DAILY, WEEKEND, AND HOLIDAY INTERNET EVANGELIZE TO THE WORLD MINISTRY

If You Have... Philippians 2:1 Excerpt In Philippians  1:27  Paul had written about living the Christ ian life in harmony with the message on which it is based. He followed that message with a call to show forth spiritual unity. This unity is possible because of the reality of the four qualities mentioned in Philippians   2:1 . The “if” clauses, being translations of first-class conditions in Greek, speak of certainties. So in this passage “if” may be translated “since.” Paul wrote here about realities, not questionable things. Paul appealed on the basis of (a)  encouragement from being united with Christ . . .  (b)  comfort from His love . . .  (c)  fellowship with the Spirit . . .  (d)  tenderness and compassion.  More Lightner, Robert P. “Philippians.”  The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures . Ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 653. Print.

Whose Staff Numbers 20:8 Excerpt It could well have been Aaron’s since it was kept “before the Lord ” ( v. Numbers 20: 10 ), in which case it was not for striking but to remind Israel of their contentiousness ( Numbers   17:25 ).17 Or it could have been for striking since, according to the priestly texts, Aaron’s rod was so used during the plagues ( Exod. 7:9 , Exod. 7: 20 ; Exod.  8:1 ,  13 ). However, it was more likely the rod of Moses, which had been employed in the performance of God’s miracles in the wilderness ( Exod. 14:16 ; Exod.  17:9 ). And, more relevantly, it was used in a previous instance of drawing water from a rock ( Exod. 17:1–7 ), in which it was identified as the one used to strike the Nile (e.g.,  Exod. 7:19–20 ). Note also “his (Moses’) rod” in verse Numbers 20: 11 . Ibn Ezra assumes that if this is so, then Moses’ rod was kept in the sanctuary, a most plausible conjecture since it (as well as Aaron’s) was called “ the rod...

God’s Son Passes the Test Excerpt Matthew emphasizes that Jesus , unlike Israel, passed his test in the wilderness.   Matthew makes this biblical background clear even in simple ways like saying the Spirit   led   Jesus into the wilderness, reflecting a common biblical motif of God guiding his people in the wilderness (as in  Ex 13:18 ,  21 ; Ex   15:13 , Ex 15: 22 ;  Deut 8:2 ). we should also note that Jesus quotes three texts from Deuteronomy , all of them commandments that Israel failed to obey but that Jesus is determined to obey. Like John , Jesus had to exit the confines of society for his supernatural encounter (see  comment  on Jn   3:1–12 ). The wilderness (translated  desert  in the NIV because few people lived there) was not a pleasant place: some believed the wilderness to be a special haunt of demons (see  comment  on Matthew   12:43 ; compare  1 Enoch  10:4 ;   4 Ma...

Seth—a new beginning from God Excerpt The only ray of hope in that dark day was God’s promise that a Redeemer would  one day be born of the woman and conquer the serpent ( John  3:15 ). But Abel was dead  so he couldn’t beget a child; and Cain, the unbelieving murderer, had wandered  off and built a city in the Land of Nod, east of Eden. Would God’s promise be  fulfilled? How could it be fulfilled? God is sovereign in all things and His plans aren’t frustrated by the foolish and sinful ways of mankind. Because He is the sovereign God , He “works all things according to the counsel of His will ” ( Eph.  1:11 ,  NKJV ). “But our God is in heaven ; He does whatever He pleases ” ( Ps.  115:3 ,  NKJV ). The Lord enabled Eve to conceive and bear a son whom she named Seth ( “granted” ) because God had appointed him to replace Abel.  More Wiersbe, Warren W.  Be Basic . Colorado Springs, CO: Chariot Victor Pub., 1998....

March 31: Gifts and Grace Numbers 35:1–36:13 ; 1 Corinthians 16:1–24 ; Psalm 30:1–12 “ Yahweh spoke to Moses on the desert plains of Moab beyond the Jordan across Jericho, saying, ‘Command the children of Israel that they give to the Levites from the inheritance of their property cities to live in; and you will give to the Levites pastureland all around the cities’ ” (Num 35:1–2). The idea of giving is ancient. Before God’s people even enter the promised land, they’re commanded to help the Levites—who will be serving them as spiritual leaders—by giving them cities. Now that God has given to the people, He asks that they give back to His work . There is an opportunity for obedience, and this obedience will come with the blessing of continued spiritual guidance from the people to whom they are giving the land. But giving is not the only concept at play here. Shortly after this, God asks the people to provide refuge cities for murderers ( Numbers 35:6–8 ). He institute...

