Offense Defense > Farrell's Bible Notes

Day 151: 2 Chronicles 13-14; 1 Corinthians 5

.1 Corinthians 5:1 | Fornication is sex outside of marriage which, according to this, is not just premarital sex (sex before marriage), but also adultery , which is now sugarcoated and called extramarital affairs or cheating on your husband or wife... adultery. This (1 Corinthians) is a letter written to the church folk! the (saints) who were behaving worse than any of the Gentiles. The Gentiles were the non-Jews, a term which may have included the Christians as well.) The reason I put parenthesis () around the word "saints" is because in the next chapter (6:9), Paul tells them that fornicators will not inherit the Kingdom of God. |||| Notice that Paul addresses this issue. He didn't have to witness it first-hand, but it was "reported commonly" that it was happening. Plenty of this goes on in our congregations today and we need to follow this example as well, and address the issues, instead of being so afraid to offend anyone by calling out their offenses. |||| Paul is also not speaking from a detached perspective as if he himself never dealt with sexual temptation and desires. In Romans 7:7-8, he even confesses that he once struggled with lust and sexual desires (concupiscence) and even at times did things he wasn't supposed to do, while not doing the things he was supposed to (7:15). He wasn't much different from you and I.

.1 Corinthians 5:2-3 | Paul was speaking to them about the deeds of a certain man, but he doesn't name him. I'm sure the knew who it was, because if the talk had gotten back to Paul, wherever he was at, I'm sure it made it to the ears of the others there in the congregation. We also notice that Paul says he's already judged him. Christians are supposed to judge other Christians in order to keep ourselves on the straight path and accountable to each other, especially on this issue, as he says in the next chapter (6:18) that "he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body." This may be speaking of his own physical body, but I don't think it stops there. We are the body of Christ... one body. This type of thing done by one, affect us all.

.1 Corinthians 5:5 | God does allow the flesh to be touched with Satan's destruction in certain circumstances like this in order for the person's soul to be saved. There's plenty of people who've gone astray and gotten the wake-up call of a Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD), whether or not we want to accept the idea that God allows this to happen. We must also consider that when we turn away from God, even for just a moment, we may also be stepping away from God's protection, and making ourselves vulnerable to Satan's attacks. This is gambling at its worst.

.1 Corinthians 5:6 | When cooking, a little leaven is all that's needed to effect the outcome of the whole batch. In the Bible, the term "leaven" is used several times as a metaphor for ungodly ways, beliefs, or teachings which are in some way contagious.

.1 Corinthians 5:11 | I know we want to skip over this verse, but it's here loud and clear and after all these years, it still has yet to disappear. 1 Corinthians 5:11 is not convenient like 7-Eleven... well, depending on how you look at it. The point is not to get leavened (5:6).

.1 Corinthians 5:12-13 | This is what I was referencing earlier about how we are supposed to judge each other, yet leaving those outside of the faith for God to judge. This isn't saying not to teach the truth to them, but you can't hold them to following the things of God's spirit if they are not of God's spirit. |||| The world often fears that we will force our way on them. I'm sure the Devil has something to do with this also, whispering in their ear that we're trying to judge them and that they need to fight us for it (4:5). I suppose the Devil fears 1 Cor 6:2 when there finally comes a time for us saints to judge the whole world.

Day 152: 2 Chronicles 15-16; 1 Corinthians 6

.2 Chronicles 15:8 | The writer calls them abominable idols, saying this idolatry is an abomination. In Galatians 5:20, Paul mentions idolatry as a work of the flesh, which is against the spirit. We have many idols today as well, yet instead of our leaders putting away these idols from among the people, they force us to honor these idols or face consequences. I know this will be an unpopular statement, but anytime all of the people in attendance have to stop everything they're doing to turn and face an object of affection and stand to our feet and look at it holding our right hand over our heart for this thing that is seen as too holy to even touch the ground (the same ground that God came down and walked on, and even made man from), we are holding up that thing as an idol. This is our equivalent of bowing, and if you don't bow to it, you will be spoken against and treated as an infidel. We have lesser idols as well, some in the form of people, some in the form of shiny objects. A piece of wood is a piece of wood, and good to be used as that, but when we start to exalt it and treat it like a god, more than we even treat God like God, we are going against our creator who demanded that we have no other gods before Him (Ex 20:3). Some people idolize animals and would even kill a man for even the appearance of cruelty against one (Matt 5:21-22). We know what a marijuana leaf looks like because people idolize that. People even idolize women's body parts and literally admit to "worshipping" these body parts, proudly. Fraternities and sororities have their idols. You can tell me what you want, but those Delta elephants (that must have their trunks in the air) are idols. Many Catholics idolize Mary, and us Christians need to be mindful that we don't end up idolizing the cross. But there are so many other idols our society has exalted that I couldn't even scratch the surface. I would like to point out that our other scripture for today's reading (1 Corinthians 6:9) points out that idolaters will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not gamble with your salvation.

.2 Chronicles 15:16 | He removed his own mother from being queen because she made an idol.

.2 Chronicles 16:12 | One of our readers, CaRin, mentioned "I think it is kind of sad about Asa, that he was doing so good from years 15 through 35 and then in that 36th year it was like he just lost it. And then, it seemed like he couldn't get "it" back because it says that even three years after the 36th year, when he became afflicted with his foot illness, he still could not bring himself to call on the Lord God."

.1 Corinthians 6:1-7 | Paul makes a VERY important point here. If us saints will one day judge the world and even judge angels, why in the world are we taking each other to courts and judged by secular judges who don't regard God's Word in the matter? Verse 7, plainly points out that we are not supposed to be taking each other to court (not the secular court system of the land, at least). And in case you forgot just how twisted their legal system is, Lauryn Hill did an amazing job at addressing the issue from a Biblical view in her song "Mystery of Iniquity" (yet, I can't confirm if she's Christian or not). You can listen to it here, but please discipline and govern yourself not to get caught up in wasting your time viewing every video on Youtube, forgetting our purpose right now is studying the Word of God. If you can't handle that, just check the lyrics.
(lyrics: www.offensedefense.org/MysteryOfIniquitybyLaurynHill.htm )
(song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJ4xpiYS1fI)
Would we not rather just be done wrong by a brother/sister in Christ than to seek out crooked judgement against them? |||| Even still, we must remember 1 Corinthians 4:5 and Romans 14:1-6,13. |||| Today's court news seems to be a pretty good example of just how questionable the legal system can get (read it: No Charges in Ronnie White Death: Post).
(Apr.12.2014) I asked myself would 1 Corinthians 6:1-7 apply also in criminal cases, such as murder. This scripture doesn't appear to be speaking of things of that nature. Those things are typically considered to be crimes against society, and a threat to society, so it's not necessarily even up to an individual about what is done. Certain actions will produce certain consequences, forgiven or not by the individual. And what is done becomes a matter of future safety, not simply retribution and compensation.

.1 Corinthians 6:9-10 | Very important scripture. Fornication is sex outside of marriage; adultery is when a married person fornicates and has sex outside of their marriage or a person has sex with a person who is married to someone else; effeminate is when a man has qualities unsuitable for a man, feminine, womanish; covetous means desiring that which is not yours and you have no right to it; revilers are people who abuse others verbally; drunkards, is probably their word for alcoholics (give or take a few drinks); extortion is taking money for yourself when it belongs to someone else but it is in your trust (i.e. if a store was supposed to sell my products and give me 60% of it, but they kept it all for themselves.); and I'm pretty sure that inheriting the Kingdom of God includes going to Heaven, so I would understand that doing these things would be gambling with your salvation.

.1 Corinthians 6:12 | "All things are lawful unto me" does not mean all actions are lawful. Even still, this is him speaking. Every thing is not okay for every body. (June.19.2012) Verse 12 ends saying "but I will not be brought under the power of any." There are a lot of things in the world that people can be brought under the power of, that seem at first to be innocent and harmless. The things spoken of in verses 9-10, however, are particularly known to be destructive and lead many people astray, although they seem to be innocent and harmless to many people as well. Verses 9-10 talk about how people that live (and die) in these things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. And in verse 12 it talks about being under the power of things. What we are under the power of, is what guides and leads us. If someone is being led by (and under the power of) something/someone other than Christ, then that's a hint that Christ may not be their leader. Of course there are times when a believer may transgress/backslide and then repent (sincerely) and turn from that thing, but that's different than someone who's living a sinful lifestyle that they feel is okay, and even advocate for it, trying to defend their lifestyle. I heard someone once mention, "there's a difference between doing wrong, and being wrong."

.1 Corinthians 6:14 | "God hath both raised up the Lord..." Jesus is the Lord (Romans 10:9), and in Jesus dwells the fulness of the Godhead bodily. Remember Jesus said He has the power to lay His life down and to take it back up again (some please find this scripture for me). He also said that He shall "destroy this temple" (speaking of His own physical body) and resurrect it in three days, which He did (someone send me this scripture please). Jesus is the creator. (Apr.12.2014) Read John 1:1,3,14; Genesis 1:6-7; Revelation 1:8,13-17,18. Now notice that in Genesis 1:6-7, God didn't simply say for something to be created and it was created on its own. No, in verse 7, it says (after the Word came out of God's mouth) that God made it. This is how Jesus is the creator. He was/is the Word of God, and when God spoke, God's Word came out Him and did the construction. And if you think technology and automation is something new, consider the fact, that not only did He create the sun, moon and stars, but He programmed them to run on their own. He even made them multifunctional devices. Not only would they be signs (Gen. 1:14), but they would shine light on the Earth as well (Gen. 1:15). These are two different functions (like a traffic light and a street light). Just because there's a light out there in the universe doesn't mean that it's going to shine down onto earth, just like the first cell phones had screens that light up, but they didn't function as a flashlight. That flashlight feature had to later be added to smartphones, so you can find your way around in the dark when your power went out. You couldn't do that with the light of a cell phone unless you held it two inches from whatever surface you were trying to light up. Then, on top of that, He also programmed the sun to give us Vitamin D, and help plants grow, shine on us precisely during certain times, give us a precise amount of heat, and many other things. It's the world's first smartlight. And it wasn't created by us. We often don't think of God (or Jesus) as a programmer, because His programs are created so flawlessly that they don't malfunction. It's only when things malfunction that we realize that there's somebody behind it that made it that way. Otherwise we never tend to think about the person behind it. Not only is Jesus (the Word of God) the creator, He enters into His creation, much like the programmer in the old movie "Tron" enters into His own program to fix it, when the first hacker gets it to malfunction.

.1 Corinthians 6:16 | 1 Chronicles 5:25

.1 Corinthians 6:18 | This could mean one's own body or the body of Christ.

(.1 Corinthians 4:17 | 1 Corinthians 3:9,16; Colossians 1:24)

Day 153: 2 Chronicles 17-18; 1 Corinthians 7

.2 Chronicles 18 | This same story is told in 1 Kings 22.

.2 Chronicles 18:12-13 | The messenger that went to get Micaiah was trying to make him agree with the other prophets and prophesy good to the King, but Micaiah told him that he's going to truly prophecy what God tells him to, not what they (man) wants him to say. Micaiah was remaining true to God.

.2 Chronicles 18:16 | Ahab was the King of Israel, so this verse is saying that the people of Israel lose their king. In other words, Ahab gets killed.

.2 Chronicles 18:18-22 | Prophecy or seeing, does not just pertain to things to come in the future, but God can also reveal to the prophet what's currently happening and also what has happened in the past. In this prophecy, Micaiah is telling them what happened just previously. He's saying what happened in verse 5, how this evil spirit was a lying spirit in the mouth of Ahab's prophets, and how God allowed the spirit to take on that job and do that. Yes, God can allow an evil spirit to do a job, just as He allowed Satan to have his way with Job to an extent. Just as God used them, this is also indication that just because God uses someone (or something) does not mean that they (or it) is good or in good standing with Him.

.1 Corinthians 7:6 | I thought this was very honest of him to say that this wasn't a commandment of God, but that this was him (Paul) saying it. He makes a similar statement in verse 25 as well.

.1 Corinthians 7:9 | The King James version says "...it is better to marry than to burn." Some versions add words to this to make it say "burn with passion," which may alter the full meaning. If it's simply left as "burn." like it is in the King James version, then it may mean "burn in hell" as well as "burn with passion," but when the words "burn with passion" is actually added to the scriptures, that takes away the other meaning. I don't believe it was supposed to be done that way because of the whole topic that Paul is talking about here in these last few chapters. I'm convinced that some versions tried to clarify or specify the meaning of the verse and that's why I believe they added the words "with passion," but that distorted the full meaning of simply saying "it's better to marry than to burn." (Apr.13.2014) I question whether that was done by those versions to further line up with the likes of doctrine taught in the New World Translation (NWT), which is very closely resembled by the New International Version (NIV). The NWT is the translation by the "Jehovah's Witnesses" who don't believe that people burn in Hell. They believe that people's souls just sleep after they die. They call it "soul sleep" and it doesn't line up with scripture found in the King James version at all.

.1 Corinthians 7:15 | God has called us to peace, as it says here in verse 15. Now in the news, even from the mouth of President Obama, they are claiming that Islam is a religion that promotes peace, which it is not. I'll share with you words from the Koran (Qur'an) that commands them to beat their wives and literally terrorize those who do not believe as they believe. A Muslim, trying to convert me, gave me a Koran in a train station in New York. I am not recommending that you should go read the Koran or that you need to go learn what everyone else believes because that can be dangerous and open you up to being deceived, since you can't really understand how a lost person sees the world unless you truly become lost yourself, and if you truly become lost, then you can't even help yourself. However, I do want to point this out though because I think a lot of our people have been tricked into sympathizing with Islam thinking that it's wrongly targeted and misunderstood as a violent and dangerous religion. I want to show where their violence is commanded in what they regard as their "holy" book. The Koran is divided into Surahs. Surah 4:34 literally tells men to "beat them" concerning women. It says "Men are the protectors and maintainers of women because Allah has given the one more (strength) than the other, and because they support them from their means. Therefore the righteous women are devoutly obedient, and guard in (the husband's) absence what Allah would have them guard. As to those women on whose part you fear disloyalty and ill-conduct, admonish them (first), (next), refuse to share their beds, (and last) beat them (lightly); but if they return to obedience, do not seek against them means (of annoyance): for Allah is Most High, Great (above you all)." That's what their book (the Koran) says. I did not add a word or take a word away from it. It tells them to beat their women. Islam is not a religion of peace, at least no Islam that follows the Koran. They are told to terrorize unbelievers and even mention Jews and Christians by name. Surah 8:59-60 says "Let not the Unbelievers think that they can get the better (of the godly): they will never frustrate (them). 60. Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom you may not know, but whome Allah knows. Whatever you shall spend in the Cause of Allah, shall be repaid to you, and you shall not be treated unjustly." This is a command for them to terrorize people. This is not just al-Qaeda, this is a command for all of Islam. How do we know it means terrorism? Because it includes "others besides" their enemies who they may not know. This allows them to justify suicide bombing a whole building and killing people they don't even regard as their enemies (others besides who they may not know.) More evidence that this refers to mass killings: a few verses later (65) it says "O Messenger! rouse the Believers to the fight. If there are twenty amongst you, patient and persevering, they will vanquish two hundred: if a hundred, they will vanquish a thousand of he Unbelievers: for these are a people without understanding." We can see that they are also referring to terrorizing Christians and Jews because in Surah 9:29-30 they mention Jews and Christians by name, saying "Fight those who do not believe in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which has been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth, (even if they are) the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued. 30) the Jews call 'Uzair a son of Allah, and the Christians call Christ the Son of Allah. That is a saying from their mouth; (in this) they but imitate what the Unbelievers of old used to say. Allah's curse be on them: how they are deluded away from the Truth!" 9:31 even goes on to say "They take their priests and their anchorites to be their lords in derogation of Allah, and (they take as their Lord) Christ the son of Mary; yet they were commanded to worship but One God (Allah): there is no god but He. Praise and glory to Him: (far is He) from having the partners they associate (with Him)." I haven't studied through the Koran, but after 9-11, the Holy Spirit told me specific verses in there to read to know their thoughts where it affects the rest of us. Be reminded as you read these excerpts that I shared, that the Koran is Not a book of truth, so when you read these passages I've included, be mindful not to read it as if it's truth, because it's not (i.e. they say Christians call Christ the son of Allah, when that's completely untrue. Christians do not claim there is any relationship between Christ and Allah.) What I'm pointing out to you though is that they, by their own book, are not about peace even if they do for a moment play like they are being "patient and persevering" or tolerant. Don't let anyone fool you by trying to tell you that Islam promotes peace. The only peace that Islam promotes is that they will fight and kill you until you submit and worship their Allah and do as they say, so they will have mercy on you and leave you in peace. That's the only kind of peace you'll get from Islam, and I don't consider that peace. Pray for Muslims and others as well, because they too need to know the truth of Jesus Christ and be freed from bondage.

