People of the Promised Land – Kingdom Divided

 

Well it’s almost time to begin my posts of People of the Promised Land – Kingdom Divided.  I will begin around September 12.  As you know I follow Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) lessons as I do my weekly posts.  I won’t be the first to say that this study is hard and at times very confusing.  There are so many kings (mostly bad ones) and prophets that it’s hard to keep them all straight, but I will try to do my best.

Exactly what is BSF?  BSF is an interdenominational, in-depth Bible study.  It is for everyone.  It helps us know God and equips us to serve the Church throughout the world.  Hundreds of thousands of people of all ages across the world come together to study God’s word.  They study chapter by chapter together.  People meet weekly in all kinds of places – in churches or online in homes. 

BSF is unique taking a four-fold approach to studying – weekly printed lessons, small group discussions, listening to a lecture, followed up by reading the lesson notes.  All this is done for each lesson.  There are classes for women, men, young adults, students, and children.  You print your weekly lesson online and then answer the questions during that week.  Then on the designated time of your class, you attend the class of about 15-18 people for a discussion of the questions.  After class discussion, you meet together with all the classes (sometimes about 500 people) for a lecture on that week’s study.  You pick up your lesson for the following week which includes the lesson notes.  You see the four-fold approach?

To find a BSF class near you go to www.bsfinternational.org

Why study the Old Testament?  The OT lays the foundation for the teachings and events found in the New Testament and it prophecies about the coming Messiah Jesus.  The NT is only truly understood when you see its foundation and promises of the OT.  It details numerous prophecies that have come true showing the Bible is God’s Word and it tells of many prophecies yet to come.  It teaches us many lessons as we observe its characters.  In these characters we find guidance for our own lives.                                   

The OT is made up of primarily of the Mosaic Law, the history of the nation of Israel, and prophecy of the Jewish people.  We should study the OT because it’s part of God’s Word.  It answers questions like, ‘Where did we come from?’ and ‘Who is God?’.  It brings credibility to the NT, it’s the beginning of our story, and it shows God’s authority and His love for people.

The study of Israel’s kings and prophets show us our need for a Savior.  It reveals God’s character and humanity’s struggle with sin.  Through these people we learn that sin isn’t new to God and He takes sin seriously.  We can place ourselves in Israel’s shoes.  We have gone after idols, have become captive by sin, but it doesn’t have to end there.  We see that God offers a path to salvation thousands of times in the OT.  Paul declares, “A scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuked, correcting and training in righteousness” – 2 Tim. 3:16.

Join me for the study People of the Promise Land - Kingdom Divided (Sept 12).  Hope to see you here. -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Who or what are Angels?

 

Angels have been portrayed as beautiful humans with wings and glowing light complete with halos, harps and flowing white gowns.  They have inspired all sorts of imaginative stories.  But what and who are they really?  So I researched angels and this is what I’ve learned.

The Hebrew word for angles is translated ‘hosts’ in the phrase ‘Lord of hosts’ actually means “armies”.  God is “Lord of armies”.  He organized them much the way armies are organized.  God created angels with different degrees of ability and established them in ranks based on these abilities. 

Angels were created by God (Genesis 2:1) and live for eternity (Luke 20:26).  They were present when God created the earth (Job 38:1).  Angels don’t marry (Matthew 22:30).  They are wise and intelligent and can discern between good and evil (2 Samuel 14:17).  They give insight and understanding (Daniel 9:22; Luke 15:10).  They take an interest in human affairs (Daniel 10:14; Revelation 14:6).

Angels are spiritual beings and are not meant to be worshiped (Psalm 104:4; Revelation 19:10).  Angels are messengers, ministers, warriors and worshipers of God.  They are servants of Jesus (1 Peter 3:22) and most remain faithful to God except for some who rebelled (Revelation 5:11-12). 

There are holy angels which are powerful armies that obey God’s commands (Psalm 103:20-21), serve as His chariots (Psalm 68:17), and are divided into legions (Matthew 26:53).  Some are even under the command of other angels.

Michael is the only archangel in the Bible.  Archangel means “chief or ruling messenger” (1 Th. 4:16; Jude 9).  He and the angels under him wage war against Satan and his evil angels (Rev. 12:7).

Some angels are called cherubin and some are called seraphim.  Ezekiel 1:1-28 gives a brilliant description of angels as four-winged creatures.  In Ezekiel 10-20 they’re called cherubim.  Cherubim appear to have the highest rank since they seem to have the closest relationship with God and are referred to more than any other rank of angels (Ezekiel. 1:5-24; 10:1-22).

Seraphim cover the unique presence of God and His throne and continually assert that He is holy (unique), Commander-in-Chief of the angelic armies of heaven, and glorified Sovereign of the earth.  Isaiah 6:1-8 gives a description of seraphim.

The “four living creatures” in the midst of and around God’s throne in heaven continually exalt God by declaring His holiness, omnipotence, and eternality (Rev. 4:6-9).  These are an exalted order of angels whose purpose is to worship God.

Princes are powerful angels assigned by God or Satan to positions of authority over nations to influence their decisions and actions (Dan. 10:13, 20-21; 12:1).  The apostle Paul told believers, “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).  Yet, if the “Lord of armies” is for you, who can be against you? (Romans 8:31).

