Re-Post Friday

Our third look at the threat within the church. Read it HERE!

Taking Charge of Our Faith

In today’s world we have information literally at our fingertips, we are presented with new facts and new ideas on a daily basis. Despite this information overload, we are less informed then before. I believe that it is part of the human condition, we tend to be too trusting sometimes when we are presented with information. We automatically assume that what is being told to us is the truth without taking time to fact check it ourselves. This is dangerous in today’s world in and of itself, however, it is even more so when you are to consider Biblical ideals.

We are in a time where I do not believe many born-again believers take ownership of their faith. They simply follow blindly with what they have been taught by family, with what is being taught in church or their favorite Bible podcast. This is dangerous logic because then the individual can be swept away by unbiblical teachings. This is not to say that everything that we have been taught by family or pastors was presented to us in a malicious manner with the intent to steer the individual into false teachings, often times we fall into a sense of “Christianese” in which we believe something simply because that is how it has always been done. This train of thought oddly enough proves my point however. As born-again Christians we should not be relying on mankind to be the sole teacher of the Word of God. We must step up and dive into the Word ourselves so we can identify false teachings.

Proverbs 20:25 makes this very clear, “It is a trap for a person to say carelessly, “It is holy!” And after the vows to make inquiry.” We need to take everything that is presented to us back to the Bible to deem if it is true or not. We must not simply say that it is Biblical without checking first. When we automatically assume that something is truth simply because of who is presenting the information to us, we are not taking ownership of our faith. We are allowing others to steer us, which can be dangerous since there are those who would wish to cloud the truth of God’s Word.

We see Proverbs 20:25 acted out for us in Acts 17. “10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these people were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.” Acts 17:10-11. Here are men and women who were being told of the Word by Paul. The same Paul who wrote a large portion of the New Testament, and yet they still took what he was teaching them back to the Word of God to ensure that it was accurate. This is the attitude that we as believers need to have, this is how we take charge of our faith! We must always be taking what is being taught to us back to the holy and unchanged word of God! If there is anything that was taught to us that is not scripturally based, it needs to be removed. We must lean on the Word of God as our strength!

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

Up Our Game

Father’s Day is typically designed to recognize fathers’ hard work every year. Many times the job is thankless, with late nights and early mornings. Yet, when Father’s Day comes about, we might forget that this is a perfect opportunity to “up our game” as fathers. First, I need to recognize the hard truth; many men are in fatherly roles. This also applies to you, Grandpa’s, uncles, stepfathers, adopted fathers, and those men who have taken the call and become the father figure someone needs. This challenge is for you as well.

We need to use this moment to help define what a father truly is for our families. The uniqueness of the holiday being solely focused on fathers allows an enormous opportunity to direct the proper honor to the Heavenly Father and to thank the people in our lives. I know that I wouldn't have this holiday if not for my loving wife and two amazing daughters. I wouldn’t have the honor and privilege of being the father in the house. So, take this time and recognize how proud you are of them and what accomplishments they have done. For a father to use his role to identify others is not only essential but Biblical. Look at the book of Matthew, chapter 3. Here we see the Heavenly Father publicly recognize His Son, Jesus Christ.

“After He was baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and settling on Him, 17 and behold, a voice from the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:16-17.

This is a moment where Jesus Christ is submitting to the Father’s will. Here is an opportunity for the Father to bask in His own glory but instead, He loves His Son and recognizes the amazing work He has done. The Father is continuing His work even at a time He is not expected to.

Fathers should be vigilant in using their position for righteousness and empowering those they serve. I can see no other perfect time to reveal the character traits of the Heavenly Father than by showing how proud we are like fathers to be helping those in our lives; what an honor to inform the actions like Jesus did when washing the disciple’s feet. As fathers, we must utilize every opportunity to strengthen and equip those we serve. I can think of no better day to have this as a topic than a day celebrating fathers. So with that said, as one father to another. Happy Father’s Day. Now let’s get back to work!  

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

There is much we can learn when we are faced with trials. Read it HERE!

The Importance of Fathers

There is no doubt that fathers play an important role in the lives of their children. I know my own father was someone who helped to shape the person that I came to be. Fathers help to guide their children, teach them, encourage them, and be active in the lives of their children. For those men that are born-again believers raising sons and daughters it is important to have a baseline on how they should interact with their children. For a Christian father, it is important for them to lean on God for guidance in how to raise the children that He has given to these earthly parents.

