10 Pentecost - Sunday
first posted 07/23/05
1 Samuel 23:7-18, David Escapes from Saul
Romans 11:33-12:2, Spiritual Riches
Matthew 25:14-30 Parable of the Talents
David had been fighting the Philistines at Keilah
(just a
few miles south of Adullam in the hill country of
David and his men, who now numbered six hundred,
left Keilah
and took refuge wherever they could. When Saul learned that David had
escaped
from Keilah, Saul gave up his plan to besiege the city. David took
refuge in the
Wilderness of Ziph (the Negeb, southwest of the
The spiritual riches of God are greater than we can measure and his wisdom and understanding are beyond human comprehension. His judgment and his acts are beyond reproach. Who has known the mysteries of God. The Lord has no need for human advice. What could a person give the Lord to repay him? All things have been given by him, through him and belong to him. He is worthy of eternal glory.
Realizing that, we should present ourselves as a living sacrifice (in contrast to the slain body of an animal), as the act of spiritual worship, which is holy and acceptable to God only because of his mercy to us. We must not be conformed to the ways of this fallen world, but tansformed by the renewal of our minds [a new understanding of spiritual reality through spiritual rebirth (John 3:3, 5-8) by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the risen Jesus (Romans 8:9b, Acts 9:4-6), who opens our minds to understand God’s Word (Luke 24:45)] so that we come to certain knowledge and demonstration of God’s good, acceptable and perfect will as we apply it in our lives.
Jesus described this life in the parable (an
ordinary experience
from daily life to convey spiritual truth) of the talents. The master
left his
resources in the stewardship of his servants, distributed according to
their
ability. To one he gave five talents (estimated at a thousand U.S.
dollars in
1952; a lot of money); to another he gave two talents, and to another,
one
talent. Then the master went far away and was gone a long time.
When he
returned, he summoned his servants to account for their stewardship.
The
servant who had been given five talents had invested it and gained five
talents
more. The master commended the servant for his faithfulness and
rewarded him
with greater responsibility and a share in his master’s glory and
success. The
master likewise commended the servant who had received two talents and
had
gained two talents more.
The third servant told the master that the servant
knew him
to be a hard man, who profited from the labor of others, so the servant
had
buried the master’s one talent and he returned it to his master. The
master
condemned his wicked servant for his wicked assessment of the master,
and for
neglecting to exercise the minimum standard of care for his
responsibility by
investing in the bank where it would have been safe and at least have
earned
interest. The master took the one talent from the wicked servant and
gave it to
the servant with the ten talents.
Everyone who recognizes what he has
been
given and by whom, and uses it responsibly, will be rewarded, but those
who do
not appreciate what has been entrusted to them and by whom, will loose
everything. The master ordered the wicked servant to be cast into outer
darkness where people will be in eternal grief and agony.
Saul had been the Lord’s anointed King of Israel, anointed with the kingship and with the Holy Spirit, but had not obeyed God’s Word, so the Lord took the anointing of the kingship and of the Holy Spirit from Saul and gave it to David (1 Samuel 16:13-14). Saul hadn’t listened to the council of Ahimelech, the priest, Saul’s spiritual advisor (1 Samuel 22:13-15). Saul had followed his own worldly goals and ambitions instead of the Lord’s will, and he had killed the priests and destroyed Nob, the “city of God” where the priests lived and the tabernacle, God’s “house,” was located at the time.
In contrast to Saul, David sought the council of the Lord’s Word through the one priest which God had delivered from execution by Saul’s servant, and whom David had offered sanctuary and protection. By the guidance of God’s Word, and by David’s obedience, David escaped from Saul’s plan to capture and destroy David. Saul continually sought to capture and kill David, but was never able to, because God was with David to protect him from Saul’s power.
What is our concept of God? Do we doubt his existence? Do we think God is dead? Do we suppose that he is removed from and indifferent to worldly affairs? Do we visualize him as an old man who can be deceived and manipulated to do what we want? Do we see him as a cosmic policeman who wants to keep us from having success, happiness, and pleasure in life?
Jesus Christ is the illustration, the demonstration, of God in human form; Jesus is fully God in fully human flesh (Colossians 2:8-9; John 20:28). Jesus came to demonstrate real, spiritual, eternal life, and to die as the only sacrifice acceptable to God, once for all time and all people who trust and obey him, for the forgiveness of our sins (disobedience of God’s will; Romans 3:23, 1 John 1:8-10), so that we wouldn’t have to die eternally (Romans 6:23), and so that we could be “born-again” (John 3;3, 5-8) to eternal life through the gift of his indwelling Holy Spirit within us, which he gives only to his disciples who trust and obey Jesus (John 14:15-17, 21, 23; see God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).
God is intimately involved in daily life in this world. God is the creator, owner, and sustainer of everything in creation; everything in the entire Universe. God’s plan and purpose for this creation has always been to create an eternal kingdom of his people who will trust and obey him. Jesus Christ, the Savior and eternal King, has been “built into” the very structure of creation (John 1:1-5, 14). This life is a selection process for God’s eternal kingdom, and we get to choose whether or not to accept his offer of forgiveness and eternal life in his Kingdom through obedient trust in Jesus Christ.
He came in Jesus Christ to show us what he’s like, and to show us how to live according to his will. Through the gift of his Holy Spirit he cleanses us from sin, and gives us the knowledge and understanding of his will and Word, and the power to live in obedient trust in his will and Word.
In a sense we are all God’s servants and this earth is his property. The Lord has given us every good and necessary thing. He expects us to be good stewards, realizing the value and the giver of his gifts and his goodness to us. Each of us will be personally accountable for what we have done with the life he has given us on this earth (Matthew 25:31-46).
Saul is an example of worldly rulers and those who
live according
to the world instead of living in obedience to God. Saul also
symbolizes Satan,
the supernatural ruler of this present world, who had been expelled
from heaven
for disobedience of God’s will (Revelation 12:12). Satan constantly
seeks to
destroy God’s children, but the Lord protects them by his power and
Holy
Spirit.
