A STUDY IN GENESIS

We now come to the final day of creation. The seventh day!

Genesis 2:1-3 “Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. 2 And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. 3 Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.”

The human characteristic of a week was established. God not only had created the physical world, but was also establishing in creation the metaphysical world and all proper societal norms we enjoy today. Have there been some who have strayed from a week format? Yes, but in general the world has operated on such a principle.

Ironically, chapter two starts by making sure we understand what has been made and in the correct order. First, God creates the heavens, the Hebrew word is “Shamayim” which includes the sky where the birds are, stars, and Heaven. Next God makes the earth. The hosts of each category come at their appointed time with their relation of dimension.

God is a God of order, there is no chaos that He has created; the Spiritual and Natural are in perfect harmony. Just the way God created it. You might be wondering, “Why does the cosmos look like a war happened?” The answer to this, we will discuss next week. These three verses emphasize the importance of chapter one. However, it also provides us with something only God can do. He provided a day of the week that we can stop our busy schedule and reflect on God and reflect on His creation. Only God can provide mankind a beautiful opportunity to stop our busy life schedule and examine what God has done. Many people like to take and twist this day into something it is not. The seventh day is Saturday, and yet you can still worship on Sunday and should! Ironically, the early church gathered on Saturday and on Sunday. However, for the Christian, our entire life and future is built on what happened on Sunday. Acts 17:31 “because He has appointed a day on which He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Sunday is the day I go to Church with other believers, I also go on other days as scheduled for different events.

This post is not a post regarding what day to worship, but rather emphasizing what God emphasized. He made Saturday a day of rest. He gave us a day to stop and reflect on His word and creation.

I want to end on a positive note. At this moment in history, everything is good and is in order as designed. This means that for us today who ask the serious questions of “Why God is this happening?” We need to step back and realize it was not designed that way, and God intends to fix what was broken. Next week we will see how God builds on creation within the metephysical world, with something the forces of evil hate and wants to destroy at all cost. The following week, we will discuss what happens before the fall of man but after creation. After we will review how God knew this was coming and has ordained in creation a calendar of His work! Remember that God is always in control and is aware of all things. This we can take assurance in and be at peace; knowing that He can calm the very storm that He designed. He can be in the heights and depths wherever you find yourself calling out to God. He is there and He cares!

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

Understanding the importance of 1 and 2 Kings. Read it HERE!

Unconcealed

Have you ever looked at the mistakes you have made and thought there was no way that God could use you? Or that your problems are simply too big or unchristian like to use to bring others to know God’s forgiveness? This is an issue that I see prevalent inside born-again believers. We often talk about God’s grace and what He has done for us, but when it comes to showing nonbelievers how we were before Christ became our Lord and Savior, we almost want to gloss over it. Sure we will say that we were sinners, but don’t say why. And this is a detriment to our testimony, an issue that is addressed in 2 Corinthians.

“Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor distorting the word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants on account of Jesus.6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

2 Corinthians 4:1-7

Paul is writing to the church in Corinth first with an encouragement, do not lose heart. Why should the born-again believer not lose heart? It is because we have God’s mercy, we have been forgiven of our sins. A lot of people like to bash the Corinthian church for the issues of idolatry, disputes among fellow believers, and issues dividing the church. However, what is failed to be seen is that the Corinthian church is a church that receives Paul’s correction and applies it. They acknowledge the issues that were making it difficult for them to have a closer relationship with God, and are renouncing it. The Corinthian church is a wonderful reminder to put aside what is separating you from God. The believers in Corinth renounced what caused them to sin, not only that but they did not hide these flaws they used them to proclaim God’s grace to those around them. And so should believers today.

