Monthly Archives: March 2013

Names of God Series, Proven Path Ministries

Names of God: Pascha

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As we approach the Holy Week. Let us look at this name of God in our study today, in a way that prepares us to meditate upon this season. Let us see today that our Jesus is our Pascha.

Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump,

just as you are in fact unleavened.

For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.

1 Corinthians 5:7

 

Pascha is the Greek word for Passover, and it means:

the paschal sacrifice (which was accustomed to be offered for the people’s deliverance of old from Egypt)

the paschal lamb,

the lamb the Israelites were accustomed to slay and eat on the fourteenth day of the month of Nisan (the first month of their year) in memory of the day on which their fathers, preparing to depart from Egypt, were bidden by God to slay and eat a lamb, and to sprinkle their door posts with its blood, that the destroying angel, seeing the blood, might pass over their dwellings;

Christ crucified is likened to the slain paschal lamb

We are introduced to the passover in the book of Exodus…

Moreover, they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses in which they eat it. They shall eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs. Do not eat any of it raw or boiled at all with water, but rather roasted with fire, both its head and its legs along with its entrails. And you shall not leave any of it over until morning, but whatever is left of it until morning, you shall burn with fire. Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste—it is the Lord’s Passover.

Exodus 12:7-11

 

When we think of this passover event many moons ago in the land of Egypt, when God called Moses to go to Pharaoh to let His people go… that they might serve Him… we often times just think of the blood that was to cover the outside frame of the door.

We rarely discuss the context of the blood on the doorpost… there was much more to this night, this Passover. Just as there was more to the freedom of the Israelites than just freedom.

Moses was sent to Pharaoh to set the Hebrews free, not just for freedom’s sake, but so that they might serve Him.

We serve the one we obey… always.

As we look back at this Passover night we see that there was much more to this night than just slaying an unblemished lamb and wiping its blood on a door. They were to:

* eat the flesh that same night, roasted with fire, and they shall eat it with unleavened bread and bitter herbs

* Do not eat any of it raw or boiled at all with water, but rather roasted with fire, both its head and its legs along with its entrails.

* you shall not leave any of it over until morning, but whatever is left of it until morning, you shall burn with fire.

* eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste

 

What we so often times ignore about this first Passover is that the blood on the doorpost and lintel was simply a sign on the outside of the house of the obedience taking place on the inside of the house. The lamb’s blood on the outside doorpost on this night would mean nothing if those on the inside did not follow all of God’s instructions.

As we fast forward a couple thousand years we once again find our God giving instructions to eat…

 

Then the Jews began to argue with one another, saying, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in yourselves. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day. For My flesh is true food, and My blood is true drink. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who eats Me, he also will live because of Me.

John 6:52-57

What I want us to see now is that the word “eat” in John 6:52-57 is actually two different words.

John 6:53, …unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man…

Esthio:

  1. to eat
  2. to eat (consume) a thing metaph. to devour, consume
    • to take food, eat a meal

John 6:54, He who eats my flesh…

Trogo:

to gnaw, crunch, chew raw vegetables or fruits (as nuts, almonds)

 

To me this word, trogo, tells us that we are not to partake of our Pascha in a light manner. We also need to know that He doesn’t go down easy. We have to put Him in between our teeth and chew. We must take Him as He is, straight off the tree, raw and alive and living.

He is our Pascha, our Passover, the Lamb that was slain. His precious blood put on the doorpost of our heart and the lentil of our soul that death might pass over us. We are to partake of Him as the Hebrews partook of the lamb slain in the first Passover. We are to eat all of Him, and leave nothing until morning. He went through the fire for us that we might eat of Him and be saved, that is, we who eat of Him in obedience to every Word of God.

We are to eat of Him with our loins girded with truth, the gospel of peace on our feet, and the sword of the Spirit in our hand.

In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation,

Hebrews 5:7-9

 

Now lets rewind back two thousand years go…

Speak to all the congregation of Israel, saying, ‘On the tenth of this month they are each one to take a lamb for themselves, according to their fathers’ households, a lamb for each household.

Exodus 12:3

A person could not just walk up to another’s lamb’s and grab a hyssop and smear blood on their outside doorpost and then walk inside their house and go to sleep, ignoring the rest of God’s instructions, and actually expect the death angel to pass over his home. They were each one to eat of the lamb. It was about much more than smeared blood. It was about personal consummation and individual obedience.

Our salvation is about much more than just being covered in the blood… Or claiming we are covered in the blood. It’s about what is going on inside the house under that blood. The outside is for display. The inside is what is saved. Remember the Hebrews left those blood stained doorpost in Egypt…

Now if the household is too small for a lamb, then he and his neighbor nearest to his house are to take one according to the number of persons in them; according to what each man should eat, you are to divide the lamb.

Exodus 12:4

Notice that God expected only what each man should eat.

Precious one, this walk of faith and obedience is not issued out by an unjust God. When He stands before us and says eat and obey… Know that He is never, and will never, ever, put more on your plate than you can chew.

If He has set it before you, it is because He knows you can get it down.

However, beloved of God notice that there were NO unnecessary side dishes on that night. There was no big honkin’ slice of cake with overloaded icing for dessert. When it came time, this night, to sit before the Passover table and partake of that pascha lamb they were to clear their plate of everything and eat only what God had commanded them.

