There are many prophets in the Bible, both OT and NT. The purpose of the prophets varied somewhat, but in all cases involved these people being spokespeople for God, carrying His wishes to the people. Often it was with the goal of getting the people, God's people, to repent, to straighten out their lives, to get back to following Him.
Elijah is referenced enough in the NT to know that he is regarded as one of the greatest. We read about both of these men, Elijah first, beginning in 1Kings 17 and running into 2Kings 13. Interestingly, neither of these men wrote books or letters or anything that we can read. And they are not recorded as saying great things to us. Their work was to the people of their time; sometimes to kings, sometimes to the smallest of figures.
There is the story of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel, both evil, obtaining the next door property of Naboth. They had him killed, then took his vineyard land. "Then the word of the Lord came to Elijah the Tishbite, saying, 'Arise, go down to meet Ahab king of Israel, who lives in Samaria.....You shall speak to him, saying, "Thus says the Lord, Have you murdered and also taken possession?" ' " (1Kings 21). This was a tough job for Elijah to do, going to the king and condemning him. Elijah takes on lots of tough assignments including performing many powerful miracles at the hand of the Lord.
In 2Kings 2, Elijah passes the torch to Elisha. Just before Elijah's life ends in a most amazing way, Elijah asks Elisha what he can do for him. "Elisha said, 'Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me." This is what happened. Elisha begins his ministry and works many powerful miracles in the name of the Lord. These men were men of great faith and duty. They set out to do exactly what God wanted them to do....and what was needed by the people.
We aren't Elijah or Elisha. But we can follow their example and be the people that we need to be. Thanks for reading again. You are great.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Pivotal Chapter
The Bible begins in dramatic fashion with the creation. "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." It then follows a thread of history leading up to the New Testament, to Jesus Himself, and to all the happenings to Jesus through His ministry and His death and resurrection. In all of this building, there is a flow that is pointing toward the coming of a king, a great kingdom, a messiah, a new beginning.
All of this building, this progression, is leading to the pivotal chapter in all of the Bible. This chapter is Acts 2. It is here that all that the Old Testament was leading up to, all that Jesus prepared for, the beginnings of the kingdom are reflected on earth. Jesus had left His apostles as recorded in the first chapter of Acts and gone into heaven to reign from the throne. He left the apostles to carry on the work; and He sent the Holy Spirit back to help these men in their work, to give them power to work miracles and prove that they were for real, carrying a real message for a real Messiah.
The reader is encouraged to read all of Acts 2; it is very powerful. It begins, "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire...." It is this major event and the occurrences to follow that would begin the existence of "Christians" and the "church."
After this pivotal chapter, the rest of Acts tells of the conversion of many people and the development of the church....in Israel and on beyond into all of the known world. After the book of Acts, the NT tells Christians how to live, how to serve, how to avoid the evil of Satan. It all revolves around the key chapter in all of the Bible.....Acts chapter 2.
Thanks for reading. Have a great week!
All of this building, this progression, is leading to the pivotal chapter in all of the Bible. This chapter is Acts 2. It is here that all that the Old Testament was leading up to, all that Jesus prepared for, the beginnings of the kingdom are reflected on earth. Jesus had left His apostles as recorded in the first chapter of Acts and gone into heaven to reign from the throne. He left the apostles to carry on the work; and He sent the Holy Spirit back to help these men in their work, to give them power to work miracles and prove that they were for real, carrying a real message for a real Messiah.
The reader is encouraged to read all of Acts 2; it is very powerful. It begins, "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire...." It is this major event and the occurrences to follow that would begin the existence of "Christians" and the "church."
After this pivotal chapter, the rest of Acts tells of the conversion of many people and the development of the church....in Israel and on beyond into all of the known world. After the book of Acts, the NT tells Christians how to live, how to serve, how to avoid the evil of Satan. It all revolves around the key chapter in all of the Bible.....Acts chapter 2.
Thanks for reading. Have a great week!
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Death and the White Stone
Death is a subject that we don't want to think about. And I don't want to go into all aspects of this. But as we read of the death of the Christian, we see that it is nothing to be feared.....at all. Oh, none of us wants to go through the death process; dying has to be no fun; it surely wasn't for Jesus, and it may not be for us.
But the important point here is that if we are a follower of Jesus, if we do His will, if we put His will above ours, He has paved the way for us. John 14 says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you." That is truly comforting as we think of ourselves...and as we think of our loved ones who have gone on before us.
We learn about this passing process in many places, but consider 1 Corinthians 15:51, "Listen, I tell you a mystery; We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed......Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?...But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
He continues, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." Now, how is that for good advice. A powerful lesson for us all.
I want a white stone. Note Revelation 2:17, "..To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it." I look forward to my white stone; and I want that for you. Love the Lord; He has prepared the way for you....and for me.
Thanks for reading. Feel the love.
But the important point here is that if we are a follower of Jesus, if we do His will, if we put His will above ours, He has paved the way for us. John 14 says, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you." That is truly comforting as we think of ourselves...and as we think of our loved ones who have gone on before us.
We learn about this passing process in many places, but consider 1 Corinthians 15:51, "Listen, I tell you a mystery; We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed......Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?...But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
He continues, "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." Now, how is that for good advice. A powerful lesson for us all.
I want a white stone. Note Revelation 2:17, "..To him who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give him a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to him who receives it." I look forward to my white stone; and I want that for you. Love the Lord; He has prepared the way for you....and for me.
Thanks for reading. Feel the love.
Tuesday, June 10, 2014
The Warning with Hope
The Old Testament gives us so much information leading up to the coming of Christ. It gives us a history of man from the first people, Adam and Eve, and continues through to the final words of the prophet Malachi. Throughout the OT we read of God giving warnings and direction and hope to His people.
Malachi is the last of the prophets in the OT through whom God gave His instruction. It is interesting to read the very final words of Malachi. "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."
God is saying, through the mouth of the prophet, that He expects people to do right; and He is telling them that He will send Elijah the prophet to them. This is figurative language because Elijah has already come and done his work. He means here that one like Elijah is going to be sent. We might think this is Jesus to come. Actually He is speaking of John the baptist. We know this by going to Matthew 17:12 and listening to the words of Jesus.
" 'But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.' Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist."
God has sent many prophets and even His Son to be sure that we get the message. He made sure that all of the teaching from these men, especially that of Jesus and the apostles, was preserved through the writing of the Bible. We have the Word in its entirety. Now we must heed the warning to follow it. But it also gives hope. It offers us life. Let's make sure that we heed and take hold of the life that God has prepared for us.
Thanks for reading. You are important.
Malachi is the last of the prophets in the OT through whom God gave His instruction. It is interesting to read the very final words of Malachi. "Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."
God is saying, through the mouth of the prophet, that He expects people to do right; and He is telling them that He will send Elijah the prophet to them. This is figurative language because Elijah has already come and done his work. He means here that one like Elijah is going to be sent. We might think this is Jesus to come. Actually He is speaking of John the baptist. We know this by going to Matthew 17:12 and listening to the words of Jesus.
" 'But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.' Then the disciples understood that He spoke to them of John the Baptist."
God has sent many prophets and even His Son to be sure that we get the message. He made sure that all of the teaching from these men, especially that of Jesus and the apostles, was preserved through the writing of the Bible. We have the Word in its entirety. Now we must heed the warning to follow it. But it also gives hope. It offers us life. Let's make sure that we heed and take hold of the life that God has prepared for us.
Thanks for reading. You are important.
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