Paul continues to state that our proclamation of the truth will only be concealed to those who are already blinded by what the world is offering. These individuals would not care about what a believer did before they came to know Christ because most likely they have or are committing the same sin. The only difference is that they do not wish to repent of it. And so Paul is writing to tell the Corinthian church and readers today to not lose heart. We should not fear our failures but use them to preach Jesus Christ. Out of the darkness of our sin shines the light of God’s grace and mercy. When we examine the larger picture we can see how God’s calling in a believers life is unfazed by our past sin, it is all sin. There may be those around us who are doubting that God can forgive them, there sin is to great, there actions are so unchristian like that there is no way that God could care. It is by sharing our own brokenness that we can show these individuals what God has done, that there is no sin too great for Him to forgive someone who truly wants repentance and reconciliation with God Almighty. I’ll leave you with this, when you or others around you feel as if our sin is too great for God, it is too outstanding for healing, it is too outrageous for God’s forgiveness, remember what Christ said to Peter, “But Jesus looked at [them] and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

A STUDY OF GENESIS

Today we continue our study in Genesis, and I cannot but think it is an ironic coincidence that this chapter falls on Memorial Day. We know that many of our readers are from different nations, so allow me a quick second to explain what this holiday is. Memorial Day is a celebration when the United States honors those who have died in military service for the United States. It was originally established after the Civil War, and it’s a moment when we place American flags on graves and other national cemeteries reminding ourselves of those who gave it all for freedom. Now you might be wondering what does this have to do with Genesis, but please wait till the end.

Day four of creation is accomplished, we now arrive at day five. For the bird lovers and water folk this is our day!

Genesis 1:20-23 “20 Then God said, “Let the waters abound with an abundance of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the face of the firmament of the heavens.” 21 So God created great sea creatures and every living thing that moves, with which the waters abounded, according to their kind, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that [it was] good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 So the evening and the morning were the fifth day.”

I love how God takes the two extremes and brings them into creation on the same day. This has been a subtle reminder for me that God is in the highest places on earth and the depths; there is no place God is not capable of being. He made the soaring eagles, the giant squids, and other creatures in the dark deep ocean. People generally think of God only being in Heaven and the sky but Genesis 1:22 reveals that God from the beginning designed the deep as well. Job 38:16 “Have you entered the springs of the sea? Or have you walked in search of the depths?” Day five is the day we would get Shark Week!

However, for everything that He made in day five, He is still not done. Day six we see more!

Genesis 1:24-25 24 “Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature according to its kind: cattle and creeping thing and beast of the earth, [each] according to its kind”; and it was so. 25 And God made the beast of the earth according to its kind, cattle according to its kind, and everything that creeps on the earth according to its kind. And God saw that [it was] good.”

PAUSE!

Up to this moment, there is no mankind. As we learned before, angels are present and there is nothing bad. It is here that God in the Trinity, (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) decide to do the unthinkable. To do something that had not been done before. The angels do not have it, neither does any other created thing…He creates you!

Genesis 1:26-27 “Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” 27 So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.”

God creates two, male and female. Simple, and yet a resounding rejection to what is being forced upon the world today. There are two. Uniquely designed to benefit one another and ultimately reflect the Lord as being image bearers of the Trinity! What does this mean? Simply put, God created us not to worship creation but to lead creation. We were designed to be the bridge from the creation towards the creator and as we will see in chapter three, we fail! The creation, including us, was good. There was no sin and yet something happened. We failed. Some might blame Satan for tricking humankind, but ultimately mankind through Adam and Eve fell from being good.

When mankind is good, we have a relationship with God. This relationship has purpose, has a reason for being there. The question of “Why am I here” is quickly answered. We are here because God designed and loves us. You are not a mistake. Be male or female, you have purpose. Let’s examine the final verses of chapter one and see what it means when we have a relationship with God.

Genesis 1:28-31 “Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb [that] yields seed which [is] on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 “Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which [there is] life, [I have given] every green herb for food”; and it was so. 31 Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed [it was] very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day.”