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us…

Hebrews 12:1

Proven Path Ministries

I Have Been There

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I rarely read the news or watch the news… because it breaks my heart. I suppose I should do it more… then I could post more of the injustices I see that drive me to my knees and cause me to cry out “MARANATHA!”

I read Ann’s post and I was back, back there again… tears brimmed my eyes and my heart pounded.

I remember it well…

The day that I laid on that bed, my belly full of a living soul. I lay there in absolute terror that I would hear “it’s a girl“. I should have walked out of the room rejoicing. I should have been smiling from ear to ear knowing that growing inside of me was a healthy heart beat, but my heart stopped.

I could not smile, fear doesn’t smile.

My husband didn’t understand… and I couldn’t explain. I chose to refuse to believe the ultrasound. It would be a boy. I refused to believe until the very moment I held that baby in my arms… that baby who was clearly girl… clearly beautiful blue eyed girl. She was beautiful and perfect and I was broken… so very broken.

All I could see was a little one who would never be strong enough to fight them off. Never strong enough to keep the eyes, and hands, and minds, and hurts away. And I knew that I would never be strong enough to protect her if someone came to hurt her… I knew.

To this very day I hate being held down, even in play, I hate it because it is a reminder that I am too weak to get away. Too weak to set myself free. Claustrophobic. The fear of having no escape. 

I wanted everyone to go away. I wanted no one to hold her. No one to damage her. No one to touch her in a way she didn’t want to be touched. No one to play with her heart and crush it again and again in their cruel hands to the point that her choices were made out of desperation for someone to value her… or even just appear to value her.

I cried.

Then, I met my Jesus. Six months later, six months after laying in that bed birthing this beautiful blue eyed wonder from my body, I met the One who knit her in my womb. Fear began to be cast down by Faith.

Faith is stronger than fear.

Then again, almost three years later, another girl.

Now a new creation in Christ. A woman of God. A mother of future women of God. I stood there in the middle of another church building’s fellowship hall. One daughter of God at my feet. One daughter of God in my arms, not even able yet to walk, my arms and hands full of beautiful treasure. I stood there with my sisters in Christ and sisters of the flesh by my side. I stood there and he walked up.

I stood there, arms full of the one’s I fought with faith over the most and with both my hands full, in the presence of everyone, he violated me. Here in this place where I was supposed to be safe. I was abused. In front of my daughters, my sisters, my Jesus.

I went home afraid. Afraid that when I told what happened, my husband would blame me. They always blame the girl… don’t they? It was and has always been Eve’s fault… right?

My husband was angry.

BUT NOT AT ME.

Relief washed over me. I had a defender.

We went to the elders…

I walked in there, in that room, three old men sat in front of me, my husband beside me. I sat there and I sat there trembling, feeling so very small. My stomach was in my throat and my throat struggled to speak. They talked about fishing. Crappy. My stomach is in knots, they know why I am here, yet they discuss fishing.

Rage begins to boil in my gut, rage and fear and doubt all mixed.

Finally the point of our visit breaks through the fishing lines of chatter… I share my side. I open my mouth and pour out the violation that I experienced… and they asked me… they never said they were sorry it happened… they asked me,

“what were you wearing”

As though the clothes I had on my body gave this man permission to do what he did while I stood there with both hands full of another daughter of God who could not fight for herself…

My heart sank and I knew they did not care… they then defended him. “He was just a cut-up.” “He didn’t mean anything by it”

They defended him and accused me.

It’s always Eve’s fault… right?

My husband and I walked out that night from these men and I knew nothing would be done.

I prayed.

I turned it over to my Avenger. To the One I am in eternal covenant with. The One who judges the secrets and intentions of every man’s heart. I could have pressed charges, but I knew I could let it go, because God would not. I tried to find the letter I wrote to the elders that were there and the man that did what he did, but I couldn’t find it. That is just as well. God knows what it said.

Dear daughters of God… I have been there.

In every way.

Before Christ and after Christ, I have been there.

But know that there are defenders.

There are more than a few good men, Son.

Real men like their Father — who laid down His life for His daughters. (Ann Voskamp)

God gave me one for a Daddy

And another for a Husband.

I remember well the night my husband lay there and looked into my eyes. He stroked my hair and my face and he never looked away from my eyes. It was as if for the very first time I was seen. A girl never forgets the day she was seen.

So daughters of God know… they exist. There are men who are the Church and don’t just go to church. There are elders that won’t defend the attacker, but defend the attacked.

And Dad’s and Mom’s of sons of God… please for the love of the daughters of God… raise up more defenders.

I can’t share this post enough.

 

Poetry, Proven Path Ministries

My Kinsman Redeemer Lives

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I was looking through old journals this morning trying to find a letter that was written several years ago that will be shared about in a later post… but as I searched I found a couple of poems I had written. I wrote this one after studying through the book of Ruth. I thought this one fit this Easter season. I also added a Poetry category to my blog, so if you enjoy reading poetry, you can easily find them.

Here is the Easter Poem. Worship with me… or maybe you read this and maybe just maybe… you are led to cry out to this Beautiful Redeemer to be saved.

