May I have a WORD with you?

References: 

• Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God.
  • 1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplication, Prayer, Intercession, Thanksgiving
• Prayer - προσευχή (pros-yoo-khay') noun  & προσεύχομαι (pros-yoo'-khom-ahee) verb is the most common, generic word for prayer. 
  • Consider MSG translation of 1 Tim 2:1 “Pray every way you know how…” 
    • In some NT pa...

References: 

• Learning to want what God wants can happen through the primary and urgent matter of communicating with God.
  • 1 Timothy 2:1-4 through Supplication, Prayer, Intercession, Thanksgiving
• Matthew 7:7-11 - αἰτέω aiteo - ask
  • Consider Jesus’ illustrations
  • Recall Solomon and Bartemaeus
    • Mark 10:35 - James and John: give us what we want (desire) aiteo
    • John 4:9-10 - Jesus asks aiteo first, then tells the woman that if ...

References: 

• The alarming rise in conflict within churches at current events
• The Body of Christ - (Rom 12:5; 1 Cor 10:17, 12:27; Eph 4:12, 5:23; Col 1:24; Heb 13:3)
  • Oneness and Peace in Christ - Eph 2:11-22
    • Enmity - ἔχθρα (ekh'-thrah) vs 15 & 16
    • Carefully joined together - συναρμολογέω (soon-ar-mol-og-eh'-o) (see v 21 in MSG)
  • Ways we fracture the oneness of the Body (see Gal 5:20)
    • Impatience and self-cen...

References: 

• John 15:7 - ask whatever you WANT - thelo
  • To will, have in mind, intend, to purpose, to desire, to wish, to take delight in
    • To bring my thelo to the Lord is a form of prayer.
      • So, just ask in prayer for a job paying 7-8-9 figures, for a Lamborghini, for a vacation home at the beach
        • Compare James 4:1-3
        • With James 1:5-8
      •  John 15:7 - If you remain in me and my words remain in you…
    • The “ask” form of pr...

References: 

• 100th Episode - This is a laughing matter.
  • laugh - צָחַק (tsaw-khak'); שָׂחַק (saw-khak')
    • Abraham and Sarah give birth to יִצְחָק (yits-khawk')
    • Psalm 2:1-4 - God laughs at those who plot to get free of God
    • Zechariah and Elizabeth name John (Lk 1:57-66)
      • To me this scene makes me laugh more than any other Bible scene (so Monty Python like)     
• To celebrate a milestone, recalling Go...

References: 

• 98 episodes ago - “Remembering to Forget”
  • Revelation 21:1-5
  • Deuteronomy 26:1-11
  • Isaiah 43:14-19
• On the brink of the 100th episode milestone.
  • Spiritual Blessing - Ephesians 1:3-11
    • “Before He made the world…”
      • πρὸ καταβολῆς - “before the foundation…”
    • “bring everything together…”
      • ἀνακεφαλαιόω (an-ak-ef-al-ah'-ee-om-ahee)
        • to sum up (again), to repeat summarily, to condense into a summary
        • can b...

References: 

• The significance of the town gate.
  • That justice may be done, though not in an arbitrary way
    • Remember from Ruth: Part 1 - Deut 25:7-10
    • Consider the Magna Carta of 1215 & a jury of peers
  • The family redeemer - rights and responsibilities
    • Rights - v 4: he wants the land
    • Responsibilities - v 6: he doesn’t want the risk of responsibility  -  SO
• “In those days…” (in former times, in the olden times…...

References: 

• We can arrange, but God brings to fruition. 
  • Naomi’s conviction/responsibility
    • Boaz will be winnowing זָרָה (zaw-raw')  … as God winnows the righteous from the unrighteous
      • How do we fair in God’s winnowing process?
      • Boaz was in good spirits, his heart was merry, he felt great. (see Ecc 3:13)
        • v 9 - “spread your wings over your servant.”
          • Recall last episode and 2:12
      • Ruth 3:11 - “a virtuous w...

References: 

• Wisdom: Proverbs 7:4 - מוֹדָע - (mo-dah') - kins-man(woman), relative
  • Boaz - he was prominent, wealthy, powerful: related to Naomi’s deceased husband
  • Ruth works Boaz’s field by “chance?” - וַיִּקֶר מִקְרֶהָ  - (kaw-raw' mik-reh') - unforeseen meeting or event, accident, happening, chance, fortune -  
    • used 10X in OT, 7 in Ecc. ! - Wisdom
    • When God is involved, there is no such thing as “luck” or cha...

References: 

• Helpful context for getting into Ruth
  • The time of the Judges - see Judges 2:6-19
  • Judges 10:6 - 12:7 - Jephthah (Ammon & Moab) 
  • "Israel had no king and everyone did what was right in their own eyes" - Judges 17:6, 18:1, 19:1, 21:25
• Ruth is an amazing story of God’s salvation for Israel.
  • From no king (last sentence of Judges) to David, the great king whose Son, Jesus, became the King of kings
  • This...