God is clear, precise, and intimate with them. There is no ambiguity, doubt, or even question as to His purpose in their life. Why is this? It is because they have a relationship built on perfection. This perfection is not something you and I can understand without Christ Jesus in our life. This chapter ends in a not so subtle way of God declaring something rather remarkable, “It was very good.” God makes mankind and it is considered very good. Remember He is all knowing! Thus, He is already aware of what we are going to do in just a few short pages! Sin is coming, death is coming, and yet God sees mankind at that moment and recognizes its perfection. Mankind was perfect! But death came.

Sin causes death. Sin causes war, sin causes the need for mankind to stop and reflect on the pain and suffering that we have brought upon the world. At the end of Chapter 1, God knows what is coming and yet He still takes the moment to say it is “very good.” This should cause you to have hope! Because God is a God of the past and future, but more importantly He is a God of the present. This is vitally important for us to understand. When we sin, we die; when we accept Christ into our life and allow His death and resurrection to pay for our sin, we are alive. PERIOD! This means that God works very much in the present. He declares the future to emphasize His divinity, but do not forget that He is very much aware of the here and now. So if you are saved in Christ you are as perfect now as you will be one day in His presence.

Memorial Day is a day for Americans, but it is a day for everyone to remember what mankind brought into this world. Sin came by one man, however, salvation came by a different man. This Man lived a perfect life, and died for you and I. He lived so we could live, He died so we didn’t have to die. He now reigns because He is a very present God who watches out for you and I right now. God has been doing this since the first day of our creation, and it is why we can say with confidence that only in Jesus Christ do you have a living God who is with you every step of every day.

 Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

What can we learn from 1 Chronicles 12? Find our HERE.

More Than A Singular Purpose

One of the most quoted Bible verses is found in the book of Romans; and it makes sense that it would be because this verse helps to provide comfort when we are going through difficult situations. At the same time, this verse is one that is a challenge to hear when you are in the midst of a struggle; but I believe this is because most of us are missing the deeper meaning to the verse. So what is one of the most quoted Bible verses of all time? It is Romans 8:28.

“28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Like I said, this verse is often quoted when we are faced with a hardship. And while it does bring comfort to know that at the end of the situation God will get the glory, it might still be difficult to hear when we feel broken down. And this is where I believe that many of those who are born again are missing the deeper meaning to this verse. God causes all things to work together for good for those who love God. The word “those” in this sense can both be singular and plural.

This passage can be talking about the singular person or group who is facing a difficult time who find peace in knowing that God is in control and will use this for Him. Or the peace could come in knowing that at the end of the hardship there will be peace because God is a good Father who cares for His children. “Or what person is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf of bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 So if you, despite being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!” Matthew 7:9-11.

However, Romans 8:28 can also be applied in a plural sense. As Christians, we will be faced with difficultly. Following Christ does not mean that we will escape the sinful acts of this world. We will be faced with painful experiences, the difference for us at the rest of the world is that we have Christ. Jesus Christ gives us a hope that every situation will work out for the best at the end; and when we are struggling we can lean on His strength, not our own. But because God is a good Father who cares for His children, He gives us the companionship of those who have faced similar trials.

Romans 8:28 also reminds us to share our experiences with others to help strengthen them in their own life journey with Christ as well. The body of Christ is provided by God to help us in a very present way, it is why when there are struggles God provides other believers as a method to help us. Have you faced a time when you struggled financially but have seen how God provided for you? Find someone who is struggling now, and share your experience. Suffering from medical issues? Find someone who has gone through it as well and see what verses they leaned on. Having to move away from friends and family? Get connected into a life group. The Christian walk was not meant to be done alone. The experiences you have had in your life can and should be used to help other believers who are in the same boat. Romans 8:28 is designed like all of God’s word to be applicable in our life, He cares for you and I thus His actions reflect such love.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

A STUDY IN GENESIS

Welcome back to our study in Genesis. Today we are going to continue in our study going into days three and four. Today, we are going to point out something rather remarkable and missed by many skeptics.

