LEARNING DAILY

Psalm 2:1-2, Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision. Then he shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure.

This Psalm begins with the Psalmist asking why “nations and people” reject and plot against God’s rule. The Psalmist is amazed that anyone can think he can fight against God, believe they can challenge Him in any way or escape the will of God. Yet, nations and people reject God and are intent on following evil. The Psalmist writes that these people plan to get rid of, overthrow “the Lord and His Anointed One”; but their planning is in vain. The word “rage” is a fitting description of people’s response to God; rage and anger are accurate responses toward God and all who follow Him.

When I consider these verses, I think of Pharoah’s attempts to reject God. After plague after plague, Pharoah eventually allowed the Hebrews to leave with Moses. You know what happened when the Egyptians caught up to them at the Red Sea. Moses told the people to stand and watch the glory of the Lord, that He would fight for them. He did. Note that God laughs at those who believe they can oppose His will.

The question written by the Psalmist is one that could be asked many times over the course of history by God’s people. Believers today should be very aware at the growing hatred of God and disrespect of His son Jesus Christ. Throughout the world Christians are persecuted and killed for following and worshipping Jesus Christ. In the United States the Bible has been taken out of the schools, the Ten Commandments taken down from most public places, and the influence of ungodliness, immorality, and evil has been promoted. Increasing persecution and the mocking of Christians is becoming too normal.

The increasing growth of evil is being flaunted and I wonder how much longer God will allow this to happen! Yet, He tells every Believer to stand and see His glory, just as He did for those Hebrews at the Red Sea. I wonder how close we are to the leaders of the world gathering together to plot in vain their attempts to remove God and His Son from the earth, along with all those who follow Him. I wonder how close the time is for the seven years of tribulation to come upon the earth that will see the Antichrist set himself in the temple as God.

There is no doubt a prevailing belief today is “good is evil and evil is good”; it is a growing thought. There is another verse of Scripture that causes me great concern in this regard. “My people are destroyed by their lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6). God wanted Israel to not only have knowledge of Him but to experience Him by faithfully walking with Him. All Believers must spend time with Him each day in His word, in prayer, and walking faithfully with Him on His narrow way.

Psalm 2 gives Believers insight to God’s attitude to what is happening around us. The satanic plans of the foolish, prideful people who think they can break away and prevent the sovereign rule that is coming is laughed at by Him. The Lord Jesus Christ is coming back as “the King of kings and Lord of lords. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.” Just think about the Gospel being preached for over 2000 years. God does not want anyone to perish. But with the ever growing evil and continued opposition towards everyone and everything godly, is the return of Jesus near? “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night!” Believer, you are a child of God by His grace alone. Walk the narrow way with Him daily, walking in His truth, safe and secure as you do! Stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready! (Pastor Ed Newton).

 

LEARNING DAILY

Matthew 16:24, “If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”  Jesus

I have written a number of times on this verse. Today let’s focus on the words I have placed emphasis on above, “If any man will come after Me”. It is important to know that everyone may come to Jesus. “No one really needs to come, but whoever does come, comes because he/she chooses to come” (A.W. Tozer). I really like the way Tozer states that. He continues, “Every man holds his future in his hand. He decides which way his soul shall go. He chooses, and destiny waits on the nod of his head. He decides, and hell enlarges herself, or heaven prepares another mansion. So much of Himself has God given to men.”

My imagination can run a little wild here. Jesus has been talking to His disciples about who people said He is and who they say He is. He has also told them He had to go to Jerusalem to be killed and then to be raised in three days. I imagine Him all of a sudden raising His voice and saying to them, “If any man will”. Jesus is not forcing anyone to come to Him, but He is calling all men and women at the same time. It is an invitation where everyone who hears to decide for himself or herself regarding how the invitation will be answered. Some will surrender and many will just go about their way. For those who said yes to the invitation, do you remember the circumstances? Did you hear thunder from heaven or some sign from heaven regarding an invitation? Or did you hear that quite voice of the Lord asking you to come to Him?

The invitation does come with the conditions that follow the invitation. There is no discussion to be had and no compromise to be made. Jesus wants everyone to come; in doing so, whoever accepts the invitation, agrees to the terms – “deny self, take up their cross, and to follow Him”. No compromise on this. No one enters the kingdom with a compromise because the kingdom of God would no longer be protected (Tozer). The choice is not complicated. It might be misunderstood. The choice is to come to Him as Savior and Lord or meet Him face to face as their Judge.

Just to go over the terms again – there is no pressure, no force. Jesus said “let him” who comes after Him deny himself. No one who follows Him is able to set himself/herself free from the self-centered life lived before coming to Jesus. That dying to self comes by taking up one’s cross. The cross is a place of death where one puts to death their own self-centered agenda and the beginning of what King Jesus has for their life. “Jesus did not die on the cross so we would not have to. Jesus died on the cross so that we would choose to do so also” (from an article I read once). Then the invitation comes to “follow Me”. Believers say “yes” to following Jesus every day. We say no to the devil’s attempt to get us to follow the old self. We follow Jesus on a narrow way into His kingdom by living the life He wants and following His guidance and His commands. It is non-negotiable!

