I'm leaving EDU now at 6:23AM. Praise the Lord that He gave me the grace to study this long and to study this ahead of the exam, which is on Thursday. Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!
Here at the EDU building studying for my test on Thursday. All the others in the study group have left, and I'm all alone. Could be hacked to bits by an axe murderer. (I jest) But, the Lord is with me! He'll neither leave me nor forget me (Hebrews 13:5-6). So, I'm not really afraid at all. In fact, I'm eating a sandwich.
I have no money, and my phone bill is due - $60. Apparently, I paid my rent at the beginning of the year, but it failed to include the month of July. Therefore, my rent is due in 2 days, yet I don't have the $328 necessary to pay it. I have maybe $60 in the bank. That could pay my phone bill, but after that I'm stuck in whichever town I pay it in because I can't afford the gas otherwise. Have no job. But, you know what? The Lord died to pay for this time. He's going to show me just how big and miraculous He is, and how wide His hand and how sweet His grace. I trust in the Lord! I will not fear evil tidings, and my faith is fixed, for I trust in my God! My God shall supply all my need according to His riches in Christ Jesus my Lord! My Savior... There. I've glorified God in the midst of my trouble. Now, according to 2 Corinthians 1, here comes the consolation!
Truly, you all. I trust in God completely. Even if I get kicked out of my apartment and don't come up with the $328, I know it is to God's glory and God is willing and allowing it to come to pass, and I trust in His providence and mighty hand to deliver me from all such troubles in Jesus Name. Cheers, Isaac D.
"...for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart." Ecclesiastes 7:2 - The Bible
Not only Michael Jackson, but 150,000 people have died today. That's 1.78 per second!
Think of it this way... Imagine you're in a courtroom again, you're guilty of many serious crimes. The judge says, "It's a fine of $500,000, or prison." You don't have anywhere near that amount of money, so the bailiff begins to walk you out of the courtroom when someone you don't even know appears. He runs up to the judge with a check and says, "I've paid the fine for you." Now that the fine has been paid, the law no longer has any hold on you. You're free -- because of the gift you were given.
This is what God did for you by sending Jesus to die on the cross in your place. So that you wouldn't have to go to Hell, God sent his only Son, Jesus, to die on the cross -- suffering the punishment that justice demands. Then He rose from the grave, forever defeating death! The Bible tells us, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him, shall not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) If you will repent of your sins and put your trust in Jesus, God says he will forgive all your sins and grant you the gift of everlasting life. Just like the court case we just talked about, if you repent (that means to confess and forsake your sins) and put your trust in Jesus, then you will not have to suffer God's justice in Hell because the payment for your crimes was made by Jesus on the cross.
If you're not sure what to pray, read Psalm 51, and make it a model for your prayer. The words are not "magical," what God cares about is the attitude of your heart. When you pray, it should sound something like this, "Dear God, I repent of all my sins, such as (name them). I put my trust in Jesus Christ as Lord (to say Jesus is your Lord means you are now making Jesus the master over your life) and Savior. Forgive me and grant me your gift of everlasting life. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen."
Now read your Bible daily, and obey what you read. God will never let you down.
8:10 AM or so! Found out that I have another younger sibling! She's 14, and this morning is the first time I ever saw a picture of her, and I only found out about her yesterday when I talk to my sister Simone online through Facebook for the first time. Praise the Lord!
Now I'm praying for their salvation. Please pray with me.
I hadn't the slightest hint of an idea that she ever existed. I didn't know at all until this morning. I was very surprised. I opened her Facebook page and my browser crashed. Even my browser didn't believe it! Just wait 'til she meets Marley, my little sister. And sees her faith... Marley came to Christ at age 12. And she walks solid with the Lord even until today at age 16. So, hopefully, These two sisters the Lord's given me will hear the Gospel and be saved also, just like Marley and me. Cheers!
12:34AM The first time I ever saw a picture of one of my sisters. It's been 23 years. She contacted me through facebook. Now I'm going to start praying for her salvation. Please pray for one of my sisters. Cheers.
In tears again... I so wish that I could to a greater degree overcome my humanity... I get lazy and I get distracted from what I know is important very easily and stay distracted. And I get hungry. And I eat a lot. Just seeing the Word and the beautiful picture painted by it by faith, and then looking at my own humanity and how stubborn the flesh is... It makes me cry. Yes, a grown man... Come soon, Lord Jesus... He's one heck of a man... (and one great God, too, I say with reverence...)
Intro: Marriage is between a man and a woman. To say 'gay' marriage is a contradiction. The phrase is an oxymoron because two men were never created to be in that specific form of covenant that allows them to lawfully have sex with one another.
