TCN's Biblical Journey - April 30

Today's reading is Nehemiah 13 and Esther 1-4

Oh the problems, you have brought. 

In a Bible study, Pastor Samuel Padget pointed out that Esther chapter 1 is a great example of the stupid things that can happen when you have a bunch of drunk men at a party. I couldn't argue. Drunken parties never end well, though some end with fewer obvious issues.

There is some disagreement over whether or not the king ordered the queen to come show off her beauty with just her crown on but nothing else or not, but whichever it was this wasn't going to be just a beauty pageant. It was to show off a trophy. We don't know for sure why the queen refused but I am pleased that she did.

Standing up against something that is wrong means you will face consequences. We would like to think that if we stand against wrong then everything will go right, however, an honest look at history doesn't demonstrate that. Eventually, it does, but not in the short term. It didn't end well for Queen Vashti, nor for most of the Old Testament prophets, the New Testament Apostles, and the greatest example Jesus.

The good news for Christians is that God has promised to work all things together for our good (Note: not all "the things" are good, some are really bad but they work toward good).

So this is in one way a reminder there are consequences for our actions.

However, though God uses these actions as a way to deliver his people, these actions are not God's will. God didn't want Xerxes to have a drunken party and to divorce his wife. However, God used the actions of sinful people to bring a mighty deliverance. 


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TCN's Biblical Journey - April 27th

Today's reading is Nehemiah 8-12

The Joy of the Lord is Strength.

This is an example of what we see as the current style of church service, from behind a pulpit a pastor gives the word of God. Due to the lack of amplification and questions, they created what we would call small groups to explain what was read. This is perhaps something which the church might consider doing, find times for small groups to discuss what has been preached on Sunday.

This is all good, but an interesting note is that Nehemiah tells the people who are upset that they haven’t been obeying not to mourn over it. He tells them that God’s joy is actually their strength. What is going on here, especially in light of Jesus’ admonition that those that morn will be comforted? I actually the comforting is what is happening. The people now know they haven’t been living right and Nehemiah seeing they have the heart to change tell them to rejoice. Why? Because they are prepared to change.   

God doesn’t want us to live a life of mourning, he wants to comfort us and give us joy, which will strengthen us. However, if we haven’t been confronted with the truth and mourned then I can’t help but think that God’s joy won’t be there and we will not find his strength. 

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TCN's Biblical Journey - April 26th

Today's reading is Nehemiah 3-7

You're responsible for your part of the wall.

Nehemiah 3, now this is an exciting chapter, right? Maybe not. No, it’s not as bad and the genealogies of Chronicles which make every other listing of names in the Bible seem small, but this chapter teaches us something important. Do you see it?

I’m going to assume you do. However, I will put it in writing just to make sure we are on the same page. Every group worked on the area which was close to them and by each doing their part the whole was completed.

This wasn’t a job which could have missing sections. If a plank on the bottom of a boat falls off the whole ship sinks not just the part that fell off. Every part was important, and here everyone did their part and the job was completed (and quicker than some may have thought). This chapter is a reminder that we all have a job to do and when everyone in the church does what is needed then great things are accomplished.

In the case of a city wall, if one part is breached the whole city is taken. The same is true in the church. The pastor can preach a great sermon and the music can be wonderful, but if the bathrooms haven’t been cleaned in a month and they stink up the church no one is going to come. If the church building is beautiful but the greeters are rude, people will stay away. Yes, there are times when some aspects fall short and grace can be given but if some in the church continually fail to do their part the whole will suffer.

My challenge though isn’t to look at what others are doing but to concentrate on what is in front of you. This is what the people did here, they weren’t inspecting another person’s work but did theirs.

So what are you doing (or supposed to be doing)?

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TCN's Biblical Journey - April 25th

Today's reading is Ezra 8-10 and Nehemiah 1-2


There is much criticism of the scriptures of what we see here in chapter 10, where men divorce women who are not Israelites. The problem with this criticism is that it is based on a misnomer. God never told the people of Israel they could not marry people who were not of their race, but those who were not of their religion.

Rahab and Ruth are two of the greatest example of this. They were absolutely not Jewish but they were brought into the nation of Israel and even blessed by God. Their difference was they believed in God. This made all the difference.

God and the Bible aren't racist. They do teach that marriage outside of your faith brings difficulties and most would agree. The problem here as in other place wasn't a race problem it was a faith problem.