.1 Corinthians 7:32 | "But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord," What I'm pointing out here is the word "careful." I've seen some translations replace it with the word "anxious," but "anxious" is not the same as "careful," which we see here literally means "full of care" or "caring," not anxiety. In Philippians 4:6, it says "be careful for nothing," but many other versions change that word "careful" to "anxious" and they don't mean the same thing. Consequently, I have to hear people say "be careful" all day long when God tells us not to be careful. When people tell me to "be careful" are they telling me to "be anxious?" No, they're not. They're telling me to be full of care. But God tells us not to be full of care. If Jesus or any of the apostles or disciples walked around being careful, they wouldn't have done half of the things they did, and you and I probably wouldn't be saved.

Day 154: 2 Chronicles 19-20; 1 Corinthians 8

.2 Chronicles 19:2 | "And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him..." A seer is the same thing as a prophet. 1 Samuel 9:9 says "(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, these he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)"

.1 Corinthians 8 | Romans 14

.1 Corinthians 8:4,7,8-12 | "an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one." This is saying that an idol has no actual power, it's nothing, but only something in the mind of him who idolizes it. To those who do not idolize it, it is not a god or has no power, and does not even have any state of being good or bad. Yet, verse 7 essentially tells us that although we may not regard something as an idol or don't regard anything offered to the idol as being anything special, we still must remain aware that by dealing with that thing we may send the wrong message to the person who does believe in the idol. Our dealing with the thing may cause them to feel okay to deal with it as well, although to us it's not an idol, to them it is, so by our actions, we help to cause them to do something wrong. Romans 14:13 mentions this as well, and the following verses here in 1 Corinthians 8:8-12 go more into detail about this too. By doing this, we may not sin directly against Christ, but we sin against those people causing them in their weakness to sin, and by this we do sin against Christ.
(Aug.7.2012) Also read 10:19 with 8:4.

.1 Corinthians 8:5-13 |
(Aug.7.2012) 10:28-33

Day 155: 2 Chronicles 21-22; 1 Corinthians 9

.1 Corinthians 9 | 1 Corinthians 15:5,7 proves that there were more than 12 apostles.

.1 Corinthians 9:1-2 | In verse one, Paul asks "Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our LORD? are not ye my work in the LORD?" There are some people today who use this scripture to try to claim that in order for someone to even qualify as an apostle, they had to have seen Jesus. However, nowhere in this scripture does Paul even make such a claim. He doesn't even say that his seeing Jesus qualifies him to be an apostle. He asked four questions, and in asking four questions, he doesn't claim that one question is the answer to another. However, afterward, he does, and in verse 2 he says that they in the Lord are the seal of his apostleship. He doesn't say that him seeing Jesus is his seal of apostleship. A seal is something that was used to verify untampered authenticity, such as when a king sent a letter he put a wax seal on it with a marking that only he had, which asserted that he was the one who closed it up and it was not forged, faked, or tampered with.

.1 Corinthians 9:3 | Starting in verse 3, he begins saying what his answer is to anyone examining him; possibly examining whether he is truly an apostle or not. Some may have still been suspicious because Paul did some horrible things to Christians before he himself was converted.

.1 Corinthians 9:9,11,12 | 1 Timothy 5:18 refers to this same scripture. This means that if the ox wants to eat some of the corn that he's treading, then don't stop him. The law of Moses was to let the ox eat it. Paul is using this as a metaphor to apply to at least him and Barnabas, and possibly other apostles, saying that they who are planting spiritual things unto the people wouldn't be wrong to benefit from the people's non-spiritual things (verse 11). In verse 12, he's saying that although they can do that, they don't, in order not to hinder Christ's gospel. This could hinder Christ's gospel because they may then begin to do Christ's work because they need to for substance, basically like a regular job.

.1 Corinthians 9:18 | I believe he's saying that his reward, and possibly the reward of any apostle, is that he can go and preach the gospel of Christ freely without charge. "Without charge" may either mean that he can preach without being paid anything or he can preach without being instructed or commanded to do so. One definition of the word "charge" is to instruct or command authoritatively. This would mean he can preach without being commanded to do so. An example of this may be Acts 21:39-40 when he went straight to the chief captain and asked to speak to the people and was allowed to preach Jesus to the people from Acts 22:1-21.

.1 Corinthians 9:19 | Paul is not being compelled to do this work by any man. There's no man or organization commanding him to preach the word or to minister, yet he puts himself in bondage, requiring himself to be a servant to all of the people he leads so that he might save them and others. I'm sure Paul could have found something else to do with his time. He sees the need for what he's doing, and I'm sure is compelled by the Spirit of God as well.

.1 Corinthians 9:19 | Acts 21:18-32. This says he became as them, but does not say that he actually became one of them or that he denied Christ or truth in anyway just to try to save them.

.1 Corinthians 9:27 | Paul is aware and wise not to allow his own flesh to rise up and cause him to be a castaway. This also let's us see that he is seemingly aware that it is possible for him to become a castaway even though he preaches the gospel of Christ and proclaimed himself as saved. From reading the scriptures, I believe it's possible for one to actually be saved, but then to turn away from that salvation, and it seems he believes the same, and possibly James also (James 5:19-20).

Day 156: 2 Chronicles 23-24; 1 Corinthians 10

.2 Chronicles 24:11 | (May.2.2012) Proof that they used a monetary system back then like we use today. They collected chests full of money, yet people still didn't tithe money. If you question many church leaders today and ask them why they collect a monetary tithe, although tithes in the Bible was never money, then they'll usually say that it's because that's what we have now, when back then people traded good and services instead of earning and spending money. This verse shows that they also then earned plenty money, at least enough to tithe if that was what was required, but they didn't because that was not what a tithe was. And it's still not what a tithe is, because God never changed the definition of it between then and now. Furthermore, even if they didn't have money then, but we do now, that would still not justify us changing the requirement for a tithe in order to conform to the way of secular society. If God said that Christians still had to tithe, and that Jesus didn't fulfill that part of the law, then the people of God should have never gotten to the point where we stopped having goats and grains. That would have to be a part of who we are if tithing was that important. We would have to do it the way God said to do it. Two days ago, we saw in Romans 12:2 that believers were told "be not conformed to this world." so citing the ways of the world as our reason for doing things the way we do them would not be justifiable.

.1 Corinthians 10:1-2 | (May.22.2012) What is a cloud? A cloud is droplets of water in the sky? If we look in Genesis 9:12-14 we see that a rainbow is in a cloud. Although we can't see the cloud, we can see the rainbow, so we know the cloud is there. So all clouds are not necessarily visible, aside from seeing a rainbow. If you've ever been in a cloud, it can be hard to see the cloud while you're in it, especially if it's a light cloud. If it's a heavy cloud, then it'll just look like fog. In fact, that's what fog is, a cloud. So while you're in fog, you're in the midst of water. That's why on foggy mornings, you go outside and find your car wet. If you had a piece of paper out there, it would get slightly wet too, or damp. These people here in 1 Corinthians 10:2 were said to be baptized in a cloud and in the sea. Well, it was always easy for us to see a person being baptized in a sea, because we easily recognize they are immersed in water. Now we can understand how a person can be baptized in a cloud as well, because they are also in water. Now, Genesis 9 was speaking of the rainbow in the cloud as being a token of the covenant God made with man and every living thing that He would not ever allow another flood to destroy the earth. Now, I don't think this is the cloud being spoken of here in 1 Corinthians 10, but it helps us to learn something about clouds and water in relation to baptism, tokens, covenants, and God. The cloud I firmly believe this scripture is speaking of is that mentioned in Exodus 13:17-22, when God, being in a pillar of a cloud, led them through the wilderness on their escape from Egypt, around the time when they passed through the Red Sea on dry ground, spoken of here also in this passage in Corinthians. Remember, God is invisible (Colossians 1:15), but being in this cloud, the people are able to see and follow Him. At this point, man was able to associate God with being in the midst of water, likewise in a water baptism. It's likely also that this has something to do with why we tend to look up toward the clouds when thinking about God, and even in cartoon images, we associate Heaven has having clouds or being in the clouds or cloudy (clouds you can stand and walk on). Our vision of God being up above probably also has something to do with the fact that Jesus, after raising from the dead ascended up into the sky, while people looked up, watching His ascension. Acts 1:9 said that a cloud received Jesus out of their sight. Mark 16:19 says He was received up into heaven. It appears we have been taught to associate God and Heaven with the clouds. After all, that's where we last saw Jesus go when He ascended up, although we also know from Ephesians 4:6 that God is above all, and through all, and in us all, there's something about those clouds. Man's brain has been wired to learn and retain knowledge by repetition. There are other ways, but this is one of the best and most lasting ways. And through the Bible, we've repeatedly seen this repetition of the clouds being associated with God and Heaven. And that's not a bad thing in this case. Here's why. We saw Jesus go up into that cloud, and we're told He's coming back again. Naturally, we will look for Him to return from the place where He went to, so we'll be looking up into the clouds. We're told here in Acts 1:11 by two who appear to be angels, that He'll return in like manner as we saw Him go into heaven. Furthermore, before He left He says He'll be coming in the clouds of heaven. We've been taught repetitiously to associate our physical visual dealing with God and Christ with the clouds in heaven. We'll also note that the sky is often also referred to as heaven. Paul, in 2 Corinthians 12:2, speaks about a man being caught up to the third heaven, which appears to be a different use of the word heaven than referencing the sky we see up above. I don't have the time to get into the different uses of the word heaven at the moment, however, but it's in the Bible, waiting for you to search it out if you're interested. Seek and ye shall find. The part where 1 Corinthians 10:1 speaks about passing through the sea is found in Exodus 14:16,21,22 (read also verses 19-20). Now, this here is them in the midst of water, like you find with a person being baptized.
(Aug.5.2012) In verse 1, "I would not that ye should be ignorant" is another way of saying "I don't want you all to be ignorant." The word "would" is another form of the word "will," as in "free will." His will (or desire) is that they are not ignorant. "Ignorant" does not just mean clueless, but is from the root word "ignore." This thing that he doesn't want us to ignore or gloss over is that all of them were baptized in Moses in the cloud and the sea. Genesis 9:14; Exodus 13:17-22; Exodus 14:19-20; Exodus 14:16,21,22 (the Red Sea). Remember that these people didn't know Christ. Moses was playing a similar role to them. It says here that they were baptized unto Moses (doesn't say in his name). Ephesians 4:5 says there is one Lord, one faith, one baptism. A baptism is, of my current understanding, the image or manifestation of the putting away (or death) of the old man and being born again, or putting on the new man. The children of Israel were not, as far as I know, knowledgeable about being baptized in Jesus' name and may not have been understanding that they were being baptized at all, but they were. Those who owed it to Pharaoh to return to Egypt were, in effect, dead and put on a new life in God, where afterwards they drank Christ, as said here in verse 4. This is the same Christ who said in John 4:13-14, that "whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life."

.1 Corinthians 10:3-4 | (Aug.5.2012) This was like a communion, spoken of in verse 16. It may, in fact, have actually been counted as their communion.

.1 Corinthians 10:4 | (Aug.5.2012) Deuteronomy 8:15; Numbers 20:8-11; John 4:13-14; The rock is identified in Psalms 18:31 as being God, as well as Psalms 89:26; 95:1; 94:22. 1 John 3:5 says He was manifested to take away our sins. We are not told that He was never on earth before, just not manifest yet in the flesh as Jesus Christ of Nazareth. There is more for me to learn about that, however.

.1 Corinthians 10:6 | (Aug.5.2012) Highlighted "Now these things were our examples". We have their story in front of us and can see them and what they went through. God does not need to keep showing us examples so that we know better. He gave us the capacity to learn from others' mistakes for a reason. We should not be ignorant, ignoring the things that they went through before us. "We should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted."

.1 Corinthians 10:9 | (Aug.5.2012) Remember in Matthew 4:6-7 Jesus responded to Satan by saying, "It is written again, thou shalt not tempt the Lord thy God."

.1 Corinthians 10:11 | (Aug.5.2012) highlighted "our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come." This means that it includes us also. This was written nearly 2,000 years ago. If we guesstimate the world to be about 8,000 years old, then the last 2,000 can certainly be referred to as the end. If we guesstimate 10,000 years, then this last 2,000 can even moreso be considered the end.

.1 Corinthians 10:12 | (Aug.5.2012) We see that even Jesus stayed highly alert, fasted, and prayed while He had to face temptation from Satan. He didn't behave arrogantly or carelessly leave His guard down. He didn't say "I'm Jesus, the son of God, nobody can beat me, I don't even have to try." If He didn't take that approach, and we are not stronger than Him, then we cannot take that approach either. Luke 4:2 gives us clarification in his wording that He was apparently tempted throughout the forty days, not just at the end of forty days. We must be wise, knowing that we can face temptation at any time.

.1 Corinthians 10:13 | (May.22.2012) I have much more to write on this, but since my time has run short today, I wanted to at least point out one thing and also provide some scriptures you can use to draw some other links and continue studying this verse. I need to quote this verse for you from the King James Version, because the wording, and use of the words you and ye, which other versions lack, will give a much better understanding of what this verse is saying. The word ye is generally used to mean "you all" (plural), while "you" is used to mean you as an individual (singular). This is extremely important to know because otherwise, we completely miss the lesson being taught here. Verse 13 says "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." Okay, so from our understanding of "you" and "ye" we see that this scripture is telling us that it is not just up to the individual to overcome their own temptation by themselves. The word "suffer" here, means to allow. So it's saying God won't allow you Sally to be tempted more than you all can overcome. In other words, you need to call on your brothers and/or sisters in Christ, and they can work together with you Sally and you all can overcome your temptation together. This scripture is not saying that you can overcome all temptation by yourself Sally. Other versions replace the word "ye" with "you" in attempt to try to make it easier to read and understand, but in trying to simplify it in this way, the meaning of the verse is lost, and will leave one believing that they are able to overcome this temptation by themselves. And anyone struggling with any temptation is almost surely going to be dealing with some level of guilt and shame, and will most likely try to overcome it by themselves without having to tell anyone they are struggling with this temptation. One way others are needed to help overcome temptation is by not putting a stumblingblock before the struggling person. For example, if you tell your brother you struggle with alcoholism, then he can make the decision that he will not have that glass of wine while he's out to dinner with you. This will allow him to avoid putting a stumblingblock in front of you (Romans 14:13). Otherwise, he won't even know, and watching him drink his glass of wine might make you thirsty. Telling a brother or sister what temptation you're struggling with, will also provide them the opportunity to pray with you, or to check up on you to help keep you accountable. They can even encourage you to keep trying and not to give up if you ever slip up and give in to the temptation. This is James 5:16 at work, "Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." 1 Corinthians 10:13 says that with the temptation God will also make a way to escape, "that ye may be able to bear it." Again, notice that it says "ye." Together, you all can bear it. Just because God makes a way to escape doesn't mean that the tempted person will take the escape route. They may not even see it. They may see it, but they don't want to escape. Let's be honest, God can hit you in the head with a big bright red exit sign, but sometimes you WANT to succumb to the temptation. You may not admit it, so I'll say it. Sometimes, I don't want to escape the temptation. But if I've got a brother or sister by my side to help me, they can see that I'm in trouble and need some help, and can grab my arm and pull me through the exit door and get me away from that temptation. And this isn't just a Christian principle. Even the bank robbers will have a lookout person who will tell them when the police are coming and to stop being greedy and run. They'll tell you in a TV commercial that "friends don't let friends drink and drive."
Here are some other scriptures that I'd like to cover regarding 1 Corinthians 10:13: James 1:12-14 (MUST READ); Hebrews 4:15 (Jesus able to be tempted); Matthew 4:1-11 (Jesus tempted by the devil); Luke 4:2 (Jesus tempted by devil for 40 days); 2 Peter 1:4-9 (formula for 100% success); 2 Peter 2:9 (deliverance from temptation); Ezekiel 8:5-18 (God's is able to see sin, look at it, know it, and how bad it is); Ezekiel 9:8; 2 Timothy 1:12 (unashamed).

.1 Corinthians 10:14 | (Aug.5.2012) Reading further after this verse, we'll see that idolatry is a very easy thing to fall into because an idol can be just about anything. We tend to think of something like a golden calf, placed up high and looked at and bowed down to, but that is an extremely limited and simplistic idea of what idolatry is. An idol is not limited to being some dumb intimate object. And committing idolatry or worshipping an idol is not limited to kneeling on one's knees with one's hands in the air.

.1 Corinthians 10:16-18 | (Aug.5.2012) highlighted.
What we read in verse 3-4 may very well have been considered by God to be their communion, or a form of it.
Notice in verse 18, He says Israel after the flesh, making distinction between Israel in flesh versus those who are considered Israel spiritually, being in Christ.

.1 Corinthians 10:19-20 | (Aug.5.2012) We see here that what is considered an idol doesn't have much to do with the idol or the thing offered. What's more important in determining what's an idol, is who it is doing the sacrifice or offering. Also read 1 Corinthians 8:4 with 10:19.

.1 Corinthians 10:21 | (Aug.5.2012) Jesus Christ wasn't hanging out with sinners or partaking with them.

.1 Corinthians 10:23 | (Aug.5.2012) When he says "things" here, he means things, not all actions and activities. This is similar to what is being pointed out in verse 19 and verses 27-28. Paul, in 1 Corinthians 6:12 says a very similar thing as he says here in verse 23. Deuteronomy 12:8 may be looked at as hinting to this also, where people are not told every little single thing that is permissible or not, as we see in Romans 14, but it may also hint at those who completely ignore God's guidance as well.