When someone who's gay is asking for rights to be married to their partner, they're asking for a right that a heterosexual person doesn't presently have - they're asking for extra, special rights. The gay male is free to marry whichever woman he finds consenting to marry him. The gay female is free to marry any man that is willing to marry her. Therefore, they already have marriage rights - they can already marry. But, they're asking to marry someone of the same sex. No rights have been taken away from them, so why does the media make it out to be a civil-rights case? They're not being oppressed at all.
Why make it legal for gays to form marriages or civil unions? If we did make it legal as a country, we would be saying to the rest of the world that homosexuality is morally right and acknowledging it. Homosexuals know that it is morally wrong to be attracted to people of the same sex the same way that adulterers know that it's wrong to be attracted to someone who isn't their spouse. The desire is there and that desire is wrong because it's out of place and should be put in check. So, why should the legal system be conformed to make homosexuality acceptable? Why not leave it the way that it is presently, that if someone having sexual relations with someone of the same sex they do it knowing that it's wrong and not have the rest of the world conform to making their wrong seem acceptable? Lying is wrong and stealing is wrong, too. They're both morally wrong. The legal system punishes those wrongs in many places. Since there's no reprimand for being homosexual in this country's law presently, shouldn't this be enough right? Not every gay person wants to marry. Do we really have to take it a step further and try to make it seem morally acceptable by allowing them to marry?
Proverbs 14:34, "Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people." Proverbs 24:24, "He that saith unto the wicked, Thou art righteous; him shall the people curse, nations shall abhor him:" (KJV)
* If anyone wants to use these apologetical arguements in defense of the faith on their website or what exploits the Lord has you doing, feel free to use them with a clear conscience! I thought these up, but I wave all rights to any recognition or credit or copyright whatsohaveyou.
I posted an important resolution a few days ago. I presently resolve to live my life in private. In secret. In silence. Why? Because Jesus put such an emphasis on it in His teachings on the sermon on the mount. I want to live a much greater life in private than I do in public and to live for the praises of God rather than the often-sought-after praises of men. When someone sees my blog they see that I put a lot of careful attention into making it look a certain way. If I did this to catch the eyes of men, it'd look very flashy, and the colors would probably be something different than my favorite color, steel-blue. The links would be more updated. The title would be different. And for a time, I was doing this blog so that I could leave a remnant, a historical record, of myself and the faith that God's given me in the world. In case of death or disability. Anything. Well, I now no longer want to do this blog for that reason at all. I want to do great and wonderful things here on earth and have not a single soul know about it - to have my left hand be completely in the dark as to what the Lord causes my right hand to do. I think this is closer to what it means to live for Christ than my previous intentions.
On the day of the judgement of the Church when we're presented before the throne of Jesus Christ and all of our works are offered to Him in order to glorify the Lord, everyone is going to be present to see it. The dead, small and great, will all be there. Everyone will know. I'd rather people find out about my good works and all the things I've done, and the things I do for the Lord, on that Day of Judgement. I'd rather people see me in my glory, in the light and true image of Christ as one who's been perfected, rather than to give any credit to me in my state right now. I'm still prone to sin. Don't get me wrong, I'm a friend of 1 John 3:9 and I'm not leading a lifestyle given to sin, but it still happens on occasion! For example, I can swear if I hit my thumb with a hammer really hard. It's never happened to me yet, but I know it's probably highly likely. That sort of thing. I'm no Holier Than Thou, but I remember I had a dirty mouth before I was saved. Now, I wouldn't dare even think of a swear word without feeling guilty! That doesn't mean I'm better than anyone - I'm better than the me I was, and being renewed in mind and spirit every day by the Holy Spirit. It's just that
If others in the body of Christ throughout Church History had felt the same way that I have, then I'm 100% certain that there have been hidden Spurgeons, Wesleys, and Whitefields in history that we are yet to know about, that have been used of the Lord in amazing, fantastically cool, even extraordinarily super-human ways. And we won't know about it until the day we're in glory. I want to be present that day, and I want to have done my assigned good works completely as to the Lord, in private - where only He can see and where He is most pleased.
I don't want to please men anymore. They don't deserve it anyway. It's God that deserves that kind of attention and devotion. I was thinking about posting a YouTube video of some guitar playing that I can do. But - what's the point of that for me? Unless I'm using it to accomplish some stated purpose - to gain needed advice from Youtube's community of musicians, to advertise for giggues, to put it there so that I can refer people to it in case I'm asked to play somewhere... then it's in vain. I'm just trying to get fans or show off. That's pride. A false motive. Nevermind it all! I want to play before the Lord. To do that is to play in private. Where only He can hear.
I resolve to live the most amazing parts of the life granted me totally in private. Not in the eyes of men, but before the eyes of the Lord. I'll do this in mind, speech, and action.