Both Satan and Saul have been dethroned and are spiritually
dead; they
just don’t acknowledge it yet. David is a forerunner and illustration
of the
Christ (so that we would know what to look for and recognized the
Christ when
he came), and Jesus is the Christ, the fulfillment of the promised
eternal
Savior and King.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Alternative
Entry
first posted
08/16/03
1Sam.23: (1-6), 7-18 Saul Pursues David
Romans11.33-12:2 The Riches, Wisdom and Knowledge of God
Matthew 25:14-30 Parable of the Talents
David was constantly pursued by King Saul, who
wanted to kill
him, but David constantly sought the Lord's guidance in every decision,
and the
Lord kept him out of the hands of Saul. David consulted the Lord before
intervening to protect the border town of
"O the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God!" (v.33a) God's wisdom is far beyond our understanding. "I appeal therefore to you brethren, by the mercies of God to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." (v.1) We should submit our lives to His perfect will, which is a reasonable service, considering that He is God and we are his creation. Don't follow the pattern of disobedience being practiced in this present world. Rather, let us allow ourselves to be changed in the way we think and in our heart-attitude, so that we can discover and experience "the good, acceptable and perfect" will of God.
The Parable of the Talents illustrates how it is in our best interests to serve God's will and follow His instructions. God has given each of us gifts which He intended for us to use to serve Him, and His instruction is for our best interest. When we are faithful stewards we will be greatly rewarded, but if we think we'd rather use those gifts for our own purposes, we will wind up with nothing!
It is tempting to think that we know what's best for us and that we can find our own satisfaction in life, but that is a delusion. There is no greater joy in all the world or in all eternity than in serving the Lord!
10 Pentecost - Monday
first posted 07/24/05
1 Samuel 24:1-22, David Spares Saul’s Life
Acts 13:44-52, Jews’ Jealousy of Paul
Mark 4:1-20 Parable of the Sower
King Saul continued to pursue David’s
assassination. When he
learned that David was in the
David’s men saw this
opportunity as
the fulfillment of prophecy that the Lord would deliver his enemy into
David’s
hand. David approached Saul stealthily and was able to cut off the
fringe of
Saul’s robe while Saul was occupied with his toilet. But afterwards
David felt
guilty. David felt that regardless of Saul’s wickedness Saul had been
anointed
and installed as king by the Lord, so David prevented his men from
using the
opportunity to kill Saul.
When Saul left the cave, David came out and called
to Saul,
acknowledging him as his lord and king. David bowed to Saul. David told
Saul
not to believe those who said that David sought Saul’s injury. David
showed
Saul that he had come close enough to kill Saul, by removing the fringe
of
Saul’s robe, but had spared Saul, because Saul was the Lord’s anointed. Saul should therefore acknowledge that there
was no evil or treason in David.
David had done nothing evil to deserve
Saul’s
punishment. David consigned his vengeance to the Lord. An ancient
proverb said
that wickedness is the product of the wicked. David could not be
considered
wicked based upon his conduct, so why was Saul pursuing David, who was
no
threat whatsoever to Saul? David was content to let the Lord be his
judge, his
advocate, deliverer and avenger.
Saul was ashamed and acknowledged his wicked intent toward David, in contrast to David’s righteousness. Saul admitted that David’s conduct did not deserve Saul’s enmity. Saul realized that the kingdom belonged to David. Saul asked that when David had become king that David would not destroy Saul’s honor and his descendants. David promised to do as Saul had requested.
Paul was on his first missionary trip, with
Barnabas, and
arrived at Antioch (of Pisidia) in Asia Minor, north of Pamphylia in
the Roman
province of Galatia (in present-day Turkey) Paul had preached the
Gospel of
Jesus Christ in the synagogue, and had been invited to return the
following
Sabbath. Almost everyone in the city had gathered to hear Paul preach,
but the
Jewish religious leaders were envious of Paul for the crowd which had
gathered
to hear him, and they reviled and contradicted Paul publicly.
Paul and
Barnabas
said that they had fulfilled their responsibility to declare the Gospel
to the
Jews first, but since the Jews rejected the message and the gift of
eternal
life they would proclaim it to the Gentiles. Paul quoted the prophecy
of
Habakkuk 1:5 showing that God had intended the Jewish people to be a
source of
spiritual enlightenment and eternal salvation to the Gentiles through
the
Jewish Messiah, Jesus Christ.
The Gentiles rejoiced and glorified God’s Word and
many
believed the Gospel and the hope of eternal life. The Gospel spread
throughout
the region, but the Jews enlisted the support of prominent and
influential
Jewish men and women and stirred up persecution of Paul and Barnabas,
driving
them away. But Paul and Barnabas “shook of the dust from their feet
against
them and went on to Iconium” (southeast of
Jesus was teaching a crowd on the shore of the
In the parable of the sower (one who broadcasts seed)
seed
fell on various types of soil. Some fell on the path, which was
compacted and
hard. Birds came along and ate the seed. Other seed fell on rocks where
it
sprouted quickly but then withered in the heat of the sun because of
lack of depth
of soil to sustain it. Some fell among thorns, and as it grew the
thorns choked
the seed and it failed to produce a harvest. But some seed fell in good
soil
and produced a harvest many times greater than the original seed.
Privately his disciples asked him to explain the parable, and Jesus said that the secrets of God’s kingdom were revealed to his disciples, but that Jesus taught in parables so that people were free to not understand, if they chose. Jesus told them that the seed is the Word of God. The soils represent the hearers. Some, like the soil on the path, hear the Word of God, but Satan immediately takes it from them. Rocky ground represents those who hear and receive God’s Word with joy, but they don’t grow and develop spiritual roots, so at the first taste of tribulation or persecution they fall away. Thorny soil represents those who let worldly cares and pleasures choke out God’s Word so that it doesn’t produce a harvest. The good soil represents those who receive God’s Word and nurture it by applying it in their lives so that they grow to spiritual maturity and produce an abundant harvest of spiritual multiplication beyond their own lives.
What we do reveals who we are and what we believe.
Saul was
doing what seemed right in his own judgment, without the standard and
guidance
of God’s Word and God’s Spirit. God’s Spirit had been taken from him,
because
he did not obey God’s Word, and had been given to David (1 Samuel
16:13-14).
In
contrast, David was guided by God’s Word and Spirit, and did what was
right in
God’s judgment. Wickedness is produced by the wicked. Righteousness is
the
product of the righteous. David returned Saul’s evil with good and left
judgment and vengeance to the Lord. David’s righteousness led Saul to
repentance and to Saul’s obedience of God’s will. Saul accepted his
replacement
by David as the Lord’s anointed.
