The Seven Streams Method

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John 9:1-10:21 We are in the Christ Stream reading from the Modern English Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams | Donate

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord Jesus, we pray as the disciples did, "increase our faith."  We want to know you more, trust you more, understand you more, be with you more.  Amen.

9 - This is one of Jesus' most famous healings. He restores a blind man's sight.  When the issue of "who sinned?" arises. Jesus uses language that basically implies we should stop assessing and categorizing people in our ministries and just meet needs.  Jesus heals this man and heeeeere goes - let the squabbles begin.  The Pharisees are beside themselves.  Jesus set it up this way.  He wants the man healed and He also wants the people to know for certain that the Scribes, Pharisees, teachers of the Law and Sanhedrin do not care about peoples' welfare. They only want to control people.  Their healings, their joy, their stories, their needs are of no concern to the leaders.  The testy discussion that ensues is legal madness.  They don't even know what it is that they want to know.  Notice that every question and statement that the leaders ask of the healed man, his parents, and of Jesus is a fruitless and absurd inquiry.  Think of it: they want people to come to Temple.  But once they get all their circular questions answered about the healed man, they throw him OUT of the Temple!  His healing is of no joy to them. The men are spiritually demented ... and yet they are in charge.  It's not right. Jesus  has more dialogue in this venue wherein spiritual blindness is discussed and proven.  "It's a wrap" on another perfect teaching moment that merely authenticates [through healing] that Jesus is in the world to take us to God in Heaven; The One who made heaven and earth and first said, "let there be light."  Then again, Jesus just said that He is the light.   The discussion about Jesus being light is still going on isn't it?!

10:1-21 - Jesus tells a gripping parable about sheep and shepherds.  It falls on open ears too since the people were very fond of their sheep, the wool, the mutton, the whole culture around these animals.  Everyone knew the impetus of the shepherd in their culture. And Jesus launches into a lesson about Himself based upon the population's understanding of shepherds and sheep.  He is the Good Shepherd. Jesus guides because He can see where we need to go.  (And this is right after he restored the sight of an infamous blind man!)  Shepherds take sheep to fresh water (He called Himself 'Living Water').  Shepherds bring sheep to new pasture; more food (He called Himself the Bread of Life).  He is the doorway...the doorway to God = the safety of being 'in the fold'.  He will not run like a hack or hired hand who doesn't care.  He will protect from "wolves" - the enemies of this world. He says He lays down His life for the sheep.  What   might   that   possibly   mean ?  Notice that this teaching again enlightens some and infuriates others; it splits the group.  The argument might end quickly by those who despise Jesus for they resent His deeds but then again, how can He heal eyes if He is evil?  The controllers in Jerusalem are so frustrated by Jesus.  However, those longing for life are so comforted by Him.  Which are we? The frustrated or the comforted?

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Zechariah 3-4 We are in the Exile Stream reading from the Modern English Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams | Donate

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord, we your Temple give your reverence. Be blessed by our praise. Amen.

3 - The Name Joshua as is revealed to Zechariah is "Jesus" -The Savior. The name Joshua from 1400 B.C.  was Yehoshua that became Yashua that became iesous (yeah-SOOS). Then it was anglicized to be "Jesus".   The text through the centuries was run through Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Latin, English [and it's transformations during the last 1,100 years].  I just say this {perhaps TMI] so that when you hear "Joshua" in Zech. 3, you don't picture the one with Moses in the Tabernacle/Tent/Sinai and all that.  This is a clear vision of the coming Savior; it is Jesus.  Zechariah is loaded with these beautiful visions. The 'filthy garments' are OUR SINS put upon Christ.  The rich robes and adornment are what the "sins" are traded in for once sacrificed.  This figure will then become the authority.  He is God's Servant; The Branch who will take away our sins in a day.  You know this is Calvary, right?! It's more than wonderful - 1400 hundred years of regular sacrifices and millions and millions of animals sacrificed was all temporal.  This one sacrifice was eternal; past, present, and future. Do you realize that this "Joshua" has already forgiven your errors? and your errors of all your tomorrows?!

4 - The symbolism is bewildering and exciting at the same time.  It is an awesome message to Zerubbabel who was back in Jerusalem rebuilding the Temple. "...Not by might nor power, but by my Spirit..." is the message that has encouraged untold amounts of Believers to continue in their Kingdom endeavors and to do so with the proper attitude! It's such beautiful literature.  The capstone, the foundation, the plumbline that ensures that the Temple is perpendicular - all this is Christ and Christ in operation. The candlestick is symbolic of God's House.  Herein is Light provided to the world.  The Lampstand was what was in the Tabernacle and then in the Temple. The olive trees (remember olive oil symbolizes healing - we read that in James 5 just last week), -olive trees and their beneficial oil mean to be Joshua and Zerubbabel according to some.  Others posit it is Moses and Elijah (the two that appeared during the Transformation on either side of Jesus.  Peter/James/John were there).  What it all means won't be settled today - just know that the vision is inspiring, encouraging, and of God.  Zerubbabel especially is to be encouraged as he is putting the Temple together again.   And 600 or so years later, the Temple becomes us.  Ponder all this fascination, folks.

