Mark 1

12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.

Why did the Spirit drive Jesus into the desert? Affirmation of identity.

Exodus 34-36

2 Then Moses called Bezalel and Aholiab, and every gifted artisan in whose heart the LORD had put wisdom, everyone whose heart was stirred, to come and do the work.

When the people's hearts are stirred, they will serve willingly.

Matthew 28

20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Teach obedience.

Exodus 31-33

1 Now when the people saw that Moses delayed coming down from the mountain, the people gathered together to Aaron, and said to him, “Come, make us gods that shall go before us

We cannot let faith give way to self sufficiency just because of delay.

Matthew 27

27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him.

God has not given us a Spirit of fear.

Exodus 29-31

I have put wisdom in the hearts of all the gifted artisans, that they may make all that I have commanded you

God gives a vision and provides the people to make it happen.

Matthew 26

12 For in pouring this fragrant oil on My body, she did it for My burial.

We talk of being anointed by the Spirit to preach or to pray, or to do some great thing for God, but unless the anointed knows death to the flesh, there will be no experience of resurrection power.

53 Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?

Prayer is less about accessing the power of God, and more about submitting to the will of God.

Exodus 26-28

30 And you shall raise up the tabernacle according to its pattern which you were shown on the mountain.

We should be serious in taking our strategies from the presence of God and not just what is popular. If Moses had based the design on the latest ideas, he would've built a pyramid. To do that would've taken longer than 40years, required large amounts of forced labour, and demanded that they never move on to the promised land. A building programme can sometimes throw a church off its outward vision, and become a containment facility. God isn't interested in buildings, or structures or programmes for their own sake..like the ark, they are just temporary, to get us to our destination.

Matthew 25

46 And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Everlasting. The decree, the punishment, the destruction will be final and absolute, and never repealed. There is no extra grace, when Grace has been rejected, no more mercy, when Mercy has been refused. Receive Jesus today whilst you still have a today.

Exodus 23-25

25 “So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. 26 No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfill the number of your days.

I receive that for my household in Christ Jesus.

10 and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. 11 But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank.

I like that: they met with God and ate and drank... they enjoyed His company.

Matthew 24

44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

If I have 8 hours left, what will I do?

Exodus 20-22

20 “And if a man beats his male or female servant with a rod, so that he dies under his hand, he shall surely be punished. 21 Notwithstanding, if he remains alive a day or two, he shall not be punished; for he is his property.

??? He is his property? Physical beating is okay as long as the slave doesn't die... because he is his property??? I do not understand, but I know the God who gave this instruction (or like the divorce laws, this concession for our depravity) that He himself became a servant, and was beaten with rods.

Wow.

I am so blessed by what you write Tom. You see the revelation of Jesus everywhere. Your commentaries train my eyes to recognise Him, and inspire worship. In Him we live and move and have our being!

Exodus 1-18

Though a saviour figure in Israel's history, Joseph reveals one of his flaws at the start of Exodus - he dies. Without Joseph around, the new Pharoah takes a negative view of God's people. God hears their cry and remembers His covenant - We can only rely on God's power because we know He keeps His promises concerning what He will do with that power. He again provides a saviour figure, in this case Moses. He approaches Pharoah knowing God is with him - a "Man-and-God" saviour. God demonstrates His authority through various signs (similar to what Jesus does during his ministry). Moses leads the people out of slavery. God wants them to be free to worship Him. Thus, in Exodus we begin to see what true freedom is.
Moses begins to act as judge for the people, but realises it is too much for one man, so delegates others to help. One God, but a plurality of people are needed to do the work.

Matthew 23

29 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets and adorn the monuments of the righteous, 30 and say, ‘If we had lived in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.’ 31 “Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ guilt.

9 Do not call anyone on earth your father; for One is your Father, He who is in heaven.

We live out of the source of our identity. If I identify with my heavenly father, I am free to honour other "fathers" as gifts from Him; receiving the good, and rejecting the bad. But, if I identify with earthly fathers as the source of my identity, then I make them my idol, and will be limited by their failures.

Exodus 17-19

15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner;[c] 16 for he said, “Because the LORD has sworn: the LORD will have war with Amalek from generation to generation.”

The power of declaration.

11 Now I know that the LORD is greater than all the gods; for in the very thing in which they behaved proudly, He was above them.”

Why should we ever be intimidated? God is greater in us than anything we face.