Paul and Barnabas were examples of righteousness.
They were
guided by God’s Word and God’s Spirit within them as David had been. In
David’s
time the anointing with the Holy Spirit was a rare event limited to a
few
prophets and leaders of God’s people, but since Jesus’ resurrection the
Holy
Spirit is given to all Jesus’ disciples (Joel 2:28; Acts 2:17-18) who
trust and
obey Jesus (John 14:15-17).
Paul and Barnabas were trying to share the
goodness
and blessings of the Gospel of forgiveness and eternal life with their
fellow
Jews, but the Jews responded with wickedness against them. In response
to
persecution Paul and Barnabas obeyed the Lord’s word to shake the dust
from
their feet and go on to the next town (Matthew 10:14-15). When the Jews
rejected the message of salvation and eternal life Paul and Barnabas
took the
Gospel to the Gentiles.
Some of the Jews were jealous of the popularity of the preaching of Paul and Barnabas. They saw them as rivals for their position and power over the people, like King Saul had regarded David. They stirred up persecution and drove Paul and Barnabas away, but others had been eager to hear the Gospel; they believed and they experienced the blessings and joy of the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit and the assurance of eternal life. The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee that we are in Christ and have eternal life (2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13-14; Romans 8:9b, 11, 15-16).
So many people were coming to Jesus to hear the Gospel and receive healing that he had to preach from a boat to keep from being crushed and trampled. Some were coming only for what Jesus could do for them physically at the moment (see John 6:26-27). Jesus’ physical healing and feeding were intended to show that he is able to feed and heal spiritually which is of benefit now and eternally.
The parable of the sower illustrates the response of various types of hearers of Jesus’ gospel. Only those who hear Jesus’ message and apply it in their lives, who nurture it and allow it to grow to maturity, so that it produces a harvest of eternal life, receive spiritual healing and spiritual life through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
God’s Word is in parables, so that people are free to accept or reject it. God’s Word is not like our word; it is a powerful and actively creative force (Hebrews 4:12). The entire universe was created by God’s Word (Genesis 1:3). The Lord could command us to obey him, but he wants us to be able to choose for ourselves to obey him. He wants us to be able to see but not perceive; to hear but not understand, if we choose. That is why Jesus referred to himself as the Son of man; it is true (he is God, the Son of man, begotten by the Holy Spirit; Colossians 2:8-9; Matthew 1:20-23) and it allows his hearers to decide for themselves who Jesus is (with a hint from Daniel 7:13-14).
When people commit to trust and obey Jesus, their minds are opened to understand the scriptures, by the indwelling Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the risen, ascended Jesus (Luke 24:45; Romans 8:9b).
David, Paul and Barnabas are examples of believers
who
nurtured God’s Word and allowed it to grow to spiritual maturity,
producing the
fruit of righteousness; they’re examples of “good soil” What kind of
“soil” are
you?
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and
obeying
Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first
truly
believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and
teaching
them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know
with
certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians
1:13-14)?
Alternative Entry
first posted
08/17/03
1Sam. 24:1-22 David Spares Saul's Life
Acts 13:44-52 Paul at
Mark 4:1-20 The Parable of the Sower
King Saul set off again after David with superior
forces, to
kill him (because Saul was jealous of David's popularity). David and
his men
were hiding in the wilderness in a cave which Saul happened to choose
when he
went to relieve himself. David came stealthily up behind Saul and cut
off the
hem of Saul's robe without him being aware of it.
David easily could
have
killed Saul at that moment and ended Saul's unjust persecution of him.
But
David respected the Lord's anointing of Saul, even though Saul had
turned from
following the Lord and the Lord had anointed David to replace Saul.
David had
returned good for the evil Saul had done, even though Saul had repaid
David
with evil for all
the good David had done toward him. David
left it up the the Lord to judge and
settle accounts.
Saul's conscience was convicted by David's goodness and Saul repented
of his
own evil behavior and reconciled with David.
Paul's preaching in Antioch of Pisidia had resulted in the Christian conversion of Jews and Gentile converts to Judaism, but other Jews were stirred up by jealousy to contradict and oppose Paul. Paul answered: "It was necessary that the Word of God should be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it from you and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we turn to the Gentiles. For the Lord has commanded us saying 'I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the uttermost parts of the earth.'" (v.46-47) This made the Gentiles happy, but the Jews stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them from the district. Paul and Barnabas just continued on their mission.
The parable of the sower illustrates that those who proclaim the Gospel are only responsible to faithfully proclaim it. God is responsible for the life-giving power of the Gospel. Those who hear it are responsible for their response to it.
10 Pentecost - Tuesday
first posted 07/25/05
1 Samuel 25:1-22,
David and Abigail
Acts 14:1-18, Mistaken for "gods"
Mark 4:21-34 Parables of the Kingdom
Samuel, priest, prophet and last of the judges of
David went down into the wilderness in the
vicinity of Maon (probably
the Negeb; in
Nabal claimed he had never heard of David, the son
of Jesse,
He claimed that there were many servants rebelling against their
masters and
forming gangs. Nabal refused to give to these men who whose origins and
motives
he didn’t know, provisions he had prepared for his servants So David’s
men
reported back to David, and David told his men to arm themselves. David
and
four hundred armed fighting men went to
One of Nabal’s servants told Abigail, Nabal’s wife
in Maon
that David had sent men to greet Nabal and Nabal had reviled them and
treated
them rudely, even though David’s men had treated Nabal’s servants
fairly and
had protected them in the wilderness. Nabal’s servant warned Abigail
that
trouble was coming upon Nabal and his entire household, and the servant
knew
that Nabal wouldn’t listen to reason.
So Abigail hurriedly gathered up
two
hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five butchered sheep, five
measures
of parched grain, a hundred clusters of raisins and two hundred cakes
of dried
figs. This was all loaded on donkeys and she told her servants to go
ahead of
her and she would follow, going to meet David as he and his army came
toward
them. She didn’t tell her husband, and they took a route concealed
behind a
hill which prevented her husband from seeing them. David had vowed
that, since
Nabal had returned evil for good, David and his men would kill every
male of
the house of Nabal by the next morning.
