Today Is

Often times we at Millhouse Ministries write specifically to fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. This is the main goal of our website, to share what we have learned and encourage each other in our faith. However, today I want to take a little sidestep. Today I am writing to anyone who is not born-again but, through the Holy Spirit, have found themselves on our page. If you are someone who has felt the tug to trust in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, I want to share this with you.

“Behold, now is “a favorable time,” behold, now is “a day of salvation””

2 Corinthians 6:2b

What I am asking you is this, if you are someone who feels as if they need to get themselves “cleaned up” before accepting Christ, you can’t.  We are only made righteous through Jesus Christ, “22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,” Romans 3:22. If you feel as if the act of accepting Jesus Christ into your life is something that can wait for another day, it can’t. We are not promised tomorrow, “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring.” Proverbs 27:1.

Now is the best time to place your faith in Jesus Christ, exactly as you are. Place your faith in Him and Jesus will straighten out your life, He will make all the sin go away.. There is no better time than now because this is the day that you have. Do not wait. If you are unsure how to accept Christ in your life, it is really a matter of a simple prayer said with a sincere heart. There is no special ritual or act that needs to be done. All you need do is “confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. ” Romans 10:9-10

Now for our brothers and sisters who have already accepted Jesus Christ. Do not think that the passage in 2 Corinthians 6:2 does not hold any truth for you. Today is the day of salvation, for us who have already believed and confessed Jesus Christ our work is not done. Today is the day of salvation, we all know of someone in our life who is not born-again. We must not sit idly by and love them to hell. “11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.” Proverbs 24:11. Today is the day of salvation, any opportunity we have we must share the gospel with them. Our inability to act does not prevent someone from becoming saved, for God will place someone in their path who will share the gospel with them. However, we should not sit and think that it is up to someone else to share the gospel. Every born-again believer has the same call, “18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”” Matthew 28:18-20. I encourage you to reach out now to those who are on your mind as you read this post.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

Concluding the Basics

When I first started The Basics Course discussing the Old Testament, I didn’t realize how instrumental it would be in my own life and those who would go on this journey with me. For those who are new, this was a journey going over each book of the Old Testament briefly. Allowing the audience to see what the book was about without going too deep. As I illustrated when I first started, imagine being on the highway and the exit signs giving what is at each exit such as gas, food, lodging and other unique aspects. This series we stayed on the highway not taking any of the exits. We set out to give the basics of who you needed to know about each book. My passion is to always go deeper into God’s Word, study His character, and learn more about Jesus Christ. However, at times I understand the importance of seeing things from the 1,000 foot view as we have been with this series. I hope you have enjoyed the Old Testament Basics Course. If there is one thing you should remember about this study, it is just how much God’s Word is true and how seriously we should be with it. From Genesis to Malachi, God is reveals His love and passion for humankind in ways humanity cannot fathom. But let me leave you with a few verses that have touched my heart as we have read through this series.  

God does not change, so we can count on His promises to be kept, “For I am the Lord, I do not change; Therefore you are not consumed, O son of Jacob.” Malachi 3:6.

God cares to know your suffering, thoughts, and desires “trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us.” Psalm 62:6.

God does the work in our life, when He calls you and I to something it is He who wins the day for us, “For by their own sword they did not possess the land, And their own arm did not save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, For You favored them” Psalm 44:3.

God cares for Abraham and the promises that will come to pass, “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” Genesis 12:3. 

The Promise of a Savior and a King, “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his” Genesis 49:10.

Jesus’s reign will be forever, “When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” 2 Samuel 7:12–13.

There is a war between good and evil, and yet we know God has won. We who are saved through Jesus Christ are secure in knowing the war is already won because of what Jesus did on the cross.  “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” Genesis 3:15.

Gentiles like myself have a promise we can hold to knowing that we can too be blessed by Jesus Christ. “In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious” Isaiah 11:10.

And finally one of my favorite verses of the Old Testament, here I am reminded how no matter how bad it is, God is that much better. We have hope in Jesus Christ and His coming work. He cares for you and I enough to save us from ourselves and make for us a better place. “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed” Daniel 7:13–14. 

(Just to be clear, this in no way is a complete list of my favorite verses of the Old Testament.)

