Predictors versus Indicators

The past is not a very good predictor of the future. I see many Bible teachers using the what has happened to try and say what will happen. Historians also. They are rarely right.

One thing many Bible teachers do get right, from my viewpoint at least, is that things do happen for a reason. Nothing is random. Events get pushed along by some force, or forces really, because there are always several reasons that something has happened.

We can see 'indicators' and then we make choices based on those things. The wise know how to spot indicators that are not obvious to the untrained eye. "for we walk by faith, not by sight." - 2 Corinthians 5:7 ESV

Character is a good indicator. Our 'Faith' is based on God's demonstrated character. That applies to people also and loosely to groups but because leadership changes hands and circumstances change even that is not the best 'predictor'.

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire." - 2 Peter 1:3-4 ESV

God tells us certain things about what he will do and how He thinks and that information is 'precious' because it gives us hope in a very uncertain world.

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Seven Attributes Of Jesus Revealed To Seven Churches

In order to have eternal perspective in any given situation you and I need to know something specific about God. We need to know who He Is and how He functions...

"Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; I know thy works..." - Revelation 2:1-2a KJV

"And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; I know thy works..." - Revelation 2:8-9a KJV

"And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; I know thy works..." - Revelation 2:12-13a KJV

"And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet [are] like fine brass; I know thy works.." - Revelation 2:18-19a KJV

"And unto the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things saith he that hath the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know thy works..." - Revelation 3:1 KJV

"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works..." - Revelation 3:7-8 KJV

"And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works..." - Revelation 3:14-15 KJV

Seven is a number representing completion is the Bible. That concept comes from the Hebrew. It is why we have seven days in a week. Seven days give us a complete cycle. God is addressing seven Churches in these chapters for a reason. These seven statements are things that the 'angel' (leader/representative) needed to know about Jesus. Putting them all together gives us a complete view of what we need to know to handle every problem we face.

Every statement is followed by 'I know thy works'. Jesus is telling us and them who He Is and that He sees what they are doing. That order is important because we need to think that way also. We are wise if we look at Jesus to see who His Is first then put what we are doing second and in the context of who He Is.

I'm going to read these seven statements again and again today because they are special. You can't see this in nature, anthropology or through self examination. This is who Jesus Is and only He can tell us that and He does so we can be equipped. It will change what we do and when we do it if we know what God says here about Himself.

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Who Can We Trust?

I have have been meditating lately on trust... what to trust... who to trust... why should i trust in a person or thing... what are the parameters of that trust... i may trust a person to do something they are able and willing to do but not for something else...

"To the choirmaster: according to Muth-labben. A Psalm of David. I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High... But the LORD sits enthroned forever; he has established his throne for justice, and he judges the world with righteousness; he judges the peoples with uprightness. The LORD is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you. Sing praises to the LORD, who sits enthroned in Zion! Tell among the peoples his deeds!" - Psalm 9:1-2, 7-11 ESV

I trust God because of His 'name' there is no other name like His. A 'name' in this context is beyond reputation. It is His nature as it has been revealed. It is His character. He Is a king. He is the King. He is not a 'forsaker'. He doesn't give up on people. If He gives His word He keeps His word. Those are qualities that promote trust.

Many folks have a short list of people they really trust. It becomes understandable if you get to know them and what has transpired in their life.

I long to be trustworthy and accountable because of the One i speak about and i want to invest trust in others correctly. People are fallen. All people are fallen. Still trust can be invested. God has trusted me by giving me life, time and influence. These things are gifts and how i use them will affect other people one way or the other.

Who do i trust? What do i trust? I want to trust in a way that glorifies the God of all grace and never lean to heavily on anything but Him.

Bridges are made to be crossed and projects are undertaken to build people and those things involve trust. God help us. Open our eyes so we can live innocent lives free from cynicism. Give us wisdom and we will be wise. Thank You God.

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Time In A Promise Book

Up at 3am. Got out of bed at 3:30am. Prayer and promises... a good way to start the day...

I like how David Wilkerson organized 'The Jesus Person Pocket Promise Book'. He breaks the book into three sections.
- God's Promises for your Spiritual Needs
- God's Promises for your Personal Needs
- God's Promises for your Future Needs

Then he has Key verses with supporting passages for a list of topics in each section. It is very well done.

I think I am going to incorporate a study of God's names in the Hebrew and Greek into my promise book study. God's character is intertwined with his commitment. One hinges on the other. His commitments show something about His character and His attributes (names) prove that He is capable of keeping His commitments.

"Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God." - Psalm 20:7 KJV

"Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth." - Psalm 124:8 KJV

I also like the idea of knowing the context of the promise. Who is speaking? Who is the speaker addressing? I don't what to quote Job's friends and say that God is speaking when God says Job's friends have wrong ideas. (see Job 42:7)

On the other hand, we can quote passages that are in the scriptures and say, 'God dealt with this person in a certain way...' and then make the claim that God may very well deal with us in the same way as long as it is in the context of grace.

God clearly deals with corporate entities (Isreal, the Church, foreign nations, etc..) differently than He does with a person. I think it is a mistake sometimes to quote a passage directed at Israel or the Church and claim that it is a personal promise or provision. The Church is not Israel and we are not structures with a mission statement. We are sons and daughters and God has mercy for us that He does not have for groups per se. A King deals differently with His child than He does with a foreign nation and with good reason.

Grace isn't for good people or nations. It is for God's people. It is for heirs. The Gospel is a grace initiation to an individual. Salvation then puts people in a place to receive grace. God's holiness and justice are going to be seen clearly by all. If salvation hasn't placed us as individuals into God's kingdom then mercy is going to be far removed from a person's experience. God has promises about that also.

"He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness, for not by might shall a man prevail." - 1 Samuel 2:9 ESV

'Ouch.' But also 'Praise God'. He is just. He is gracious. He is precise. He communicates is a way we can understand if we incline our ear to hear.

Thank You God for Your wonderful book. Thank You for your lasting commitments. You are the Alpha and Omega. You will be around to see every promise fulfilled. You have the power. You are The faithful and True One. We worship You for who You are and Thank You for all that You have done and will do.

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The Kingdom Of Heaven Is Like...

I need to know what God's Kingdom is like. The Bible tells me.

"He put another parable before them, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also...

...The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field...

...The kingdom of heaven is like leaven that a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, till it was all leavened.'...

...The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field...

Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls...

...The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and gathered fish of every kind...

And he said to them, 'Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.'... " - Matthew 13:24-26, 31, 33, 44-45, 47, 52 ESV

"...the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants. When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents..." - Matthew 18:23-24 ESV

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a master of a house who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard..." - Matthew 20:1 ESV

"The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son..." - Matthew 22:2 ESV

"Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise..." - Matthew 25:1-2 ESV

"He said therefore, 'What is the kingdom of God like? And to what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches..." - Luke 13:18-19 ESV

His kingdom is gracious and generous. If you read each one you see something special. He has a net because He wants to redeem valuable things. He has a Son and He wants to throw a party for His Son. He wants people there for the celebration.

The Bible tells us a hundred things we could never know otherwise... a thousand. Reading it shows us the outside and the inside. It shows us Heaven and gives us glimpses of Hell.

"If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.' Philip said to him, 'Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.' Jesus said to him, 'Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, 'Show us the Father'? " - John 14:7-9 ESV

We must know the Son to see what the kingdom is like from the inside.

As I read these passages this morning (I only gave the first line or two of each) I want the words to sink deep into my soul. I want the comparison to give me contrast as I make decisions.

What is God's kingdom like? Who am I seeking? I want my representation to be gracious so that the people who see me will see a contrast and not just more of the same.

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