An Alternative Look To Christmas II

So now we come to part 2 in our journey through Psalm 8 and how this silent night of Christ’s birth was not so silent. We know from part 1 that it was a declaration to the enemy that they had lost. The infant’s cry was sudden defeat in the ears of the wicked, “From the mouth of infants and nursing babes you have established strength because of your adversaries, to make the enemy and the revengeful cease” Psalms 8:2. Yet we know that Christ displayed His plan and majesty in the sky, Psalm 8:1 states “O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!” To learn more about the opening, go back to last week’s post. This week we want to explain more of the significance of Christmas and how Psalm 8 is indeed breaking this down for us. 

  Starting at verse 3 we see another reflection of God’s power, ordaining the stars and moon to proclaim His workmanship. Psalms 8:3 “When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained.” The author is preparing for something incredible but stops to reflect on the truth of how small man is in this cosmic universe, this is especially true when you see how small man is in the big scheme of things. Psalms 8:4 states, “What is man that You take thought of him, And the son of man that You care for him?” Now the author pivots back to Christmas, we see ourselves standing back at the manger with the voice of an infant declaring that the Lord God of Heaven has come down to earth as a child. Don’t believe me? Just read Psalm 8:5-8. 

  “Yet You have made him a little lower than God, And You crown him with glory and majesty! 6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet, 7 All sheep and oxen, And also the beasts of the field, 8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea, Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.”

  Still don’t believe this is Jesus Christ? Let us look at Hebrews and examine,

Hebrews 2:5-10 “For He did not subject to angels the world to come, concerning which we are speaking. 6 But one has testified somewhere, saying, “WHAT IS MAN, THAT YOU REMEMBER HIM? OR THE SON OF MAN, THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM? 7 “YOU HAVE MADE HIM FOR A LITTLE WHILE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS; YOU HAVE CROWNED HIM WITH GLORY AND HONOR, AND HAVE APPOINTED HIM OVER THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; 8 YOU HAVE PUT ALL THINGS IN SUBJECTION UNDER HIS FEET.” For in subjecting all things to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. But now we do not yet see all things subjected to him. 9 But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone. 10 For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through sufferings.”

  The author in Hebrews is talking about Jesus, and actually quotes part of Psalm 8! God, through His Son, has come down to live with Mankind, to save Mankind, and to renew a relationship with God for Mankind! Psalm 8 is a declaration of the Christmas story and most people wouldn’t even know it. We know from last week that the literal night of Jesus’s birth was not silent, yet even figuratively we know that this night would be proclaimed through the ages! Jesus Christ, God incarnate, born on earth to live a perfect life and die for us. He would then be raised from the dead, signifying His perfect life, and established on the throne. Christmas is a yearly declaration of a night not soon to be forgotten! Even our songs on the radio declare this, just look at this old Christmas classic and see how much it resembles the truth of what we have been learning this past two weeks. 

Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King
Peace on earth, and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled
Joyful, all ye nations, rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With th' angelic host proclaim
Christ is born in Bethlehem
Har, the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King

Hail, the heav'n-born Prince of peace
Hail! the Son of Righteousness
Light and life to all he brings
Risen with healing in his wings
Mild he lays his glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the some of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! the herald angels sing
Glory to the newborn King

The Psalm ends with the best way we can celebrate each Christmas. With us putting the season back to its original meaning, “O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is your name in all the earth!” While Christmas is a joyous occasion, it is a time to respectfully bring the reason for the season back to where it belongs. Christmas is a yearly celebration of God’s master plan coming to fruition, His rescue operation to save Mankind being acted upon. For the enemy, a declaration of their time coming to a close. For those who would seek Christ, a moment of joy beckoning a season of lights, merry making, and festivities all around the amazing fact that Jesus Christ had come to earth to save you and I. I recently heard a pastor put it simply enough, there is one verse that ties Christmas to Easter the best and that is John 3:16. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” Psalm 8 helps remind us that Christmas was never and should never be a silent night, but one of remembrance and celebration of what Christ did for you and I. 

Hold until relieved our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

RE-POST FRIDAY

How is God working for us? Read it HERE!

Christmas Faith Part II

As we continue our look into those who were important in Jesus Christ’s birth, there is one who is often overlooked and one I confess I make the mistake to overlook as well. When I wrote the post on Zacharias and Elizabeth, I commented that they had to wait until it was God’s timing for them to have a child and part of this was to wait for Mary to be of an age and to have a willing heart to listen to God as discussed last week. However, Mary was not the only one who had to be prepared for this timeframe and it is this person who is so often overlooked despite having a great faith and a willingness to listen to God. And that person is Joseph.

We have already discussed how Mary could have felt when she was visited by the angel Gabriel but now we need to look at the man who stepped up and took on that father role for the Son of God.

“18 Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 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. 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a son. And he called his name Jesus.”

Matthew 1:18-25

We quickly see that Joseph was a righteous man. He found out that Mary was pregnant and did not wish to cause her any more shame than a woman who was “unfaithful” would have endured during these times. Instead, he wished to release her from their engagement quietly and without any fuss. Any other man could have had Mary stoned for being pregnant before she was married but Joseph did not want to see any harm come to her.

But as Joseph was considering how to do this, he was visited by an angel just as Mary was. While it is not stated, I do believe that this angel was again Gabriel simply based on Gabriel being the angel to visit Zacharias and Elizabeth, as well as Mary. This angel tells Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife and explains that Mary was to give birth to the Son of God, all to fulfill the plan of salvation that God had put into place. It is here that we see Joseph’s faith. He does not question the angel about what he was told, but in his own way Joseph was acknowledging that nothing is impossible for God. Joseph knew that if this was God’s plan then God would provide a way for Joseph to fill the father role for the Son of God. It could not have been easy knowing that you would be raising the Son of God and realizing that your actions would have some impact on Him, which we see as Jesus became a carpenter just like Joseph.