My Jesus, my Savior, my Friend

In complete awe of You I stand

To know that You Creator and Lord

Rich beyond measure, willingly became poor

You left the majesty of heaven, Your glory behind

To become flesh and blood, to live and to die

You looked down from Your throne and my chains You did see

I was a slave to sin, in bondage, in death, unable to be free

I was sold for nothing to a stranger in this land

Owned by one who ruled with a deceptive, evil, heavy hand

He kept me in shackles and blinded me with his lies

Surrounded me with darkness, convinced me that in shame I should hide

But You in Your infinite mercy and grace

With love beyond measure left your heavenly place

I needed a redeemer and this You did know

I needed a blood relative willing and able to purchase my soul

You fully God and fully Divine

Became fully Man to become a relative of mine

God in the flesh and on earth You did dwell

You humbled Yourself in the likeness of man to know how I felt

You saw my depravity and experienced temptation all for my sake

With a heart beating and lungs breathing You were willing my place to take

You in Your holiness never did fall and You became able to pay the price for us all

The price was high for my master was sin

I was deep in debt my life blood dead and dying within

For the wages of sin is death, and eternal destination to fire

I needed forgiveness, I needed life for my life, this alone I could not acquire

Without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sin

But not just any blood, but precious blood, blood not stained within

You, my Jesus, the Christ, the living Son of God

The Word made flesh became obedient to death, even death on a cross

You became my Kinsman so my Redeemer You might be

You gave Your life for my life, took my sin upon Yourself

Committed Your Spirit to the Father and said, “It is finished”

Yet You being perfect having no sin of Your Own

The grave could not keep You nor could death keep its hold

Three days passed and out of the tomb You came

The Living Risen Christ, my Redeemer, forever to reign

The free gift of salvation through redemption by Your blood

Offered to all who will believe, and receive, and obey just as You showed

I love You my Jesus for I was purchased by Your blood

You are my Redeemer, You live, therefore I live, free from sins great hold 

 

 

Proven Path Ministries

Do Not Be Surprised

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Beloved, 

do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you,

which comes upon you for your testing,

as though some strange thing were happening to you

1 Peter 4:12

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Do not be surprised, brethren,

if the world hates you.

1 John 3:13

 

Do not be surprised. It just does not get any clearer than that. God has never hidden or tried to smooth over or water down the reality of what it means to follow Christ. Only deceivers do that…

I thought of writing this post after I read this from my Swindoll devo this morning:

If you determine to live according to biblical standards, be sure that your enemy is seeking to devour you. You will encounter the darts of the devil. 

Someone put it this way: “Whoever desires to walk with God walks right into the crucible.” All who choose godliness live in a crucible. The tests will come. But all is not lost. Far from it! 

Our great hope and assurance is that the One in us is greater than the one in the world. 

We do not face such a formidable enemy that we cannot fight him or stand firm and secure in our decision. Our Lord is the God of hope. . . . His supply line never runs short. When His godly followers are in need, He is there to supply the necessary reinforcements. 

As you do battle, God will provide for all of your needs.

~ Swindoll

 

We have been watching the The Bible series here in our home. The DVR’d version, of course, so we can skip through the commercials, and well because we rarely are home after church before 9pm. We have only seen the first two episodes and I still highly recommend watching it. It’s a great opportunity to give visual to the stories of the Bible and an open door for you to fill in the blanks of what is skipped in the mini-series. As God would have it the very night my children’s bedtime devotionals lined right up with what and who they had just watched in The Bible series, Saul, Samuel, David, and Samson.

God has a way of working His truth in us… It’s really absolutely beautiful.

As we watched the series, Bekah, my youngest, noticed the devil weaving in and out of the people. On our way to Co-op Monday morning she was sharing this info with her five year old cousin, Bo. The conversation went a little like this:

BEKAH: “Is the devil still roaming the earth?”

ME: “Yes he is.”

BO: “Nay-Nay, I’m scared of the devil!”

ME: “Bo, don’t be scared of the devil. Who is stronger than the devil?”

BO: “Uncle Patrick is stronger than the devil!”

ME: “Well, yes, but how is Uncle Patrick stronger than the devil? Who is always stronger than the devil?”

BO: “God!”

ME: “Yes! So we never have to be afraid of the devil, because God is bigger.”

Well, in case you didn’t know, I am “Nay-Nay” and “Uncle Patrick” is my Man. I absolutely love the fact that my nephew looks at him and sees this kind of strength in him. I pray that he always does because here is the truth, he is stronger than the devil. Not alone. But in and with and because of Christ his Savior. Jesus did not come to this earth to live and die and be raised for us to remain in ignorance and fear and bondage.

Fear is an unwanted friend that most of us wrestle with every day. Fear of failure. Fear of disappointment. Fear of pain. Fear of the unknown. Fear follows us everywhere we go, and we cling to it like a life preserver. Yet, fear is a topic God is very clear about in the Bible: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10, NIV).

We are commanded not to live in fear because we have everything we need in the person of Jesus Christ. That’s why He came as a baby. That’s why He died. That’s why He defeated death. So we wouldn’t have to be afraid.

~ Lindsay Williams

Now please know that I am not one of those who will ever walk around belittling the power of Satan and the demons of darkness. I am very much aware of their strength, their cunning, their deception, their oppression, their ability to break and bind any man… if they could bind Samson… trip up David… blind Samuel… and derange Saul… please do not think they could not do the same to you.

Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass,

you who are spiritual, 

restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; 

each one looking to yourself,

so that you too will not be tempted. 

Bear one another’s burdens,

and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. 

For if anyone thinks he is something

when he is nothing,

he deceives himself.

Galatians 6:1-3

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Take care, brethren,

that there not be in any one of you an evil,

unbelieving heart 

that falls away from the living God.

Hebrews 3:12

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You therefore, beloved,

knowing this beforehand, 

be on your guard

so that you are not carried away

by the error of unprincipled men

and fall from your own steadfastness, 

but grow in the grace and knowledge

of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

To Him be the glory,

both now and to the day of eternity.

Amen.

2 Peter 3:17-18

But what we do know is that God has clearly told us to be aware of our enemy. He has clearly told us to not be surprised by any attack that comes against us. He has clearly told us to prepare for battle. He has clearly supplied us with everything that we will need to stand and fight. He has promised us victory if we will choose to fight in and with and for Him. He has clearly told us that greater is the One who is in us than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4). He has clearly told us, do not fear. Fear is the exact opposite of faith. When fear is present, faith is fleeting.

Therefore we must battle all fear with faith.

And faith…

So faith comes from hearing,

and hearing by the word of Christ.

Romans 10:17

I do not know what giant stands before you today. I do not know what battle has been brought to your feet. I do not know what fear threatens to overtake you. I do not know what ordeal has been laid at your doorstep. I do not know what of this world is attacking you this very day at this very moment. I do not know what lies the enemy of your soul is whispering in your ear today even as you read this post.

I DO KNOW THAT CHRIST IS GREATER.

I DO KNOW HIS WORD WILL TRIUMPH.

I DO KNOW THAT HIS GLORY IS WORTH EVERY BATTLE.

I DO KNOW THAT YOU ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO FIGHT BECAUSE HE SAID YOU WERE.

Children's Ministry, Names of God Series, Proven Path Ministries

Names of God: Soter

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We continue in our names of God study. This may be the first time you have read about our names of God study. If it is, go ahead and jump in with us! You can dig into all the other names we have studied at Names of God Study.

Today we will be looking at the name/title Soter.

for today in the city of David

there has been born for you a Savior,

who is Christ the Lord.

 Luke 2:11

 

Soter is the Greek word for Savior and it means savior, deliverer, preserver. 

Jesus, the Logos made flesh, is not only our Parakletos, but He is our Savior.

This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,

1 Timothy 2:3

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whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ

our Savior

Titus 3:6

 

The root word of Soter is Sozo and it means to save, keep safe and sound, to rescue from danger or destruction, save one (from injury or peril) to save a suffering one (from perishing), i.e. one suffering from disease, to make well, heal, restore to health, to preserve one who is in danger of destruction, to save or rescue.

As we look at this root word definition we see a little deeper the despair of our situation. We see that Jesus is our Savior, but we also see why we need a Savior. We need rescued from danger. We need rescued from the destruction that we are headed to because of our sin. We need someone to save us from our peril. We are suffering from the effects of our sin, from our own choices, and from the choices of others. We are sick in our sin, spreading it on to our children and our children’s children. We need to be healed. We need to be restored. We need to be saved. Then in our salvation, in our restoration, we need someone to preserve us in it because we can’t preserve ourselves.

We are all in the same state. We all, every one of us, need a Savior. If we stop long enough to be honest with ourselves we can’t help but see this need. Even the Disney Channel recognizes that it is not the goodness of man that we all have in common… but it is indeed sin.

for all have sinned

and fall short

of the glory of God

Romans 3:23

 

We all need a Savior and there is only ONE who is able to do the kind of saving that we need.

 

Therefore He is able also to save forever

those who draw near to God through Him,

since He always lives to make intercession for them

Hebrews 7:25

 

Many times throughout history and even throughout our own lives we find ourselves needing help. We will cry out for help. In that time of need, someone may come. They may come and they may save us at that time, in that moment, from that danger… but then they are gone.  Sometimes God allows times of distress in our lives just so that we will call out for help…

Therefore You delivered them into the hand of their oppressors who oppressed them,

But when they cried to You in the time of their distress,

You heard from heaven, and according to Your great compassion

You gave them deliverers who delivered them from the hand of their oppressors.

Nehemiah 9:27

 

Nehemiah is reminding us of the time of the judges in Israel. As long as the judge lived and led them, then the people obeyed God, but as soon as the judge died, they went right back to living however they pleased.

Then the sons of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord and served the Baals, and they forsook the Lord, the God of their fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt, and followed other gods from among the gods of the peoples who were around them, and bowed themselves down to them; thus they provoked the Lord to anger. So they forsook the Lord and served Baal and the Ashtaroth. The anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and He gave them into the hands of plunderers who plundered them; and He sold them into the hands of their enemies around them, so that they could no longer stand before their enemies. Wherever they went, the hand of the Lord was against them for evil, as the Lord had spoken and as the Lord had sworn to them, so that they were severely distressed. Then the Lord raised up judges who delivered them from the hands of those who plundered them. Yet they did not listen to their judges, for they played the harlot after other gods and bowed themselves down to them. They turned aside quickly from the way in which their fathers had walked in obeying the commandments of theLord; they did not do as their fathers. When the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge and delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and afflicted them. But it came about when the judge died, that they would turn back and act more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them and bow down to them; they did not abandon their practices or their stubborn ways.

