Why the Herodians?

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

(Mark 3:1-6 ESV)

Thoughts and Other musings

Hebrews: Compare and Contrast

 

Hebrews 10:26-27.  

For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries.

 

Hebrews 6:3-8

[3] And this we will do if God permits. [4] For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, [5] and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, [6] and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt. [7] For land that has drunk the rain that often falls on it, and produces a crop useful to those for whose sake it is cultivated, receives a blessing from God. [8] But if it bears thorns and thistles, it is worthless and near to being cursed, and its end is to be burned.

 

There are parts of these verses that I’ve struggled with for years. Questions I’ve had about salvation, judgment etc. When I asked a brother of mine about some helpful ideas to be able to answer my questions he gave probably the most helpful idea of all: Write 50 questions and 50 observations about the text. Rather than answering my question and give me a quick “microwave-generation” answer, he encouraged me to rather do some of my own treasure hunting in the scriptures to see what I came up with.  I may not reach 50 but here are some initial thoughts and questions that have been composed over a few days (and in not so few places).

Preliminary:

1. Who is the author of this text: Unknown, not specified, some speculation it could be Paul

2.Who is the audience? Hmmm I’m guessing the Hebrews believers

3. What is the point of this letter: To show that Jesus is indeed preeminent over all, angels or otherwise

4. Why am I choosing to compare and contrast these two passages? : Initially the first passage was the passage that a group of us are wanting to memorize to be able to be further equipped in sharing the gospel. The second passage is similar in tone attitude and purpose. I hope to be able to come away with understanding each better as I compare it with something else that is similar.

3:27 am on the couch

5.For if we … Who is we? This is a first and second person, the writer is including himself with his audience. “We” are the Hebrew believers specifically, the writer and I believe by extension US. (the question is which group of “us” is he referring to?)

6. For if…a contingent or a stipulation.  By chance, …( I cannot write out how to explain “if” without using “if”) IF this happens, this will happen..etc

7. For if we go on sinning. Ahahaha! Now we know. If we sin..something will happen. What is the “sin” or “sinning” here? Does it say, can we be specific?

8. For if we go on sinning deliberately. Deliberately? Purposely, intentionally, knowingly? Seems to say “For if we go on sinning that we purposely set in our minds to do..”

5:05 pm- at Chic Fil A

9. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge – Here is what it is contingent upon. Receiving knowledge. Not just any knowledge, the knowledge. A knowledge ABOUT something. What is it?

10. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth- The Knowledge of the truth, what is this truth that this entire clause stands upon. If we hear THE TRUTH, and we still continue to deliberately sin we ….

11.there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,  Because a truth was given, ignored, there is no more remedy. There is nothing left, because the sacrifice that would have covered sins has been “thrown away” if you will.

12.So who does this apply to? And what is the sacrifice that this refers to?

13.but a fearful expectation of judgment, So when the sacrifice is ignored, as continuing to sin then this produces an expectation of judgment. Simple picture- if I know the syllabus, refuse to do my work, know that what will happen if I continue to not do my work I can expect an F. Even that’s not a good example. If I know the law about drugs, but ignore it, then I’m busted I can fearfully expect to be thrown into jail. This leads a question perhaps not given in this text but for further study:

14.What is the difference between Judgment and Punishment?

8:10 pm- at home

15. For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a fearful expectation of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. A fury of fire…God’s wrath that will consume (destroy, devour) the adversaries (enemies, opponents). So is this scripture saying if we continue in sin as believers, and ignore Christ’s sacrifice by our persistent sin, we will still face his wrath?

Perhaps I should use another text in Hebrews that may help explain this text.

16. Starting in verse 4 of chapter 10, to verse 6 the author says: For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, [5] and have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to come, [6] and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance, since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and holding him up to contempt.  Wow this alot to digest, but I didn’t want to break a flow of thought. There are several things mentioned here such as

17. An impossibility (It cannot happen, it cannot be done, it won’t be done)

18. A reference to those “being enlightened” : Those with the Knowledge of the truth as Hebrews 10:26-27 (see note 9, 10)

19. Those that are enlightened would have tasted of a heavenly gift (which is…)

20. That they have shared in the Holy Spirit

                    21. (who can share in the Holy Spirit?)

22.. They have TASTED the goodness of God

                     23. Which is?

24. They have TASTED/experienced the powers of the age to come

                      25. I’m assuming these are heavenly powers, or gifts of the Holy Spirit, though I am not clear

26 Even with these qualifications they have fallen away

                      27. How and Why?

28. The impossibility continues..they cannot be restore to repentance (what does this mean?)

Numbers 15:30-31 gives the same idea-

But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the LORD, and that person shall be cut off from among his people.