Most angels in the Bible have the appearance of a man and many have wings, but not all.  Some are larger than life.  Some have multiple faces and appear like a man, a lion, an ox or an eagle.  Some are invisible, yet their presence is felt and their voices can be heard.  Some have six wings (Seraphim) and some have two wings (Cherubim).

More fact about angels:

34 of the 66 books of the Bible refer to angels and are mentioned over 300 times.  They are also referred to by other terms.  There are many, many angels, but only 3 angels are mentioned by name in the Bible – Gabriel, Michael, and the fallen angel Lucifer (Satan).

Angels are angels and always have been. No one becomes an angel when they die.

Jesus spoke of angels (Matt. 18:10), stating that He could have had more than 12 legions of angels to protect Him (Matt. 26:53).  He stated that angels will attend and serve Him at His Second coming (Matt. 13:41; 16:27; 24:30-31; 25:31).

John saw hundreds of millions around God’s throne in heaven (Rev 5:11).

Daniel saw a similar sight (Dan. 7:9-10).

All angels are ministering spirits who serve those who will inherit salvation (Hebrews 1:14).

Angels don’t have physical bodies (Luke 24:39, Eph. 6:12).

Angels can have temp bodies (Gen. 18-19 – 3 men appeared to Abraham).  2 who went to Sodom were angels (Gen. 19:1).

God created angels (Ps. 148:2-5, Col. 1:16).

Angels existed before the earth was created and witnessed the creation (Job 38:4-7).

Angels live forever and cannot die (Luke 20:36).

What about guardian angels? 

One of the most common beliefs about angels is that each of us has a guardian angel looking after us in times of need. The Bible doesn’t say that each of person has a guardian angel, but we do know that God’s angels care about us and can intervene on our behalf when called by God to serve those who are to inherit salvation.  There isn’t just one angle helping us, there are thousands.

Principle: Angels are messengers, ministers, warriors and worshipers of God.

Join me here next time -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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What Does God Say About Abortion?

 

Our current culture is divided on the abortion issue, but what does the Bible say.  It never specifically uses the term abortion, but still it is clear what God’s view of abortion is.  Abortion is murder.  It is the killing of a human being who is created in the image of God.  There are many Scriptures on this.  Here are a few.

Humans have value because God created man in His image.

Genesis 1:27 – “So God created man in His own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” 

Psalm 119:73a – “Your hands made me and formed me”

God formed every human being.

Psalm 139:13-16 – “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.  I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place.  When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body.  All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”  You can’t get much plainer that that!

Job 10:11-12 – “You clothed me with skin and flesh, and knit me together with bones and sinews.  You have a granted me life and steadfast love.”  (Sinews means a piece of tough fibrous tissue uniting muscle to bone or bone to bone; a tendon or ligament.)

Matthew 1:20 – “But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.’”

Isaiah 44:24 – “This is what the Lord says the Lord - your Redeemer, who formed you in the womb: ‘I am the Lord, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by me’”.

Jeremiah 1:4-5 – “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

Isaiah 49:1b – “Before I was born the Lord called me; from my birth he has made mention of my name.”

Children are a gift from God.

Psalm 127:3-5a – “Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are sons born in of one’s youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them!”

God values life.

Genesis 9:6 – “Whoever shed the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God has God made man.”

Exodus 20:13 – “You shall not murder.”

Exodus 23:7b – “… Do not put an innocent or honest person to death, or I will not acquit the guilty.”

Deuteronomy 30:19 – “… Now choose life, so that you and your children may live...”

We are to speak up for the preborn.

Proverbs 24:11 – “Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.”

Proverbs 31:8 – “Speak up for those who can’t speak for themselves.”

A women who support abortion say it’s my body and I should be able to do with it what I want.  Well, it’s really not her body.  God created it and it belongs to Him.  Your body is twice owned by God.  He made it and He redeemed it when He died for you on the cross. “You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body – 1 Cor. 6:19b-20.

There are over 98% of abortions performed to women who simply don’t want to have a baby.  Less than 2% of abortions are from rape, incest, or the mother’s life being at risk.  A child can survive outside the womb at just 21 weeks gestation.  Abortion is one of the biggest money-making industries in our nation.  Since Roe v. Wade decision in effect 1973, there have been 63 million abortions in this country alone. 

Jesus affirmed his position on the value of life when he came into the world through a young unwed teenage girl named Mary.  Those who are for abortion say it’s not a baby until it’s born, but in Luke 1:39-45 Mary’s preborn child is recognized as a baby – “…And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb”.  Notice “the baby” leaped, not a fetus or glob of tissue.

Our humanity is given to us, not earned.  For those who say a woman gets to decide when life is a life is playing God.  Only God has that authority.

If you have had an abortion, Jesus forgives just like He forgives any other sin you have committed.  Jesus already paid for your sin on the cross.  Don’t live in guilt and pain.  God can use your story to help another woman and perhaps save her child.

Principle: Only God has the authority to give and take life.

To read more about life vs choice see https://devotionsbylv.blogspot.com/search?q=abortion

Join me here next time.  -- I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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If you have enjoyed my post and have found if helpful, please leave a comment or share this post with the buttons below. 

Recourses:

The Holy Bible – NIV

https://www.christianheadlines.com/contributors/michael-foust/63459781-abortions-since-roe-v-wade-we-pray-2022-is-its-last-anniversary.html