Joseph is also an example to those of you who are step-parents raising children who are not your own. Joseph was placed into the earthly father role for the Son of God, he knew that Jesus was not his but that did not stop Joseph from loving and raising Jesus. If you are a step-parent I ask that you look to Joseph for encouragement and see that you have just as much parental responsibility as those who share DNA with the child. And in some situations where the biological parent has walked out of the child’s life, you have more responsibility to step up and guide the child(ren) that have been placed into your care.

Joseph’s step of faith is an encouragement for us today as we celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth. We need to remember the man who stepped up into that father role without doubt and instead relying upon the Lord to provide.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

An Alternative Look to Christmas

What if I told you that we should reimagine Christmas? What if I told you a quite scene in a manger wasn’t the full story? You might think I am crazy or you might be curious. However, I would ask for your attention. For the next two weeks we will be doing a close examination to a declaration of the second most important event in human history. Jesus Christ’s birth. Don’t worry! We won’t be taking the normal approach to this, but rather something you most likely have never heard. To be frank, until recently I had never known it either. 

  Psalm 8 is a wonderful declaration of God’s power. Psalms 8:1-2 “O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens! 2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.” In this scene the Psalmist, King David, is telling about all the wonder of God and His victory. “O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth” King David is making a clear declaration that the Lord is majestic. What does this word “majestic” mean? The Hebrew word is “Ad-deer” or Strongs 117. The word means powerful, famous, gallant, glorious, goodly, lordly, mighty, mightier, one, noble, principal that is worthy. This word describes something that only God can be. He is wanting us to know that God is better than anything that we could ever think. However, King David is setting the stage for revealing a truth bomb which could only be delivered by Jesus Himself. King David explains that God’s spender is above the heavens. The word “above” is the Hebrew word “al” or Strongs 5921 which on the surface can mean “above,” but when you dig deeper you can see it means “above” but with a downward aspect. The word implies something that was set forth outside of time to be displayed, its source from outside the origins of our conscious. In short, King David is saying God has displayed His power in the heavens, “O LORD, our Lord, How majestic is Your name in all the earth, Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!” Now we are going to transition to something you most likely haven’t done before so I am asking for patience and see where I am going. 

  Imagine through the eyes of Satan. You know that Jesus Christ has promised to come to save the world through the line of Abraham to King David. You know that Gabriel the Angel has given the exact years until Jesus would come as the King in Jerusalem to the Prophet Daniel, Daniel chapter 9. You know you are about a 34 years out, and suddenly you receive a report from one of your minions that Gabriel was dispatched to a young woman named Mary. You think back over the old prophecies when God Himself told you, Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.” And you wonder if this is God’s play? You wait to see what happens, you visit this Mary and she seems like any typical betrothed Jewish woman. However, looking closer you sense the majestic nature within her womb, God who was boundless, was doing the unthinkable, the incompressible, and adding to what was already limitless.  He was doing something you had never seen before, He was adding to Himself. This woman was carrying your arch-nemesis, the heir to the throne of God, God Himself as a man. Yet, what did that mean? Suddenly, you see a star in the sky? Those old scholars from Babylon start to follow making the long track westward to Israel. You know the child will be born before the wise men arrive but you wonder why the star? Out of spite you make sure the frantic soon to be father Joseph cannot find a suitable place for Mary to give birth. This “unborn would be King” would not dare challenge you. When suddenly you hear a cry, the cry is not Mary’s but rather the birth of the child and than you realize what has entered the world, “From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength Because of Your adversaries, To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.”

  Crazy right? Looking at this through the devil’s eyes? But Psalm 8 gives us more to this story. Both verses reveal that the night Jesus was born was a night that was exploding with significance, meaning, and declaration to the enemy of God that their time was coming to an end. The war for the souls of mankind was coming close to its final battle. From the mouth of a nursing infant, strength is established and the adversaries would be dealt with. Psalm 8 starts by giving a unique look at the Christmas story. Two brief verses, but powerful nonetheless. For our adversaries hearing Jesus Christ cry at birth, was the declaration of their impending doom. But do not take my word for it, the other angels, who were witness to the miracle, declared this to the shepherds Luke 2:8-20 “8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.” 15 When the angels had gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds began saying to one another, “Let us go straight to Bethlehem then, and see this thing that has happened which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 So they came in a hurry and found their way to Mary and Joseph, and the baby as He lay in the manger. 17 When they had seen this, they made known the statement which had been told them about this Child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds. 19 But Mary treasured all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 The shepherds went back, glorifying and praising God for all that they had heard and seen, just as had been told them.”

  The Christmas night could be described with many details but “silent night” is not one of them. However, Psalm 8 isn’t done yet. If you doubt this is still talking about Jesus Christ on earth, just wait till next week when we dig into the rest of the chapter and see what Christmas signified for mankind. 

Hold until relieved, Our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

RE-POST FRIDAY

As we approach Christmas, it is important to know who our listeners are! Read it HERE!

Christmas Faith

Christmas is fast approaching and with it many people are more open to discussing the true meaning behind the holiday. We see many hearts softening during this time and people are encouraged more to share the good news of the Savior Jesus Christ. While the focus should rightfully be placed upon the Son of God, Jesus Christ, have you ever considered what others were thinking regarding His birth? Over the next couple of weeks, we will be discussing people whose faith brought about God’s plan for salvation to begin.

If you read our post last week regarding God’s fulfillment of His plans at the proper time, then you will recall that Zacharias and Elizabeth were meant to have the child that would come before and prepare the way for Jesus Christ, Luke 1:17 “17And it is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of fathers back to their children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” But in order for this to occur, the woman who would give birth to the Son of God had to be prepared. She not only had to come of age, but had to have a willing heart in order to serve God.