So as we come to this ending of the series, I want to take a brief moment and say thank you to you the reader. If anything in this series has stood out to you, I would love to hear about it. Remember the Old Testament has one purpose; and that is to point mankind and the individual to what they both need, which is Jesus Christ. You see many people think the New Testament is about Jesus, but in fact the Old Testament is equally pointing to the amazing news of who the man was, but also who He is as God. Jesus Christ being fully Man and fully God from before time, being part of the Trinity, came down and saved you and I. The Old Testament is only one part of the larger story being written. I hope your story is also written into Jesus’s, I pray that your story would have a chapter in it where you came to see just how important Jesus is and how He came to live in your life as your Lord and Savior. All you need to do is ask the Lord and He will reveal Himself to you. So as you read through the Old Testament, remember that Jesus can be found leaping off the page.

I can’t wait to see what series we do next with each other. Until then, I will see you next week.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

A Living Thing

Whenever I am unsure about what my next Biblical study should be, I like to read one of the smaller books in the New Testament. I think due to their size, books like 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John or 1st and 2nd Timothy can be overlooked. This is definitely to the readers detriment as these smaller books pack as much of a punch as the gospels, Hebrews, or Ephesians. Recently I have spent some time in the book of 1st Peter and I was reminded once again how encouraging this book can be. This book hits on topics such as freedom in Christ, rejoicing in trials, and the knowledge that God is an impartial judge. However, there is one verse that I specifically love when I just need to be encouraged.

“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

This world loves to drag us down and make us have our heads hanging. For many walking around, they seem to have no hope; and that is because they are focusing on things that are perishable. But this is not the case for those who have been born-again through Jesus Christ. Our hopes are not on those things that will one day perish, instead we can keep our heads up and act as lights to the world. The word of God is capable of regenerating individuals, “18 In the exercise of His will He gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.” James 1:18. When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, we not only become a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) but we can no longer be dragged down by the weight of our sin. We have passed the world of perishable things and will one day, through death and resurrection or through the rapture, we will be with God where nothing will perish.

I also like this passage because it reminds me that the word of God is a living thing. It is as relevant now as when it was written. The authors of the 66 books of the Bible had no idea how long it would be until Christ returned, and yet even still their words provide encouragement for us living today. We can all be encouraged of the stories of those found in Hebrews 11 or the story of Ester who accepted that God placed her in her position for a reason, and we can still learn valuable financial guidance from books like Proverbs as well as understanding the times that we are in. The Bible is not just words on a page, but is a living document that offers so much strength and encouragement to those who would read it seriously. Matthew Henry describes the Bible this way, “It is a means of spiritual life, to begin it and preserve in it, animating and exciting us in our duty, till it brings us to eternal life: and it is abiding; it remains eternally true, and abides in the hearts of the regenerate for ever.”[1]

However, if you are simply reading only what is discussed in church service or life groups, you are missing out on so much more of what the Bible says. For those that treat their Bible studies in such a way, the Bible does not seem like the living and enduring word of God. Without the hope that is found within its pages, it is easy for the believer to begin to place their hope in perishable things and forget that their hope is in something greater. I encourage you now to ask God to open His word to you, pray that He helps you to see the nuggets of information and encouragement that you are missing. This way you can truly see how our hope does not reside in perishable but the unchanging God.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

[1] Commentary on 1 Peter 1 by Matthew Henry (blueletterbible.org)

The Basics: A Brief Overview of Malachi

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:

Malachi

INTRODUCTION:

Malachi, is a unique inside look at God’s reaction to Israel’s sin. Here we can see God disheartened by the faithlessness and wickedness of His people. But it is here we see a righteous answer and a revelation of God’s character.

WHO WROTE IT:

In his statement below, John MacArthur argues for the accuracy of who is the writer of the book of Malachi.

“Some have suggested that the book was written anonymously, noting that the name, meaning “my messenger” or “the LORD’s messenger,” could be a title rather than a proper name. It is pointed out that the name occurs nowhere else in the OT, nor is any background material provided about the author. However, since all other prophetic books have historically identified their author in the introductory heading, this suggests that Malachi was indeed the name of the last OT writing prophet in Israel. Jewish tradition identifies him as a member of the Great Synagogue that collected and preserved the Scriptures.”[1]

WHEN DID THEY WRITE IT:

The Blue Letter Bible site helps identify when the book of Malachi was written.