Paul and Barnabas had been driven from Antioch of
Pisidia by
persecution by the Jews, but they went on to nearby Iconium, the
capital of
Lycaonia (a Roman province in Asia Minor; present-day
Paul
and
Barnabas stayed for a long time, despite opposition, preaching the
gospel
boldly, which the Lord confirmed by many miracles done through them.
But the
city was divided between the Jews and the Apostles. When they learned
that a
group of Jews and Gentiles, and people in authority, planned to stone
them, Paul
and Barnabas fled to Lystra and Derbe (other nearby cities of the
province)
where they continued to preach the Gospel.
At Lystra there was a man born crippled who had never been able to walk. When Paul saw him Paul realized that the man had the faith to be healed, so he told the man to stand up. The man did has Paul told him and began to walk.
When the crowd saw what had happened they declared
that Paul
and Barnabas were "gods" in human form; they called Paul “Hermes” and
Barnabas
“Zeus.” The priest of the
When Paul and Barnabas realized what was
happening, they
tore their garments (a sign of ritual mourning) and rushed out into the
crowd,
telling them that Paul and Barnabas were just mortals, and urging them
to turn
from the useless worship of idols to worship the true and living God,
the
creator of everything in the Universe.
Paul told them that in the past
God had
overlooked spiritual ignorance, but the generous blessings of his
creation
testified to the goodness of the creator. With this, Paul and Barnabas
were
barely able to restrain the people from their attempt to offer a
sacrificial
offering to Paul and Barnabas.
Jesus taught the crowds in parables (examples from
ordinary
life experience to teach spiritual truth). Jesus said that a lamp is
not lit
and then hidden under a basket or under a bed. Nothing can be hidden
that will
not be revealed by the light.
Jesus said if one has ears that hear he
should
use them to listen (and apply what he hears). One must be careful what
he hears
(what and who he listens to); everyone will be accountable for his own
deeds.
Those who realize and appreciate what they have will be given more; but
those
who do not, will loose even what they think is theirs.
Jesus said that the
The
Jesus always taught in parables to the crowds who came to hear him, but he explained the parables to his disciples when he was alone with them.
Nabal is an example of a worldly man who had many
blessings:
an intelligent and beautiful wife, wealth, success, and authority over
many
servants, but who did not appreciate that he had been blessed, and did
not
acknowledge who had blessed him. David was a representative of the
Lord, the
Lord’s “anointed,” (1 Samuel 16:13-14) who had been given authority
from God to
govern
Nabal thought that he was
better and
smarter than those who worked for him, but they could see what was
about to
happen and Nabal was oblivious. There was a time coming soon when Nabal
would
be accountable to David, and what he thought was his would be taken
from him.
The people of Lystra were spiritually ignorant;
they
worshiped things they had made. They were receptive to hear about God
who came
to earth in human form, but until Paul and Barnabas came they had never
heard
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They mistakenly were ready to worship the
messengers, the servants of the Lord, but they heeded the teaching of
Paul and
Barnabas when they were corrected.
The crippled man was healed because
he
believed the Gospel and he acted on it in faith (obedient trust). The
Lord was
merciful to overlook their past spiritual ignorance, but now that they
had
heard the Gospel they were accountable to the Lord for how they
responded to
it.
The people of Iconium heard the Gospel from Paul and Barnabas and some of them believed the teaching of Paul and Barnabas, but some of them believed the erroneous teaching of those who had rejected the Gospel, who claimed to know God, but who had failed to recognize Jesus as the Son of God and God’s promised Savior and anointed King (Christ and Messiah both mean “anointed,” in Greek and Hebrew, respectively).
Jesus warned that it matters eternally what and who we listen to, and what we do with what we’ve heard. Those who recognize the blessings of the goodness of creation and gift of God of forgiveness and eternal life, through faith (obedient trust) in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), will receive more: eternal life in paradise with the Lord and every spiritual blessing in heaven. But those who don’t realize that everything they have is a gift by the love and mercy of God will loose all the material things they think they possess, and also their immortal souls and the opportunity for eternal life.
David is the forerunner and illustration of Christ. Christ has sent his servants to proclaim blessing and peace with God, and to ask for a return of a portion of his blessings and the acknowledgement of his authority. But those who treat his servants with abuse and disrespect and refuse to give him the offering of a tithe of their blessings will face his wrath and judgment on the day of his return, the Day of Judgment.
Jesus warned that there is a Day of Judgment coming, when everyone who has ever lived will be accountable to the Lord for what each has done individually in life, and what they have done with the Word of God, the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus is the light of the world who will expose the things we think are hidden and that we think will never be found out.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Alternative Entry
posted
08/18/03
1Sam.25:1-22 David and Abigail
Acts 14:1-18 Mistaken for "gods" in Lystra
Mark 4:21-34 Parables
of the
David, the Lord's anointed king to replace Saul,
was in
exile in the wilderness. He was, in a sense, the legitimate government,
but
Saul still held the throne and sought to kill David. David and his army
of
about 600 men were providing the only law enforcement in this frontier
area. Nabal, a very wealthy businessman in
the region benefitted greatly from
protection from bandits, but wasn't willing to provide any
support for
David and his men.
Nabal was very wealthy
but he wasn't
very smart. His servants could see what was going to happen, but their
master
was so ill-natured that he would not listen to anyone, so the servants
went to
his wife, Abigail. She was beautiful and intelligent and quick to see
the what
was going to happen, so she prepared provisions and took them to David
herself.
As Paul and Barnabas continued their missionary journey they preached at Iconium and many believed. The Lord worked numerous miracles through Paul and Barnabas there, but opposition arose and the city was divided into two groups: those for the Gospel and those opposed to it. Paul and Barnabas were driven out and went on to Lystra, where Paul healed a man who had been crippled from birth. When the crowds saw what had been done they hailed them as "gods" and were going to offer sacrifices to them. Paul and Barnabas were barely able to restrain them.
Jesus taught the people in parables, not to hide the truth, but to allow his hearers to discover it for themselves. That way anyone who wanted to hear could, and those who didn't didn't have to. Jesus' parables of the kingdom show that God is the Lord of the harvest. We can scatter the seed (faithfully proclaim the Gospel), but everything else is in God's hands. We can't make seeds sprout and grow, but if we keep scattering seeds, eventually the harvest will come. Tiny seeds will eventually bring forth a great harvest.
