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Album Art Credit: Steve Webb

This episode is brought to you in part by Executive Producer, John Anonymous.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch.19-20 NLV, Ch. 21-22 CEB

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Thoughts

When we last saw Elijah, God had answered his prayers to rain down fire on the sacrifice in order to show that Baal was a false god. God did that and more, remember?

And here we see Elijah cowering at a threat from Jezebel. Seem strange? Maybe just a bit.

At least we know that Elijah was aware that this great thing that God did in consuming the sacrifice and the water and the dirt was a God thing and not an Elijah thing. He stayed humble and aware of his own humanity. That’s a good thing.

And he didn’t presume on God’s favor, which I happen to think is a good thing, too. We sometimes have the idea that since we are “kids of the King” that we don’t have to be concerned about things…that God will just magically take care of us. We forget what Jesus said to satan when He was in the desert and satan was tempting Him. 

Satan told Jesus to jump from a high spot because God’s angels would surely keep Him from harm. But Jesus told satan that we must not put the Lord to the test.

So Elijah took Jezebel’s threat to heart. 

Remember that earlier, God told Elijah to hide when his life was in danger? So Elijah just naturally assumed that this would be a good thing to do here, as well.

And while Elijah was in the desert, we see that he was greatly discouraged. He even said to God, “Just let me die here.” 

Isn’t that strange, too? You would think that after witnessing God’s great display before the false prophets of Baal, and the celebration of the people of Israel, Elijah would be on cloud nine. But we see a man who is worn out. The running, the hiding, the threats have all weighed on him. And we now know that after a great emotional high, it is natural to fall into a funk shortly thereafter. So there might have been a bit of that in play here, as well.

Regardless, God wasn’t through with Elijah, and he sent an angel to care for him there in the desert. He sent food and water. And after eating two meals, with a time of sleep in between, the food sustains Elijah for forty days as he traveled to Mt. Horeb, the mountain of God.

This was the same mountain where God appeared to Moses and gave Moses the tablets. This is where God first spoke to Moses from the burning bush, and where he actually revealed a bit of himself to Moses.

And God spoke to Elijah here. He wasn’t in the terrible wind. He wasn’t in the earthquake. He wasn’t in the fire. But he was in the sound of gentle blowing…a still, small voice.

When is it that you’re able to hear a gentle, quiet, still, small voice? When you are listening. When *you* are still. 

Do you want to hear the voice of God? Do you really? Are you ready for it? Do you desire it more than anything? Then stop. Be still. Listen. Wait.

If you are really thirsting to hear Him, I believe He will speak to you, as He spoke to Elijah,

Executive Producer

Album Art Credit: Steve Webb

This episode is brought to you in part by Executive Producer, John Anonymous.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 7 NIV, Ch. 8-9 NLV

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Thoughts

In chapter seven, we read the regulations for the guilt offering, the fellowship offering and the priest's share. In these regulations, there is the requirement that the fat be burnt as a sacrifice, and must not be eaten.

In our supposedly enlightened time, where we are told that fat is not healthy to eat, many of us would say, "Of course we wouldn't eat the fat." Well, there is actually a case to be made that some fat is actually good to eat, but I am not going to get into that discussion here. You can do your own research on that.

But let's look at a few scriptures where fat is referenced.

Prov 28:25 He that is of a proud heart stirreth up strife: but he that putteth his trust in the Lord shall be made fat. KJV

Isa 30:23 Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. KJV

So you can see in these verses that "fat" is good. It means prosperous or plentiful.

Here's another:

When Pharaoh invites Joseph to bring his family down to Egypt from Canaan, he tells Joseph to tell his brothers, “Bring your father and your households and come to me; I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you will eat the fat of the land” (Gen. 45:18). The best part of the land is referred to as the fat of the land. 

So when God made the regulations for the offerings, He was requiring the very best part of the animal.

We are to honor God with the best that we have to give.

Executive Producer

Album Art Credit: Steve Webb

This episode is brought to you in part by Executive Producer, John Anonymous.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 1-2 HCSB

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Thoughts

Today I’d like to focus briefly on chapter 2, verse 12 and 13, where Paul wrote: So then, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, not only in my presence, but now even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13For it is God who is working in you, enabling you both to desire and to work out His good purpose.

Some misinterpret Paul’s meaning when he said “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling”. This does not mean that we earn our salvation by works, which would contradict his teaching in Ephesians 2:8-9 which said, “For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift — not from works, so that no one can boast.”