Judges 2:11-19

 

Yes, God will even allow distress in our lives to lead us to look for a savior, but He never wants us to get satisfied in a temporary salvation. He wants our cry for THE SAVIOR.

He wants our cry for the One who delivers not from a sin, but from the sin. The One who is able to lead us for all time because He doesn’t die. The One who is able to save forever.

The One who is able to save because he was born to save…

for today in the city of David

there has been born for you a Savior,

who is Christ the Lord.

Luke 2:11

 

The One who is able to save because he died to save…

For while we were still helpless,

at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

For one will hardly die for a righteous man;

though perhaps for the good man

someone would dare even to die.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us,

in that while we were yet sinners,

Christ died for us.

Romans 5:6-8

The One who is able to save because He didn’t come to save one nation, one people, for just a small amount of time… but He came to save the world for all time.

and they were saying to the woman,

“It is no longer because of what you said that we believe,

for we have heard for ourselves

and know that this One

is indeed the Savior of the world.”

John 4:42

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We have seen and testify

that the Father has sent the Son

to be the Savior of the world.

1 John 4:14

 

The One who is able to save because He came to destroy not that one sin, that one bondage, at that one time of the cry… but He came to destroy the works of the devil!

the one who practices sin is of the devil;

for the devil has sinned from the beginning.

The Son of God appeared for this purpose,

to destroy the works of the devil.

1 John 3:8

The word destroy in this verse is Luo and it means to loose any person (or thing) tied or fastened bandages of the feet, the shoes, to loose one bound, i.e. to unbind, release from bonds, set free, of one bound up (swathed in bandages), bound with chains (a prisoner), discharge from prison, let go, to loosen, undo, dissolve, anything bound, tied, or compacted together, an assembly, i.e. to dismiss, break up, laws, as having a binding force, are likened to bonds, to annul, subvert, to do away with, to deprive of authority, whether by precept or act

Let this definition just soak in for a moment… take the time to apply it to what you think binds you today.

The authority, binding force, chains of the works of the devil in which he bound you because of your sin… Jesus came to loose you, to make them let go of you, to set you free from them and from Satan himself.

Let’s look at Hebrews 7:25 again… this time in the KJV.

Wherefore he is able also to save them

to the uttermost

that come unto God by him,

seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Hebrews 7:25 (KJV)

 

The word uttermost in this verse is Panteles and it means all complete, perfect, completely, perfectly, utterly

Jesus, our Soter, our Savior. The One who is able to save… not for just yesterday, not for just today, not for just tomorrow… but forever and to the uttermost.

 

Children's Ministry, The Romans Study For Kids

Romans Outline

1 Comment

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Outline of the book of Romans

Romans 1:1-17 ——-  Introduction

Romans 1:17———- Theme of the book of Romans

NEED OF SALVATION

Romans 1:18-32——- Sin of the Gentiles

Romans 2-3:8——— Sin of the Jews

Romans 3:9-20——– Sin of All

WAY OF SALVATION

Romans 3:21-5——– Defines Salvation

      Romans 3:21-30 (justified by faith apart from Law)

      Romans 3:31-4:25 (Abraham is our example of faith)

      Romans 5 (our relationship to Adam and Christ)

LIFE OF SALVATION

Romans 6————- Dead to Sin

Romans 7————- Dead to the Law

Romans 8————- Alive to the Spirit

SCOPE OF SALVATION

Romans 9————- God’s Choice

Romans 10———— Man’s Responsibility

Romans 11———— Israel Not Forgotten

SERVICE OF SALVATION

Romans 12———— Present Body as Living Sacrifice

Romans 13———— Obey Governing Authorities

Romans 14———— Respect What Matters to Others

Romans 15———— Accept One Another

Romans 16———— Goodbye and Final Warnings

 

Children's Ministry, Proven Path Ministries, The Romans Study For Kids

Romans Study For Kids (Rom 2:1-11)

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Here is the latest handout for the Romans Study for Kids.  You can find any previous information in this study in my Romans Project category.

Romans 2:1-11

1 Therefore you have no excuse, everyone of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

2 And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls upon those who practice such things.

3 But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God?

4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God,

6 who will render to each person according to his deeds:

7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality,eternal life;

8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.

9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek,

10 but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

11 For there is no partiality with God

 

Read Romans 2:1. What word does this verse begin with? 

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Remember that when we see a “therefore” we want to ask ourselves what the “therefore” is there for… think about this “therefore” as you continue your study in Romans 2:1-3.   

 

Read Romans 2:1 again. Who is the “you” in this verse? Look at Romans 2:17 to find out.

if you bear the name __ __ __

 

Look to the Romans outline that was given. What is the focus of Romans 2?

__ __ __ of the __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 2:1 again. What were the Jews doing? 

passing  __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

Who were they passing judgment on? Remember the “therefore” in Romans 2:1. The Jews were passing judgment on those who practiced the things Paul wrote of in Romans 1:18-32. The Jews thought they were better because they had the Law to make them righteous, but when Jesus came he showed them that they were guilty of these sins even if they thought them one time. 