Nabal was rich, but not smart. No one could tell him what he didn't want to hear. His servants could see what was going to happen but Nabal couldn't. Abigail was not like her husband. She heeded the servants and saw what needed to be done and did it. People likewise is respond to the Gospel in different ways. Some are Nabals, some are like the people of Lystra, some are Abigails. Some people respond in anger, and persecute the "messenger". Sometimes people are too enthusiastic in the wrong way, glorifying the preacher rather than the Lord. Some hear the Word, see the truth in it, and make the necessary preparations.
10 Pentecost - Wednesday
1 Samuel 25:23-44,
Death of Nabal
Acts 14:19-28, Stoning of Paul
Mark 4:35-44 Jesus Calms the Sea
Abigail had been told by her servants that her
husband,
Nabal, had refused to provide provisions for David and his men, who
were
providing peace and protection for the region, and that David would
come to
avenge himself. She prepared a large amount of food and she and her
servants
went out to intercept David. When she came to David, she bowed and
humbled
herself before David, and interceded for her husband.
Abigail told
David that
the character of her husband, whose name means “fool,” was the same as
his
name. Abigail swore that the Lord was restraining David from committing
sin by
taking vengeance upon Nabal himself, and she prayed in faith that the
Lord
would avenge all the enemies of David as he would Nabal. Abigail asked
David to
accept her gift of provisions and she declared her faith that David was
fighting the battles of the Lord, would be protected and preserved by
the Lord,
and that David would not be found guilty of evil. The Lord would bless
and
prosper David in his endeavors and would afflict and punish David’s
enemies.
David praised and thanked the Lord for sending Abigail to David to keep him from committing sin and taking vengeance into his own hands. If Abigail hadn’t intervened David would have destroyed every male of the household of Nabal. David accepted Abigail’s offering, and granted peace to her household.
When Abigail returned to her home her husband was holding a lavish feast and was extremely drunk, so Abigail told him nothing until the next morning, when he had sobered up. When Abigail told him about her intercession with David, Nabal had a heart attack or stroke and became unconscious or paralyzed, and died ten days later.
When David heard Nabal had died, David praised the
Lord for
avenging David, for preventing David from sinning in seeking vengeance
himself,
and for giving Nabal what he deserved. David sent his servants to
Abigail to
ask her to join David and become his wife, and Abigail accepted,
telling them
she was unworthy to wash the feet of David’s servants. She and five
female
servants went to David and he and Abigail were married. David also took
another
wife, Ahinoam, of Jezreel (in
Paul and Barnabas were on Paul’s first missionary
journey.
They had been driven from Antioch of Pisidia and Iconium (in Asia
Minor;
present-day
The next day Paul and Barnabas went on to
near-by
Derbe, where “they preached the gospel to that city and… made many
disciples”
(Acts 14:21). They returned to Lystra, Iconium and
Jesus had been preaching to a huge crowd on the
shore of the
Jesus
awoke and commanded the wind, saying “Peace, Be still” (Mark 4:39) and
the wind
ceased and the sea became calm. Jesus asked why his disciples had been
afraid;
had they no faith? The disciples were amazed and asked among themselves
who
Jesus must be, that even wind and sea obey him.
Abigail was a servant of the Lord. She recognized that David was leading the Lord’s army and fighting the spiritual battle in the name, power and guidance of the Lord. She had faith that the Lord would bless and prosper David and would punish David’s enemies. She interceded with David to leave vengeance on Nabal to the Lord and the Lord did as she believed he would.
David is an example of a servant of the Lord, and a leader of the Lord’s servants, who is fighting a spiritual battle in this world The Lord’s servants must learn to not allow personal emotions to cause us to take vengeance into our own hands, but instead to rely on the Lord’s guidance and power. David is also an illustration of a servant of the Lord who, although he has been designated as the Lord’s “anointed,” is willing to listen to reason and to accept correction even from those who are lower in authority than himself.
David also is a forerunner and illustration of the Christ. Jesus is the anointed Messiah and eternal King. He withholds, for now, his anger and vengeance against his enemies, who are fools like Nabal, who refuse to listen to reason. Jesus is King and Lord, and he sends his servants offering peace and forgiveness to the people of this world, but those who refuse to accept his peace and forgiveness, who refuse to give him an offering of what he is entitled to receive, and who insult and abuse his servants, will receive what they deserve on the Day of Judgment when Jesus returns in power and glory as the King of kings and Lord of lords (Matthew 25:31-46; See God’s Plan of Salvation, sidebar, top right).
Paul and Barnabas are examples of servants of the
Lord; they
were “born-again” (John 3:3, 5-8) disciples of Jesus Christ. They came
proclaiming good news of peace, reconciliation with God and eternal
life in
Heaven, through obedient trust in Jesus Christ. The Jews who opposed
the gospel
are like Nabal; they refused to listen to reason, and they treated the
Lord’s
servants shamefully. They tried to stone Paul to death, but the Lord
was with
Paul, preserved him and prospered Paul’s ministry despite the
opposition of his
enemies.
Paul and Barnabas proclaimed the gospel with great boldness
and courage
in the face of great persecution. Paul returned to the cities where he
had been
persecuted, in order to strengthen the new disciples and organize the
young
congregations. Paul didn’t seek his own vengeance but trusted in the
Lord to
protect him and punish his enemies.
Jesus is the Lord of Creation. Jesus is the
embodiment and
fulfillment of God’s Word (1 John 1:1-5, 14); he was attendant with God
at
creation, and has been “built into” the very structure of Creation.
When Jesus
speaks, his words are the Word of God, with the creative force of
God’s Word
(Hebrews 4:12; John 14:24).
Jesus could
command us to
obey, but he wants us to choose to obey him. That is why Jesus referred
to
himself as the Son of man, so that his hearers could decide for
themselves who
Jesus is, with a hint from Daniel 7:13 (compare Acts 1:9, 11). Jesus is
God,
the Son of man (John 20:28; Colossians 2:8-9), conceived in Mary by the
Holy
Spirit (Matthew 1:20-23). Jesus is able and faithful to protect and
prosper his
disciples in any tribulation or persecution.