.1 Corinthians 10:24 | (Aug.5.2012) Looking at verse 33 and also Esther 10:3, we see that seeking others' wealth does not mean seeking to obtain other peoples treasures. Instead, it means seeking to benefit others or make sure they are taken care of. It is seeking for others to have wealth or wellbeing.

.1 Corinthians 10:25 | (Aug.5.2012) Here, Paul advises not to ask questions. Remembering verses 19-20, it is often nothing wrong with the thing eaten, but the purpose for which it is eaten. If they never tell you the purpose for eating it, then they cannot assume that you are in agreement with, encouraging, or endorsing that purpose if you eat it. But if you know why it's eaten, and you do it anyway after you find out that it's for an unGodly purpose, then they may think that what they are doing is okay if they are (admittedly or unadmittedly) using you as a moral compass. In Romans 12:1-2, it says we are to prove what is the good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God. As God's Word is unchanging, us who are in Christ and following God's Word should generally be unchanging as well. If, on the contrary, we change with the culture and follow the world's ways, they will never be able to look at us and see how far they are off base. If we do the same with them, they may unconsciously believe that what they are doing is okay with God. This is similar to the way many Christians look to the behaviors or beliefs of spiritual leaders to see what is acceptable or unacceptable behavior or beliefs. In this way, we do affect the conscience of the world around us by showing what is acceptable or unacceptable in God's eyes (or failing to do so).

Day 157: 2 Chronicles 25-27; 1 Corinthians 11

.2 Chronicles 25:9 | (May.3.2012) An excellent example of what to do if you pay for something, but then the Lord directs you to do otherwise. Take the loss. Don't love or serve money. Serve God. He is able to give you much more money than you lost. Notice that it does not promise that God will definitely do it, but that He is able to. Notice also that he says "much more," and not "much more money." God may give you what you need in a different form than money. To lose this money in order to follow the Lord will take faith. Only if you have faith in God would you be willing to make the decision to lose it. And for following God, He could even refer to your eternity that God gives you in Heaven, or God may give you something on earth, which He's always doing anyway. God may give you money, yes, but realize that money is only a middle man, and God is able to cut out the middle man. You may want money so you can pay someone to paint your house, but God may send someone to paint your house for free. You may need money to pay a debt, but God may have that debt forgiven so you don't have to pay it. You may need money to hire some workers for your company, but God may send volunteers your way. Just yesterday, I went to get something printed from Staples, the office superstore, and when it was time to pay, the person working there who had struck up a conversation with me told me I didn't have to pay. It wasn't a lot of money, but who expects anything like that that from a big corporate store?

.1 Corinthians 11:3 | (May.29.2012) The head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God. That is what the scripture says here. This will help us to understand man's relationship to Christ, man's relationship to the Father God, man's relationship to woman, woman's relationship to Christ.

Christ is the only begotten son of God (John 3:16)
Christ is the image of the invisible God (Colossians 1:15; 1 Timothy 1:17)
In Christ is the fulness of the Godhead bodily (Colossians 2:9)
Christ is the head of the body comprised of us, the members (1 Corinthians 12:27; Colossians 1:18,24; Ephesians 5:30)
Christ is the creator (John 1:1,3,14)
Christ is our teacher (Ephesians 4:21)
Christ is our intercessor (Rom 8:34)
Man is not the head of another man (1 Peter 5:3)
Man is not the head of himself (1 Corinthians 11:3)
Woman is not the head of man (Genesis 3:6,17)
Woman is not the head of herself (1 Corinthians 11:3)
Satan is not the head of woman (Genesis 3:1,4,13,14)
Man and woman are one (Genesis 2:24)
Christ and the body/church is one (Ephesians 5:31-32)

.1 Corinthians 11:5 | (May.29.2012) It's interesting to note that today, when we think of a woman wearing a head covering, we often think of Muslim women. However, it has been reported that the Quran (what Muslims regard as their holy book) does not ever say for a woman's head to be covered, but for her body to be covered (24:31). Where a woman's head is said to be covered, however, is here in the Bible as Paul speaks to the Christians in Corinth. (Apr.14.2014) (May.9.2013) When I mentioned that to a Muslim woman recently who had her head covered, she told me that they adopted that from the Bible (because the Koran doesn't actually require them to cover their head).

Day 158: 2 Chronicles 28-29; 1 Corinthians 12

.2 Chronicles 28:12 | (June.5.2012) In verse 9 we see Oded, a prophet of the Lord, took a stand for God. In verse 12, he was joined by other leaders, so in verse 14-15 we see things turned completely around. Apparently one man stood up against an army and made a great difference.

.2 Chronicles 28:22 | (June.5.2012) "in the time of his distress"

.2 Chronicles 28:23 | (June.5.2012) This idolatry toward these so-called gods of Damascus is said here to be the ruin of him and all Israel.

.2 Chronicles 28:24 | (June.5.2012) Although God was doing for him, he must have been dissatisfied with how God was moving, like many of us today. These vessels that he cut in pieces, we'll see again in 29:19.

.2 Chronicles 29:30 | (June.5.2012) Praise and worship. "They sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped."

.1 Corinthians 12:3 | (June.6.2012) Let's take a close look at this verse to understand it. Paul says "Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." Now, if you look at this scripture (read it again), you'll see that it does not say that no man can say the words "Jesus is Lord," but by the Holy Ghost. In other words, it is not saying that a persons mouth cannot otherwise form the words and pronounce the words "Jesus is Lord." I would imagine that any person who can speak good English could pronounce those words. What it does say is that "no man can say that Jesus is Lord, but by the Holy Ghost." This is not talking about a person saying words, but about a person actually saying (acknowledging) that Jesus (the person) holds the position of Lord. So if I were to ask that person "are you telling me that Jesus really is the Lord?" and they, knowing what "Lordship" means, can say that yes, Jesus is in fact the Lord. Can a person say this, and lie? If a person who hates their own brother can lie and say they love God, as it says in 1 John 4:20, then I don't see why a liar cannot say Jesus is Lord while believing that their guns are really what hold supreme power and authority. If a person is really saying that Jesus is Lord, then they are saying that Jesus is alive. As Romans 14:9 says, He's Lord of both the dead and the living. He is the Lord, not just a lord. He is the supreme ruler of the living and the dead. Now about this saying that Jesus is Lord, we are talking about a confession (Romans 10:9), not a pronunciation. The first part of 1 Corinthians 12:3 adds context to what is being said in the second part. The first part says that "no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed" - accursed means cursed. In the same manner that someone who is Speaking by the Spirit of God will not say that Jesus is cursed, a person who is not of the Spirit cannot acknowledge and proclaim that Jesus is the Lord. They can't see it. Apparently, it is the Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit) that reveals to a person that Jesus is the Lord, allowing them to be able to say this, similarly to how it was our Father in Heaven that revealed it to John in Matthew 16:17 that Jesus is the Son of the living God. Now concerning Jesus not being accursed, it is true that He was made a curse for us as He took on our sins and hung on the cross (Galatians 3:13), but He is not now accursed. He is not on the cross now, and He is not dead. He has risen and is alive. This is why it is wrong for us believers to have or display a crucifix, knowing what it signifies. A crucifix is different than a cross. A crucifix is a cross that shows Jesus still hanging on it. On the contrary, an empty cross shows that Jesus is no longer hanging on it. Jesus was not left up on the cross after the day He died, or else the land would have been defiled according to Deuteronomy 21:22-23: "22) And if a man have committed a sin worthy of death, and he be to be put to death, and thou hang him on a tree: 23) His body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but thou shalt in any wise bury him that day; (for he that is hanged is accursed of God;) that thy land be not defiled, which the Lord thy God giveth thee for an inheritance." Jesus is not now hanged on a tree (the word "hung" wasn't used in the Bible, and the word "hanging" was a different word. A hanging was a noun, a thing, like we would call a curtain, not a verb. The term "is hanged" is used.) For us to have pictures and depictions of Christ still hanging on the cross is, by this understanding, an incorrect thing to do. To have Jesus currently, and perpetually hanging on a cross (a crucifix) would signify that He is accursed. I realize that it is done by many people who don't mean it for that reason. They didn't know better. But when you know better, you must do better. No man speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and I would expect that they would also not depict Him as being accursed.

.1 Corinthians 12:4-11 | (June.5.2012) We see here that there are many diversities of spiritual gifts, but they are all from the same Spirit; the Holy Ghost. There are shown here many different manifestations of the Holy Spirit. It is not as some people claim today that there is only one manifestation of the Holy Ghost, and that all must speak in tongues, or that all must prophesy.

.1 Corinthians 12:21 | (June.5.2012) It gives an example here, saying that the head cannot say to the feet "I have no need of you." If you'll remember in 1 Corinthians 11:3, it says the head of every man is Christ. And being that we are all members of the body of Christ (verse 27), we know that Christ needs us. It's important for us to know that not only does God love us, He needs us. But this verse also gives a different example, saying that the eye cannot say to the hand "I have no need of thee." So we know that we also need each other. If you look at your own body, you know that you cannot even walk down the street if many members of your body aren't working together. This is the same with the body of Christ. And this body is not a "local church" as we call them. There is one church spoken of here, and we in Christ are all members of it. There is no such talk in the Bible of a group of people calling themselves a church and saying to members of the body of Christ "hey, you're with them over there, and this here is our church. We have our own body, we are complete." There is one body, as also said in Ephesians 4:4. If there be a separate body, there must be a separate head to that body. And if there is a separate head and body that conversely claims to be with Christ, I'm prepared to say that it is a cult.

Day 159: 2 Chronicles 30-31; 1 Corinthians 13

.1 Corinthians 13:10 | (June.7.2012) Notice it says "when" not "if."

But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

There are no if, and, or buts about it. That which is perfect is most definitely going to come.

.1 Corinthians 13:11 | (June.7.2012) This verse is often used as a general statement about adulthood, but that's not really what this is. We must look at this verse in context. When I say "in context" I mean, we have to take into consideration why Paul says this while he's talking about prophesying and charity. This verse has something to do with that. For example, if I were talking to you about an argument that I had with this guy, and I told you "So me and this guy were walking down the street arguing about the chicken and the egg. I told him I've always known that the cars were painted blue. So he looked at me and said that the chicken had to come before the egg and there was no other way possible, but I was able to show him that the egg came first." If I said that to you, you would ask me "Eric, why did you say that the cars were painted blue?" Because you would know that there must have been some reason that I mentioned the car. You would want to understand it in context with what I was saying about the chicken/egg argument; what does that have to do with the chicken and the egg? I'm the one that said it, so I know what the cars being painted blue has to do with the chicken and the egg. We can't separate the cars-painted-blue statement from what I was saying about the chicken and the egg argument. If you do that, you'll never understand what the statement was supposed to mean; why it was even said. In context, you would eventually be able to see (or perhaps if I revealed it to you) that I said the cars were painted blue because there were some cars that were put together first, then they were painted blue. But he thought that the cars' parts were painted first (the hood, the doors, bumpers, etc), then they were put together to form a car. So he was saying that the cars weren't painted blue, because at the time the painting was done, they weren't cars. I mentioned that with the chicken and the egg, because we were on the subject of what happened first. If you removed my cars-painted-blue statement from being part of the chicken/egg argument, then it would never make sense to you why I said it. It would be true, yes, but you wouldn't get the message I was intending it to mean. Likewise, to understand what Paul is really talking about when he makes his statement about being a child and becoming a man, we must look at it in reference to what he's talking about before and after he makes that statement. If this was the book of Proverbs, perhaps we could look at this verse by itself and understand it alone, because the book of Proverbs often has random tidbits of knowledge about life, and one verse doesn't necessarily have anything to do with the other verses (at least it seems.) But this here (1 Corinthians) is a letter that Paul is writing to some people. It's not random tidbits of information or nuggets of truth. He's talking to them about a particular issue here. In context of the issue he's talking about, we know that it has something to do with how we see things, what we know, how we may prophesy, and ultimately something to do with charity, because that's what he's talking about here. When I come across something like this that I don't completely understand but I really want to understand, I ask the Lord to reveal it to me, so that I can have the real understanding of what it means. Perhaps, I'll even put a question mark next to it in my Bible, and He always reveals what it means so that I can understand it well enough. Obviously, He's the one with all of the answers, so take a moment and ask Him what exactly Paul means here in verse 11. Or if you already know, then ask Him about some other question you have about something you read in the Bible. The word "context" is defined in the dictionary as "The parts of a written or spoken communication which precede or follow a word, sentence, or passage, and affect its meaning; as, distortion by quoting out of context. The surrounding environment, circumstances, or facts which help give a total picture of something."

Day 160: 2 Chronicles 32-33; 1 Corinthians 14

.1 Corinthians 14:2 | (June.8.2012) See the first part of verse 22 notes about the differences noted between an "unknown tongue" and "other tongues."

.1 Corinthians 14:22 | (June.8.2012) The first part of this scripture says "Wherefore tongues are for a sign, not to them that believe, but to them that believe not." For three reasons, I think there is a difference between the "other tongues" spoken of here (as they are called in verse 21) and the "unknown tongue" spoken of in verse 2. Firstly, one is called an "unknown tongue" and the other is called "other tongues." One of them is singular (tongue), and is said to be unknown; the other is plural (tongues) and is not said to be unknown. Secondly, verse 2 says that he that speaks in an "unknown tongue" doesn't speak to men, but to God because no man understands him. On the contrary, the person speaking in "other tongues" is clearly speaking to people. Also in Acts 2:1-18 on the day of Pentecost, it says in verse 4 that they were filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with "other tongues." In 2:5-11 it clearly says that all of those men from different nations heard them speak in their own languages. In 2:11 they even say "we do hear them speak in our tongues" not an "unknown tongue" as said in 14:2. Thirdly, 1 Cor. 14:4 says "He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself..." but verse 22 says that tongues (other tongues) are for a sign to non-believers. They have two different purposes.
The second part of this verse says "but prophesying serveth not for them that believe not, but for them which believe." My best understanding for why this is so, is because prophecy is a guide that is meant for the hearer to understand and prayerfully heed the warning, word of advice, or revelation. The believer should have more discernment also, as to whether the person prophesying is a true prophet or a false prophet. Many times it has been shown that non-believers are generally offended by what God has to say about their lives (which is basically what prophecy is). For example, we see in Acts 7:51-59, the non-believers killed Stephen, who was filled with the Holy Ghost, when he pointed out how they always resist the Holy Ghost and their fathers persecuted and slew all of the prophets. 7:57-58 says "They cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him." Essentially what happened here is that they tried to physically kill the Holy Ghost, although I'm pretty sure since they were non-believers, they didn't know that's what they were essentially trying to do. That's almost the biggest offense they could commit upon their on souls. Even though they were ignorant and unbelieving, they would still need to repent of that and need God's grace and forgiveness for that (1 Timothy 1:13). Would that be counted as them blaspheming the Holy Ghost? It appears that would not count as blaspheming the Holy Ghost, but instead, it would count as resisting the Holy Ghost as said in Acts 7:51. Saul, who later became Paul the apostle was with them and was consenting to Stephen's death as it says in Acts 8:1. And we know that Paul was forgiven, and that the Bible says that blasphemy against the Holy Ghost is unforgivable (Matthew 12:31).

.1 Corinthians 14:27 | (June.8.2012) This is not what happened on the day of Pentecost, spoken of in Acts 2. This here is speaking about an "unknown tongue," but in Acts 2, it was speaking about "other tongues" (Acts 2:4).

.1 Corinthians 14:28 | (June.8.2012) This interpreter spoken of here does not work like a Spanish or Japanese interpreter, for example. A Spanish or Japanese interpreter understands that language, because they've learned it and they know the words they hear the person speaking. On the contrary, someone who interprets an unknown tongue is doing so because they are operating by the power of the Holy Spirit, as mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:10. The Holy Spirit reveals to them what is said. The Holy Spirit is also capable of revealing to someone what is spoken in other tongues or an unknown tongue, just as the Holy Spirit is capable of enabling a person to speak either (unknown tongue or other tongues).

Day 161: 2 Chronicles 34-36; 1 Corinthians 15

.2 Chronicles 34:14-21 | (June.9.2012) "...Hilkiah the priest found a book of the law of the Lord given by Moses." And did they say, oh, that's a nice book, and then toss it aside? No, they realized it was something important enough to take to the king. In verse 18, Shaphan the scribe reads it to the king, and in verse 19 it says "when the king had heard the words of the law, that he rent his clothes." That means he tore his clothes, which was a sign of great grief or distress. Imagine a president of a country crying out and tearing their clothes when they received some really bad news. They get a lot of bad news anyway. Something that would make them tear their nice expensive suite would be extraordinarily horrible. In verse 21, we see that they take this book very seriously. The king didn't say "we don't follow things written in books. We only follow the rules that I create." No, he took it very seriously, and recognized the importance of the Word of God and that it must be followed, saying "...for great is the wrath of the Lord that is poured out upon us, because our fathers have not kept the word of the Lord, to do after all that is written in this book." Their situation was far different than ours. They weren't doing right because they didn't have full knowledge of what right was. We have God's word in book form all around us, and even free for everyone to read in entirety on the internet and in the libraries, but we don't care much to follow it. The countries we live in now regard their own law as more important than God's law, which they often willingly ignore. If God's wrath would be poured upon them back then, what could be in store for disobedient people in our time?