This woman has become a common household name throughout the ages, I don’t think there is anyone who has heard the story of Jesus Christ’s birth who has not heard of His mother, Mary. But have we ever really looked into her faith and what it meant? Many studies have been done on her answer to the angel Gabriel and what it meant for the goal of salvation (Luke 1:26-38), but have we ever considered what Mary might have been thinking?

Imagine being a young woman who was suddenly approached by Gabriel the Angel “28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.” Luke 1:28-29. Mary wasn’t concerned about the fact that an angel approached her, but was instead confused by the greeting and why she was being called favored one. Mary had no inclination that she had been chosen and prepared for the task of bearing the Son of God. However, in order to be used by God for this task, Mary must have had a heart full of faith in the promises of God that He would present a Messiah. This does not mean that Mary’s actions were what made her become the mother of God, but that her faith allowed her to willingly say that she would follow God’s will for her life.

We next see Gabriel explain to Mary what God had planned for her, “30 And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34 And Mary said to the angel, “How will this be, since I am a virgin?”” Luke 1:30-34. Many have compared Mary’s statement to Zacharias when he was told that Elizabeth would bear him a son. The difference between Mary and Zacharias is that Mary was not questioning that God would be able to make His word come to pass, but instead was merely questioning how it would happen since she was a virgin. Zacharias wanted proof from Gabriel that what the angel said would be true, while Mary wondered how it would come to pass. She was not doubting that what was being told to her was the truth.

This is a question that Gabriel has no issue answering, “35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; for that reason also the holy Child will be called the Son of God. 36 And behold, even your relative Elizabeth herself has conceived a son in her old age, and she who was called infertile is now in her sixth month. 37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.” Luke 1:35-38. The pure simplicity in Mary’s answer would baffle many today. Instead of asking for clarification or if she truly was the right person for this honor; Mary simply blesses God and acknowledges that through His power, there is nothing that He could not do. Her answer again shows how great a faith Mary had.

Mary’s acknowledgement of God’s plan for her did not come without consequences. A pregnancy is difficult to hide; and in a time where the idea of adultery had more considerable consequences then now, Mary knew what her answer would mean. I once heard a pastor say that if he could have planned the path for salvation he would have waited for Mary and Joseph to be married before she became pregnant with the Son of God. This response is in fact very good proof on why humankind should not be in charge of God’s plans. If God had waited for Mary and Joseph to be married, then it would be impossible to prove that Mary was a virgin when she gave birth to Jesus Christ. This fact is important for two reasons. First, by using as virgin God was able to show the world His might and power, He could make the impossible happen. The second reason is perhaps the most important. If Mary and Joseph were married when she became pregnant with the Son of God, then Jesus would not be God. By having a human father, there is the issue of Adamic sin. Sin comes into a person’s life in two ways, first through the Adamic sin which is passed down through the father, thus every person who has an earthly father has been born with sin. Secondly, sin is passed through our personal actions. So, Jesus Christ Himself would have to be perfect in His own actions, which His resurrection showed proof of. But for this to happen, Jesus had to be born to a virgin. This is why it is so important to remember that God’s ways are not ours, ““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. 9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9.

If perhaps Gabriel and Mary’s interaction would have resulted in a private acknowledgement of God’s plan for her, more believers would be inclined to react as Mary did. It is easy to praise God when His promises don’t place us in difficult positions. But this is often not the case and it certainly wasn’t for Mary. For a young woman to become pregnant before she was married was of great dishonor and often resulted in punishment. Mary was aware of what her answer would mean, she was aware of the whispers it would cause and the general disbelief that she was faithful to her fiancé. However, this knowledge did not stop Mary from placing her own comfort aside in order to follow God. We as believers today need to remember this in our own spiritual walk. God will often place us in situations of discomfort to share His Word to those around us. Today we face punishments just as an unfaithful woman would have. We could lose our friends, family, jobs, or even be jailed for our beliefs. But this should not stop us from responding as Mary did, “Behold, the Lord’s bond-servant; may it be done to me according to your word” Luke 1:38b.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

Think Twice About What Gift You are Bringing Him

Today I wanted to talk about a simple, but powerful concern humanity is struggling with. This struggle is the idea that we must do something for God to like us. I am not talking about the idea of self-righteousness, which can play a part in this, but rather a fundamental misbelief that man needs to do things for God to like us.

This might sound strange to some of you, and that’s ok. Today’s post is simply talking to those who believe they need to do something for God to like them. No where in the Bible will you see a verse about how we need to do something for God to like us. Some might say salvation, but this is acceptance of what God’s Son Jesus Christ did for us. Salvation is the willful act of accepting Jesus Christ into your life and acknowledging what He has already done. I am talking about religiosity in sense. For instance, Psalm 40:6 states, “Sacrifice and meal offering you have not desired.” God doesn’t care what we can offer Him. Psalm 51:16 states, “For you do not delight in sacrifice otherwise I would give it, you are not pleased with burnt offering.” God doesn’t want us trying to make Him think we are good. In fact, He knows we are not and wants us to recognize this, Psalm 51:17 states, “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

What do I mean by this? I mean God would rather have us bring nothing to the table and cry out to Him for mercy knowing we cannot possibly even think of something pure enough to be in His presence, rather than us bring a gift to Him. Regrettably, if you have been a Christian for more than a day, this struggle has manifested itself in you. However, God is great at pointing it out as we study His Word. The Spirit will guide us directly to the issue and spotlight it for us to see how we are in constant need of Jesus Christ. So what should we do? Look at Proverbs 15:8, “but the prayer of the upright is His delight.” God loves to hear from us because we are His, PERIOD! This is why John 3:16 states, “FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD (that means He loved you already) that he gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” It is why Romans 5:8 states, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” God just doesn’t care what we can bring to the table, He loves us no matter what. We need not attempt sacrifices so that He likes us, but rather we should be seeking Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind as it says in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one! 5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength.” This lesson was so important to Jesus’s ministry on earth that He even assigned it as homework, Matthew 9:13, “Now go and learn what this means: ‘I desire compassion, rather than sacrifice,’ for I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Jesus believed this principle was so important that He even followed back up with them to tell them they failed to look it up. Matthew 12:7, “But if you had known what this means: ‘I desire compassion, rather than sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.”