Jesus’ disciples had
been growing,
through constant daily presence with him, in their understanding of who
Jesus
is. They had witnessed many miracles, and yet were amazed that Jesus’
word
could command obedience from the forces of nature. The disciples were
forced to
re-examine who they understood Jesus to be.
Who do you say that Jesus is? Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20) ? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
posted
08/19/03
1Sam. 25:23-44 Abigail Comes to David
Acts 14:19-28 Paul Stoned; Left for Dead
Mark 4:35-41 Jesus Calms the Storm
Nabal, a very wealthy
businessman,
had refused to contribute to the support of David's army, which had
been
protecting Nabal's assets from bandits.
David was
angry and was preparing to take vengeance on Nabal.
Nabal's wife Abigail was intelligent and
saw what was going
to happen, so she took a large gift of
food to David for the support of his men, and was able to prevent
David's
attack on the house of Nabal.
In talking
to David,
Abigail expressed her belief that the Lord would protect the righteous
and take
vengeance on the wicked. "If men rise up to pursue you and to seek your
life, the life of my lord (David) shall be bound in the bundle of the
living in
the care of the Lord your God; and the lives of your enemies He shall
sling out
as from the hollow of a sling (as from a slingshot)." (v.29) She also told David that by leaving the
vengeance to the Lord, David would not have guilt later for taking
vengeance in
his own hands.
When Abigail returned home she found Nabal
partying and drunk. She waited until the next morning to tell him, and
when he
heard, he had a stroke and died ten days later. When David heard Nabal had died, he sent his men to ask Abigail to come and marry him.
Jews from
Jesus and his disciples were crossing the sea (of
If we are in the Lord, if we have committed ourselves to His Lordship, we can rely on him to bring about justice ultimately. Ultimately we will be vindicated. We need not fear persecution or even death, because Jesus has been given all power over death. If Jesus is in the boat with us, we'll be OK.
10 Pentecost - Thursday
first posted 07/27/05
1 Samuel 28:3-20,
Saul Consults the Witch at Endor
Acts 15:1-11, The Circumcision Party
Mark 5:1-20 The Gerasene Demoniac
Samuel, the priest, prophet and last judge of
Saul sought guidance and reassurance from the Lord
but the
Lord did not reply by dreams, prophets or by sacred lots (Urim and
Thummim).
Saul had previously driven mediums and wizards out of
Saul disguised himself and went to
the woman at night, with two bodyguards. Saul asked the medium to
summon the
spirit of Samuel. The medium told him that Saul had cast the wizards
and
mediums out of
Samuel asked Saul what he wanted, and Saul told him that the
Philistines were about to engage Saul’s army and Saul had not been able
to hear
a word from God. Samuel asked why Saul was asking Samuel, since the
Lord had
stopped answering Saul and had become Saul’s enemy. Samuel told Saul
that this
was the fulfillment of Samuel’s prophecy to Saul that the Lord would
take the
kingdom from Saul, because Saul had not obeyed God’s command to
completely
destroy Amalek (1 Samuel chapter15). Samuel told Saul that he and his
sons
would die at the hands of the Philistines the next day, and his army
would be
conquered. Saul fainted with fear at this prophecy, partly because he
had been
fasting for twenty-four hours.
Paul and Barnabas had returned to
At the
council of Apostles and elders in
Jesus and his disciples had
crossed the
The demoniac begged not to be tormented. Jesus asked the demon’s name,
and the
demon replied, “Legion,” for the man was possessed by many demons. The
demons
begged not to be sent out of the country, but to be allowed to enter a
herd of
pigs, nearby. Jesus gave them permission so the demons entered the pigs
and the
herd of about two thousand pigs stampeded down a steep bank into the
sea and
were drowned.
The pig herdsmen fled to the city nearby and reported what had happened, and the townspeople came out to see for themselves. They found the demoniac clothed and in his right mind, sitting with Jesus. When the townspeople had heard the eyewitness accounts they begged Jesus to leave their region. When Jesus was getting back into the boat, the man begged to go with Jesus, but Jesus told him to go home and tell his friends how merciful the Lord had been and how much the Lord had done for him. Everyone was amazed at what had happened.
Saul hadn’t obeyed God’s Word when
he had good spiritual council and knew God’s Word. Saul wanted God to
save him
without requiring Saul’s obedient trust. Because Saul had not obeyed
God’s Word
God stopped answering Saul.
Instead of repenting and returning to
obedient
trust in the Lord, Saul sought spiritual guidance from demonic forces
which he
knew were abominable to the Lord. Saul tried to hide his identity but
failed. Instead
of security and reassurance, he learned of a disaster he was unable to
avert.
It was too late to change the outcome.
In contrast to Saul’s consultation with demonic forces, Paul and Barnabas relied on the guidance of the Holy Spirit and sought Christian council. The same Holy Spirit that led and enabled Paul and Barnabas also led and enabled Peter.
The people of the Gerasenes (Gadarenes; Gergasenes) had access to the teaching and spiritual healing of Jesus Christ demonstrated vividly for them in the healing of the demoniac. The demoniac had been a nuisance and threat to the community for a long time, but instead of appreciating his healing and their deliverance from this threat, they were upset by the loss of the pigs, which represented a sinful occupation to Jews. The loss of the pigs gave the people of Gerasenes the opportunity to pursue a more legitimate occupation, but they went right back to raising pigs. They sent away the Savior who could heal their eternally fatal spiritual illness, because he interfered with their worldly business.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting in Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Alternative Entry
first posted
08/20/03
1Sam. 28:3-20 Saul Consults the Witch of Endor
Acts 15:1-11 Controversy over Admission of Gentiles
Mark 5:1-20 The Gerasene Demoniac
King Saul was preparing to defend against an
attack
by the
Philistines. He had been disobedient to God, and had to chosen to
follow the
will of the people rather than the Word of God, so God had anointed
David to
be King in his place, and had ceased to
make Himself available to Saul. Saul wanted to know the future outcome
of the
battle, but since God was not answering him and the prophet Samuel was
dead,
Saul decided to consult a witch.
