Mark 4

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From: Jingle <misteringle@aol.com>

Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 16:03:54 -0800 (PST)

To: <misteringle@aol.com>

Subject: [5amcall] Mark 4

¹¹ And He said to them, "To you it has been given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God; but to those who are outside, all things come in parables

God gives clarity according to our heart's capacity; if we receive clearly and reject it anyway there is a greater judgement.

¹⁹ and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful.

The desire for other things...we must be singular in our vision.

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Posted By Jingle to 5amcall on 1/30/2010 12:03:00 AM

Leviticus 1-4

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From: Jingle <misteringle@aol.com>

Date: Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:57:35 -0800 (PST)

To: <misteringle@aol.com>

Subject: [5amcall] Leviticus 1-4

³ if the anointed priest sins, bringing guilt on the people, then let him offer to the LORD for his sin which he has sinned a young bull without blemish as a sin offering.

The Priest can bring the people into guilt. 

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Posted By Jingle to 5amcall on 1/29/2010 11:57:00 PM

Mark 2-3

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From: Jingle <misteringle@aol.com>

Date: Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:49:47 -0800 (PST)

To: <misteringle@aol.com>

Subject: [5amcall] Mark 2-3

    ⁵And He glanced around at them with vexation and anger, grieved at the hardening of their hearts, and said to the man, Hold out your hand. He held it out, and his hand was [completely] restored.

Is it right that I am never angry?

  ²⁷But no one can go into a strong man's house and ransack his household goods right and left and seize them as plunder unless he first binds the strong man; then indeed he may [thoroughly] plunder his house.


Simple principle. To take a city without dealing with principalities in prayer first is folly.

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Posted By Jingle to 5amcall on 1/27/2010 09:49:00 PM

Exodus 38-40

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From: Jingle <misteringle@aol.com>

Date: Tue, 26 Jan 2010 11:31:29 -0800 (PST)

To: <misteringle@aol.com>

Subject: [5amcall] Exodus 38-40

  ²¹They bound the breastplate by its rings to those of the ephod with a blue lace, that it might lie upon the skillfully woven band of the ephod and that the breastplate might not be loosed from the ephod, as the Lord commanded Moses.
Have we lost the sense of the command of God?

³⁰And they made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold and wrote upon it an inscription, like the engravings of a signet, HOLY TO THE LORD.


Do we realise whose name we wear as we make our careless choices?


³²When they went into the Tent of Meeting or came near the altar, they washed, as the Lord commanded Moses.


Preparation. Do we prepare for prayer? Do we recognise how fully we have been prepared; dressed and washed for prayer by Him who made us holy?

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Posted By Jingle to 5amcall on 1/26/2010 07:31:00 PM

Mark 1

10 And immediately, coming up from[d] the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove. 11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” 12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness.

When you know you are a Son, you are ready for sacrifice; it doen't work the other way round.

“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

That was Jesus' message. Does ours match? We know gospel means "good news". Is our emphasis on the good news or the bad news of the gospel? Conversely, do we neglect the call to repentance, to major lifestyle change?

23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”

Demons recognise Authority. All authority delegates from the Father. If we are submitted to God's authority, we are then able to establish that authority in our surroundings through prayer and command.

35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.

This is our pattern.

Exodus 34-37

1 And the LORD said to Moses, “Cut two tablets of stone like the first ones, and I will write on these tablets the words that were on the first tablets which you broke.

God holds leaders to account. He doesn't say, "the first tablets which got broken". He does say, "the first tablets which you broke."

“The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, 7 keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty

God's goodness is linked to his determination that people experience the consequence of their actions.

29 Now it was so, when Moses came down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the Testimony were in Moses’ hand when he came down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone while he talked with Him.

Intimacy with God always affects how we appear to men; we should take confidence from that, but often we don't recognise the change God is working in our lives.

Matthew 28

19 Go therefore[c] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit

It is important to receive the full ministry of the Trinity in our lives: the love of the Father, the forgiveness of the Son, the power of the Spirit.
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Exodus 30-33

15 The rich shall not give more and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when you give an offering to the LORD, to make atonement for yourselves.

The price of forgiveness is the same for everyone.

25 Now when Moses saw that the people were unrestrained (for Aaron had not restrained them, to their shame among their enemies),

Fathers shepherd their kids in the way they should go. They give direction and are not easily led by popular choice.

18 And he said, "Please, show me Your glory."
19 Then He said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

The glory of God is His goodness.
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Matthew 27

14But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

The more confident we are in our identity, the less we feel we have to defend it.