For today’s post, as we come upon the day that Americans celebrate their fathers, I feel that it is important to look at some of the characteristics that God the Father has that earthly fathers should strive to emulate.

“Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.” Psalm 103:13. The very first thing to discuss is that God is compassionate. This is seen over and over again in the Bible as God shows compassion on the town of Nineveh who repented their ways (the book of Jonah), God showed compassion on Lot and sent angels to tell him and his family to leave Sodom and Gomorrah (Genesis 19), and the most important way that God showed compassion is by sending His Son to die for us so that we may be reconciled to Him (John 3:16).

There are many traits within the word “compassionate” that can be seen throughout God’s actions in the Bible. These traits include, slow to anger (Exodus 34:6), gracious (Psalm 103:8), loving (Lamentations 3:22), and merciful (James 5:11) to only name a few traits that describe our Heavenly Father’s compassion. These are traits that earthly fathers should show to their children as well.

Matthew 6:25-32 is probable one of my favorite descriptions of the characteristics of our Heavenly Father, “25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.” In this passage we see that God is aware of what we will need and will provide for us. We do not need to be worried about challenges that we face because God is with us and will give us the things that we need. For earthly fathers, do not withhold good things from your children but understand that sometimes the good things are not material possessions. Be there to advise your children and show them how a life spent leaning on the Lord is lived.

One thing to keep in mind however, is that God the Father while compassionate and giving good things to His children is also a God of discipline. “My son, do not reject the [a]discipline of the LORD Or loathe His rebuke, 12 For whom the LORD loves He disciplines, Just as a father disciplines the son in whom he delights.” Proverbs 3:11-12. Earthly fathers do not stand idly by if you see your children walking down a path that you know will only lead to them getting hurt. Step in and correct them, and that includes disciplining them. No one likes being disciplined, but as a father it is your responsibility to correct the behaviors in your children. Do not shy away from this responsibility.

I do want to point out one thing here. I have been referring to fathers all throughout this post, however, do not believe that these traits are only seen in biological fathers to their biological children. The Bible has a great example of how a stepfather can still play a role in the lives of the children that have been entrusted to him. For those men who are stepfathers or even in a fatherly role for a child, these traits should still be seen in you. Remember, Jesus Christ had an earthly stepfather who took on a fatherly role to Him. Joseph was not Jesus’s biological father, and yet he was still an active part in raising the Son of God. We can see how much Jesus cared for His earthly father in that He eventually took on the same career as Joseph, a carpenter. For those men who have been entrusted with children either biological or not, you still hold an impact on the lives of those children. I hope that you will lean on the Heavenly Father and strive to show the same characteristics that He shows to all His children.

Seek the truth and encourage one another

Alex

2022 Part 2 Challenge

So I want to do something a little different. Today I have a challenge, something for you, the reader, to take with you to put your faith into action.

There is no simple way to put this, but today we need to talk about the BIG elephant in the room! Today people have more information at their fingertips than at any time in human history. However, with the world asking for what is going on, we are not stepping up. Instead of listening and giving advice when necessary, we are keeping our distance when we should be investing more into those around us. God’s word tells us we need to listen to advice, Proverbs 12:15 “The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” Yet, God’s word tells us to help those around us by giving advice, Proverbs 12:18 “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” I bring this up, so that lives and see how we are doing. In the second half of this year, my challenge to you is to listen more and when presented with the opportunity to help, give advice. However, our actions need to be more than just listening and sharing of advice, but also being more involved with the people around us. Paul states in 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 “15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” So as we move into the second part of 2022, let us recognize the real application of God’s word in our life right now. So if someone wants to give you advice, listen to it. If you see the chance to give advice, give! If you see the chance to do good and pray for those around you, do just that. Finally, I would love to know how this challenge goes, remember you can reach us on our contact page. If you have a story of how God was able to use you or you learned something we want to know!

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

Our second review of the threat found within the church. Read it HERE!