9 Then God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry [land] appear”; and it was so. 10 And God called the dry [land] Earth, and the gathering together of the waters He called Seas. And God saw that [it was] good. 11 Then God said, “Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb [that] yields seed, [and] the fruit tree [that] yields fruit according to its kind, whose seed [is] in itself, on the earth”; and it was so. 12 And the earth brought forth grass, the herb [that] yields seed according to its kind, and the tree [that] yields fruit, whose seed [is] in itself according to its kind. And God saw that [it was] good. 13 So the evening and the morning were the third day. 14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; 15 “and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so. 16 Then God made two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. [He made] the stars also. 17 God set them in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. And God saw that [it was] good. 19 So the evening and the morning were the fourth day.

Genesis 1:9-19

God starts once again by reminding us that He is in control of nature, He gathers the water into one place. This is hard because mankind cannot gather any water and tell it to stay in one place. We can capture it, but gathering it and making it stay on its own free will is outside of our means. However, it is partway through day three that we find dry earth. Before this there was nothing. Those who claim a gap in time, fail to recognize that this is the day that land shows up. Day three, is when we finally see dry land emerging.

For those who believe these days are not literal days, but rather symbolism for thousands and or millions of years, they might stumble when they realize that God creates plants on day three with the dry land and the sun for photosynthesis on day four. What does that mean? God creates the world in such a way as to negate any idea that the world or known universe can be created without His direct involvement. He creates it in a literal 24 hour period for each day. We need to enforce this idea because without it, God’s word becomes something we can pick, choose, and throw the rest into the junk drawer of spiritual symbolism. Next week we will discuss the final aspects of God’s creation leading up to mankind. It is here that we will see you and I come on the scene.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

Understanding the books 1st and 2nd Samuel. Read it HERE!

The Value of the Word

“All Scripture is inspired by God and beneficial for teaching, for rebuke, for correction, for training in righteousness;”

2 Timothy 3:16

We have all heard this passage at one time or another, but I feel many fail in understanding the significance of this verse. When Paul is writing to Timothy regarding the use of scripture, he points out that it is all beneficial. All of it, not just passages, but even down to the singular level such as names. Today, we will be looking at a passage that connects the Old Testament to the New Testament, and also shows an important characteristic of our Father.

“So I purchased her for myself for fifteen shekels of silver, and a homer and a lethech of barley.”

Hosea 3:2

To put this verse into context, the woman in question here is the wife of the prophet Hosea. she had left her marriage vows and sought after other lovers only to be placed upon the auction block where her husband pays the price of 15 pieces of silver, a homer and lethech of barley. Now you may be wondering why I chose this specific passage in relation to 2 Timothy. Upon first glance it would appear that there really isn’t much to be learned from here other than my brief synopsis, however, there are two important lessons to be learned here.

First, we need to look at what a homer and lethech is. These are terms used to describe a dry measure. Often times, if there was not enough money to purchase an item the Israelites would use a certain weight of another item to equal the cost. Exodus 21:32 shows us that the price of a slave was thirty pieces of silver. “32 If the ox gores a male or female slave, the owner shall give his or her master thirty shekels of silver, and the ox shall be stoned.” So then we can deduce that a homer and lethech would equal the other 15 pieces of silver needed. Now this isn’t simply a math lesson, and I hope that when you saw that Hosea paid the price of thirty pieces of silver you started to remember where else this value comes into play. “Then one of the twelve, named Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15 and said, “What are you willing to give me to betray Him to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 And from then on he looked for a good opportunity to betray Jesus.” Matthew 26:14-15. Is it not interesting to see that the cost paid to betray Jesus Christ is that of a slave? Now also keep in mind that Hosea’s wife, Gomer, has often been used as a physical representative of Israel while Hosea was a representative of God. The book of Hosea shows that God forgives Israel from wondering away from Him, and now we see that the price paid for Gomer is the same as for Jesus. God’s redemption plan is all throughout the scriptures, both Old and New Testament.

