer of the upright is His [God's] delight." I cross-referenced the verse in several translations and commentaries which enlightened me further on the amazing truth that Almighty God finds delight when those who are called by His name pray. God not only answers them, He finds delight in them! (Note: Genuine prayers are the work of the Holy Spirit within the believer).

BELIEF: As we approach Christmas, Christians celebrate a series of supernatural (events attributed to some force beyond scientific understanding or laws of nature) events. A baby boy is born to a virgin woman named Mary. This baby boy grows up and accomplishes numerous supernatural acts. He turns water into wine. He walks on water. He heals the blind and the deaf. He brings dead people back to life. He, Himself, resurrects from the grave after being crucified and sealed in a tomb... and more. The Christian faith is undoubtedly founded on supernatural events.

Listed below are over 260 supernatural events (including 8 dead people being brought back to life) recorded in Scripture. This is not a complete list of the miraculous events and supernatural occurrences. John tells us that there are many more things that Jesus did but if they were written the world could not contain them all (John 21:25; 16:12; 20:30).

As I continued to think about belief, it challenged me further. Why do most--who claim to believe the supernatural events to be true--chose to live in the natural? Isn't the supernatural God of the past and the future the same supernatural God of the present? Can't we assume that our supernatural God expects us to have a supernatural belief?

How does what we truly believe affect how and when we pray? If we choose to walk in the natural, our prayers will, at best, be nothing more than hopeful pleas of desperation during times of personal crisis? Prayer is our opportunity to develop a relationship with the living, supernatural God. Remember, He delights when we come to Him in genuine prayer (Proverbs 15:8).

A wonderful example of belief is found in the story of Lazarus. Martha was pleading to Jesus to heal her sick brother, Lazarus. Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus, but He delayed two days before going to Lazarus. During that time Lazarus died. Later, after Jesus brought Lazarus back to life, we see Jesus telling Martha, "Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:1-44)

Without the supernatural, the Christian faith would have no basis. Although the Christian life is based on a belief in the supernatural, most Christians live their lives solidly grounded in the natural. The Christian who walks daily with our supernatural God understands the supernatural power of prayer and desires to develop a growing relationship with Him through prayer. Interceding for those God puts on your heart becomes an exciting opportunity to strengthen ones faith and grow closer to God. 

"For those who live according to the flesh (natural) set their minds on the things of the flesh (natural), but those who live according to the Spirit (supernatural) set their minds on the things of the Spirit (supernatural)." (Romans 8:5)

FAITH: Our belief drives our faith. What we believe directly impacts the depth of our faith and how we act. "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

"It is only a faithful person who truly believes that God sovereignly controls his circumstances." (Oswald Chambers)

What do you really believe?  We need to be honest with ourselves as we contemplate the answer to this very personal question. As Christians, we say we believe the supernatural of the past and hope in the supernatural of the future. If so, do we walk daily with a supernatural God? Do we believe that He delights in our genuine prayers? Do we believe that our prayers--given to us by the Holy Spirit--have supernatural power? Are we eager to come together and pray so that God might show us His delight as He answers our prayers?

During this Christmas Season, I encourage you all to think about the supernatural events upon which validate your identity with Christ and secure your place in Eternity. When you abandon the natural for the supernatural, you will finally be able to walk in the fullness of God's purpose. Why would you want anything less?

PROVERBS: Lesson 2

Why study Proverbs?

Proverbs is devoted to the development of character more than any other book in the Bible. The highest goal of the Christian is to become like Christ in character. 

"For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His son..." (Romans 8:29)

The greatest need in the Christian community today is godly character! A person with godly character is not merely one who professes to believe certain truths, but one who practices them (James 2:14-26).

1. Godly character is influenced and developed by our choices! Daniel was a good example of this when he "...resolved not to defile himself..." in Babylon (Daniel 1:8). It comes down to integrity.

"The integrity of the upright guides them." (Proverbs 11:3a) "Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but he who makes his ways crooked will be found out." (Proverbs 10:9)

2. Godly character is the result of the Holy Spirit's work of sanctification. It is the constant manifestation of Jesus in the believer's life where purity of a heart for God (Matthew 5:8) becomes purity in action.

3. Godly character is strengthened through trials.

"We also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Romans 5:3-4)

4. Godly character is developed by controlling our thoughts (Philippians 4:8), practicing Christian virtues (2 Peter 1:5-6), guarding our hearts (Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 15:18-20), and keeping good company (1 Corinthians 15:33).

5. Godly character sets a good example for others to follow.

"Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us." (Titus 2:7-8)

As we develop godly character, we are then able to discern character in the lives of others. One of the greatest things you can teach your children is how to recognize character in another individual. It will protect them from being influenced by the wicked, violent, dishonest, and gossipers (Proverbs 1:8-19; 29:24; 17:17). It will help them find the right mate (see slide 13). As a parent, there is no greater joy than when your children walk in truth (3 John 4).

The more we learn of God and develop His character in our lives, the more satisfaction, contentment, and identity we have in our relationship with Him. It is then that we can understand the essence of 2 Chronicles 7:14 and the power within:

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I [let them] hear from Heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

God waits for us to humbly come to Him in intercession for those He has placed on our hearts. There is no greater work than the miraculous work of intercessory prayer--a great opportunity to partner with God and experience a supernatural miracle through prayer!

Christmas Party 2016

PROVERBS: Lesson 1

Proverbs is, without a doubt, one of the most valuable books in the Bible. It is God's detailed instructions for His people to deal successfully with the practical affairs of everyday life--and it is available to you and to me!

Today we looked at the introduction to this powerful resource. Thanks to the Bible Project, we have two great summaries of the entire book; one is in an animated video format, and one showing a short, but detailed video outlining the "big picture".

Proverbs: Animated Overview

Proverbs: Bible Version Overview 

In the introduction, we hear from a father giving his son instruction: "Listen my son to your father's instructions" (1:8), and four poems from Lady Wisdom. The words of this wise father establish the moral logic of the entire book. The four poems given by Lady Wisdom (1:20-33; 3:13-20; Chapter 8 and 9) claim that we live in God's Moral Universe where goodness and justice are objective realities that we ignore to our own peril.

As we continue to unpack this amazing book, we will see that it is a book for every person in every season of life; it's a guide for living wisely and well in God's good world.

Next week we will continue with Proverbs as we answer the question: Why study Proverbs?

PSALMS: Lesson 2

Today we completed the Book of Psalms; the second book in our Wisdom Book Series. Although I say "completed", we didn't even begin to scratch the surface of this amazing book. I hope you will explore the treasures found in the Psalms more fully on your own. Take time to read, explain, and sing the Psalms to your children. Help them memorize a short Psalm. It will stay with them forever. Just as I said in class, the first scripture I ever memorized as a young boy was the 23rd Psalm and it is still in my memory today.