A Testimony of Transformation

There is no doubt that Jesus has performed many miracles, the Bible is filled with them, and we even hear stories today of what God has done in the lives of those who place their faith in Him. As part of my personal Bible study, I read through each of the four gospels, and I am always astounded by the miracles that Jesus performs and what we can learn from them. To be honest, each time I read through the gospels, I learn something new, or see something that I hadn’t noticed before. Today’s post is the result of one of those times.

  When reading through Luke, I read again the account of Jesus healing the demoniac in the land of the Gerasenes. Until recently, I had always been drawn to notice how Jesus sought after the demon possessed man, how the man was possessed by multiple demons, and the result of when Jesus removed the demons from him. I never took the time to consider the words that the man and Jesus exchanged after the demons were sent out.

“35 Then people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 36 And those who had seen it told them how the demon-possessed man had been healed. 37 Then all the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. So he got into the boat and returned. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone begged that he might be with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your home, and declare how much God has done for you.” And he went away, proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.”

Luke 8:35-39

I feel it is essential to look at this passage starting from verse 35 because we need to understand the state of the man and those who had lived near him while he was still possessed. Luke 8:27 describes the man as someone who was not in their right mind, basically living like an animal, unclothed and living in tombs. This man was hidden away from the rest of those who lived in this area, yet everyone knew of him. This is why the people came out to see what had happened to him. Instead of a wild beast of a man, they found him clothed and sitting at the feet of Jesus. While the people were afraid, I believe that it has to do with the sudden change in the man. It would be a shock to have someone who behaved one way suddenly change into a whole new person, but this is honestly the power of Christ. When we place our faith in Him, He makes us a new creation, “17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. ” 2 Corinthians 5:17. This passage perfectly describes 2 Corinthians 5:17.

The next aspect of the passage in Luke 8 that I feel is interesting to point out is the man’s response after the demons had been removed from him by Jesus. This man wished to go with Jesus; he wanted to be wherever Jesus was. This I feel, is the reaction that many new believers have. When we understand the cost of our sin and have been freed from it, we wish to follow Jesus Christ. We have a hunger to know Him and be in the Word so that we may understand Him more. Then we want to share what Jesus has done for us. This is where I find Jesus’s response interesting; Jesus tells the man to return home and declare what God has done for him. Remember, the others who lived there were frightened enough to want Jesus to leave. While Jesus did not stay to personally tell these people of the kingdom of God, He left someone in whom they had seen a drastic change take place. Gone was the man who haunted the tombs, before them was someone who had the grace of God bestowed upon him. And this the villagers could not ignore. They had seen a new creation be made, and he wasn’t going anywhere.

In short, the interaction between Jesus and the man after he had been freed from his demons is a reminder to us that sometimes God wants us to stay and witness where we are. Many born-again believers who had a rougher past than some would be just like this man. They would have friends and family around them who would see the sin in their lives, the metaphorical demons that they coped with. But when that individual turned to Christ, and He removed these issues from their lives, the friends and family (or villagers in this case) would see no longer the individual in the tombs but the person clothed and in their right mind. They would constantly be reminded that Jesus Christ brought about this change; there is no better testimony than that for those who have seen us at our absolute worse.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

The Wind In Our Sails

Proverbs was once said to be the wind in the sails of a Christian’s walk. It was here that God would directly advise and instruct the believers on where, when, and how they were to act. How we were to see the world and even help shape it. This remarkable book, however, can be misunderstood, misused, and even downright weaponized against the very people it was designed to aid. With this in mind, we need to understand the foundation and pillars that make up the book. The foundation can be found in Proverbs 9:10, “The fear of the LORD [is] the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One [is] understanding.” Here we see that the entire book is predicated on understanding both our place and God’s rightful place. Only from here are we able to move forward. At this point, we see that knowledge of the Holy One (Jesus Christ) is the beginning of understanding. His understanding is uniquely designed to withstand anything that life might bring upon us. Jesus says in Matthew 7:24-27, “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 “But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 “and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall.”