Just sitting here... I'm weeping over a few things that the Holy Spirit has pressed to my heart... We as the people of God need to respond to God's Word. No matter what the cost...comfort, entertainment, rights, time... we need to go out of our way to do the will of God. We're to pick up the cross. And we're to bear it daily. That means that God shouldn't just have your morning. Or your evening. He should possess your entire day. We're to be devoted to Him in everything that we do. Our mind, our thoughts, our hearts. It's be God's Word in us doing God's will God's way. Love the Lord. Love our neighbor. Exemplify Christ in our character and our behavior, even to people who are well used to us being a certain way - to them also. No slacking off, because laziness will paralyze us from doing what we know we should (Proverbs 6:6-11 and so on). But, let's put on the armor of Christ and take up the Sword of the Spirit and do battle. Contend like a boxer. Run like an Olympian. And, let's finish this race, co-laboring with a King, Christ Jesus. Lord of all. Amen.
Titus 1:15-16 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled. They profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.
Are you leading a life of sin, saying that you're a Christian, or are saved, and yet actually leading a life that sent Jesus to the cross?
You may profess to know God, but you deny Him in works, if this is you...
As a Pre-med, I don't have any medical knowledge at all. All that they teach us are the background sciences that prepare someone for an education in medicine. And that's just about it. So anyway, I was sitting in Microbiology class with Dr. Vandenburgh and he was talking about different types of antiseptics and antibacterials for killing bacteria along with autoclaving. Well, one type of antiseptic is isopropanol. I remembered that isopropanol was used by a graduate student in Dr. Baker's lab where I do undergrad. research to wipe his gloves after handling different bacterial samples.
What is isopropanol? It's a saturated 3-carbon chain with an -OH hydroxy group attached to the middle. To put it simply - rubbing alcohol. So, I got to thinking and remembered that my sister (I won't say which one) had a B.O. problem and started really scrubbing under her underarms and afterwards she didn't smell as bad after a sweaty day. Well, it turns out that the odor is caused by a bacteria called Staphylococcus epidermidis. Well, as a bacteria, it is susceptible to being killed by isopropanol (a.k.a. isopropyl alcohol). Go figure. So, I put two and two together.
Incidently, here was my experiment: I rubbed isopropanol/rubbing alcohol on my underarms for two days. Then, I put deodorant on. One day it was over 90 degrees F and I drove in a car without A.C., so it was maybe 100 degrees F inside, for maybe a half an hour. So, when I came home I was drenched in my own sweat. But, I took off my shirt and smelt all around - not a hint of body odor! It was as off I'd just came in from the rain or poured clean water on my shirt. I even let the sweat dry and there wasn't any significant smell!
How's that for a pre-med with a low GPA!
Rubbing alcohol - use it on your underarms along with your deodorant and it will stave off strong body odors.
Oh, and Jesus Christ is still Lord! Today and every other day!
I'm just sitting here humming this little tune... and my roommate comes and gives me some free pizza and orange juice! Praise the Lord! And I was just in the kitchen thinking and... man... praise God... I'm so, so thankful that I know Jesus Christ. That I know Him as a person, personally. I'm so thankful to be His friend. My step-grandmother died on Thursday. We were at her memorial on Monday. Her funeral was today, but I had to miss it because I had an exam, sadly. She wasn't saved. The coldest thing about that is that there isn't a single chance that I'll see her again, ever. And one day it'll be my turn, but Jesus is my friend. The Judge is my friend! Oh Lamb of God that takes away my sins and makes me right with Him! Praise the Lord, all you people, praise the Lord!
...so thankful to the Lord for today's exam! It went well and I was very confident with the answers! But, I missed an assignment in my Shakespeare for the Theater class at the beginning! Please pray with me that the Professor will accept it late so that I can recover the 10% of my final grade it represents, and can do well on the Final exam, which is all essay-format.
I'm sitting at the computer lab right now next to a young lady who is searching for hot celebrity males. She's looking through hundreds of images and smiling her face off while listening to some music on iTunes and 'sex on the beach.' I hate to be nosey, but it's happening right next to me. You might say that person's a weirdo, but no, she's normal! I even remember being this way before I was saved.
The title of this post is the Beauty of God's Grace. Well, I was on my way to the computer center and I was walking and the clouds were filtering the sunlight at just the right elegance to cast a gazey glowy orange-redness across the landscape and beautify the trees. The grass was growing, the wind was blowing gently. Two turtle-doves flew by. I was amazed by all the beauty around me so much so that I was fighting up the impulse to use my camera-phone to capture some of the moment. It never works - God's creation is a living painting, dynamic and always changing. Though cursed and tainted with the sins of men, God's handiwork shines through and points to Christ. Then, two atheists passed by wearing the Atheist Student Alliance t-shirts, having a rowdy conversation. The shirts are black with yellow writing. I didn't pay it any attention. I was flabbergasted at the beauty surrounding me and the scenery. I can see by faith because I'm saved and the Holy Spirit is renewing my perception and field of vision. They can't see by faith, so though they can be in awe at the beauty, they don't understand it (1 Cor. 2:14 I suppose?).
