Verse Of The Week (06/02/17)

Matthew 8:1-2

Read Matthew 8:1-2.

1.  The contrast:  Crowds gather and follow but only individuals worship.  Only when all the individuals choose to worship is there a situation such as Rev. 7:9-10; 19:1-2.

2.  We worship the Lord when we do two things:  acknowledge His capability and character; acknowledge our needs and Him as the only salvation.  Only Jesus can heal our leprosy (sin).

Poisoned Yet Pardoned (2 Kin. 4:38-41) (Part 8)

Conclusion:

• WHEN ARE YOU MORE LIKELY TO BE POISONED BY SIN?
• You are more likely to be poisoned by sin when you are weak.
• You are in a season of personal “famine” – dry, depleted, discouraged.
•  You are more likely to be poisoned by sin when you are under pressure.
• You are asked to do something that is beyond your current ability, capacity or understanding.
• You are more likely to be poisoned by sin when you are walking in the world.
• Where you walk determines what you find.
• If you walk in the world, you will find worldliness.
• You are more likely to be poisoned by sin when you are low in discernment.
• Discernment decreases as fascination and rationalization increase.
• SINCE YOU ARE MORE VULNERABLE TO SIN WHEN YOU ARE WEAK, UNDER PRESSURE, WALKING IN WORLDLINESS AND LOW IN DISCERNMENT, YOU MUST KNOW WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE “POISONED.”
• When you realize that you are poisoned by sin . . .
• Stop ingesting the poison.
• Stop swallowing the world's arsenic.
• Confess before God and others what He and they already know.
• “ . . . there is death in the pot.” (2 Kin. 4:40)
• Declare, “This is poison; it is killing me. I don't want to die. Please save me, Jesus!”
• Receive and experience God's mercy, grace and forgiveness.
• “But he said, “Now bring meal.” He threw it into the pot and said, “Pour it out for the people that they may eat.” Then there was no harm in the pot.” (2 Kin. 4:41)
• God's solution for sin's poison is meal (flour). Meal represents the person and work of God's Son, Jesus Christ.
• Jesus alone can rescue you from sin's bitterness and save you from eternal death.
• YOU HAVE TASTED SIN AND FOUND IT TO BE BITTER, SOUR AND HARD.
• Today, the invitation is to “taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psa. 34:8a).
• You do not have to stay “in the gall of bitterness and in the bondage of iniquity.” (Ac. 8:23)

Poisoned Yet Pardoned (2 Kin. 4:38-41) (Part 7)

WHEN DO THE SONS OF THE PROPHETS REALIZE THE STEW IS POISONOUS?

“And as they were eating of the stew, they cried out and said, “O man of God, there is death in the pot.” (2 Kin. 4:40)

• THE BIBLE SCHOOL STUDENT DOES NOT REALIZE, AS HE IS GATHERING THE WILD GOURDS, THAT THEY ARE POISONOUS.
• WHEN HE BRINGS THE WILD GOURDS INTO THE KITCHEN FOR PROCESSING, AT LEAST ONE OTHER STUDENT DOES NOT KNOW THEY ARE POISONOUS.
• “Then one . . . came and sliced them into the pot of stew, for they did not know what they were.” (2 Kin. 4:39)
• “They [the gatherer of the gourds and at least one other cook] did not know what they [the wild gourds] were.”
• Lesson: When you need counsel, it matters whom you consult!
• Don't consult someone else who doesn't know.
• Just because two agree in ignorance doesn't mean they are right!
• Consult someone mature, someone knowledgeable, someone experienced, someone with wisdom.
• IT IS NOT UNTIL EVERYONE BEGINS EATING THAT THEY REALIZE, “THERE IS DEATH IN THE POT.”
• What once looked good, felt good and smelled good now doesn't taste good.
• Lesson: Sin always leads you to a time when you must "taste"; what seems “better” at the start is often bitter in the end.
• Lesson: Sin leads only to bitterness, sourness, disappointment, emptiness and death.

Poisoned Yet Pardoned ( Kin. 4:38-41) (Part 6)

WHY DOES THIS SON OF THE PROPHETS HAVE TO GATHER HERBS ANYWAY?