 

Read Romans 2:2. What did the Jews know about the judgment of God?

it __ __ __ __ __ __ __ falls upon those who practice such things (Rom 1:18-32) 

 

Read Romans 2:3. What word does this verse begin with? 

__ __ __ 

If you have time and availability type this in your URL to find out

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeaVb242Kgg

 

The book of Romans is full of “but’s”. This is another word that you will want to pay close attention as you study through this whole book. 

 

Read Romans 2:3 again. The Jews were passing judgment on others, but what were they doing?

the __ __ __ __

 

Remember when I asked you to think about the last time you “told on” someone? Now knowing that you told on someone for that… have you ever done it yourself? 

I bet that you have.

 

Read Romans 3:23 and fill in the blanks.

for __ __ __ have __ __ __ __ __ __ and fall short of the glory of God

 

According to Romans 3:23. What do we all have in common, no matter who you are or where you are from?

__ __ __

If you have time and availability type this in your URL and see how even the Disney Channel recognizes that it is sin that unites every human being on this earth.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-xedx1AeYRc

 

Read Romans 2:3-4. What do you think Paul wanted everyone in the church in Rome to understand? Do all of us need the kindness the God? Do all of us need a Savior? 

YES     or      NO

 

If you grew up in church and still go to church every Sunday and Wednesday and you read your Bible every day and you try very hard to keep all the Ten Commandments does this mean that you are good enough to get into heaven?

YES      or       NO

 

Read Romans 2:4. What does the kindness of God lead to?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 2:5 What word does this verse begin with?

__ __ __

 

Read Romans 2:5 again. What do they have that is causing them to store up the wrath of God for themselves?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

and  __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __   heart

 

Here’s what stubbornness looks like:

stock-images-stubborn-funny-guy-standing-firm-36809343

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

Have your parents ever said you were being stubborn? This is what stubborn looks like on the outside. 

God can tell when our hearts look like this on the inside.

 

Read Romans 2:5 again. What word is used to God’s judgment?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 2:6. How will God render His judgment and wrath?

according to our __ __ __ __ __

 

Look up and read Psalm 62:12, Proverbs 24:12, Matthew 16:27, and Revelation 22:12. 

Write out how God will repay and judge us according to these verses?

_____________________________________________

____________________________________________

 

 

Read Romans 2:6-8. 

What do those who persevere in doing good by seeking for glory and honor and immortality receive?

__ __ __ __ __ __ __       __ __ __ __

 

What do those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness receive?

__ __ __ __ __    and __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 2:9. What will there be for every soul of man who does evil?

tribulation and __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __

 

THINK ABOUT IT…

When was the last time you did something you knew you should not have done and you did not get caught doing it. How did you feel in your stomach? How long did it take you to tell your parents or someone else what you did? How did you feel after you told?

 

Read Romans 2:10. What comes to those who do good?

__ __ __ __ __  and __ __ __ __ __ and __ __ __ __ __ 

 

Read Romans 2:9-10 again. Who is included in these verses?

the __ __ __ first and also to the __ __ __ __ __

 

Read Romans 2:11. What do we learn about God in this verse?

there is no __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ with God

God doesn’t play favorites. He treats everyone the same.

 

This is what the Pre-K through 5th grade studied last Sunday in Children’s Church. They will get this handout to take home with them after we have completed all of Romans 2 in class together. I hand out the take home study at the conclusion of each chapter (unless there is a major divide within the chapter) so that they can over the chapter at home with their parents.  Their parents are also studying through the book of Romans in “Big Church”.

 

Book Reviews, Proven Path Ministries

The Bible or Not?

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I have finally had an opportunity to sit down and watch the first episode of the new History Channel special The Bible. I sat down and watched it due to all the controversy that is floating around about it with in christendom. I have heard criticism over its inaccuracy, over the liberties taken, over the things left out, over the things added in… even heard some say they would never watch another episode because the gospel was missing and they believed this show was leading millions of people astray.

So of course I had to watch it so I could add my two cents into this debate 🙂

You know what I saw…  I saw inaccuracy.  I saw lots of stuff left out. I mean it started with Noah and jumped to Abraham and went straight to Moses. But you know what else I saw… I saw this thing at the very beginning of the episode that read that this was an adaptation 

An adaptation means

the act or process of adapting : the state of being adapted, adjustment to environmental conditions:

as adjustment of a sense organ to the intensity or quality of stimulation

modification of an organism or its parts that makes it more fit for existence under the conditions of its environment