The second lesson we can see in Hosea 3:2 is from the little word “lethech”. This word only occurs in Hosea 3:2, it is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible. While the meaning behind it is as a dry measure may not be important, the fact that it only occurs here is important. Hosea 3:2 shows us that the Old Testament can and should be connected to the New Testament, while the New Testament points back to the Old Testament. The singular use of the word “lethech” shows us that God only pays for our sin once, an act He did on the cross. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and savior, our sin is paid for, it is finished. While we may, and do, continue to make mistakes; God has already paid the price of it.

I hope that with the example of Hosea 3:2, we can all have a little more appreciation for 2 Timothy 3:16. When Paul states that all scripture is beneficial, he truly means all!

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

A STUDY IN GENESIS

Last week we discussed day one of creation. We learned that God is not only intentional with His creation, but also with preparing the foundation for future actions such as the creation of all living things. Today, we will examine Genesis 1:6-8

“6 Then God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters.” 7 Thus God made the firmament, and divided the waters which [were] under the firmament from the waters which [were] above the firmament; and it was so. 8 And God called the firmament Heaven. So the evening and the morning were the second day.”

Within this passage, there are several truths we need to recognize, God is intentionally designing and establishing creation in such a way as to preemptively dissolve any argument that might attempt to substitute Him and His actions.

God is not only creating the oceans, but He is also hinting at something rather unique. We see the atmosphere come into play! What does this mean? It means that the design which we still have to this day, has been so from the beginning. Allow me to go down a quick but interesting rabbit trial. In this passage we see the creation of the atmosphere as we know it, we also know from coming chapters of Genesis that before the flood, mankind’s lifespan was much longer than it is now. This passage might provide a clue as to why this was the case. We might be dealing with a clue as to how mankind’s longevity has been determined. According to some scientist and researchers, the presence of more water in the atmosphere might have been the reasoning behind mankind living for several hundred years. How rapidly this decreased after the flood. At this point, the earth is covered in water, there is nothing outside of water at different levels. Many evolutionist would tell you that the world started off as a large chunk of dirt that over billions and billions of years brought water and later from the goo to the zoo to you. However, God’s word says that the earth had water everywhere.

It is at this moment that God is going to have to do something. The day ends and in the cycle of creation we have to stop and meditate on what has happened so far, and what happened on day two that is important for us to understand. There is light, darkness, and water. God has called them all good. There is nothing that God has made which is bad, imperfect, or even out of place. God is working in an order of events. Have you had God working in your life and at times it feels like it is out of place? Like His actions are not answering the prayer? Could it be that God is developing the sequence of events necessary for you to understand that His answer is only from Him and not by chance? Maybe we should be careful not to make rash decisions; wait and meditate. God’s declaration in Genesis 1:1 is being laid out, in His timing not ours. Thus today we should do the same thing. Cling to His promises; and if it appears that He is not acting on His promises, just wait upon the Lord and see. The answer might suddenly develop right before your very eyes.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

A look back at our one year anniversary. Read it HERE!

Motherly Characteristics

In just a few short days, we will be celebrating all those who are mothers. While everyone has a different journey into motherhood, I want to point out that being a mother isn’t just about giving birth to a child. There are many different ways that a woman can become a mother, whether it is through adoption, marriage, or simply stepping in for a child who needs an example of what a Christian woman is. The fact is, there is no one path to motherhood, what is important is the characteristics that a woman has. So today, I want to look at an example of a few women in the Bible and see what characteristics we should have in regards to children.

It only seems fitting, to start this comparison with the mother of our Lord and Savior, Mary. Luke 1:26-56 depicts the angel visiting and informing Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah. Many women I am sure would have been frightened about this, how could they raise the child of God? How would society view them? How would their family view them? And most importantly, what gave them the right for this honor? Verses 46-55 give us Mary’s response, and it is all honoring God. Mary puts aside her own worries and places her life in control of God. She knows that He would handle all that she would face.

Next on our list is, Lois and Eunice. For those who don’t know, these two women were the mother and grandmother to Timothy who became a pillar in the early church. Their faith helped to form Timothy into a man who was willing to follow God’s direction in his path. “I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2 Timothy 1:3-5.