It's hard to include all of the high points from today's lesson in this short blog, but I've listed a few below. We started with a short review and then focused on the 4th and 5th most downloaded Psalms by the over 100 million users of the YouVersion App:

Psalm 139: This Psalm celebrates the omniscience and omnipresence of God. There is, perhaps, no other place in Scripture where the "bigness of God" is as strikingly set forth as we see in Psalm 139. One scholar wrote, "Both in loftiness of thought and in expressive beauty of language, Psalm 139 stands preeminent, and it is not surprising that it has been called 'the crown of the Psalms.'"

Psalm 23: It is difficult to determine the exact occasion of the writing of this Psalm, but there is evidence that King David writes this Psalm after reaching maturity or adulthood. In verse 5, he was old enough to have enemies. In verse 4 he was facing the danger of death. In verse 3 he was experiencing rest, and in verse 5 he was experiencing prosperity.

David's adult life was filled with grief and heartbreak--mostly the consequences of his many poor life choices and disobedience to God (2 Samuel 12:9; Deuteronomy 17:17). David may have been in the darkest hour of his life when he penned these beautiful words, "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want." You can feel David's deep conviction by his use of "my" as he describes his Shepherd. He then quickly follows with "I shall not want."  This shows the acknowledgement of his great need and complete surrender to the One he calls "my Shepherd."

David understood sheep. He knew they were very timid, social animals that were completely helpless and in need of a shepherd. He also knew that they were foolish, dependent, and apt to wander. It's only fitting that he compared us to sheep. As it says in Isaiah 53:6, "We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way..." Just as sheep, we too need "the good Shepherd" to guide, defend, protect and care for us.

As we read in John 10:27-28, "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:" When we realize our great need for the Shepherd, we too will learn his voice and hear it when He calls. In a short video, we saw how sheep hear and respond to the voice of their shepherd:

Sheep Hear Shepherd's Voice

Next week we will begin Proverbs -- our 3rd book in the Wisdom Book Series. Class starts at 9:15 during the month of December as we have one worship service at 10:30.

PSALMS: Lesson 1

The second book in our Wisdom Series is Psalms: The prayerbook of God's people who are striving to be faithful to the Torah (teachings of God) and waiting for the Messianic Kingdom.

The Book of Psalms is the largest and perhaps most widely used book in the Bible. It is the most quoted book of the Old Testament--Jesus Himself used more quotes from the book of Psalms than from any other book.

It explores the full range of human experience in a very personal and practical way. It is an amazing book containing 150 beautifully written "songs" that run from the Creation through the patriarchal, theocratic, monarchical, exilic, and postexilic periods. The tremendous breadth of subject matter in the Psalms includes diverse topics, such as jubilation, war, peace, worship, judgment, messianic prophecy, praise, and lament.

After a short video overview of the entire Book of Psalms, we looked briefly at the top three most referenced Psalms by the 100 million users of the popular Bible App YouVersion.

The Book of Psalms Video

Psalm 119: The longest Psalm and the longest chapter in the Bible mentions the Word of God in 171 of the 176 verses. The format of Psalm 119 is an alphabetic acrostic, meaning that the first letters of each line in Hebrew follow through the Hebrew alphabet, 8 lines per letter, thus 8 lines x 22 letters = 176 lines.

Psalm 51: This great psalm of repentance was written by David after Nathan rebuked him (2 Samuel 12) concerning his adultery with Bathsheba and murder of her husband, Uriah. It is the greatest example of a "penitential Psalm" in which David confesses his sin and prays for forgiveness. (Note: Psalm 32 can be read after/with this Psalm to hear David describe the blessedness and joy of one who has received the forgiveness prayed for in this Psalm.)

Psalm 1: One of my all-time favorite Psalms and the first scripture I memorized as a new Christian back in 1974. The first of the 150 Psalms stands as a kind of introduction to the rest of the Psalms. It is a wisdom Psalm and presents two ways of life: the way of the righteous and the way of the wicked. There are two great thrusts that flow out of this Psalm: 1) The importance and absolute necessity of the Scripture, and 2) the changed character, stability, and fruitfulness it promises to those who make Scripture the core of their lives.

We will spend another week on Psalms before we move on to Proverbs.

Hank Mosley: 5th Sunday

Thank you Hank for sharing your life story--including your recent snakebite experience. Your mini-Job story was very timely as we have just completed our first Wisdom Book--Job.

This series points us to God's wisdom in all things--something we can never fully understand but helps us see His character. Seeing how you connected your snakebite experience with God's sovereignty, grace, and provision was extremely encouraging. 

It was also very interesting that your stepdad was there to encourage you when he said, "Learn what God is trying to show you through this so He won't have to repeat it."

None of us wants to experience pain and suffering (especially from a rattlesnake), but as you said, you are not the same man you were before this experience. Your perspective on what is important has changed. Just as Job was a changed man after his encounter with the Almighty God. Job said, "I had heard of you by the hearing of my ear, but now my eye sees you." (42:5)

We have and/or will all face times of pain and suffering--for enlargement, for discipline and correction, or even for reasons that are beyond our understanding. Regardless of the reason, in all cases we are to simply learn how to trust God and know that He is in control.

I loved the verses you referenced from the hymn "What a Friend We Have in Jesus" when it says:

"O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear, All because we do not carry Everything to God in prayer."

Thank you Hank for sharing your story.

(Article by Jeff Dute - jdute@al.com)

Hank Mosley's plan was working to perfection. He'd taken off a week beginning April 6 from his job in Dothan and traveled back to his Camden hometown to turkey hunt the mornings and fish in the afternoon.

While the turkey hadn't cooperated for him the weekend before his vacation week officially started, the bass were cooperating nicely and he'd caught a bunch of fish from a local farm pond.

That Monday morning, Hank, 27, excitedly left his mother, Julia Handly's house, and traveled 15 minutes in the predawn darkness to some of family friend Johnny Webb's property located in the Pebble Hill community off Alabama Highway 41 south of town.

He parked his truck just inside the entrance to a dim, woods road and began working his way over the sometimes steep Grampian Hills terrain to get to his listening spot. As the sun peeked over the eastern horizon, he heard two birds gobble. Hank headed toward the closest, but soon realized it was on the other side of the highway. He turned back and despite a steady rain that had begun to fall, headed deeper into the property and toward the other bird that had only sounded off one time.

"I thought about heading home, but figured I was already wet, so I might as well find a place to sit down and yelp a little bit," he said.