Exodus 22-29

The diligent preparation of the priestly garment and the deliberate and thorough consecration of the priests impresses me. Though our salvation in Christ is so much more straightforward, we must be no less diligent in our pursuit of consecration to Him.

Matthew 26

11For you always have the poor among you, but you will not always have Me.

Give while the opportunity lasts.

Generosity can be offensive to the mean-spirited and the greedy: immediately after Mary pours her wealth out at Jesus' feet, Judas leaves to sell Jesus.

Exodus 23-26

12Six days you shall do your work, but the seventh day you shall rest and keep Sabbath, that your ox and your donkey may rest, and the son of your bondwoman, and the alien, may be refreshed.

You may cope without rest, but you'll burn out those around you (and actually you can't cope either).

Reflecting on the detail God gave to Moses regarding the design of the tabernacle makes me wonder if we seek Him enogh for the detailed design of our lives.

Matthew 24

41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels

Hell wasn't made for man; the less that go there the better.

Exodus 20-22

19 Then they said to Moses, “You speak with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.”

The same temptation to delegate relationship remains today.


31 “And you shall be holy men to Me: you shall not eat meat torn by beasts in the field; you shall throw it to the dogs.

It is not humility to undermine your identity.

Matthew 23

34 Therefore, indeed, I send you prophets, wise men, and scribes: some of them you will kill and crucify, and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues and persecute from city to city

God sends scribes. Jesus ordains writers for Kingdom missions.
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Exodus 17-19

15 And Moses built an altar and called its name, The-LORD-Is-My-Banner;

The Banner declares identity, and in that identity is the intended victory.

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.

C'mon! Egypt displayed its ability to curse and threaten, but the bully got his comeuppance!
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Matthew 21-22

Psalm 8:2 Out of the mouths of babes and unweaned infants You have established strength because of Your foes, that You might silence the enemy and the avenger.(A)

Matthew 21:16And they said to Him, Do You hear what these are saying? And Jesus replied to them, Yes; have you never read, Out of the mouths of babes and unweaned infants You have made (provided) perfect praise?(D)

It was not explicit in the version of Psalm 8.2 used by most translations where the strength came from. Jesus reveals that God's manifest strength is established through praise (quoting the Septuagint version of Psalm 8.2 I think).

43I tell you, for this reason the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce the fruits of it.

Where is the fruit in my ministry? How can I become more fruitful?!

Exodus 13-16

15The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry to Me? Tell the people of Israel to go forward!

How often are we looking for a response from Heaven< and Heaven is wqaiting for a response from Earth?

3The Lord is a Man of War; the Lord is His name.

We cannot forget this. He still fights injustice; he has not changed. Those outside the blood covenant today are not privy to the benefits of that covenant.

26Saying, If you will diligently hearken to the voice of the Lord your God and will do what is right in His sight, and will listen to and obey His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases upon you which I brought upon the Egyptians, for I am the Lord Who heals you.

Healing and obedient action go hand in hand in the gospels. So often Jesus gives basic instruction: offer your gift, sin no more etc. Conversely, a disobedient lifestyle will put its strain on the body. This does not mean every sickness is caused by an individual's sin as the book of Job attests.

matthew 19-20

12Saying, These [men] who came last worked no more than an hour, and yet you have made them rank with us who have borne the burden and the [m]scorching heat of the day.

13But he answered one of them, Friend, I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a denarius?

14Take what belongs to you and go. I choose to give to this man hired last the same as I give to you.

15Am I not permitted to do what I choose with what is mine? [Or do you begrudge my being generous?] Is your eye evil because I am good?

Do I labour for the size of my reward? Is that my motive, or is it love for the Master? If it is the latter, I cannot be disappointed.

Exodus 9-12

48 And when a stranger dwells with you and wants to keep the Passover to the LORD, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it; and he shall be as a native of the land. For no uncircumcised person shall eat it.

The Israel of God is not, nor has it ever been, exclusive. We now are privileged to be part of this noble vine because Jesus Christ has circumcised our hearts.

Matthew 17-18

5While he was still speaking, behold, a shining cloud [[b]composed of light] overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, This is My Son, My Beloved, with Whom I am [and [c]have always been] delighted. Listen to Him!(A)

The Amplified Bible's phrase "have always been delighted" led me to ponder how wonderful a blessing we have been brought into in Christ. He will be forever delighted by me in His Son, as if He had always delighted in me (which in His Son, He has).