From here we can clearly see the foundation is laid and ready for the pillars of which Proverbs monumental structure is built on. Once we have the fear of the Lord and knowledge of the Holy One, we can see that our instruction does not stop. The four pillars are typically missed and is one reason why I decided to point them out today. Proverbs 1:2-3 “2 To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, 3 To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity.” Let us break this down into bites size pieces, “to know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding” is to have what Proverbs 9:10 stated. But we see this is just the beginning, we now see four categories for the Christian. Wisdom, Justice, Judgment, and Equity. Don’t be confused with seeing wisdom revealed as one of the pillars. Chapter 9:10 was in fact revealing the beginning of wisdom, for us to better understand and grow in the word we need to see it in relation to the other pillars. Understanding this process is key in the maturing of a believer. Paul describes this maturity in Hebrews 5:12-14 “12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need [someone] to teach you again the first principles of the oracles of God; and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes [only] of milk [is] unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, [that is,] those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.”

In conclusion, in our life we need to be focussed on Christ and Christ alone. His Word is the wind in our sails as we traverse this world. For those who venture into Proverbs, do not be surprised to find yourself understanding what many in the world today are questioning. Much of what people are missing is blatantly revealed to the student of Christ, it is why Proverbs 2:6-12 states, “6 For the LORD gives wisdom; From His mouth [come] knowledge and understanding; 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; [He is] a shield to those who walk uprightly; 8 He guards the paths of justice, And preserves the way of His saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, Equity [and] every good path. 10 When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, 11 Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, 12 To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things.”

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

Looking back at our discussion on where your perspective needs to be. Read it HERE!

Fact Check

In all honestly, when I write these posts, there are times that I don’t know what I am writing about until I actually sit down to write. I write what I feel that God is calling me to write, but there are times that until I put my hands on the keyboard, I have no clue what that is going to be. Because of this, I sometimes don’t see a theme in what I am writing until later. This is one of those times. In the last couple of weeks, I have discussed a couple of common misconceptions regarding Christianity. The first is that women are not to be working; Proverbs 31 and Luke 8:1-3 disprove this. The second was that we need to fix ourselves before we can come to God; this is disproven in John 4:1-6. And now, in my readings of proverbs, I have found another verse that gives evidence to disprove another common misconception.

“The Lord redeems the life of his servants;
    none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.”

Psalm 34:22

If you haven’t guessed which misconception I am talking about, let me shine some light on it. Many would try to convince believers that we can lose our salvation. Unfortunately, some have fallen for this trick. First, I want to inform you that this is not the case; if we could lose our salvation, it would place the act of salvation on us and not on the redeeming act of the cross that Jesus Christ died for us.

What I like about this verse in Psalm 34 is that it gives evidence that we cannot be removed from Jesus Christ once we place our faith in Him and salvation through Him alone. When we take refuge, meaning place our faith in Him who is greater than this world and all its temptations, we can no longer be condemned. It is through the actions of our Lord and Savior that we are redeemed. This quick verse, often overlooked in a much larger psalm, gives evidence to the New Testament verse, “28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”” John 10:28-30.

This goes to show that not only can we not lose our salvation, but it also shows that what is stated in the New Testament can be found in the Old Testament. We, as believers, need to be reading both the Old and the New. When we do this, we will find evidence to disprove many misconceptions that can either cause someone to stumble or make someone not wish to look more into Christianity. By finding evidence in both the Old and the New Testament, we create a stronger case for our faith; this helps encourage believers and plant the seed for someone who is hearing God’s call to them.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

The Basics: A Brief Overview of the Book of Micah

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 in 66 different books. Each one is 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:

Micah

INTRODUCTION:

The book of Micah is an incredible testimony of God’s actions with His people and the Gentile nations.

WHO WROTE IT:

The book of Micah is named after its author Micah.

WHEN DID THEY WRITE IT:

Based on verse one, we can assess that the book was written around 730-710 B.C. Some have even gone as far as to say the exact year is 722 B.C based on the scenario happening with Israel and Judah during this time.

KEY TOPICS:

The key topic of Micah is judgement on the His people and nations, but also God’s deliverance for mankind through the Jewish people.

KEY SECTIONS:

The book is circular in that the book hit topics in rhythmic patterns. This is done not in a musical way, but more of a Jewish mindset. The author gives a minor prophetic vision that will come true in a short time in order to reveal his authenticity with the larger, more grand, and long-term prophecies which in some cases has seen fruition yet.

BOOKS THAT INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER:

Micah connects to many books of the Bible such as Kings, Chronicles, Psalms, Ezekiel, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and Revelation.