Now nearly a mile in and figuring he was within hearing distance of the second bird, Mosley found a good tree on a ridge where he could see into two open bottoms and planned to sit down and yelp to see if he could get it to sound off.

A fallen pine log sat in front of the tree, so he kicked one end of it and a few limbs out of the way.

"I got my little nest made, and sat down," he said.

While searching the surrounding terrain, he used his feet and legs to finish cleaning out the spot.

What's when he felt it - like someone had stuck his right leg below the knee with a needle.

"I'd heard people who'd been bitten talk about feeling the hit, but I felt the sting more than the hit. I believe I might have been outside of its real hard strike range and it caught me on the way down and back," he said. "I might have kicked it out of the way. It's probably a good thing that it didn't latch onto my leg. If it had, I might have freaked out more than I did. It still didn't seem real to me. Maybe that's why I was able to stay calm."

At this point, Hank said he saw the leaves moving on his right side, and quickly realized it wasn't a bee that'd stung him. "I jumped up to get away and got around the tree. That's when it started rattling and I knew then that it was a rattlesnake for sure," he said. "I found a stump about 15 yards away to sit on. I can tell you I looked real good around that stump before I sat down." It was shortly after 7 a.m.

A CALL FOR HELP

Mosley hardly ever takes his cell phone to the turkey woods, but he'd made an exception just this time so he could use an app that provides aerial topography maps of Earth's terrain. "I'm familiar with the property, but I wanted the aerial map to learn that particular piece a little better," Hank said. 

Luckily, he also had cell service. After a call to Webb, who was hunting another property nearby with his grandson went unanswered, he placed a call to his older brother by a year Sam, who still resides in the Camden area about 8 miles from Pebble Hill. Sam would normally have been hunting, himself, but had a meeting that morning, so didn't go. Still, he was outside when the phone started buzzing on the bedroom nightstand. Sam's wife, who he said is normally a heavy sleeper, was awakened and ran outside to give her husband the phone.

"I went into big-brother mode," Sam said. "I jumped in my truck and hauled it out of the driveway so fast. I ran over the trash can and knocked it across the street."

After letting Sam know where he was, Hank decided to check on the snake. It had moved about 5 yards to the left, but started rattling when Hank stepped around the tree. "I keep a dove shell in my vest just for snakes. It'd been there so long that you couldn't read the numbers on the brass anymore." he said. "I could hear it rattling, but all I could really make out was a couple of runs in its body among the leaves, so that's where I shot."

When the mortally wounded snake started rolling, Hank was stunned to see its size. "It was probably 4 inches across the widest part of its underbelly and at least four-and-a-half feet long," he said.

Since larger diamondback rattlesnakes are rare in that part of Alabama, the culprit was most likely a timber rattler, though Hank said he still doesn't know which kind of rattler bit him.

"My level of positivity stops at rattlesnake," he said with a laugh. "I never knew so many things could come through two little pin holes." -- Hank Mosley

Mosley often wears snake boots to the woods, but chose a pair of boots that day that better fit the rigors of climbing longer distances on rough, hilly terrain. He's not convinced the snake boot's higher tops would have prevented the bite since he was sitting when struck. "I know snakes can sense heat, so it might have just bit me higher on my leg," he said. "I guess you also get the sense of being invincible. Snake bites are such a rare occurrence. You only hear about it once or twice a turkey season. You start to think, 'It won't happen to me.'"

Moving back to the stump, Hank took off his belt, wrapped it tourniquet-style above his knee and waited on Sam to arrive.

"He was calm, level-headed," said Sam, who stayed in touch with his brother through most of the drive. "Probably calmer than me. I was driving way too fast and broke all kinds of traffic laws on the way to him. I didn't know what to expect. I've been hunting turkey in the spring since I was a kid, but had no experience with snake bites."

"Fortunately," Sam said, "Hank had pulled his truck out of the road's entrance just enough so I could get by in my vehicle. Luckily, I was able to navigate the wet, hilly and generally rough woods road and pull up right in front of where Hank sat calmly on the stump. He wanted me to go pick up the snake and I told him, 'Get your butt in that truck. We don't have time to worry about that snake.' I might have used a little stronger language than that, but he didn't bother me about getting the snake anymore."

Things came close to taking a bad turn when a front wheel on Sam's pickup fell into a stump hole. The truck wouldn't budge in two-wheel drive. "Sam's four-wheel-drive is a little squirrely and doesn't work every time. He tried it a couple of times and it didn't work," Hank said. "He cut the truck off and said, 'Please, Lord, let this work.' He cranked the truck, pushed the button and the four-wheel drive light came on and we heard it engage. He gassed it and we came on out."

HEADING TO CAMDEN HOSPITAL

The trip out of the woods made Hank realize how lucky he was that Sam could get to him. "Mr. Johnny Webb went back and traced it out at eight-tenths of a mile - and that's horizontal. There is probably two-tenths of a mile in vertical change and a couple of those hills are brutal. There's no way I could have made it out on foot," Hank said.

By this time, the area around the dual fang marks, later measured at 1.18 inches (3 cm) apart, was starting to swell and his lips and tongue were tingling. Hank said he felt a little queasy on the way to Camden, but isn't sure if it was caused by the venom or Sam's death-defying driving along the twisting, roller coaster-like rural road.

Alerted by his mother that her son was on the way with a suspected snakebite, an ambulance was already there when the brothers arrived at the Camden hospital. After a vitals check, Hank was loaded up at about 9 a.m. and, accompanied by his mom, taken to Vaughan Regional Medical Center in Selma. 

It was during the ride to Selma that Hank remembered the snakebite kit he'd carried unused for years in his turkey vest. "It's one of those things you have in your turkey vest so long that you just forget about it," he said.

Hank received his first dose of six vials of CroFab beginning at about 11:30 a.m. He said the drug is a multi-snake anti-venom that is effective in treating bites of three different rattlesnakes along with cottonmouths and copperheads. During the day Tuesday, Hank received two, two-vial maintenance doses. His vital signs were always good, but when the swelling in his leg continued to worsen, he was transferred the University of Alabama at Birmingham Medical Center as a precaution in case he had to undergo surgery to relieve the pressure in his right leg.

"It was pretty uncomfortable," he said, 'but I had some pretty good morphine-induced comfort at that point. My right leg looked gigantic compared to my left and I have some pretty big legs anyway."

With the leg elevated, Hank said the swelling had diminished noticeably by Wednesday evening.

He was released from the hospital late Thursday afternoon.

BITE'S AFTERMATH LINGERS IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE

Four days later, he is still feeling the venom's effects on his leg. "I'm still walking real slow," Hank said Tuesday. "I'm using a cane mainly because I can't put my full weight on my right calf muscle. It's still a little tight and swollen. I never knew so many things could come through two little pin holes."

