Jun 30
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution Sending Forth Laborers Into the HarvestHaving directed prayer for the sending forth of laborers into his harvest (Matthew 9:37-38), Jesus now proceeds to send forth his twelve disciples (twelve apostles)(Matthew 10:1). The twelve are named Mt 10:2-4 and include Judas Iscariot. Jesus sends them to preach, heal, raise the dead, cast out devils. The bulk of Matthew 10 is instruction concerning rejection and persecution. Read more »
Mar 27
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution Lusting After FoodConsider the fickle crowd. One moment they are wanting flesh (meat) to eat; the next moment they lamenting the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic of Egypt (and neglecting to remember their former status as slaves). In their lust for flesh to eat and unthankful complaints about manna, they speak hyperbole and declare: "now our soul is dried away" (Num 11:6 KJV). In this they resembled hungry Esau in Genesis 25:31-32 who also engaged in costly hyperbole when he declared he was… Read more »
Mar 14
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution Sin will hide God's Face - Strict Examination of ConscienceSin will hide God's Face. Most important advice: strict examination of conscience. (Isa 59:1-2) "Receive it therefore, on the whole, as the most important advice that can be given you, immediately to enter on a strict examination of your conscience" - Philip Doddridge - The Rise and Progress of Religion in the soul Read more »
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution If You Will Not hear, My Soul Shall WeepJer 13:17-But if you will not hear it, my soul shall weep in secret places for your pride - Secret prayer. Weeping and lamenting are forms of prayer. There are those whose pride will not allow them to hear. There is no sense to speaking to those who will not hear. Yet, those who love the proud will pray in secret and weep and lament for them. (adapted from observations from Thomas Brooks) Read more »
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution Blind SpotsJob 34:32-That which I see not teach Thou Me. (Blind Spots). Prayer-Lord, Show me my blind spots. Job 34:32 - That which I see not teach Thou me: if I have done iniquity Read more »
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution Blind SpotsJob 34:32-That which I see not teach Thou Me. (Blind Spots). Prayer-Lord, Show me my blind spots. Job 34:32 - That which I see not teach Thou me: if I have done iniquity Read more »
Feb 9
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution Let us prophecy according to the proportion of faith (Rom 12:6)Those who have greater faith in the truth and importance of God's Word will be greater prophets. Whether that word is predictive or not, prophets declare the word of the Lord with the aim that hearers will hear and heed. Those will greater faith will prophecy with greater conviction and passion and urgency. Read more »
Feb 8
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution Remember MeJoseph interprets the dream of Pharoah's chief butler and gives a request to the butler to remember him before Pharoah "when it shall be well with thee". It does go well for the butler but the butler neglects to fulfill the request and make mention of Joseph and his sufferings. Later, Moses and Aaron would lead the nation of Israel out of Egyptian captivity and God would ordain the Passover feast as a remembrance of that deliverance. The sacrament of the Lord's Table is or… Read more »
Feb 6
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution Joseph-Prison, Providence, ProsperityJoseph returns to prison after the false testimony of Potiphar's wife comes against him. However, Providence quickly shows itself in Joseph's life again and Joseph enjoys mercy, favor, and prosperity from the LORD's hand. Read more »
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution Joseph sold unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharoah"And the LORD was with Joseph...and his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper..." After Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, Providence went to work quickly on Joseph's behalf. He remained a slave for years to come but the LORD was with him. What a Providence to be purchased by a member of Pharaoh's household! What a greater Providence that the LORD made all that Joseph did to prosper!! Joseph sold unto Potiphar… Read more »
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution Jesus: For the one who is not against us is for us (Mark 9:40)There is no neutrality concerning Jesus Christ. After Christ was arrested, Peter was asked to identify with Christ and he denied him three times. Later, he repented and followed Christ to the end. "For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." (Mark 8:38). There can easily be a cost in society for following the Lord Jesus. But, being stea… Read more »
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution They entered into a covenant to seek...God...with all their heart and with all their soulGod makes promises to us. Here, a corporate nation under King Asa made promises to God. Jesus said "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God" and here, centuries earlier, they set themselves to do that same thing. As treasures of silver have often been sought, so it is good and right to search after wisdom and God (Proverbs 2:4-5). Read more »
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution They that are in the flesh cannot please God - Necessity of God's Spirit being impartedRom 8:8 - They that are in the flesh cannot please God. This stark declaration leads to realization of the necessity of God's Spirit being imparted. "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" - Romans 8:14 Read more »
Feb 5
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution Prayer Meeting then a Grand BaptismCharles Spurgeon, in referring to Acts 2:41 wrote: It began with "only a prayer-meeting" (Acts 1:13-14), but it ended with a grand baptism of thousands of converts. A baptism of about three thousand souls was a grand event indeed. In our days, we have grand-slam sporting achievments, grand-openings for businesses, and grand-parents (God bless them all!!). This was a grand-baptism. Mr. Spurgeon continued: Oh, that the prayers of believers may act as loadstones to sinners! Read more »
Feb 3
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution Abundance of riches, cattle, meat, and leatherJacob (Israel) and Esau had such an abundance of riches that they could not live together and Esau moved north to Mount Seir in Edom Read more »
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution Tell All SessionThe Bible notes several accounts of servants telling all to their master. One of the earliest accounts is that of Abraham's servant who tells all to Isaac (Genesis 24:66) about his journey on which he found Rebekah to become a wife for Isaac. In this passage, the servants of Jesus reported all things, "both what they had done and what they had taught". Like Abraham's servant, the apostles of Jesus were faithful. They were not gossiping about the activities of others bu… Read more »
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution Jesus a carpenter and big brotherThis passage declares that Jesus was a carpenter. His step-father, Joseph, was a carpenter but this passage shows that Jesus was a also carpenter. This verse is also a challenge to those who claim that the perpetual virginity of Mary. It names Jesus as son of Mary and brother of James, Joses, Judah, Simon, and of sisters. Read more »
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution God's commendation of JobGod commended Job as being perfect and upright; one who fears God and eschews evil. Note the attributes for which Job is commended. Faith is not mentioned but rather the fruits of faith. Job did not remain perfect and upright. See Job 3. Later in the book, Job acknowledged speaking in ignorance (Job 42:3) and he repented (Job 42:6) It is remarkable that God would commend a man such as Job during his life. Yet, do we not all long to hear God's commendation at the end of our lives as in… Read more »
Jan 19
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betweentwooceans added a text contribution Abraham, an intercessory mediator, between Almighty God and SodomAbraham, an intercessory mediator, between Almighty God and Sodom Read more »