July 14th - Joshua 20,21; Acts 1; Jeremiah 10; Matthew 24

sermonindex Jul 14, 2003

"Not one of all the LORD's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fullfilled". - Joshua 21:45To be honest with everyone I was finding it quite boring to read through judges 16-21, it seemed abit dry with all the allotments of land to the different tribes, and all the genelogy of names and of towns. I was thinking to myself well there is not much to take in here. But then I can to the final verse in today's reading from the book of Joshua and I was hit with the signifigance of all the chapters and verses before. Its awesome that God fullifilled his promises to all the tribes that were expecting it, and they were not just promises but 'good' promises. None of them failed, even though some tribes thought it was hard to take the land that was given to them because the enemy looked fierce, they have faith in the promise.Another intresting thing that I noticed from the whole chapter 20 is that it seems that the cities of refuge can be taken as a 'type' of Christ.What have you gleamed from your readings today, I still have to go and read acts ch1 hehe I like that one!

M

MommaBear Jul 14, 2003

"Not one of all the LORD's good promises to the house of Israel failed; every one was fullfilled". - Joshua 21:45That is the scripture I marked from our Joshua reading too. What a mighty God we serve!I also found it appropriate for the first day of this "Reading Through The Bible Forum" to begin with Acts Chapter 1. Jesus was taken up after He promised the disciples to wait until they were baptized with Holy Spirit. Also, Acts 1:14 says, "These all with one mind were continually devoting themselves to prayer". Isn't that what we should do?Another neat verse Acts 1:24, "And they prayed and said, "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all men, show which one of these two You have chosen". We must always pray and Jesus promised to set everything in order. Let us not fail to ask in prayer for guidance and direction in all things.

M

Maria Jul 15, 2003

"So the LORD gave Israel all the land which He had sworn to give to their fathers, and they possessed it and lived in it. And the LORD gave them rest on every side, according to all that He had sworn to their fathers, and no one of all their enemies stood before them; the LORD gave all their enemies into their hand." Joshua 21:43-44 I liked this verse. God gives us rest on every side when we enter into the Life of Christ (the Promised Land). Our enemies no longer "lord" over us. We walk in the freedom and liberty of the Spirit, no longer bound to this world, our former sins, our secret lusts."For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death." Romans 8:2--MariaP.S. I am also starting in January, if anyone would like to join me in studying extra...I read January 1 and July 14 today. Great stuff! =)

P

pfox Jul 15, 2003

I am also starting in January, if anyone would like to join me in studying extra...I read January 1 and July 14 today. Great stuff! =)Good Idea. I was really looking forward to the Pentateuch.

P

pfox Jul 15, 2003

I found verse six very interesting in reference to Jesus and the cities of refuge. "‘He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the manslayer shall return to his own city and to his own house, to the city from which he fled.’”(Josh. 20:6)Since Jesus is now our high priest, when we leave our city (our old life), we leave it forever since it would be impossible to outlive Him. "But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." (Heb. 9: 11 & 12)

M

Maria Jul 15, 2003

I found this interesting as well, but I interpreted it differently. "‘He shall dwell in that city until he stands before the congregation for judgment, until the death of the one who is high priest in those days. Then the manslayer shall return to his own city and to his own house, to the city from which he fled.’”(Josh. 20:6)Since this is based on the Law, let's look at the context:"'Also if one person sins unintentionally, then he shall offer a one year old female goat for a sin offering. The priest shall make atonement before the LORD for the person who goes astray when he sins unintentionally, making atonement for him that he may be forgiven. You shall have one law for him who does anything unintentionally, for him who is native among the sons of Israel and for the alien who sojourns among them. But the person who does anything defiantly, whether he is native or an alien, that one is blaspheming the LORD; and that person shall be cut off from among his people. Because he has despised the word of the LORD and has broken His commandment, that person shall be completely cut off; his guilt will be on him.’" Numbers 15:27-31We have all sinned against God -- most of us, unintentionally. Since Jesus is our "High Priest," because of His death we are enabled to return to our city freed from our crime.That's the only way I know to put it...I'll think about it and try to explain better what I'm thinking at a later time.Blessings,Maria

sermonindex Jul 15, 2003

"But you will recieve power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samari, and to the ends of the earth." - Acts 1:8The MAIN reason for the outpouring of the 'power' of the Holy Spirit is to make Christians effective for 'witnessing' to the truths that they have seen and heard. Its not for special manifestations, signs or wonders, the verse says the most important reason for the Holy Spirit is for boldness in sharing the gospel, also the second time they pray in acts and they ask for boldness in there witness. I am not negating signs, they will surely follow as a help to the witness but the law and the words are enough. This is proved in the parable of the Rich man and Lazarus when the rich man asks for someone to warn his family of the place of torment. but father abraham says that the testimony of the law and moses is enough and if they dont believe that then even if they see the most amazing miricale (raising of the dead) they will still not believe!

sermonindex Jul 15, 2003

"The shepherds are senseless and do not inquire of the Lord so they do not prosper and all their flock is scattered." - Jeremiah 10:21"Jesus answered: Watch out that no one decieves you." - Matthew 24:4There is a time coming when we will need to have a strong vital relationship with Jesus Christ, for even many of the shepards of the flock will not be in relationship with God and will not be 'inquiring of the Lord' but inquiring of their own minds and not getting fresh revelation from God. How important it is to pray and seek Gods will and purpose and leading for our lifes on a daily basis."Do not learn the ways of the nations or be terrified by signs in the sky, though the nations are terrified by them." - Jeremiah 10:1"At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and all the nations of the earth will mourn" - Matthew 24:30This was such an encouragement to me, we have calling to not 'be terrifed by them' by the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ! We should fear God and have awesome reverence for this day but its a time where we are going to meet our savior face to face for eternity what a wonderful time that will be! hallelujah! :-D

P

pfox Jul 15, 2003

"But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things to come, He entered through the greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this creation; and not through the blood of goats and calves, but through His own blood, He entered the holy place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption." (Heb. 9: 11 & 12)Hmmm. Looks like my own quote contradicts what I wrote. It is through the blood of Jesus (His death) that we have been set free.Well put, Maria.

sermonindex Jul 15, 2003

Its intresting to see how scriptures from all the four different readings are matching up and complimenting themselves. Praise God this is awesome. What an encouragement it is to read God's word with other saints across the world and be able to share what God has shown us!