“When Elisha returned to Gilgal, there was a famine in the land.” (2 Kin. 4:38)

• PERHAPS WE SHOULD CUT OUR BIBLE SCHOOL STUDENT SOME SLACK.
• Consider the pressure he is up against.
• In a time of famine Elisha, the senior prophet, asks him to make stew for everybody – to serve food when there is no food.
• “As the sons of the prophets were sitting before him, he said to his servant, “ Put on the large pot and boil stew for the sons of the prophets.” (2 Kin. 4:38)
• Verse 43 suggests there are 100 men in the Bible school.
• LESSON: It is when you are stressed or under great pressure that you are more likely to alter your assignment, compromise your convictions or wander into worldliness.

In tomorrow's post: When do the sons of the prophets realize the stew is poisonous?

Poisoned Yet Pardoned (2 Kin. 4:38-41) (Part 5)

WHERE DOES THIS SON OF THE PROPHETS GATHER THE GOURDS?

“Then one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine . . .” (2 Kin. 4:39).

• THE SON OF THE PROPHETS FINDS THE WILD VINE AND ITS GOURDS IN THE FIELD.
• What does Jesus say about “the field”?
• Explaining the meaning of one of His parables, Jesus says that, “The field is the world” (Mt. 13:38a).
• By 'world', Jesus means not planet earth but the values, interests and behaviors of those who do not serve Him.
• The main behaviors of those who are dominated by the world are pride and covetousness. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.” (1 Jn. 2:16)
• NOW YOU KNOW HOW A SON OF THE PROPHET CHOOSES WILD GOURDS OVER HERBS – THAT'S NOT DIFFICULT WHEN YOU'RE WANDERING IN A HOSTILE DOMAIN (THE WORLD) AND DRIVEN BY WHAT YOU WANT!
• Lesson: What business does a believer in Jesus have consulting and adopting the ways of the world? “ . . . for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?” (2 Cor. 6:14)
• Lesson: When you are in the “field” (the world), expect things to get wild!
• A wild vine always produces wild gourds.
• Worldly values and methods can never produce righteousness.
• When you go on a “field” trip, you will find what you didn't know you wanted and what you aren't prepared to handle.
• Don't forget – wild gourds are poisonous!
• Don't forget – what the world offers is lethal!

In tomorrow's post: Why does this son of the prophets have to gather herbs anyway?

Poisoned Yet Pardoned (2 Kin. 4:38-41) (Part 4)

INSTEAD OF GATHERING HERBS, WHAT DOES THIS SON OF THE PROPHETS GATHER?

“Then one went out into the field to gather herbs, and found a wild vine and gathered from it his lap full of wild gourds . . .” (2 Kin. 4:39).

• THIS SERVANT-HEARTED, WELL MEANING BIBLE SCHOOL STUDENT INTENDS TO GATHER HERBS AND, INSTEAD, SETTLES FOR WILD GOURDS.
• How distracted he became!
• Herbs and gourds are different ingredients that are used for different reasons.
• Herbs alter flavor, but gourds add substance.
• Lesson: You can cause yourself and others a lot of trouble when you pursue your own preferences or take liberties in any ministry!
• What discernment he lacked!
• In this case the substance he adds is, unknown to him, poisonous.
• They look harmless enough.
• They feel firm enough.
• They are convenient enough.
• “What providence! I have a large pot of stew to make and I have not found any herbs. Look at all these gourds! Surely this must be God's provision!”
• Not only does the son of the prophets choose gourds, but notice that he chooses wild gourds.
• Lesson: There are believers in Jesus today who can't distinguish between cultivated and wild, because they are dominated by their own understanding instead of the Holy Spirit.

In tomorrow's post: Where does this son of the prophets gather the gourds?

Poisoned Yet Pardoned (2 Kin. 4:38-41) (Part 3)

WHO IS IT THAT GATHERS THE HERBS?

“Then one went out . . . to gather herbs . . .” (2 Kin. 4:39).

• WHO, EXACTLY, IS MEANT BY THE 'ONE'?
• “Put on the large pot and boil stew for the sons of the prophets” (2 Kin. 4:38).
• It is one of the sons of the prophets, one of the Bible school students, who gathers the herbs.
• What a way to be a servant, right?
• What initiative, right?
• Lesson: Just because you volunteer and your heart is right and you intend to be helpful doesn't mean that you should do it. The question is, “Whose authority covering are you under?”