In short, remember that God cares more about the heart than what the hands can bring to the table. He cares more about the intentions, than the actions seen by others. And finally, if you haven’t picked up on this yet, He already has declared that He likes you! Not just that, He loves you! And He has already paid the price to bring you into fellowship with Him. No need for a welcoming gift other than our willing hearts to follow Him.

Hold Until Relieved, Our Blessed Hope is Coming,

JL

RE-POST FRIDAY

A post to remind us that God is with us even in our grief. Read it HERE!

God’s Timing Not Ours

If one thing has stuck out to me in the last year it is how God is always in control of the timing of events. I have seen it in my own life with completion of plans that were thought to be put aside. We have also seen how God placed certain people in a specific time such as Queen Esther “And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”” Esther 4:14b. Recently I have even seen how God was in control in His timing for the salvation of mankind.

I was reading through the book of Luke and came across a statement that I must have overlooked at least a dozen times. It occurs when the angel Gabriel is speaking with Zacharias regarding Elizabeth bearing him a son. Zacharias was doubtful that this would come to pass due to his and his wife’s advanced age, as a result Gabriel sealed Zacharias’ lips until the child was born. While this on its own can be a topic of discussion, I want to focus on one line spoken by Gabriel. “20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day when these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled at their proper time.”” Luke 1:20

Did you catch it? Gabriel’s words would be fulfilled at the proper time. This means that God had left Elizabeth and Zacharias without a child until this specific point in history! The child that was to be born to them would be the one who would go before Christ proclaiming God’s power and bringing back many to God. Their son would be remembered as one of the greatest men of faith, but they had to wait until this time for him to be born. If Elizabeth and Zacharias were to only have one child, then the child would have to be born when the timing was right for him to fulfill what he was destined to do.

In one sense, Elizabeth and Zacharias had to wait until Mary was of age. When you read through you can see that there is a significant age difference between Elizabeth and Mary. Elizabeth was described as being advanced in years while Mary was old enough to just now be betrothed. Elizabeth acted as proof that what the angel told Mary was going to happen was the truth. Not only that, but the disciples themselves had to be born at that time, including Judas.

However, there is more to the timing of events. If it was not for the Greeks who had brought the common language of Greek to the known world, the gospel would have been much harder to spread. Second, Rome needed to build the roads throughout the empire allowing for missionary travel to be easier. All this was done for other reasons, but when you look at it from God’s perspective you see that years before the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ there was already a specific time frame and work being accomplished. Just think of Caesar Augustus had to have the idea for a census, thus forcing Joseph and Marry back to Bethlehem right before Jesus was born.

When presented with this, how can we not see how great our God is? He planned out the moment for salvation to be presented for all of mankind at that specific timeframe. Jesus met with those who He was meant to at that time, He knew whose hearts He was going to touch while on earth. If God could plan this wondrous timeframe so perfectly how can we doubt that He has a plan for us? God arranged the Greeks to bring a common language, the Romans to build the roads, Caesar for his census to prepare the foundation for what was to happen. God placed Zacharias, Elizabeth, Mary, and the disciples at that moment in time to complete a purpose that He had planned. God allowed for roads to be built and the sharing of a common language to take place in the time when His Son would begin His ministry on earth. Nothing was by chance, and nothing was out of God’s control. This is the same for us, we are here in this moment, facing these circumstances, to complete God’s plan and glory. This should give us comfort as we go about our day in these uncertain times.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

The Basics: A Brief Overview of the Book of Ezekiel

The Basics course is designed to help brothers and sisters in Christ, who have a desire for a brief study over each of the books of the Bible. While being more than just a timeline, it is designed to give a person a more realistic overview of the entire Bible. As well as pointing out different highlights along the way. Imagine riding in a car and seeing exit signs for a town. Each sign gives a brief glimpse of what is inside, while if you wanted to thoroughly investigate the town you would have to take the exit. This series is a collected work of the books of the Bible while continuing to drive past each of the exits. I would encourage you to take any exit and allow the Lord God to direct your path to where He would guide. 

The Bible is written into 66 different books. Each one unique on its own but designed to be with its other collected works. 

Cautionary Note: This work is not to argue for the authenticity of the Bible nor is it to argue over the mechanics of how God used man to write His Words. This is designed as an overview for someone to review the book in passing. Nevertheless, we here at Mill House Ministries believe that the Bible is without error and was written by God, through His divine attributes, through man. 

These overviews are sequenced in the below fashion. Each overview is designed to flow in unison. 

1.) Introduction

2.) Who wrote it

3.) When did they write it

4.) Key topics

5.) Key sections

6.) Books that interact with each other

7.) Analysis of the Book

As previously stated, if you find yourself drawn to one of these books, please take the time and see what God is wanting to show you in that book. 