Ezekiel 27-29 We are in the Prophetic Stream reading from the Modern English Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @serenatravis | Donate Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord, what an awful price people pay for mocking you, ignoring you, assuming your role is theirs.  I pray we are the opposite of these wrong-minded people. May we worship and serve you humbly all our days.  Amen. Ezekiel's visions of what is going to happen to Tyre continues: 27 - this chapter is the middle of the visions for Tyre.  Here Ezekiel gives an elaborate list of the superlatives that are Tyre.  The impressions of the picturesque city, the exquisite goods that ship through, the regal and ornate ships that move along the coasts and take wares to and from Tyre - it is all listed with aplomb;  as we just read.  But Tyre is about to come apart at the seams. Terror is going to sweep over this city, these people, this region.  Tyre has mocked and jeered at Jerusalem's calamity --> and because of this attitude, they are headed for ruin.  This is one of God's divine rules. Tyre is "on a timer" now.   They will be removed from the map permanently.  Visiting Tyre even today is a walk through an archaeological site. 28 - Tyre had a wealthy and confident king who was so self-assured and arrogant that he needs a stern word from God. Tyre's king is that appallingly arrogant. So God is sending a message.  Collateral readings and other historical documents reveal that Tyre's king basically rolled his eyes over these prophesies.  He thought he was "untouchable".  God declared otherwise.  Ezekiel also penned the lament for the king of Tyre.  How do you like that? A death prophecy complete with funeral arrangements, heavens!  And Sidon just to the north was going to see rough days in the near future. They were a headquarters of wretched man-made religion. (Jesus even called its residents "dogs" ca. 600 years later.)  It was not a place known for its virtue and pleasantries.  God was against them and He wanted them to know it.  Disease will wrack this place and blood will flow in the streets. Nebuchadnezzar smashed into both these cities at basically the same time.  And there would be a day when Israel, as a restored whole nation, would glory again -After the hostile neighbors are gone from the earth, of course. 29 - In the next four chapters; 29-32, there are six visions for Egypt.  We'll read the first vision in chapter 29, part of the second one, and complete the six visions for Egypt next week.  The first vision comes to Ezekiel in January 587 B.C. - 18 months before Jerusalem fell to Nebuchadnezzar.  Egypt is envisioned as a giant crocodile in this chapter, just as Tyre is descriptive of an ornate ship in ch. 27. The "Crocodile", being one of the gods of Egypt, shall 'go down' just as Egypt is going to go down. The crocodiles and fish of the Nile will be banished to the wilderness (e.g. things are going to be where they shouldn't be; Egyptians included!). This Nile River, that YOU claim you made, will not be where you draw your life and food from. You irrigate with the Nile, and eat fish from the Nile. Guess what, the vultures that will be eating your fish in the wilderness will eat you after that.  Yes, things will collapse in Egypt...soon!  Nebuchadnezzar will hold you captive as the Babylonians will rush in to kill and/or capture whomever they will.     And in 571 B.C. The Babylonians did storm Egypt. They had spent much of the 16 years in between sacking Jerusalem and marching to Egypt - 13 of it to be exact - laying siege to Tyre and coming up empty since the Tyrians incrementally left the region with their gems/wealth.  Thus the Babylonians entered Egypt weary of not gathering booty and desperate to pillage. And pillage Egypt they did! The Babylonians scooped up Egypt's wealth and enslaved them for just over 40 years. And as Ezekiel decreed, this was God's plan - to strip Egypt.