something that is adapted; specifically : a composition rewritten into a new form
Therefore, before you watch one second of this mini-series you have been told upfront this mini-series has taken the true stories of the Bible and modified them to make them fit under the conditions of the environment in which it exists. Any watcher has been forewarned that this composition has been rewritten into a new form.
And well as my husband said, “everyone knows the book is always better than the movie“
So this movie is played out in such a way that it leads someone from the movie to the book, the WORD.
As for the gospel not being displayed? That’s absurd. The gospel was woven all in this first episode. How could anyone who knows it and has it miss it?
From the beginning and all the way through this first episode, over and over again, I heard “trust God!”
Over and over again, I heard “God promised”.
Over and over again, I heard “God created”. 
I even saw, clearly displayed, the pre-incarnate Christ standing with Abraham.
I saw God provide the lamb in the place of Isaac.
I even heard Moses say, “our freedom comes at a price“
The gospel was there my friends… it was indeed there. The gospel was there because it was the gospel that put it in the hearts of the people to even put together this project.
My spirit was stirred to worship as I watched. I was there on the Ark with Noah and I could truly imagine that as they rode out the destruction of mankind and the earth as they knew it, Noah told of the original creation. Being strengthened by the truth of the power of their God. Knowing that if He created it out of nothing once, then He would be fully able to restore it to a place of provision for them again.
I was there with Abraham as he learned to walk by faith. As he learned that it really was never about proving his faith to God, but about God proving Himself to Abraham so that Abraham’s faith would be strengthened and that by his faith he might be saved, being counted as righteous.
Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore it was also credited to him as righteousness. Now not for his sake only was it written that it was credited to him, but for our sake also, to whom it will be credited, as those who believe in Him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, He who was delivered over because of our transgressions, and was raised because of our justification.
Romans 4:19-25
I was there cheering Moses on as he looked at his Hebrew brethren and reminded them that God had not forgotten them. When he looked at them and reminded them that Pharaoh did not create the heavens and earth and he did not create them. Pharaoh was not god, he was just a man. When the Red Sea split and they were on the way to the other side walking on dry land… the hope of the people as they passed through the walls of water… yes I loved it.
The fact that every “t” was not crossed and every “i” dotted was pretty irrelevant when I took hold of the possibilities that are wide open to our amazing God with this mini-series. I believe God allowed it. We need to be thanking God for it and praising Him being glorified and exalted on our television screen in a day that He usually only shows up as the butt end of a joke, instead of criticizing it with our “biblical knowledge”. How pharisaical is that?
I mean… really… think about it. Satan and the powers of darkness certainly didn’t sit around and say, “hey I gotta great idea, how about we put a show on tv that reminds people of the Book and the people of the Book, how about we put a tv show out there that makes people remember what they were taught when they were young, or makes them wonder about the things they were never taught, how about we put a tv show out there that shows how God keeps ALL HIS PROMISES”… yeh I am certain that Satan would so do that (sarcasm intended).
My resulting thoughts from episode one… watch it. Watch it and support it.
Proven Path Ministries

Let’s Just Worship

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and behold, the glory of the God of Israel was coming from the way of the east.

And His voice was like the sound of many waters;

and the earth shone with His glory. 

And it was like the appearance of the vision which I saw,

like the vision which I saw when He came to destroy the city.

And the visions were like the vision which I saw by the river Chebar;

and I fell on my face. 

And the glory of the Lord came into the house

by the way of the gate facing toward the east. 

And the Spirit lifted me up and brought me into the inner court;

and behold, the glory of the Lord filled the house.

Then I heard one speaking to me from the house,

while a man was standing beside me. 

He said to me, “Son of man, 

this is the place of My throne and the place of the soles of My feet,

where I will dwell among the sons of Israel forever.

Ezekiel 43:2-7

Oh precious one, just worship with me today, this morning, in this moment… Let us go together in the Spirit into the inner court of the Lord. Let His Spirit in this moment fill the house… fill your house

Do you not know that you are a temple of God

and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

1 Corinthians 3:16

Have you been there… there in that moment when you so aware of your sin… so aware of the darkness of your heart… so aware of the impurity of your mind? Have you been there when you said things you should not have said… done things you should have not done? Have you been there in that moment when you didn’t say what you should have… didn’t do what you should have done?

Are you carrying the shame? The fear? The doubt? The hurt?

Do you think God is not listening?

Do you think He is not aware of your fear?

Do you think He has forsaken you?

Do you wonder if He is even there?

Oh precious one, He is!

Stop!

Stop now and lift up your eyes to the hills… lift up your eyes to the mountains… lift up your eyes and let your voice cry out to the One from which your help comes… to the Only One. His name is Jesus, Iesous, Jehovah-Savior!

No matter where you are… He can reach.

 He can bring your dead self to life! He can breathe life in you again! You can live because He lives in you!

 

So let’s just stop… Let’s just stop what we are doing right now… and let’s just worship!

Children's Ministry, Proven Path Ministries

Spare the Rod

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He who withholds his rod hates his son,
But he who loves him disciplines him diligently.

Proverbs 13:24

Today in my personal study time I was in Ezekiel 40-42. As I read through these verses of Scripture trying to imagine what Ezekiel must have felt as he experienced this amazing vision and feeling the overwhelming desire myself to have palm tree ornaments placed all over my house… my mind caught attention to the rod in the angels hand that was used to measure the temple.

As I read about the measuring rod in Ezekiel 40 my mind went to the rod mentioned in the Proverbs. As I was studying I jotted down in my notebook, spare the rod – spoil the child – the rod is used as a measuring tool in Scripture.  After I came to a stopping point in my Ezekiel study time I began researching the rod. 