Morning, March 31 Go To Evening Reading “With his stripes we are healed.” — Isaiah 53:5 Pilate delivered our Lord to the lictors to be scourged. The Roman scourge was a most dreadful instrument of torture. It was made of the sinews of oxen, and sharp bones were inter-twisted every here and there among the sinews; so that every time the lash came down these pieces of bone inflicted fearful laceration, and tore off the flesh from the bone. The Saviour was, no doubt, bound to the column, and thus beaten. He had been beaten before; but this of the Roman lictors was probably the most severe of his flagellations. My soul, stand here and weep over his poor stricken body. Believer in Jesus , can you gaze upon him without tears, as he stands before you the mirror of agonizing love? He is at once fair as the lily for innocence, and red as the rose with the crimson of his own blood . As we feel the sure and blessed healing which his stripes have wrought in us, does not our he...

March 31st Heedfulness v. hypocrisy in ourselves If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and He shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. 1 John 5:16 . If we are not heedful of the way the Spirit of God works in us, we shall become spiritual hypocrites. We see where other folks are failing, and we turn our discernment into the gibe of criticism instead of into intercession on their behalf. The revelation is made to us not through the acuteness of our minds, but by the direct penetration of the Spirit of God , and if we are not heedful of the source of the revelation, we shall become criticizing centres and forget that God says — “… he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death.” Take care lest you play the hypocrite by spending all your time trying to get others right before you worship God yourself. One of the subtlest burdens God ever puts on us as saints is this burden of discernment concerni...

March 31 The children of your Father which is in heaven Matt. 5:45 The best name by which we can think of God is Father. It is a loving, deep, sweet, heart-touching, name, for the name of father is in its nature full of inborn sweetness and comfort. Therefore, also, we must confess ourselves children of God , for by this name we deeply touch our God , since there is not a sweeter sound to the father than the voice of the child. Martin Luther  Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour . Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

Source of the Fire James 3:6 Excerpt the tongue is only the fuse; the source of the deadly fire is  hell  itself (lit., “Gehenna,” a place in the Valley of Hinnom south of Jerusalem where human sacrifice had been offered [ Jer.   7:31 ] and where continuous burning of rubbish made it a fit illustration of the lake of fire).  More Blue, J. Ronald. “James.”  The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures . Ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Vol. 2. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985. 828. Print.

In My Name John 14:13–14 ,  John  21–24 Excerpt In the biblical period, one’s name represented the person; it was a summary statement of someone’s character or reputation ( John   14:14 ). The name of Jesus pointed to his attributes , his person , and all that he had accomplished . It was no mere magical formula, but a confession of dependence, trust, and confidence in the person and work of Jesus the Messiah . Again the obedient saint would be the one who experiences God in this earthly life ( John   14:21 ). Jesus’ answer to Judas’ questions ( John  14:22–24 ) brings the discussion around full-circle back to John  13:34  (cf. John   14:23 ).  More Hughes, Robert B., and J. Carl Laney.  Tyndale Concise Bible Commentary . Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, 2001. Print. The Tyndale Reference Library.

Two Translations of Genesis 1:1-2 Genesis 1:1–2 Excerpt Two significant and differing interpretations of  Genesis 1:1–2  are believed to be true today. The first reads: “When God began to create the heavens and the earth, the earth was formless and empty.” This translation focuses on the state of the land before God began the creative activity that is recorded in the Genesis account. Those who accept this interpretation believe that God’s past involvement with creation began after the earth already existed in a formless and empty state. That is, the earth was formless and empty, and  then God began to create. According to this view, Genesis does not address how the earth originally came into existence in its formless and empty state, but what God did with the world already in existence. The second translation reads: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was empty, a formless mass ….” This traditional interpretation teaches t...

Comparisons in Romans 5:15-21 Romans 5:15–21 Excerpt Verses Romans 5: 15–21  contain six comparisons between Adam and the result of his sin and Jesus and the result of his redemptive work. Verses   Romans 5: 15  and  Romans 5 : 17   follow the pattern, “If A, how much more B.” Verse  Romans 5: 16  uses the negative form, “A is  not like B.” Verses  Romans 5 : 18 ,  Romans 5 : 19 ,  Romans 5 : 21   follow the pattern, “Just as A, so also B.”   More Mounce, Robert H.  Romans . Vol. 27. Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995. Print. The New American Commentary.