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Proverbs 21-23 We are in the Wisdom Stream reading from the Modern English Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams | Donate

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord Jesus, since we live for you we want our decisions and steps to match this wisdom that has been shared with us today.  May we be wise in your eyes, not in our own.  Amen. We continue in Proverbs while riding the current in the wisdom stream.  The Wisdom Stream has us in Proverbs all the "wisdom days" of October and November.  Can we call it 'the brilliance of a colorful autumn"? We should. 21 - The Lord knows each nation's king, each man's heart, He knows justice, He knows where the proud end up. The diligent have - the hasty lack. Here are some wrong ways to live or make a living: through lying, violence, perversity, nagging/brawling, craving evil.  You can learn from others' stupid mistakes.  Help the poor, be a giving soul, do what is just. Loving ease keeps you poor. It cannot be overstated --> the blessings upon the righteous, the gracious, the wise, those who follow honor. They shall be mighty and kept from foolishness and harm.   The appetite of the lazy and greedy will kill him. The righteous give while the wicked plot to take more. Liars die, but the words of those who listen become eternal. Be upright, plan and prepare for victory, but realize that it is God who gives it. 22 - A good reputation cannot be bought. A bad one cannot be bought off.  V. 4 -> "By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches, and honor and life." <- within all the 95 verses we read today, be sure and remember this one. * Remember the importance of guarding the soul, of training and disciplining children, of managing money properly, of giving, of helping the poor, of shunning scoffers, remaining pure, speaking graciously, and preserving knowledge. Do not cherish laziness, nor a loose woman's lies, do not guard a child's foolishness (drive it out), and do not oppress the poor.  Next in Proverbs are 30 wise sayings and themes in a row.  We'll do the first 19:      1] Listen to wisdom, to the Lord, to good counsel  2] Do not rob/oppress the poor.  This puts you on God's bad list  3] Avoid angry people  4] Avoid securities for other people (e.g. co-signing on a loan)  5] Do not move       property boundaries  6] diligent businessmen have audience with kings 23 - 7] control your appetite, whomever you are dining with  8] Do not trade your life/health for riches. You will end up with nothing.  9] Do not dine with evil people. It is a trap  10] Do not even talk to fools  11] Do not move       boundaries especially not to rob from orphans   12] Learn and keep learning  13] Discipline and correction will save a child's life  14] Have your children be wise also (Hezekiah should have, eh?) 15] Sinners and their ways       end. God never does. So yearn for God  16] Drunks, carousers, gluttons <--> get away from them  17] God made the family structure. Honor Him by honoring your family   18] Give your heart to Godly wisdom, not prostitutes       19] Alcohol will turn your life into a pathetic waste. And you will go back for more until you are gone.

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II Chronicles 30-34 We are in the Nation Stream reading from the Modern English Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams | Donate

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord, we saw the best and the worst of kings who reigned in Jerusalem.  I pray we have common sense from you to know and decipher the wrong from the right, and also the good from the best of your will for us.  Amen. [The parallel of what we read today is found in II Kings 19-22]

30 - In our reading last week Hezekiah had just gotten started in his rule.  He cleansed the Temple and restored proper worship.  He continues the reforms to clean up Judah. He regained independence from Assyria; stopping the payments to them. Hezekiah was on a bold endeavor sending couriers throughout the entirety of Israel and Judah so that all 12 tribes would be invited to come celebrate Passover.  Judah had not celebrated Passover in well over a decade. Most all of Israel had not participated in Passover for two centuries! Some laughed at the couriers that were sent on their aggressive mission for all Hebrews to come together, and yet people did come to Jerusalem for Passover; people who had not been before.  Not all was perfect for Passover, but Hezekiah encouraged people that God was pleased at the heart intent to worship God, so just come.  And a marvelous Passover it was! It went for two weeks.