ANALYSIS OF THE BOOK:

Micah can be seen as the hidden treasure of the Old Testament. When read in the context of only the Old Testament, the reader might be quick to assume the author is discussing information that is already well known by other more “notable” writers such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel. However, what many people fail to realize is God uses the book of Micah to connect dots with prophecy that were not previously known. It is here we see God declare where Jesus would be born, it is here we see foreshadowing of the coming Antichrist, it is here we see the reunification of Israel with Jesus at the end of the seven years. Micah is a treasure to those who are willing to take the time and see what an incredible God we actually have.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

A review of our discussion on the threat found within the church. Read it HERE!

What He Seeks, He Fixes

There is a common misconception floating around in the world that Jesus only cares for the “righteous” or those who have it all together. This idea would have individuals believing that they need to “get it together” in order to have a relationship with God. Those who would believe this idea have clearly not read through the Bible. Throughout the Old and New Testament it is clear that God seeks out those who are lost and broken. And yes I do mean that He seeks them out. God is active when it comes to wanting people to come to know Him. Perhaps the best verse to describe what I am trying to say here is “3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.” Luke 15:3-7

While this parable is a great way to see that God seeks out and rejoices over the sinners who come to Him, in the book of John we can see that Jesus put this practice into action.

“So then, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that He was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (although Jesus Himself was not baptizing; rather, His disciples were), 3 He left Judea and went away again to Galilee. 4 And He had to pass through Samaria. 5 So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of land that Jacob gave to his son Joseph; 6 and Jacob’s well was there. So Jesus, tired from His journey, was just sitting by the well. It was about the sixth hour.”

John 4:1-6

At first glance you would not think that this passage could relate to Jesus seeking out someone who is lost, that is until you noticed two little words. Look at verse four again. The two words that show that Jesus was seeking someone out are “had to”. In actuality, Jesus did not have to pass through Samaria, there were multiple paths to get to Galilee. However, Jesus knew that by choosing the path that would take Him through Samaria, He would find someone who was lost.

“7 A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”  8 For His disciples had gone away to the city to buy food.”

John 4:7-8

Here was Jesus sitting alone when a woman comes to the well. On its own this would again not seem that out of place, but to understand the meaning you need to look deeper. In verse six, we saw that Jesus was resting at the well at the sixth hour. According to Jewish customs, this would have been around noon the hottest part of the day. Anyone who has been out working would understand that this would not be an ideal time to do demanding tasks such as drawing water from a well, and yet here comes this sole woman. As we find out later in this chapter, the woman was an adulterous. Biblical scholars have wondered if she came at a time with the least chance of being confronted by other women. Instead of drawing her water and leaving, this woman enters into a conversation with, unknown to her, the Messiah. Jesus takes this time to speak to her about a living water, one that will never cause her to thirst again.

It is at this point we see that while Jesus exposes her sin, He still treats her with mercy and grace “17 The woman answered and said to Him, “I have no husband.” Jesus *said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband’; 18 for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this which you have said is true.” 19 The woman *said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.” John 4:17-19. Through the rest of the chapter we see that the woman states that she knows that one day the Messiah will come, Jesus responds that He is the Messiah. The woman becomes so excited that she abandons her waterpot to run into the city to declare that the Messiah has arrived. “28 So the woman left her waterpot and went into the city, and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is He?” 30 They left the city and were coming to Him.” John 4:28-30.

So what was the result of Jesus going to Samaria? He came across a woman who was by no means a perfect person or someone who had it all together. This woman was rejected because of her sins by the rest of the community. And yet, because she was at the well many came to know Christ through her.

“39 Now from that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.” 40 So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days. 41 Many more believed because of His word; 42 and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One truly is the Savior of the world.””

John 4:39-42

This woman testified that Jesus was the Messiah, this caused others to come and hear what Jesus had to say. Eventually, it came to a point that the rest of the community believed not solely on the woman’s word. They had been able to hear enough of what Jesus was saying to understand that He was the Messiah. This is why Jesus seeks out the lost and broken, through their testimony others are able to see the grace of God and come to know Him! Do not feel that you need to get yourself together before you can come to God. No one says, “I will get better and then I will go to the emergency room” people go to the emergency room because they are in desperate need of help. Us as believers need to understand Jesus is the one who fixes us, not anything we can do. “31 And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”” Luke 5:31-32. If you hear Him calling to you, answer! You may just be the cause that brings others to know Him!