Because he has despised the word of the LORD and has broken his commandment, that person shall be utterly cut off; his iniquity shall be on him."

29. Deut. 17:12
The man who acts presumptuously by not obeying the priest who stands to minister there before the LORD your God, or the judge, that man shall die. So you shall purge the evil from Israel.

30. 2 Peter 2:20-22

For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first

For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

What the true proverb says has happened to them: "The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire

           31.. How do restore to repentance?)

           32.. Repentance means-

33.. They have crucified Jesus to their own harm (how?)

                          34. ( By their falling away) As Hebrews 10 says those who are “sinning deliberately”

35.. They have held Jesus in contempt

                          36 . (Again by their falling away. What does “falling away” mean?)

                           To be finished…

It's Okay to Cry

Part 2

"Its Ok To Cry" - 12-13-2010 Barrett Nugent

Its okay to cry!.......... Its okay to cry!......... It really is,

As long as we cry to the Lord.

I know from experience and from reading the Word that at times it can be hard to believe;

it can be hard to see that God loves you; it can be hard to trust in the truth that God, is still and always will be there by your side. We can't see him; at times we feel him and can hear him, but then there are times where it seems like we are alone. But we are never alone!

Psalm 139:7-10

“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol (Hell), you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right shall hold me.”

Where are you? Where have you been? Where are you going?

God is with you! GOD IS WITH YOU!! Not was, IS!

Look at the verses, they are statements with apostrophes not question marks or hopes. It is God's covenant to never leave or forsake his children.

Please take a moment to be still and consider this.

Everywhere you have been, are, and will go, God is with you!

The Psalm says if you go to heaven, He is there. If you make your bed in HELL, He is there!

If you run away to the “utter most parts of the sea” where no man is or has been, “Even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me!”

Whether you have been running from God in a state of rebellion, taken a turn that you thought was God's will and now are unsure, or are seeking God and just can't feel him and feel as if you are alone and He isn't listening.

Wherever you are, God is there! Walking by your side and carrying you when you don't have the strength to walk.

Its the power of His spirit that will God willing allow these words to reach in and affect your heart.

So I ask you to take a few minutes to be still and ask God to move in your heart and change you.

Sit down, lay down, take a walk to somewhere secluded, and be still.

Talk with the Lord as if you were talking to your best friend, whether you are having a good day or bad day. Thats what friends are there for right? To be there for you?

God is there for you! He is with you all the time. He wants to talk with you, He wants you to tell him about your joys, He wants you to tell Him of your fears, the things that make you want to worry.

He wants you to cast your burden on Him and allow Him to carry you.

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Are you tired? Are you weary and run down? Do you just need a break from the daily grind of life?

Go to the Lord! He will give you rest.

God knows the temptations and fears we face every day, He knows there is an enemy of our souls that “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour”.

Jesus himself was tempted and tried.

Matthew 26:36-44

“Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, “Sit here, while I go over there and pray.” And taking with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.” And going a little further he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will but as you will.” And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is week.” Again, for the second time, he went away and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” And again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy.

So, leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words again.”

Sometimes we have to pray the same things over and over, it doesn't make them any more or less true.

God still calls us to bring our petitions to the cross and submit them to the Lord.

What it does confirm is that all is done by the power of God the Father and by His will.

Another aspect to consider is the desperate manner in which we see God's children bringing their petitions to the Lord. The verse above says Jesus “fell on his face and prayed”.

Jonah 2 - recounts Jonah's cry for help from the belly of the whale.

“Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying,

I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice.

For you cast me in the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me.

Then I said, 'I am driven away from your sight; Yet I shall again look upon your holy temple.'

The waters closed in over me to take my life; the deep surrounded me; weeds were wrapped about my head at the roots of the mountains. I went down to the land whose bars closed upon me forever; yet you brought up my life from the pit, O LORD my God.

When my life was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple.

Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love.

But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay.

Salvation belongs to the LORD!

And the LORD spoke the the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.”

Each of these examples are rather desperate circumstances, Jesus is within hours of being tortured and being crucified for sins he did not commit, Jonah is inside a fish. Not knowing why he is even still alive, yet knowing that his only hope is the LORD God.

And what did he do? He called out to the LORD, “from the belly of Sheol I cried”.

Both situations of desperation; both situations God was faithful to give grace and provide a way.

What situation are you in right now? Do you believe God can provide the grace to make it through?

Do you believe God intends and wants to give grace? Do you believe God is working everything out for your better good?

He is! Even if you can't see it now, He is!