Exodus 5-8

21And the foremen said to them, The Lord look upon you and judge, because you have made us a rotten stench to be detested by Pharaoh and his servants and have put a sword in their hand to slay us.

Time and again Leaders are knocked by their people when the answer is not immediate. Leadership requires faithful tenacity, and a forgiving heart.

5I have also heard the groaning of the Israelites whom the Egyptians have enslaved

Is this really what they want? Yes, deep down.

Matthew 15-16

13He answered, Every plant which My heavenly Father has not planted will be torn up by the roots.

All roads do not lead to God.

19I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind (declare to be improper and unlawful) on earth [r]must be what is already bound in heaven; and whatever you loose (declare lawful) on earth [s]must be what is already loosed in heaven.(E)

Heaven is what we pray to Earth. No sickness in Heaven, so we bind it up and cast it out here. Your Kingdom come O Lord!

Exodus 1-4

12But the more [the Egyptians] oppressed them, the more they multiplied and expanded, so that [the Egyptians] were vexed and alarmed because of the Israelites.

Pressure builds strength.

24And God heard their sighing and groaning and [earnestly] remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob.

God hears our cries according to His covenant.

4And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush and said, Moses, Moses! And he said, Here am I.

God watches our reactions.

Matthew 13-14

19 When anyone hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is he who received seed by the wayside.

Its really important to connect with the people using relevant examples so they can understand the gospel appeal.

22 Now he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.

A God given vision will be provided for; but provision without vision leads to dissipation.

10 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison.

If we call sinners to repentance, we will definitely experience some level of attack.

36 and begged Him that they might only touch the hem of His garment. And as many as touched it were made perfectly well.

Just the peripheries of His presence brings healing. How deep can we really go in encountering God now?
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Genesis 46-50

8 " Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise;
      Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
      Your father's children shall bow down before you.

Joseph dreamt his brothers would bow before him, and they did. Judah was blessed to know his brothers would bow before him. God raises up one and puts down another. Promotion comes from the Lord.
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Matthew 12

13 Then He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and it was restored as whole as the other. 14 Then the Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.

It is amazing how theology can blind us to fruit. Discernment works with Love

16 Yet He warned them not to make Him known

The discretion of Jesus is interesting indeed. He didn't rely on advertising at all!

36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned

Sobering words. I shall give account for every thoughtless comment.

42 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

Genuine humility does not hide giftedness to people's hurt.

Genesis 37-45

8 And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

Obvious wisdom, but easy to forget: consider who you share your dreams with, as not everyone wants you to achieve your goal. People are rarely disinterested.

Its amazing the level of deceit in Jacob's household. Reuben deceives The boys, the boys deceive Reuben, they all deceive their Dad regarding Joseph's whereabouts. Jacob of course spent much of his life being tricked by his uncle, Laban. God saw Jacob's heart when he deceived his own Father and his brother, and God still blessed him, but boy did Jacob ever reap what He sowed.

8 And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD; therefore He killed him also.

Family first.

23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority,[c] because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.

I read that and assume that Joseph was diligent and wise, which may well have been true, but its not what the verse says is it? The Lord was with him; the Lord made him prosper. (When recruiting staff, look for the level of favour on a person's life in other areas as well as their natural abilities).

8 So now it was not you who sent me here, but God; and He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.

Joseph changed from a proud son to a wise father.

Matthew 11

1 Now it came to pass, when Jesus finished commanding His twelve disciples, that He departed from there to teach and to preach in their cities.

Jesus' City-wide campaigns were built upon the work His disciples began.

25 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. 26 Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. 27 All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him. 28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 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. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

Jesus is rejected by Chorazin and Capernaum, but thanks God that they didn't get it, because God is in charge of who gets it. This is why His soul could rest and not struggle with the fear of failure.

Genesis 32-36

10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. 11 Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children.

Practical humility: if you don't recognise the source, you won't be able to sustain the supply.

24 Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.

Wrestling with God? What do we expect in our pursuit of God? What does an "encounter" look like? Is there a normative experience of God?

10 And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me.

Having wrestled God, Jacob meets Esau expecting a struggle, but instead finds "the face of God". Battles wrought in the Spirit impose the face of God on our circumstances.

5 And they journeyed, and the terror of God was upon the cities that were all around them, and they did not pursue the sons of Jacob.

Have we any idea how the world really perceives us?

Matthew 10

27 “Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops.

Private revelation is our priority because it must precede public proclamation.

28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

The fear of Isaac.

