Video Bible Lesson - Understanding the Old Testament by Ryan Duncan

1/2 Hour of God’s Power with Scott Ralls

2/11/2020

02/11/2020
Understanding the Old Testament
by Ryan Duncan
The Almighty--we cannot find him; he is great in power; justice and abundant righteousness he will not violate. – Job 37:23
Like many Christians, when the New Year started I resolved to spend more time reading my Bible. I had already spent most of the previous year combing through the New Testament, so I decided to start at the very beginning and make my way through the Old Testament. Maybe it’s a sign of how little I’ve read my Bible lately, but I had forgotten how brutal the Old Testament could be. In particular, I spent a lot of time going over the Old Testament laws and the punishments for breaking them. It baffled me that the smallest infraction on the most obscure law could often lead to exile, or even death.
If you’re like me, you probably found yourself questioning these pages of the Old Testament. After all, how could a loving God condemn someone so harshly for eating pork or working on the Sabbath? This is a question I still struggle with, but a verse in Deuteronomy helped me toward understanding it more.
"Do not say in your heart, after the LORD your God has thrust them out before you, 'It is because of my righteousness that the LORD has brought me in to possess this land,' whereas it is because of the wickedness of these nations that the LORD is driving them out before you. Not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart are you going in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations the LORD your God is driving them out from before you, and that he may confirm the word that the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. "Know, therefore, that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stubborn people.” –Deuteronomy 9:4-6
I think our problem is that humanity likes to look at the Bible (and history) through rose-colored lenses. We forget that back then there was no electricity, no internet, no police, no hospitals, and the ruling governments weren't all that interested in things like free speech or trial by jury. The Old Testament law was a harsh and rigid guideline because the Israelites lived in a harsh and brutal world. God knew that telling the early Israelites to "turn the other cheek" would eventually lead to their destruction, so he took measures to protect them until the world was ready to receive the Gospel of Grace through his Son. The Old Testament will always be difficult to understand, but that does not make God’s love for us any less true.
Intersecting Faith and Life: If there is something in scripture you do not understand, ask a pastor or bring it to your small group.

#Jesus, #Christian, #Bible, #Salvation, #Heaven, #God, #HolySpirit

The Fruitful Giver...........Dr. Charles Stanley

The Fruitful Giver

Dr. Charles Stanley

2 Corinthians 9:6-15

If you've ever visited Israel, you have no doubt experienced the contrast between the Jordan River and the Dead Sea. The banks of the Jordan are surrounded by trees and greenery, but nothing lives around the Dead Sea. The reason is that there is no outlet. When the water flows into that sea, it stays there. Eventually the salts accumulate and poison the water.

This is a vivid picture of two different financial plans. The Dead Sea compares to the world's system, which is based on accumulation and preservation of wealth. The goal is to get enough so you can have enough, but this approach results in self-centered stagnation. Christians who follow this plan mistakenly believe it's the path to security. But what they fail to understand is that hoarding makes their lives spiritually unfruitful and hinders the good works God wants them to do.

The Lord's financial plan is like a river that moves continuously. As His provisions flow into our lives, we pass them on to others. This results in a fruitful life centered on building God's kingdom. Perhaps you've realized that He promises to supply "bread for food"to those who give, but did you know He'll also provide "seed for sowing" (v. 10)? He supplies enough to live and enough to give.

Have you hindered your spiritual growth by sowing sparingly? If you become a generous giver, God promises to "increase the harvest of your righteousness" (v. 10). There are needs in the church and the world that He wants to meet through your generosity. Let His blessings flow through you.

You Don’t Get To Choose My Name!

You Don’t Get To Choose My Name!
ALICIA BRUXVOORT

“But you are a chosen people, set aside to be a royal order of priests, a holy nation, God’s own; so that you may proclaim the wondrous acts of the One who called you out of inky darkness into shimmering light.” 1 Peter 2:9 (VOICE)

I remember the long-ago day my three youngest kids decided to play in the backyard with a handful of baby dolls and a head full of imagination.

They spread a blanket across the green grass and settled their dolls on top of the patchwork fabric.

“This will be our house,” my 9-year-old said. “And I’ll be the mommy named Tabitha.”

Her siblings nodded in agreement, and the role play began.

“I’ll be the daddy,” my 6-year-old son chimed in. “And my name will be David.” He puffed out his chest as he proudly claimed the name of the shepherd boy who toppled a giant with a handful of stones and a heap of faith.

“Good,” Tabitha replied with a nod of her head. “We’ll need somebody to protect the babies.”

Finally, the preschooler spoke up. “I will be the babysitter,” she said with a dazzling smile. “You can call me Sparkling-Rose-Lovely-Mermaid-Princess.” She picked up a baby doll, flung it over her shoulder and burped it with a hearty slap.

“That doesn’t even sound like a real name,” her brother argued. “We’ll just call you Rose.”