So what did Paul mean here in Philippians? It helps to look at how it reads in the original Greek. I don’t have time for a detailed explanation of the language, but Paul was saying, “Even though I’m not there to teach you, don’t stop living your lives in such as way as to please God. Keep doing the things that you have learned are right. You are new creations in Christ. Show the evidence of that in how you live and in how you treat each other. Don’t become lazy in doing this, because God Himself is doing a work in you, giving you the desire and ability to become the person He wants you to be.”

Guys, even though we live in a pretty messed up world, we are called to hang in there and bring the light of Jesus to the darkness that seems to pervade this place. The awesome thing about dark and light is that no amount of darkness can extinguish light. But the smallest amount of light always chases away darkness. You might feel as if your influence is small, but believe me, the light that is in you cannot be squelched if you’ll allow the Holy Spirit to do the work he has started in you. What God begins, He will finish.

Executive Producer

This episode is brought to you in part by Executive Producer, John Anonymous.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch.13, NCV, Ch. 14 CEB

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Thoughts

Luke 13:1-5For context: Jesus was speaking to a large crowd. He was on the way to Jerusalem to be crucified. He knew that His time was short.

Someone in the crowd asks Jesus about an event that we don't know much about. Some Galileans were killed by Pilates men while they were offering sacrifices. It seems that to Jesus, the condition of his hearers souls was of more importance than those Galileans. It might be a similar situation to when the child of King David and Bathsheba was sick. David cried and prayed that the child would recover, but to no avail. The child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him, concerned what David would do when he heard the news, since he was so distraught while the child was sick. But when they told him, he cleaned himself up and went back to his normal routines. When asked about his behavior, he said, "While the child was sick, there was a chance that he would recover. But now he has died. I can't bring him back. I know that I will go where he is, but he can't come back."

So instead of Jesus spending a lot of time discussing what happened to the Galileans, He turns their attention to themselves. He said, "Those Galileans didn't die because they were worse sinners than all the other Galileans. But unless you change your hearts and lives, you will die just like they did."

I think that there is every possibility that Jesus was thinking about the destruction of Jerusalem that would happen in 70 A.D. as a result of their rejecting Him.

Executive Producer

This episode is brought to you in part by Executive Producer, John Anonymous.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 7-12 CEB

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Thoughts

Obviously, the message that God gave to Ezekiel would have been difficult to deliver and difficult to hear. 

After our recent readings of the building of the tabernacle and of the temple, and God's very specific instructions on the various sacrifices and other activities that were to take place in these places, it is sobering to hear how far the people had fallen. It's actually a testament to God's grace to see for how long He waited to take action against them, don't you think?

But on the other hand, the people, in their sinful and fallen state, took God's inaction not as patience and grace, but as indifference and absence. 

Ultimately, as we heard in chapter 11, God's presence was withdrawn from the temple because of Israel's worship of other Gods, and the behavior that came with it. How tragic.

Let this be a lesson to us, beloved. Just because we seem to be getting away with sin, we must not be fooled. Don't assume that God doesn't care. I'm sure you have heard the old saying, "Give him enough rope to hang himself." Well, let Israel's fate constantly remind us that there is no getting away from God's attention. Beloved, when I get into Heaven and stand before God, I don't want to know that I got there by the skin of my teeth. I want to hear him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

Oh God, hold us close. Help us to keep our heart tender to you. Help us to respond when your Holy Spirit speaks to us. Help us to quickly feel the pangs of guilt and remorse when we fail you, when we sin. Help us to quickly repent and seek your forgiveness. Let us not become comfortable with any distance between you and us. We want to feel your near presence, Father. Jesus, remind us daily of the price you paid for our salvation. Holy Spirit, help us to hear when you speak to us and guide us.

I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.

Executive Producer

Album Art Credit: Steve Webb

This episode is brought to you in part by Executive Producer, John Anonymous.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 5-6 NASB

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Thoughts

Solomon’s teaching on adultery in chapter 5 is especially timely in today’s world of easy to access pornography. Remember, Jesus said that if you even look at a woman with lust in your heart, you have committed adultery with her. So don’t think that you’re ok in this department just because you haven’t had an actual, physical adulterous affair. And ladies, this applies to you as well.

Let’s be honest here, folks. Pornography is everywhere today. Seems like every time you turn around your eyes are confronted with sexual images. I'll get to that in just a moment.

Concerning hardcore porn, with the covid lockdowns, it has been estimated that online porn sites are seeing double the traffic they had before the lockdowns. Before covid, porn use was already an epidemic, but now it is truly its own pandemic.

