by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Joshua 7-9
When there’s sin in the camp, God won’t be with you.
We talked yesterday about the significance of having the heart circumcised if we want to take our Promised Land. These Israelites had consecrated themselves, but there was one who didn’t take it seriously enough.
God had told the Jews not to take any of the spoils from Jericho. Yet Achan saw a beautiful Babylonian garment, some shekels of silver, and a bar of gold, and he just had to have them. So he took them and dug a hole to hide them in his tent. No one would ever know. Right?
Wrong. God knew and He was very displeased. He wanted obedience from His people, and He didn’t get it.
The next city to take was so small that they only needed a few hundred men to take it. So they went up against tiny Ai and were chased away. God was not with them, and they were defeated.
Of course, all of the Jews – including Joshua – were confused and dismayed, until the truth was revealed. Then the sin had to be dealt with – harshly.
There is a big lesson for us today. We sometimes think that “what no one knows” doesn’t matter. But that’s a wrong attitude. God always knows, and He is the important one.
You may say, well I am not stealing or committing adultery or indulging in drugs on the side. Well that’s good.
But what about unforgiveness! Are you holding a grudge against that guy who “did you wrong?” Or what about doubt and unbelief? Are you really believing and trusting in God? Then there’s pride. Do you think that you are better than someone else because of education, or social standing, or talent, or even your goodness?
These are the hidden sins – hidden in the tent of our hearts, where no one can see. Except God. And He’s the one who matters.
I find that my walk with God benefits by doing a cellar search every now and then. As we are worshipping God, it’s good to let Him take a good look and tell us what He finds. Then repent and ask for His grace to strengthen you in those weak areas.
We won’t get stoned in this day. Instead, if we really want to walk with Him, He will empower us to do better next time.
I am so thankful that we live in this day and on this side of the cross.
There is such joy when we live in true holiness, walking with our Lord and abiding in Him.
Luke 1:21-38
Remember yesterday we talked about words being important? Well today we have a whopper of an example.
After the word to Zacharias is fulfilled and Elizabeth is six months pregnant, the angel Gabriel appears to Mary. She is engaged to Joseph, and still a virgin.
As Gabriel speaks the Word of God and Mary accepts it, she becomes pregnant with the Son of God. I believe that the Word spoken is the actual seed of God planted in Mary’s womb. (Before you say that his is too Star Wars for you, think about it).
Jesus has said that the Word is like a seed, planted in the heart of man – to produce. When the Word is spoken to Mary, she says : “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to your Word.”(v.38)
Her faith in God causes her to receive His Word and receive the promise.
He has made many promises to all of us. Not to give birth to the Savior, of course, but to give birth to other facets of His plan. He has promised awakening to many of us, as we have prayed for our territories.
Now what do we say? Do we say, “Be it done to us according to Thy word?’ I hope so. He wants to give birth to many parts of His plans and purposes – through us, as we believe and act on what He tells us.
Our God is mighty and His Word is mighty. If we believe Him when He speaks, we will see great and mighty things occur!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Joshua 1-3
The rules change!
As we are reading the book of Joshua, let’s apply the principles to our Christian walk.
We crossed the Red Sea to get out of Egypt. (That’s when we got born again). We’ve been wandering in the wilderness. Now it’s time to take the promises for which Jesus paid the price.
The first chapter of Joshua should be referred to again and again. There are some powerful principles here.
Three times it says, “Be strong and courageous.” (vs. 6,7 and 9) “Do not tremble or be dismayed.” (9)
Why does the Lord keep saying that? Because there are giants in the land. The giants are still there, but this time the people have faith that they will be able to take them. He is charging them to keep that faith.
Do you have giants in your life? Is there sickness or poverty? Are your children or grandchildren rebellious? All of these items have been paid for by Jesus on the cross. But we have to take the land.
When they were in the wilderness, provision fell on them. Manna fell from heaven everyday. Their shoes and their clothes didn’t wear out for 40 years. But there was no variety – just enough to get by.
The Promised land is different. There is great variety and great provision, but it doesn’t fall on you. You have to go get it! You have to fight the giants who are trying to prevent you from attaining God’s highest plans for you.
However, some of this mission seems similar. There is another river to cross – the Jordan. And the Ark of the Covenant (the presence of God) has to be there – in the middle of the stream for the water to stand up on each side and let us walk over.
It’s important to remember that we don’t fight the giants alone. Our God is with us, but we are the ones who stand up against the giants.
