Ready for battle? (3/29/2020)

This morning we are asked to meditate on:

2 Samuel 22:31 ESV

This God—his way is perfect;

the word of the LORD proves true;

he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

A shield is not a defensive weapon. You only strap on a shield when going into battle. Especially the type mentioned here which in the KJV is called a buckler.  It was small for hand-to-hand combat.

I prefer the KJV and the Septuagint rendering of “trust” rather than “refuge”. Refuge, as we learned last week happens in the “keep”.  The keep is no place for a battle shield!

2 Samuel 22:31 KJV

As for God, his way is perfect;

the word of the LORD is tried:

he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

Let’s ready ourselves for battle as Kevin unpacks Ephesians 6:14–17.

Week 2 of Quarantine (3/27/2020)

You can hear it in the subject of the email. You know what people are starting to ask. When will it be over?

Well today, our verse for meditation calls us to . . . Wait!

Psalms 27:14

Wait for the LORD;

be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the LORD!

Let’s dive into the second phrase. What happens when we wait?  We become strong.  But how?

The cause of our strength is courage to wait. And that faith we know is a gift. What David describes is God’s wonderful supply of courage and strength as we wait on Him.  The KJV says it this way:

Psalms 27:14

Wait on the LORD:

be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Looking forward to Kevin cracking open Ephesians 6:10–11.   

The Keep (3/15/2020)

We are waking up to a differrent type of Sunday.  Social distancing is becoming a reality, because the virus is a reality. We exponentially slightly behind the rest of the world and taking the appropriate steps to halt the disease.  We had a case uptown that has probably triggered community spread. 

Do not take this lightly, but understand what we are about to meditate upon is very true:

Psalm 59:16

But I will sing of your strength;    I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
    and a refuge in the day of my distress.

God is both our high tower of strength and our place of retreat. 

Castles were designed with two sections. The outer walled section from which the battle was initially fraught and an impenetrable inner core called the “Keep” to which retreat could be made. 

What do you think was at the bottom of the Keep?  It was the castle’s well. A castle would fall if the water source failed.  A simple technique to capture a castle was to poison the surrounding water. Only a castle with a deep well survived. 

Today, dig your well deeper. Because there will be days when kinks in your armor will let Satan’s arrows through. And retreat will be necesssary. 

Strive Together (2/15/2020)

Tomorrow is missions Sunday with a Joint Sunday School class where we will hear from five supported workers from around the globe.

When we get to worship, we will then be asked to meditate on 

Romans 15:30

I appeal to you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God on my behalf,

For me the word that leaps off the page is “strive together”. It is one word in Greek.  Paul is asking for them to be on the same team with him.  But note which team.  He is not asking them to get into the boat, to travel to foreign lands, or to preach the Word.

He is asking them to pray.

As you attend Sunday School, as you hear of the efforts of our supported workers, listen for what they would have you pray.  In that way we will be striving together.  Then let's expectantly watch for what God will do.

Waiting all-around (1/29/2020)

Tomorrow, we will be told to wait, to wait for the promise of the Father. 

And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, “you heard from me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.”

Acts 1:4-5 English Standard Version (ESV)

The word perimenó is only used here. It has two parts -- the command "wait" and the adverb "all-around".  A watchman looks in a direction.  They man a station of the wall and scan the horizon for danger.  

But they were being told to wait while being surrounded.  Cowering in a locked room, they would receive the promise of the Father and the world would never be the same.

I could wish nothing better for you.