“No!” my youngest one refuted. “My name is Sparkling-Rose-Lovely-Mermaid-Princess.”

Big sister dropped to her knees and offered a compromise. “That’s a very fancy name, but it’s really long, and it’s kind of hard to remember, so how about we call you Sparkling Princess?”

When the voices drifting through the kitchen window grew terse and tense, I headed outside to intervene.

But before I could keep the sweet game of make-believe from spiraling into a sour sibling spat, Sparkling-Rose-Lovely-Mermaid-Princess planted her hands on her hips and stomped her foot in frustration.

With a defiant shout, she declared, “I already know who I am, so you don’t get to choose my name!”

Immediately, the suggestions dwindled to silence. And a quiet lump formed in my throat.

I’m sure my youngest daughter didn’t recognize the steadfast wisdom wrapped in her spirited words, but I certainly did.

You see, for far too long, I allowed the voices around me or the circumstances in front of me to determine my name.

When victory eluded me, I was called a failure.
When my zeal kicked in, I was called too much.
When my cries for help grew too loud, I was called needy.
When my best efforts missed the mark, I was called not enough.

But as I studied Scripture and discovered who God says I am, I began to realize what Sparkling-Rose-Lovely-Mermaid-Princess already seemed to know …

As children of God, we don’t live by the names we are called; we live as the named and the called.

God has called us out of darkness into His glorious light. And He’s given us a name that doesn’t hinge on our circumstances or change with our mood.

1 Peter 2:9 says it like this: “But you are a chosen people, set aside to be a royal order of priests, a holy nation, God’s own; so that you may proclaim the wondrous acts of the One who called you out of inky darkness into shimmering light.”

Chosen and cherished, holy and His — this is who God says we are.

But, friends, like the feisty 4-year-old who refused to be swayed, we always have a choice.

We can let the world give us names that aren’t ours to claim. Or, we can tune our ears to the truth of Scripture and stake our confidence in the name that reminds us who we are, the name God speaks over us with lavish love and deep delight …

You are Mine. (Isaiah 43:1)

Dear Jesus, forgive me for all the times I’ve forgotten who I am. Help me to listen to Your voice over any other. I want to live as the woman You say I am. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Isaiah 43:1: “But now, this is what the LORD says — he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.’” (NIV)

A Prayer for Focused Quiet Time

A Prayer for Focused Quiet TimeBy: Asheritah Ciuciu

Be still and know that I am God! Psalm 46:10

Do you ever sit down to read the Bible, pray, or work on something important, and find yourself distracted by all. the. little. things?

Yeah, me too.

I was talking to a reader online this week, and she was sharing how hard it is to focus, especially when it comes to important things. I totally get it. It seems like the more important the task is, the more easily I get distracted.

So for you, and me, and my friend, and everyone else who lacks focus during daily devotions, I offer this simple prayer.

A Prayer for Focused Quiet Time

Oh Lord, You know my heart.

You know I sincerely want to grow closer to You and spend time with You, but I get so easily distracted. Like a silly sheep, my mind wanders, and I find my thoughts far from You.

Forgive me for my undisciplined thoughts. Forgive me for so often giving up instead of persevering despite my distraction. Forgive me for choosing the easy path instead of the more difficult, disciplined route. I really want to know You more. I want to spend time in Your presence, to learn to sit quietly at Your feet without a million thoughts distracting me.

Teach me, Lord, how to be still. Like a Good Shepherd, lead me beside still waters. Quiet my soul. Bring order and calm to the chaos in my mind, so that I can spend time in quiet and joyful meditation with You.

Thank You that you are willing and able to do these things, and that when I am weak, You are strong.

I love You.

Amen.

5 Ways to Spend Time with God When Life Gets Busy

5 Ways to Spend Time with God When Life Gets BusyBy Courtnaye Richard

“And let us not grow weary in well doing, for in due season we will reap, if we faint not.” -  Galatians 6:9

Life gets busy! Trust me. I know it. Some of us have kids, housework, errands to run, dinner to cook, extracurricular activities to drive our kids to, ministry responsibilities, and tasks that need our immediate attention. For some, there may be schoolwork that needs to get done (college or online courses for seminary) or deadlines from work that need to be met on time. Nevertheless, in the midst of all of our busyness, we have got to make time to spend with our heavenly Father. He longs for us to spend time with Him…no matter how busy life gets!