BASICS COURSE: 

Ezekiel

INTRODUCTION: 

Imagine the night is especially dark, the water reflects the stars off the Chebar river. Sitting by the edge of the river, you see a man wrapped in his robe watching the water flow. For some reason Ezekiel couldn’t sleep and decided to come to the water’s edge and pray. This wasn’t too uncommon; the land was still foreign to him, and the smell of the area was always unsettling. He didn’t expect anything other than peace as he thought back to his homeland in Israel. The chirping of the nightlife was poetic and the sound of water flowing soothing, yet something had drawn him to this particular area. For a while it seemed to continue, his thoughts strayed to thinking of the promises of God and the power He had orchestrated against the Jewish people for disobedience. For Ezekiel it was a shame, he thought and wondered what his people would be like years from now. Thinking of what could happen he finally realized the chirping noises had stopped and the water had become choppy, as if the air was turning and a storm was approaching. Looking straight up Ezekiel could see stars, yet he felt like something was coming. Standing up he decided to walk to the top of the hill next to the river. As he walked, he could see the sway of the brush and the trees bending back and forth to the wind. He didn’t understand, what sort of storm came like this? Getting to the top of the hill he saw to the West back towards Jerusalem stars, looking South and East he saw stars. However, far to the north there seemed to be a glowing haze as if a storm of fire. The image made the hair on the back of his neck stand up, there was something unnatural about the storm. Wrapping his cloak about him, Ezekiel straightened to see closer. To his surprise, the storm was not far away and rapidly coming towards him. While he couldn’t tell why, something inside felt as if the storm was coming for him. At first, he felt his knees begin to weaken, he wanted to run, his hands trembled, and the ground began to shake beneath him. Suddenly the dread of his sin had encompassed him, as if all his past wrong doings were coming back to his memory. Whatever the storm was, it carried a presence that Ezekiel had only read about. Ezekiel was in the presence of holiness.

WHO WROTE IT: 

Ezekiel the Priest son of Buzi, is the author of the book of Ezekiel.

WHEN DID THEY WRITE IT: 

According to Biblical scholars, archaeologists, theologians, and historians, Ezekiel is written close to 590 B.C. and would continue to 570 B.C.

KEY TOPICS:

Ezekiel is a book of declaration by God. God is declaring what is happening and what will happen.

KEY SECTIONS: 

This book can be broken into several parts. Section 1 is chapters 1-7 which is about God and the commissioning of Ezekiel. Section 2 is chapters 8-24 which is God’s glory and the complete captivity of all the Jewish people from their land. Section 3 are chapters 25-32 which is the judgment of nations, and finally section 4 is chapters 33-38 which deals with the future.

BOOKS THAT INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER: 

Ironically most of the Old Testament deals with the book of Ezekiel. However, there is one book more than any other that I would argue stands closest to interacting with the book of Ezekiel and that is the New Testament book Revelation. Ezekiel is evidence of God’s declaration of a time still needing to be fulfilled by God with the Jewish nation. Revelation is the detailed events of that time.

ANALYSIS OF THE BOOK: 

Ezekiel is a book where we get a peak into the inner workings of God Almighty! If you want to know what it is like in God’s presence, this is it. If you want to know how He thinks of nations, this is it. If you want to see what will happen in the future, possibly our lifetime now, this is it. Ezekiel is a marvelous book for prophecy students, but also those who are desiring to have a clearer understanding of God. Those who read Ezekiel need to remember to take God’s Word seriously and keep to the golden rule of scripture reading, “Context, context, context.” And the second biggest rule, “Take everything back to scripture.” If you have a question in Ezekiel, look in the book for an answer, if it is not there it will be found in another book in the Bible. Finally, Ezekiel is a book that shows the legitimacy of the Bible, God makes claims that would have been seen as impossible only a few years ago. God’s word is reliable, authentic, and relatable each and every day.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

RE-POST FRIDAY

A reminder that Jesus is as active today as He was when walking on Earth. Read it HERE!

THANKFUL

As we reflect over the next couple of days what we are thankful for, I wonder if there is one thing that will be on your list. I’m sure things like family, good health, jobs, and the like will be common on the list of many; but I also wonder if anyone will take time to be thankful for the gifts that God has given us? Have we as believers really taken the time to be thankful for not just our spiritual gifts but also our salvation? It seems so easy to say that we are thankful for the material things that God has given us, but are we neglecting being thankful for the gifts that truly matter? How are we expressing thankfulness for our salvation? Are we living for the world knowing God forgives or are we abiding in God?

When we place our faith in Jesus Christ as the only One who can forgive our sins, we become saved, and for many this moment in time can easily be recalled. But from that point in time there are a few different responses. First, the brand-new believer dives into God’s Word and sees areas of sin in their life and strives to correct it. They want to have the sanctified life, “Therefore, since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.” 2 Corinthians 7:1

The second response is the lacking Christian, while they hear the word they lack ownership and action. These people often find the Christian walk to be dull and boring, or they cannot hear when God is speaking to them. They know they are saved but have little to no foundation in the faith, “11 About this we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, 13 for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. 14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.” Hebrews 5:11-14. This group has become so dull to God’s Word that they cannot grow in the faith.

The third response is the carnal driven Christian. By this I mean the individual who believes that because God forgives, they can continue in their sin. They have in short “fire insurance,” they are saved but still living for this world. “15 What then? Are we to sin because we are not under the Law but under grace? Far from it! 16 Do you not know that the one to whom you present yourselves as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of that same one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?” Romans 6:15-16 You would never guess that this person was a believer because their actions are that of this world.

What is the commonality between the lacking Christian and the carnal driven Christian? They are not abiding in Christ and their spiritual walk is at its weakest. To abide means to bear patiently and to endure without yielding. This is the first response. When we abide in Christ we walk with Him, we know the Scriptures not just in our head, but in our heart. Our life showcases Christ and His love for us. This is how we show that we are thankful for what Christ did on the cross, that we are thankful that He rose again and is seated on the throne even now. We present ourselves unashamed before Him, not because we are sinless, but because we are striving to follow Him and to endure the world without turning away from the work that God has called us to do.

With this in mind, I am always reminded of the passage in 2 Timothy 2; specifically two sections. “15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. 16 But avoid irreverent babble, for it will lead people into more and more ungodliness, 17 and their talk will spread like gangrene. Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, 18 who have swerved from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already happened. They are upsetting the faith of some.” 2 Timothy 2:15-18 and “21 Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.” 2 Timothy 2:21.