Matthew 22

16 And they sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.

They lied with truth they didn't believe. There is a real irony here: they flattered Jesus because they thought He'd be caught by their flattery and good opinion, but he didn't "regard the person of men" !!

Exodus 14-16

14 The LORD will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.” 15 And the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. 16 But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it.

The heart of the Lord has never been that we be passive, but that we be partners in His deliverance. We are God's ambassadors, His fellow labourers, and He desires to work His wonders by our hands. Less crying and more commanding is needed. Go forward!

3 The LORD is a man of war; The LORD is His name.

Good to remenber when assailed by sickness or accusation or doubt or any other enemy

14 “The people will hear and be afraid; Sorrow will take hold of the inhabitants of Philistia.

Its encouraging to know the impact of testimony on the enemy's camp!

Matthew 21

you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her

I love it that God is prepared to speak more than once to give us faith. In case we didn't get it when we saw the donkey, hopefully revelation came when we saw the colt. He is willing to give us all the faith we lack.

Exodus 11-13

3 And the LORD gave the people favor in the sight of the Egyptians.

Favour with God is worth everything else. He makes our enemies our source of provision! Thankyou for the shed blood of the Lamb, Jesus, that brings me favour where I should have known disgrace!

Matthew 20

It doesn't matter how long we've stood idle. The work is still there, and so is the reward: right now is good enough!

Exodus 8-10

As long as Pharaoah has some last vestiges of strength left. As long as his magicians can accomplish for themselves what God can do. As long as there is at least some wheat crops left, then Pharoah will not release the people of God. How true is this in our own lives? We rely on what we can do and understand with the natural mind. We function as Christians almost entirely inside the realm of our own experience, and never step out into the unknown, what Paul refers to as the obedience of faith. Does it take the shattering of our old identity (or in Pharaoahs case his dynasty) to release the resurrection power of God within?

Genesis 28-50 (Catch up time!)

Moving from Jacob to Joseph (with a little bit of Judah and Esau here and there), we cannot fail to see that even when God's people mess up, God keeps things on track. The family line that would lead to Christ is protected: the people of God (represented by Jacob and his sons) are saved by a single rescuer (Joseph) who is rejected by his own, punished though he was innocent, and yet ultimately provides salvation from the famine. We see how God chooses to work, and we get an imperfect glimpse of Christ - 'his own knew him not' - 'he was punished for our iniquities' - 'the bread of life'.

Matthew tomorrow!

Matthew 19

12 For there are eunuchs who were born thus from their mother’s womb, and there are eunuchs who were made eunuchs by men, and there are eunuchs who have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake. He who is able to accept it, let him accept it.”

Focus.

Exodus 5-7

work vs worship

Exodus 5-7

work vs worship

Exodus 5-7

work vs worship

Matthew 18

35 “So My heavenly Father also will do to you if each of you, from his heart, does not forgive his brother his trespasses.”

Unforgiveness causes torment. Forgive and be healed.

Exodus 2-4

she had compassion on him, and said, “This is one of the Hebrews’ children.” 7 Then his sister said to Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and call a nurse for you from the Hebrew women, that she may nurse the child for you?”

Even when people's hearts are stirred, they still need instruction.

Matthew 17

However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

Unless we know how to walk in His authority in our own flesh, How can we hope to set others free?

Exodus 1

21 And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them.

He is a good boss...truly.

Genesis 49-50

20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.

God is not the author of evil, but He works it for good. He is always, only good.

Matthew 16

How effective are our efforts to share the gospel? Jesus told Peter it was the Father who gave Peter the revelation that Jesus is the Son of God. He then told them not to go and tell anyone else. We have to pray as much as we speak, or all our speaking will be in vain.

Genesis 46-48

4 I will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also surely bring you up again; and Joseph will put his hand on your eyes.”

Joseph would carry his father's vision, and God would complete it. Jacob only had to play his part. We are not responsible for completion, just for the next step.

Matthew 15

those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

So the clues to discover the nature of a man's heart are in his words?

Gen 43-45

The sovereign grace of God is overwhelming, that Joseph's brothrs should experience such favour and provision because of their wicked act all those years ago.

Matthew 9, Genesis 25-27

(Genesis) Jacob's relationship with Esau is far from perfect, and the Lord knew it all before they were born (25v23).
Matthew 9 - The authority of Christ is shown again. Ordinary people flock to Jesus, but the religious leaders denounce him (9v34). Is there a temptation for us as teachers to begrudge giving all authority to Jesus?