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

A Credible Review

Last week we finished the book of Jonah in our Basics course. This was a monumental moment due to the raw physical representation of a spiritual truth that Jesus Christ was going to declare on Calvary. The book of Jonah is a book dedicated to reveal the hidden truth of salvation for all of man kind. The story of Jonah can simply be put like this;

“The account of Jonah reveals the magnitude of God’s love, mercy and eagerness for all of mankind to be saved.”

God wanted Nineveh to understand that its sin was not tolerable to God and they needed to repent, Jonah 1:2 “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it; for their wickedness has come up before me.” Yet, we know that Jonah ran from God. Why? Because he knew God was rich in love and mercy for those who come to Him with a repentant heart. Already we can see the subtle foreshadowing of John 3:16-17.

John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 “For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

Jonah then learns a valuable lesson about God being serious about how He will save those who belong to Him. We can see in the gospels from Jesus’s own words He takes it seriously, Matthew 18:12-14 “12 What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine and go to the mountains to seek the one that is straying? 13 “And if he should find it, assuredly, I say to you, he rejoices more over that [sheep] than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. 14 “Even so it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish.”

Yet, Jonah is not done teaching us about the gospels! Because of his lack of obedience, he gets the horrific experience of being swallowed by an animal of the deep for three days. Imagine the agony, fear and complete turmoil that Jonah must have been under; to be swallowed whole by the animal in the water. This is only a foreshadow of what Jesus Christ would deal with on the cross. The agony, fear and complete turmoil of bearing our sin and shame for us; to be swallowed whole by our sin. If only people took sin as seriously as many do about being in the dark of water and having the fear grip them of the unknown beneath the waves. We take sin too lightly when we can clearly see by the book of Jonah that God does not.

Yet, God was not done with Jonah. After the third day he was delivered back to dry land in order to proceed with God’s rescue plan of Nineveh. Jonah 2:10-3:1, “So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying ‘arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.’” God is determined that His rescue plan is put in place. Unbeknown to Jonah, it would ultimately be fulfilled by Jesus Christ. Jonah’s predicament of three days within the beast pointed to what Jesus would have to go through.

Matthew 16:1-4 “1 Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. 2 He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, [‘It will be] fair weather, for the sky is red’; 3 “and in the morning, [‘It will be] foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot [discern] the signs of the times. 4 “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.”

Now what does this mean for us today? What is the “So what factor”? Simply put, the Old Testament is very much alive and well in the New Testament. We should take seriously our study and review of what transpired in the old so that we can better understand what is taking place in the new. Typically, I have not taken steps to go deeper in one of the outlines, but I thought it would be prudent for us as believers to recognize the uniqueness that we find in understanding that God is real, His plan of salvation is authentic, and His actions throughout history prove His unwavering desire to rescue us from ourselves.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

A look at Psalm 103 to see how compassionate God is! Read it HERE!

A Lesson In Matthew 20

There is no doubt that Jesus loved to teach in parables, He would do this to teach many different topics such as the kingdom of heaven or salvation. At one point the disciples asked Jesus why He taught in parables to which He replied, “13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.” . Matthew 13:13 Jesus was always concerned the lesson was directed at the correct audience. His use of parables identified His concern. For the disciples this at times could be challenging due to their lack of understanding. Fortunately for them, they had Jesus there to help explain. There were those who had the privilege of being face to face with the Son of God, and yet they were unable to understand what He was saying and doing. They doubted the miracles that He performed and even claimed that He was a disciple of the devil. They were unable to grasp the concepts that He was teaching, and so Jesus spoke in parables so that those who would come to know Him and become righteous through Him, would one day understand what He was trying to teach. It is why now we can understand more of not just the many parables that Jesus used to teach, but also more of the Bible in general. As the days grow closer to the rapture and the coming of Christ, more of the Bible will be revealed to those who study it.

