Bethamay Baptist Church: Religion Spirituality; Romans

Showing posts with label Religion Spirituality; Romans. Show all posts

Sunday, June 24, 2012

Faith first for true knowledge

Anselm said, "I do not understand so that I might believe, but believe in order to understand."

My grade school teacher taught me that an English preposition was "anywhere a mouse could go." A mouse can go above, below, around, in, and in-between. The preposition “between” in Hebrew is also the word for “understanding.”

Thinking with the Bible as your grid gives us understanding. For instance, difficult is choosing between two good choices. The bible gives us the capacity to sort out our options.

Proverbs says, “Understanding is a fountain of life to he who has it.” To know your choices, and make the right one is “understanding.” Gain “understanding” by remembering the word of God. Believe it first, to gain understanding. Usually the choice is obvious; the word is clear. You can do what a mouse can do. With divine understanding and the Spirit of God guiding you, you can sort out which way to go.

Proverbs 16:22
Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it, but folly brings punishment to fools.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Daniel: The Overview

The Book of Daniel

c. 605 - 562 B.C.

Key Verse of the Book: Daniel 4:17

"In order that the living may know that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whom He wishes, and sets over it the lowliest of men."

After Nebuchadnezzar defeats the Assyrians at Charcemish (605 B.C.), Jehoiakim and other dignitaries are taken to Babylon (2Ch 36:6; 2Kg 24:1). Daniel is part of this exile (followed by two more, in 597 B.C. when Ezekiel is taken (2Ch 36:10), and 586 B.C. when Jerusalem is destroyed). Daniel becomes part of Babylon's court, and serves in official capacities through Cyrus the Mede's rule (c. 536 B.C., the vision of ch.10). Through the court narratives of the life of Daniel and his companions (Dan 1--6) the reader finds encouragement to trust God and obey His revealed will regardless of external pressures and circumstances. Through Daniel's prophecies, those related to God see that He controls the His-story of the world (Dan 7--12) to flow according to His direction until the end of these times of the Gentiles when the Son of Man establishes the Kingdom of God on earth.

God’s Sovereignty in Our Lives (Chapters 1—6)

That no one is independent of God is clear in this section. His people (such as Daniel, his three friends) are subjected to foreign rule at His hand, yet blessed in captivity for their obedience (1--3; Daniel given the revelation of the dream); the Gentile king rules only by the permission of God (4; Nebuchadnezzar's insanity), at Whose hand kings are deposed and established (5; message to Belshezzar). Finally, God sovereignly protects and exalts those who completely trust in Him (6; Daniel in the lion's den).

God’s Sovereignty in World History (Chapters 7—12)

That no nation is independent of God is clear in this section. Through Daniel's visions, a panorama of the "times of the Gentiles" is given, demonstrating that God controls the process of history. Successive world empires are outlined, and several individuals described, focusing on the fourth and most terrible empire (Rome), its leader (the little horn; abomination of desolation), and the final 3 1/2 years of his domain. Into this empire will erupt the Son of Man (7:13; "Messiah" 9:26), Who replaces it with the Kingdom of God which remains forever.

Friday, August 26, 2011

Hope in Hopeless World, by Dr. Jay Quine

Romans 5:5 and the Meaning of "Hope"
We may hope to win the lottery, but we buy a ticket knowing the odds are millions to one. We hope to win, but have little expectation. But what if Jesus, who knows everything including the future lottery numbers stood by your bed tonight and told you the winning combination? You would write them down, wake up the next morning, and go buy your lottery ticket certain of winning. That’s how the Bible uses the word “hope.” Hope means you can look to the future with confident expectation. Jesus told us he is coming back to restore all things – his return and our resurrection is the Christian’s confident hope. Let me, Dr. Jay Quine encourage you to remember the word hope to trust in what Jesus promised.