Matthew 14

23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.

Another obvious point: sometimes prayer doesn't happen unless you send people away.

Genesis 40-42

God gives clear and specific insight to Joseph. Dreams must be carried out through wise, strategic interpretation.

Matthew 13

Behold, a sower went out to sow.

Its really obvious, but there is no seed anywhere without the sower going out to sow.

gen 37-39

Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez.

Breakthrough is sudden, and unexpected. I am relieved to know my life belongs to the Lord of the breakthrough. In a moment my worst crisis can become His greatest victory.

Genesis 22-24, Matthew 8

Matthew 8 - Following on from 7v29 ('He was teaching them as one who had authority') chapter 8 reveals Jesus' authority over sickness (1-4), soldiers (5-13), demons (14-17), the elements (23-27) and more demons (28-34). After all this, the chapter closes with people begging him to leave their region.
In Genesis 22, Abraham responds in faith to the command of the Lord, trusting His promise in any circumstance. Representing the people of God, Isaac is spared, and God provides an alternative sacrifice.

Genesis 19-21, Matthew 7

Genesis 19 - Wow - Lot had chosen what he thought was the best land to settle on, but what a mess he ends up in!
Matthew 7v24-27 - We must strive every day to build a house upon a rock - to follow Christ and obey His will.

Matthew 12

5 Or have you not read in the law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath, and are blameless?

What a practical God.

Genesis 34-36

This was the Anah who found the water in the wilderness as he pastured the donkeys of his father Zibeon.

In the midst of a chapter listing hierarchichal command structures we find this revelation: Anah found wellsprings in the desert because he simply served his dad. Loyalty cannot be commanded; it must be nurtured.

Matthew 11

29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

There is rest in humility, because we accept the small task and do it well, and do not despise the day of small beginnings or labour under unrealistic goals.

Genesis 31-33

The God of Abraham, the Fear of Isaac

Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.

Isaac knew that God could take his life, and had mercifully preserved it, not as a theological concept, but an actual experience...we need God to reveal this truth to our hearts too.

Matt 9-10

20 for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

Powerful words on our lips.

Genesis 25-30

30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Please feed me with that same red stew, for I am weary.” Therefore his name was called Edom.

You are what you eat: your idol becomes your identity.

Matt 8

Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.

Jesus is pleased with faith that doesn't require big manifestations of His presence in order to believe. We seek His presence to enjoy His company.

Gen 22-24

1 Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the LORD had blessed him in every way.

Follow the Lord and ultimately the blessings will follow you.

Matthew 7

6 “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

Know when to move on

Gen 19-21

“This one came in to stay here, and he keeps acting as a judge"

12 Then the men said to Lot, “Have you anyone else here? Son-in-law, your sons, your daughters, and whomever you have in the city—take them out of this place!

We need to be sensitive to God's call to leave the people and move on as much as to stay and preach.

Sarah and Abimelech; Jonah and the sailors. Both stories demonstrate the consequence of hiding our identity out of fear. If we are not bold to acknowledge our Master, the principalities around us will assume mastery of us and the people become barren, as will we.

Genesis 16-18, Matthew 6

Matthew 6 contains alot about private life - what you look at, what you worry about, and what you do for God that is unseen. But He 'sees in secret', and will provide what we need now to do His will, and keeps a reward in heaven.
Hagar recognises the all-seeing ability of the Lord - 'You are a God of seeing' (Genesis 16v13). The Lord goes on to make covenants with Abraham, involving circumcision (a sign of the covenant) and offspring (the fulfilment of a promise). God's sovereign choice is made - He will bless Ishmael, but His covenant will be with Isaac.

Genesis 13-15, Matthew 5

The sermon on the mount! "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." As a child of God, you can be chased out of town, but you can never lose your home.
(Genesis 15v6) 'And so he believed the Lord, and he counted it to him as righteousness.' Abram is saved by faith - he believes the promises of the Lord. A pivotal moment.

Genesis 10-12, Matthew 4

The tower of Babel reveals the pride of mankind, and the desire to be 'great on the earth'. God is not impressed even by the united efforts of the people. They wanted to be self-sufficient. God goes on to choose a single man, Abram, with his family. Abram would be God-sufficient - "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you..." (12v2).
In Matthew, Jesus is tempted by Satan, and reveals the secret of a righteous life - living by the word of God alone.