“Looking solely at internal evidence, the date of the prophecy points to the late fifth century B.C., most likely during Nehemiah’s return to Persia ca. 433–424 B.C. (Nehemiah 5:14; 13:6) Sacrifices were being made at the second temple (Malachi 1:7-10; 3:8) which was finished in 516 B.C. (Ezra 6:13-1). Many years had passed since then as the priests had increasingly become complacent and corrupt (Malachi 1:6-2:9). Malachi’s reference to “governor” (Malachi 1:8) speaks of the time of Persian dominance in Judah when Nehemiah was revisiting Persia (Nehemiah 13:6), while his emphasis on the law (Malachi 4:4) coincides with a similar focus by Ezra and Nehemiah (Ezra 7:14, 25, 26; Nehemiah 8:18). They shared other concerns as well, such as marriages to foreign wives (Malachi 2:11-15; Ezra 9, 10; Nehemiah 13:23-27), withholding of tithes (Malachi 3:8-10, Nehemiah 13:10-14), and social injustice (Malachi 3:5; Nehemiah 5:1-13). Nehemiah came to Jerusalem in 445 B.C. to rebuild the wall, and returned to Persia in 433 B.C. He later returned to Israel (ca. 424 B.C.) to deal with the sins Malachi described (Nehemiah 13:6). So it is likely that Malachi was written during the period of Nehemiah’s absence, almost a century after Haggai and Zechariah began to prophesy.[2]

KEY TOPICS:

The Temple is rebuilt but the people’s heart has drifted away. God reveals Israel’s unfaithfulness, but emphasizes His own faithfulness to continue to help.

KEY SECTIONS:

The book can easily be read in a sitting and is designed to be understood as one particular argument by the Lord against the people. While one argument God does reveal judgement and promises to the nation of His redemptive work, the book also promises Jesus Christ, first coming and second.  

BOOKS THAT INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER:

Malachi connects with the gospels, Revelation, and other minor prophets.

ANALYSIS OF THE BOOK:

While some might consider Malachi to be a simple book, it has deep meaning and revelation into the heart of God. This book shows His ever faithfulness to Israel, but also us when we fail and sin. God reveals His genuine nature to keep His promises and help sustain His receptive work for us. Malachi provides a detailed look at what was going on in Israel at the time, but also the necessary tools for us to self examine and see if we are living a life of religion or do we have a real and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ. Malachi reveals the first coming and second coming of Jesus Christ. Malachi helps provide the necessary frame work to reveal how God will one day rule in Jerusalem for 1,000 years and the nations will come to worship Him. Malachi reveals that the Jewish people are not forgotten by the Lord but are in a state of momentary pause. God is a God that does not change, thus He will continue to keep His promises and restore us who do not deserve His work. Malachi is a wonderful book to help you and I understand how much God’s love continues when we are failing to be what we have been called to be. It is a perfect ending of the Old Testament; and foundation for the coming gospels, amazing miracles, and acts of Jesus Christ. Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament because it shouts that God is going to have to do the work that we cannot do ourselves. If I could give an example, I would say Malachi is like being in a move theater and the lights are going dim, the movie is about to start; Malachi is the lights going dim for the coming New Testament. You can’t enjoy the movie without the simple act of the lights going dim, thus Malachi is a simple book preparing for the what is coming.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

[1] https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/macarthur_john/bible-introductions/malachi-intro.cfm

[2] https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/macarthur_john/bible-introductions/malachi-intro.cfm

Re-Post Friday

Today we are looking back at how we can find Jesus in every 66 books of the Bible! Read it HERE!

Avoiding Burnout

There is a common theme I am beginning to see among our Christian brethren, and it is the concept of being burnt out when it comes to the work that Jesus has for us. With the focus on so much negative going around in the world, it is difficult to remember the praises that we do see. And as more influencers in the faith, such as worship music leaders, come out to confess that they not only are not born-again, but they do not even believe in God, it is difficult at times to remain encouraged to stay the course. If you are someone who has been diligently going about the work that God has called you too but are beginning to wonder what the point of completing it at all is, I want to take a moment to encourage you.

“23 Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord and not for people, 24 knowing that it is from the Lord that you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.”

Colossians 3:23-24

This verse is a powerful one, especially in today’s world. Whether it is in the hospitals, the schools, professional settings, blue color jobs, or even within our own homes. The work that we are doing now has an impact. We may not see it in our day to day routines, but we are not here to work for mankind. We are setting about the work that God has for us. It is because He has given us the work we are accomplishing, that we need to be about the tasks with our whole heart. We should not be worried about the work or the reward that we may receive from mankind, because in the end we are working for the Lord.