.2 Chronicles 34:25 | (June.9.2012) We see here that it is obvious that God is not okay with people honoring a bunch of different gods. He is provoked to anger by it. God is very patient though, to the point that people often begin to think He's not going to do anything about it.

.2 Chronicles 34:27-28 | (June.9.2012) In response to the king humbling himself, weeping, and rending his clothes, God's mercy is that He would "gather thee to thy fathers" He says. That means they would die, as we see in 33:20, which says "So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his own house". We tend to always look at death as a punishment or a shame. God does not see it like that. In this case, it will save them from having to see the evil that God will bring upon this place, God says. When it's God's will, we see that dying is not always a bad thing. Sometimes it is deliverance from having to witness God's wrath, and deliverance from being in an evil place, being taken to a better place. He says here He will gather him to his grave in peace. I'm not sure whether God was speaking just of the king or to certain other people as well. When we ask, "why does God kill innocent people" or ask "why does God allow good people to die" we have to recognize that being on this earth is not always the best place to be. Even Paul the apostle says "to live is Christ, to die is gain." Of course, I must give a disclaimer and say that this is God's choice to make, not ours. To try to decide to send ourselves to the grave or others would be overstepping God's authority, and almost surely to be judged as murder, not deliverance. (Apr.15.2014) (May.9.2013) And if we murder, even if it is murdering oneself, then we would find ourselves standing before God's throne of judgement as a murderer.

.1 Corinthians 15:5-7 | (June.9.2012) We see here that there were more than twelve apostles, but that the twelve that walked with Jesus had some different sort of recognition; recognized as a tight-nit group commonly referred to as "the twelve," or "the twelve disciples" or "twelve apostles."

Day 162: Ezra 1-2; 1 Corinthians 16

.Ezra | Ezra was a scribe (Nehemiah 8:1,4) and a priest (Neh 8:2,9; 12:1)

.Ezra 1:1-3 | This is continued from 2 Chronicles 36:22-23. It is believed that Ezra possibly wrote 2 Chronicles.

.Ezra 2:2 | (June.11.2012) Hey, look! There's Nehemiah.

.Ezra 2:21 | (June.11.2012) My Bible spells it "Beth-lehem." I'm guessing the dash was added for pronunciation. Being that this was originally written in Hebrew, I'm not sure they had any character that would translate to a dash in English.

.Ezra 2:26 | (June.11.2012) interesting

.Ezra 2:34 | (June.11.2012) Hey, look! Jericho.

.Ezra 2:70 | (June.16.2012) This is the same report in Nehemiah 7:73. The following verse is Ezra 3:1/Nehemiah 8:1.

.1 Corinthians 16:2 | (June.11.2012) highlighted "that there be no gatherings when I come."

.1 Corinthians 16:10 | (June.11.2012) "Now if Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear: for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do." Paul tells them to treat Tim good when he comes. No, God has not given us the spirit of fear as this Timothy tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7, but that doesn't mean that people can't possibly inflict it or intimidate a person. If it were not so, it's doubtful that Paul would even be saying this here. It is something I believe people may overcome, but it remains true that there are some brethren among us who are weaker than other brethren in many ways other than physical.

.1 Corinthians 16:12 | (June.11.2012) Apollos didn't want to come this time, because apparently it was an inconvenient time for him, and I'd suppose it was fully within his right to make such a decision although Paul the apostle greatly desired for him to come. Notice how Paul didn't try to guilt Apollos, nor call him disobedient to God or anything like that. Sometimes, we just have to respect the decisions of our brethren and not make a big deal about it.

.1 Corinthians 16:15 | (June.11.2012) "...they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints." If you absolutely have to be addicted to something, what better to be addicted to, than ministry." This word "ministry" doesn't mean "doing stuff at the church house," it has a very rich, compassionate, and purposeful meaning in the Bible that specifically deals with helping individuals in their time of need, in whatever area of need they may have. If I recall correctly, it is more often mentioned as a function being performed than a title being held.

.1 Corinthians 16:19 | (June.11.2012) Aquila and his wife Priscilla are spoken of in Acts 18:2.

.1 Corinthians 16:21 | (June.11.2012) Paul is writing, not someone writing for him.

.1 Corinthians 16:22 | (June.11.2012) "If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha." I didn't find a definition for the word "Maranatha," but "Anathema" is defined in Webster's dictionary:

Anathema - a curse, denunciation or condemnation pronounced with religious solemnity by ecclesiastical authority, and accompanied by excommunication; execration generally; curse; the person or object denounced or detested. (The Living Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary of the English Language, 1975)

Looking at this, the church appears not to be a place for non-believers, perhaps. It appears much different from the way we usually see things operate these days. What we often see today is that people can figuratively be in a church, without belonging to the church (the body of Jesus Christ). Nowadays "church" is something people attend; a place that people go to. In the Bible, which should be the same now, church was not a thing that people attended, nor was it a place that people went to. It was something that people were, a state of being (Colossians 1:24). If you were a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, you were a member of the church, and there was no church aside from the church. If you had given your life to Jesus Christ, Him being your Lord and your salvation, then you were automatically counted as being a member of the church. From all I see in the Bible, there was not such a thing as being a member of the church, but not being a member of some local organization called the church. If you're in, you're in. We are God's temple; His Spirit dwells in us (1 Corinthians 3:16-17). This greatly challenges our way of thinking, because what many of us have become accustomed to today is being told to bring as many non-believers to church as possible. And so we all go to church together, which means we go to a building called "(XX&Y) Church", and that church is comprised of believers and non-believers. And in church is when/where people are introduced to Jesus Christ. But that is not the model we see in the Bible, before, during, or after Jesus Christ walked the earth. When I say "before" I'm speaking of Israel under the law, and their synagogues not being places frequented by gentiles. I am still studying on this topic, but as of my current understanding of all I've studied in the Bible, this is what I see. I am still studying what the differences were between the biblical model of church, and what we have today, and even the operation of the leadership. From my recollection, in the Bible, we don't see people going to a church meeting to hear about Jesus and to get saved/give their life to Christ, or even to get baptized. We see those things happening outside on the streets, or wherever people were at. I'm not saying it's wrong for that to take place inside of a building, I'm just calling attention to the differences we see. It's getting to the point where the non-believers in society are trying to even force everything inside of a physical church building, saying "all of the conversions, all of the talk of God, baptisms, praying, reading the Bible, teaching, and whatever else related to God, keep all of that stuff in your buildings. That's where you do that." And many believers no longer talk to people outside of the church house, even many who are called to be evangelists go into a sanctioned building to operate in their calling. Where did we see the apostles in the Bible carrying out their calling? They were out walking around. The prophets were most often heard out among all the people, or even heard by kings and leaders. They were not closed off in a secluded building. We look at people who committed their life to Christ; it was not done inside of a church building, although it could happen there too. We hear of Philip the evangelist (Acts 21:8) who in Acts 8:29-39 found an Ethiopian man reading the scriptures in his chariot (reading Esaias/Isaiah). He didn't say "come to church with me," he taught him about Christ and being born again right then and there. In that moment they had together, there was sufficient time to teach him all he needed to know at the time about Christ and being born again, that he could make the decision to give his life to Christ and even be baptized. Acts 8:35 says this evangelist preached unto him Jesus from the scripture, right there in the desert on the way from Jerusalem to Gaza. There was no a Sunday service with a choir, ushers, and an officiated sermon, documents or certificates, witnesses, letters of recommendation, a membership voting with a "right hand of fellowship," classes and certifications with signatures and authorizations necessary. All that was needed was somebody to sit down and preach Christ to help this Ethiopian understand (no pulpit necessary), and some water somewhere, which was probably dirty with things swimming in it, and was not inside of a church building with the words "baptismal pool" stamped on it. John the Baptist baptized people out in the river. Paul baptized a couple of people, at least. None of them were said to be pastors. Can a pastor baptize someone inside of a building in a square tub of water with the words "baptismal pool" stamped on it? I don't see why not. It's water, isn't it? The person understands the decision they're making right? What I'm trying to point out is that it is not necessary for people to go to a church meeting in order get saved, or even baptized. It is not necessary, and in the Bible, was probably abnormal for people to go to a church meeting/building to get introduced to Jesus Christ. As we continue to study from here, we should look at what conditions/situation was likely going on for Paul to be able to say what he said in 1 Corinthians 16:22, and what that could mean for us today. Is it primarily up to the evangelists to reach and teach the non-believers outside of the church, and then for pastors and teachers to lead and teach believers inside the church? What is it that we call "the church?" And is it acceptable for non-believers to be in it? We do know of our instruction in the case of finding tares mixed in with wheat, which are essentially non-believers who are posing as believers; let them grow together until the harvest (Matthew 13:24-30,36-43). But that speaks of deceivers, not people who are openly known to be non-believers. In whatever we study or learn, or we must seek the Lord in prayer and fasting, in how we go forth. We must not rely on our own wisdom and understanding, but must always humble ourselves and seek God's wisdom, understanding, and direction on who, what, when, where, why, and how.

Day 163: Ezra 3-5; 2 Corinthians 1

.Ezra 3:1 | (June.12.2012) "...the people gathered themselves together as one man..." If they can do this here without having the Holy Spirit within them, nor Christ walking among them, then surely we can do what is called for in Ephesians 4:13, having the Holy Spirit and having had Christ walk here before us. Would Jesus' prayer for our unity go unanswered? In John 17:11, He prayed for us "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou has given me, that they may be one, as we are." Is Jesus just speaking of the twelve apostles? No, He's speaking of all of us believers. Paul understands this as he tells the Corinthians "ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's" in 1 Corinthians 3:23. And there are many other scriptures saying we belong to Christ, such as Romans 12:5 which says, "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." That we are "members one of another" is also said in Ephesians 4:25. Continuing with Jesus' prayer for us, He says in John 17:22, "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them: that they may be one, even as we are one:" James 5:16 says "...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Was Jesus not a righteous enough man for his prayer to be answered? I think we all know the answer to that. Did Jesus not pray enough? We know how much Jesus prayed, and that aside from those times mentioned, there were many other times when He prayed also that are not recorded in the Bible. (June.16.2012) Ezra 3:1 is the same instance spoken of in Nehemiah 8:1. We can be sure of this by looking at the verses before Ezra 2:70/Nehemiah 7:73.

.Ezra 4:2-5 | (June.12.2012) This is a prime example that everyone that asks or seeks to come along your side to "help" may not all have good intentions. Sometimes the "we need all the help we can get" attitude is not the right approach.

.Ezra 4:11 | (June.12.2012) This letter that we're told of here begins in the middle of this verse with the words "Thy servants the men on this side..." and seems to end at verse 16. There are other books of the Bible that share copies of other letters and documents with us, but this time, we're blessed to be actually told "This is the copy of the letter that they sent unto him..." Thank you. It can't get any more plain than that. Other times we have to figure it out on our own.

.Ezra 4:13 | (June.12.2012) 7:24 speaks about this, not paying toll, tribute, or custom.

.Ezra 4:24 | (June.12.2012) highlighted

.Ezra 5:1 | (June.12.2012) Hey look! There's Zechariah... and Haggai.

.2 Corinthians 1:5 | (June.12.2012) "...the sufferings of Christ abound in us..."

.2 Corinthians 1:8 | (June.12.2012) highlighted

.2 Corinthians 1:12 | (June.12.2012) this word "conversation" here is said to mean "way of life," or the way in which someone acts, not just what they say.

.2 Corinthians 1:23 | (June.12.2012) "I call God for a record upon my soul..." | Remember in 1 John 5:7, we're told "there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one." From John 1:1,14, we know this Word became flesh, which was Jesus Christ. "1) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14) And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth."

Day 164: Ezra 6-8; 2 Corinthians 2

.Ezra 6:8 | (June.13.2012) It appears that this word "expences" is the same word as "expenses." In this sense, it appears that it means money for expenses. I'm trying to think of this word; I forget what it's called nowadays... (May.9.2013) "allowance!" (took me a year to think of that)

.Ezra 6:15 | (June.13.2012) This house was complete in the month Adar. However, it doesn't appear to me that the writer is saying that this is the same month of the passover, spoken of down in verse 19. Although the writer happens to speak of this house being finished around the same time they speak of the passover, I don't see where the writer specifically says they (passover and the completion of the house) happened in the same month. This month in verse 15 is called Adar, and the first month, wherein the passover is held is called Abib, as we see in Exodus 12:2 and 13:4, and in Deuteronomy 16:1. There are cases in the Bible where we find spelling or pronunciation variations or words/names said differently in different languages, but this doesn't seem to me to be one of those cases. (June.13.2012) In fact, Esther 3:7 says Adar is the twelfth month, and Nisan is the first month, which is likely the same month as Abib (Deuteronomy 16:1). Other sources say that Abib is the Canaanite name for the month.

.Ezra 6:19 | (June.13.2012) (similar to Ezra 6:15 notes) It's not too apparent to me whether they're saying that this first month is the same month, Adar, that the house was completed in as spoken of in verse 15. Although the writer happens to speak of this house being finished around the same time they speak of this passover month, I don't see where the writer specifically says this is the same month. The month in verse 15 is called Adar, and this first month, wherein the passover is held is called Abib, as we see in Exodus 12:2 and 13:4, and in Deuteronomy 16:1. There are cases in the Bible where we find spelling or pronunciation variations or words/names said differently in different languages, but this doesn't seem to me to be one of those cases.

.Ezra 6:21 | (June.13.2012) From filthiness they had to separate themselves to seek the Lord God of Isreal. In the book of Exodus we see them leaving Egypt to go into the wilderness, but as far as Pharoah knew, God was only asking him to "let my people go" for a short period of time to hold a feast to God in the wilderness and then return to Egypt. We see in Exodus 5:1 Moses and Aaron say to Pharoah "Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, 'Let my people go, that they may hold a feast unto me in the wilderness.'" It sounds as if they are supposed to come back, although God doesn't say so. However, we see from Exodus 4:22 that God told Moses to tell the children of Israel to borrow from their neighbours, but in the end of the verse God says they shall spoil the Egyptians. To spoil them, means that they will take their goods for their own. God plays out the whole thing in a way where they borrow from them, expecting to return, but end up getting chased away and running for their lives and not returning. God tells Moses there in Exodus that they're going to spoil the Egyptians, but I'm not sure if Moses is aware of the fact that when they leave, they are leaving permanently. What slave owner would just permanently let his slaves go, knowing that they would not ever come back? Exodus 5:3 calls it a "three days' journey into the desert." It sounds like they're coming back. "Mr. Pharoah sir, can we take a three days journey into the dessert to hold a feast unto our God?" sounds like they're coming back. And those Egyptians would have never loaned out their silver and gold jewels to someone that they were not planning on seeing again. The word wouldn't have been "borrow," it would have been "give me your jewels," like a robbery, and there would have been a fight right then and there. But Exodus 11:2 says "borrow." Exodus 12:36 says the Egyptians "lent" them the things that they required. In verse 14:5, someone lied to Pharoah and told him that they fled, so we see from verse 5 to verse 15 that the plan changes, and God has them "go forward" and escape from Pharoah's army of 600 angry chariots who thinks they robbed them. If you get chased by 600 angry chariots because they think you stole from them, it's probably not a good idea for them to catch you.

.Ezra 7:10 | (June.13.2012) Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord, and to do it. Sometimes you've got to prepare your heart to seek the law and to do it. Sometimes you don't want to do it. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do it. It means you must prepare your heart to do it.

.Ezra 7:24 | (June.13.2012) 4:13 speaks of this, and this is probably what Jesus is referring to in Matthew 17:24.

.Ezra 7:25 | (June.13.2012) Here we see a prophet of the Lord appointing magistrates and judges. That's about as far away from "separation of church and state" as you can get. Things haven't always been the way they are now.

.Ezra 8:3,16 | (June.13.2012) Hey look! There's Zechariah.

.Ezra 8:19 | (June.13.2012) I just thought it was interesting how much Merari sounds like Ferrari.

.Ezra 8:33 | (June.13.2012) These are different people than seen in Numbers 31:6, although I'm pretty sure this Phinehas named his son after that Eleazar. Perhaps this is the same Phinehas, who named the boy after his granddad. I'd like to look back at this when I get a moment.

.2 Corinthians 2:4 | (June.13.2012) highlighted

.2 Corinthians 2:13 | (June.13.2012) Did they put Titus out?

.2 Corinthians 2:14 | (June.13.2012) highlighted "maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place."