TCN's Biblical Journey - April 24th

Today's reading is Ezra 3-7

Sometimes weeping is right when others rejoice.

It's hard to rebuild something. There are times you can never put things back the way they were. This is the case here is chapter 3:8-13. The people who had never seen the glory of the temple of old were excited, but those who saw how much difference there was found themselves weeping over what was lost.

Are either of these groups wrong? No.

For the people who had never seen the previous temple, the excitement of being able to worship God in a temple was something to celebrate and it should have been. For those who had seen what was lost, was it wrong to weep? No, the people of Israel needed to weep because it was there generation which had lost the temple, they needed to grieve. There was a need to remember why they had lost the great temple of Solomon.

The lesson for us is to realize that there are times when people see events from a different perspective and neither are wrong or ungodly. Give grace to those who weep when you are rejoicing or those who are rejoicing while you are weeping.

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TCN's Biblical Journey - April 23

Today's reading is 2 Chronicles 34- Ezra 2

Losing God's word in church.

In chapter 34 we read the incredible story of finding the book of the Law of Moses in the temple. It is an amazing story of revival and change brought by the power of God's word. Before I get started on what I am wanting to look at I want us to see the power God's word brought on the people. A true renewal started among the people of God and a return to keeping the commandments God had given. This to me is a reminder of the power of the word of God.

However, I have to wonder how you can lose the word of God in the temple of God. It's like losing the Bible in the church. Yet it makes perfect sense. When people see the church (the temple) as merely a place of rituals to please God and not a place to know God, then it is easy to see how the Word of God can be lost and forgotten. Whenever ritual reigns, even if the ritual is contemporary music, videos, and upscale sermons, then God's word is lost.


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TCN's Biblical Journey - April 20th

Today's reading is 2 Chronicles 29-33

Don't waste time serve God now!

Manasseh was the most wicked king Judah ever had. Generations later the corruption he brought on the Judah was still destined to bring judgment. This king killed his own children, worshiped other gods, and made them worse than the people God had driven out before Isreal. Yet, you will see him in heaven.

No, I have not become a universalist.

At the end of his reign, Manasseh got right with God. He even tried to reverse some of the evil he had done. This is a testament to the grace of God. God wants to change the hearts of tyrants and he does. However, this doesn't mean that there aren't consequences. Manasseh's son was wicked, the kingdom was corrupted and captivity was certain. 

Yes, you might be able to wait until later in life to make things right with God, but the costs on others are something you can't undo. Don't wait, serve faithfully always.

TCN's Biblical Journey - April 19th

Today's reading is 2 Chronicles 24-28

May my hands guide, so their feet will choose right

One of the saddest things that I see is when a child seems to faithfully serve God while they are young but when they are older and their parents die or they move away they stop. In young Joash's life, the person he was trying to please was the high priest Jehoiada. It seems Jehoiada used his influence to ensure that the temple was repaired and that people didn't serve other gods. The mistake Jehoiada made was that he didn't use his influence to truly impart a personal faith in Joash.

I do want my daughters to live for Christ when they are at home, but it is my greatest fear that they won't seek God after my influence has gone. It's a scary thing for a parent to allow a child to find their faith and not give all the answers or dismiss their questions by force of personality. The truth is that some who parents fear will never serve God return to Him and some who start off good drift away. What doesn't change is that parents and leaders need to develop a personal faith inside of those we influence and not an imposed one.


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TCN's Biblical Journey April 18th

Today's reading is 2 Chronicles 19-23

Which love?

In chapter 19 we see the prophet chiding Jehoshaphat for helping the northern Tribes of Israel who were in rebellion against God. The question asked is should you love those that hate the Lord? The problem comes when we see in the New Testament a command to love our enemies. SO, is God changing his mind or is something else going on?

God isn't changing his mind. Love in Hebrew is a broad term like it is in English. I love neighbor and I love my wife, but I don’t treat them the same. I could give other examples, but we know that love carries different meanings depending on the content.

To make this clearer I want to point out that this exact spelling of the word love is used one other place in the Bible. In Proverbs 20:13 it says, “Do not love sleep or you will grow poor; stay awake and you will have food to spare.” We should all realize that God designed us to sleep. Sleep is a vital part of our lives yet here Solomon says we shouldn’t love it. The meaning is clear, sleep shouldn’t have a special place of honor nor should it be looked at as something more important than everything else. Do we have, if I can use the term, a relationship with sleep? Yes, but it can’t be the focus of our lives.