Genesis 28-31

13 And behold, the LORD stood above it and said: “I am the LORD God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. 14 Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.”

God can speak so specifically through dreams. Not just vague symbols, but detailed conversation. I want greater interaction with Him. Why should someone under an inferior covenant enjoy greater intimacy than me? I seek your face O God!

53 The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, and the God of their father judge between us.” And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.

God is Holy, and worthy of fear.

Copied from http://www.avonmennonite.ca/sermonchat/?p=37

Isaac gets found out, gets a good stiff lecture, and then, oddly, things really start to go his way: he is blessed, incredibly blessed, so much so that the tables are reversed: Isaac had settled in the area as a refugee from famine, and now has more food than he knows what to do with; he began the story afraid of the Philistine and what they might do to him, now they are afraid of him. The man that was told by God to stay, is now told in verse 16 by a man, Abimilech, to leave.

After this the story is all about the wells. The Philistines begin by filling each of the wells Isaac’s father had dug. Isaac moves to Gerar and opens up some wells his father had dug previously, and gives them the same names that his father had given them, which was a way of asserting his property rights to the wells.

He digs 2 more wells, and each time the locals fight argue with him about it and he gives in and lets them have it while he simply moves on.

The third time he digs a well, they leave him alone.

The fear of Isaac

Something astonishing seems to have happened to Isaac somewhere around verse 16, so far as I can tell; somehow, this man who was afraid for his life that he was willing to pass his wife off as his sister, is so secure in his position that he is willing to walk away from his property, his hard work and his legal rights.

There is one last thing that is worth mentioning about the Fear of Isaac that I see in this chapter: the fear of Isaac, the fear of God inspires a response from others as well. Here the Fear of God makes such an impression on Abimilech that he says to Isaac, clearly, you are blessed; in Genesis 31.42 Jacob says that it is the fear of Isaac that has prevented Laban from doing more harm to Jacob than he did.

Isaac gets found out, gets a good stiff lecture, and then, oddly, things really start to go his way: he is blessed, incredibly blessed, so much so that the tables are reversed: Isaac had settled in the area as a refugee from famine, and now has more food than he knows what to do with; he began the story afraid of the Philistine and what they might do to him, now they are afraid of him. The man that was told by God to stay, is now told in verse 16 by a man, Abimilech, to leave.

After this the story is all about the wells. The Philistines begin by filling each of the wells Isaac’s father had dug. Isaac moves to Gerar and opens up some wells his father had dug previously, and gives them the same names that his father had given them, which was a way of asserting his property rights to the wells.

He digs 2 more wells, and each time the locals fight argue with him about it and he gives in and lets them have it while he simply moves on.

The third time he digs a well, they leave him alone.

The fear of Isaac

Something astonishing seems to have happened to Isaac somewhere around verse 16, so far as I can tell; somehow, this man who was afraid for his life that he was willing to pass his wife off as his sister, is so secure in his position that he is willing to walk away from his property, his hard work and his legal rights.

Apparently, when God is on our side, others will see it.

St Clement of Rome was an early church bishop, a disciple of the Apostle Peters, and in a letter that he wrote to the Corinthian church at the beginning of the 100’s he writes, “Let us rather offend men… than [offend] God. Let us reverence the Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was given for us…

Clement of Rome – 1st epistle to the Corinthians, chapter 21

(I know there isn't a chapter 21: this was cut and pasted, and I'm leaving it in till I work out the right passage he is actually commentating on)

Genesis 17-44

17-20: A promise, a place and a people. Christ is the ultimate fulfilment of God's promises to Abraham - Christ is the place (we are baptised into Christ) and he is the people (we receive his righteousness and become sons of God).

21-24: The people of God (represented by Isaac) are saved by a substitute provide by God.

25-28: The promises of God again point to the Messiah - 'In your offspring all the nations will be blessed' (26v4)

29-32: Jacob, who deceived Esau, is in turn deceived by Laban. He ends up fleeing, and must accept the forgiveness of Esau.

33-36: The promise of a King (35v11)

37-40: Joseph - the son becomes a servant - the innocent is punished.

41-44: The servant becomes a prince, and thus sustains the lives of God's people.

Matthew 9

38 Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

Sent. Thrust. Forced. Propelled.

Genesis 25-27

35 But he said, “Your brother came with deceit and has taken away your blessing.”

I am reassured that Jacob's desire to get the blessing of God was honoured, despite his ill-conceived ways of getting it. Bad theology will not stop a heart that desires God (not forever anyway).