However, this is not to say that we will have more rewards or standing when we are before Christ. This is something that Christ makes clear in one of His parables. Matthew 20 describes the kingdom of heaven like a man who went out to hire workers for his vineyard with the promise of paying each a denarius (Matthew 20:1-2). The landowner continued to go out throughout the day and hire more and more workers (Matthew 20:3-7). When it came time to settle the payments, the landowner paid those who came to his field last first and ended with those who he hired first. The first group of workers believed that they would be paid more then those who came last because they had been there longer. However, they were upset to find that the landowner paid them all the same (Matthew 20:10-12). The landowner reminded the workers that he had agreed to pay them a denarius for their work and that his money was for him to do with as he wished, with the parable ending with a reminder that “16 So the last will be first, and the first last.” Matthew 20:16.

This is a great parable for us to be reminded of when we find ourselves becoming envious of the gifts, be that physical or spiritual, that we see God bestowing on others. It does not matter when we become believers, God will bestow gifts as He sees fit and often times that is not in a manner that we humans would understand. It is also a reminder for those who have recently become believers. We should not be like the last group of workers who when questioned by the landowner on why they were idle responded, “They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too.’” Matthew 20:17. When we become followers of Jesus Christ, we have no reason or excuse to be idle. We have a mission and that is to share the gospel and encourage others to see Christ. We must continue to work until Jesus Christ calls us home.

This parable shows God’s grace in His handing out of gifts or blessings. It is His will to reward people as He deems fit, which is a very good thing! Remember, if God rewarded us based on what we deserved, we would all be sent to hell. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23 It is by His grace and mercy that we can be redeemed and it is through this same grace that God grants us gifts. So the next time that you find yourself looking at what another believer has received with an envious heart, remember this parable and know that God is rewarding us not based on what we deserve but what He deems we need.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

The Basics: A Brief Overview of the Book of Jonah

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:

Jonah

INTRODUCTION:

Imagine the air is pulled out of your lungs as you are suddenly submerged into cold water as you plunge into the night deep. The sailors were eager to throw you in, kicking you swim to the surface gasping for air as you watch the ship slowly turn towards land leaving you. Fear grips you, you do not know what God will do now. Knowing you are the cause of the storm, His anger for your rebellion and attempt to flee from His purpose has been the cause of all of this trouble. You wait to hear from God, you listen to the night air as the thunder echoes and the lightning splits the sky. Yet, you do not hear from Him. God appears to be silent, where before you heard His audible voice telling you to go to Nineveh, now you hear nothing but the crashing of the waves. After what seems like hours, you start to get tired. The waves seem to be crashing against your body harder and harder, making each time it takes you to breach for air longer. You start to think that God might be staying silent, when suddenly instead of hearing God you see His answer. The lighting illuminates the water and out of the deep you see a dark shape of something beneath you. While you do not know what it is, you know in your heart it has been sent for you. God’s answer was coming from the deep. Another wave crashes against your head causing you to tumble in the water when lightening sparks across the sky giving you a brief moment of vision, whatever was swimming underneath you was gone. Your spine tingles as you come up for air, you think to your recent decision to flee God’s will and run to Tarshish. It feels like weeks ago you had decided to run from the Lord, when in fact it was only the day before. Suddenly, the thunder echoes across the sky the power of it reminds you of the voice of God. Your mind races to the idea of judgement. The waves swiftly submerge you in the water once again, yet this time the water seems almost to be still underneath the waves. A sense of calmness within the deep echoes around you. Turning left to right the water is too dark to see anything. Then all of a sudden the lightning above shines into the dark water long enough for you to recognize the huge mouth and teeth of the beast coming. It is at this moment you realize God’s answer was more than a voice of disappointment, but a very real judgement from the deep.

WHO WROTE IT:

The book of Jonah is named after its author Jonah.

WHEN DID THEY WRITE IT:

Scholars have indicated that the events and writing of the book of Jonah happened during the 7th century B.C. According to John MacArthur, “According to 2 Kin. 14:25, Jonah came from Gath-hepher near Nazareth. The context places him during the long and prosperous reign of Jeroboam II (ca. 793–758 B.C.), making him a prophet to the northern tribes just prior to Amos during the first half of the eighth century B.C., ca. 760 B.C. The Pharisees were wrong when they said “no prophet has arisen out of Galilee” (John 7:52), because Jonah was a Galilean.”

KEY TOPICS:

The book of Jonah is about God’s love being greater than man’s sin. The book shows God’s very real plan to help mankind was not going to be thwarted by man.