Here God isn’t saying that we shouldn’t love people in the way God speaks of in the New Testament. What we see is Jehoshaphat didn’t reach out in love in order to bring the knowledge of God to Ahab but in order to build a military alliance. The problem is that Jehoshaphat isn't in the proper relationship with Ahab and is trusting this alliance rather than trusting God. The “love” that Jehoshaphat had was one of the love of an ally not the love one has for a lost soul. This is the "love" God is against, not the love for lost people. 

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TCN's Biblical Journey - April 17th

Today's reading is 2 Chronicles 14-18

"He built cities and ... walls"

Asa was a good King and through most of his reign, God gave him peace. Yet I notice that in this time of peace Asa still prepared. In 2 Chronicles 14:6-7, we see Asa encouraged the people of God to prepare why they enjoyed peace. This reminds me of what Jesus said about working while it is day because the time would come when no one could work. The time to prepare isn’t during war or catastrophe. The time to prepare is when there is peace.

If we wait until thing go wrong to get close to God, then like those who don’t prepare defenses when the war comes they will be overrun. Yes. God is gracious, but this is usually seen in the times of peace that come your way. 

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TCN's Biblical Journey - April 16th

Today's reading is 2 Chronicles 9-13

We see in here in chapter nine, perhaps an example of Solomon’s prayer in chapter 6:32-33 being acted out. “As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm—when they come and pray toward this temple, then hear from heaven, your dwelling place. Do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name.”

The queen of Sheba visit was in response to the greatness of God. She says as much in verses 8. If Solomon and Israel had continued down the right path one could only imagine what influence they could have had on the world around them. However, Solomon didn’t stay faithful and whatever influence he could have had was lost.

This is a reminder that past success doesn’t mean future faithfulness. Many churches, pastors, and lay-people have started out good but ended badly. They may be able to point back and say look what we did, but the question which may need to be asked is where are you right now?

The past is a great thing to remember and it can be useful, but if all we have is a history of serving God and not a current living relationship, we are in trouble. So where are you now?

TCN's Biblical Journey - April 13th

Today's reading is from 2 Chronicles 4-8

Is something missing?

There was nothing in the ark except the two tablets that Moses had placed in it at Horeb, where the LORD made a covenant with the Israelites after they came out of Egypt. 2 Chronicles 5:10

Where is everything else? 

The ark of the covenant was supposed to hold the ten commandments, a golden jar of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded (Ex. 16:32; Numbers 17:10; Hebrews 9:4). However, when it is placed in the temple and the staves are removed, the scriptures record that only the commandments are there. So, what happened?

There is no record as to why these things disappeared. I could suppose though this is a picture/a symbol of what was to happen in the heart of the future believers. A believer according to the Apostle Paul becomes the temple of the Holy Spirit. When a person accepts Christ the Spirit of God moves in, the ark was the place where the Spirit of God rested. The staves being moved indicate that this was supposed to be a permanent placing. God promised he would write the law on the hearts of the believer, this is symbolized by the tables coming into the temple. However, the rod showing only Aaron’s children were supposed to be priest is no longer there. In the new covenant we are now all priest to God (Rev. 1:6). The manna is no longer there because Jesus is the manna which we took when we accepted Him as Lord.

So, this placing of the ark in the Holy of Hollies is a picture/type/symbol of God’s final work in man through Jesus Christ. As I have pointed out before the Bible points to the work of Jesus.

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TCN's Biblical Journey - April 12th

Today's reading is 1 Chronicles 28-29 and 2 Chronicles 1-3

Dome of Rock Jerusalem (Temple Mound)

The story of the building of the temple for many isn’t very exciting. It is after all just measurement and descriptions. Yet there is something interesting at the beginning of chapter three which makes me wonder. Why here?

It says that David began the preparations for building the temple on the very place where David had seen a vision of the angel of God. This might sound nice except the angel standing there wasn’t being friendly, it had just brought death upon 70,000 people in Israel because of David’s presumption (1 Chronicles 21). The angel was standing there ready to strike Jerusalem when David offered sacrifice and repentance to God.