Finally, I want to look at a verse that describes how a woman should be. “Older women likewise are to be reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is good,4 so that they may encourage the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, 5 to be sensible, pure, workers at home, kind, being subject to their own husbands, so that the word of God will not be dishonored.” Titus 2:3-5. We are called to invest in those who will come behind us. The terms older/younger in this passage could mean someone of a different physical age or someone who is at a different point in their spiritual walk. To have that Christian mother characteristic we are called to ensure that we are raising other strong individuals in the faith.

So today while you are celebrating however, your motherhood journey is; please keep in mind these examples and see how you can grow into more of a Christian mother. Remember, this may not necessarily be to children who are biologically yours, you can still have an important impact in the lives of those who will come up behind us.

Happy Mother’s Day,

Alex

A STUDY IN GENESIS

The last two weeks we have been discussing the first declarations of God to mankind. We learned in Genesis 1:1 that God is the answer for everything. In Genesis 1:2, we see God build upon His declaration in verse one and we saw the Context Rule being applied. We need to keep this rule in our back pocket because without it, Genesis can quickly become an area of debate rather than historical facts. Today, we examine Genesis 1:3-5. Before we begin, we need to understand that God has prepared hidden philosophical gems, scientific treasures, and personal love notes throughout this chapter. While we unfortunately do not have the time, I would recommend that you dig into each of these topics on your own. If you are wanting to know more about the veracity and monumental scientific data backing up a literal six day creation, please go to the Institute for Creation Research. Here you will find great minds who have followed the science to realize that God is behind it all.  However, for our purposes today we will be hitting only the highlights.

Genesis 1:3-5 “3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light. 4 And God saw the light, that [it was] good; and God divided the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. So the evening and the morning were the first day.”

God declared there to be light. As you can see in the rest of Genesis chapter one; the sun, moon, and stars are not present until day four. God spoke and it was, this means that the very word of God is power. At day one, God’s word is doing something that is unique. It is bringing definition, character, and separation. Only God can immediately have definition to His creation, thus giving us His signature in the scientific community. Nothing He is creating has to accumulate, evolve, or mutate, His scientific signature is that all creation has immediate distinction and definition. In the philosophical world, we could say, His creation from the beginning has presence. This means it has purpose designed and unified with the rest of creation, this is why at the end of each day He declares it is good. So when God says, “Let there be light” prior to what we know to be the sources of light, we are being drawn to a philosophical and spiritual truth. God is the origins of life and light. Undoubtedly as we read further in Genesis this theme will be played out even more.

His word brings character and uniqueness, “the light, that it was good.” At this point we need to realize that night, which for many is considered evil or foreboding, was in fact characterized by God as good.

God’s word separates, just look at Hebrews 4:12, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

But God is not done! At this point, He does something that only He can do. He creates the construct of time. “So the evening and the morning were the first day.” God is designing the foundation for mankind to prosper. Before the sun, moon, or stars, the day was established. Even in the first day of creation we see God’s word is actively creating the needed environment for man to grow spiritually and intellectually; all before we even get to the physical preparation of the land for mankind’s arrival.  

Day one proves that God makes all things good. What we see today as bad, was not always that way; we see that God was designing the world for us prior to our arrival. He was thinking of you and I. This is all in day one! Next week we will continue evaluating the intentions of God on our behalf.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

A look back at a great love story in the Bible. Read it HERE!

Two Brothers, Two Lessons

There are countless sermons when it comes to the prodigal son, but often I feel that the focus is more heavily placed upon the brother who left his father and came back. This is not to say that the lesson here is any less important, after all I am sure we can all think of times that we have wondered away from God wishing to seek out our own desires. However, I do believe that there is a lesson that we can all learn from the brother who stayed.