Are you busy today? Meaning, do you have a lot to do? Is your To-Do-List full to capacity? Let me ask you two more questions. Do you sense that God is calling you to a deeper walk with Him? Or are things great with you? If you’ve already created balance in this area, that’s great! But if not, or if you wouldn’t mind grabbing a few extra tips, here is a helpful list of 5 Ways to Spend Time with God When Life Gets Busy…

• Create a place in your home that is nice and peaceful, where you can sit down with a hot cup of coffee or tea to pray, talk to God, journal your thoughts or fresh insight from the Lord. Make sure to have your Bible, pen, and notebook ready to gain new revelation and encouragement from His word.
• Change scenes by visiting a local coffee shop or bookstore. Bring your Bible, books, a journal, and do your devotion there! Be open to share what you’re reading with someone who may just happen to walk up to you to ask what you’re studying or reading (this is a great way to be a light in the place, too).
• Simply be still in His presence. This can take place when you first sit up in bed in the morning or at some point in your day. It’s a moment when you purposefully stop what you’re doing and take a moment to just be still in His presence. It can even happen in your parked car, before rushing out of it to start the work day or errands. Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” He owns everything…including time. So spend it with Him. Take time to breathe and sit in His presence.
• Grab a Christian film from Wal-Mart, your local Christian bookstore, the Redbox, Netflix (they have a Faith and Spirituality movie section), from your video collection at home or go to your local theater and take a load off. Get some popcorn and just relax to a great wholesome film that will pour life into you. It’s a great way to escape your world of busyness and grow in your faith at the same time.
• Take a long ride. Get away for a little while. Get away from the housework, kids, hubby, fiancé, school work, assignments, To-Do-List, and take a ride. It’s a great way to talk to God, have a good cry, and/or a moment to just break away from the normal routine and regroup. Personally, I do all of the above!

And don’t forget to rest. The Bible tells us in Galatians 6:9, “And let us not grow weary in well doing, for in due season we will reap, if we faint not.” But it also tells us that Jesus is right there willing and ready to give us a time of rest in Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” So yes, we have work to do, and we do need to do what needs to be done. Quite naturally, life does get busy. BUT Jesus comforts us by reminding and nudging us that He will give us rest. Yesssssssssssss!

There is nothing like His supernatural rest. It just feels so good. But He also gives us wisdom to know when we need to slow down enough to spend time with our heavenly Father. Think about it. Even in all the work that Jesus did when He was here on earth, He still found time to rest and spend time with His Father in prayer. He knew that He could do nothing without being connected to Him. What a great example for us. We need to spend time with our Lord, even when life gets busy.

St. Polycarp: Christian Hero

St. Polycarp: Christian Hero
by Sarah Phillips

Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Matthew 5:12

Christian. When you hear the word, what images come to mind? It's too easy for me to approach the faith only in a modern context.

But there is so much more to professing faith in Christ than what we see today. Whenever I need a little dose of context, I read about heroic Christians from other eras. This week, I came across a Christian in a unique position: he was among the first generation of Church leaders after the apostles passed away.

St. Polycarp, a 2nd century bishop of what is now part of Turkey, was a disciple of John the Apostle. St. John, often known as the "beloved disciple," was privileged to stand at the foot of the Cross. He knew and cared for Mary, Jesus' mother. He was in the upper room after the Resurrection and was a member of the original twelve.

St. Polycarp was one of the first Church leaders who did not get to do any of these things. Perhaps this seems like an easy position to be in. After all, Polycarp knew those who witnessed Christ's life with their own eyes. But being a second generation Church leader wasn't a comfortable position. It meant you were entering unknown territory - territory filled with disputes and heresies that threatened to destroy Christianity in its infancy. These leaders had to place incredible faith in the Holy Spirit to guide them.

Not only did Polycarp and his peers face disagreements within the Church, but they also faced pagan persecution from the outside. During this time, Christians were called "atheists" because they rejected the predominant polytheistic beliefs of their culture. In these early days, pagans would burn Christian "atheists" or feed them to wild animals.

Polycarp stayed grounded by keeping his focus on Christ. He was known for being very tough on heresy but gentle on fellow believers who disagreed with him on non-essential details of the faith. When the eastern and western churches could not agree on how and when to celebrate Passover and Easter, Polycarp did not force the issue with other leaders when it became apparent that both approaches were true to the gospel.

St. Polycarp also relied heavily on a deep prayer life. He prayed specifically for people he encountered and the needs of his particular era. He was committed to leading his fellow Christians effectively and never sought glory for himself.

Although Polycarp was well-loved and respected by both pagans and Christians, he was keenly aware that one day he may face martyrdom. When his time finally came, he was already eighty-six years old, and he went willingly. He could have pledged his allegiance to Caesar to save himself, but instead Polycarp told his captors, "If you imagine that I will swear by Caesar, you do not know who I am. Let me tell you plainly, I am a Christian."

After his death, Christians kept his bones in his memory and as a reminder of the persecution the early Christians faced.

In some ways, Polycarp faced situations unfamiliar to us and yet in other ways, his story reminds us that the trials we face today are not as unique as they may appear. If we keep our focus on Christ and our days filled with prayer, we can continue the legacy the faithful left to us almost 2,000 years ago.

Intersecting Faith & Life:  Do you find yourself distracted from love of Christ because of bickering in your local church or challenges from those who don't believe? Take a lesson from Polycarp. Spend additional time in prayer this week to refocus, refuel and discern the best way to proceed.