31 - The fervor continued past the holiday and all went together to completely smash all the false idols in Benjamin, Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh.  The rejuvenation among the priests is evident as they organize the people and gather contributions as what is supposed to be happening.  The amount that is gathered is impressive, very impressive. Offerings of all types came into Jerusalem. The extra was tallied and stored responsibly and the needs of all were met. Hezekiah was successful and faithful in all that he set out to do.  God was pleased with the transformation in Jerusalem. The attitude in Judah brought about a whole new day. 32 - So there were treasure troves of newly accounted offerings in Jerusalem. Judah was not groveling to Assyria; paying them tribute (can we call these "bully fees"?!). And Sennacherib of Assyria must have gotten wind of this so he thinks he will go and do some harvesting of his own.  Hezekiah rallies Jerusalem and they put up a defense that indicates they aren't about to lay down for the Assyrians. Sennacherib sends a "give it up" letter to Hezekiah in Jerusalem written in Hebrew. This he hoped would get the Jews to all convene and discourage Hezekiah into surrendering to Sennacherib.  Perhaps Sennacherib gets points for trickery, but it merely drove the Jewish leaders to God for a solution.  That night the simplest-slaughter-ever takes place as 185,000 are visited by God's 'death angel' - and they do not wake up that next morning!  Sennacherib goes home to be murdered. Hezekiah's victory, the wealth amassed in Jerusalem, the successes all went to Hezekiah's head. He forgot to remain humble and grateful. In his last days, he spent a too much time making cities (for himself) and fraternizing with Babylonians.  He could have better mentored Manasseh; the heir to the throne 33 - Manasseh comes to rule and commences upon a 55-year reign of blooded paganism that is unmatched by anyone ever. He even outdid all the pagan neighbors  in their sadistic activity who were doing so perhaps because they knew no different. Manasseh was a Satanic puppet of a rodent in the worst regard - expressly because he chose to drag a nation into outer darkness even though he knew better. Nothing was beneath him. He was practically playing patty cake with the Devil.  ...And then the Assyrians hauled him away (with hooks) - you don't want to know the details here!  And then he repents.  And then he is returned to Judah to go on a building spree and do his best to make things right - undoing the ungodliness he fomented all during his younger years. He gives it a try anyway.  Then again how do you go back and gather all the feathers that were deliberately scattered during a windstorm? His son Amon follows him for a two-year reign. Amon is godless and there is no let up to the guilt he is determined to amass against himself. His servants kill him in the palace. Then all Amon's servants are killed. Let's face it, the atmosphere is that of a band of bums fighting over the rancid food in the bottom of a dumpster behind a greasy restaurant.  Jerusalem is a ghastly mess and has been for near 60 years. 34 - Enter: some relief as Josiah takes the throne.  He was a child-King at eight and ruled for 31 years.  At 16 he understood that he needed to seek the Lord. At 20 he began his reforms.  When he was 26 the Book of the Law is found and this gives further impetus to make the reforms thoroughly national and comprehensive best they could.Josiah was determined to completely rid the idols from the land.  No King in nearly 300 years had given such effort for comprehensive reform.  The words of Huldah are a sobering monolog reminding that ungodliness comes at a horrid cost -that will be paid, and that God takes our confession with repentance very seriously. Though the country of Judah had slid so far from God, Josiah had courage to right the ship. His reforms kept enemies at bay during his entire reign.  The judgment prophesied upon Judah was delayed by Josiah's godly resolve. We'll see how his years play out next week in this portion of the nation stream.

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Deuteronomy 4-6 We are in the World Stream reading from the Modern English Version. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams | Donate

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James 2-5 We are in the Church Stream reading from the Common English Bible. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams | Donate

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John 7:25-8:59 We are in the Christ Stream reading from the Common English Bible. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Streams | Donate #GivingTuesday -->November 28, 2017

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Jonah 1-2 We are in the Exile Stream reading from the New Living Translation. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Stream | Donate

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord, don't let us even think of running away from our calling.  You have joyous things planned for us, regardless of what we think.  Amen. This book is far beyond a fish story about a rebel who has a grumpiness problem.  It is a true story that parallels Christ arriving. It is kingdom operatives in full force.  There is evangelism, transformation, and triumph that is truly found in biblical proportions. 1 - Jonah was raised in a small village very near to where Jesus OF NAZARETH was raised.  Had they been contemporaries as young boys, they would have been able to trot to each-others' homes in a manner of minutes.  Nonetheless, the king during Jonah's life was Jeroboam II, whose time was 793-753 B.C. that we read of in The Kings.  Israel is late in its time during Jonah - remember they were in a 190 year long death spiral of ungodliness 920 - 722 B.C.  They lost territory to Assyria decade after decade. However during Jonah&Jeroboam II 's time they were 'on a brief rise' and gained some of the territory back. God calls him to go and to preach to Nineveh and ...... "God are you serious?!" Jonah is livid at the assignment. Nineveh was a city in the middle of its 300-year prominence that ran from 900-605 B.C. They were ghoulishly diabolical. Their practices and tactics were fiendish and grisly to put it mildly. Assyria's invasion and decimation of Israel in 722 B.C. just a generation later, is a scenario that Hollywood, even today with all its tendency to "push the envelope", wouldn't dare touch. If they did they'd be sued into bankruptcy for going way past 'over the top'. Assyria was that horrible, and Nineveh was its capital. Nineveh's tenants would stack the skulls of their subjects [who fought them] in high heaps, on both sides of all gates entering Nineveh. The memo: you fight us, you end up on the pile! Jonah ran from his calling as would most any person given such an assignment today.  He hated Nineveh. Any of us would hate Nineveh too. You can almost picture "Indiana Jones" entering the city wide-eyed and sneering with anger toward the place and all its inhabitants.  They had been killing people for centuries and loving everydeath along the way. What would any of us wish for this city?  Pardon all the assertions, we just want you to really feel what Jonah was feeling at the time of his calling. The name "Nineveh" conjured sheer terror in the hearts of anyone who was not committed to that city --> So God called Jonah to Nineveh and ... he high-tailed it for Tarshish.  "Tar-TESS-oos" (as it was called in the 700's B.C.) was a mining colony that Phoenicians were digging in a region that today includes "Gibraltar" in SW Spain.  It is not possible to be more geographically disobedient to one's orders to "go to Nineveh".  It's equal to being in Kansas City, Kansas USA, God calling you to Miami, so you head for Anchorage Alaska. Or being called to San Diego, CA, so you head to Bar Harbor, Maine.  We remember and know about the storm, the panic, the throwing of freight overboard, then finally finding Jonah and bringing him up on deck for a frantic inquisition. Please catch what happens.  He simply told his story and the whole boat crew converts!  Pastors dream of 100% success rates!  Jonah just tells his story - that's it - and they sacrifice and believe in the God of Abraham instantly. Jonah still had a "go ahead and kill me" attitude but do take note: evangelizing isn't some grandly calculated labyrinth of "insight required" gobbledy.  Just tell your story and watch the souls be touched by God. 2 - The Lord's graciousness abounds again.   Where the ocean would have killed him, the whale saved Jonah's life. God could not have been kinder. Whales are warm blooded, they breath oxygen. The ride is about 3-5 mph and gentle. Jonah could breath, there's no hypothermia, and the whale let's him out close enough so Jonah can bodysurf to shore.  The first thing he probably heard was "will ya'obey me now?" But about the prayer, Jonah sounds very much like David in the Psalms.  He covers every pertinent topic current to the situation, he recalls his faith, states his vows and affirms salvation is from the Lord. Imagine him going to Nineveh having not prayed this prayer, nor been through this trauma, been frightened to death in a storm, sat inside a 40 foot beast for a historical submarine ride ...? All this made him an authentic evangelistic v.s. being a cynical believer who only hated Assyrians and wanted them to go to hell where he formerly felt they belonged.  We'll see where all this takes him when we read Jonah 3-4 next week.  Strangely enough, Jonah's story hearkens us forward to Jesus.  Jesus even refers to Jonah as a factual sign.  Ah, this Bible is good stuff  

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Jeremiah 42-45 We are in the Prophetic Stream reading from the New Living Translation. 7streamsmethod.com | @7StreamsMethod | @serenatravis | #7Stream | Donate

Commentary by Dr. Drake Travis

Lord you are true to your servants.  Help us remember this and remain your servants.

42 - The remaining Hebrews in Judah after Jerusalem was burned were frightened because the person that Babylon had put in charge; Gedaliah had been killed. WE read this last week.  These Hebrews that were concerned didn't do it but they were skeptical that Babylonians would specifically confuse them with the assassins and they'd get a misplaced 'spankin' they'd rather not get.  While planning to escape for Egypt they sought a prophetic word from Jeremiah. He got word from the Lord that they should not go to Egypt...--> It would mean extinction for sure.  And Jeremiah made it abundantly clear to forget going to Egypt in search of safety.

43 - Yet Jeremiah and Baruch are forceably taken to Egypt by the the military leaders who objected to Jeremiah's prophecy and God's Word to stay put in Judah.  In Egypt God gave another prophecy to Jeremiah that didn't paint a rosy picture for the area in Egypt where the Judeans were hiding.  Interesting that they don't want to and will not listen to Jeremiah who has spoken for God all these years. So they resent him, and yet they pack him down to Egypt with them as if he were a knap-sack of some sort.  Strange people he is trying to share God with aren't they?  They have lacked legitimate leadership. 44 - Then Jeremiah and the people had a heated dialogue back and forth as Jeremiah pleads with them to cease the idolatry.  They were engaging in offerings to Babylonian gods and incense and sacrifices. The main god they were honoring was "Ishtar" a Babylonian queen/god who endorsed immorality.  Judean families living in Egypt were in collusion and approving of the wrong-doing.  Not for nothing, Ishtar is the title of a 1987 movie filmed in Morocco and it seems to be oddly dubbed "worst movie of all time" by consensus.  The Babylonian god Ishtar was no better than this foolish movie!  Jeremiah is warning them for what seems like the last time that there will be horrible punishment for worshipping Ishtar; called Queen of Heaven in this version of the Bible.  The Judeans are ebullient and will not yield from their sinful resolve. 45 - The passage here is not within timeline.  Jeremiah {written by Baruch; his scribe) has a style for writing this way.  Baruch was a prominent character and he is being encouraged by Jeremiah to not be overwhelmed by the attitude of the people, for they are/will be removed from God's sight. Baruch is assured that he is to simply keep eyes and ears to God - no one else.  For God is going to remain true to Baruch.