.2 Corinthians 2:17 | (June.13.2012) highlighted

Day 165: Ezra 9-10; 2 Corinthians 3

.Ezra 9:2 | (June.14.2012) I'm sure the girls looked good and probably seemed nice and sweet at first. When this verse says "they have taken daughters for themselves, and for their sons" it means that they married them, as we see confirmed in Ezra 10:2. They took strange wives. They were purposely disobedient to God, in doing this, (Apr.16.2014) and there are consequences for that. God says in verse 11 that these people are filthy and spread uncleanness and commit abominations, and that their land is unclean. God is not telling them to be racist. He knows that none of these people are right. God has a promise and a purpose for the holy people, but if you mix the holy people with unclean people, what is He to do? He doesn't want to bless people and land that are against Him, but doesn't want to withhold His promise from those who are for Him. But if God tells them not to do something, and they do it, then they are going against Him. They are not regarding Him as their Lord. In a sense, they're saying "God, we're not your people, for you to tell us what to do. We're our own people who make our own decisions about what we do and don't do." They are regarding themselves as their own Lords, just like these people they are mingling themselves with. It becomes apparent already that the "holy" people are the ones who are compromising and willing to become uhholy, instead of the unholy people compromising their ways to try to become holy. They're doing what they've always done, which is to do whatever they feel like doing. Whenever you mix good and bad, one of the two is going to have to compromise and change. This also goes for the good girl/bad guy connection or bad girl/good guy (Adam and Eve). And most often, it's easiest for the good (or holy) to do something wrong than it is for the bad to correct all of their ways and do no more wrong.

.Ezra 10:2 | (June.14.2012) They trespassed against God by taking "strange wives" it says here. It is alarming that this word "strange" doesn't scare people in our time now today. It is supposed to be a scary word. When the Bible tells us to fear God, this is supposed to be where that fear kicks in. This verse is speaking of the strange wives they took in Ezra 9:2, which we hear God's word against in 9:12. To put it plainly, most things in the Bible that are called strange are bad, and playing around with strange things has bad consequences and repercussions. The first mention in the Bible of something strange is found in Genesis 35:2 when Jacob says to his household and all that were with him "Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments." No, he doesn't mean to put them away like a parent tells a child to put away their toys. He means get rid of them; separate yourself from them. Change your clothes, and wash the microscopic dirt off of your hands from touching them, and they didn't even have microscopes then, so you know it was serious. There's no visual evidence that the dirt from handling strange things can even rub off on you, but you should just feel dirty. Change your clothes. And you know that's serious for them too, because having clean clothes wasn't as easy as throwing them in the washing machine. I'm pretty sure they didn't even put on a new pair of clothes each day just because it was a new day. Even some of my cousins wore the same clothes everyday on a regular basis. It was no big deal. In Leviticus 10:1-2, two of Aaron's sons offered strange fire before the Lord, and He burnt them up with it. They died right there. That was a bit unusual because usually we see God reserve His wrath for a later date; He usually gives a grace period. However, let Aaron's sons be an example and remember that He doesn't have to give us any grace period. The last mention of something strange is found in Jude 7, which ties it all up for us, just in case we didn't quite get the message. Jude 7 says "Even as Sodom and Gomorrah, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." In fact, read Jude 1:4-8 to get the full picture. There are some people today who try to deny that God burned up Sodom and Gomorrha because of their homosexuality and sexual perversions, but this is plain. Jude 4 speaks of people who turned the grace of God into lasciviousness. Look up the word lasciviousness. In fact, I don't know what today's dictionary definition would be, but in 1975 it was defined as "Lewd; lustful; exciting sensual emotions" in The Living Webster Encyclopedic Dictionary. So the next time someone tries to get you to choose something/someone strange for a little bit of change, DANGER! DANGER! - run far from it. I mean go Forrest Gump on them and Run Forrest! Run!
(June.15.2012) We would also do well to remember what 2 Corinthians 6:14 says: "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" However, this does not mean that you should get a divorce if you are already married to an unbeliever. Paul's advice in 1 Corinthians 7:12-14 is that the believing spouse should not divorce the unbelieving spouse for that reason, saying that the unbelieving spouse is sanctified by the believing spouse. This doesn't mean, that the unbeliever will go to heaven because they're married to a believer, since marriage is only an arrangement till death parts them.

.2 Corinthians 3:3 | (June.13.2012) Shaking my head (smh), imagining when Moses broke God's stone written tables. If I was God, I would have been thinking "Boy, you ain't gon' make it. Go to your room." Hmm, is that what we're doing when we do the things we do? Are we doing what Moses did with those tables, except doing it with our flesh?

.2 Corinthians 3:7 | (June.14.2012) Moses' face didn't figuratively shine bright, but literally.

.2 Corinthians 3:8 | (June.14.2012) I'm not saying we must shine in the same way, but we're obviously lacking.

.2 Corinthians 3:11-14 | (June.14.2012) Hebrews 7:12 speaks about this change. We see the words here "that which remaineth is glorious" after it speaks of that which is done away. This is a key verse to helping us understand that the New Testament was there, but not looked upon. It is new for us looking at it, but it was always there, but like Moses' face in verse 13, it had a vail over it, because the people couldn't look at it. Remember, in Matthew 27:51 it says the veil was rent in twain (torn in two). Verse 14 here in 2 Corinthians clarifies what's being said here when it lets us know that the same vail that was on Moses face is the same vail that is there when reading the Old Testament , but the vail is done away in Christ. Remember, that Moses was a prophet, so it's likely that God revealed all to Him, even about how there would be a New Testament. During the time of the Old Testament, however, there was just one testament containing all. When Christ died on the cross, that one testament was torn in two (in our eyes, at least), and now we see it as the Old Testament and the New Testament. By the way, the words veil and vail are the same word, but spelled differently in Matthew and Corinthians. The people in the Old Testament couldn't look at the whole testament (old and new), the whole picture, because they probably couldn't handle the fact that there would be a time when the forbidden things were no longer forbidden. Not everything that was forbidden became allowable, but certain things did. In other words, you can't use this as a pass to do everything that God said not to do in the Old Testament. Abominations are still abominations, and sin is still sin. God may have hinted at the vail dividing in Exodus 26:33 saying "the vail shall divide unto you between the holy place and the most holy." (read the rest of Exodus 26 to understand the context that it was mentioned in). Exodus 34:35 is when Moses put the vail over his face after he came down from the mountain with the two tablets containing the ten commandments.

Day 166: Nehemiah 1-3; 2 Corinthians 4

.Nehemiah | A few years ago, I had the privilege of reading a great book by a brother in Christ named John Dillard. I spoke with him also and he was a pretty sincere guy. The book was called Nehemiah's Prayer. It wasn't published yet at the time, but I just looked it up and it was released less than a month ago. I would recommend you pick up a copy. Here's more info about it: http://www.john-dillard.com/voiceofone.htm and it's available on Amazon.com.

.Nehemiah 2:10,19 | Notice how Sanballat and Tobiah laughed them to scorn, although inside they were exceedingly grieved. People will laugh at you in your face as if they think you're crazy. Sometimes they are only doing this to try to discourage you or because they are afraid or hiding some other emotion they are experiencing inside.

.2 Corinthians 4:1 | This "fainting" is spoken of many times in the Bible, but it's not talking about physically falling out on the ground, but spiritually fainting. Sometimes we do this with sin. Physically, when a person faints, something causes their body to feel so overwhelmed that the body just completely stops trying and gives up and falls to the floor as if dead. Spiritually, a person can likewise feel overwhelmed and give up, which usually involves relapsing into some type of sin or backsliding. Basically, we stop trying spiritually. But fainting is not a good thing and can be prevented. There's something else common with physically and spiritual fainting. Sometimes when physically standing for too long you can begin to feel physically overwhelmed, and your eyesight begins to fade to darkness, your hearing begins to fade, and you feel your body temperature beginning to rise, you bend your knees and kneel down to the ground until you begin to recover. Concerning spiritually fainting, Paul deals with this in Galatians 6:9, saying "let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Sometimes when we take a stand for God for a long time, we may begin to feel overwhelmed, and we may feel our (spiritual) eyesight start to fade and our hearing (God's voice) begins to fade, and we might even get a little hot under the collar, angry or upset, but that's when we need to bend our knees and kneel down (in prayer) until we begin to recover and can continue standing. Sometimes you might need a brother or sister in Christ to lean on to keep from fainting or perhaps for them to remind you (or advise you) to bend your knees and go down in prayer.

.2 Corinthians 4:2 | "nor handling the word of God deceitfully" should warn us that the Word of God can be handled deceitfully. This is why we must be wise in who and what we listen to. The fact that someone is quoting or preaching from the Bible, is not sufficient evidence that they are honest and truthful. This is why we need to know God's Word for ourselves. This is one of the reasons why I invite many to read the Bible in a year.

.2 Corinthians 4:4 | The term "the god of this world" seems to be referring to Satan. If this is so, this should cause us to question, "Why does it call Satan the god of this world?" For the answer, we'll have to remember how the Bible uses the term "world." In John 12:31, Satan is called the prince of this world. Jesus, in John 15:18-19 says "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you." The word "world" is used here to refer to that which is Satan's kingdom, not God's Kingdom. It's not referring to the physical world (the earth).

.2 Corinthians 4:8-9 | This is what we need to realize. The new movement of the "prosperity gospel" that we see taking place these days does not align with this scripture. That "prosperity" gospel that man has created, essentially says that a life of Christ is one of material wealth and favor and everyone bowing down to your favor. However, this scripture says that the life of Christ is one of persecution, tribulation, and even death. We must know that this is the life of Christ, because otherwise, we can live in error, thinking that everything in this Christian walk is supposed to be smooth sailing, leaving us unprepared to deal with any persecution or tribulation.
Jesus, although the son of God, did not live His life like a spoiled brat, acting like everything was supposed to go His way, expecting the worldly people to give Him favor and bow down to Him, getting offended and upset when they didn't. He was done wrong, lied on, spit on, all while innocent, but He took it and endured it (long-suffering) without getting all bent out of shape and personally offended, and if you're a member of His body (the church), you'd better be prepared to go through the same. And if someone is teaching you the opposite (that everyone is supposed to bow down to you, because you're a child of God), then they are setting you up for great failure! Because if you choose to stubbornly claim your right to worldly treasures (prosperity), instead of being persecuted and even robbed of your worldly materials, then you are not choosing a life in Christ. And when you choose other than the life of Christ, you're in danger of hellfire.
There are some who call themselves Christian, but will even receive Satan's mark of the beast in order to continue buying the world's goods and services, trying to maintain financial prosperity, supposing that gain is Godliness. In fact, they will have sold their soul to the Devil.
Concerning this, Jesus says "lay not up for yourselves treasures upon the earth where moth and rust doth corrupt and where thieves break through and steal, but lay up for yourselves, treasures up in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also" (Matthew 6:19-21).
Do not confuse real prosperity with the world's definition of prosperity, being deceived about what it means to live a life in Christ. "We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed; always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh" (2 Corinthians 4:8-11).

.2 Corinthians 4:12 | Essentially, he is saying, "we die, so others can live." John the Baptist and the apostles could have been quiet and worked their careers and raised their family quietly, never telling anyone about Jesus so they could prevent their lives from being taken (Apr.19.2014) and never having to go to prison or be threatened or beat up. But instead, they preached Christ and His life of righteousness, and were killed for it. But since they were willing to forsake their own life for the sake of others, we now have eternal life because of what they did. Thank God they weren't selfish and didn't love their life as much as some of us do. And there were others besides them who made the same choice, even some people today. But I thank God that we can also understand with joy that although there may be persecution, those of us in Christ pass from temporary life here, to eternal life, not death, so there is actually nothing lost, only gained. I think it's important to note also that Jesus and the apostles and others didn't seek death, they didn't seek to be persecuted, and they didn't seek to be thrown in jail or any of that.
There are some today, both secular and spiritual, who seek to be done wrong so they can put that on their resume to make them look like they are legit. To say it plainly, getting persecuted, afflicted, killed, or imprisoned is not a ploy to gain credibility. Don't try to provoke people to do that to you, but don't suppress the Truth in order to try to save your own skin either. It's not about you or your credibility anyway.

.2 Corinthians 4:17-18 | This verse says "our light affliction," but our affliction is not light. There's nothing light about being persecuted to the point of death, but when God is with us through it, it is light. And it's especially light and temporary, when compared to the eternal affliction that will be experienced by those who face eternal damnation, who do not live a life in Christ. As for me, I'd much rather the temporary light affliction, instead of eternal Hell, but that's just because I believe the Word of God. Of course, anyone who does not truly believe in the Word of God will not choose affliction now, no matter how light or temporary. This is the test. Many say they believe, but man's talk is cheap. Do you think Jesus would have chosen to be beaten and die on the cross like that if He didn't truly believe that He would be raised up unto God and save us? Of course not, but He did believe, and He proved it. But even this, He didn't try to provoke them to do to it to Him. They even had to lie to find a reason to convict Him.

Day 167: Nehemiah 4-6; 2 Corinthians 5

.Nehemiah 4:1 | (June.15.2012) Sanballat "mocked the Jews" is says here.

.Nehemiah 4:2 | (June.15.2012) Sanballat's quote begins here with "What do these feeble Jews?..." and ends at the closing of verse 3 saying "...he shall even break down their stone wall."

.Nehemiah 4:6 | (June.15.2012) highlighted "the people had a mind to work."

.Nehemiah 4:7 | (June.15.2012) highlighted "the breaches began to be stopped"

.Nehemiah 4:8 | (June.15.2012) Sometimes people will fight against you with no purpose other than to distract you and hinder you from your work when they see you making progress.

.Nehemiah 4:13 | (June.15.2012) He was prepared to defend.

.Nehemiah 4:17 | (June.15.2012) They held weapons, but we see in verse 20 that they were still trusting God to fight for them.

.Nehemiah 4:20 | (June.15.2012) They're saying "God shall fight for us" but they're not expecting not to have to lift a finger themselves, we see from verses 13 and 17.

.Nehemiah 4:23 | (June.15.2012) As part of the defense, they kept their clothes on, even when they slept. That's called sleeping "ready roll."

.Nehemiah 5:14 | (June.15.2012) Nehemiah was the governor.

.Nehemiah 5:18 | (June.15.2012) Nehemiah didn't use his title to seek special provisions. Many corporate executives and political leaders would do well to take note of Nehemiah.

.Nehemiah 6:2 | (June.15.2012) funny how they're trying to act cordial after all of their threats. Nehemiah is nobody's fool.

.Nehemiah 6:13 | (June.16.2012) Imagine how it would affect the people (v.9) hearing that he's hiding while leaving them as prey. That would deal a blow to their loyalty and confidence.

.2 Corinthians 5:6 | (June.15.2012) highlighted "whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord"

.2 Corinthians 5:7 | (June.15.2012) "For we walk by faith, not by sight"

.2 Corinthians 5:8 | (June.15.2012) highlighted "willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

.2 Corinthians 5:11-21 | (June.15.2012) highlighted

.2 Corinthians 5:12 | (June.15.2012) I suppose that this "them which glory in appearance, and not in heart" is the same them spoken of in 1 Timothy 6:5 who are "destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness"

.2 Corinthians 5:15 | (June.15.2012) People have often reported having the feeling that they owe their life to a person if that person has saved their life. Christ saved us eternally.

.2 Corinthians 5:17 | (June.15.2012) I was not a human being, but a human for the time being; I was a human becoming, becoming what I am now, a Christian Being. Galatians 6:15 speaks of being a new creature.

.2 Corinthians 5:18-19 | (June.15.2012) Jesus Christ gave us the ministry of reconciliation, so we all hold the duty of doing our part of helping to reconcile man to God.

Day 168: Nehemiah 7-9; 2 Corinthians 6

.Nehemiah 7:4 | (June.16.2012) highlighted

.Nehemiah 7:5 | (June.16.2012) You know that's God working. He just so happened to find a register after God put it in his heart. Not all things from God will come like the ten commandments did to Moses.

.Nehemiah 7:7 | (June.16.2012) Nehum = Nahum?

.Nehemiah 7:33 | (June.16.2012) highlighted "the other Nebo." Sorry, you're not Nebo, you're the other Nebo (relegated to 2nd class). Perhaps he didn't mean it like that though.

.Nehemiah 7:34 | (June.16.2012) and now here he goes calling him "the other Elam." I wonder if I was there would I be called "Eric" or "the other Eric." I think I might rather be the main Eric, than the other Eric.

.Nehemiah 7:64 | (June.16.2012) highlighted

.Nehemiah 7:73 | (June.16.2012) This is the same report in Ezra 2:70. The following verse is Nehemiah 8:1/Ezra 3:1.

.Nehemiah 8:1 | (June.16.2012) highlighted "gathered themselves together as one man" - This is the same instance spoken of in Ezra 3:1, so the following is a copy of my Bible notes for Ezra 3:1:

"...the people gathered themselves together as one man..." If they can do this here without having the Holy Spirit within them, nor Christ walking among them, then surely we can do what is called for in Ephesians 4:13, having the Holy Spirit and having had Christ walk here before us. Would Jesus' prayer for our unity go unanswered? In John 17:11, He prayed for us "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to Thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou has given me, that they may be one, as we are." Is Jesus just speaking of the twelve apostles? No, He's speaking of all of us believers. Paul understands this as he tells the Corinthians "ye are Christ's; and Christ is God's" in 1 Corinthians 3:23. And there are many other scriptures saying we belong to Christ, such as Romans 12:5 which says, "So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another." That we are "members one of another" is also said in Ephesians 4:25. Continuing with Jesus' prayer for us, He says in John 17:22, "And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them: that they may be one, even as we are one:" James 5:16 says "...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." Was Jesus not a righteous enough man for his prayer to be answered? I think we all know the answer to that. Did Jesus not pray enough? We know how much Jesus prayed, and that aside from those times mentioned, there were many other times when He prayed also that are not recorded in the Bible.