My own thought is that David realized this place was where God had accepted the sacrifice for him and it was a reminder that God was a God of mercy and forgiveness, yet also a God of judgment. This was in essence what the tabernacle was, a place where they could see both the judgment and mercy of God. It was what the temple was supposed to be, a place where people who had done wrong could go and call out for forgiveness.

Today we don’t necessarily have a place that we have to go to, but once we have accepted Christ we are the temple of God. The place where the judgment and mercy of God are shown forth. Not just mercy or just judgment, but both.

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TCN's Biblical Journey - April 11

Today's reading is 1 Chronicles 23-27

Christian politicians?

What I have never noticed before reading chapter 23 was that David made some of the Levites judges and officers for his kingdom. There is some idea that those dedicated to God should never be "soiled" with political service. Yet what I see here is that David did this, and God did not condemn it nor advice against it. I will point out that the primary purpose of the Levites was service in the house of God, yet David found some could be used and trusted with political service. 

So what does that have to do with us? No, I am not saying that Pastors should be in politics. If God has called someone to ministry that is where they belong, taking a political position might be a demotion in the area of Kingdom work. This being said, I don’t think that religion and politics need to be separated so that those with strong religious views should refrain from politics. All laws are after all a reflection of moral beliefs, so why should those with strong morals be disqualified? They shouldn’t but again as always what is God's greatest purpose for your life, if it isn’t in politics then whoever you are you should avoid it. If it is then as a Christian you need to serve with the love of Christ and do that work as unto God.  

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TCN's Biblical Journey- April 10th

Today's reading is 1 Chronicles 18-22

Bad advice can send you down the wrong way.

When I look at chapter 19, I can’t help but think that Hanan the new king of Ammon had some horrible advisors. First, they don’t just refuse to see the embassies from David they humiliate them. If Hanan was concerned about David being a warmonger, then humiliating his emissaries was clearly a bad idea.

After this humiliation, Hanan realizes he has upset David, instead of offering an apology he prepares for war. David seeing this buildup of forces then reacts and the very action that Hanan feared took place. David invaded and took the kingdom.

What is the sad part of all of this is that Hanan’s father had developed good relations with David. Hanan could have had a powerful ally, but instead of trusting the relationship his father had built he listens to his advisors and ends up losing everything.

Solomon said, “A soft answer turns away wrath.” We could learn from these words and learn from Hanan as to what happens if you answer a soft word with wrath. 

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TCN's Biblical Journey- April 9th

Today's reading is from 1 Chronicles 13-17

“Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we did not inquire of it during the reign of Saul." Perhaps this is the problem. The reason Saul and the children of Israel had so much trouble.

It is the reason people have trouble today, they don’t ask God what they should do. There does seem to be a lot of asking to be saved after we find ourselves in a mess, but maybe there would be less if we stopped and asked God before the mess.

These people as the church today were supposed to be the people of God. They and we have rituals and routines but are we inquiring of God?

I have heard it said when all else fails read the instructions. How much easier would life be if rather than trying to fix what is messed up, we learn what we should be doing in the first place? This is what we need to be looking for to make life better, God's advice in the first place. 

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TCN's Biblical Journey April 6- Chase a lion? or do nothing?

Today's reading is 1 Chronicles 8-12

This is a post from February 2014 but it fits here today

Today I listened to a young man, Jacob Salem, from Olivet Nazarene University preach. I enjoyed it. What caught my attention was not the running leap from the podium, but the scripture he used. 

Benaiah son of Jehoiada, a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, performed great exploits. He struck down Moab's two mightiest warriors. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.(1 CHRONICLES 11:22)

I do not know if he has read the book "Chase the Lion" by Mark Batterson, (I haven't yet either) but wether he did or not the question both ask are basically the same:

Do you trust God enough to chase you dream, even if it looks crazy?

WELL?

Are you?

The sermon caused me to think back to all that surrounded the publishing of my first book, The Bee in the Blackberry Bush. 

When began to to chase this dream in July 2012, I set aside the facts:

I was no expert in writing
English was my worse subject growing up
I had no talent in art (I can not draw a strait line with a ruler)
I did not know any illustrators
I had no money to pay an illustrator
I had no money to pay an editor
I did not have a good name for the story
I did no have money to pay a publisher
I had no experience in book design 
I did not know any translators (this comes into play later)
I had no money to pay translators
I had no platform

In spite of that what has happened. 