In tomorrow's post:  Instead of gathering herbs, what does this son of the prophet gather?

Poisoned Yet Pardoned (2 Kin. 4:38-41) (Part 2)

Introduction:

• Illustration¹  
• The story is told of a woman who prepared a meal for some guests. The meat was old and she was not sure if it was safe or not. She decided to first feed it to the dog and see if there were any ill effects. Seeing none she completed the meal and served it.
• She was about to serve dessert when her son came running into the house crying, “The dog just died.”
• Panic struck, the embarrassed wife explained the problem to her guests and they all took an unexpected trip to the hospital to have their stomachs pumped. Feeling none the better for the episode she insisted they return to her house.
• Now she recognized the sorrow of her son for the loss of the dog, and inquired more about the details. He told her Fido ran in front of a car and was hit and killed.
• Sometimes things are not as they appear.
• Today's Bible verses are about a mistake in judgment.
• The culprit learns, as did the woman in the previous story, that sometimes things are not as they appear.
• Read 2 Kings 4:38-41.
• The format for this week's message is question and answer.

1http://stanchfieldbaptist.blogspot.com/2010/05/mighty-miracles-2-kings-438-44.html (accessed 9-21-16)

In tomorrow's post:  Who is it that gathers the herbs?

Poisoned Yet Pardoned (2 Kin. 4:38-41) Part 1)

Background: There are four things that you need to know for this week's message to make sense.

• Elisha is the senior prophet, one who speaks for God.
• The sons of the prophets are Bible school students who are being trained in word, thought and behavior.
• It is a time of famine. Famine is a consequence for breaking and abandoning God's conditions.
• Elisha says, “Make stew for everyone.” You can imagine how frustrating it is to make stew for that many people with no ingredients on hand except water.

Verse of The Week (09/09/16)

McKee's Run at Gallitzin State Park in Flinton, PA
Photo taken January 29, 2013 at 5:17 P.M.

"I have wiped out your transgressions like a thick cloud 

And your sins like a heavy mist." (Isa. 44:22)

Verse Of The Week (05/27/16)

Presque Isle State Park, Erie, PA   4-22-16

"For all of us have become like one who is unclean, 

And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; 

And all of us wither like a leaf, 

And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away."

(Isa. 64:6)

Who is grateful for Jesus' provision?  He alone brings new life where there was death and blessing where there was barrenness.

The Four Kings of Christmas (Jesus) (Part 3) (Mt. 1:18-25; 2:1-3, 9-10)

JESUS IS GOD FOR US.

“ . . . He will save His people from their sins” (Mt. 1:21).

• How do I know God is for us?
• He sent His Son, Jesus, to save us from our sins.
• “For us” – That's the language of advantage.
•  Since Jesus came to save us from our sins, that means God wasn't interested in leaving us in a state of sin.
• In other words, God acted proactively; He took initiative (Tit. 3:4-7; Rom. 5:6-8).
• Since Jesus came to save us from our sins, we had better review what sin means.
• Sin means missing the target or falling short of God's standard.
• Sin means violation, a transgression or trespassing.
• Sin means iniquity, which is lack or mismanagement of moral integrity.
• Sin means rebellion, which is any attempt to throw off God's rule over our lives.
• Sin means treachery, which is a breach of trust.
• Sin means doing that which is crooked, bent or distorted.
• Sin means abomination, which is an obnoxious or repulsive deed done to detest or despise God.
• Sin means lawlessness, which is living in violation of your conscience.
• Sin means godlessness, which is withholding from God His due and not acting as God requires.
• Sin means licentiousness, which is living as though you have a permit to do anything you want, whenever you want, simply because you want.
• Since Jesus came to save us from our sins, we had better know what the big deal is about sin (Ezek; 18:4; Rom. 6:23a).

Judges Chapter 1

Read Judges Chapter 1.

Observations:

• It is one thing to dominate and be in charge; it is another thing to force out the enemy.
• It is one thing to burn a city; it is another thing to expel the inhabitants.
• It is easier to subjugate the Canaanites than to force them out.
• Never forget that it is the nature of the "Canaanites" to compromise, deceive and corrupt.