.Nehemiah 8:4 | (June.16.2012) highlighted "Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose... stood..."

.Nehemiah 8:5 | (June.16.2012) highlighted "when he opened it, all the people stood up:"

.Nehemiah 8:6 | (June.16.2012) highlighted "...worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground."

.Nehemiah 8:9 | (June.16.2012) James 4:9-10

.Nehemiah 8:14 | (June.16.2012) They call it "the feast of the seventh month" here, but beforetimes I believe it was this same feast that was called "the feast of weeks."

.Nehemiah 9 | (June.16.2012) This chapter is an excellent summary of the Old Testament up until this point in history.

.Nehemiah 9:2 | (June.16.2012) Way before Jesus stepped out of the womb, people were confessing their sins.

.Nehemiah 9:3 | (June.16.2012) highlighted

.Nehemiah 9:7 | (June.16.2012) highlighted

.Nehemiah 9:18 | (June.16.2012) highlighted

.Nehemiah 9:21 | (June.17.2012) "their clothes waxed not old, and their feet swelled not." This was nothing less than a miracle. I'd say it's a greater miracle than a one time shot like raising someone from the dead. This is not restoration, resurrection, or reparation (repair-ation), this is perpetual maintenance (maintain-ance). Every second of every minute of every hour of every day or every week of ever month of every year, for forty years, God kept their clothes from getting old and kept their feet from swelling, which probably also means He kept them from getting sick. And He did this even when they did evil as it points out in verse 28. I'm sure they probably didn't even recognize that "hey, for some reason, our feet haven't gotten swollen and infected, and our clothes haven't worn out." They were wandering around in the wilderness. That's hard on the feet and on the clothes. Some of us are looking for miracles and healings, and wondering why we don't see God doing any big miracles, and we fail to realize why it is that we've gone years without getting sick, when we should have gotten sick by now. I probably shouldn't admit this, but I have clothes (t-shirts) that I've worn and washed regularly for about 15 years, and they're not wearing out. I might start to look at those clothes a little differently now, and wonder if they could go another 25 years. You never know what kind of miracles God is working right up under your nose, while you're looking for something big and obvious. It might be a miracle that you still have a job, or that your car is still running. It could be a miracle that you haven't developed a certain health condition. You never know what God is doing.

.Nehemiah 9:27 | (June.17.2012) highlighted "saviours, who saved them out of the hand of their enemies."

.2 Corinthians 6:3-10 | (June.17.2012) I thought this was particularly nice word usage here in the King James version.

.2 Corinthians 6:5 | (June.17.2012) All prisoners are not all criminals. Sometimes criminals put innocent people in prison. There are plenty of people in the Bible who were wrongly imprisoned, such as Joseph, Paul, John the Baptist, and even Jesus.

.2 Corinthians 6:8 | (June.17.2012) "... as deceivers, and yet true..." Apparently, there is a form of deceit that is not in itself wrong when one is being true. Perhaps an example of this would be when Moses' parents hid him for three months when he was born, spoken of in Hebrews 11:23.

.2 Corinthians 6:14 | (June.17.2012) Amos 3:3; Ezra 10; 1 Corinthians 7.

Day 169: Nehemiah 10-11; 2 Corinthians 7

.Nehemiah 10:2 | Jeremiah the prophet (also called Jeremy somewhere in the New Testament) has his own book in the Bible after Isaiah, and before Lamentations.

.Nehemiah 10:6 | It is said, perhaps not in the Bible, that Baruch is Jeremiah's secretary and wrote the book of Jeremiah, as it was told to him by Jeremiah.

.Nehemiah 10:2-8 | All of these were priests.

.Nehemiah 10:29 | They chose to live by the law of God that was given by Moses and therefore they'd also be cursed if they didn't follow every single part of it. I believe it's possible for us to also do this, entering into a curse, binding ourselves to this law. But we should not do so, because we would ignore everything that Jesus did to fulfill the law, including dying on the cross. This includes tithing, which is why I advise against binding yourself to their law of tithing, because if you follow one part, you must follow it all, including offering their burnt and bloody offerings and other of the 17 to 18 different types of offerings and other ordinances, which is not possible, and not convenient. That law is a whole thing, you can't separate a piece of it and just follow that only, and you can't separate the blessing from the curse it offers for not fully following it. I have a ton of scriptures for this, but I don't have the time at the moment to get into them right now. Hebrews 7 is one chapter that deals with it though (especially verse 7:12). Galatians 2:16-21 is important to understanding this, and perhaps soon I can share my poem with you too, dealing with the issue. It's called "Is Christ Dead in Vain?" It's on my "Sidewalks Are For Kids" DVD (www.sidewalksareforkids.com). More scriptures for you to gain understanding from are Hebrews 10:1-20 and Hebrews 9, but I'll stop there for now.

.Nehemiah 10:38 | The Levites received a tithe because they had no inheritance in that land (Deut. 14:27). They then tithed from their tithe (10% of 10%). That tithe was not money (tithing has never been money). What they all tithed is specified in Neh. 13:5.

Day 170: Nehemiah 12-13; 2 Corinthians 8

.Nehemiah 12:1 | (June.17.2012) Hey look! Jeremiah and Ezra.

.Nehemiah 12:13 | (June.17.2012) Hey look! Ezra

.Nehemiah 12:23 | (June.17.2012) "The book of the chronicles" Being that chapters and verses weren't numbered, it's possible that there was just one book of Chronicles, not a 1st Chronicles 2nd Chronicles as it is now.

.Nehemiah 12:25 | (June.17.2012) Hey look! Obadiah

.Nehemiah 12:26 | (June.17.2012) Nehemiah was the governor

.Nehemiah 12:33 | (June.17.2012) Hey look! Ezra. Yeah yeah, we all know now, it's no surprise. Nehemiah always mentions Ezra, and Ezra always mentions Nehemiah.

.Nehemiah 12:34 | (June.17.2012) Hey look! Jeremiah

.Nehemiah 12:35 | (June.17.2012) Hey look! Zechariah mentioned again.

.Nehemiah 12:36 | (June.17.2012) David is mentioned as a man of God here, not as a king, and Ezra a scribe.

.Nehemiah 12:41 | (June.17.2012) In verse 35, Zechariah was named as a priest's son, but now named as a priest.

.Nehemiah 12:44 | (June.17.2012) The gathering of tithes, firstfruits, offerings, treasures and such was done according to the law for priests and Levites, and were gathered out of the fields.

.Nehemiah 13:1-2 | (June.17.2012) "the book of Moses" may refer to a book of Moses or all of the books Moses wrote collectively, we do know that this spoken of here is mentioned in Numbers 23:11. God turned the curse into a blessing. Even before Romans 8:28, God was working things out for the better.

.Nehemiah 13:5 | (June.17.2012) "...tithes of the corn, the new wine, and the oil, which was commanded to be given to the Levites, and the singers, and the porters; and the offerings of the priests." This was commanded in Nehemiah 10:38-39.

.Nehemiah 13:6 | (June.17.2012) "...in the two and thirteenth year of the Artaxerxes King of Babylon" is another example of how years are numbered. Our year now, 2012, is actually 2012 A.D. which stands for "Anno Domini," and means "the year of our Lord," signifying our recognition of Jesus Christ being in rulership for the last 2012 years. If we wanted to signify that we were under someone else's rulership the years would start all over at one.

.Nehemiah 13:12-13 | (June.17.2012) Notice that the tithes were not money, and treasuries were not specifically for money only. Notice also that the treasures also had the office of being distributors. The tithe that came in was supposed to be distributed back out, and the rules were already set by God about how it was supposed to be divided out.

.2 Corinthians 8:11-12 | (June.19.2012) I just wanted to point out this scripture quickly to highlight the fact that God does not request us to give what we don't have. There are many people today who will tell you to do something strange, such as writing a check for an amount that you don't have and believe that God will then give you the money to cover it. We see here that the Bible says "according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not."

.2 Corinthians 8:13-14 | (June.19.2012) These verses highlight that there is supposed to be an equality, not pastors and church leaders getting rich, leaving the poor financially burdened. God's purpose is that one's abundance will supply someone else's need, not for one to be exceedingly rich, and the other to be exceedingly poor, and especially not the poor getting poorer because they are giving their money to make the rich richer. God's focus is always going to be to meet the needs of people first, not things, such as extravagant buildings. God is not a God that would call for people to be malnourished, hungry, and near homeless in order to have a marvelous looking building. When you see such things, beware, that this word of God here is not being followed.

Day 171: Esther 1-2; 2 Corinthians 9

.Esther | (June.19.2012) Esther is apparently also known as Hadassah, according to Esther 2:7. She is commonly said to be a prophet, but I don't personally recall Esther ever being called a prophet in the Bible. According to complete-bible-genealogy.com Esther/Hadassah is not mentioned by name in any other book of the Bible aside from the book of Esther. In the Bible concordance, the words "prophet," "prophet's," "prophetess," and "prophets" never show up in the book of Esther, which is the only place her name is mentioned. That doesn't necessarily mean that she is not a prophet. My notes here are from my previous readings of the book of Esther. Since noticing this, I'll have to read it again to see if anything else is said that may lead us to conclude that she is a prophet. When searching out the answer to whether Esther is a prophet, the most I can find is people saying that she is a prophet or saying that she is regarded as a prophet in Judaism, but I can't find anyone pointing any scriptures that say that she is a prophet. I can't even find anyone providing scriptures that lead them to believe that she is a prophet. I'll have to read the book again later, although I'm not expecting to find any biblical evidence of her being a prophet, but right now my time is being spent writing out the notes I'd already jotted down from my previous readings of Esther.

.Esther 1:4,11 | (June.19.2012) His chance to show off and impress, and in verse 11, her chance to show off and impress. He shows off his riches, and she shows off her beauty. And now about 2,500 years later, has anything changed?

.Esther 1:14 | (June.19.2012) highlighted "Tarshish" and "Media." Tarshish is the name of a place you'll hear mentioned a lot. In the New Testament, I believe it's the same place that is called Tarsus. That is the place where Paul the apostle is from; a city in Cilicia (Acts 21:39). In Acts 22:3, he says he was born there. It is previously mentioned as a name in Genesis 10:4 (reiterated in 1 Chronicles 1:7); the name of a son of Javan.

.Esther 1:22 | (June.19.2012) This all came from the King & Queen acting selfishly.

.Esther 2:4 | (June.19.2012) You see here that TV shows "The Bachelor" and "Joe Millionaire" are not new ideas.

.Esther 2:7 | (June.19.2012) Esther is called "Hadassah." Her father and mother were dead.

.Esther 2:8 | (June.19.2012) Hegai sounds a lot like the name Haggai. I wonder what the relationship could be between the two.

.Esther 2:12 | (June.19.2012) So this wasn't some impulsive act, although born on impulse. The women purified themselves here, but nowadays many women do things to get as unpurified as possible before marriage (at the bachelorette party). Our women will point out that a lot of men do it too, which is true, but this verse is talking about the women, so my comment is about the women. But two wrongs don't make a right anyway.

.Esther 2:14 | (June.19.2012) Having sex? I don't know. Possibly not if they were virgins, but sounds very much like they were staying the night.

.Esther 2:17 | (June.19.2012) Adultery by New Testament standards?

.Esther 2:22 | (June.19.2012) The word "certified" here is said to mean that told him assuredly.

.2 Corinthians 9:2 | (June.19.2012) "Achaia was ready a year ago" - that's a more believable boast than "I was born ready."

.2 Corinthians 9:6-7 | (June.19.2012) These verses are often used today as a reference to tithes and offerings, however, these verses say nothing about tithes and offerings and don't fit within the rules defined for tithes and offerings. To start, verse 7 says "Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver." It does not say "God loveth a cheerful tither," and "giving" and "tithing" are not interchangeable words. A tithe is not something that can be determined (or purposed) in one's own heart. It is a required set amount that is commanded (a tenth). It is not determined by what's in one's heart. Here in verse 7, it says not to give of necessity, but a tithe, for those that God commanded to do it, was a necessary thing they had to pay. Nowadays, many preachers say "if you want to be blessed and not cursed, then you must pay your tithes," which again would make the tithe a necessary thing, which is contrary to what's being said here in verse 7. I'd like to get into many other scriptures regarding this here, but I've run out of time for today, so here are some other verses you can look through on your own Proverbs 28:27 and 22:9,16; 1 Chronicles 29:9; Luke 6:38; Exodus 35:21-22 and Exodus 35 all the way through to Exodus 36:7; Exodus 25:2; Deuteronomy 15:10; 1 Timothy 1:5-7; Philippians 4:15; Daniel 1:8.

.2 Corinthians 9:10 | (June.19.2012) Notice here that the one who ministers the seed is not the sower, and notice the other things mentioned here also. Also regard Matthew 25:35-40.

Day 172: Esther 3-5; 2 Corinthians 10

.Esther 3:3 | (June.19.2012) All other places in the Bible say "transgresseth" instead of "transgressest."

.Esther 3:7 | (June.19.2012) Like Nehemiah 2:1 Esther 3:7 has Nisan as the first month, and Adar as the twelfth month, and in Deuteronomy 16:1 (Exodus 12:2) names Abib as the first month. Online sources say that Abib is the Canaanite name for the month. Esther 3:7 would make sense for how Ezra 6:15,19 is laid out, with the house being completed on the twelfth month and then the passover following in the next month.

.Esther 3:9 | (June.19.2012) He put a hit out on them.

.Esther 4:1 | (June.19.2012) Putting on sackcloth with ashes is a sign of great grief or morning over something extremely tragic.

.Esther 5:3,6 | (June.19.2012) Maybe this is the origination of the wife getting half. It's funny how he adds the words "to the half of the kingdom." He puts a clause in there to make sure he at least gets to keep half of the kingdom. You can have whateeeeeever you want... except this right here. This is mine... always was... always will be. Now what would you like? But notice here in verse 6, he grants her request, even before she says what she wants. King Herod gets in trouble doing this in the New Testament with that woman's daughter. Perhaps King Herod should have put a clause in his promise too, saying "as long as you don't ask me to kill anybody, especially any of God's prophets." Sorry I sound a little salty, but they were wrong for what they did to John the Baptist.

.2 Corinthians 10:1-2 | (June.19.2012) highlighted. In verse 1, the word "base" means lowly or humble; not acting as if he's above them, but as the least among them.

.2 Corinthians 10:3 | (June.19.2012) as he says also in Ephesians 6:12.

.2 Corinthians 10:5 | (June.19.2012) "...bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;"

.2 Corinthians 10:6 | (June.19.2012) highlighted "when your obedience is fulfilled." We can't forget that part.

.2 Corinthians 10:7 | (June.19.2012) as he mentions in 1 Corinthians 3:22-23.

.2 Corinthians 10:8 | (June.19.2012) highlighted "authority"

.2 Corinthians 10:9-10 | (June.19.2012) highlighted

.2 Corinthians 10:12 | (June.19.2012) This serves as a reminder to me not to compare myself with these types of people.

.2 Corinthians 10:14 | (June.19.2012) This is a key verse that would do many of us well today to learn from. He says here "For we stretch not ourselves beyond our measure..." This is why he didn't have to beg for money or guilt people into giving more than they had (2 Corinthians 8:12). Many ministries today are trying to do too much with the resources available. They are stretching themselves beyond their measure. This causes an unnecessary burden on the people who are continually asked to give, give, give, when the givers themselves are in need of receiving. Part of the reason this is being done is because some (especially many in leadership positions) are doing what is mentioned in verse 12; they are comparing themselves among themselves, and with those who commend themselves. And contrary to what Paul says in verse 13, they boast of things beyond their measure. I walk among the people, and there are stories of foreclosures, unpaid bills, and past due rent, because the people are trying, with good intentions, to support the building and maintenance of extravagant church buildings and other unnecessaries that are, in reality, beyond their measure. The problem worsens when people in the church suppose that gain is godliness, instead of remembering 1 Timothy 6:5-6, that "godliness with contentment is great gain."

.2 Corinthians 10:15 | (June.19.2012) highlighted "...things without our measure... of other men's labours..." but make sure you read this whole verse, and the surrounding verses for a sufficient understanding.

Day 173: Esther 6-8; 2 Corinthians 11

.2 Corinthians 11:1 | (June.21.2012) "Would to God" means to desire (if it were possible) that God would have it so they could bear with him. The word can almost equate to the word "desire," except when someone desires, or hopes for something, there is much more expectancy that their desire/hope will be met. For some other examples of how he uses this word "would" look at 1 Corinthians 7:7 and Romans 7:15-20 (in the King James Version "KJV").

.2 Corinthians 11:3 | (June.21.2012) Read 1 John 1:8 and Galatians 6:3 to see how Eve was deceived, and even deceived herself to do such a thing, and beware that you do not allow the same condition to take place in your life.