If you are downtrodden about the work that you are doing now because you don’t see the results of it, remember we will receive our greatest reward when we are in heaven and hear “Well done good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). We are blessed when we are completing the work that God has for us, whatever that may be and even if we do not see the outcome of the work now. Keep you focus on God and continue to work heartily in what he has for you!

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

REQUEST A SUBJECT CHANGE

As August comes closer to ending and September reaches into our calendars, we can see the hustle and bustle of changing seasons. For many its school, work, family schedules, and so much more; for others it is a time of calming relaxation as the craziness of the summer comes to an end. However, have you ever thought about taking this time to re-examine your study habits with the Bible? Have you ever asked God to lead you to a new subject in the Bible that you should learn? Now is a great time to readjust our attention to the Lord in a new way. We can go to the Lord and ask for His guidance, Psalm 23:1-6 states, “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. 2 He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. 3 He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. 5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

This chapter has been used for countless of applicable situations, but I seldom see one of the simplest applications that this chapter reflects about God’s character. God cares for you and I in our spiritual walk. He will lead us into what we are to study. So as the seasons change and fall quickly starts to approach, ask God to guide you into a new season and new study in His Word that you need to learn. God will never tell you “No” to wanting to learn more from Him. In fact, one of the greatest adventures you can go on will always start with asking God to teach you something new. Psalm 23 reveals how very real His presence is for us, so shouldn’t we take His Word the same? Remember that God cares for you and I, remember goodness, love, and kindness are the attributes of our Heavenly teacher. “Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” This is why God allows for such a drastic change in the seasons at times, to help us come out of a rut and see that maybe we too should change what we are doing because God wants to show us something unique. When we take our walk with God seriously, we can quickly see what the psalmist is saying, “my cup overflows.” He is stating a spiritual fact to those believers who identify their relationship with God as being more than salvation, but rather a daily and intimate walk with Christ. Remember when our relationship with Christ is taken seriously, God can work seriously in our life.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

Did you know there are three aspects to being human? Read it HERE!

God Has Personality

Today I want to take a moment and just review a few verses. All too often we spend our time reading through verses to see what the Bible tells us about a specific topic. The Bible is filled with great advice for those who read it and are willing to listen. However, often times I feel we focus on the meaning of the Words that we forget Who they were written by. We forget that the Bible is God’s letters to His children. Which is why today I want to take a moment and review just a few verses that describe who God is.

Psalm 145:8- “The LORD is gracious and compassionate; Slow to anger and great in mercy.” The world would have us believe that God is this harsh and unloving being. Or that He is so reckless as to set the world in motion and allow His creations to bring it to ruin and have no guidance from Him. However, in this passage we see that God is not only gracious, but He cares about His creations. He is not only slow to anger, but merciful to send His Son so that none who would accept Him would parish.

Hebrews 12:28-29- “28 Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, 29 for our God is a consuming fire.” On the other side of the coin, there are those who believe that God is all love and forget that He is also justice. For those who choose not to accept Him, they will see firsthand how God will become a consuming fire and deal out justice just as He did in Numbers 16.

Psalm 54:4- “Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” For those who would believe that God is a distant God who does not care for His creations. When life has us beyond our limits and we cannot fathom another step forward, it is God who is our rescue, He cares for you and I more deeply than we can know ourselves.

Nahum 1:2-3- “2 A jealous and avenging God is the LORD; The LORD is avenging and wrathful. The LORD takes vengeance on His adversaries, And He reserves wrath for His enemies. 3 The LORD is slow to anger and great in power, And the LORD will by no means leave the guilty unpunished. In the gale and the storm is His way, And clouds are the dust beneath His feet.” This may be perhaps one of the most powerful “God is” statements. Here we see more of the personality of God. This passage should offer hope for the believer in knowing that God will deal with those who stand against Him. But it is also for this exact reason that those who are nonbelievers should fear. One day they will face the judgement of the God who created heaven and earth!

While this may be a different post than we normally make, I do hope that these verses show more of who God is. There are verses all throughout the Bible that describe who God is and I would encourage you to seek them out. I also hope that these verses have offered a greater insight into who God is so that when you come before Him, you can offer Him the reverence that He is due.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

The Basics: A Brief Overview of Zechariah

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:

Zechariah

INTRODUCTION:

     If you have ever wanted to know how to invest in the next generation, Zechariah is the book for you. See how the faithful can shape the future of the world by obeying and knowing that the mission set before them might bring to fruit well after the actions of the faithful.