 

LEARNING DAILY

Job 9:25-26, Now my days are swifter than a runner, they flee away, they see no good. They pass by like swift ships, like an eagle swooping on its prey.

We talk about time often around our house (at least I do). It seems like I just married my wife but that was many years ago. Our daughters have grown up, married and have created lives for themselves. And our grandchildren are grown up as well. It seems like the grandkids and I just put a tarp in the bed of the pickup so we could fill it with water to make our own swimming pool.

Pastor Matt Martin spoke at NorthRock Church this past weekend saying, “Our days are numbered; we only have so much time to make a difference”. Granddaughter Audrey wrote in her notes (She sends me her sermon notes each week!) “If we understood the concept of time, we would not waste our time”.  Matthew Henry wrote in his Commentary, “What little need have we of pastimes, when it runs so fast toward eternity!” I bring up the obvious when I write that every person’s time on this earth is short! How each person spends or uses that time is important.

We all know people that spend their time in quest for more – more money, more things, greater prestige through position. Solomon wrote in Ecclesiastes 6:2, “A man to whom God has given riches and wealth and honor, so that he lacks nothing for himself of all he desires; yet God does not give him power to eat of it, but a foreigner consumes it. This is vanity, and it is evil affliction.” A person striving for great wealth may get it but may never have the chance to enjoy it; all that is achieved goes to another when one dies. Filling one’s time with this pursuit and having another enjoy it seems to be a waste of time and even a tragedy.

The message given by Pastor Martin suggested that a person – especially a Believer – must never neglect their spiritual life. A Believer must not neglect their relationship with God in pursuit of other things. When true trials and trouble comes, it is not wealth nor position that will give comfort nor even give aid to overcome them. But the time spent cultivating one’s spiritual life, their relationship with the Lord will give real comfort and support during the trial.

 We have all made decisions and promises during times of emotional stress and trouble. Over time those decisions are forgotten because emotions created feelings that led to decisions that were not based on a Biblical worldview (From the message at Community Bible Church). No time had been spent developing a relationship with the Lord. Little, if any time, was spent considering the words of the Lord, trying to understand them to the best of their ability and no time was spent trying to live by them. Therefore, when the storms came, the trials came, and the winds blew, there was no strong foundation to stand on.

As believers, we must spend time developing our relationship with the Lord. We must walk the narrow way He leads us on. When we stumble or fall, get back up and continue to work on that relationship. Your days are numbered; you have only so much time to develop your relationship with the Lord and make a difference for those around you. This message was a great reminder to place your emphasis on the things that really matter for you and those around you! Never underestimate the importance and value of spending the time you have on building your life upon the Rock of Jesus Christ.

 

LEARNING DAILY

Proverbs 23:7a, “for as a man thinks in his heart, so he is,”

Pastor Newton, Lead Pastor at Community Bible Church, reminded us “what you believe will dictate what you do and what you do will dictate what you become”. He told us that the beliefs we have “are shaped by the following – experiences, encounters, environment” (from the Listener Guide). Can you remember an incident(s) or something that was spoken to you that has caused you to be fearful of something? If you can, you prove the point that pastor was making. For example, I can remember being told things about my abilities when younger; I did everything to prove those who said them were right. I also remember being laughed at when I was in grade school when giving an answer in class. I still feel uncomfortable giving an answer or talking in a group setting – even when I am quite competent with the answer or information I could give.

Pastor stressed for Believers to believe what God says about them and not believe what the world, those around us, and Satan says about us. Perhaps you have kept the verses written in a previous page of the blog that tell us who God says we are. I have a copy pinned to my wall beside my desk to look at when I need to be reminded. Who are you listening to? Each Believer must be in their Bible each day putting into their hearts what God not only says about you but how to live for Him.

“Living right begins with right beliefs” (Newton). Believers cannot allow other influences to dictate what they believe and how they live. It is extremely important to have a biblical worldview regarding their life. That means we live each day seeing all things as the Bible teaches; it does not end when a person steps out of church. One’s worldview determines how the person makes decisions each day; it determines the choices one makes! A biblical worldview affects every aspect of one’s life from money to living a moral life. The Bible states that the Christian life, the life Believers live walking a narrow way is the only life there is. Anything less is not acceptable. This biblical worldview must determine what we believe.

That should also be the driving force behind our emotions. “Without proper boundaries, emotions will control you instead of you controlling them” (Listener Guide). Pastor Newton stated that our emotions are driven by our thoughts. Believers, driven by a biblical worldview place boundaries on their emotions by “taking every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5) (Listener Guide). Believers want to have biblical principles control their thoughts because emotions create how we feel (anger, joy, etc.). Believers “must change the way they think of themselves in order to change their feelings. If you change your feelings, you can change your actions. And changing your actions – based on good thinking – can change your life” (Quote from John Maxwell on the Listener Guide).

For many years Philippians 4:8 has been a key verse for me. I am able to see that the things and people I have listened to have caused me to do the things I did. Pastor brought this verse up in his message and I believe that each person who reads this page of the blog should take time to memorize it and allow it to get down deep into their heart. I have written it many times and I do so again.

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.”

 If you do this and if you begin to have right thoughts about who God says you are, you can begin to change your feelings, change your actions and change your life! Pastor Newton promised to tell us next weekend how the Holy Spirit helps us do this.