Those effects will eventually fade. Hank said the memory will linger much longer and he'll carry a few new lessons with him the next time he enters the turkey woods.

•    Remember that you are not invincible and bad things such as a snake bite can happen to anyone

•    Wear your snake boots

•    Check the area around your tree before sitting down

•    Don't apply a tourniquet. Keeping the bite area below heart level suffices

•    Always have a way to contact someone else in case of emergency

"The main thing I learned is that God will look out for you as long as he wants you on this earth," he said. "The Lord lined up so many things that some people would call coincidences. The fact I had my cell phone with me and had cell service, that Sam's wife woke up when I called, that Sam was home and not off hunting, that I parked in the only place Sam could get around my truck and that his four-wheel drive worked when we got stuck.

"Any one of those things doesn't happen and it could have been a lot worse."

JOB: Lesson 4

Today we wrapped up the Book of Job as we looked at chapter 42: Job--"A Changed Man".

Job was a man God described as "my servant... blameless... upright... who fears God and turns away from evil." (1:8). However, before his great test, Job had a lack of understanding and an excess confidence in his own righteousness (pride). It is not until after his encounter with Almighty God that we see Job as a changed man--humble and trusting God; even able to forgive and intercede for his friends who had abandoned him. "I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you; therefore I despise myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (42:5-6).

We see the fruit of Job's new relationship with God in 42:10: "And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job, when he had prayed for his friends. And the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before." It was not God's gift of worldly blessings that we should focus on, but Job's humble expression of intercession for his friends and new relationship with the Almighty that should gain our greatest attention. Job said that before his encounter with God he had heard of God, but now "my eye sees you". Job was a changed man!

If you are a believer--born again in Christ--you must ask yourself: Have I been changed by Christ? Does the fulfillment of your theology only exist in the future, or is your belief exercised in a day-to-day living relationship with the Almighty?

Has the breaking of your independence come? Are you completely surrendered to Jesus Christ, placing no conditions whatsoever as to how brokenness might come? I must be broken from my own understanding of myself before I can, as Job said, see God. When I reach that point, immediately the reality of the supernatural identification with a Jesus Christ takes place. Then I understand what it means to "...put off your old self...and be renewed in the spirit of your mind". (Ephesians 4:22-24)

"I have been crucified with Christ: it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me..." (Galatians 2:20)

The Book of Job Video

Next week we will have our 5th Sunday testimony with Jeremy and Sybil. On November 20th, we will start our second book in the Wisdom Books Series: PSALMS - A book of prayer.

JOB: Lesson 3

As the story continues, we find Job lying in unrelieved misery with open sores all over his body. During the past months, he bore the grief of seven dead sons and three dead daughters. All of his wealth had vanished in one afternoon. He had become repulsive to his wife, loathsome to his brothers, and even little children despised him as he lay on the ash heap outside of town.

At first Job bore these calamities with amazing submission: "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord...Shall we receive good at the hand of the Lord, and shall we not receive evil?" (1:21)

But as the misery drug out over the months, Job wavered in his confidence that God was for him. He said things about God that were not true. He began to insist on his own righteousness at the expense of God's justice. "Make me know my transgression and my sin. Why dost thou hide thy face, and count me as they enemy?" (13:24)

God Speaks to Job: God has been questioned by Job long enough. Now it is time for Job to be put on trial. It's time for God to be the questioning attorney. 
"And now, finally, God answered Job from the eye of a violent storm. He said:" (38:1) 
"Gird up your loins like a man, I will question you, and you shall declare to me." (38:3)

The backdrop for God's two separate discourses with Job is a violent storm--a whirlwind. This is no Sunday afternoon picnic. God showed up in full force with nature at a boiling point. He obviously wanted Job to see his mighty power.

God ask Job nearly 80 questions that can be broken down into three basic categories.

1. Do you comprehend my creation? (38:1-38)

God begins by laying out for Job the intricacies of His creation. God's purposeful sarcasm is because man simply does not possess the ability to understand the wisdom involved in the creation of the world.

2. Can you care for my creation? (38:39-39:30)

God brings up six animals and five birds and lays out how they operate in life and are cared for. Then Job is asked if he could deal with all these animals. Does he even have the slightest idea of all of there needs?

3. Can you control my creation? (40:6-41:34)

God then selects two animals that man would consider to be at the top of the creation chain; the Behemoth and the Leviathan. God's point is that He has the power and wisdom to control these two magnificent animals. Do you Job?

In between God's two discourses, He stops to allow Job an opportunity to respond (40:1-5). In Job's first response he considers himself vile; unable to answer, he will speak no more. God has gotten Job's attention, but has yet to hear him repent and acknowledge God's power. So God continues with discourse #2. God, again, tells Job to "prepare yourself like a man. I will question you (again) and you will answer me." (40:7) Obviously, God is not done with Job yet!

I can imagine Job trembling in great fear saying, "No! No! I will speak no more!" God says, "YES YOU WILL! YOU WILL LISTEN TO ME, AND YOU WILL ANSWER ME!"

Finally, after God describes His Holy and Purposeful Might, Job gives his second response to God. This time, it is obvious that Job has had an encounter with the Almighty, living, God. Here is Job's response to God:

Then Job answered the Lord and said: "I know that You can do everything, and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, 'Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?' Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand; things too wonderful for me, which I did not know. Listen, please, and let me speak; You said, 'I will question you, and you shall answer Me.' I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. Therefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (42:1-6)

Job's encounter with God could have gone one of two ways. If you'll remember, in Job's first response it was all about Job. Different translations use different adjectives: "I am vile..." "I am unworthy..." "I am speechless, in awe--words fail me." Job justifies himself, but not God. This was Elihu's chief critique (32:2). If God had not continued His questioning, Job would not have gone to the next level--repentance and acknowledgement of God's sovereign, purposeful might. Going to the next level is where Job was set free from his pride.

Healthy spiritual growth is always about three things: TRUTH, ENCOUNTER, and ACTION. Job was given the truth through an encounter with God. After his fresh encounter with God, Job acted in repentance and humility. As he stated, "...now my eye sees You."

The nature of holiness is transformation through consecration. Repentance is turning away from what is wrong and being consecrated, or giving ourselves to God for what is right.

Job has taught us how we are to suffer, but more importantly, the story of Job has taught us the need we all have for a fresh encounter with Holy God! We must not let the modern culture poison us into becoming casual Christians who are no longer seeking an encounter with the living God. As Jesus said, we are the salt of the earth (Matthew 5:13). We are to be set apart (Romans 12:2); a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). We must not be double-minded (James 1:8), but singlemindedly seeking God's will and purpose for our lives. In all we do we must glorify God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Just as in Jeremiah's letter to the Exiles, God said, "Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord..." (Jeremiah 29:12-14)

Next week we will complete the Book of Job with chapter 42. Our next Book in the Wisdom Series will be Psalms.

JOB: Lesson 2

Job & The Friends: Beginning in chapter three, after seven days and nights of silence, Job debates with his three friends (Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar) for twenty-five chapters (3-28). It is a long debate that goes back and forth as the friends try to make sense of Job's suffering. Job's friends eventually conclude that since God is just--and would not do anything that was unjust--Job must deserve what is happening to him. A forth friend, Elihu, shows up and spends six chapters (32-37) trying to clear up the confusion. By the end of chapter 37, Job has been beat to a pulp by his friends and demands an answer from God. In our next lesson God finally shows up in a whirlwind to give Job His response.

Job's story is often viewed by Christians with confusion and fear. The thought that God would allow such horrible things to come upon such a righteous man is befuddling. But what we don't often see is that Job had a warped view of God. Job and his three friends followed a flawed creed that was fundamentally based on good works. They all believed that God prospers and blesses the upright man who trust Him while the man who is not upright will not prosper.

Job defined his life by his good deeds. In chapter 29 Job lists all his good works as a defense as to why he did not deserve to suffer. Again in chapter 31 he denies having done anything wrong. Job's friends never did understand the true reason for Job's suffering, and as we will see in our last lesson, God rebuked the three friends for speaking wrongly about Him.

The #1 thing God is looking for--in all of us--is a relationship with Him. God saw that Job had wandered off track and had become prideful about what he had done and was doing for God. God used Satan to get Job's attention. I find it interesting that God practically offered Job to Satan on a silver platter when He said, "Have you considered my servant Job..." Within God's defined boundaries, Satan was allowed to, as God told Satan: "...go and do it." God had complete control of Job's life the entire time. God used all of the situations that Job encountered to get him back on track. This will become clear in our last lesson (chapter 42).

The Book of Job is a warning to Christians (those who desire to follow Christ) that in our religious activities we can become so lost in pride and self-worth that our souls become poisoned--unable to trust God and walk with Him. Our spiritual lives can become muddled, at best. We lose our way. God has made us in His image to be His representatives to humanity. We can only do this when we walk in oneness with God. It is all about our relationship with God/Christ that concerns God the most.

Next week we will look at God's Response to Job (38-41). In the following lesson, we will conclude the Book of Job with a short lesson on Job's deliverance and changed heart. In that last lesson I also want to allocate time to discuss the takeaways from our study of Job as we talk about the applications to our own life.

Our next book in The Wisdom Series will be Psalms.

Foster Fest - Local Outreach Ministry

The You & Me Class had a fantastic turnout for Foster Fest last night where we manned the Comfort Station provided by the Columbia Baptist Association. Each person who used the station filled out a contact card that we plan to use for followup. Thanks to everyone who showed up to make it a big success and a great time of fellowship for our class.

Sadly, many who helped are not in the pictures below. Thanks to Ray, Kirk, and Brittan who worked with Jeff to unpack the trailer and set up the tent and station. Shay, Dustin, and Gabe (welcome back Gabe and Jamie Crook) stayed to help us put the monster back in the bag and load the trailer. Thanks to all!

JOB: Lesson 1

The Book of Job is our first book in the Wisdom Book Series. Today we introduced the Prologue of the Book of Job where we began to explore the dilemma that is presented to the reader: "Why does God allow the righteous to suffer?" or as many people ask "Why do bad things happen to good people?"

Animated Video of Job 

During the next few weeks we will explore the story of Job's crisis. Questions we must answer are: "Is God just?" and "Does He run the world according to justice?"

MARRIAGE BUILDER: Lesson 8

The conclusion of the Marriage Builder Series focused on the three building blocks for oneness in marriage: GRACE, COMMITMENT, and ACCEPTANCE.

GRACE: In all of our relationship trials, turning despair into hope can only be done through the truth we find in the grace of God. There is no event in life for which God's grace is not sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)

COMMITMENT: Having the desire to fulfill the marriage commitment is found in the goodness of God (see slide 43). It is not something you can decide to do but rather a desire that God gives you when you delight yourself in Him (Psalm 37:4).

ACCEPTANCE: We are commanded to accept our spouse (Romans 15:7). Acceptance is not always accompanied by the feeling of enjoyment and will often require forgiveness in order to reach oneness. Only one who appreciates God's forgiveness can truly forgive others.

Real COMMITMENT requires GRACE, and it is impossible to reach ACCEPTANCE without COMMITMENT. The ability to overcome relational despair is not possible through the power of our soul (mind, will, or emotions) but is only possible through the power of God through His Holy Spirit which resides in the believer.

Next week, Patrick will give an introduction to the wisdom books--one of which is Job. The wisdom books show us that God values and responds to our myriad questions and prayers. We can take comfort that no experience in our lives, whether wonderful or terrible, can place us outside the love and understanding of a gracious God. We will dive into Job the following week.

One of the most famous characters in the Bible, Job is the archetype of the “suffering saint”—a God-fearing man who experiences terrible trials and sufferings, and calls out to God for an explanation. The book does not offer an easy or simplistic answer to the problem of suffering, but finds solace in God’s sovereignty.

MARRIAGE BUILDER: Lesson 7

As "...the Chief Cornerstone" (1 Peter 2:7), God is the Master Architect of each of our bodies. He has uniquely designed each person's body for His purposes. As Paul said, "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

The real tragedy of denying our character as persons made in the image of a personal God is that very few people are aware of the exhilarating potential for personal satisfaction. We have missed the truth that the deepest joys and satisfactions do not come through the five sense. Even Christians who really should know better try to relieve personal pain with physical pleasure. Many unmarried adults, proclaiming Christ as their Savior, explore physical intimacy with the opposite sex in search of security and significance.

Today we looked at five truths regarding the body's five senses and concluded that BODY oneness in a marriage is defined as physical pleasure with personal meaning. Personal meaning in God's world depends on participation in God's purposes (see slides).

Next week we will complete the Marriage Builder Series by looking at the three important building blocks required for the development of oneness in marriage. No matter what else may be right about a relationship--sincerity, honest effort, noble aspirations, warm feelings, common beliefs, communication skills--a marriage will not and cannot reach the goal of oneness without the basics: GRACE, COMMITMENT, and ACCEPTANCE.

We will begin the study on Job beginning October 9th.
 

MARRIAGE BUILDER: Lesson 6

We continued with last week's lesson on SOUL oneness: Communication by looking at how to respond to your spouse, friend, or family member when they share their feelings.

Understanding how to minister to someone in conversation requires that you recognize the need of the person. We display our needs through feelings - anxiety, fear, anger, worry, and other emotions. When your spouse, or someone close to you, makes known (through their feelings) that they have an emotional need, you have the opportunity to minister to that person in your response.

Jesus said, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself" Mark 12:31. We must listen to the feelings of our spouse and minister to them just as you would want them to minister to you. This is one of the most powerful aspects of SOUL oneness. Only when we are sensitive and patient can we hear the feelings behind the words.

Next week we will continue with BODY oneness.

MARRIAGE BUILDER: Lesson 5

We continued looking at SOUL oneness and the importance of communication. Communication problems can usually be traced to a failure in the commitment to minister, or simply, to wrong goals. 

Words, and the way we line them up and let them roll off our tongue is critical. It is not a natural process to always say things that will minister love to someone. Learning to communicate love is not easy, but it can be learned. The first step is to become aware of the needs of the person. For two singles, an obvious need would be to show an interest in the other person by asking simple questions that allow a person to share things about their life. A husband or a wife should be aware of at least a few needs of their spouse. When you satisfy a need, you minister to that person.

Ultimately, God is the only One who can completely and consistently satisfy our greatest needs (security and significance), but when we express love to another person by ministering to their known needs, that person will feel loved and significant--that is what SOUL oneness is all about.

Next week we will begin the class with several case studies and exercises to help you learn the right way to respond when your spouse or friend shares their feelings. Then we will look at BODY oneness.

We will wrap up the Marriage Builder Series the last week in September (25th) with a final lesson on the three building blocks that hold marriages together. In this last lesson we will look at what to do when the marriage is not working. Are we asked to give up all hopes for personal happiness in order to proved happiness for our mates? Are we to continually forgive our partners when they hurt us? What are we as husbands and wives to do when our marriage relationship has soured beyond any reasonable hope of sweetening?

The series on JOB will begin October 2nd. Job is one of the three wisdom books (Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Job). There are many great lessons to be learned from our study of Job

MARRIAGE BUILDER: Lesson 4

Today we moved from SPIRIT oneness to SOUL oneness. Spirit oneness is the mutual dependence on the Lord for our personal needs (security and significance). Soul oneness is the mutual commitment to minister to one another's personal needs. Where spirit oneness is our vertical relationship with God, soul oneness is the relationship to earthly circumstances where husband and wife are relating to each other.

As mentioned above, soul oneness is a mutual commitment and a choice. The choice is to manipulate or to minister. Unless there is the purpose of communicating love based on an awareness of needs, we qualify as manipulators, not ministers. We looked at three case studies (the unhappy wife; the romantic husband; and the rebuking husband). Each situation created the opportunity for the husband or the wife to manipulate or minister to their spouse. Bottom line: the goal of soul oneness is ministry.

For a majority of Christians, these truths are academic. Many have not actively thought through the radical implications of these concepts for the marital relationship--or any close relationship. And because they do not translate them from theory into experience, these truths never become vital (real).

The sculpture of the person held back by chains was to help us visualize the freedom Paul talks about in Galatians 5:1. "Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you." Until we identify and begin to cut the chains of sin from our lives can we truly experience the freedom Paul talks about. And unless we are free, we cannot experience the spirit oneness that is so vital to our mutual dependence on the Lord for personal needs. Without first experiencing spirit oneness with the Lord, any effort to find soul oneness with our spouse (or other close relationships) will be futile. We must be free (identified and confessed) from known sin if we are to have oneness.

In summary, we can not move from spirit oneness to soul oneness until we are living a free life--free from sin. "...stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly untangles us." Hebrews 12:1

The movie "Sully" begins Friday, September 9th. The subtitle is "The Untold Story". Today I attempted to highlight the events of U.S. Air Flight 1549 and tell you a little more about what Captain Sullenberger and his crew experienced on that cold day in January when they were forced to land on the Hudson River. However, technical problems robbed the show, so next week I will give you "the rest of the story", as Paul Harvey would say.

MARRIAGE BUILDER: Lesson 3

"Unless the Lord builds the house, the laborers labor in vain." Psalm 127:1
We could say... Unless the Lord builds the relationship, you labor in vain.

The focus of this lesson was on our importance to be one with God in a vertical relationship (oneness of spirit). Our great need for security and significance can ONLY be meet in God. The need we have to feel loved and significant (oneness of soul) is met through relationships with people. Only when we believe that we are secure and significant in God can we truly minister--unconditionally--that same love to our spouse, friend, or family member.

In this lesson we also looked at what happens when we turn to others, instead of God, as our source of security and significance. Regardless how wonderful your spouse may be, he/she cannot meet the deep need you have for security and significance. When others fail to satisfy your need for security and significance you end up feeling hurt and rejected. The pain causes you to build layers of protection to avoid being hurt again. Eventually, the communication suffers and the relationship crumbles.

When it comes to satisfying our great need for security and significance we basically have four choices: 

1. Ignore our needs...

2. Attempt to find satisfaction in achievements, work, children, materialism etc...

3. Attempt to meet our needs in each other...

4. Depend on the Lord to meet our needs.

MARRIAGE BUILDER: Lesson 2

God's perfect design (blueprint) for successful relationships is dependent on our individual oneness with Him. This not only holds true for relationships with spouses, but with family members, friends, coworkers, and others. Scripture teaches that you can only find complete security and significance in Christ--whether you feel it or not. So we could say: "Oneness with God is the foundation for oneness in marriage." In reality, oneness with God is the foundation for peace in all relationships. Jesus prayed to the Father that we might find this oneness...

"I pray...that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and i am in you. may they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me." (John 17:21)

FACT: Our deep need for security and significance MUST be met before we can function fully as God intended. 

The goal of oneness can be almost frightening when we realize that God does not intend for our personal needs of security and significance to be met in marriage--or any relationship--but in Him. Looking to someone other than Christ to meet your personal need for security and significance will ultimately disappoint you. 

As we progress in our study, you will learn that this first--very important--principle will serve as the foundation for all successful relationships.

MARRIAGE BUILDER: Lesson 1

We are all in pursuit of the same goal: A deep experience of personal intimacy through relationships. Why? Because only within the context of relationships can the deepest needs of human personality be met.

Scripture teaches that relationships offer two elements that are essential if we are to live as God intended:

1) The security of being truly loved and accepted;

2) The significance of making a substantial, lasting, positive impact on another person.

This week we talked about singleness and how it is the thread that connects us all -- everyone has at one time been single, or is single now. The best way to prepare for being married is to develop a oneness with God while you are single. It is in that oneness that we find God's blueprint for marriage--and all relationships.

ANGELS & DEMONS - Lesson 10

Today we completed our series Angels & Demons with a review of all that we have learned. Angels are God's messengers and serve a very important function in God's overall plan.

"The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them." Psalm 34:7

 We begin our series Marriage Builder, August 7th. This is a series for both married couples and singles.

ANGELS & DEMONS - Lesson 9

What is the ministry of Angels to unbelievers?

Unlike believers... Angels don't guide unbelievers. They don't protect them. They don't watch over them. They don't deliver them at death to the presence of God. They don't deliver answers to prayers. All they do is wait until the time when they're dispatched to carry out judgment. They "... inflict vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus." (2 Thessalonians 1:8) Angels are God's executioners to the unbelieving.

Throughout the Bible we read stories of how God dispatched His angels to carry out horrendous acts of death upon those who rebelled against Him: Sodom and Gomorrah, Pharaoh, the Assyrians, Herod, and more (see lesson slides). Angels act only on God's command, but they do so without hesitation.

One such story: In 2 Samuel 24, the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel because of David's census of the people. It resulted in the Lord sending an angel to perform a pestilence on Israel resulting in the deaths of 70,000 men. "And when the angel stretched out his hand toward Jerusalem to destroy it, the Lord relented from the calamity and said to the angel who was working destruction among the people, 'It is enough; now stay your hand.'" (2 Samuel 24:15-16)

That's what angels do! They are God's executioners on the ungodly--those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ. In the final days, the angels will sound the seven trumpets before time is no more and the mystery of God is finished! (Revelations 6-19)

Next week (24th) will be our final lesson on Angles and Demons. Then, the 31st will be our 5th Sunday where we will learn more about one of our couples, or singles, from our class. Next up: The Marriage Builder series will begin August 7th.

ANGELS & DEMONS - Lesson 8

Sunday's lesson came to me during a few quiet minutes I had with God on Sunday morning. I was prepared to teach on the "Ministry of Angels to Unbelievers." Instead, I shared a personal testimony of God's mercy in our lives.

As instructed in Mark 5:19, Jesus told the man who was freed from demons to "Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you." This is what I believe Jesus wants us to do, too. So that is what I did on Sunday. I shared with the class the mercy, miracles, and blessings that God had poured out on our lives over the last three years--especially during the last four months.

Looking back and placing the events on a timeline shows God's miracles. There is no better way to encourage other believers towards a life of permanent (24/7) faith than to see God's mercy and miracles in the lives of others around you. In Romans it says, these things were written to Abraham "...not written for his sake alone, but for ours also." (vs. 23-24)

I highlighted the passage in Romans 4:13-25, concerning Abraham, in order to emphasize the blessings that are waiting for those who, like Abraham, "In hope he believed against hope...as he had been told." (v. 18). Often we find ourselves in darkness--a place where all hope seems lost. But as it says in Isaiah, "I will give you the treasures of [while you are in] darkness and the hoards in secret places, that you may know that it is I, the Lord..." God has given us over 6,000 promises covering practically every possible concern. The catch is that we have to believe them.

Oswald Chambers writes: "My vision of God is dependent upon the condition of my character. My character determines whether or not truth can even be revealed to me. Before I can say, 'I saw the Lord,' there must be something in my character that conforms to the likeness of God. Until I am born again and really begin to see the kingdom of God, I only see from the perspective of my own biases. What I need is God's surgical procedure--His use of external circumstances to bring about internal purification."

The trials and test we experienced were God's surgical procedure through the use of external circumstances. Because of them, we see Him more clearly. And while we thank Him for his mercy, miracles, and blessings, we quickly lay them at His feet so as not to claim ownership or take credit. It is ALL about Jesus, not what He has done for me!

ANGELS & DEMONS - Lesson 7

The ANGEL of the LORD...

When you read in the Bible "the angel of the Lord" it is referring to the 2nd Person in the trinity--Jesus Christ. It was the manifestation of Christ before His incarnation. The reference only occurs in the Old Testament from the time of Abraham to the last mention in Zechariah. The angel of the Lord speaks as God, identifies Himself with God, and exercises the responsibilities of God.

Amazingly, the angel of the Lord in the Old Testament parallels the ministry of Jesus Christ in the New Testament toward His people (see lesson notes or slides).

Below you will find my lesson notes from last Sunday which includes the many scriptures that will allow you to dig deeper into "the" angel of the Lord.

ANGELS & DEMONS - Lesson 6

The story of Jacob's life and his many encounters with angels in not just a story about what happened to Jacob. These accounts, and the truths they teach, have great relevance for our lives today, particularly when it comes to the subject of how to enjoy the ministry of angels in our lives. It's great that angels were active in Jacob's life, but those who follow Christ can have that same blessing in their lives.

The story of Jacob's life set the stage for our lesson today. Jacob was a man who lived in fear and found it hard to trust God. The guy was full of deceit. His name even meant trickster. After deceiving his father, Isaac, and stealing the birthright of his twin brother, Esau, Jacob fled far away in fear of his life--after hearing his brother wanted to kill him.

Running in fear for his life--filled with anxiety and stress--one night while he slept on the cold ground with a stone for a pillow, he had a dream. In his dream he saw a ladder that was set on the earth with its top reaching to heaven while the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. (Genesis 28:10-17)

There are four things that God promised Jacob in conjunction with his ladder--four blessings that are also available to us when we commit ourselves to follow God: God's PROMISES; God's PRESENCE; God's PROTECTION; and God's PROVISION.

When you are in God's will, you need not be anxious, defensive, or possessive. There is no reason to fear anything! When you are in God's will, He will keep you for whatever purpose He has for you. He will give you all you need to fulfill His purpose--health, finances, relationships, abilities, etc.

Even when God sent His holy angels to remind him and guide him, Jacob spent most of his life living in fear. His difficult lessons and hard times were used by God to develop his character. Finally, after an encounter with an angel, Jacob was broken and he said, "...for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved." (Genesis 32:30) At that time, Jacob's name was changed to Israel.

It took Jacob nearly his entire life to come to the point of trusting God completely. Although he endured many personal hardships with his family, his uncle, his wives, his children, and his work, God never gave up on Jacob.

The story of Jacob's life has many life lessons for us (slides 15-19). The bottom line: If we want to activate the blessings of angels in our lives, we must do two things: Have faith in God's Word and take it seriously; have faith in God's Son--entrust yourself completely to Him. Jacob's ladder is the bridge between the visible and the invisible worlds. It becomes actively traveled by angels, for our benefit, when we believe and have faith.