What makes me think are the things that man so plainly knows are good - righteousness, love, peace, goodness, tenderness, intimacy, being right and not unlawful... Sin is so clearly manifest as present in the world because man would rather focus on what they know to be wrong and evil rather than the good - unlawful sex, lust, fornication... There's barely anyone that would give their lives for someone they even consider to be good. Your life is expensive. You only have one. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God died for people that hate Him. But God demonstrates his love for us by the fact that the Messiah died for us while we were still *sinners* (Romans 5:7-8). Forget undeserving... We're evil, miserable, filled with sexual passion, and our 'good' things like love and kindness are so fickle. We have stop-light patience - our patience lasts about as long as a traffic-light. We get frustrated and annoyed with people. If someone is excessively kind, we feel something inside of us that wants to avoid that person!
Is there anything at all that can help man? That can save him from his wicked self? Christ Jesus the Lord, crucified on our behalf to take the punishment demanded by our sins.
I resolve to live in private what lives worldly men attempt to live in public. In the same way that I used to live to please others in the public life I resolve to live in private, pleasing the eye of God. A gentleman is a gentleman insomuch as he's as much a gentleman in private as he is in public. I intend to lead a private life, in purity, that is as much if not more exciting than my public life. I seek the praises of Jesus Christ rather than the praises of those around me, of my generation, of what is commonly accepted or praised in my present day and age, in my congregation, and elsewhere. I seek to do those things that will edify and build me up in the sight of my God.
Disclaimer: I go into and study 1 Timothy 4:8-9 and 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, but the meanings behind these two verses shouldn’t necessarily be crossed. 1 Timothy 4:8-9 speaks of making godliness a habit and practicing those things that are most profitable to us spiritually, that edify or build us up, and things by which the Holy Spirit brings us benefit. However, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 is talking about denying the body and conditioning it to submit and obey to do that which we know is more profitable, which is different. One area is talking about training the body, the other controlling the body.
These aren’t to be imposing legalistic rules and restrictions you place upon yourself in order to build a system. There’s great liberty in Christ, but discipline includes giving up certain freedoms that would lead to a more beneficial result. For example, it’s no sin to watch TV, but reducing or eliminating TV exposure or limiting viewing of certain content to avoid the sexuality is going to be beneficial to our private thought-lives. Watching TV isn’t a sin and you have the freedom to watch it, but it’s more profitable to give up that freedom if it’s causing you to have an unclean thought-life. In addition, practicing 1 Cor 9:24-27 and being self-controlled in all things, and practicing 1 Timothy 4:8-9 in doing godly things doesn’t make you better than everyone and shouldn’t be a source of pride or boasting.
Luke 24:45, "And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures." Before, the disciples didn't understand what was written in the Old Testament concerning Christ.
How is it that one can read the Old Testament "with a veil over the eyes" and not understand it, and yet 'understand' or comprehend the Bible, as literature, without understanding the substances of things that causes someone to live out the Bible? It's that the believer, who's mind has been opened to understand the text from a new dynamic spiritually, is one who believes what he's reading - God has sovereignly opened up his mind to understand the text in a deeper way than just the unbeliever who casually reads (or even scholarly studies the text, for that matter).
As it is written, "But 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." I was meditating on what this meant...at 2 AM while I was driving home this morning...haha... anyway...
I'm taking Shakespare for the Theatre. It's an exit-course requirement that has nothing to do with my major. We're required to write 1000 word critical analyses on not just Shakespeare's plays, but on performances and the insights brought out of the text that lead to a certain performance of it. Right now we're divided into groups and we have to watch Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet and read the play and do a week-long discussion on it where we critically analyze every Act's scenes and the characters involved. My part is to talk about Horatio: his friendship with Hamlet, his reaction to the apparition in Act 1 Scene 1 as it contrasts his character, his roles in the play, and so on about his character.
It's really a class on textual criticism, which is what we do to the Bible when we try to understand it's truths to a certain degree. We decipher what it's saying textually and grammatically. Just about anyone can do this natural process, really. This is why we can have atheist and liberal scholars. But, 1 Corinthians 2:14 brings something interesting to the table, which I think also paints color and tint to Luke 24:45:
When one reads Shakespeare, and becomes acquainted with the Elizabethan English and the meanings of what are in the plays, he is learning to understand the different illustrations of the day and what is being said. So, he learns a series of little phrases that have relations to what the common person of that day understood. We can do this with the Bible and relate a 1st century text to any succeeding generation, including our own. However, the Bible says that "Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual." (2 Corinthians 2:12-13)
This is important because what it's saying is that we don't get our faith from natural man's reasoning, their arguements, their philosophy, but from the Holy Spirit's teaching us. He's the one who allows us to know that Jesus is Lord, or what it means to have our sins forgiven. Anyone can relate to what is in Shakespeare after learning what the phrases mean and eventually understand it very well. BUT! It takes learning spiritual realities rather than just phrases in order to understand what God's written. The Spirit must be the revelator of the text in order to understand spiritually what God wants us to know. And since God teaches us in this manner, we have become witnesses of the spiritual truths that God's taught us in His Word.