But hear me out. You do not have to be looking at hard core images of people doing the deed if the images you see cause you to lust. For you, it's porn.

We’re being honest here, right? Men are aroused through the eyes. Advertisers know that, and they use it. Well, in my house it does not work, because I have made a covenant with myself, with my wife and with God, that when I am confronted with this sort of thing, I will not look at it. I avert my eyes.

Now, back to the hard core stuff. We all know how easy it is to use the internet. To find pornography takes just a few keystrokes. And sadly, Christians are not immune to the lure. A few years ago I found a study done by Proven Men Ministries in conjunction with the Barna group that revealed the fact that in some data sets, Christian men view porn more than non-Christian men. And Christian women are viewing porn, too. Beloved, we are not immune.

Perhaps this recent finding will help you to say no. One of the world's most used porn website is being investigated for allowing child porn on their platform. How despicable. Also, many of the people in these videos are not willing participants. They are actually victims of modern day slavery. Yes, actual slavery. These children and young people are victims, beloved. And the damage being done to them emotionally and spiritually is real. This damage is, in many cases, permanent. Their lives are destroyed, and for what?

Make no mistake. Pornography is evil. It is not a victimless crime. There are very real consequences.

Beloved, listen to Proverbs. There are consequences to your behavior. You may think it’s a harmless diversion. You may think that it’s secret. But there are very real victims, and it won’t remain a secret. Porn has a way of permeating your life, and if you don’t quit it, there are victims even closer to you are yourself, your spouse, your children, your friends.

Scientists have found that pornography actually changes the brain. And not in a good way.

Executive Producer

Album Art Credit: Steve Webb

This episode is brought to you in part by Executive Producer, John Anonymous.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 72 NCV, Ch. 73-74 NIV

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Thoughts

Chapter 72As I write this the date is December 7, 2020. What was supposed to be "Election Day", November 3, 2020, has turned into Election Season. Joe Biden is being called the President-elect, even though the Electoral College has not yet voted, and several states are still not decided. President Trump has several legal teams building cases that there were voting irregularities in these states. I have no idea who will prevail. I know who I think will be better for the country, and the world. But I do not know who the ultimate winner of the highest office of the land will be.

But I do know one thing for certain. God knows, and not only does He know, He has control over who the winner will be. Romans 13:1 says, "Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God."

Why do I bring this up now? Because even though Psalms 72 is a prayer for king Solomon, I think that much of it is appropriate for any leader.

God is asked to give the king good judgement, goodness, fairness, peace in the land, good crops for the people, and on and on.

Whoever wins in 2020, we should be praying this prayer for him.

Chapter 73In Psalms 73 today, we see a man who at first seems to be complaining that doing right and living a good life isn't worth the effort. He suffered, while the unrighteous seemed to have it easy. But then, when he entered the sanctuary, he realized that their ultimate destiny was ruin. Have you ever thought that it just doesn't seem fair? You look around and see people that you know do not live for God, and they have money, power, influence, fame and all the rest, while you struggle to make ends meet. Maybe you have physical challenges, or people look at you like you're stupid to believe in a God you cannot see.

My friend, hang in there. We are here on this earth for only a moment in time. Eternity is a long, long, long time. I will gladly sacrifice the supposed comforts of wealth now, to live in fellowship and the presence of the Lord forever. I have no doubt that it will be worth it. Run the race all the way to the finish line!

Chapter 74The year is 2020. A couple days ago, I heard someone say, "This year has been a very long decade."

Isn't that the truth?

Covid. Lockdowns. Masks. Riots. An economy that is reeling. Mom and Pop businesses going bankrupt because of the lockdowns while a few giant companies have record-breaking profits. Skyrocketing unemployment, also caused by lockdowns. A seemingly eternal presidential election. I could go on,

The opening sentence of Psalms 74 captures what many today might be thinking: O God, why have you rejected us forever?

The world is indeed a troubled place right now. Most of the world has rejected God, and has been living in rebellion to Him for decades, and even centuries. Even the United States of America, which had its founding primarily for the practice of freedom of religion, threw God out of the schools in 1963,

Executive Producer

Album Art Credit: Steve Webb

This episode is brought to you in part by Executive Producer, John Anonymous.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 14-15 NASB, Ch. 16-18 WEB

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Thoughts

Elijah, as we will come to see, is a significant figure in the Old Testament, and his appearance here in 1 Kings 17 is the first mention of him. We are not given any background, no genealogy, nothing other than the fact that he was a Tishbite, who was one of the settlers of Gilead as it says here in the WEB version, or the NIV says he is from Tishbe .