The rod is mentioned quite often in Scripture. The first mention of a rod is in Genesis 30 with Jacob. Jacob uses this rod to separate his sheep from Laban’s. Then in Numbers we see that the leaders of tribes were given rods. Moses had a rod, Aaron had a rod. The rod became a symbol of authority. Then in the book of Job we see the rod become a tool of discipline. Finally in Ezekiel we see it as a tool for measuring.

In Genesis 30 the word rods is maqqel and it means rod, staff, rod, stick, staff (in travel), wand (of diviner)

In Numbers 17 the word rod is matteh and it means staff, branch, tribe, staff, rod, shaft, branch (of vine), tribe, company led by chief with staff (originally)

In Job 9 the word rod is shebet and it means rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe, rod, staff, shaft (of spear, dart), club (of shepherd’s implement), truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority), clan, tribe

In Ezekiel the word rod is qaneh and it means reed, stalk, bone, balances, stalk, water-plant, reed, calamus (aromatic reed), derived meanings, measuring-rod, reed (as unit of measure – 6 cubits), beam (of scales – for scales themselves), shaft (of lampstand), branches (of lampstand), shoulder-joint

Well, after that lesson in Hebrew translations you can see that a rod is not just a rod 🙂 We have to look a little deeper into the word to understand the full benefit. With all that being said, lets get into the whole spare the rod spoil the child thing.

When we look at the Hebrew translation of the word rod in Proverbs 13:24 we see that the word rod in this verse is shebet, the same as in Job 9. As I read this definition of the word rod in the context of this Scripture, this is what I see:

He who withholds his mark of authority hates his son.  

Our children have got to have the mark of authority. They have to know clearly who to obey. As we look further into this verse we see that they also have to know this early.

The word diligently in Proverbs 13:24 is shachar and it means to seek, seek early or earnestly, look early or diligently for, to look for diligently, see, to seek, seek early. As I read this definition of this word in the context of this Scripture this is what I see:

He who loves him disciplines him early. He earnestly looks early for areas that need correction.

You see, for me this verse in the Proverbs, where we get the phrase spare the rod spoil the child has absolutely nothing to do with beating our children into submission. It has everything to do with leading them in the right direction from the very beginning. It has everything to do with our children knowing who the authority figure is in their life. It has everything to do with a being a parent that is studying their child and doesn’t wait for an issue to explode before they address it. 

If you deal with an issue at first sight then it doesn’t have the opportunity to escalate. Our children never threw tantrums. They never threw tantrums because their very first attempt at one was dealt with immediately. They never hit us because the first time they attempted to we dealt with it clearly and firmly. They have never told us “no” or back-talked us, because when the first attempt of “no mommy” began to come out of their mouths it was dealt with immediately. We never counted to three. We never sent idle threats. Nor did we, or do we, ever allow anyone else to undermine our authority with our kids. No one. Absolutely no one overrode any of our decisions or choices concerning our children. Not grandparents, not aunts or uncles, not the school system, not the government, and certainly not them.

When we deal with an issue of correction immediately the correction is much gentler, their is much less to it, it is so much less harsh. Just like anything else we choose to ignore in this life… the longer we ignore it the more difficult correcting it becomes. We must address issues of correction early in our children.

One of the issues I see today is that in general many kids don’t know who is in control, so therefore they are out of control.

The parents send their kids to school or even daycare and the schools have the parents jumping telling them what they can and can not do with their kid and that the parents have to send the schools explanations for what the parents do with their kids and when. Parents are wringing their hands making sure they have all the doctor excuses and fill out all the details and say yes sir and no ma’am to who can go on what field trip and when and how many times they can check their kid out of school… and the kids are watching. Mom and Dad don’t call the shots. The school system does.

Then the kid gets in trouble at school and the parents turn around and tell the schools how they can or can’t discipline their kids. Kids see the schools can’t do anything to them if they break the rules… so the schools control their parents… and the parents tie the hands of the schools…

So what you have in the middle is this kid who really has no authority figure over them because the authority figures cancel each other out.

Thus they, the kids, are out of control… because no one actually has a mark of authority on them.

Notice also that definition of rod in Proverbs 13:24, rod, staff, branch, offshoot, club, sceptre, tribe, rod, staff, shaft (of spear, dart), club (of shepherd’s implement), truncheon, sceptre (mark of authority), clan, tribe. Notice that not only is it meant as a mark of authority, it is meant to denote a clan, a tribe, a family. As I read this definition of this word in the context of this Scripture this is what I see:

He who withholds his his clan, his tribe, his family hates his son.  

Our kids need a family. 

Why do we have gangs?

Kids need a clan. They need a tribe. They need a family. They need a family with a clear mark of authority at its head. Never, ever, ever, ever, let the enemy of our souls convince you that your kids do not need a family. It doesn’t have to be perfect… My goodness, look at the kids that prefere a gang that beats them into initiation rather than being without a family at all… think about it.

Don’t let the enemy destroy your family.

Don’t let the enemy lead you to undermine the authority of the head of that family. Mom your job is to lead your children in the way that you show respect to their father. If you respect him, they will.

and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 5:33

Dads, your children see how you love them by the love they see you give their mother. Love her according to Scripture… not according to the world. The more love you give, the greater the respect you receive.

So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies.

He who loves his own wife loves himself;

Ephesians 5:28

Spare the rod spoil the child?

No.

Spare the family, the mark of authority, hate the child.