KEY SECTIONS:

Jonah is unique in that it is one of the few which shouldn’t be divided into sections. Being a simple read, we would encourage you to read it in its entirety. Nevertheless, there are themes that appear within the book. These themes are God’s will, divine control, man’s rejection, man’s acceptance, repentance, and God’s absolute sovereignty.

BOOKS THAT INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER:

Interesting enough, Jonah points directly to the gospels as being a foreshadow of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection but also God’s willingness that none should perish.

ANALYSIS OF THE BOOK:

Jonah is a wonderful book to remind us that when God says “Go do this” He very much means just that. The book identifies God’s unique will and that He can call anyone He desires to do something great. It is up to us to decide to be quick learners or have to learn the hard way. The book also identifies God’s will for all people to come to repentance. The book of Jonah shows God’s sovereignty in the lives of everyone. Finally, the book points to Jesus Christ in a way that not many Old Testament books can do. This historical account is very much an example of a sign for us to recognize Jesus Christ and His sacrifice for you and I to be saved.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/macarthur_john/bible-introductions/jonah-intro.cfm

Re-Post Friday

A look back at those who would claim to be Christ. Read it HERE!

A Re-Examine of Christianity and Being a Woman

There is a common misconception among many who take issue with the Christian faith, they are under the assumption that Christianity is anti-woman. I was among those who had the impression that Christianity placed unfair restraints upon women and that men did not seem to be held to the same type of standards. It was not until much later when I understood that everyone, men and women, are held to the exact same standard and that no one is good enough to measure up. Today’s post however, isn’t to discuss God’s standard that we are all placed under. Instead today I want to provide some evidence as to why Christianity is not a measure to hold women back.

When someone speaks of the measure of a woman in Biblical terms, they often quote Proverbs 31. I am not going to say that this is a bad thing, Proverbs 31 is a great example of how a Christian woman should behave. But I feel that this passage is often quoted in a way that describes the woman as being a beacon of honor that her husband takes pride in, again not a bad thing but I feel one of the key aspects of this passage is overlooked. The aspect that is often overlooked is the fact that the woman in Proverbs 31 is working, she does not sit idly by and allow others to serve her. She is as much an active member of the household as her husband. Consider these verses, “She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.” Proverbs 31:16-18. Here we see that the women who is the golden standard among Christianity has earnings of her own to purchase a field and she sees that trading is profitable. She is working to contribute to the wellbeing of the household as we see in further passages, “21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.” Proverbs 31:21

Proverbs 31 is not the only instance that shows that woman are not meant to be idle but to contribute as well. Look at Luke chapter eight, “Soon afterward, Jesus began going around from one city and village to another, proclaiming and preaching the kingdom of God. The twelve were with Him, 2 and also some women who had been healed of evil spirits and sicknesses: Mary who was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3 and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who were contributing to their support out of their private means.” Luke 8:1-3 these women mentioned here were contributing to Jesus Christ’s ministry out of their own means. Not the family means or their husband’s, but from money through their own efforts. This is a passage that often seems to be overlooked considering it is in between the parable of the two debtors (Luke 7:40-50) and the parable of the sower (Luke 8:4-13). These three verses can be overlooked, but they none the less hold significant value when you feel as if a woman has no way to contribute.

Now I do want to be clear here, you do not have to financially contribute to your family to be following the role that a born-again Christian woman has. Many women are not active in the work force. However, this does not downplay their role in the family. If there are any stay at home mothers that are reading this, note that you are working just not for any financial means. Instead you are taking the time to raise your children and I hope that you use that time to help guide them to see Christ. You are with your children 24/7 and that means your actions are a way that your children will see Christ, for those with daughters it is your actions they will mimic in their own homes when they are grown. For those with sons, it is your actions as a woman on how they will be able to distinguish for themselves a woman who is actively following Christ when they look for a wife. I hope that you try as I do to be like the rest of Proverbs 31, “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her works praise her in the gates.” Proverbs 31:30-31. The role of a Christian woman if studied carefully, can be seen to have more liberty and merit than anything the nay sayers in the world can scream. A woman can only be truly free in Christ, and in Christ there is no glass ceiling, nor any worldly attempts to keep us from running the race for Christ with great earnest and authenticity.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex