Monthly Archives: October 2010

Signs Everywhere – John 2:11

Posted on by

“This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him.” During political campaigns, signs begin to be posted everywhere advertising a person running for a certain office. The miracle of turning the water into wine at the wedding at Cana was Jesus’ first miracle and a sign, as John referred to Jesus’ miracles. It was not a public miracle but rather a miracle to be seen and understood by a select few–His disciples. The miracles of Jesus that John included in his gospel were signs that attested to His identity as Messiah and Son of God and generally meant to lead unbelievers to faith (see vs. 23). The miracles or signs John writes about revealed Jesus’ divine nature by the performance of an exceptional or outstanding accomplishment: a large quantity/high quality of wine (2:6, 10), the official’s son healed over a long distance (4:47, 49–50), the invalid’s recovery from a 38-year medical condition (5:5), the large quantity of food produced (6:13), the man’s recovery from lifelong blindness (9:1–2), and the raising of Lazarus from the dead (11:17, 39). While these miracles showed the glory of Jesus as the sovereign Creator and ruler of the universe, He is still working personal and private miracles today in the hearts and lives of individuals. His signs are posted everywhere advertising that He can be your Savior.

When the Spirit Remains – John 1:32

Posted on by

“And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him.” The Holy Spirit did not just descend on Jesus, the Spirit remained on Him. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came upon people periodically to enable them to accomplish certain God-given tasks, communicate a word from God, or see a vision from God. However, Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would be full of the Spirit at all times: “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him” (Isaiah 11:2). With Jesus began the age of the Spirit. Jesus’ ministry was anointed by the Holy Spirit because He walked in the Spirit. Oh, that the Spirit of God would descend from heaven and remain on us!

Receiving is Believing – John 1:12-13

Posted on by

“He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” Have you ever tried to give someone advice and they were not interested in your help? You give the advice but it is not received. And if your advice is not received, then it must not have been believed in the first place. Although a person may know about Jesus, that person must receive Him to become a child of God. Whether or not John is saying in these verses that “receiving” is the same as “believing,” the point is that the right to become a child of God is bestowed by Christ based on an act of faith—believing that Jesus is God and that He came into this world as a human being and died as payment for your sins and was raised from the dead to eternal life so that you can receive eternal life.

The Importance of Bible Study – 2 Timothy 3:16

Posted on by

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” Can you imagine hearing the words that God has actually spoken? If you have a Bible, then you have in your possession the very words that God has spoken! If the Bible is the authoritative Word of God containing God’s spoken words and is easily accessible and available to you, then it should be something that you as a child of God want to hear, read, and study regularly. The Apostle Paul told Timothy that God’s spoken words–the Scriptures, or the Bible as we know it–are useful for teaching and training ourselves and others in the way of God’s righteousness. Futhermore, when you study and learn God’s words, then you will be a proficient messenger of God who is certified for performing good works in the name of the Lord.

God’s China Cabinets – 2 Timothy 2:20-21

Posted on by

“Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” Many homes have a china cabinet that holds the “good” dishes and flatware. These dishes and eating utensils have been set apart and specially cleaned and shined so that they are ready to be used at meals prepared for holidays and special occasions. In the kitchen there are drawers and cabinets with assortments of plates, cups, pots, pans, and cooking utensils that are used for the regular preparation and serving of meals. The challenge Paul presents to Timothy is that of how he will be used of God. Timothy and all of us will be used of God, but will it be as vessels for honorable use or vessels for dishonorable use? We get to make that choice! If we choose honorable use, then we must cleanse or purify ourselves by laying hold of the provision of grace and redemption that has been given to us by God and flee evil and pursue godliness (vs. 22). Choose to be a vessel of honorable use just like those good dishes in the china cabinet, specially cleaned (holy) and ready for any special occasion (every good work)!

Kingdom Profitability – 2 Timothy 1:14

Posted on by

“By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.” The Apostle Paul told Timothy to safeguard the gifts of the Holy Spirit that God had given him. Paul wanted Timothy to be bold in using the gifts of ministry entrusted to him through the in-dwelling power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We, like Timothy, are all like branch banks with whom God makes a deposit of His Holy Spirit for safe-keeping in our lives. We safeguard the gifts and grace of God entrusted to us by using them! A bank doesn’t make money by keeping all its deposits in the vault. A bank makes money by putting its deposits to work making loans and investments. Remember the teaching of Jesus in the parable of the talents. A master left money for each of his servants while he was gone on a long journey. Two servants invested the money and made more for their master while the other buried the money in a hole in the ground. The servants that invested the money were considered faithful and were entrusted with more responsibility while the other servant was considered unfaithful and sent away. Jesus said, “For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away” (Matthew 25:29). To be faithful in the Kingdom of God, you must be profitable. Put the gifts of the Holy Spirit entrusted to you by God to work for the growth of His Kingdom.

Fighting Faith – I Timothy 6:12

Posted on by

“Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called.” Faith is a fight, no a battle, no a war. You have to fight for the faith and sometimes people get hurt; sometimes people get killed (see Hebrews 11). But it is a fight we should engage in, we must engage in because it’s a fight worth having–it’s a good fight. Fight to stay faithful to God and in so doing, take hold of eternal life–grasp on to eternal life and don’t let go. Fighting for the faith is a matter of fleeing from sin and vigorously pursuing godliness. You are fighting for faith in the One Who holds eternal life, “who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality” (vs 15). Contend for the faith because its end is eternal life with God, “who gives life to all things” (vs. 13).

The Straight Path – 2 Kings 22:2

Posted on by

“And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left.” Moses told the people of Israel before they entered the promised land that in the future they may have a king who shall be chosen by the Lord. And the king over Israel “may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel” (Deuteronomy 17:20). King Josiah was an example of such a king. Josiah rebuilt the temple and re-established temple worship in Judah according to the Mosaic law. Josiah did not deviate from God’s law–he stayed on the straight path of obedience to God’s law and did not turn to the right or left, and he reigned peacefully over Israel for over three decades (vs. 1, 20). There is a path through life that leads straight to God and your life will be blessed if you choose the straight path and remain obedient to Him.

Godliness Training – 1 Timothy 4:7-8

Posted on by

“Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” The Apostle Paul tells Timothy that godlines requires training in the same way that one would train the body for a competitive sport. With godliness training a person receives eternal benefits–eternal life–while physical training only benefits a person in the present life. However, godliness training like physical training is rigorous and requires exercise and practice: “For to this end we toil and strive and suffer reproach” (vs. 10). So let us undertake the development of godliness in our lives with the same discipline that an athlete undertakes physical training.

Your Destiny, God’s Plans – I Kings 19:25

Posted on by

“Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass, that you should turn fortified cities into heaps of ruins.” Isaiah prophecied against Sennacherib, king of Assyria, at the request of Hezekiah, king of Judah. The Assyrians had already conquered Israel and its capital city of Samaria and now they were trying to conquer Judah. (They will fail in their attempt.) Sennacherib’s great mistake, however, was to imagine that what he had accomplished in all his military campaigns had been achieved in his own strength and not by the providence of God. In reality God had determined it long ago. God planned for Sennacherib to conquer fortified cities so his pride in his mighty accomplishments is only vanity. In fact, Assyria is merely the means to pronounce judgment on Israel for its disobedience. Similarly, God has determined plans and a purpose for your life–your destiny. Find out from God what it is and let Him use you to accomplish His will through your life.