So what is our weaponry? The Word of God. “This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” (1: 8).
As we believe and speak the Word of God, the giant demons of poverty and lack in any area have to flee. They may not go immediately, but as we continue, they will have to go.
Be strong and courageous!
Mark 16
He’s truly the God of a second chance. Peter had denied Jesus three times, just as the Master had said he would. He deserted His Lord in the darkest hour. What a disappointment!
So even though he deserted and is no longer a disciple, the angel by the tomb says, “tell His disciples – and Peter – ‘He is going before you into Galilee; there He will see you, just as He said he would.'” Even though he denied Jesus, Peter is included. What mercy! God knows Peter’s heart.
Just wait! We are going to see some good things from Peter.
Right now let’s take a look at the charge given by Jesus after His resurrection. “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” “And these signs shall follow those who have believed: in My name they shall cast out demons, speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it shall not harm them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.”
Jesus is speaking of an authority He is giving His followers to rise above the elements of the natural world. He had already demonstrated this authority as he walked the earth. He had even given it to His followers as he sent them out while he lived on the earth.
Now this is new. He is giving this authority to those “who believe,” after He leaves the earth. They are to operate with His delegated authority in His name. Mind boggling.
I remember when this first “clicked” with me. I had never been taught that we are to “speak with new tongues” or “lay hands on the sick.” But there it is. We can’t deny it.
Jesus paid the price for a higher life and a greater power than we can imagine. But these aren’t casual attributes; this life is to be pursued with passion.
Just for some clarity here. I am not saying for a moment that we are to be snake-handlers and poison-drinkers. Jesus is here speaking of the protection we have as we “go into all the world.” In Acts 28, we see this in action. Paul gets bit by a deadly viper and just “shook the creature off into the fire and suffered no harm.”(Acts 28:5).
As we continue in our reading, much of what our Lord is saying will become clearer.
This is a tremendous life he has called us to!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Deuteronomy 32-34
There is a verse is Deuteronomy 29 which we didn’t cover yesterday, but I think it is really important in understanding the Bible. Deuteronomy 29:29 says “the secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of the law.”
We have seen how God has tried to protect His people from Satan before they were ready to understand their foe. He couldn’t reveal all that we know now about the devil, because they were not prepared to deal with him. They didn’t have Holy Spirit living on the inside of them like we do today.
So in the same way, over the years God has revealed more and more of His Word to his people. If we will keep ears to hear and eyes to see, we will understand more and more. Yet there are still some things which are secret from us until the time He wishes to reveal them.
That’s one reason that doctrinal error gets started. People reading the Bible try to understand with their minds – and not their spirits – what God has said. We need to wait for Him to reveal it.
Now back to Moses. Moses prophesies through song about the days ahead. God is showing him that eventually the nation will turn from God and worship idols, and their blessings will dry up. (I hope that our nation will wake up before it’s too late for us). As he says, “This is not an idle word for you; indeed it is your life.”(32:47)
Moses is allowed to go up to the mountain and look over the Promised land, but he can’t enter. He tried to strike the rock (representing Jesus) twice, instead of speaking to it the second time. He didn’t regard God’s Word as Holy.
Remember, we need to learn from this. We have to regard the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross as Holy. Once and for all time God’s only Son was sacrificed for our sins on the cross. He paid the price for us to enter the land of our promises from God.
We don’t try to strike Him again for our answers. We receive what He has done, we pray for wisdom, and confess the Word concerning our issues. Jesus paid the price for much more than we are receiving.
I pray that all of us enter into a new, greater revelation of His Word and what it means. We must contend for the Word; we must contend for the faith. Faith reaches out and receives our answers.
We have to have those faith hands.
Mark 15: 24-47
We see over and over how Satan’s plans work for God. I Corinthians 2:8 says that “none of the rulers of this age understood God’s wisdom, for if they had understood it, they would not have crucified the Lord of Glory.” So Satan and his demons thought they were defeating God’s plan. Instead they were fulfilling it.
God’s Lamb – His Son who would be the ultimate sacrifice for our sins – was sacrificed on Passover by the High Priest – just as he was supposed to be. Isn’t it amazing to see how God works?
Then the veil in the temple was torn from top to bottom. God Himself tore the veil to signify that now all men can go into His presence. No longer is this reserved for the High Priest once a year. It’s for all of us.
Now we have the ability, not only to have forgiveness, but to live our lives in communion with our heavenly Father. He has adopted us as sons and wants to spend time with us.
The ball is in our court now. He has made the way and now beckons us to Him. We are the ones who have to make the decision to receive what he has done.
Easter season is near. I pray that all of us will make a decision to walk and live in a deeper revelation of what he has done for us.
There’s always more to learn and more to receive. When we spend time with our heavenly Father and His Word, we have at our hand new realms of understanding and empowerment.
I pray that his will be the year we decide to do it!
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Deuteronomy 17-19
How do you keep people from Satan before they are equipped to fight against him? That is God’s challenge in dealing with the children of Israel.
Natural man is no match for the devil when he opens the door of his heart to enemy influence. There would come a time when Jesus would pay the price for the sin of Adam and send back Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of those who were His. Then those people would have the power to overcome the devil. But that time wasn’t here yet.
So God can’t teach the Israelites to stand against the devil; He has to settle for keeping them out of Satan’s territory. That’s why He is so strict about opening the doors to the devil.
When the people worship other gods, they are opening themselves to Satan, without even knowing it. When they are influenced by other pagans, or when they enter into sexual perversion, or when they take on the practices of the Canaanites, they open wide their hearts to be influenced away from the one true God. So our Father, out of His love for the people, keeps them from the evil one by harshly dealing with those who violate His parameters.
They must obey. That’s the only way their lives will be saved from their adversary.
When we keep in mind what God is dealing with and what is at stake, we understand the no tolerance policy of our Father. He has to keep a group of people faithful enough to God’s principles to be able to eventually bring his perfect sacrifice, Jesus, through them.
What a job! But our God accomplishes it, just like He will accomplish the rest of His Word. We have an awesome, Holy, powerful, loving God!
Mark 13:1-20
There are many interpretations concerning the end times. There are those who think all of this happened under Nero, when the Christians were fed to the lions, the temple was destroyed, and Jerusalem burned.
Yet, obviously, everything wasn’t over then, because we are still here. Many times there are seasons of prophecy being fulfilled, as certain aspects of the prophecy come around again and again. I think that this is what is happening here.
It seems to me that it would be hard to look around and not realize that we are in the end times. I don’t know how long this phase will last, but it’s hard to imagine things getting much worse.
This is not to bring fear, but wisdom. We should be actively pursuing our relationship with God. He is our refuge and strength, regardless of what is going on around us. We should also be actively sharing His love with those close by.
God’s Word is true, and His promises will come true.
Let’s commit ourselves to a greater pursuit of His presence, His Kingdom, and His plan.
“And those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”(Daniel 12:3)
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Deuteronomy 3, 4
“And now, O Israel, listen to the statutes and the judgments which I am teaching you to perform, in order that you may live and go in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers is giving you.”(4:1)
With this introduction, Moses begins one of his most inspiring messages to the Israelites. As he speaks, you can feel a father’s heart toward the people. Just think what he must be feeling. For the last forty plus years he has led this group on a mission from God.
He exhorts them to inquire from one end of the earth to the other and see if anything like this has ever been done before…”that a god has tried to go and take for himself a nation from within another nation by trials, by signs and wonders and by war and by a mighty hand and by an outstretched arm and by great terrors, as the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your eyes?”(4:34)
The significance of their relationship with God is beyond anything ever seen or heard. But Moses knows how easy it is for people to forget unless they are reminded over and over. So he is gving them a final charge.
They must remember that “the Lord, He is God in Heaven above and in the earth below; there is no other.”(4:39)
He warns them of making idols with their hands. Today, idols are still made with hands, but they usually aren’t of wood or stone. They are bank accounts, stock portfolios, or even education – anything that you might trust more than God.
All of us have to guard our hearts so that we are locked into the One True God.
Mark 10:32-52
Blind Bartimaeus has faith and he boldly shows it. His crying out annoys the disciples, but not Jesus. Jesus hears the faith in his voice.
When Bartimaeus casts aside his cloak, he is showing faith. Blind people of that day wore cloaks to signify their handicap, so as he casts it aside, he is indicating that he won’t be needing it anymore.
“Go your way; your faith has made you well.”(v. 52) If we can just grasp this, our lives will change forever. Jesus is still in the healing and delivering business, and our faith can still make us well.
Read, meditate, believe. Read, meditate, believe. That’s the way our faith comes to us.
I want to be like Bartimaeus, and I know that you do also. I don’t want to settle for the status quo; I want to believe – and receive – God’s best.