When asked about why He taught the people (all those who were present) in parables, "He answered and said unto them, Because it is givenuntoyou to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. " (Matthew 13:11, cf verse 10) Therefore, God can reveal the truth God is teaching us to us without revealing it to the world, though they have access to the instrument of God's revelation, the Bible.
You know...reflecting on what I've written, I think that the only reason why we have an Olympics or a Rocky or popular sports is that the Lord wants to deliver a message to the Church that we're to be a disciplined people - in reading His Word, in prayer, in fellowship, in meditating on Him and His attributes, and in every other exploit and pursuit.
1 Timothy 4:7-8. When I first read these verses in doing my daily reading of scripture, I was severely blown away. The entire chapter tore me apart and rebuilt me. I wanted to know what it meant to 'exercise unto godliness,' since the Scriptures exhorted it as so valueable. So, I started exercising. One morning I ran around the block once. Then, I had an asthma attack. But, despite my body's lack of ability and comfort, I continued to do so. I ran again and kept having asthma attacks. Eventually, as I recall now, about a week or two later, I was able to run the entire block without having an asthma attack. One day I felt as if I could run further, so I ran the same distance twice. I did this for a week and by that weekend I could run it 4 times. For the first time in my life I was beating my asthma, which frequently put me in the hospital in childhood. So, I started running in the morning so much that I'd almost throw up. I even ran when it was rainy. This would continue for many months. I now incorporate the daily job into my daily scripture-reading with the Lord - I started practicing this verse to unpack its meaning. I now run 2.5-3 miles a day, depending on my school schedule.
Here's the godly exercise I decided on: I bought a 90-day bible. I started reading it, but found the 12 pages a day of reading to be overwhelming. So, it took me a year and a half, deviating from the schedule completely. It takes hard discipline to be able to digest that amount of the text every day, I found. It's like running 20 miles with my asthma. When I came to Christ in July of 2003, I read the Word every day without fail for a year and a half, 4-hours a day on week-days usually, 8 hours to all day on weekends. But, along the way, I fell out of shape. I'm slowly rebuilding the pace. But, it varies. At the beginning of 2008 I read the entire New Testament in about 4 days when I was sick in bed. I'm thankful to Jesus to report that I've completed the reading of the Bible cover-to-cover for the first time - May 31st, 2009, 7:36 PM! Praise the Lord! I started reading 1 Proverb a day with my daily scripture reading (since there are 31 Proverbs, and usually 31 days in a month). I've gained a lot of wisdom from it. Now, I want to form other godly habits that will lead to further conformity to the image of Christ.
Here's the wisdom I've gained from physically exercisin g: running is profitable, but it isn't easy. I take my shirt off and I see that I really like what running does to my body, and it only takes 20 minutes a day. It is a strenuous discipline, but it's now become habbit. Sometimes my legs feel like they're eating themselves because there's no fat in them. My metabolism sped up and now I'm always hungry. Now I'm working on disciplining my diet. But it's well-worth it. If I tone up my physical muscles with bodily exercise, how much more the spiritual with exercising in godliness? Let's read this verse again! But, this time, please watch some real-world examples with this verse in mind:
1 Timothy 4:7-8, "But reject profane and old wives' fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come."
1 Corinthians 9:27 - We'll address the first part of 9:27 mainly, because the second part is too complicated to address with such a terse reply and deserves a far weightier, careful, painstaking treatmen t because it is concerning salvation.
King James Bible But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.
Bible in Basic English But I give blows to my body, and keep it under control, for fear that, after having given the good news to others, I myself might not have God's approval.
Here, the word for 'discipline/beat my body' literally means, "to beat black and blue the part under the eyes, to smite so as to cause bruises and livid spots; like a boxer one buffets his body, handle it roughly, discipline by hardships." To discipline the body means to give the body a black-eye. Like a boxer contending for an eternal championship , or a heavy-weight contender. You wouldn't guess what 'bring it into subjection' means in Greek, "to lead away into slavery, claim as one's slave; to make a slave and to treat as a slave i.e. with severity, subject to stern and rigid discipline." Keep it under control!
Brothers - Sisters - let us NEVER lose sight of the prize that is set before us. I long for the day, with great longing desire, when the Church will be presented before the throne of Jesus and all of my salvation's works will be given before Him as an offering. Friends, isn't He worth every moment of pain? Isn't He worth our anguish? Isn't He worth the strenuous exercise of living life? And if living for: isn't He worth dying for? Get inspired. Get motivated. We won't be put to shame and we won't be disappointed at the end of our long endurance here. The hardest part of running for me is endurance - not stopping. Let's not stop. Though every part of us cries out with pain, let's remember, it is only "that the genuineness of your faith, [being] much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see [Him], yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of [your] souls." 1 Peter 1:7-9 (NKJV) Friends, let's get ready for that day. Let's exercise ourselves towards godliness (1 Tim 4:8).