Jesus Christ was tempted in every way known to man, yet did not sin. Hebrews 4:14-16

“Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect had been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

“With confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need”

Because of what Christ has done we can draw near with confidence, without fear. Knowing“That we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Notice the word “receive”, we are given something. The verse does not say this is your best shot, or maybe this will work. Try real hard and hope for the best.

Because of what Christ has done, a work completely out of your control and something you can't add anything to, we can draw near. Its a gift! Its Mercy!

Mercy is defined as:

“Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone who is it within one's power to punish or harm.

Yes it is within God's power to punish us for our sin, but because of Christ, God shows us grace.

Grace:

“The free and unmerited favor of God”

The verse says to draw near with confidence that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

How often do we need help? Daily! For some like myself, its every minute.

So where are you? What season are you in? Where do you find yourself right now?

Making it through but hoping things get better? Really tired and wearisome? About to give up all hope and end life?

Wherever you feel like you are, in God's eyes you are in the same place as everyone else.

A sinner who needs His forgiveness and love.

And He wants to give it to you! More than anything God the Father wants you to call to Him and tell him “I can't do it on my own Lord! I don't want to do it on my own! Help me!”

And He will!

I believe David says it best in Psalm 30:1-5

“I will extol you, O LORD, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me.

O LORD my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O LORD, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit.

Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name.

For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime.

Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”

So cry! Cry to the Lord, don't let the lie that crying for help is only for those who are weak and insecure.

Rather it is for those who are secure in the truth that they are weak on their own, but have a heavenly Father who is mighty to save who will hear His children's cries for help and come to their aid.

God loves you

The following is written by a good friend of mine, Barrett, who recently sent this to me. I almost cried when I heard it.

"God Loves You" - 11-4-2010

“He who has ears to hear, let him hear”

These are the words of our savior Jesus Christ, I would like to borrow them briefly and ask those who indeed have ears to hear to listen, hear what the Lord has told me and would like to once again remind His children.

It is something you have heard many times before, perhaps thousands. God willing you will hear it thousands more before the Lord calls you home. It is a simple phrase that at times completely stops a person in their tracks and breaks their heart of stone; yet at other times can be passed right on by.

Hear this please and take heart

“He Loves you! God the Father, the creator of the universe LOVES you”!

I told you, this is something you have already heard. But please do not disregard what is written above. Read it again! Think about it again, ask the Father to impress this on your heart and help you to better understand what this means for you.

Jeremiah 29:11-14

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for wholeness and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.”

This was written hundreds of years before Christ- It was true the day it was written, it was true yesterday, it is true today, and will be true for all eternity.

Matthew 7:7-11

“Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will you Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”

Ask the Lord! He is faithful!

What is it in your life right now you don't understand? You don't even really have to ask, there are multiple things that rush to your mind. You don't understand why you are in so much pain, physical or in heart. You don't understand why you lost your job. You don't understand why you just can't focus.

The list goes on and on.... The fact of the matter is that there is much we do not understand, but our heavenly Father understands ALL. And as the verse says He will “give good things to those who ask him”.

“Ok”, you may say “I asked God, he spoke and gave me direction and peace in my heart. But that was yesterday and today everything seems to be going crazy again! Now what? How can I carry on? How do I know the Lord is still there? Is He really there every day, every moment? Or just when things go crazy and seem to be getting out of control?”

This is the Lord's reply:

Deuteronomy 31:6

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave or forsake you.”

Psalm 94:14

“For the Lord will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage;”

“But I messed up! The Lord gave me direction and I didn't follow through, how can He still want to be there with me? How can He still love me?”

“Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, of daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away the judgements against you; he has cleared away your enemies. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall never again fear evil. On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: “Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” Zephaniah 3:14-17

Sing! Rejoice! Dance before the Lord! The Lord has taken away the judgements against you!

God the Father rejoices over us!

Again Jesus reminds us in Luke 15 -

vs. 20b “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. But the father said to his servant 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate. For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.”

Can you hear the celebration? Can you feel the Father's arms reaching out to meet you? Its all real!

God delights in His children and rejoices over us! And in this we can rest assured, He has us secure for ever and ever!

Romans 8:35-39

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, 'For your sake we are being killed all the day long, we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.'

No, in all these things we are more than conquerers through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

AMEN!!! NOTHING WILL SEPARATE US!!! God's words says it!!! NOTHING!!!

Rejoice brothers and sisters! God the Father LOVES YOU!!

Romans 12

A Living Sacrifice
12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, [1] by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. [2] 2 Do not be conformed to this world, [3] but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. [4]

Gifts of Grace
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members, [5] and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, [6] with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

Marks of the True Christian
9 Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. 10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. 11 Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, [7] serve the Lord. 12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. 13 Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. 16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. [8] Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it [9] to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

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