The Bee in the Blackberry Bush is published in print in 3 languages, 2 in Kindle format. The title was give to me by Garrett Lee who also edited the book for me. Garrett's brother Don is an excellent illustrator and both brothers donated their services(This was Don's first published work, WOW he has a future, hire him). I learned how to self-publish for next to nothing. I learned how to design a book(this is harder than it looks). Two great people took up the challenge of translating the book into their own languages. Update: At this time I have published two more books and have helped other get their work published also. I know of at least 12 book which are in print because I helped encourage or actually formatted the books.

How did all of this happen? I chased the lion.

I can not promise this will happen for you but if you do nothing; nothing is what you will have.










* I am not endorsing Mark Batterson and he is not endorsing this blog.
He has never heard of me, I'm sure.

TCN's Biblical Journey April 5

Today's reading is 1 Chronicles 3-7

Why chose one of the four at all?

When we look at the beginning of chapter 3 we see that David had a number of sons by his regular wives. When we see him choose a successor he chooses one of the son’s of Bathsheba. Considering the scandal connected with David and Bathsheba it does seem strange that David would choose one of Bathsheba’s sons let alone the youngest to be the king in his stead.

This may be one of those questions best saved for heaven, but we might guess that maybe David had a special relationship with Bathsheba and allowed her to pick her favorite child. Then again this may and probably is the hand of God in some way we could never imagine. Seeing this is a reminder that sometimes there are no answers. We have to trust that in spite of it all be it divine intervention or human choose that God has the power to work it all to good.

Finally, if you feel like your the last one who has a chance, remember God doesn’t go by the standard of seniority the world does. 

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TCN's Biblical Journey April 4

Today's reading is 2 Kings 23-25 and 1 Chronicles 1-2

Passover at TCN 2018

2 Kings 23

In the previous chapter, we find that Josiah discovered the Law of God, first five books of the Bible. When he heard want was written he realized how far Israel and Judah had fallen. As we see in this chapter, Israel hadn’t even held a proper Passover since the time of the judges (verse 22). The reading of the law showed Josiah just how far they were from what God wanted them to be.

When Josiah inquired of the Lord, the Lord said that even with reform judgment was going to fall. What did Josiah do when he heard this? He began a massive reform program. He cleaned up the idolatry, public immorality, and restored the proper worship of God. He did what was right even though he knew ultimately the nation would fall. He didn’t give up or give in. He did what was right knowing that it would only bring a temporary reprieve for the nation.  

I have to imagine that this kind of reform brought a great amount of backlash. Yet, he did what he God had commanded. There had to be a great deal of strength and courage in Josiah not just to bring the reforms but also knowing they wouldn’t last. It is easy to give up. It is easy to say, it won’t change anything. However, I can’t help but believe that God is very pleased when we do what is right especially in those situations.

In the days of the world in which I live it looks like no matter what I do, the world has chosen to embrace darkness and disobedience. Like Isaiah, it seems as if after the times of my prophecies (preaching) destruction will fill the USA. This fear is not to be my focus, my focus has to be on God and what he would have me do no matter the consequences. This is what God is calling you to do also. Because we don’t know what the future holds, perhaps God will relent as he did with Nineveh.  

TCN's Biblical Journey April 3

Today's reading is 2 Kings 18-22

Hezekiah destroys an ancient artifact.

In the third year of Hoshea son of Elah king of Israel, Hezekiah son of Ahaz king of Judah began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem twenty-nine years. His mother's name was Abijah daughter of Zechariah. He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD, just as his father David had done. He removed the high places, smashed the sacred stones and cut down the Asherah poles. He broke into pieces the bronze snake Moses had made, for up to that time the Israelites had been burning incense to it. (It was called Nehushtan.) 2 Kings 18:1-4

Hezekiah is one of those people in the Bible that makes me want to cheer and cry. Cheer when he does right and cry when he messes up. 

Here at the very beginning of his rule, he not only destroys all of the foreign gods, but he destroys an ancient relic from the days of Moses because the people of Israel have turned it into an idol. This was clearly an act of courage and an act of wisdom. There could have been all kinds of justifications to keep it, but Hezekiah knew it would be a stumbling block for his people. It was a tough call, but he did it. The question is, are we willing to do the same?

What does the Bible say about Hezekiah because of these actions? “Hezekiah trusted in the LORD, the God of Israel. There was no one like him among all the kings of Judah, either before him or after him.” WOW! What a comment. 

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