WHO WROTE IT:

      The book of Zechariah is named after its author and is written as a prophetic book with direct application to the Jewish people of his day and future generations.

WHEN DID THEY WRITE IT:

     We know the book is written over the years of 520 BC to 486 BC.

KEY TOPICS:

     Zechariah captures the essence of Israel like no other minor prophet book could do. We see the heart of man revealed, seperating those who would follow the true living God, and those who are destined to follow a counterfeit.   

KEY SECTIONS:

     The book can be broken up into multiple easy to read sections such as initial introduction, each separate vision, and the future glory of God through the nation of Israel. This culminates to the final section of prophecy regarding Israel and the coming 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ.

BOOKS THAT INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER:

      Zechariah connects to virtually every book of the Bible. It is truly a masterful book; connecting Israel with its former glory and coming greater glory under Jesus Christ the true Messiah King.

ANALYSIS OF THE BOOK:

      While the book does not reflect the history of Israel as other books do, Zechariah captures the best understanding of the relationship of God with Israel and thus the fruit of this relationship with God and mankind. If you are working in an area that you believe the fruit will not come about until long after you are gone, Zechariah is a book for you. If you believe that the Old Testament has no connection to the New Testament, Zechariah is for you. Zechariah is the cornerstone to understanding human history and how there must be a literal 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ on the throne in Jerusalem. What we fail to understand in today’s world is, God’s eternal focus on saving mankind. Zechariah reveals this truth. Zechariah has been described as the teaser trailer for Jesus Christ first coming and second coming. I would recommend Zechariah for the sole purpose of its unique capacity to point to Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the life. Nevertheless, this book should be read due to the importance of what is written, Zechariah gave up his life so that we could have this book. According to Jesus Christ’s own words Zechariah was murdered bringing the Word of God to us. Matthew 23:35 “that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah, son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.”

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

A look back at the introduction to the Basics Course. Read it HERE!

A Deeper Meaning to Faith

A couple weeks ago we discussed the topic of faith. If you remember, we discussed that the Christian faith is hope in things unseen. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1. However, the English definition of the word “faith” does not do it justice when in this context. Oftentimes today, when we hear the word “faith” we associate it with a strong belief. This is not a bad association and it definitely gets the point across. However, when we consider the word “faith” in terms of Biblical aspects, there is a greater definition. When we come across the word “faith” in the Bible, we really should be replacing it with the word “trust”. This is not an issue with the Bible but a correction of the English language and the slow metamorphosis of the meanings of words for us.

When viewed in this context, the word “faith” means that you have complete and utter trust in something (in this case God). Jesus uses the word “faith” quite often, however I will list a few and as you read them I ask that you replace the word “faith” with “trust” and see how much deeper the meaning becomes.

“And behold, a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years came up behind Him, and touched the border of His cloak; 21 for she was saying to herself, “If I only touch His cloak, I will get well.” 22 But Jesus, turning and seeing her, said, “Daughter, take courage; your faith has made you well.” And at once the woman was made well.” Matthew 9:20-22

“And some men were carrying a man on a stretcher who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him. 19 But when they did not find any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus. 20 And seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”“ Luke 5:18-20

“Immediately Jesus reached out with His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”“ Matthew 14:31

“19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 And He *said to them, “Because of your meager faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a 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 17:19-20

Do you see the difference it is when you connect the word “faith” to “trust”? These individuals had enough trust in Jesus that it allowed them to be healed of their burdens. Trust in Jesus allowed them to perform miracles and walk on water, it was doubt that caused them to sink or be unable to perform miracles. Our faith is not in ourselves, but is our trust in God to do what we cannot. I would encourage you that any time you see the word “faith” to reread that verse and see how the meaning is deeper when placed with the word “trust”. For example read Genesis 22, in this passage Abraham is told to sacrifice his only son, the child that his wife and Abraham waited anxiously to have. The son that God promised to Abraham who would be the father of nations. And yet through Abraham’s faith (trust) in the Lord, he would have sacrificed Isaac not knowing how God would complete His promise if this was done. I would encourage you to look at your own life, are you harboring doubt in your life? Is there something that you believe that is simply to big for God to handle? If so, then this is an area where your faith, meaning your trust, needs work. As difficult as it may be, give this area over to God. He can complete His work and strengthen your faith, all you need to is ask. “37 For nothing will be impossible with God.” Luke 1:37.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

The Real Reason We Can Win

At times, Christians forget that we are not the ones who cause the transformation in our lives. If we could, than Jesus Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection was for nothing. We could transform ourselves, but this isn’t the case and we are not capable of doing such a thing. But what happens when people have success in their life? We tend to immediately give the attention to our own abilities. We fail to realize the implication of who really caused us to succeed. I once heard it put this way,

“Imagine yourself preparing for a race. You work out well in advance, you study racing techniques, you research the weather for the race, and you get to the race early and stretch. When the race begins you stay focused, you run the race well, passing many along the way, until finally you reach the end. Friends and family praise you for your effort. Here most people would take the glory and say thank you. However, for a believer who understands and recognize what God did, they know He fashioned your body capable of racing. He gave you the wisdom to understand the study of racing techniques and provided the techniques for you to study, He made the weather appropriate, He made the race runnable, He kept security at the race, He gave you the endurance to run the race, and surprisingly He picked you up and ran you to the end of the race. An immature Christian would not realize the importance that Christ has in our life, they see all that they did, and see they made it across the finish line. A mature Christian sees the work they put in, but recognizes Christ’s efforts to make us succeed.”

Psalm 44:3 states, “For they did not gain possession of the land by their own sword, nor did their own arm save them; but it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your countenance, Because you favored them.”  You see, God does the work for us, even when we at times fail to see that He is doing it. What is worse, is when a believer recognizes that God is doing the work and yet they attempt to take the glory. God has a way of making the person remember error in this thinking, Deuteronomy 9:5-6 5 “[It is] not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart [that] you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations [that] the LORD your God drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 6 “Therefore understand that the LORD your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you [are] a stiff-necked people.”

So next time you have a victory in your life, do not forget to recognize the real reason for you winning. It isn’t because of you, it will never be because of you, but because of a loving Savior Jesus Christ who compassionately sustains you and helps you throughout your trial. It is why we have the promises of Jesus to never leave us, Hebrews 13:6 “So we may boldly say: “The LORD [is] my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” Most forget that “man” in verse six, is also encompassing ourselves. This means that at times when we are acting in a negative way which will hurt us in the big picture, God will overcome this self afflicted wound and help us to the finish line. What does this mean for you and I? This means that as we run our race of life, we give it 100 percent and when we get to the end and hear “well done my good and faithful servant” we should respond with giving Jesus Christ the glory for doing the work in us that He promised to faithfully complete in 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

A unique look at an overlooked statement found in the book of Proverbs. Read it HERE!

Apply Psalm 13 In Our Life

There are many things that we as Christians believe that we cannot do. Perhaps one of the big ones is that we believe that we cannot question God.  It is one thing to doubt God’s word and His promises like Zacharias who wanted to know for certain how he and his elderly wife would have a child (Luke 1:18), it is another to ask how things will be done like Mary (Luke 1:34). The truth of the matter is that God loves our questions, but not our doubt. All throughout the Bible there are examples of those who came before God to simply ask Him questions. Perhaps one of my favorite examples of this is found in Psalm 13.

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
    How long will you hide your face from me?
2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
    and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
    How long will my enemy triumph over me?

3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God.
    Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”
    and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.
6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.

In this very short psalm, there is a powerful example for us. The author of this psalm is in the midst of God’s discipline. This can be seen in the language that the author chooses in their opening. They are asking God how long will He hide Himself from the author. For a born-again believer we can grieve the Holy Spirit to the point that we would still be saved but only by the eternal grace of God. When this happens, we can feel as the psalmist that it would seem God has hidden His face from us, that there is something dampening our relationship with our Heavenly Father.

We see that the author is wrestling day after day with their thoughts, they no longer have the peace of God with them because they no longer are in the will of God. This further shows that the author is being disciplined by God. What I find interesting about this psalm is that it is an example of what can be seen in Philippians 4:6-7, “6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

In verses 1-2 of Psalm 13, we see the author is anxious. They are asking God how long until He remembers the author and how long until the author will no longer have sorrow and have his enemies triumph over him. Verse 3 we see the author turn to prayer and petitions asking God to answer him. I believe that the author is asking to be reminded of the hope that he has in God. This is what sets us apart from those who are not born-again believers, we have hope in a living God. When we are following Him, we can get through the most difficult challenges because we rest in Him and His promises.

This leads to peace that passes comprehension of those who are non-believers. We trust in the unfailing love of God and know that when we come before Him, He listens to us. We are given a peace to get through a situation that appears to be hopeless to others. And in the end, we know that it is not through anything that we have done and so we sing the praises of God and remember that He has been good to us.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

The Basics: A Brief Overview of Haggai

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:

Haggai

INTRODUCTION:

Have you ever wanted to be motivated? Have you ever wanted to know if God was orchestrating the small details in your life to bring you to Him? If so, Haggai is the book for you.

WHO WROTE IT:

The book of Haggai is named after its author. Virtually nothing is known about the author, underpinning the notion that God can use anyone for His glory anytime. Ezra mentions him in 5:1 and 6:14.

WHEN DID THEY WRITE IT:

The prophet does not give a specific time frame for when the book was written. However, based on the information and the prophetic message, we are able to summarize he was part of the returning Jews from Babylon. Thus, we can assess the book to be written around 538 B.C.

KEY TOPICS:

The key topics of Haggai is God’s direct influence in their lives and His motivation for them to come back to Him. It is all about motivating the Jews to rebuild the temple.  

KEY SECTIONS:

This book can be divided into three sections, section one being chapter 1:1-2:9 which details God orchestrating their return to Him. The second section can be found in chapter 2:10-19, God’s blessing and finally, the third section in chapter 2:20-23 which shows God’s promise through Jesus.

BOOKS THAT INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER:

Haggai connects rather eloquently to Revelation, Chronicles, Kings, and Daniel.

ANALYSIS OF THE BOOK:

I hold the book of Haggai near and dear to my heart. Not only is this book designed around God’s personal direction in their life, but also reflects His desire to be intimidate in our lives as well. The book is a wonderful historical book, but also a deep spiritual book for great application for believers today to see the blue prints of God in our own lives. Like the Jews who God called to rebuild the temple, so to does God now call Christians to live focused on Him. The book also brings about promises of what God was planning to do through those who listened to Him. Jesus is deeply entrenched in this book if you take the time to see. If you are wanting to go deeper into the book, I would suggest my own personal work on this subject “The Haggai Project: Reorienting the Church back to its first love”. Nevertheless, Haggai is a wonderful book reminding us today that the Old Testament is still relevant and applicable. Haggai is a bold and declarative message, motivating us to righteous and Holy living with our eyes trained on Jesus Christ and His work. Haggai is a wonderful short read to help any believer see that when God says, “Consider your ways” He means it.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

A reminder on the duality of why Jesus came to us. Read it HERE!

A Warning On Commentaries

Go into any Christian bookstore and you will see the shelves lined with different commentaries on the books of the Bible as well as on Biblical topics. While most of these books are not harmful, the issue that comes into play for the Christian is when we place these commentaries above the authority of the Bible. The author of the book of Ecclesiastes, I believe, offers a warning for this.

“9 Not only was the Teacher wise, but he also imparted knowledge to the people. He pondered and searched out and set in order many proverbs. 10 The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. 11 The words of the wise are like goads, their collected sayings like firmly embedded nails—given by one shepherd. 12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body. 13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.”

Ecclesiastes 12:9-13

In this passage we see the author, who I believe to be Solomon, states that they searched out knowledge and wrote it down. In today’s world, this can be applied to the many different commentaries we read. The authors have found knowledge that they wish to share with others. The majority of authors believe their writings and write their ideas of the truth. However, there is a warning with reading commentaries that even the author of Ecclesiastes points out. “12 Be warned, my son, of anything in addition to them. Of making many books there is no end, and much study wearies the body.” Ecclesiastes 12:12.

In this verse we see that the author is warning against having anything added to the scriptures. This is the problem with some commentaries out there, they are adding to the Word of God. And of the many commentaries out there it is hard to be sure that you are reading one that has a solid biblical foundation, one that is not trying to add to the Word of God. This is why the author of Ecclesiastes states in verse thirteen that there is one conclusion in the matter of the many books, and that is to fear God and keep His commandments. We are not to add to the Bible, “2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.” Deuteronomy 4:2. We are however, commanded to study the word, “18 Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 11:18-19.

Reading commentaries is not wrong and can often be helpful for the Christian to understand various topics, however, do not allow what infallible man writes to influence the unchanging Word of God. If you read something that goes against what the Word of God says, it is the Word of God that must be leaned on and the other to be removed. Remember what Jesus commanded in Revelation, chapter 22:18-19, “18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.”  I would also encourage you when you are reading commentaries to only review them after you have done the following: first by reading the scripture you are studying, then see what other scripture connects to it, and finally pray. Pray that God will show you the truth that if you come across something that either adds or goes against what God’s Word says, that God will make it clear to you and help you understand.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

The Basics: A Brief Overview of Zephaniah

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:

Zephaniah

INTRODUCTION:

Imagine a look inside the mind of God and how He interacts with the righteous, the wicked, and His intended actions of the future.  

WHO WROTE IT:

The book of Zephaniah is named after its author. While not much is known about Zephaniah, we do know a little. He traces his genealogy back 4 generations to King Hezekiah (ca. 715–686 B.C.), standing alone among the prophets descended from royal blood Chapter 1 verse 1. Royal genealogy would have given him the ear of Judah’s king, Josiah, during whose reign he preached.[1]

WHEN DID THEY WRITE IT:

The prophet himself dates his message during the reign of Josiah (640–609 B.C.). The moral and spiritual conditions detailed in the book (chapter 1:4-6; 3:1-7) seem to place the prophecy prior to Josiah’s reforms when Judah was still languishing in idolatry and wickedness. It was in 628 B.C. that Josiah tore down all the altars to Baal, burned the bones of false prophets, and broke the carved idols (2 Chronicles 34:3-7); and in 622 B.C. the Book of the Law was found (2 Chronicles 34:8-35:19). Consequently, Zephaniah most likely prophesied from 635–625 B.C. and was a contemporary of Jeremiah.[2]

KEY TOPICS:

The key topics of Zephaniah is judgement on Judah and God’s judgement in the end times.

KEY SECTIONS:

Some might break this book up into sections or a timeline of events. However, this would take away from the attention of what the book should be reviewed. Zephaniah is a book designed to help the reader understand the mind of God in His intended actions. With this in mind, the book shouldn’t be divided in chapters but rather interactions. The first interaction occurs in chapters 1:2-2:3 is a description of God’s coming wrath of the Great Day of the Lord but also how He will interact with the good and the bad.

The second interaction that is examined by the author is found in chapter 2:4-15. Here we have God reviewing those who have come against His people. The third interaction is chapter 3:1-7. This interaction describes how God has pleaded with Israel to listen to Him, but they have gone out of their way to wake up early to go and do wicked (3:7). The final interaction is from chapter 3:8-20 which describes God’s reflection of the righteous and how He will take care of them and what they should do when that time comes.  

BOOKS THAT INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER:

Zephaniah connects rather eloquently to Revelation, Chronicles, Kings, and Daniel.

ANALYSIS OF THE BOOK:

When quickly looked at one might think this is all about the end times and prophecy, but this does something deeper for those who want to know more about Jesus Christ and the Holy Trinity. Zephaniah is a book revealing the character of God and how He interacts with those on earth. What a unique moment for us to ask ourselves how does God in heaven think of what is going on. In Zephaniah we get that window of opportunity. Many people believe the gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) is the only place we get to see God up close; and while the gospels do a remarkable job of this, we should not leave out other books of the Bible such as Zephaniah that helps paint a more grand picture of God. Zephaniah points to a growing suspicion that when the Great Day of the Lord does come, there will be more references to the Old Testament than to the four previously mentioned gospels. Zephaniah helps us see that we have a loving God who does bring justice for the victim, “I will deal with all who afflict you; I will save the lame and gather those who were driven out” Zephaniah 3:19a. Zephaniah is a book that shows God cares for those who have been forgotten, but also a good reminder that His love is everlasting and eternal. We are also reminded that His justice is equal and as resolute in His interactions with man as His love. Finally, Zephaniah is a marvelous book refuting those who would deny the 1,000 year reign of Jesus Christ that is coming one day. Read Zephaniah seriously, there are parts that must be read literally if you are to truly understand and come to comprehend what God is declaring through His prophet Zephaniah.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

[1] https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/macarthur_john/bible-introductions/zephaniah-intro.cfm

[2] https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/macarthur_john/bible-introductions/zephaniah-intro.cfm

Re-Post Friday

A challenge for our readers to see what the cross means for them. Read it HERE!