Matthew 8

12 But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Doubt is a dangerous thing.

Genesis 22-24

2 Then He said, “Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”
3 So Abraham rose early in the morning

Be quickest with the toughest task.

27 And he said, “Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who has not forsaken His mercy and His truth toward my master. As for me, being on the way, the LORD led me to the house of my master’s brethren.”

We find the answer as we look.

Matthew 7

2For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

ALL our judgements must be made with a heart of mercy, hoping and praying for LIFE in those we adjudge.

Genesis 19-21

16And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the LORD being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city.

May the mercy of God keep my imagination and that of my people from lingering in unholy places.

Matthew 6

3 But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,

Private.

Genesis 16-18

13 And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”

Nothing too hard.

Matthew 5

8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.

Pure here means cleansed. Seeing God really begins with a revelation of forgiveness.

10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.

Am I hiding, or just hiding what I believe?

Genesis 13-15

11 Then Lot chose for himself

Abram gave Lot the choice, Lot chose for himself. One put the other first and was ultimately exalted; the other put himself first and in the end did not prosper.

14 Now when Abram heard that his brother was taken captive, he armed his three hundred and eighteen trained servants who were born in his own house, and went in pursuit as far as Dan. 15 He divided his forces against them by night, and he and his servants attacked them and pursued them as far as Hobah, which is north of Damascus. 16 So he brought back all the goods, and also brought back his brother Lot and his goods, as well as the women and the people.

Equipped. Trained home team. Long term ministry, prepared to push through at cost in seasons of warfare. Leader prepared to organise army aroud more than one issue/front.

11 And when the vultures came down on the carcasses, Abram drove them away.

Drive away the birds of doubt: all the promise of God are Yes and Amen in the new covenant made in the blood of Christ Jesus!

Genesis 13-16

Passage - Genesis 13v8-13

Suggested Sermon title - Sin, the cancer of creation

Themes - Abram give Lot a choice of land - Lot chooses the land which is more pleasing to the eye. However, this land was full of 'terrible sinners'. No matter how beautiful or bountiful the world is, it groans under the curse of sin. Sin is the greatest blot on any landscape.

Genesis 9-12

Passage - Genesis 12

Suggested title - Now you see it, now you don't

Themes - Abraham's faith is evident at the start of the chapter as he leaves his home in obedience to the Lord. However, that faith seems to disappear as he lies to protect himself in Egypt. Ultimately, it is the Lord's faithfulness that brings about the fulfilment of His own promises in the life of Abraham (e.g.12v17). Today, our faith brings us into a new home - at salvation we are baptised, or immersed, into Jesus Christ. Ultimately, though, it is thanks to the faithfulness of God that we are brought into this new home and kept there. 'If we are faithless, he remains faithful' (2Tim 2v13)

Matthew 4

6And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.

We need to know the word in context.

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

Straightforward message!

23And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

All

Genesis 10-12

3And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Bless the man or woman who God blesses, and you'll get blessed!

Matthew 1-3

19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly.

Mercy precedes revelation.

8 Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance

Words are not enough.

Genesis 1-9

14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years

God speaks through His creation. Observe the signs of the time we are living in.

19 Out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. And whatever Adam called each living creature, that was its name.

I like that God watched what Adam would call the animals. He knows all things, but He has the capacity to enjoy our choices nonetheless.

Genesis 5-8

Passage - Genesis 6-8

Sermon title - Walking hand in hand with God

Suggested theme - Noah walked with God. It was not his holiness that saved him from the judgment, but his faith, which was accounted for righteousness. Noah was saved, like all of God's children, by grace through faith - he believed the promise of God that the ark would shelter him from the flood. Christ is our shelter from God's judgement, which we enter by faith when we believe the promise of God that Christ has died for our sins. In other words, we walk with God as Noah did, when God's hand of grace takes our hand of faith.

Genesis 1-4

Passage - Genesis 1

Sermon title - Start as you mean to go on

Theme - We see God defines His job description from the beginning. He shines light into the darkness, gives definition to that which was 'without form', and fills the emptiness with abundant life. God reveals what He would do through the incarnation of Jesus Christ.

A New Year...

Hi, John, just thinking that I must phone you sometime as we haven't spoken for a looong time! My aim with the blog this year is to try four chapters a day, and to write a title and brief suggestion for a sermon for some of the passage. My hope is to try and get a better grip on the overall themes of different books of the bible. I pray I'll be able to keep it up through the year, but even if I fail, I think it's better to try and fail than not to try at all! There is something to be learned even in failing.