Priority of Prayer

Acts 6:1-4

The Hellenists were murmuring that their widows were being neglected at the table when compared to the Hebrew widows.  Table in Greek (τράπεζα-trapeza) either can mean table for serving food or a money table.  The apostles were giving charity to the widows by means of either food or money.  A case can be made for either of the items.  In either case, the Hellenists (Greek Jews) were complaining their widows were being ignored.

The apostles discussed the matter as they “called the multitudes of the disciples unto them..”, who were the heads of the Christian churches in Jerusalem.  They reasoned it wasn’t good for them to leave their preaching and spiritual ministering to serve the tables.  They asked the brethern to look for “seven men of honest report,…” to whom they would give the responsibility of this business.

In v.4 comes the main point.  They stated, “we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.”  They first thing they would do is pray and how would they pray–continually.   I don’t believe continually means to always be praying.   When researching the word in Greek, it means to adhere to, to be attentive to, to persevere,  to be in constant readiness.  We should always be prepared to pray and that should be first on our list.

I want to leave you with two quotes, one of which I can’t remember the author.  I trust all of you will have a Blessed week.  Spend time in prayer every day.

We need to speak to God about men before we speak to men about God.

If Christians spent as much time praying as they do grumbling, they would soon have nothing to grumble about. -Anonymous

Someone recently asked to add to this topic, so here are some more thoughts.

My pastor recently stated the sins we commit after becoming a believer are all paid for at the cross. What happens then is we either serve the Lord in the flesh or in the Spirit. If in the power of the Holy Spirit we have reward. If we are in the power of self, those works (as good as they may be) will be burned as wood, hay and stubble. We believers need to start working in the power of the Spirit.

He has a great point here. I would add, we can be so busy “working for Jesus” that our relationship is weak. Maybe we need to re-enter the Joy of the Lord and rekindle that relationship. Victory is just a prayer (confession) away.

Forgiveness of sin is instant, even though we may not “feel” forgiven. The fact of the Word is that when we confess our sin, HE is faithful and just to forgive and to restore. The Lord forgives and restores at the point of agreement and confession of sin. Like a parent and child. Yet we still may have to go through the consequences of the actions of our sin however. For example, if we have a fit of rage and put our fist through a wall and then confess that sin, we still have to fix the hole in the wall.

It would be a Godly practice for believers to forgive others instantly and practiced walking in the Spirit. Life is to short to hold things against others. If the Lord forgives us, what would allow us to not do the same?

Practice keeping short accounts with God and with His people. More on this later…
Dr jim 

A friend of the school writes - 

Life has had many challenges at work for me since moving to _______.  The Lord has been molding me trying to teach me, and maybe even to prepare me for some task/challenge???  Whatever His reasoning, I know ultimately it is to bring HIM glory. 

I have had my moments of resistance, but He did not stop.  Consider the clay in the potters hands… the clay has defects in it that if not removed will ruin the project when it is placed in the heat of the kiln if not removed and worked with.  In fact, not only does that molded object get ruined, but often a nearby piece is damaged or destroyed as the shrapnel from the unprepared projects blows up.  The potter has to kneed the clay, pound it, work on it and separate the impurities, remove the air bubbles, and prep it for the heat it will endure.  Once the preliminary work is accomplished, then there’s the molding, shaping and building… if all it done right, when the clay is all prepared to go into the heated oven, it will come out as a vessel that can eventually be used as it was intended.  But that’s the first cooking… after the clay is hardened from the first kiln cooking, it must have glaze placed upon it for decoration and to seal it.  Without the glaze, the porous object won’t be able to hold liquids without the moister seeping through the dry clay.  This means a second heating in the kiln’s fire must occur.  Depending on the project and what the item will be used for, sometimes a 3^rd or 4^th heating is required.  But when it is all finished, the item is ready for use as the master intended it.

Some scriptures uses the clay and potter. 

Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.

Jer 18:4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make.

Jer 18:6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?” says the LORD. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!

 La 4:2 The precious sons of Zion, Valuable as fine gold, How they are regarded as clay pots, The work of the hands of the potter!

Ro 9:21 Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?

(nkjv)

+++++++
Thank you anonymous. Remember, What the Lord begins in the believer, He WILL finish. I also think of the clay getting too hard to mold and then may have to be broken. I want to be the usable vessel for the Lord Jesus Christ now.
Dr jim

Psalm 139

In this Psalm, David states four of God’s attributes:

& Omniscience (vv. 1-6)

& Omnipresent (vv. 7-12)

& Omnipotence (vv. 13-18)

& Holiness (vv. 19-24)

David talks about God’s omniscience as a fact, not questioning it or asking about it as he uses the words; “…thou hast searched and known me”, “Thou knowest my downsitting…”, “…art acquainted…”, “…thou knowest it…”.   He can’t hide from God’s omniscience as he states in v. 5.  He is before and behind as almost confining one; he knows every word we speak.  As David states in v. 6 such knowledge is so high we cannot attain it.