Read useful cross-references to the verse above - Romans 2:7, 1 Corinthians 13:3, James 1:3, 1 Peter 1:13, Hebrews 12:1-2.
King James Bible I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
Bible in Basic English So then I am running, not uncertainly; so I am fighting, not as one who gives blows in the air:
I therefore so run: the word 'so' means 'in this manner.' The word 'fight' is literally 'to box.' So, it literally means, I therefore run in this manner, not with uncertainty. So I box, not as one who 'thrashes, smites' the air.
Here's what one commentary says, "Not as one who had no definite goal before him. His eye was fixed upon the heavenly prize. The first figure is of a runner with a definite object; the second is taken from the boxer who strikes the air instead of his competitor. So fights not Paul. He puts a skillful aim into his blows." (People's New Testament.)
I think this all goes back to verse 25 - striving for a crown that will not perish, whos glory won't fade (v. 25). And, it also goes back to verse 24 - running in such a way that you may obtain the prize (v. 24), as if you're the 'only one' receiving the prize, as the verse puts it. We're striving for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:14). We're aimed towards something. And, that something is something worth attaining, imperishable, not in vain. And we strive for and seek to attain to it by running, by boxing - by zealous exertion towards obtaining it. Our prize is certain. When we strive, we're not working against the wind, doing vain or meaningless activities. We're not exercising only to put the weight back on again after a few days - we're not beating the air aimlessly or in vain!
New King James And everyone who competes [for the prize] is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a perishable crown, but we [for] an imperishable [crown].
There is another word here that should be emphasized, "everyone who competes [for the prize]" (NKJV), or, "every man that striveth for the mastery" (KJV). I gauge that although the NKJV is clearer, the KJV puts it more powerfully in English, although it is still one Greek word, 'agōnizomai.' Here's the long version of the outline of the word's usage: "1) to enter a contest: contend in the gymnastic games, 2) to contend with adversaries, fight, 3) metaph. to contend, struggle, with difficulties and dangers, 4)to endeavour with strenuous zeal, strive: to obtain something"
This is what Paul referred to about himself in 2 Tim 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." and again in Colossians 1:29, "To this [end] I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily." Our Lord uses it in John 18:36 saying that we would 'fight' for Him to not be delivered to the Jews if His kingdom was of this world. So, the best illustration of what we're to do is of a boxer.
A 'contender' is someone who contends. A King James Dictionary translation would be, "To strive, or to strive against; to struggle in opposition; To dispute earnestly; to strive in debate; To strive in opposition; to punish" A modern, 21st century understanding of a 'contender' from the Merriam-Webster's dictionary is, " a competitor for a championship or high honor <a heavyweight title contender>."
Our Conclusion: He who contends, or fights, is temperate or self-controlled in all things and in all his ways.
King James Bible And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
New King James And everyone who competes [for the prize] is temperate in all things. Now they [do it] to obtain a perishable crown, but we [for] an imperishable [crown].
Bible in Basic English And every man who takes part in the sports has self-control in all things. Now they do it to get a crown which is of this world, but we for an eternal crown.
Now, let's talk about it. I call to memory once again the great preacher John Wesley's notes, "9:25 And every one that there contendeth is temperate in all things - To an almost incredible degree; using the most rigorous self denial in food, sleep, and every other sensual indulgence." This verse asks us to discipline ourselves in all things when exercising in godliness. "Temperate" is the best translation for the Greek word, 'egkrateuomai,' which means 'to be self-controlled, exhibit self-government, to be continent.' We can add emphasis to that part of the text that says, 'in all things.' This means, as Mr. Wesley put it, in diet, sleeping habits, and every other sensual or bodily/physiological, indulgence or gratification (or even pleasure). 'In all things' means the sum of all types, or everything, coming from one Greek word 'pas.' Again, call to remembrance Proverbs 3:5-6, '...in all your ways acknowledge Him...'
Let's consider this: what do we do in a normal day that needs to be controlled? Our use of our time and regular employments, our diet and habit of eating, our use of money and finance, our imaginations, and so on. And this is not to put a damper or a hindrance on the enjoyment of these things, because we're at liberty and in God's grace and freely do what we know to be profitable and exercise discipline over these things, but that we might exercise ourselves unto that which will profit us most (and best benefit the kingdom we're to be seeking and putting first a la Matthew 6:33).