ANGELS & DEMONS - Lesson 5

Today we looked at three of the ministries of angels and angels as agents in judgement.

1. Observation - Angels are watching over us, viewing our actions and reactions, taking in the nuances of our everyday lives--witnessing with great delight every Godward move we make. Amazed and captivated by our thankful hearts toward God for His grace and mercy [something the angels have never needed].

"...we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men." (1 Corinthians 4:9)

2. Guidance - Angels provide supernatural direction on earth (Acts 5:12-42; 12:6-11; Acts 8:26-39). They also usher the saints from this temporal time-bound life to Jesus' side in eternity (Luke 16:22-25). For all who are in Christ, death need not be a final or fear-filled tragedy. Instead, it is a triumph--the culmination of our faith.

3. Protection - Throughout scripture we see the holy angels sent to provide protection for the saints (Daniel 6:22; 2 Kings 6:14-17; Acts 27:23-25)

God also uses angels to carry out His will against sinners. Angels are "avengers" who use their great power to fulfill God's will in judgement (Hebrews 1:7; Genesis 19:1,3; Judges 5:23; II Samuel 24:15-17; Acts 12:23; Psalm 35:5-6; Exodus 12:18-30; Hebrews 11:28; 1 Corinthians 10:10)

Last week, after the passing of my father, my thoughts often focused on death and what scripture tells us about life after death. Where does our soul go after our bodies die? When will our souls be joined with our heavenly bodies? I thought about the angels and the part they play as God's emissaries, His messengers, His representatives here on earth. The more I contemplated the invisible world, the more I realized how incapable I was of understanding the amazing mysteries of God.

My thoughts are bound by my understanding and experience of my finite world which consists of only four dimensions - length, breadth, height, and time. However, God is obviously not bound by these dimensions. He can be anywhere at any time. He is omnipresent (Proverbs 15:3; Matthew 18:20; etc.). Therefore, there must be higher dimensions. We read in scripture that angels often appeared in our three-dimensional world as men, then disappeared. Where did they go? How is that possible? Jesus also appeared after His resurrection and then suddenly disappeared. Enoch was walking with God and then disappeared because God took him. Poof! Gone! (Genesis 5:24). Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kings 2:11). After baptizing the Ethiopian Eunuch, Philip was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord. These events are not possible in a world defined by only four dimensions. How does your current view of the invisible world limit your focus on eternity?

How many dimensions are there? Do those believers who have died and are now in heaven experience this multi-dimensional realm? Can they see us? I believe that when we look at scripture and study how God, Jesus, the angels, and other saints were not bound, as we are, by the four dimensions that define our universe, we will become more aware of the invisible world that exist around us. Hopefully, this will help us maintain more of an eternal focus.

Next week I will look further at the mysteries of the invisible world where angels exist.

ANGELS & DEMONS - Lesson 4

Angels are the ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are to inherit salvation--the saints. (Hebrews 1:14)

The MISSION and MINISTRY of the holy angels is summed up: to worship God and to accomplish His will. They are His emissaries, His messengers, His representatives here on earth. To see the effects of their involvement is to see something of God Himself. They are fearsome, as is God. They are strong, as is God. They are pure, as is God. They are caring, as is God.

The MISSION of angels includes: attending, encouraging, submitting, advocating, speaking, guarding, protecting, ministering, and accompanying. Angels are preachers, proclaimers, avengers, warners, recruiters, rescuers, explorers, executors, comforters, communicators, attenders, lion tamers, messengers, and more. 

In today's lesson we began by looking at the MISSION of angels as WORSHIPERS and WARRIORS. Next, we will look at three of the many ministries of angels--OBSERVATION, GUIDANCE, and PROTECTION. Then we will look at angels and their role as agents of JUDGEMENT -- mostly against sinners. We will see how angels use their great power to fulfill God's will in judgement.

ANGELS & DEMONS - Lesson 3

Satan is at war for your soul! Therefore, you MUST know your enemy! "And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light." (2 Corinthians 11:14)

The common belief that Satan is a vicious-looking monster with horns, a pointed tail, wearing red tights, and carrying a pitchfork is exactly what he wants you to believe. Why? Because it is a lie and Satan is the father of lies. The Bible tells us that Satan was created as "the signet of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty." (Ezekiel 28:12)  He may be disgusting in motive and action, but he appears desirable in manner and sight. He tempts you with desirable pleasures that might seem good in the moment but carry a heavy burden of death and destruction in the end.

Satan has great power. He is cunning and clever, having set himself against God and His people. He will do everything in his power to hold people captive in sin and to drag them down to the prison of eternal separation from God.

For those who are in Christ there is nothing to fear. Under God's authority we are no longer held captive by Satan to do his will. Satan and his hoard of demons are limited to only what God allows (see Job 1:1-12). However, for those who are NOT in Christ they are held in the snare of the devil to do his will (2 Timothy 22-26). As Hebrews 2:14-16 says, they are "...subject to lifelong slavery."

The invisible war is taking place all around us--good against evil, angels against demons (Ephesians 6:12). We are the object of this war! You are the prize! "Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7) 

SUBMIT and RESIST! God and His angels are fighting for you! (Hebrews 2:14-16)

ANGELS & DEMONS - Lesson 2

Angels are mentioned in the Bible 273 times--108 times in the Old Testament and 165 times in the New Testament. If you removed all references of angels from the Bible you would be left with gaping holes in narratives, inexplicable events, events that had no possible way of occurring. You would have to totally reject the New Testament.

Among the angels there is an order. Today we focused on the angels who are the closest to God--the seraphs (plural: seraphim) and cherubs (plural: cherubim). These two types of winged angels are considered the heavenly servants of God. They are constantly giving praise to God and are seen around the throne of God. The cherubim are sometimes known as the "throne angels". (Psalms 99:1; 80:1)

The seraphim are described by Isaiah in a vision (Isaiah 6:1-7). The cherubim were assigned by God to guard the eastern entrance to the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Life after Adam and Eve disobeyed God. God's instructions to Moses to build the Ark of the Covenant (the dwelling place of God) included two cherubs of gold (Exodus 25:10-22). God instructed that the inner sanctuary of the Tabernacle (the Holy of Holies) have two 15 foot cherubs made, with wings spread the length of the room. The vale to the inner sanctuary was embroidered with cherubim (1 Kings 6:23-28). Interestingly, Lucifer (Satan)--before he rebelled against God--was an "anointed guardian cherub (Ezekiel 28:12-15).

As we continue our study of angels, it will make us more and more aware of the invisible world that exist around us. Hopefully this study will help us turn our focus more toward our eternal home in Heaven while loosening our grip on the temporal things of this world.