.2 Corinthians 11:4 | (June.21.2012) There are many people that do indeed preach another Jesus. For example, Muslims preach about a Jesus and even mention him in the Koran, but that Jesus is not God's son. Mormons preach about a Jesus, but the Jesus they preach is said to be Michael the archangel. "Jehovah's Witnesses" preach about a Jesus, but that Jesus is not God, as it says in John 1; their John 1:1 doesn't say "the word was God" it says "the word was a god," so they're saying that Jesus was a god. There are a few cult leaders who claim that they themselves are Jesus, and they have acquired huge followings that worship them, but they are clearly not Jesus, although I think it would be entertaining to put two of them in a room with each other and say "will the real Jesus please stand," or put them on Jerry Springer and see if they fight over a convert who's torn between the two, and let Maury Povich walk in with the test results and say to both of them "You are NOT the Messiah." (June.22.2012) Don't think that the Bible means that another Jesus really does exist, because it says "another Jesus." Regard what this writer says about this type of thing when he says "another gospel" in Galatians 1:6-7. "I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ." So really what we're looking at is a perversion of the truth about the Christ that is already known and accepted. Way back in Exodus, when the people idolized and worshipped the golden calf, the idols weren't brought to them and introduced to them as a new thing. Instead, they were told (in Exodus 32:4 by Moses' brother Aaron) that the golden calf idol was the god that brought them out of Israel (along with whatever other little idols they had made). The people knew they weren't supposed to worship other gods, so they were tricked (or tricked themselves) into thinking that was their original God and savior. That's what Paul is talking about here regarding another Jesus. That's why it's so important to get to know the Bible (the true Bible), and get to know Jesus Christ well enough that someone can't come along and trick you into following a false Christ or a false gospel of Christ. And it's not okay to just pick up any version of the Bible you feel most comfortable reading, because they do not all preach the same Jesus. Like Exodus 32:4, people have used different versions of the Bible to paint a different picture of Jesus and tell you that that's the Jesus who died on the cross to save your soul and deliver you from the reach of Hell. I know there are a lot of people reading these other perVersions of the gospel. When I didn't know better as a teenager, I myself began studying the NIV (New International Version) of the Bible, but the NIV is preaching to you another Jesus. The New World Translation (NWT) is preaching to you another Jesus. And there are many others that preach to you another Jesus; a Jesus who was not God (John 1:1), who is not the creator (John 1:3), who is not one with the Father (1 John 5:7-8); a Jesus who is not the first and the last, the beginning and the end, Alpha and Omega, the Almighty (Revelation 1:8,11,17,18). The truth is that the true Jesus who saved you is all of those things, as the scripture says. Don't wait for your ministry leaders to tell you all of this, because remember, Moses' brother Aaron who told the people to worship that golden calf idol, was ordained by God as a priest (Exodus 31:10). In Galatians 1:8, Paul himself says if they (including himself) preach any other gospel to you, let them be accursed. It is not sufficient to just try to choose the right minister/pastor/preacher, etc. and follow them blindly, placing all trust and responsibility on them.
The end of 2 Corinthians 11:4 says "ye might well bear with him." This appears to mean that you'll share his punishment or being accursed with him, being that in Galatians 1:8 Paul says that people who preach another gospel are to be accursed. Further down in 2 Corinthians 11:12-15, we even see a warning about false ministers of Satan who appear to be ministers of righteousness, although they are not.

.2 Corinthians 11:6 | (June.22.2012) It sounds like it was difficult for him to explain his understanding although he knows the truth.

.2 Corinthians 11:12 | (June.22.2012) It sounds like Paul is saying that he must do right so that he's not found to be like those false apostles or those false apostle found to be like him. There must be a recognizable difference between the true and the false. The false apostles and ministers will seek to mimic the true apostles and ministers, so the true apostles and ministers must operate on a higher level, which the false apostles and ministers are not able to operate on. To give an analogy, if Superman didn't fly and move impossibly large objects, then I could put on a cape and tell you that I was superman and you wouldn't know the difference.

Day 174: Esther 9-10; 2 Corinthians 12

.2 Corinthians 12:2 | (June.23.2012) Here Paul mentions something very interesting that we haven't seen mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. Perhaps it was a common term he'd heard used (that just so happened not to be written anywhere else in the Bible), or perhaps Paul heard the term "third heaven" during meeting the man, or that was the best way he could think to describe it. Here in verse 2, Paul says it was a man in Christ. This leads me to think it was someone other than Christ, although verse 5 leads me to think it was Christ Himself, perhaps on Paul's road to Damascus. Finding out what time Paul wrote this letter and subtracting 14+ years will give us a better idea of when Paul met the man, and where Paul was at in his life. If we look at verse 4, we do know that this third heaven is paradise. We know that the sky where the birds fly and where the clouds are was referred to as a heaven (or heavens) if we look at Genesis 1:20, 7:23 and 8:2, but this is not that heaven. In Genesis 1:14-15, we see that where the sun, stars and moon are is considered a heaven; perhaps this would be considered the second heaven, I speculate. In Genesis 28:12, Jacob has a dream about a ladder reaching to heaven with angels of God ascending and descending on it; perhaps this would be the third heaven (paradise). Deuteronomy 10:14 speaks of the heaven of heavens, which may be a reference to the third heaven. I'm not going to address all of the references to heaven here, because that would be quite a study, but feel free to venture off on your own through the Bible. I'd suggest looking up the words "heaven," "heaven's," "heavens" and "heavenly" in a Bible Concordance under the H section.

.2 Corinthians 12:3 | (June.23.2012) He repeats what he says in verse 2 here. It is possible that he could mean one of three things here when he says "whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth." He could mean he doesn't know whether the man, though he was in Christ, was in the body of Christ or outside of the body of Christ, meaning outside of the church, or not connected with other believers, if it is even possible to be in Christ, yet outside of the body of Christ; I can't say. Perhaps a person is always considered connected with the rest of the body through the Holy Spirit. The second thing he could mean is that he doesn't know whether he (Paul) was in his own body or having an out of body experience. I speculated whether this could have been the time when the light was shone down around him and he was blinded, because he could have been disoriented enough not to know whether he was having an out of body experience. The third option, is whether the man he knew was in his own body, or that man was out of his body. Whichever of the three it was (or perhaps another possibility I didn't think of), we know that Paul himself doesn't really know. He knows that God knows what happened, and that's all that he needs to know. And if Paul did well without really knowing, then we can get by without necessarily needing to figure this out. It is interesting to ponder about though.

.2 Corinthians 12:4 | (June.23.2012) He says this man was caught up into paradise, the third heaven, as he says in verse 2, and "heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter." It sounds as if the man were caught up to heaven and is now (in Paul's time) back down on earth where Paul meets him, since it says it's not lawful for a man to utter. I would think that it would only be on earth that it was unlawful for the man to speak what he heard in heaven. There were a few people caught up to heaven in the old testament. I wonder if Paul met one of those people, or perhaps someone new who we had not heard of.

.2 Corinthians 12:5 | (June.23.2012) This particular verse makes me think it could have been Jesus that Paul is talking about meeting, because Jesus ascended into heaven, and he was a man, and because of what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 1:31 and 3:21. Paul sounds like he would be reluctant to glory in another man aside from Jesus. What makes me think he's not speaking of Jesus, is that he says the man was "caught up," which seems to be something different than what Jesus did. Caught up seems to imply that something or someone else took them up to heaven, such as a whirlwind. But Jesus ascended, which does not appear that something swept Jesus up to Heaven, but that Jesus went up on His own by His own power. It's like the difference between Jesus walking on water, and a man being pulled by a boat across the water on water skis.

Day 175: Job 1-2; 2 Corinthians 13

.Job 1:6 | Notice that Satan went among them also when they presented themselves to the Lord, so don't be surprised if you find Satan among you or even up in the church house. Satan comes before God "again" in Job 2:1. We'll talk about that when we get there.

.Job 1:7 | Is Satan bored? Walking to and fro in the earth, and walking up and down in it, sounds like boredom to me. Especially since he comes to God looking for something to do, some challenge or something to strive toward. Satan doesn't even have to say why he's there, it seems God knows he's bored and presents Satan with a challenge... Job. Are you that easy that Satan is just bored with you?

.Job 1:16 | It is important to note that this messenger actually reports this INCORRECTLY. The fire of God didn't come down and burn up anything, but the messenger is just ignorant of what really happened. God didn't do it. Satan did it. Think about some things, natural disasters, that happen today and cause great destruction: floods, earthquakes, fires, tornadoes, lightning, storms, etc. What do we call these things? We call them "Acts of God." But are they really acts of God or are they acts of Satan?

.Job 1:20-22 | Job dealt with this by falling down and worshipping God, and didn't sin. And SATAN LEFT HIM ALONE! We know that Satan left him alone because in 2:1-2, Satan is back before God again after walking around the earth, seemingly without much to do... bored again. James 4:7 says "resist the devil and he will flee from you." ( Well, you may be asking, "how do I resist the Devil?" and "Why would the Devil flee from me?" I'm glad you asked. I recorded one of my poems to explain how this works. Click here for the poem.

.Job 2:1-2 | This is the second time Satan comes to God and God recommends Job.

.Job 2:3 | "still he holdeth fast his integrity" even after Satan's first attacks.

.Job 2:5 | 3:1 says Job cursed his own birthday and day of conception, but he DID NOT curse God like Satan said he would in 2:5.

.Job 2:6 | At first Satan couldn't touch him at all (Job 1:12), but now he can touch Job, but he just can't take his life.

.Job 2:9-10 | Wow! This looks like Adam and Eve part two (wife tries to get husband to go against God and die). This is how Adam should have responded to Eve.

.2 Corinthians 13:2 | "heretofore" means "here to before" or "from then to now."

.2 Corinthians 13:7 | So essentially, Paul is saying the reason we don't do evil, is not just so we can look like we're legitimate (legit), but so we can be honest. A reprobate is someone who is morally depraved, wicked, and disapproved of by God; condemned; one who has no salvation.

.2 Corinthians 13:11 | He tells them to "be perfect." I hear it said so often that we're not supposed to be perfect, but there is many places where the Bible tells us we are called to be perfect. If you've read the first part of our text for today, you'll even see that Job was called a perfect man (Job 1:8). We'll have to explore this more later.

Day 176: Job 3-4; Galatians 1

.Job 3:1 | Job cursed his own birthday and day of conception, but he DID NOT curse God like Satan said he would in 2:5.

.Job 4:2 | My Bible's vocabulary section says the word "assay" means venture. Webster's dictionary says it means to examine by trial or test.

.Job 4:4-5 | Essentially, Eliphaz is saying to Job, "you helped others through their tough times, but now that you go through it, you're troubled." I'd like to point out two recent examples of this lesson being lived out. Sonstar Peterson, the author who wrote the foreword for our book went through one of these situations. But right before he went through it, he wrote a poem for our foreword saying this very thing. I believe God was speaking this to him through his own poem right before his wife passed away suddenly and unexpectedly.

"....This tragedy you can't deny.
The pain inside your heart's no lie.
Now all you want to do is cry... no, there's more,
Truth is, you really want to die... but then, but then!
A window opens and light shines in,
Soothing your soul, compassionate friend.
You know, thou you sit, hand tucked under your chin,
You can't quit, it's not the end; in fact, it's your time to begin.
While the world waits to hear what you've leanred from it;
Yes they wait... they know that you've earned from it...."
-Sonstar Carlisle Peterson
(excerpt from "Inspiration Kept You Sane"; page 16 Seeking Solace: Finding Peace and Comfort in Times of Distress)

.Job 4:15-17 | Eliphaz tells his account of seeing a spirit pass before his face.

.Galatians 1:1-2 | Paul is writing this letter to the churches of Galatia. But he's not just writing it representing himself, but also "all the brethren which are with me" he says. So when he says "we," you know who he's talking about.

.Galatians 1:6 | In verse 3 and 4, he identifies God the Father, along with Jesus, as the subject he's speaking of, so when he says "ye are so soon removed from him," he's saying "ye are so soon removed from Jesus." Remember, the word "ye" usually means "you all" (plural). Otherwise, the word "you" would be used like he says a few words later. So essentially, he's saying "God has called each of you, individually, into the grace of Christ" but that they've been removed from God unto another gospel, which is not even a gospel at all anyway (verse 7).

.Galatians 1:7 | This perverting of the gospel of Christ is what's called "variance" in Galatians 5:20, and it is a work of the flesh that works against the spirit (not good). 2 Corinthians 11:3-4 lets us know that there are others who preach "another Jesus" (v.4). Muslims preach about Jesus, but it's another Jesus. It's not the same Jesus that you follow. The Jesus they preach, they say that he is not the son of God. They say it's the same Jesus, but it couldn't possibly be the same Jesus. Mormons preach a different Jesus. They say that Jesus is Michael the archangel and some more stuff about Jesus that is not at all the same description as the Jesus we know and follow. It's a different Jesus. Those who call themselves Jehovah's Witnesses preach another Jesus, that has a different description than the Jesus we know and follow. Their Jesus, they say is not God, and their scriptures have been changed to show that he is not, and neither one with the Father (John 1:1; 1 John 5:7-8). And there are many others who pervert the gospel of Christ in various ways, that even extend beyond who Jesus is. (June.28.2015) To be fair, I can't say most Muslims, Mormons, Jehovah's Witnesses, etc. have perverted the gospel. It is those above them, who are now dead, who perverted the gospel. Many people now are just trying to follow what they were taught was correct. It is not they who chose to pervert the scriptures. And to be fair, there are many who call themselves Christians today who detour away from what the scriptures say in the bible and pervert the gospel to teach error; error that does not agree with scripture. We know it happens, because so many Christians preach so many different beliefs, but 1 Corinthians 1:10 says that we're supposed to speak the same thing, with no divisions among us, perfectly joined together in the same mind and the same judgment.

.Galatians 1:8-9 | Paul is pretty serious here; so serious that he denied the opportunity to even change his views from what he previously preached. But he's not worried about that because as he says in verse 11, it's not man's gospel anyway. It's not his view that he's preaching, it's God's view and God's doesn't change anyway. Paul says this in 1 Timothy 1:3 also about preaching no other gospel.

.Galatians 1:10 | Good questions for us to ask ourselves as we go about our day.

.Galatians 1:11-12 | 1:16

.Galatians 1:13 | Acts 8:1 and Acts 9:1-4 speak of how badly Paul persecuted the church. He was called Saul at the time.

.Galatians 1:17,21 | When I read this, I asked "When did he find time to go to Arabia?" Acts 9:18-26 doesn't mention him going to Arabia. He was in Damascus for quite a while though, and he left from there to Arabia and returned to Damascus. We also see from Gal 1:18 that it was three years after he went to Arabia that he went to Jerusalem where the other apostles were. That means that there was three years time span between Acts 9:18 and 9:26. I found a map in my Bible also that shows that Arabia may have been less than 200 or 300 miles away.
Maps featuring Syria, Cilicia, Damascus, Arabia, and Jerusalem:

(click on maps to enlarge them)

.Galatians 1:19 | James is Joseph and Mary's son. This would make him Jesus' half brother, since Joseph is not Jesus' Father, God is.

Day 177: Job 5-7; Galatians 2

.Galatians 2:1 | There seems to be some significance to the number 14. I'm not sure about this particular case, with 14 years, but in Matthew 1:17 we see that there is some significance with 14 generations till Jesus Christ.

.Galatians 2:11-14 | Paul confronts Peter for acting different when he's around the gentiles than when he's around the Jews."

.Galatians 2:16 | highlighting "a man is not justified by the works of the law"

.Galatians 2:18 | "If I build again the things which I destroyed..." This is the definition of transgression. Remember it. For example, a man breaks free from sin's prison through the power of Christ, and he walks out a free man. But then he misses what he used to do in sin's prison and walks back into the prison to feel the comfort of his old chains and his old prison buddies. That's transgression. Today, We often call it backsliding. I prefer using the term "transgression" so when a person looks it up in the Bible they can find it and hear God's word about how to handle it. If you've become a new creature in Christ, don't go resurrect your old self.

.Galatians 2:19 | He didn't say the law was dead, but that he was dead to the law.

.Galatians 2:20 | This is what it means to be born again. And this is precisely what's signified by baptism.

.Galatians 2:21 | Pay close attention to the wording Paul uses here. He says "if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain." He didn't say "Christ died," he said "is dead." In other words, he's saying that if righteousness is achieved by following the law, then Jesus Christ is currently dead right now and did not arise from the grave, because he would have no reason to rise from the grave since you could attain righteousness by simply following the law. But Christ is not dead, He is risen and is alive, so therefore we know that righteousness does not come by the law, but by Jesus Christ. Many of us are still seeking to follow the things of the law, instead of living our life in Christ and by the Holy Spirit. I usually mention tithing, but there are many other areas of the law that people still follow, which ignore or deny the fact that Jesus fulfilled the law, so we don't have to.

Day 178: Job 8-10; Galatians 3

.Job 8:6 (added 2010) | This Bildad assumes that this is happening to Job because he has not been pure and upright, which is exactly the opposite reason why it was happening. With the way Job lived, he must have thought Job had some skeletons in his closet (okay, not the right phrase for the occasion), which he was being punished for, which wasn't the case. People do this today too. People will sometimes try to speak into your life and tell you why you're experiencing some problem when they themselves don't even know. I'm not saying don't ever listen to anyone, because the person speaking to you could be right, but you've got to know how to go to God yourself too. If Job solely depended on man's advice, he'd be messed up. He might have even made his way to Hell, courtesy of his former wife, who told him to curse God and die.