Broken computer!

Hi, John, the computer has been broken for the last couple of days, so that's why no posts from me. Will catch up tonight, Ruth has fixed it herself, putting in a new fan - clever girl!

Matthew 6

6 But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.

Victories was secured in Gethsemane before Golgotha. And all our battles must be fought in private first.

Gen 16-18

So Sarai said to Abram, “See now, the LORD has restrained me from bearing children. Please, go in to my maid; perhaps I shall obtain children by her.” And Abram heeded the voice of Sarai.

Pragmatic advice. Bad advice. Tough choice though. Wait, or in the absence of clear instruction just get on with it as best you know how? Or did Abram already understand the Lord's intention and chose to trust Sarai's advice instead?

Matthew 5

48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Complete. Mature. Perfect.

Genesis 13-15

the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete

This is a chilling phrase. We are headed in one of two directions: the completion of God's good work in us, or the completion of our iniquity. No in between.

Matthew 4

17 From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

"Repent" is the Greek word metanoeo. Metanoeo literally means to perceive afterwards. Repentance is primarily a change of mind and not a change of action. Fruit bears out the reality of the transformed mind, but when we seek change in our lives, it is our thought processes that must be tackled first. On the gates of the Nazi prison camps were written the words arbeit macht frei, but Jesus declared that the truth shall set us free. Perceiving the Kingdom, "rightly recognizing the body of Christ", is the pathway to progress.

Genesis 10-12

let us make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered abroad over the face of the whole earth.

Unity through publicity works. Common goals, sense of corporate identity reinforced by branding, logos, t-shirts, merchandising. Getting the company "name" out there reinforces internal loyalty through a sense of belonging.

Churches that are growing use the same techniques, although often the church name or the Pastor's name is the unifying factor. Is this a bad thing? The Salvation Army is a good example of a church that made much of corporate branding. Does this necessarily mitigate against ecumenical unity under the name of Jesus. Are we not better able to relate to others when we are confident in our own identity?

In retrospect, I think what I am writing about is expressing the vision of a church or a movement clearly.... but some of the churches that push hard down this route can seem meretricious.

One thing is clear: God will not give His glory to another, and unless our primary identification is with Jesus, then we are building on sand, and our unity will be shortlived.

Matthew 3

8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance

To what extent can we take cxredit for fruit? And yet we are responsible for it?

gen 7-9

6 “ Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.

Isn't it amazing to think that God is like us. That makes Him seem even more accessible and possible to relate to. I'm not sayin he's a stranger on a bus trying to make his way home or anything, just that He is not weird and alien: He thinks feels, cares, loves just like we do, but without sin.

Genesis 7-9

The human race is given a new start, but not a new heart. Canaan is cursed because of Ham's behaviour, and again we find a godly line and an ungodly line of descendants. Once in the promised land, the Israelites would not completely drive out the Canaanites, and would regret this.

Matthew 3

(3v15) "...to fulfil all righteousness..."
John feels it is inappropriate to baptise the Lord, but Jesus submits to this ordinance so that he may be the perfect human servant, and thus be the perfect sacrifice for humankind.

Matthew 2

More prophecy, to make clear to us that Jesus is the promised saviour, even in the specifics.

Genesis 4-6

(6v2) "...the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were beautiful..."
I understand this to mean the godly line of Seth and the ungodly line of Cain intermarried. This compromise leads to an infected religion - "all the people on earth had corrupted their ways" (6v12). Only Noah stands out - he alone represents the people of God. God passes judgment, but saves His remnant, Noah and his family.

Matthew 2

I'm going to sleep now to have some dreams. Just like Joseph.

Gen 4-6

"men began to call on the name of the LORD."

but

Enoch and Noah "walked with God", so that God could call on them and they answered.

Matthew 1 and Genesis 1-3

What struck me in both passages was the inclusion of prophecy - the curse regarding the serpent, and the arrival of Immanuel, "God with us". I realise again that God has it all planned out, even from the beginning of creation. What an assurance as we enter another new year.

Matthew 1

Joseph makes the wrong decision but in the right spirit:mercy. God has mercy on Joseph and re diredcts his steps.

BB 2009 Gen 1-3

A place for everything and everything in its place. All divided up and categorised. But teeming with life, not like a fossil museum. Everything is known, appreciated, valued, the hairs on Adam's head numbered.