God is omnipresent.  Again, David is stating a fact, not asking a question.  David asks the questions, where can I flee your spirit or where can I escape from your presence?  He answers these questions in the next few verses by stating extremes.  From the highest of highs in heaven to the lowest of lows in sheol, where one can see God’s judgment and justice.  I can fly in the morning or go to the depths of the sea, but God will still lead in those places.  We try to hide in the darkness—do our dirty under the cover of dark, but dark is like day to the Lord.

God’s omnipotence is shown in creation in the forming of a baby in the mother’s womb.  David praises Him for He is “fearfully (not afraid, but reverence) and wonderfully (marvelously) made”.  And then David repeats it again, “…marvelous are Thy works…”.   He has seen our inward parts as He wove us together in the womb.  He has seen and known us from an embryo to when we are born.  He has known us before birth, so how can we hide from Him after we are born.  We can’t.

God’s holiness is so above us in that God will kill the wicked men as he cannot stand the sight of evil.  David’s desire is to be like God as he hates those who hate God and he is grieved when people rise up against God.  Finally, David asks for God to search him and try him to see if there be any wickedness in him.  He desires to be lead “…in the way everlasting”, which is to everlasting life.

If I have done something wrong, I can’t hide it from God.  He made me, knows me, and has many precious thoughts toward me.  God needs to be able to continually sift through my life and my heart to show me any un-Godly thoughts or actions.  He is my creator and Father.

Friends, don’t think you can hide your actions and thoughts from God.  God knows us and sees us.  Our hearts need to be inline with His in relation to wickedness.  We need to abhor and flee from it.

Forgiving and being forgiven.

There have been times that people have said, “you have to forgive yourself”. They still had sorrow for their sin. That is what sometimes comes from a sin that they feel is worse than other sins. I think I know what they mean however it seems that the theology of this statement lacks.

We know that all sin is heinous and deplorable to God but some sins do have more severe consequences than other sins (some even physical and emotional consequences). According to Romans 3:23 sin is anything that does not match the glory of God. If that is the case, how have we done so far today in that regard?

We really need to get back to good theology thinking. Instead of “you have to forgive yourself”, how about thanking God for His forgiveness instead? We can go boldly to the throne of grace and confess our sins and He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all un-righteousness (1John 1:9) that is an immediate thing even if we don’t feel forgiven the fact is that is what God said. So if I do not “feel” forgiven, am I saying that His forgiveness did not work? Is His grace and mercy real? Do I have to do a self-imposed penance to have fellowship again? Is His forgiveness a thing to wait for? Godly sorrow is not wrong however, we need to believe God about what Jesus did for us. This forgiveness is not cheap but it is granted to the repentant sinner.

Forgive your self? No, receive His forgiveness as He said He would do. Believe His word and act on His word. Confess (agree with God about your sin) drive a stake at that point in life, move away from that sin and move forward in sweet fellowship.

jim

(This is part two of a series started on September 8,2008)

In Brookes Bible Institute’s key verse, 2 Timothy 2:15, Paul exhorts Timothy to “study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed…” While the approval of God comes from the diligent study of the Word of God, the result of that study should always be ministry to others. Typically when Paul speaks of fellow workmen with him, he is speaking of those who labor together with him in the Gospel. As we read and study God’s Word today the effect should be identical. Are we about the work of the Lord? A better question of ourselves might be, “Are we about the work of the Gospel?” Many people today consider ministry to be something that it never was. First and foremost, the word ministry means to serve. It is actually more of the idea of being a slave. Paul considered himself a slave to the Gospel. It carries with it the idea of giving up of oneself. Christ put it this way to His disciples “If any of you are to come after me, he must first pick up his cross daily and follow Me.” How important are your life goals? How important are your self-interests? Are they worth giving up for the cross of Christ?

When you do give up and sacrificially live for Christ, you must continually ask yourself, “Is my life being lived so that the Gospel can be preached?” Are you telling people daily by either your own words, your lifestyle or your giving habits that Jesus Christ came to save sinners? That by His death, burial and resurrection that sin-fallen man may have a way of salvation through the spilled blood of His substitutionary sacrifice?

What are you working for? Are you working for the health, wealth and prosperity of others? Or Are you working for the Kingdom of Christ on this earth, ushering people into His Kingdom so that they might have life eternal? Paul tells Timothy that he needs not be ashamed of this gospel. Paul said in Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

In His Majesty’s Service,

Ben Olson

Psalm 3

A Psalm of lament written while David was fleeing from his son, Absalom.  How heavy can one’s heart can be when his own son conspires against him, obtains information from the father’s counselor, obtains the favor of the people, and then becomes king?  David must have thought, “What have I done to deserve this?”  In spite of all that was against him, I believe he truly felt he would return to the palace as he left 10 of his concubines (II Sam. 16:15). 

There are many that arise against David as Absalom’s following grows in numbers and people are saying there is no help in God.  David, who had been loved by the people and ruled with judgment and justice, was now being chased by some of them who were lead by his own flesh and blood. 