March 30: Taunting Death Numbers 33:50–34:29; 1 Corinthians 15:35–58 ; Psalm 29:1–11 My best friend’s mother, a dear family friend, died of Lou Gehrig’s disease (als). Over the span of three years, the disease attacked her nerve cells, starting with her hands and feet and moving inward to her vital organs. Every time I visited her, she would be changed—her cane became a wheelchair, and her warbled words were muffled into silence. Although she was fully alert, she slowly lost the ability to communicate her feelings and needs. In the end, only her eyes displayed the tumultuous feelings underneath. Those who confront the reality of death or the death of a loved one don’t doubt their own fallibility. They are closely acquainted with the reality that so many strangely disregard. And they cling to the hope of the resurrection that Paul eloquently relays, and that the Corinthians were slow to understand and believe: “We will all be changed, in a moment, in the blink of an eye, at the ...

Morning, March 30                      Go To Evening Reading “ He was numbered with the transgressors.” — Isaiah 53:12 Why did Jesus suffer himself to be enrolled amongst sinners? This wonderful condescension was justified by many powerful reasons. In such a character he could the better become their advocate . In some trials there is an identification of the counsellor with the client, nor can they be looked upon in the eye of the law as apart from one another. Now, when the sinner is brought to the bar, Jesus appears there himself . He stands to answer the accusation. He points to his side , his hands , his feet , and challenges Justice to bring anything against the sinners whom he represents ; he pleads his blood , and pleads so triumphantly, being numbered with them and having a part with them, that the Judge proclaims, “Let them go their way; deliver them from going down into the pit, for he hath found a...

March 30th Holiness v. hardness towards God And He … wondered that there was no intercessor. Isaiah 59:16 . The reason many of us leave off praying and become hard towards God is because we have only a sentimental interest in prayer. It sounds right to say that we pray; we read books on prayer which tell us that prayer is beneficial, that our minds are quieted and our souls uplifted when we pray; but Isaiah implies that God is amazed at such thoughts of prayer. Worship and intercession must go together, the one is impossible without the other. Intercession means that we rouse ourselves up to get the mind of Christ about the one for whom we pray. Too often instead of worshipping God , we construct statements as to how prayer works. Are we worshipping or are we in dispute with God —‘I don’t see how You are going to do it.’ This is a sure sign that we are not worshipping. When we lose sight of God we become hard and dogmatic. We hurl our own petitions at God’s throne an...

March 30 Take us the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vineyards; for our vineyards are in blossom Song of Sol. 2:15 ( R.V. ) How numerous the little foxes are! Little compromises with the world; disobedience to the still, small voice in little things; little indulgences to the flesh to the neglect of duty; little strokes of policy; doing evil in little things that good may come; and the beauty, and the fruitfulness of the vine are sacrificed! J. Hudson Taylor  Hardman, Samuel G., and Dwight Lyman Moody. Thoughts for the Quiet Hour . Willow Grove, PA: Woodlawn Electronic Publishing, 1997. Print.

The World in the Gospel of John John 3:16–17 ,  19 Excerpt In the Gospel of John , the world is the object of God’s salvation in Christ ( John   3:16 ; 12:47). Moreover, it is his creation through Christ ( John 1:3 ,  10 ). Yet the world apart from Christ stands under judgment ( John  16:8-11 ), hating Jesus’ followers , who have been separated from the world and are not of the world ( John  17:16 ). The dualism between God , Christ , and the disciples, on the one hand, and the world, on the other, is described regarding a sharp antinomy. Followers are urged to have nothing to do with the world, especially not to love it ( 1 John   2:15-17 ). At the same time, Jesus has explicitly not prayed for disciples to be taken out of the world (John  17:15 ). Even in the Fourth Gospel , the world continues to be God’s , in creation and salvation. It is the same world that Matthew has in view as he portrays the risen Jesus sending his disciples to...

The World in the Gospel of John John 3:16–17 ,  19 Excerpt In the Gospel of John , the world is the object of God’s salvation in Christ ( John   3:16 ; John 12:47). Moreover, it is his creation through Christ ( John   1:3 ,  10 ). Yet the world apart from Christ stands under judgment ( John   16:8-11 ), hating Jesus’ followers , who have been separated from the world and are not of the world ( John  17:16 ). The dualism between God , Christ , and the disciples, on the one hand, and the world, on the other, is described in terms of a sharp antinomy. Disciples are urged to have nothing to do with the world, especially not to love it ( 1 John   2:15-17 ). At the same time, Jesus has explicitly not prayed for disciples to be taken out of the world ( John   17:15 ). Even in the Fourth Gospel , the world continues to be God’s , in creation and salvation. It is the same world that Matthew has in view as he portrays the risen Jesus sending ...