As a short recap, in Luke 15:11-32, Jesus uses a parable to teach those around Him that God cares for those who come to Him. In this, Jesus uses a father and his two sons. One son decides that he no longer wants to wait for his inheritance, he wants to start living life on his terms and so he asks his father for his share (Luke 15:12). This son then proceeds to squander his inheritance to the point that he has to hire himself out to the citizens of a foreign country (Luke 15:14-15). This son was not treated well by his employers and in a country suffering from famine, the son recognized that those his father employed had more than enough to meet their needs. This lead the son to return home with the intention of asking his father for forgiveness. The father gladly accepts his son back and in short throws a party to welcome his wondering son home.

The lesson that we can learn from this son is that God’s grace is more than sufficient, it does not matter how often or what we have done to sin against Him, if we come before our Heavenly Father with a sincere heart begging for forgiveness, He will forgive. The key in this lesson is recognizing that we have sinned and asking God for forgiveness to restore that relationship.

Now here is where the passage of scripture that I want to discuss comes into play.

“Now his older son was in the field, and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 And he summoned one of the servants and began inquiring what these things could be. 27 And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf because he has received him back safe and sound.’ 28 But he became angry and was not willing to go in; and his father came out and began pleading with him. 29 But he answered and said to his father, ‘Look! For so many years I have been serving you and I have never neglected a command of yours; and yet you never gave me a young goat, so that I might celebrate with my friends; 30 but when this son of yours came, who has devoured your wealth with prostitutes, you slaughtered the fattened calf for him.’ 31 And he said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

The older son returns home from working the fields, after picking up more work because of his brother's absence, to find that his father has killed the fattened calf an act that was reserved for an important time. There is music and dancing going on, and so naturally the older son asks what has happened, only to be told that his brother who squandered his father’s gift has returned home. This is where the warning for believers takes place.

There are some who would look at the measure of an individual who has recognized their sin and need for a savior but only see the past that person brings. They forget that all have sinned in the sight of God (Romans 3:23) and fail to see how God could love such a person as that. In fact, this is the very issue that Jesus is correcting in this story.

“Now all the tax collectors and sinners were coming near Jesus to listen to Him. 2 And both the Pharisees and the scribes began to complain, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”

Luke 15:1-2

We are all the brother that wondered, most of the world still fails to see their sin and so they are still squandering the gifts that God has and wishes to give to them. Others, have seen that they need a savior and so return home as the second son did by accepting Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. But it is sad to say that some who profess to follow Jesus spend so long looking at the past of an individual that they fail to see that God has forgiven those sins just as He forgave theirs. These people mistakenly believe that there is no way that God could accept those who wondered from Him, and forget that they failed God as well. For those who think this way, I pray that you do not harden your heart like the older son, but instead see each person who has genuinely been saved as the Father does. “But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’” Luke 15:32.

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

A Study in Genesis

Last week we examined the first declaration ever made in history. Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Simple but powerful, God gives Moses the answer to how everything came about. The verses moving forward after this describe how God made the heavens and the earth.

Today we are going to examine the sequence of events from the creation of the heavens to the creation of the earth. Genesis 1:2 “The earth was without form, and void; and darkness [was] on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” When reading this, we need to remember the Context Rule. The Context Rule states: The overall context of a singular verse cannot be fully analyzed without consultation of the complete surrounding texts, events, chapters, and whole books must be taken with equal weight.

The Context Rule must be followed with Genesis 1:2. God is explaining how He created the earth. How do we know it is the earth and not the heavens being described? Verse 1 gives us the sequence of creation, heavens followed by the earth. Thus, we can infer that by verse 2, the heavens have been made. When talking to Job, God gives greater details of the creation of the earth and states that the angels were there shouting for joy. Job 38:7 “When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy?” This means heaven and the angels have been made.

Now what does it mean that “the earth was without form and void and darkness was on the face of the deep”? Some have speculated this is a gap. However, the context rule would indicate that God is making a sequence of events within a very real 24 hours each day.