Sorcery was contrary to God's law and
Saul's
own command, so he went in disguise, by night, so that he would not be
recognized. But when the witch was in contact with her demonic spirit,
she knew
through it that her "client" was Saul. Saul already knew Samuel's
prophesy that the Kingdom would be removed from him and transferred to
David.
The only new information he gained through the "medium" was that He and
his sons would be killed in the following battle, and this information
devastated rather than helped him.
There was controversy in the Church over whether
it was
necessary for Gentile Christians to adopt the Jewish Laws. Paul and
Barnabas
went to the Christian council in
Jesus crossed the
That a hazard to the community had
been
removed and a human restored to meaningful life was not appreciated by
the
community. They did not welcome Jesus' healing power; He threatened
their
livelihood. (Note that, for a Jew, raising pigs would have been the
most
unsavory way of earning a living imaginable.)
King Saul wasn't willing to follow God's leading.
He had
disobeyed God and chosen to follow the will of the people instead. He
wanted
foreknowledge so that he could use it to his advantage, rather than
repenting
and trusting in the Lord. He was willing to consult demons for that
foreknowledge, and yet, once he had it, it turned out to be a liability
rather
than an asset: He fainted with fear!
By contrast, the Christians were
learning
to be led by the Holy Spirit which had been given to dwell within them.
The
former demoniac became a Christian evangelist.
The people of the Geresenes,
however, were
wiling to tolerate considerable demonic evil in their neighborhood in
order to
preserve their accustomed way of life.The
fact of the
loss of the pigs gave them the opportunity of a fresh start, but they
apparently went right back to raising pigs.
10 Pentecost - Friday
first posted 07/28/05
1 Samuel 31:1-13,
Deaths of Saul and Jonathan
Acts 15:12-21, The Apostolic Decree
Mark 5:21-43 Jairus’ Daughter Raised
Saul’s army had been encamped on
Saul
asked his armor bearer to kill Saul with a sword so that Saul might not
be
humiliated and tortured by the Philistines, but the armor-bearer
couldn’t bring
himself to do it, so Saul fell on his own sword. When the armor-bearer
saw that
Saul was dead the armor-bearer also killed himself by falling on his
own sword.
When the Israelites in that region saw that Saul and his army had been
destroyed, they fled from their homes and villages, and the Philistines
occupied them.
The day after the battle the Philistines came to
loot the
dead Israelites and found Saul and his three sons dead. The Philistines
cut off
Saul’s head and stripped his armor. Messengers were sent to the report
the news
of victory throughout the land of the Philistines, and Saul’s armor was
placed
in the
Saul’s and his son’s bodies were displayed on the wall of
Beth-shan (a Philistine stronghold between the
Converts to Christianity from the Pharisees
(strict
legalistic faction of Judaism) were insisting that Gentile Christians
must keep
the Laws of Moses, including circumcision. Paul and Barnabas had
vigorously
opposed them and had been sent to
The apostolic council listened to Paul and Barnabas report what the Lord had been doing through them among the Gentiles, and then James (the brother of Jesus) spoke. He quoted scripture (Amos 9:11-12; Jeremiah 12:15, Isaiah 45:21) to show that the Lord intended salvation to include the Gentiles. James suggested that Gentiles be required to conform to the restrictions God gave to the sons of Noah: abstention from the pollution of idolatry, unchastity, animals which had been strangled (rather than bled out) and consumption of blood.
Returning from the healing of the Gerasene
demoniac (Mark
51-20; see entry for yesterday) Jesus was again surrounded by a large
crowd. A
leader of a synagogue named Jairus came to Jesus and asked Jesus to
come to his
home and heal his daughter, who was close to death.
On the way, a woman
who had
a hemorrhage for twelve years reached out and touched Jesus’ clothing,
in faith
that by simply touching his clothes she would be healed. As soon as she
touched
him she knew that she had been healed, and Jesus knew that power had
gone forth
from him. Jesus asked who had touched his clothing. His disciples
thought it
was a foolish question; Jesus had just been jostled by the crowd. But Jesus looked around to find who had
touched him and the woman came forth and confessed what had happened.
Jesus
told her that her faith had made her healing possible.
While this dialog was going on, Jairus’ servants
came to
tell him that his daughter had died, and that he should not bother
Jesus
further. But Jesus ignored the messengers and told Jairus to believe
and not
worry. Jesus allowed only Peter, James and John to accompany him to
Jairus’
house.
When they arrived, there were mourners weeping and wailing.
Jesus told
them that the daughter was only “sleeping,” which they thought was
ludicrous.
But Jesus made them wait outside; taking only the child’s mother and
father he
went in to her and took her hand and told her to get up. Immediately
the girl
rose up and walked, since she was twelve years old. The witnesses were
overcome
with amazement, but Jesus strictly commanded them not to publicize what
had
happened, and told her parents to give her some food.
Saul tried to circumvent God’s will. He had spiritual guidance and knowledge of God’s will from Samuel, but had chosen to disobey it. Because Saul had disobeyed, God stopped answering Saul, so Saul sought spiritual council from a demonic source (the witch of Endor). The witch was able to foretell Saul’s death, but Saul was unable to avoid it. Saul wound up destroying himself.
In contrast, Paul sought the Lord’s will and chose to obey it, and the Lord was able to sustain and support him. Paul was supported by others who were also guided by and obedient to the Lord’s will and Spirit. It is notable that the Lord strictly forbade drinking blood or consuming meat with its blood, because at that time it was believed that the spirit of the animal was contained in its blood. When the Lord instituted the Lord’s Supper, (Holy Communion, the Sacrament of the Altar, the Eucharist), he declared that the wine was his blood. The Lord wants us to be filled with his Holy Spirit rather than the spirits of demons or animals.
Jairus trusted in Jesus’ words rather than the reports of his servants, and his daughter was restored to life. The hemorrhagic woman believed that Jesus was able to heal her just by touching him, and she was healed. It is important to trust Jesus and to act on that trust.
Is Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying Jesus? Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly believed (Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them to obey all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do you know with certainty where you will spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Alternative Entry
first posted
08/21/03
1Sam. 31:1-13 The Deaths of Saul and His Sons
Acts 15:12-21 The Ruling on Gentile Christians
Mark 5: 21-43 Jairus' Daughter Raised from the Dead.