References: 

• Back from visiting 5 NPs and many other wonders
  • Experienced joy in the discovery, awe, marvel, etc.
  • Isa 55:12 NLT - You will live in joy and peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!
  • Ps 16:11b - in your presence there is fullness of joy
    • But can we give God joy?
• We can grieve the Holy Spirit.
  • Eph 4:29-32 ESV
• Luke 15 - the lost sheep and ...

References: 

• 2 Th 1:3-12; 1 Th 5:23-28; 2 Th 3:1-18
  • Escape the “pay-back” mentality
    • 2 Th 1:6 - ἀνταποδίδωμι (an-tap-od-ee'-do-mee)
      • in a good sense, to repay, requite
      • in a bad sense, penalty and vengeance
    • Lk 14:12-14 - God will reward you
    • Rom 12:19 - Dear friends, never take revenge.
    • Heb 10:30 - also said, “The Lord will judge his own people. 
  • The tri-unity of our being
    • 1 Th 5:23 - ὁλόκληρος (hol'-ok&ap...

References: Happy 4th of July!

• 1 Th 4:13-18; 5:1-11; 2 Th 2:1-12
  • “Heaven,” “Hell,” and the fullness of God’s Kingdom
    • The mystery - the “resurrection of the body” and the Kingdom in it’s fullness
    • Rapture theology (Darby) and (pre) (post) (a)millennialism confusion
      • ἁρπάζω (har-pad'-zo) caught up (in Latin: raptus)
        • Acts 8:39 - Philip
        • 2 Cor 12:2, 4 - Paul
        • Rev 12:5 - Jesus
      • Matthew 24:37-42
    • 1 Th 4:17 - clouds and...

References:

• 1 Th 4:1-12; 5:12-22; 2 Th 3:6-15
  • God’s will - θέλημα - (thel'-ay-mah) will, what one wishes or has determined shall be done
    • of the purpose of God to bless mankind through Christ
      • Connection to 1 Tim 2:4 
    • of what God wishes to be done by us
      • commands, precepts
      • Lord’s Prayer - thy will be done on earth…
  • Holy and loving rather than unclean and lazy
    • ἁγιασμός (holiness) vs ἀκαθαρσία (unclean...

References:

• Participation in Christ
  • 1 Thess 2:1-13
    • Flattery - κολακεία (kol-ak-i'-ah) only here
    • Similes of familial relationships
      • Like children (infants)
      • Like a mother
      • Like a father 
    • Their faithful response to the Word of God
      • λόγον τοῦ θεοῦ - Word of God
      • vs 13 and the three understandings of Word of God
  • 1 Thessalonians 2:14-16 - Suffering Persecution
  • 1 Thess 2:17-20 - A Good Report
    • v 18 - ἐγκόπτω (eng...

References:

• Historical Setting - Acts 17:1-15
  • 2nd Mission Journey
    • Paul and Barnabas go separate ways
      • Barnabas and John Mark
      • Paul and Silas
    • Acts 16-17
      • Thessalonica
      • Berea to Athens
• 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3
  • Greeting and prayer of thanksgiving
    • Faith–hope–love v 3
      • ἔργον (er'-gon) work [of faith]
      • κόπος (kop'-os) labor [of love]
      • ὑπομονή (hoop-om-on-ay') [of hope]
• 1 Thess 1:4-...

References:

• Acts 2
  • The significance of “heaven” or “the heavens”
    • οὐρανός (oo-ran-os') - the heavens
      • Acts 2:2, 2:5, 2:19, 2:34
      • The upper story, the lower story, our story
      • Lord’s Prayer - “on earth as it is in heaven”
    • Think throne or rule/reign
• The Temple of God - ναός (nah-os') “the sanctuary or cell of the temple, where the image of the god was placed which is distinguished from the whole enclosure....

An Application of the Ascension

References:

• How the Gospels end
  • Matthew 28:16-20
  • Mark 16:8 - +shorter ending - +longer ending
    • 16:20 - συνεργέω (soon-erg-eh'-o)
      • James 2:22 - trust and response (faith & actions)
      • Romans 8:28 - who is working? God & those who love Him
  • Luke 24:49-53 - οὐρανός (oo-ran-os') - the heavens
  • John 21:18-25
• The Beginning of Acts
  • Acts 1:1-5
    • Proofs of Resurrection and ...

References:

• The power of God’s Word
  • Isaiah 55:11 - empty -  רֵיקָם  (ray-kawm'), void, without effect, vainly
  • Exodus 3:19-22 - illustrate how God’s word will not return without accomplishing its purpose 
    • Ex 12:31-36
• Taking the Chapter apart
  • Isa 55:1-5
    • An Invitation to the abundant life of covenant relationship
    • Satisfy - שָׂבְעָה (sov-aw')  
    • Isa 56:11, Jude 1:
  • Isa 55:6-7
    • A Call to Repentance and...