Questions:

• Do you believe you can have victory?
• Have you settled for sin management because you don't believe victory is possible?
• What "Canaanites" have you allowed to live with you?  Why?

I Didn't But I Wanted To

Before I spotted the note, I had no inclination to lift the lid and touch the cake.  I knew there was a cake underneath the lid, but that's where it stopped -- at knowledge.  I had no temptation.  The cake wasn't for me, and that was okay.  Once I saw the note, however, I can't describe how badly I wanted to taste the frosting.  The note was to warn me, but it also provoked me.

"Is the Law sin? May it never be! On the contrary, I would not have come to know sin except through the Law..." (Rom. 7:7)

Call to the Lord (Psa. 18:6)

Tom Sember is a former firefighter for the Buffalo, NY Fire Department.  Each day he writes a foreword to the day's devotional he e-mails.  This is from January 8, 2013.

"I had taken the line to the second floor...looking for the seat of the fire, and the next thing I remember is being trapped by the attic stairs.  They had burned out and fell at the exact minute I walked by, trapping me beneath them in such a way that I couldn’t get out. I could feel the weight of the stairs and whatever else was on top of me and I tried with all my might to get free, but I was trapped.  It seemed like an eternity as I laid there, trying this and that to break free but I just didn’t have the strength.  Then my mind began to drift.  What if I didn’t have enough air left in my tank?  Is this where I was going to die?  What about my wife and daughters at home?  'Oh God,' I prayed, 'watch over them.'  Then I heard my partner call my name.  I began to yell, 'I’m here – over here – under the stairs.'  He quickly came over and as he and I lifted together, I was free! Sometimes the sin in our lives keeps us trapped, holds us down, keeps us from moving.  We are like prisoners to it, but if we cry out to God (really cry out- even yell) He will hear us and come rescue us and free us from our sin….  So what do you say?  Want to feel free?  Want to be free?  Call out to God.  It’s the only way!"

"In my distress I called upon the LORD, and cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears." (Psa. 18:6)

Stop the Dialogue with Satan (Gen. 3:1-6)

If you dialogue with Satan long enough (Gen. 3:1-5), you'll come to "see" things (Gen. 3:6) his way.  Then it's only a matter of time before you're doing what you discussed.

It's interesting that Satan deceived Eve when she was isolated.  Fight that battle alone and you too will lose.  Stop listening to the devil.  Break away right now.  Call a friend and talk about the greatness of Jesus.

Japanese Knotweed

Fallopia japonica

Among other places, knotweed grows along the banks of the Kiskiminetas River and along the Roaring Run Trail.

Scientifically, knotweed is known as fallopia japonica or   Polygonum cuspidatum.  It is also kown as fleeceflower, Himalayan fleece vine, monkeyweed, monkey fungus, Huzhang, Hancock's curse, elephant ears, pea shooters, donkey rhubarb, sally rhubarb, Japanese bamboo, American bamboo, and Mexican bamboo (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_knotweed).

Knotweed grows about 6 feet.  Most of its foliage is on top.  It gets so thick that nothing grows beneath.  Very little light gets underneath.  Literally knotweed crowds out, blocks out and shuts down all vegetation nearby.  What should grow doesn't. 

Do you see the similarity between knotweed and sin?

Rock Snot in the Yough

This is an illustration people won't forget, though they may want to.  Can you imagine the conversation at lunch?  "So what did the pastor preach this morning?"  "I don't know...something about rock snot."

The Hiding Cobra Was Found

View the original story at http://abcnews.go.com/US/poisonous-snake-missing-bronx-zoo/story?id=13233433.

Snakes and sin are similar.

• A domesticated snake in a controlled environment can still kill you.  Are you harboring a "snake," convincing yourself that it's harmless?  Sin is a poison, not a pet.
• Of course the snake was hiding!  That's what snakes do when they're not slithering, biting or killing.  They may hide, but it's because they don't want to be seen . . . yet.
• Snakes fascinate and mesmerize people.  It doesn't matter that the snake is poisonous, deadly, ugly, repulsive, and housed behind really thick glass.  People still want to visit the exhibit.
• A snake's color, markings, size, tongue, fangs and other unique features don't change the fact it's still a snake.  We live in a culture that describes sin as anything but sin.  It is portrayed as pleasurable and desirable.
• Get the snake before the snake gets you.