King Saul and his sons, including David's great friend Jonathan, died in the battle of Mt Gilboa, as Saul had been told by the Witch of Endor. Saul and his armor-bearer fell on their own swords rather than be captured and tortured by the Philistines. Saul's army was routed and the bodies of the King and his sons were left behind and were taken and displayed by the Philistines as trophies of war. Men of Jabesh-Gilead (who previously had been rescued from the Ammonites by Saul and were thus loyal to him) recovered the bodies and cremated and buried them.
Based on the testimony of Peter regarding how God led the first conversion of the Gentiles, Cornelius and his household (see Acts 10:1-48) and the accounts by Paul and Barnabas of how God had worked through them among the Gentiles, James (brother of the Lord and a leader of the Church in Jerusalem) proposed that the Gentiles not be burdened with the requirements of the Jewish Law, except for a few basic regulations (which God had commanded the sons of Noah).
Jesus was ministering to a large crowd when Jairus, a leader of the local synagogue came to
Him to ask
Jesus to come with him to heal his daughter who was on the point of
death. On the
way, a woman who had been ill with a hemorrhage for 12 years (under
Jewish Law,
she would have been ritually unclean and barred from attending
religious
activities that entire time), came up within the crowd and touched
Jesus'
garment, believing that she would be healed.
She immediately felt the
healing
take place, and Jesus also knew that it had happened. Meanwhile Jairus' servants came to notify him that his
daughter had
died and that Jesus might be discharged from the visit. But Jesus knew
that
even death was not beyond his authority and power to heal, and he
encouraged Jairus to trust him and
continue on. Taking her mother and
father with him, Jesus went in to the girl's room and commanded her to
get up,
and she arose and was restored to her parents.
King Saul chose death rather than life, beginning
when he
chose to do what was "popular", the will of the people, rather than
obeying God. When he realized that he had
lost
fellowship with God, rather than repenting and returning to God he
chose
instead the fellowship of evil, taking guidance from the Witch of Endor. Finally, he chose death by his own hand
to avoid the
consequences of his defeat and capture by the Philistines, which was
ultimately
due to his broken relationship with God.
Jairus
came
to Jesus believing Jesus could keep his daughter from dying from her
illness.
Through his fellowship with Jesus on the way to his daughter's bedside,
his
faith grew, and he came to not merely belief, but to the certain
knowledge that
Jesus could even restore life to the dead. The woman with the hemorrhage acted on her faith, and she knew instantly
that she had been healed, just as Jesus knew instantly that healing
power had
gone forth from Him. Jesus offers the
power of eternal life, not just to a chosen few, but to all who are
willing to
come to Him in faith.
10 Pentecost - Saturday
first
posted 07/29/05
2 Samuel 1:1-16,
David Hears of Saul‘s Death
Acts 15:22-35, The Apostolic Decree Delivered
Mark 6:1-13 Commissioning the Twelve
David and his army had fled from Saul and taken up
residence
in Ziklag in southern
On the third day of his return, an
Amalekite
came to Ziklag, claiming to have escaped from Saul’s encampment, and
reported
that the Israelite army had been defeated and that Saul and Jonathan
were dead.
David asked how the Amalekite knew this and the Amalekite claimed that
he had
come upon Saul who had been gravely wounded and the Amalekite had given
him the
“coup de grace” at Saul’s request. The Amalekite had brought Saul’s
crown and
armlet.
David and his men all tore their clothing (a sign
of
mourning) and mourned Saul and Jonathan until evening. David questioned
the
Amalekite further and learned that the Amalekite was the son of a
“sojourner,”
a long-term resident alien in
The council of apostles and elders at
The men returned to
Jesus preached in the Synagogue in
Jesus traveled among the villages of
David was the Lord’s “anointed;” the Lord had
taken his
anointing away from Saul because Saul had not obeyed God’s Word (1
Samuel
16:13-14).
Despite Saul’s persecution, David had continued to honor Saul’s office
and
fulfilled his promise not to desecrate Saul’s legacy (1 Samuel
24:20-22). The Amalekite
had lied to David (1 Samuel 31:4-6), hoping to ingratiate himself with
David,
but David had him executed for killing Saul, the Lord’s anointed. The
Amalekite
was born in
The council of apostles in Jerusalem consisted of
the Twelve (minus Judas, the betrayer)
who had been discipled and given authority over demons by Jesus, and
had been
empowered by the gift of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-13). They
were
leading the Church from
The people of
Jesus
is the Lord's Anointed. Can we recognize him, or do we think we know so
much
that we can't believe it? Does his message offend us because we think
he's
claiming to be someone he isn't? Would anyone be motivated to reject
him
because it would be more popular to do so?
Is
Jesus your Lord? Are you Jesus’ disciple? Are you trusting and obeying
Jesus?
Have you received the indwelling Holy Spirit since you first truly
believed
(Acts 19:2)? Are you making disciples of Jesus Christ and teaching them
to obey
all that Jesus commands (Matthew 28:18-20)? Do
you know with certainty where you will
spend eternity (1 John 5:11-13; Ephesians 1:13-14)?
Alternative
Entry
first posted
08/22/03
2 Sam. 1:1-16 David Learns of Saul and Jonathan's Deaths
Acts 14:22-35 The Apostolic Decree
Mark 6:1-13 Jesus Rejected at Home; Commissions Disciples
David had hunted down and slaughtered an Amalekite
raiding party that had attacked Ziklag (in
southern
The Church Council in Jerusalem having come to the
decision
to not require Gentile Converts to be circumcised and obliged to
keep the
Jewish laws, wrote a letter to that effect to the church at Antioch,
and
several leading men form the church in Jerusalem were appointed to
accompany
Paul and Barnabas with the letter to Antioch. The Gentiles were pleased
with
the ruling. The representatives from
The people in Jesus hometown were offended by his ministry because they had known him from the time when he was just a child and they thought he was becoming a "self-promoter". They thought they knew him so well that they couldn't believe that he was God's Anointed. Their attitude prevented them from receiving any benefit from Jesus. Jesus delegated his power and authority to his disciples.
Jesus is the Lord's Anointed. Can we recognize him, or do we think we know so so much that we can't believe it? Does his message offend us because we think he's claiming to be someone he isn't? Would anyone be motivated to reject him because it would be more popular to do so?