There are five things David states in the Psalm about God:

o        Safety—(v.3) “But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me…”

o        Honor—(v.3) “…my glory”

o        Joy—(v. 3-5) “…the lifter up of mine head…he heard me…the Lord sustained me.”

o        Calmness—(v. 6) “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people…”

o        Deliverance—(v.8) “Salvation belongeth unto the Lord…”

No matter what, I can trust in God.  He provides safety for me and I experience joy in Him.  My sin will not be without consequences.  As a result of David’s sin with Bathsheba and the killing of her husband, evil will be upon his house.  David immediately repented when shown his sin and God put away his sin, but not the consequences. 

In spite of insurmountable obstacles, as long as I remain humble before God I will have no fear because God gives deliverance.  He provides joy to us as he lifts us out of trouble and most importantly, God will always hear us—(v. 4) “I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill.”

You may be under a tremendous weight at work with a slave driver of a boss or having problems at home.  Don’t believe there is no way out, God will deliver you (v.4-6).  He will sustain you and lift you up (v. 3, 5).  He will deliver us as long as we put our trust in Him (v. 8).

(This is part one of a series; look for part two in three weeks.)

For many years we here at the Brookes Bible Institute have claimed this as our key verse. It is a part of our mission statement and intricately a part of everything that we do here at this school founded almost 100 years ago. There are many truths that can be taken from this advice that the aging apostle Paul gave to his youthful charge. Today, I will just focus on one of the key words. Paul told Timothy to study. This is in direct opposition in the context from those that utter “profane and vain babblings.” Those that just talk to here themselves speak, or worse, those that promulgate vain repetitions and nonsensical, mystical incantations. What was Timothy to study? From both the immediate context and the context of the remainder of the book, it is the Word of God. Timothy was commended for his understanding of the Holy Scriptures, which make one wise unto salvation (3:15). Also the writings of Paul, Timothy was to commit to faithful men who are able to teach (2:2). This gives us both the Old and New Testaments that are in view of what Timothy was to study.

The Brookes Bible Institute has had the desire since 1909 to commit to faithful men and women those things which have been learned in that faithful study. With foundations built by men like James Hall Brookes and his prodigy C.I. Scofield, and great teachers at this institute like Ken Wuest, J.H. Gauss and Robert Rill, these men have passed this learning on to this next generation, and we must now do likewise!

If we are to be workmen that are not ashamed, then it will only come through the diligent and systematic study of the Word of God. We cannot look to men who simply enjoy hearing the sound of their own voice. We cannot simply follow along with whatever the world is teaching. We must study and teach God’s word. As the scribe Ezra was preparing to lead a group of Jews back to the Holy land from Babylon Ezra 7:10 tells us that Ezra had “prepared in his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach in Israel…” How can we teach without being ashamed, unless we have first studied. As a scribe, Ezra certainly knew what it meant to diligently study. May we follow Ezra’s example and Paul’s exhortation, to study God’s Word to show ourselves approved.

In His Majesty’s Service,

Benjamin D. Olson

Proverbs 15

These Proverbs are a contrast between righteous and wicked lives.  Out of these 33 verses, three deal with the eyes; five with the ears; six with the mind, wisdom, or understanding; eight with the tongue; and eleven with the heart.  How we can either hurt or stir up strife with the tongue and love or hate with the heart.

There are many words used here to describe the wicked—grievous words, mouth of fools, perverseness, fool, etc.  In six of the verses, fool/foolishness and folly are used, meaning stupid or silly.  In over half of these instances, it is used in regards to wisdom or knowledge.  Someone who doesn’t have wisdom or knowledge is stupid or silly.

Ø      “but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness” v. 2

Ø      “the mouth of fools feedeth on foolishness” v. 14

Ø      “Folly is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom” v. 21

Ø      “A fool despiseth his father’s instruction” v. 5

The tongue can cause much damage if used incorrectly:

Ø      “grievous words stir up anger” v. 1

Ø      “but perverseness therein is a breach of the spirit” v. 4.  An evil tongue can wound and be vicious.

Ø      “but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things” v. 28

The little ditty we used to say as children has no truth to it, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never harm me.”  Words wound, hurt and stick around like a foul odor in the air.

From the heart is where one derives their values.  The heart of one who has understanding seeks after knowledge (v. 14).  A joyful face indicates we have a merry heart and a merry heart will have a continual feast (vv 13, 15).  Not literally eating all the time, but will enjoy blessings, joy, abundance, and will continually serve God with gladness of heart.

Contrastly, a sorrowful heart will show a broken spirit and God will destroy the house of the proud.  A proud person becomes puffed up spiritually and they believe they can do it themselves; they have no regard for the people around them, and magnify themselves.  God will destroy them in His time.

My heart needs to rejoice in the things of God and not things here on earth.  I need to be slow to answer or studious in my answer (v. 28), which in turn will make one wise and will be able to give a soft answer.  I, also, need to be understanding and seek after knowledge—God’s knowledge.

Brothers and sisters, don’t believe you can control the body yourself.  You need to seek God to be able to control the heart, mind, tongue, ears, and eyes.