Note: 'Temperance' means to be self-controlled, but it is important to note that in Greek there is no word for 'self.' Temperance is listed among the fruits of the Holy Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23, meaning that 'self'-control is an act of the Holy Spirit whereas the Spirit enables us to, as I'd suppose, have rule or government over ourselves and to buffet our affections and hold necessary inhibitions over ourselves. This is what to which the text adds another verse later in Verse 24, "And those [who are] Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires." It is also interesting to note that this word is also translated 'can contain,' and is used in 1 Cor. 7:9 as, "but if they cannot exerciseself-control, let them marry. For it is better to marry than to burn [with passion]."
We've just discussed in 1 Cor. 9:24 that Paul calls us to run our course in our lives down here as if we're attempting to obtain the prize, the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
One commentator gives us some historical incite into the practices that Paul was illustrating when referring to 'a race' and being self-controlled or temperate:
"The gymnasium was a prominent feature in every Greek city. Every candidate had to take an oath that he had been ten months in training, and that he would violate none of the regulations (2Ti 2:5; compare 1Ti 4:7, 8). He lived on a strict self-denying diet, refraining from wine and pleasant foods, and enduring cold and heat and most laborious discipline. The "prize" awarded by the judge or umpire was a chaplet of green leaves; at the Isthmus, those of the indigenous pine, for which parsley leaves were temporarily substituted (1Co 9:25)." Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary.
Another commentator suggests that Paul was referring to buffeting the appetites of the body, to which Paul himself was subject to doing:
"Those who ran in these games were kept to a spare diet. They used themselves to hardships. They practised the exercises. And those who pursue the interests of their souls, must combat hard with fleshly lusts. The body must not be suffered to rule. The apostle presses this advice on the Corinthians. He sets before himself and them the danger of yielding to fleshly desires, pampering the body, and its lusts and appetites." Matthew-Henry Commentary.
John Wesley wrote in his notes: "And every one that there contendeth is temperate in all things - To an almost incredible degree; using the most rigorous self denial in food, sleep, and every other sensual indulgence."
1 Timothy 4:7 "But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness;"
We will shift our focus on the latter half of this verse. This word 'discipline' also means 'exercise' - to train oneself. This goes right hand in hand with 'in all your ways acknowledge Him' in Proverbs 4:5-6. To 'acknowledge' is in Hebrew, yada', which means 'to know' or to make acquaintance with. 'In all your ways' in Hebrew is derek, which means, 'manner, habit, course of life, way, journey.' So, of in our manner and course of life we choose to further acquaint ourselves with God, seeking to know Him further, and discipline ourselves to do this in this matter, we will as 1 Tim 4:8 further explains be profiting not only now but eternally. We'll not only profit in the eternity and for the life to come, but here also - our decisions will be different and our choices will be made more clear because not only are we immersing ourselves in the Word of God and knowing God more personally, but He's further directing our paths as our will lines up with His will and we learn to see by faith further (as I would suggest would happen as a consequence of making godliness habit).
1 Tim 4:8, "For bodily exercise profits little: but godliness is profitable to all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come."
There is a contrast between bodily exercise and exercising in godliness in this verse. 1 Cor. 9:24 to the end of Chapter 9 explains exercising in godliness and what it is. 1 Tim 4:8 gives us the value and key importance of it. If I discipline myself to diligently read the Word of God most frequently rather than on occasion the benefits are that my private thoughts will be more Christ-centered and God-focused, more prayer life will be informed with more things to pray about and more enlightening truths by which to express the thoughts of my heart before the Lord, my behavior will have been redefined because it follows suit to what my mind is focusing on - the Word, my judgment and ability to make decisions will be even more clear because I have more of a scriptural foundation to work with, I'll be refreshed in memory of connecting verses that I've already read or studied, and I'll be better equipped to help or minister to other people. This process of disciplining myself to search the written Word and understand God's scriptures, done over a long period of time, will reprove, correct, exhort, admonish, and train me for what God wills me to do - whether it is enduring a hard trial or doing missions or giving someone the Word. It is a most helpful practice, the fruit of which obviously has implications that lead on into eternity. The Word doesn't just prepare sermons or messages, it trains preachers (2 Tim 3:16). We, as believers, are trained when we get in the written Word of God - whether in reading or in study.
I am at discord within myself, it seems, and have lost harmony to decipher which part of my being, elusively, causes me to be distemperate and uncontrolled with my affections and needs. I've been fighting back romantic fantasies all day. The most difficult part of being single now, at this point of my walk with Christ, is fighting back even a godly biological need. Yet, though I can easily twist the scriptures to suit my needs with a more comfortable theology, I trust in the Lord who makes His will so clear in His written Word that I'd have to be a blithering, wildly empassioned unruly self-indulged, narcissistic bravehearted Romeo to supercede the restraints and inhibiting buffets of verses such as Matthew 6:33, "But seek you first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these [your natural needs] shall be added unto you." (My own recollection and emphasis of the verse, by memory and with added translation from other text.)
I know not what part of myself is in discord with the others. For instance, my diet. I now intend to eat only 3 times a day with two snacks per day. I asked the Lord to empower me in this area because an uncontrolled, unregistered, and unchecked pursuit of food overtakes me at the oddest times and often distracts me from my work. It's disheartening to remember how many times I've gotten up to nomadically pillage the fridge for food today. It's shameful to think of how much I'd eaten - mind you, I eat mostly fruit and have the discipline to try to eat what I know will benefit the body... But I suggest this: why not give the body what it needs and go no further? Of course, we can eat for our own enjoyment and for the gratitude of eating, and that of certain foods. But, why not prevent myself from being disquieted by overeating and overindulging by only giving myself what I know the body needs and saving the indulgence for a more convenient, more social time rather than to allow it to secretly, only slightly observed and slightly moderated to myself, impose itself upon my every-day diet and cause me to eat those things which aren't profitable to the body and to overeat to the distraction of my other daily habits? Yes, if I could make this a forward habit in my diet, I do believe it would be most profitable to my other activities.
Why do I talk this way? Well, besides studying Shakespeare for a certain exit-course and being ever so immersed in the old Elizabethan English of the writer and being stuck in thinking of this manner of speech while writing, I write this because of Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and shall direct your path." I can rest assured that the Lord is directing my path when I willingly, decidedly choose to acknowledge the Lord in all I do. I'd often bypass the words 'in all your ways, acknowledge Him' as a phrase that calls its reader to action. It's not that we produce the result with this action - no way. God will always fulfill His promise because He's faithful, yes. But, I have no assurance of God's directing my paths without myself acknowledge the Lord rather than leaning on my own understanding.
I've been watching Keith Green live performances. I even learned a few of his songs. I played them at the prayer house. I'm trying to work on the vocals. I asked the leader of the Men's Accountability group at Calvary Chapel if I could play for the men's group. I played...with equipment failure...but the men afterwards said, 'You're young. What do you know about Keith Green?' Well, he was the first preacher I'd ever listened to with an open ear. Someone invited me to the site http://www.sermonindex.net one day. I was looking through the audio list and I said, you know the wisest thing I can do is pick the most grotesque, odd-looking person on here, because I know God will have given them the most spiritual truths. Well, I saw one hairy dude - Keith Green. Listening to his sermons changed my life dramatically, and I listened to some of them maybe ten dozen times or more. I memorized the words. This was years ago.
Well, someone told me that he was also a songwriter and wrote many powerful songs. One day a few months ago I'd searched for his music on YouTube. I was blown away...not exactly by the music, but the passion by which it was performed. A few months past by and I had access to a college music program to get music for free. I downloaded all Keith Green songs. After listening to it, I judged that the lyrics to the songs were astounding... I was totally blown away. I was listening to Paul Washer and he mentioned that Keith Green didn't play songs, he preached when he sang. I believe that now. Anyway, this man with his amazing way to express his faith... I really relate to him today.
Anyway, there's no real way for me to express my love for Christ and what He's done. Or the thoughts of my heart, or my emotions towards the things of God. Just think of it... when my heart stops beating - the moment I take my last breath and see Jesus Christ for the first time... In presenting my life as an offering before His throne... In seeing the Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with my eyes - this is why every moment of suffering is well-worth it. This is why I can uncomfortably find the strength to keep going in situations with seemingly impossibly inhuman odds, trusting God. Because I can see by faith. And because I can not only see, but love what I see. The sharpness of His Word had struck the stones of my heart and sparked a fire that rages wild within me. And, like Keith Green whos medium of expression was music, I want to play with all my might...with passion and great gusto.
I want to serve the Lord with my whole heart. Remember that verse in Proverbs 3 that says lean not on your own understanding? Well the verse right after it says, 'In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path.' I want to acknowledge Him in everything. I had a thought on the way to the bathroom right now. What if every sports event was about how the sport portrays some aspect of God's character? What if every piece of art was depicting some biblical scene? Every piece of art ever painted... What if every piece of clothing had imprinted on it an important biblical message? What if every television program was Christ-centered? If the whole earth glorified God, do you think it would be boring at all? I don't think so at all. Why? Because God is inexhaustible. You can't run Him dry. There's so much to our Lord and Creator and Master that we could spend a lifetime of studying just one of His attributes. His mercy, His grace, His patience, His wrath, His anger, His love... His zeal... Some think it's kind of scary to love the Lord with all your heart. Well, obviously, those people have never been saved.
I'm severly in need of prayer. I have a test in Microbiology tomorrow morning at 8 and a lab report due at 10AM, 2 hours later. I need to study all night for the test, but where's the time to do the report? I could compromise my study time to do the report, but this isn't profitable. I don't think it can be late. Also, Microbiology only has 3 test, the lost of the scores of which isn't dropped, and there's no extra credit or curve. In deep need of the power of Holy Spirit indeed I am today. Please pray for me, that Jesus will draw closer to me in these hardships.