Anyone who abides in Christ can present themselves unashamed. Not based on their own work, but the work that Jesus Christ is doing in their life. They see the sin in their lives by being convicted by the Holy Spirit and strive to be Christ-like. Because of this, these individuals not only hear God when He calls them, but also can respond to Him because they are prepared to follow Him. Their salvation is anchored in Christ, His Word holds true each day for the believer.

So now in the season of thankfulness, I ask you to examine your spiritual walk and be honest. Are you someone who thinks of the Christian walk as boring who feels they have no direction from God? Are you someone who is still living for this world and thus painting an untrue picture of the saved life? Or are you an individual who is truly abiding in Christ and enduring the world but knowing that you are set apart? The good news is if you fall into the two groups that are not abiding in Christ you can make that change. Simply come before God and ask Him to change you. Ask Him to bring life into your walk so that you can be made useful to Him. A great book on individuals who have made this step is called, “They Found the Secret” by V. Raymond Edman.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

The Basics: A Brief Overview of the Book of Lamentations

The Basics course is designed to help brothers and sisters in Christ, who have a desire for a brief study over each of the books of the Bible. While being more than just a timeline, it is designed to give a person a more realistic overview of the entire Bible. As well as pointing out different highlights along the way. Imagine riding in a car and seeing exit signs for a town. Each sign gives a brief glimpse of what is inside, while if you wanted to thoroughly investigate the town you would have to take the exit. This series is a collected work of the books of the Bible while continuing to drive past each of the exits. I would encourage you to take any exit and allow the Lord God to direct your path to where He would guide. 

The Bible is written into 66 different books. Each one unique on its own but designed to be with its other collected works. 

Cautionary Note: This work is not to argue for the authenticity of the Bible nor is it to argue over the mechanics of how God used man to write His Words. This is designed as an overview for someone to review the book in passing. Nevertheless, we here at Mill House Ministries believe that the Bible is without error and was written by God, through His divine attributes, through man. 

These overviews are sequenced in the below fashion. Each overview is designed to flow in unison. 

1.) Introduction

2.) Who wrote it

3.) When did they write it

4.) Key topics

5.) Key sections

6.) Books that interact with each other

7.) Analysis of the Book

As previously stated, if you find yourself drawn to one of these books, please take the time and see what God is wanting to show you in that book. 

BASICS COURSE: 

Lamentations

INTRODUCTION: 

The sun had set, but he could still see the glow on the roof tops as if it had not. Through tear strained eyes the glistening flames could be seen engulfing the temple. Jerusalem was captured and the temple was destroyed. Babylonian soldiers crisscrossed through the city, killing those who were foolish enough to fight back and capturing the others. Years ago, Jeremiah thought the worst day of his life was when he was told Jerusalem’s fate, however seeing it happen was worst. At first, he didn’t notice but as he sat weeping, he slowly felt the subtle but growing desire to cry out to God. Remembering God’s righteousness was the only thing he had left; it was all he could grasp, a hope of salvation coming.

WHO WROTE IT: 

Lamentations is written by Jeremiah.

WHEN DID THEY WRITE IT: 

According to Biblical scholars, archaeologists, theologians, and historians, Jeremiah is written close to but before 583 B.C. when Jeremiah was forced to leave Judah.  

KEY TOPICS:

Lamentations is a book of sadness and loss. Jeremiah was told by God to tell Judah what would happen if they did not listen, and now years later he would witness what he had warned about. The book is a declaration of God being in control.

KEY SECTIONS: 

The book is simple to read, but powerful in emotion. The reader is swept in the scene which Jeremiah is witnessing, but also his personal reflection on God. Due to the shortness of the book, many have believed it is one section. However, when you look closer you can see that Jeremiah is possibly going through the five stages of grief.

BOOKS THAT INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER: 

Lamentations is a book which carries significant cultural reference for the Jewish nation, but also why the Jews during the New Testament acted in such a manner. For this reason, Lamentations must be recognized as one of the most influential, but least quoted books of the Bible.

ANALYSIS OF THE BOOK: 

There are no coincidences with God. The first temple is destroyed in Jeremiah’s day, while centuries later the second temple would be destroyed by Rome on the same day. While all should read Lamentations, we should not take the book lightly. This book is only a foreshadow of the grief that Daniel and Jesus Christ Himself prophesied about with the Jewish nation and the desolation coming. Lamentations shows the causation of bitterness when we harden our heart to God. Sometimes God must take radical steps to wake us up. I was once told, “Pray to be a quick student” I would argue as believers we need to understand the lesson Lamentations has for us today. God does not take lightly to sin, and His promises to the Jewish people are still present and eternal. Do not take this book for rejection of Israel, but rather the rejection of those who thought they were righteous on their own actions.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

RE-POST FRIDAY

A great post from our guest writer on the need for a suffering servant! Read it HERE!

Growth

One of the greatest aspects of the Bible is its timelessness. There is as much wisdom for us to seek from it today as when the Bible was being written. This is why there are so many commentaries written about not just the Bible as a whole, but on the different books of the Bible, different chapters within those books, and even commentaries related solely to just a few verses. Current readers have the added benefit of the Holy Spirit to guide them in their studies, whereas prior to the Pentecost they did not. Additionally, because we are further along in the course of human history we can look back and examine much of Bible prophecy that has already come to past.  We are encouraged to seek out the Lord and grow knowing there is always something for us to relate to in our daily Bible study. I think this is why the first chapter in First Peter has always stood out to me.  

  After the initial greetings in which Peter encourages the reader to hold fast to their faith in God’s promise of inheritance which cannot be taken away and protection, Peter then turns to a group of believers that were forming in that day and have continued on to today.