But what does it mean without form and void? I would point to the Old Testament scholars the Septuigent, which is nothing more than a fancy name for “The 70”. After Alexander the Great had conquered the known world, most people including the Jews spoke Greek. Hebrew was for ceremony. The Jews wanted the Old Testemant in their spoken language. Thus, the most prestigious scholars of the day came together making the 70. This group took the Hebrew and translated it into the most arguably precise language ever made. When the Septuigent made their translations they said, “But the earth was unsightly and unfurnished” This is further supported when we read Job 38 where God details to Job creation.

Job 38:3-12  “Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me. 4 “Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell [Me,] if you have understanding. 5 Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? 6 To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, 7 When the morning stars sang together, And all the sons of God shouted for joy? 8 “Or [who] shut in the sea with doors, When it burst forth [and] issued from the womb; 9 When I made the clouds its garment, And thick darkness its swaddling band; 10 When I fixed My limit for it, And set bars and doors; 11 When I said, ‘This far you may come, but no farther, And here your proud waves must stop!’ 12 “Have you commanded the morning since your days [began,] [And] caused the dawn to know its place,”

When we come to grips with what God is explaining to Job, we understand that verse 2 of Genesis is establishing physics, mathematics, and other laws that will govern the earth. The material that He would use was created and the shaping was coming about. You see this is also a declaration of God; from the start He is revealing that all things happen because of Him. God is building upon verse one. He first declared He made it, now He is describing to the reader how at the very molecular level creation happened. Next week we will see how God is already making statements establishing a foundation for mankind that reveals just how intentional the almighty God of the universe really is.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

How do you apply the Law? Find out HERE!

Mill House Ministries Is Four

Dear readers,

It seems as if I had just sat down to write our third year update; and now it turns out that by God’s grace we have been writing for a whole other year! The fact that this website has been running for four years is truly a testimony to God’s glory, our readers has continued to grow and I truly hope that you all have been able to use this website to grow deeper in your walk with Jesus Christ!

Now that another year has past, we are planning to continue to share what we have learned with you all! However, as we start our fifth year, we ask that you continue to keep us in your prayers as we study, write, and declare Jesus Christ to the world. Pray that we are able to see where God is calling Mill House Ministries to go, pray that we are able to share His word more fully, and pray for our own walk with Jesus Christ as well. Thank you and we look forward to what this next year brings!

Seek the truth and encourage one another,

Alex

A STUDY IN GENESIS

Who wrote the book of Genesis? Does it matter? These two questions are vital if we are to properly understand the first 3 chapters of Genesis and more. There are many creation stories all written by those who were created. Only in Genesis does the reader get to hear from the Creator, the Designer of you and I. Other religions make claims, but it is only through Genesis do we have a written account from the Source of all things.

First, who wrote the book of Genesis? The answer is that God told Moses what to write.

Exodus 24:4 “And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD. And he rose early in the morning, and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars according to the twelve tribes of Israel.”

Joshua, the successor after Moses, knew Moses had written it and it was given by God,

Joshua 1:7-8  “Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”

The apostles also verify Moses as the author. John states, John 1:17 “For the law was given through Moses, [but] grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Paul also describes this in, Romans 10:5 “For Moses writes about the righteousness which is of the law, “The man who does those things shall live by them.”

Most importantly, Jesus Himself testifies that Genesis was written by Moses, Luke 24:44 “Then He said to them, “These [are] the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and [the] Prophets and [the] Psalms concerning Me.”

This means that Genesis is written by Moses and the source of information is credible no matter how hard it might be for us to understand.

So when we see Genesis 1:1 “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” We can examine it for what it is, a declaration from the author of His work. Verse 2 and forward is an expression and description of this one verse.

Next week, we will examine this declaration and see how unique a statement it is and the power needed to make such a statement. Nevertheless, we can hold fast to the words of Moses and that they were given to him directly from God. So if God says He made the heavens and earth, we can hold it to be true. Now the question is how?

See you next week as we continue our study in Genesis.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

JL

Re-Post Friday

Join us for a brief look at the book of Judges! Read it HERE!