In our chapter here, Elijah goes with a message from the Lord to Ahab, the king of Israel. The message is that because Ahab has not worshipped God, but idols, there will be no dew or rain in Israel.

And then God told Elijah to hide by the brook Cherith by the Jordan river, where he was fed by ravens and drank from the brook. And then the brook dried up after some time because of the drought.

So God sent him to Zarephath, where He would move on a poor widow woman to give him food and shelter.

And this is what I want to talk about for just a minute or two.

This woman and her son were at the very end of their rope. When Elijah first saw her, she was out looking for a couple of sticks that she could cook her and her son’s last meal. There was only a little flour and oil left, and after this, they were going to starve to death. The drought had been hard on the land, and she evidently had no more options left to provide for herself and her son.

But God chose her to provide for Elijah until such time as He would end the drought.

And isn’t that just like God? He often chooses people who do not, by all appearances, have the ability to do the work God calls them to do. He used an old couple who were well into the 90s to be the parents of a great nation, he called a man with a speech impediment to lead that nation out of slavery, He called a shepherd boy to be their king, He called uneducated fishermen, a tax collector and a few other men to care for and grow the infant church. 

And he chose a windshield repair guy in Riverside, California to start the world’s first Christian podcast.

When He calls you to do something for Him, He supplies what is needed to accomplish the work. 

When He called this poor widow to feed Elijah, the food never ran out. And to prove that it was God who supplied their need, when her son died from an illness, God restored life to the boy when Elijah prayed for him.

Do you think you have nothing that God can use for His kingdom? Good! That’s exactly the building blocks that He needs!

Executive Producer

Album Art Credit: Steve Webb

This episode is brought to you in part by Executive Producer, John Anonymous.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 4 LEB, Ch. 5 NKJV, Ch. 6 NIV

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Thoughts

In chapter 4, did you notice that the sins for which the sin offerings could be made were unintentional or without knowledge? That's right. If you sinned by accident, you could receive forgiveness through the sin offering. But if you sinned in rebellion against God, the Law of Moses offered no forgiveness. The penalty was death. Only unintentional disobedience or sins committed out of impulse.

In chapter 5, the trespass (or guilt) offering is covered. This offering differs from the sin offering in that restitution is required plus a 20 percent penalty in the trespass offering, and confession is required.

In chapter 6:1, notice the text says , “If anyone sins and is unfaithful to the Lord..." and then goes on to describe things done against or to a neighbor. So when we sin against one another, we are sinning against the Lord. 

And did you notice also in chapter 6, verse 9, the Lord told Moses that for the burnt offering, the fire was never to be allowed to go out? Do you know why? It's because the fire that was burning on the altar was ignited from heaven. In chapter 8, which we will read next week, we read, " Fire came out from the presence of the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar." So by their sacrifices being consumed by this fire, it was a sign of God's acceptance. 

And just as the priests were to attend to that fire that was ignited by God Himself, we should attend to the fire ignited by the Holy Spirit in us. Our devotion to God, our commitment to prayer and praise, to doing those things that please Him, will wane if we neglect our relationship with Him. This is one of the reasons that Paul wrote in Hebrews 10:24,25, "And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

How is your fire looking, beloved?

Executive Producer

Album Art Credit: Steve Webb

This episode is brought to you in part by Executive Producer, John Anonymous.

Today's Bible Translation

Bible translation used in today's episode: Ch. 4 NKJV, Ch. 5-6 HCSB

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Please remember that this is a listener supported show. Your support of any amount is needed and very much appreciated. Find out how by clicking here.

Thoughts

In chapter six, Paul mentioned that we are in a battle against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. Sometimes it looks as if we are battling people, but the fight is deeper than that. We are in a spiritual battle.

So how do we fight things in the spiritual realm? I’m glad you asked, because Paul told us what our weapons are. He talked about the full armor of God. The pieces are truth, righteousness, readiness, faith, salvation, the Word of God and prayer.

When we are equipped with these things, we cannot be defeated by the enemy. That’s not to say that the battle will be easy. It will not. But we cannot avoid the battle. The enemy brings the battle to us. His attacks are vicious, because the stakes are high. He would like nothing more than us to surrender…to lay down our weapons, because doing so will render us useless to God and to those to whom God would have us go to make disciples and bring along in the faith. Remember what our mission is, brothers and sisters. Just before Jesus ascended into Heaven, He gave that mission to us. He said, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.” And He gave us this promise, “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

So beloved, take on the full armor of God.