“8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 

1 Peter 1:8-9

  We are that group that have not seen Jesus Christ in His physical form, but this has not stopped us from believing in Him and the power of His promise of salvation. With this knowledge we are filled with joy even in times when we are facing trials due to our faith as mentioned in 1 Peter 1:6. Peter was writing to a group of people who had never seen Christ but had placed their faith in Him, but Peter was also writing to you and I today. This passage holds the same value now as it did then because it also directs us toward what we should be doing.

“13 Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 14 As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 15 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,”

1 Peter 1:13-15

  We need to ensure that our actions are fitting of the One who has called us. We are not to be conformed to this world but instead held to a higher standard and acknowledge the work that Jesus Christ did on the cross for the salvation of all. We need to continue to grow in our faith for only in faith can we succeed in our trials and resist temptation. When we grow in our faith we grow in our reliance upon Jesus Christ to save us. This reliance leads towards greater faith which makes us stronger as we learn to lean more on Him. 

  Our faith is not built on something that is perishable or requires works, a fact that Peter makes evidently clear, “23 for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable, but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.” 1 Peter 1:23. A seed has one purpose, and that is to grow. When we become born-again believers, our faith is a seed planted in good soil just as described in Matthew 13:18-23. The purpose for our faith is to grow in the Lord which can only be done when we see that the Scriptures still hold value today. We need to have our foundation in good soil, which is knowledge of our faith and why we believe as we do. We need to make sure we are attached to the true vine, the source, and sustenance which we are totally dependent on for growth; Jesus Christ. Remember His own words, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bare much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.” John 15:5-6. This is much more than just a salvation verse but also a practicality verse for those who are saved, our sustenance comes directly from Jesus Christ Himself. When in doubt cling to Him and watch what He can do. 

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

PSALM IS WRITTEN FOR WHOM?

Currently there is a myth in Bible study groups that have identified the book of Psalms as a book designed for the musical and artistic inclined only. For over 25 years, I was a victim of this myth not wanting to touch the book of psalms because I thought I wouldn’t relate. In my younger and more ignorant years, I believed the book of psalms was for the men who were less masculine than others. I heard others didn’t want to read the psalms because they couldn’t be taken seriously as a Bible topic, or others indicated it was for worship only. However, it was not until almost in my 30’s that I came to the unique and undoubtable truth in God’s Word that the book of Psalms is a marvelous book designed for the reader in any stage of their life. The book of Psalms is quite literally the Swiss army knife for readers. I wanted to bring this up because many do not see the value of reading this book, and many more do not know how to properly read this book. The book of Psalms should be identified as small independent chapters that can be seen as scenes in time. While King David did write a large chunk of them, they are not all about his life. Some are scenes of Jesus on the Cross (“Psalm 22”) while others are of eyewitness accounts of certain scenes happening on earth at very specific times.

When reading the book of Psalms, you need to keep the following rules in mind.

1)      Who wrote it?

2)      Why did they write it?

3)      When did they write it?

4)      Where did they write it?

5)      Is the author writing about themselves or writing of a scene? For instance, King David writing about the scene of Jesus Christ on the cross in Psalm 22 or God the Father watching His Son on the Cross in Psalm 18.

6)      Is it prophetic like the Maskil Psalms, such as but not limited to Psalm 83?

7)      Is there undiscovered scientific truth like but not limited to Psalm 19?

8)      Is there a humanities statement like but not limited to Psalm 10?

9)      Is there a Spiritual statement like but not limited to Psalm 8?

10)   What does this mean for me right now in my life?

I bring all this up to hopefully help you understand the truth in knowing the treasures awaiting those who read all of God’s Word including the book of Psalms. Remember all scripture is breathed by God and is good for us. Paul states this clearly, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work,” 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Remember Psalms is written for anyone who picks up the Bible and wants to know who God is. So this means you and I and anyone else in-between, the scenes will speak to us sooner or later in a particular time and when they do you will appreciate all the more the book of Psalms.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Endurance

  The Bible is filled with many great verses that offer encouragement, and perhaps one of the best things about the Bible is there is an encouraging verse that can be applied to any situation we face. As Christians we can also be encouraged in our faith through the many descriptions of those who have come before us. We see how God has worked in their lives and how even so many years later we are still reading of their acts of faith. This is why I believe that Hebrews 11 is such a great chapter.

I am not going to quote the whole chapter to you, but I do hope you go and read it for yourself in your own Bible. Hebrews 11 describes the acts of many of the “greats” in the Christian faith, it almost reminds me of a greatest hits CD. Hebrews 11 starts by defining what faith is, “Now faith is the certainty of things hoped for, a proof of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old gained approval.” Hebrews 11:1-2; the next verse describes a fundamental truth in the Christian faith, that God created the world and everything in it, “ 3By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.” Hebrews 11:3.

In the following passages, this chapter describes the works of those such as Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah. Some of whom had issues placing their faith in God, but are still mentioned in this chapter. We are reminded that God came to them to offer help, protection, and guidance. All of this is a reminder that, “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6. All of these people are not being mentioned in this chapter based on their own merit, but on the faith that they had that God would provide for them. Because of this we are able to look at the results of that faith and see how it affects us even today.

  Hebrews 11 does not stop here though. This chapter continues to mention Abraham being tested; Abraham had no idea why God was telling him to sacrifice his son, but he knew that God would provide and keep His promise to make Abraham’s descendants as numerous as the stars. It was in faith that Jacob and Esau received blessings. By faith that Jacob blessed Joseph’s sons, and by faith that Joseph gave orders to return his body back to Israel while the Jews were still in Egypt. Moses had great faith that caused him to turn from the easy life of the Pharaoh’s son and to endure the hardship of his people. It was in faith that the Jews crossed the Red Sea, it was their lack of faith that caused them to wander the desert for forty years but the faith of Caleb and Joshua brought the Jews into the Promised Land. We also are reminded of the faith the Jews had when faced with the walls of Jericho and the faith of Rahab when she hid the spies. All of these people were rewarded for their faith!