.Job 8:20 (added 2010) | What Bildad says here in v.20 doesn't sound completely right either... God ultimately is not going to benefit the evildoers, but I'd say He did help Satan to get at Job, and other times has helped evildoers against other evildoers. (4.25.2014) When He helped Satan get at Job, He helped Satan get a job.

.Job 9:15 (added 2010) | If I understand this correctly, Job answers back and seems to lovingly correct Bildad's 8:6 statement that insinuated that he wasn't righteous.

.Job 9:30 (added 2010) | Don't know why, but I never think about there being snow in their time in history, but snow is not a modern invention... well, okay, maybe on some ski slopes that make their own snow. I guess it's because you never really hear anyone talking about snow in the Bible. I guess it wouldn't be very helpful for ministry to tell us about that snowball fight they had, though it'd be fun to read.

.Job 10:8 (added 2010) | As it has been taught to him by other men, Job thinks that it's God's hand that's against him. We are expected to learn and know God's voice to differentiate that from an evil voice, but what about learning and knowing God's works? I think here, if possible, it'd be beneficial to know God's works from Satan's works, to know whether it's God doing something to us or Satan. Paul faced this same thing when he prayed three times for the "thorn" to be removed from his flesh, before coming to the conclusion that it was from God, and God's will for him to have it for humility's sake.

.Job 10:10 (added 2010) | Job says some of the craziest things. Poetically anguished.

.Job 10:15 (added 2010) |

.Galatians 3:1 | I don't think Paul was supposed to have called them foolish, because of what Jesus says in Matthew 5:22 about calling your brother a fool.

.Galatians 3:2 | The answer to this question can be found in Acts 10:43-44.

.Galatians 3:3 | this seems to be a rhetorical question, to which the answer of course would be no.

.Galatians 3:6 | Through Abraham's faith, he had a son at an exceedingly old age, among other things.

.Galatians 3:7 | This is possible because of what's said in verse 29. John 8:27-44 speaks more about this also, but it's a passage that you can't just glance over lightly and understand it fully.

.Galatians 3:10-12 | This says "cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them." This means you can't just do some of it, but would have to do ALL of it; one slip up and you're cursed. Verse 12 says "the law is not of faith: but the man that doeth them shall live in them." This is why I believe you can choose to live by the law if you want, but you're basically hopeless at succeeding to follow every point of the law. So many bind themselves to the law of tithes today and are afraid of being cursed if they don't because of how Malachi 3:9 is mispreached out of context ("Will a man rob God?... ye are cursed with a curse"), not realizing that even if you do manage to follow that area of the law and not all of the others, as impossible as they are today, you would still be cursed anyway. Read James 2:10.

.Galatians 3:13 (updated 2010) | Galatians 2:19,21; 3:19; Romans 7:4 also speaks about being dead to the law. Christ was cursed for us.

.Galatians 3:16 (updated 2010) | This is an eye-opener. I have to go back and read this. Paul is clarifying that Christ was Abraham's seed that the promise was made to. Verse 29, says that if we are in Christ we are Abraham's seed, according to the promise. (note to self: Study this with Galatians 4 & Genesis 21, especially Gen 21:13)

.Galatians 3:19 | The law was not always in place, but had to be added because of transgression. Notice the word "till" (until). It was never meant to forever govern man. See Galatians 3:13 on this also. I believe this mediator he's talking about is Moses.

.Galatians 3:21 | This is what Galatians 2:21 was saying. If righteousness comes by the law then Christ is dead in vain. I have a poem on this "Is Christ Dead in Vain?" I don't have time to share it at the moment, but it's on my DVD at www.sidewalksareforkids.com

.Galatians 3:23 | John 1:17

.Galatians 3:27 | Acts 8:16 says, speaking of the Holy Ghost, "for as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus."

.Galatians 3:28 | The following verses in John and Ephesians speak about being one in Jesus Christ: John 10:16; 11:52; 17:11; 17:21-23; Ephesians 4:11-13.

Day 179: Job 11-13; Galatians 4

.Galatians 4:1-3 | This could be talking about man in general since God gave man (male and female) dominion over ever living moving thing (Gen 1:27-28). But this may be speaking particularly of Christ because of wording in the following verses. In verse 3, Paul begins by saying "even so we," which signifies that he was speaking of someone else before, but is now comparing us to their situation (or His situation, if speaking of Christ). I speculate that this speaks of Christ because it says "though he be lord of all." Verse 2, assimilates being under tutors and governors with being under the law, which Christ was under the law, until a certain time when He fulfilled it in His death and arose, free from the law, freeing us from it as well.

.Galatians 4:3 | Although man had dominion over the living things, I don't recall God every giving man dominion over the earthly elements, such as the water, wind, and whatever other elements there may be. Yet, I'm thinking about how Jesus, once He began His ministry, walked on water and commanded the winds and they obeyed Him. That's a thought I wanted to explore later. However, this use of the word "elements" is most likely in reference to the elements of the law, as spoken of in verse 9. I'm not sure if the Greek word for "element" (as defined during Paul's time) is the same word for the earthly elements, but they may both be significant to understanding what's going on here. In fact, Jesus walking on water, not being in bondage to that, could very well have been a testimony of neither being in bondage to the elements of the law. Even Peter (with Jesus) walked on the water, showing a new level of liberty.

.Galatians 4:4-5 | "But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his son, made of woman, made under the law" This, along with what verse 2 says about "the time appointed" tells us that it is Jesus that is being spoken of here, and how Jesus was born a Jew (in bondage to the law) so that he could fulfill the law, for the sake of our freedom. In essence, by what Jesus did, we are now adopted as God's sons (note: it's understood that the use of the word "sons" does not refer to gender.)

.Galatians 4:6 | Romans 10:9;

.Galatians 4:7 | highlighting this verse

.Galatians 4:8 | this could either be referring to pagan "gods" or idols, or to men (priests). "When ye knew not God" could be referring to them having not having personal relationships with him, but being under priesthoods, for example. It could also refer to when they did not even regard God at all.

.Galatians 4:9 | They turned back to follow the things of the law again.

.Galatians 4:10 | "Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years." What is he referring to? We can look at our own observances to see, but also there were feasts, and appointed times and such that the people had to observe. For us, we now observe national holidays, months (black history month, poetry month, women's appreciation month, etc), and years (the Chinese have different years, for example. 2009, the year of the ox, Ji Chou.) Some observe Lent, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, and other days, many (or most) of which were never even required by God. The Muslims observe Ramadan for certain days. For those that Paul is speaking to however, he's likely referring to some other days, months, times, and years. The tithing schedule, I'm sure is one of the things he's referring to, which was on seven year cycles, and after the seventh of those seven year cycles, the 50th year was the year of Jubile. All of the tithe the 3rd year went to those without inheritance. There were sacrifices offered year by year, as said in Hebrews 10:1. There were certain days that the people had to do certain things under the law. Even the passover was one of these things the people had to do, but which Christ has fulfilled and we must no longer try to fulfill ourselves.

.Galatians 4:11 | It sounds like Paul's saying he fears to see them like this because then it looks to him that his efforts to help them were in vain (pointless).

.Galatians 4:14 | They received him like they received Jesus Christ. I'd like to get deeper into this verse later perhaps, but essentially he's saying when he was struggling, they almost worshipped him.

.Galatians 4:15-16 | They were so dedicated and speaking so greatly of him, and about how blessed he is, yet when he tells them the truth, they're ready to make him an enemy. Isn't this just like some people you know? As long as you're saying what they want to hear, they love you and are all for you, but as soon as the truth is spoken, and it's against what they want to hear, they'll treat you as an enemy. For this reason, some of our leaders today, desiring not to be seen as anyone's enemy, won't even tell the truth if it might offend. The truth is not spoken about many issues, because people who want to live in sin and error will leave or withdraw their support. For this, many will not proclaim Jesus' name. Some, even in the church, will not speak the truth about fornication, homosexuality, idolatry, drunkenness, or whatever else because they don't want the people who wallow in those to turn against them. Perhaps I've gotten off focus here. The bigger problem is not those who desire not to be an enemy, but those who refuse to receive the truth.

.Galatians 4:21 | People desire to be under the law, but they don't even know what the law requires or the consequences in it. They don't even know what it is, have never heard it, read it, or studied it, and probably would refuse to do so. Also, you can't just hear/read/follow part of the law, but must follow the whole thing.

.Galatians 4:22-23 |

.Galatians 4:24 | (note to self: study Psalms 23 & Ezekiel 34, especially Ezekiel 34:25 as it speaks about a new covenant of peace. And also Zechariah 11:7,10 and about the staff, and the two staves called Beauty and Bands and Ez 34:27, Jer 48:17, Ps 23:4. Also Zech 10:1; Ez 34:25; 36:25; Ps 23:5. Also research Is 4:1-3; the temple called Beautiful in Acts 3:2 and the word Beauty where possibly related.)

.Galatians 4:27 | Daniel 12:11 uses the term "the abomination that maketh desolate." From the use of the word "desolate" here, we see that it can refer to being barren without child (childless). Also in Leviticus 19:22, God said that homosexuality is an abomination. Homosexuality, since it can't produce children, would of course lead to this type of desolation. So homosexuality could very well be the abomination that maketh desolate, spoken of in Daniel. From this, at the end of the book of Daniel, we are given a time frame of when to prepare for the coming of The End. Read all of Daniel 12 for better understanding. What would this mean for you? Matthew 24:15 says when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place. As I understand, this would mean to stand in Christ, and Christ in you, taking heed to what Luke 17:20-23, and being aware that you are not supposed to be going to any physical place to look for Jesus or God's kingdom. "The Kingdom of God is within you."

.Galatians 4:30 | These words are the words Sarah spoke to Abraham in Genesis 21:10.

.Galatians 4:30-31 | speaking of Galatians 4:22-23; Gal 5:1 speaks about being free (in Christ) from this bondage, and having liberty.

Day 180: Job 14-16; Galatians 5

.Galatians 5:1 | This "yoke of bondage" is a continuation from what's being said at the end of chapter 4.

.Galatians 5:3 | This is what I was commenting on for the Day 178 Bible Notes for Galatians 3:10-12, about how following one part of the law is putting yourself in bondage to do the WHOLE law, not just part of it.

.Galatians 5:6 | 6:15

.Galatians 5:9 | This is speaking of the few who come in and preach their own doctrines to the rest and affect the whole group. The term "leven" is often used as a metaphor in the Bible to refer to man's own infectious doctrines that are opposed to God's.

.Galatians 5:12 | Leviticus 19:29 speaks about people being "cut off" from their people for committing abominations.

.Galatians 5:13 | We've covered this liberty before in previous studies, so I'm not going to take this moment to cover it again, but I will point you toward Romans 14:13-15. Now, here in Gal 5:13, In reference liberty, Paul says "but by love serve one another." The verse I pointed to in Romans will help with this understanding, but also the following example. It's not law that I open the door for a lady, so when I do it, it shows love. But if it were law for me to do it, it would simply show my obedience to the law, not my love.

.Galatians 5:14 | First, I'd point out that is does say "as thyself," signifying that you are supposed to love yourself as well. There's nothing wrong with that. You should love yourself, but not just yourself. Secondly, the overall point that this verse is making is that if you love your neighbor as you love yourself, you will haphazardly fulfill the law while doing so. In other words, if you love your neighbor, you won't murder her, you won't bear false witness against her, you won't steal from her, you will honor her, you will do what is right without someone having to make you do what's right. For those who would ask, "who is my neighbor?" there is a story told in the Bible of a man who needed help, and the person who cared enough to help him is the one who was considered his neighbor. So the short answer is, your neighbor is whoever you choose to be a neighbor to. In Matthew 22:36-40, Jesus addresses this issue about fulfilling the law by loving. In the way He addresses it, loving God, loving yourself, and loving your neighbor, are all wrapped up together. Please note that loving yourself is not the same as loving your lifestyle, your belongings, or the things of the world you've grown somewhat attached to, but the person inside of the body.

.Galatians 5:16 | As you're aware, those who live under the law are subject to be cursed or possibly condemned for not following every single bit of it (James 2:10). Read Romans 8:1 to see what it says about us who are in Christ and who walk after the spirit. "There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." This verse 16 is preparing to tell us how to abstain from fulfilling the lust of the flesh. Couple these next few verses with 2 Peter 1:4-10 and you'll have a powerful plan in front of you. Hebrews 5:14 gives us the idea that we have spiritual senses that can be exercised to be able to discern. This would mean that the more you use your senses (like exercising muscles), the better those senses will get. If you exercise your spiritual senses, they'll get better and you'll be able to discern spiritual things better. However if you exercise your fleshly senses more, touch typing for example, you'll eventually grow able to better discern one key from another. Apply this thought to your spiritual life.

.Galatians 5:17 | 1 Peter 2:11 testifies that fleshly lusts war against the soul. God, in Genesis 6:3, speaks of the warring between His spirit and man's flesh.

.Galatians 5:18 | "But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law." Are you led by the Spirit? Do you depend on the Spirit to lead you in how much to give and where to give it (or who to give it to) or do you simply try to follow some rules of the law that you've been taught by man? Do you simply try to please God by following ten commandments, or do you please Him by loving Him, others, and yourself? Read Hebrews 7, especially the verses surround 7:16, remembering that Jesus is our High Priest (Heb 3:1).

.Galatians 5:19-21 | In Ephesians 5:11, Paul says to "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Some of these things are also mentioned in Colossians 3:5. In fact, read Col 3:1-15 if you have a moment for better understanding. Variance is partially what's covered in Gal 1:7, perverting the gospel of Christ. Emulation is essentially copying what someone else does. For example, we see someone do something and we do it just because we saw them do it. If God were to ask you why you did something, it's not a good answer to say "um, because they did it." Many parents have taught this lesson to their kids with the following words "if all of your friends go jump off of a bridge, are you going jump off of it too?" Paul even (perhaps by not knowing what else to do) sought to save some emulators by setting himself up to be emulated by them instead of them emulating those they saw with worldly riches. Whether he was supposed to do that or whether it worked or not, I don't know, but apparently he had good intentions for doing so. You can read about it in Romans 11:11-14. Asa shows how he effectively dealt with idolatry in 2 Chronicles 15:8-17. 1 Corinthians 3:3 and Titus 3:3 talk about some of these works of the flesh as well. 1 Samuel 15:23 says "rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry." If you ever see a person with an idol and tell them to get rid of it, you'll see this stubbornness come to surface. He may have told them the same thing he told the Corinthians in 1 Corinthians 6:9-10.

.Galatians 5:19-21 | Memorize these "works of the flesh," so you will know not to do them. It is just as important for you to know these as it is to know the fruit of the Spirit. Works are something you do or don't do, but fruit is only something that comes as a byproduct of something else. Therefore, it makes more sense to focus on the works than the fruit. It doesn't make very much sense to focus on having fruit (joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance). These things come as a result of something else. For example, a tree that bears good fruit does not focus on bearing fruit, it focuses on digging its roots into a firm foundation, getting water, filtering out harmful chemicals and things, healing it's cuts with sap, growing toward the sun, and catching rain water and breathing in carbon dioxide. When it does these things, it is healthy and produces good fruit. It doesn't bear good fruit by standing around saying "I have to make good fruit. I have to make good fruit. I have to make good fruit." God has already put it inside the tree to make good fruit automatically when it does what it's supposed to do. And when the tree does make good fruit, that fruit doesn't feed the tree. It feeds the people, animals, and the ground around it. They want to be around the tree with good fruit. Well, it's not so much that they want to be around the tree, but they need to be around the tree. Likewise, when you don't do the things you're not supposed to do (and do the things you are), others will want or need to be around you as well.

.Galatians 5:22-23 | Most people I know have focused more on knowing the fruit of the spirit, than the work of the flesh. Personally, I think knowing the fruit is only secondary to knowing the works of the flesh. The reason you should know what the fruit of the Spirit is, is because this is evidence of the Spirit living and working within you and prevailing over your flesh. You should inspect your fruit for these aspects, and if you see that you are missing one of these areas (joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, raigh, meekness, temperance), you should take it as an indication that you're not spiritually healthy. Perhaps you're doing one of those works of the flesh we just mentioned, or maybe you're not doing something you should be doing (praying, living by God's word, fellowshipping with your brethren in Christ and bearing one another's burdens, etc.) Read what is said in Ephesians 5:9.

.Galatians 5:24 | Those of us who accepted Christ as our saviour (sacrifice) have laid our sins on Him, causing His crucifixion.

.Galatians 5:25 | "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." I think it'd be pretty unreasonable and a vain attempt to try to get people to walk in the Spirit who don't even live in the Spirit. You just can't expect that. This would probably also apply to those who proclaim that "Jesus is Lord," yet they still try to live a righteous life by following the elements of the law. Paul even testifies in 1 Corinthians 2:14 that "the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." But those of us who actually do live in the Spirit should walk in the Spirit and exercise our spiritual discernment.

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