Jan 20
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shizwiz added a text contribution Our God is Mighty to SaveAccording to the word of the Lord spoken by Moses, the first day of the seven month was to be a day of celebration (Leviticus 23:23-25). According to this text the people weep at the reading of the law, but Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites tell the people not to weep, for the day is holy, that is set apart for the Lord. There is certainly a time for weeping and mourning and when we look at what the Lord has done we might be brought to weeping and morning in light of our own unworthiness and abili… Read more »
Jan 15
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shizwiz added a text contribution Tribulation, The True Test of WorthWhen I read Acts and see words such as persecution or tribulation, I realize how little I know of such things. But Paul did and the believers did as well. And Paul makes it clear that such tribulations are necessary for us to enter into the kingdom of God. Why would Paul say such things. I believe one of the main reasons tribulation is something we will face before entering into the kingdom is that tribulation is a stage on which the value of Jesus Christ is demonstrated in and through our lives… Read more »
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I think Jesus teaches 4 very important principles for prayer just by the way he lived his life 1) After he had sent the crowds away- We need a time where we withdraw from the rush of life, that is ministry. 2) He went up on the mountain- Our place of prayer should be one, as much as possible, away from distractions. 3) By Himself to pray; He was there alone- We need a time of prayer that we go to by ourselves. Prayer is about communing with the God. It is about… Read more »
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shizwiz added a text contribution A Mind To WorkIn today's culture it seems that diligence, hard work, and discipline are becoming something of the past. Now, it is cooler to work less hours, have more free time, experience more entertainment. We want the easy life. This cannot be for the Christian, the one who loves God and follows Him. God has given us jobs to do. Some he has called to work in factories or the business world. Some he has called to be husbands or wives, fathers or mothers. Others he has called to be a missionary. Others… Read more »
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shizwiz added a text contribution Great is Thy FaithfulnessDo you believe that God is faithful? Do you believe that God will do what He says he will do? Abraham did. He knew what God said in Chapter 12 God would do. Therefore he will not take the possessions the king offers, for it will be God who makes him rich or keeps him poor and it will be all to God's glory. God is the one who delivers the people from there enemies and it is all to His glory. God will not fail to fulfill his promises. May this be our hope in sickness and health, in trial or b… Read more »
Jan 13
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shizwiz added a text contribution No Names for the Glory of GodWhen I read this passage this morning, I was struck by one verse. Nehemiah 3:20 says, After him, Baruch the son of Zabbai zealously repaired another section, from the Angle to the doorway of the house of Eliashib the high priest. Anyone ever heard of Baruch? I hadn't until now, but what is said of Baruch is really neat. He did not just do his job. He vigorously, with passion and careful urgency did his job. And then I thought to myself, the only thing we know about his life is that he was… Read more »
Jan 12
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shizwiz added a text contribution Whose name will be great among the nations?In Malachi 1:11, God says, "My name will be great among the nations, from the rising of the sun to its setting. Incense and pure offerings will be presented in my name in every place because My name will be great among the nations," says the Lord of Hosts. This is no maybe statement! God is clear that His name, not ours will be great among the nations. Now, with that thought look at Genesis 11:4. The people want to make a name for themselves, so God comes down, confuses their languages… Read more »
Jan 9
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shizwiz added a text contribution Grace that taught me to fear, but by Grace my fears relievedWhen I read this passage today I was struck with Ezra's attitude toward sin. Have you ever asked yourself what a proper view of sin and confession is? I fear that many, even myself, have been duped into thinking that all we say is Jesus forgive me and he forgives us. But it is clear from this passage that Ezra was devastated. I believe that there are two reasons that Ezra had such a view of sin. The first reason is Ezra understood something of the character of God. God is Holy, meaning He i… Read more »
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shizwiz added a text contribution Beneficiaries of God's Common GraceOne of the great mysteries of this life is the nature of death and why people experience in the different ways they do. I mean have you ever stopped and wondered why some live longer than others. Or why some die in horrific ways. The world has no answer to these questions and most of the time the answer is to turn and blame the God they do not believe in. Is God unjust? Certainly not! The Scriptures have an answer for this question. It is clear from verse 21 that God will never wipe out everybod… Read more »
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shizwiz added a text contribution A Life Shaped by God's WordDo we really take God at His word? Do we really believe that what God says He will do? The Scriptures are clear that Ezra did and as a result God protected him and those with him on their journey back to Jerusalem. Oh, how I pray that I would not only be able to talk about very encouraging and lofty ideas such as God's provision or God's sufficiency. I pray that God's promises that he will provide and the understanding that God is sufficient (in other words I should be able to los… Read more »
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shizwiz added a text contribution No Greater AmbitionWho was Ezra? The Scriptures are clear who this man Ezra was. Ezra was a scribe well versed in God's law. The Scriptures tell us that his ambition in life was to study the law, be obedient to it, and teach its statutes to Israel. As a result the hand of the Lord was with Ezra. What is your ambition? I would like to propose to you that there is no greater ambition in life than to know God's word, be obedient to it, and then to build into others that they might also be obedient to God�… Read more »
Jan 7
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shizwiz added a text contribution Favor in the Eyes of GodMost of what I know about Noah's Ark I learned in Sunday School. I have always wondered why we love to tell the story of Noah's Ark to children, yet we attempt to censor them from many of the other stories on the basis of there is some content we do not deem appropriate. But as I read this passage today, I noticed some things I had not noticed before. First of all every man on the face of the earth was wicked. Every thought he had was evil, focused on himself and his own pleasure, inst… Read more »
Jan 6
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shizwiz added a text contribution Tough Love! It is your calling Christian!You know, we talk so much about being like God that I almost think that such a phrase may be in danger of becoming cliche. I don't mean to sound negative, but as I read these last few verses of Matthew 5 I was cut to the core. Many times I have heard and have even used Matthew 5 to tell people about God's standard for a works righteousness. Well I have realized that this is not what this verse means at all. Oh, it is a much harder statement. The word perfect means to be whole or compl… Read more »
Jan 5
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shizwiz added a text contribution The Predestination of God's Glory and Man's SatisfactionThe context of Acts 4 is the Apostles have been called out by the religious leaders of the day and were told to stop preaching. They have been questioned and threatened, but there desire is still to hold firm. Even after this the Apostles and their fellowships declaration is that God used Pontius Pilate, Herod, the Gentiles and the people of Israel to accomplish what his hand and purpose predestined (27, 28). Did you get that? God predestined the cross and everything it entailed. And by the cros… Read more »
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shizwiz added a text contribution What is the sustenance of your life?Many times this passage is taught with an emphasis on overcoming temptation. That's good, for that is the very context of the passage, but Matthew 4:4 stands out to me for a different reason. Jesus says what he says in response to Satan wanting Him to turn stones into bread. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3, which in context is about God allowing the people to go hungry in the wilderness. When God saw fit, He fed the people, but he let them go hungry for a time so that they would know that they… Read more »