This is only a handful of those in the Bible who expressed great faith, and even the author of Hebrews admits that he would not have time to tell them all, “32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.” Hebrews 11:32-34. Having all of these great heroes in the faith being mentioned here is a reminder to us all of those who walked before us in the faith.

However, after reading this chapter it can be tempting to say that these men and women had something special about them that allowed them to have such great faith. Friends, that is simply not true. There is nothing different about those mentioned in this passage and you or I. Each of these people had their own issues, they were not perfect. Sarah doubted God, Moses was a murderer, had anger issues and doubted God, the Jews as a whole doubted God’s promises, and David committed adultery and murder. What makes these people worth mentioning is not their deeds, but their faith. They simply had the faith to allow God to work in their lives. Remember faith “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” Hebrews 11:1. We all have access to the same type of faith that these men and women mentioned here did. We simply need to have enough faith that God will complete His work in us.

As we are entering darker days, I ask that you have the faith like those mentioned. We need more stories of believers who by faith were able to complete amazing things. We need to step up now and be the encouragement for future believers just like those who came before were to us. One of my favorite verses in relation to faith is not actually found in Hebrews 11 but in Hebrews 12, “Therefore, since we also have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let’s rid ourselves of every obstacle and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let’s run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking only at Jesus, the originator and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3. The author of Hebrews is concluding his list of those great in the faith by reminding us of the greatest example. When we fix our eyes on Jesus Christ we are reminded of what He endured all in faith of God the Father’s plan for salvation and the promises that He made His Son, Jesus Christ. When we keep our focus on Him, we will not falter.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

Hard Times Or Heavenly Design?

While today’s post might seem small, do not let this fool you from hearing about a lesson in the Bible that I want to share with you all today. As believers there are times we go through life challenges, and we might be at risk of thinking we are not in God’s will. That the fact it is not easy means we are not following what God would have us being doing. Unfortunately, many Christians believe that God will make His path for our life effortless, that God’s will is the path of least resistance. However, I would like to argue that there is no where in the Bible that would indicate such a doctrine or even a principle like this in the Bible. Many believers have struggled and fought hard, only to later look back and realize they were exactly where God wanted them to be. Just look at Joseph who went through challenge after challenge as God was shaping him into the man he was supposed to be. His attitude was key, “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today” Genesis 50:20. Some of these challenges were his brothers selling him into slavery, being falsely accused of rape, and being imprisoned while innocent of any charges. Nevertheless, Joseph understood God was teaching him something.

Another example is Paul, who was imprisoned in Rome. Was he in God’s will? Of course he was. God has uniquely brought Paul to a prison where he would be under guard twenty-four hours a day with the Praetorian Guard. Not only did this mean the Praetorian guards heard the gospel, but the gospel was then brought to Caesars’ very household where some became believers, "All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household." Philippians 4:22. Why do I bring this up? I want to point your attention to a false narrative that the Church has boughten into. We have been lied to that if we are having any struggles, we are not in God’s will. There might be times it is hard or even the most difficult thing you have ever done, it could even be unfair and unjust by what you understand, but remember that God could be using you for something greater. We need to recognize these moments and be mindful enough and vigilant to the signs that God is with us and trying to use us for His glory.

So, remember just because it is hard does not automatically mean you are not in God’s will. Rather, He could be preparing you or someone watching you for His mission and glory. Pray to be humble and a quick learner of the lessons you are being taught.

Hold Until Relieved, Our Blessed Hope is Coming,

JL

RE-POST FRIDAY

As we begin the season of thankfulness, it is important to reflect on what it means to be thankful. Read it HERE!

Checking In

Today I want to do something a little out of the ordinary. At Millhouse Ministries, we strive to bring you as much Biblically based knowledge as we can. We truly believe that iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17) and so we have always wanted to be a tool for those who are wanting to know more about what the Bible teaches. This aspect of our mission has not changed, but today I want to take a moment to address our readers.

The holiday season is upon us shortly, and for many that means dealing with issues of planning for visiting family, time off of work and school, arranging how to travel in this slowly reopening world, among many other issues that no doubt add stress. There is also the fact that the holidays, while often joyous, can be a bit bitter as well. We have experienced holidays away from our families and how different that makes the days seem without the hustle and bustle around. And for many, this season is the first without the loved ones who have passed.

I do not wish to say that I know your grief, but simply wish to say that we at Millhouse Ministries understand it. And while we do not know each other physically, as members of the body of Jesus Christ we are brothers and sisters together. Today I am simply asking that you do no dwell on the coming stresses inwardly but instead reach out. Reach out to us, we would love to hear your prayer requests, reach out to pastors that you trust, reach out to friends and family, but most importantly reach out to God. God is a Father to the hopeless and He cares for you! He is also a God of peace and when we come to Him with our grief He will grant us this peace, “27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”  John 14:27 God will lead us through the difficult seasons of life and will be with us, “The Lord is my shepherd, I will not be in need. 2 He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul;” Psalm 23:1-3

This is the beauty of having a relationship with Jesus Christ. He will not abandon us in our time of need, when we are struggling we need to remember that He is strong. When we are afraid, He has courage. When we doubt, He is sure. We have the almighty God behind us who created the world and everything in it! In this alone we can take courage knowing that we are not leaning on our strength but on His! We simply need to have the smallest amount of faith and we will see that God will get us through our troubled times! “For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.”” Matthew 17:20

So while today we wanted to check in on our readers and simply remind them of God’s greatness, I also ask that you remember to check in on each other. Check in on our neighbors, our friends, the friends of our children, members of our church. Be God’s light on earth and remind those around us that our God is a God of peace and will grant them peace as well.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex