Humility a Heart Thing

Read Luke 18:9-14

 

We have begun looking at the topic of humility by looking at two completely different people in almost everyway and seeing what their response was to meeting with God through prayer.  Today let’s look at Jesus response to these two individuals.  In verse fourteen we see Jesus response to these two men.  Many would probably think that the Pharisee would be the one that Jesus praises, however in this verse you notice which man Jesus acknowledges as humble.  Obviously the Pharisee was not reflecting humility as he approached God through prayer.  Jesus points that out as He says, “he who exalts himself will be humbled.”  Jesus on the other hand makes it clear that the tax collector is the one who found mercy and grace through his approach to God.  For the Pharisee it was not about his love for God but rather his love for himself.  For the tax collector it was all about his love for God and not himself.  That is the difference and Jesus makes it clear that this is the heart humility.   Question which one of these two men are you more like?  Which one reflects your heart?

 

Father thank you for giving to us two examples of men who show us that humility comes from the heart not from the way we do this or that.  

Who We Really Are: A Lesson in Humility

Read Luke 18:9-14 Lets take a look at the topic of humility. My hope is to help you understand why humility is a vital part of a believer’s life by showing you examples from scripture. Today we are going to begin taking a look at a Parable that Jesus gave of humility before God. Today I want us to look at the differences between the two men in the parable. Remember that a parable is an earthly story with a heavenly meaning. In this parable Jesus identifies two men, one a Pharisee and one a tax collector. As far as two people these two could not have been more opposite in their lifestyles or their acceptance by others. Pharisees were revered as the religious (holy) men that proclaimed the law and lived according to it. The tax collector was actually a Jewish man who was hired by the Roman government to collect taxes from his own people. Often tax collectors would add money to the tax and then pocket the extra. The people hated these men. Interestingly these two men went to the temple to pray. Notice very carefully the way these two men pray. Again completely opposite, notice the arrogance in the way the Pharisee prays and notice the humility in the way that tax collector prays. Why do you suppose that is? I believe the Pharisee really believed that he could just stand and arrogantly pray to God because he obeyed the law. His view of God was messed up. However the tax collector would not even raise his head toward heaven and even beat his chest. Why because the tax collector had a proper view of the majesty and power of God and he reverently feared Him. He also understood the fact that he is a sinner and that only by God’s grace and mercy could he approach God. The Pharisee forgot about that fact and thought he could approach God based on what he had done. How do you see God? How do you see yourself? Father help us to catch a glimpse of who you really are, so that we can see who we really are.

Seeing the Practical in Scripture

Read 1 Kings 17:8-16

 

Today we finish looking at this passage and seeing our incredible and indescribable God through it.  We have looked at what God does in the passage, how He reveals Himself through the passage and what the passages teaches us about His works.  Today I want you to re-read the passage and see what other thing you can learn from this passage.  Does not have to be about God, but can just be practical for living.  Such as one of the great things about knowing God is that when we meet someone who has met God and has a relationship with Him we instantly have a relationship with them.  That is the beauty of knowing Christ.  This week I pray that as you have faithfully read this passage that God has just oozed out of the pages and into your heart.  Now take these four questions and look at every scripture this way and I know God will jump out at you through them. 

 

Father help us to see you daily as we faithfully read your Word.

How God Works? The Adventure Continues

Read 1 Kings 17:8-16

 

So what attributes or characteristics did you see of God.  Some of the ones that really stuck out to me were His omnipotence (all powerful), His omniscience (all knowing) and also His providence (seeing the big picture and working out the details.)  I know there is others that you found but isn’t our God just incredible.    Today as you re-read this passage answer this question, “What does this passage teach about how God works?”  As you are answering this you are looking for principles that will apply to your life.  For example:  in verse 8 and 9 God speaks to Elijah and gives Him direction for His life.  Here is how God works:  if God speaks to Elijah and gives Him direction, then God will speak to me and give me direction for my life.  How does He speak to me, through His Word?  That’s it, so read through this passage again and look for the principles that can apply to your life.  The same God you and I serve is the same God that Elijah served.  Let us draw near to Him today as we see His awesome hand at work.

 

Father thank you for helping us to see you through your Word.  Help us to discern what principles we can apply to our lives as we seek you through this passage.

Seeing God in Scripture: The adventure continues

Read 1 Kings 17:8-16

 

Well did you see God through this passage as you read?  I hope you wrote down everyway you saw God in the passage.  Some of the ways I saw Him was when He spoke to Elijah and the widow at separate times.  Another way was by setting up the meeting between Elijah and the women at the gate.  Zarephath was a large city and they just “happened” to meet at the first place Elijah went to.  God miraculously supplied food and oil for them to be able to eat.  Today I want you to re-read the passage and answer this questions; what does God reveal about Himself in this passage?  For instance when God supplied the food this shows us that God is a supplier of needs.  It also shows that He is all powerful in being able to perform the miracle to supply the food.  When you are looking through, write down God’s attributes, His characteristics that stand out to you as you read.  You will be amazed how many you will see in this passage.

 

Father again as we read this passage today help us to see you through it.  

Seeing God in Scripture: An exercise

Read 1 Kings 17:8-16

 

This week we are going to take a look at a really obscure passage of scripture.  The reason for this adventure is for us to see our awesome God through scripture.  Let me se the scene for you in this passage.  Elijah is a prophet of God in Israel.  Ahab perhaps the most evil king of Israel’s history and Jezebel his wife are ruling in Israel.  They do not worship God but rather other God’s.  Elijah goes before the king and tells him that there will be a drought because of his worship of Baal (who was the good of rains and fertility).  Well this ticked Ahab and Jezebel off and they wanted to kill Elijah.  So God tells Elijah to go and hide near a brook.  Elijah drank from the brook and ravens supernaturally came and fed him twice each day.  Well the brook dries up because there is no rain and God now in verse 8 gives Elijah a new command.  Today as you look at this passage answer this question, “What does God do in this passage?”  No read the passage and write down everything that God does, for example:  He gives Elijah a command.  As you are reading just right down everything you see God doing in this passage.  Remember as you read ask the Holy Spirit to help you see God through it all. 

 

Father as we look at this passage today; help us to see you through it all.

Striving for God's Best

Read Titus 2:1-8

 

Today as we finish our look at the roles that men and women have in this life.  Please keep in mind that these roles have been laid out in scripture.  God has given to each gender specific rules for our good.  God wants and has our best in mind and when we follow His plan that best is revealed.  If we choose to reject that plan then His best is at best clouded and unable to be attained.  I believe today we are seeing God’s best clouded because we have taken out of context the roles in which He has given.  I am not in anyway referring that we need to go back to days of old.  But what I am suggesting is that we need godly men and women who desire to live by God’s Word to take a stand against the tide that is destroying our homes, churches and ultimately our nation.  We need to get our eyes of ourselves and on to God.  We are so steeply entrenched in the world’s thinking that this life is all about me and me alone.  In light of eternity this life is but a drop in the bucket.  Men, women lets get our eyes off our selfish desire and turn them over to God and allow Him to give us the desires of His heart in order to save our families and churches.

 

Father thank you for the look we have been able to take at the roles you have given to us.  Help us to be willing to focus on you and your Word as we seek to serve you and each other.

Men: Live a Life of Integrity

Read Titus 2:1-8

 

Today let’s look at the roles of the young men according to this passage.   The major call on young men in the day that this was written was to live a life of integrity.   That call is still going out today.  Maybe today more than ever when men seem to be displayed as idiots and just plain morons.  We men must stand up against this maybe not so much in our words but with our lifestyles.   The way we are portrayed on TV and in movies are just sickening and I for one am sick of that portrayal.  Also every TV dad I can think of is just displayed as a total idiot who has no clue about anything.  Men this is wrong and ladies if you treat guys like that then you are wrong for doing so.  I know women were treated unfairly in the past but no where in scripture does that give you the right to treat men poorly in return.  To bye into that thinking is to bye into the worlds system and way of thinking.  This thinking is destroying men today and ultimately will destroy homes and our nation.  Men it is high time we live a life that is described here and stop allowing room for these types of portrayals to be accepted.   We must live lives of integrity and love. 

 

Father as men we need your strength each day to live for you.  Help us to live lives that are marked by integrity and not stupidity.  

Our Roles: Defined by Man or God

Read Titus 2:1-8

 

Today as we look at the roles described in this passage we turn our attention to the young women.  In verses 4-5 Paul gives to Titus what young women are to be practicing in their lives.  It’s interesting to look at these roles because today women are being told that these practices are simply out of date.  Well that’s exactly what the young women in Titus’s church were being told.  Radical feminism was an integral part of ancient Babylonian and Assyrian mythology as well as of the Greeks and flourished throughout the Roman Empire.  Modern feminism is neither new nor progressive; it’s been around for 1000’s of years.  The sad part about it is that women are buying into this philosophy still today.  Understand something ladies no where in this passage does it say that you are inferior to men, that you are unequal to men, that you cannot have a job or a career.  Guys no where in this passage does it give men the right to be a dictator over women, to degrade women, to see ourselves as greater than women.  All of this thinking is contrary to the Word of God.  We need to simply understand though that there are fundamental differences between men and women and that God has given us roles that match those differences.  Ladies if you want to please God then practice the roles that He has laid out for you to practice.  Men if you want to please God then practice the roles that He has laid out for you to practice.  Let’s stop falling into the worlds thinking on this and just decide that we are going to please God and not men.

 

Father give us the strength and the willingness to please you and you alone.

Gender Roles in the Church

Read Titus 2:1-8

 

This week we finish our look at the roles of men and women in creation, marriage and now the church.  The book of Titus is written to a pastor.  Paul addresses in this passage the roles of men and women in the church.  Now today there is a lot of differing opinions about the roles of men and women in the church.  I simply this week want to address what the Bible says the roles addressed in this passage.  Today we will look at the roles of older men and women in the church.  The word “older” literally refers to people over 60 years of age or without child rearing responsibilities.  Notice that I did not say retired people, because no where in scripture will you find the concept of retiring, rather the changing of roles.  In this passage Paul exhorts Titus that the “older” men and women have definite roles in the church.  First the men are to lead by example.  Their very lives are to be an example of the very characteristics that later younger men are to be exhorted to be.  They are to be spiritually healthy so that the younger men can see by example what they are to be.  The older women similarly are to live by example also, but Paul adds the role of admonish to the women.  This refers to teaching the younger women in certain roles that they are to be doing.  As a young person you need to seek out individuals like this that can mentor and disciple you in being a man or women of God. To often the “older” generation is overlooked and often they advocate their responsibility to younger men and women.  Paul specifically gives this role to the “older” generation. We should pray that “older” men and women step up to fulfill their God-given roles.

Father thank you for Godly examples of how to live for you.  Help us to be willing to seek someone out who can help guide us down the path of living a godly life for you.

Doing What Doesn't Come Easy

Read Ephesians 5:22-33

 

Lastly we look again at the man’s role in the marriage relationship.  Paul in verse 29 gives to men two more roles in which they are responsible.  First is to nourish, this refers to providing of the wife’s needs for the purpose of growing in Christ.  What needs you may ask spiritual, mental, physical and emotional needs.  If a husband does not meet these needs he is asking for a world of trouble.  However the wife cannot expect her husband to be superman either by demanding that these needs be met.  Most guys are pretty good at meeting the needs physically, but the others he has to work at.  Ladies give grace and encouragement instead of nagging and grief.  The second is to cherish which means that he needs to give warm and tender affection so that she may have comfort and security in knowing that her husband loves her.  Again this is an area that guys struggle with simply because it’s not natural.  Ladies need to pray for their man as they seek to provide in these ways.  However men need to understand that even though something that does not come naturally does not mean that they can be excused from doing it.  We have taken a great look at the marital roles and obviously Paul puts a great emphasis on the men’s role.  Why? I believe because its so much more natural for the wife to nurture this relationship then it is for the husband.  Men have to work at it and those that choose not to will pay for it over the course of time. 

 

Father help us as men to even now begin to understand our roles in marriage and help us never to excuse unnatural tendencies as something we can just overlook.

Leading Spiritually: Not an Option Men

Read Ephesians 5:22-33

 

We have been looking at the roles of men and women in marriage.  Previously we looked at the role of the husband as a lover.  Specifically loving his wife as Christ loved the church.  Today we take that a step further in that the husband in verse 26 is lead spiritually.  The idea of this verse is for the husband to desire for their not to be anything sinful in the life of his wife and she become conformed to the likeness of Christ.  This means that he should be leading his wife spiritually and that he should be leading by example.  This is what verses 26-27 is speaking of in relationship to Christ and the church.  Christ leads the church spiritually and we follow His leadership.  The same should be in the home.  The husband leads his wife and she follows his leadership.  The problem in most homes is that the wife is spiritually more mature than her husband.  This is a call then to us as men that we step it up spiritually.  That we be the men of God that we should be and that begins now for you.  Don’t wait till you’re married to finally fall in love with God, do it now.

 

Father help us guys to fall in love with you and that this love would compel us to be the leaders that we should be both now and in our future marriage relationships.

Love & Sacrifice: A Husband's Role

Read Ephesians 5:22-33

 

Previously we looked at the role of the wife in the marriage relationship.  Today we will begin to look at the husband’s role which Paul really expounds on in this passage.  The first role that Paul points out is that husbands are to love their wives.  But he does not stop there; he goes on to describe this love.  Husbands are to love there wives as Christ loved the church and gave His life for the church.  Christ gave everything He had, including His life, for the sake of the church.  This is the standard that Paul gives for husbands in loving their wives.  This love is not based on what the husband gets out of the relationship but rather what he can give to the relationship.  Sacrificial love puts the needs of the other before your own.  If a husband wants to be a good leader he needs to learn to be a great lover.  First a lover of God and second a lover of his wife.

 

Father help guys to see the importance of love in their relationships.  Help guys to begin even now to sacrificially love others in every relationship they have.

Submission: A Wife's Response

Read Ephesians 5:22-33

 

As we continue to look at this contrast we must look at the marriage relationship to understand for fully what our roles are as men and women.  Let’s first look at the role of women in the marriage relationship.  First we must understand that this is being written to believers.  So Paul addresses the women first.  Wives are to be submissive.  Paul here lays down the foundational truth of submission.  This command is unqualified no matter the abilities, education, spiritual maturity or any other qualification that the women might have over her husband.  This submission is not the husband’s to command but rather the wife’s to offer willingly and lovingly.  The phrase own husband has great meaning as well as this limits her submission to the one man God has placed over her and gives balance to the fact the he is her personal intimate possession.  The phrase “as to the Lord” gives great significance to submission because the obedient submissive wife’s supreme submission is to the Lord.  Thus when she willingly and lovingly submits to her husband she is actually submitting to the Lord as an act of obedience.  Please understand that no where in scripture does God give men the right to use this role as a slave bargaining chip.  No where does God allow for dictatorship in the home.  No where does God place more value on the man over the women.  However God does give differing roles for the sake of our benefit not our demise.

 

Father thank you for the God given roles that each gender has in the marital relationship.  Help us to understand the great benefits that come as a result of being obedient to your plan.

Gender Roles: Direction

Read Genesis 1-2

 

As we begin to look at gender roles in light of scripture and as we finish looking at those roles in light of this passage, let me lay out what our desire is over the next month.  We are in no way are trying to put one gender above another, for God values both equally.  We are in no way trying to say that they are equal in function or ability thus condoning a genderless society.  What we want to do is to give you a clear understanding of what God’s Word teaches about men and women and there roles in this world in which we live.  Then trying to help us find applications that would help us serve God and each other more effectively.  This month as we look at this topic please come with an open mind and heart willing to put aside what the world says about such roles and see what God says about it and ask ourselves which we will believe as true.

 

Father help us to have an open heart and mind to what you want to teach us this coming month.   

Woman: Not a Doormat but a Help Mate

Read Genesis 1-2

 

Yesterday we looked at the roles that God had given men. Today we will look at the roles that God has given to women according to these two chapters.  Now at first glance not much is said about women in these first two chapters with the exception of finding Adam a helper.  So the role that God gives to women according to this passage is to be a helper.  Specifically a support, someone who comes alongside and lends a hand.  She is to complete the man and to bring companionship to the relationship.  This does not mean in any way that women are less in value or equality then men.  Actually they are equal in value because Eve was created out of the side of Adam.  This symbolizes the equality in personhood.  However please understand that even though they are both valued equality does not mean that they do not differ in ability or roles.  Obviously men and women are different and have different abilities (just look at the body and the functions of each).   This difference does not take away from their equality, but rather enhances it and gives individuality to each person in order to support and complete each other.  God design was not to cause division but rather to bring about unity and oneness between the two individuals.  (Vs. 23-24). 

 

Father help us to see that the differences between men and women cause us to draw closer together and not divide.  Help us to see beyond what the world tells us and see what you give us as truth.

Men Rule and Woman Drool, Not

Read Genesis 1-2

 

Today as we continue to look at the roles that God has given us as people.  Let’s look at the roles that God gave Adam.  First God gave Adam the role of having dominion and to subdue the earth.  Adam is God’s representative in ruling over the creation.  This role is significant because God did not give this to the animals.  Thus separating animals from man in their given roles.  Then God gave Adam the role of being caretaker of the garden.  This role gave man the importance of work and the need to care for the earth.  Then God gave man the role of naming everything.  This was a role of discernment and leadership as well as authority.  Why are these roles important?  First because God has given men the role of leadership and authority.  This does not mean that a woman cannot be a leader; however God’s design is for men to lead and especially in the home.  Again this leadership is not a dictatorship role but one of discernment and care.  You may not like what I am about to say but anytime a women takes the leadership in the home when a man is present she is out of God’s will.  However so is the man for allowing that to happen.  God has also given men the role of working.  Again this does not mean that women cannot work or should not work, but as we will see later if this supersedes her roles then it does create a problem.  The Bible is clear that if a man will not work He will not eat.  Please understand that I am not trying to down grade woman but I am simply pointing out God’s given role to men.

 

Father help us to see the uniqueness in your creation and the roles that you have given specifically to men and women.  

God Created Man and Woman Not Neuter

Read Genesis 1-2

 

We are living in a day and age where many are saying that there are no gender roles or even a need for distinguishing genders.  We want to look at what does God think about that by looking at what God’s Word says about it.  First lets tackle the need or lack there of to identify genders.  Whoever decided that this needs to be a philosophy of our day and age never looked at the Bible.  In Genesis it is clear that God created man and woman.  God was very specific in creating man and woman and giving them that distinction.  However we must make it clear that both are created in the image of God.  That means that man and woman are equally significant to God.  One gender is not greater than the other. But it is clear that God has created two genders.   This is important because as we begin to identify the roles of each gender we must understand that God sees us either as male or female.  To throw out the significance of genders is to through out the significance of God’s creation and thus nullify the importance of roles.  Which by the way is the agenda of those who are calling for a genderless society.

 

Father thank you for creating us in your image; help us to understand the significance of your creation.

Jesus: "Neither Do I Condemn You"

Read John 8

 

Today I want to finish our look at homosexuality by seeing one more side of Jesus reaction to the women caught in sin.  In verse 11 we see the compassion of Christ as he reaches out to this woman and tells her that He will not condemn her, but then He says to her, “go and sin no more.”  What Jesus is literally telling her is to leave your life of sin.  Jesus was always compassionate with unbelievers, but never did He condone their sin.  Always He told them to leave their life of sin.  We must love those who are entrenched in the sin of homosexuality, but that does not mean that by doing so we condone their sin.  They must know that it is sin and that sin must be dealt with or sooner or later it will deal with you.  Often the problem is that we love but do not point out the wrong that is being done or we point out the wrong being done and not love.  There is a balance and in order to help those who are caught in sin we must find that balance with the Lord’s help.  Only with His help can you find this balance.  If you try on your own you will fail.  Today as we close our look at homosexuality, I implore you to both love and challenge by relying on the strength of Christ to do so and thus be a person used by God to lead others to Himself.

 

Father I pray that we will understand the need to love and to challenge, but help us to not do this in our own strength but only in the strength you offer to each one of us.