"What's the Scoop on.....the Bride of Christ?"

Tuesday was the final meeting of our regular year for Tuesday morning Bible Study.  If you have been keeping up with us, you know that we have been studying the women of the Bible since September. Arlene closed out this year’s study with The Bride of Christ followed by an awesome time of fellowship with our sisters in Christ.

I’m sorry to say, this is one of those lessons that you had to be physically present in order to get the full impact.  Blog notes for her teaching could not do justice to the lesson she taught. 

Many of you know that the Bride of Christ is the Church – the body of believers throughout the world that profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. To better understand the significance of this in our own lives, Arlene paralleled the Jewish marriage ceremony taken from the oral traditions handed down throughout their history and prevalent in the Old Testament, to what it means for us to be a part of the Bride of Christ.  It was a very powerful lesson.  Looking at the two, side by side, leaves you in awe of our Lord.

If you would like further information on what was taught or have any questions you can email us at teamblog429 @gmail.com.  Arlene would be blessed to answer them for you.

"What's the Scoop on....Esther?"

Tuesday in Bible Study Eva taught on Esther.  She pointed out that in this book of the Bible God isn’t specifically mentioned.  As Eva went through Esther’s story, she showed us how God’s hand was unmistakably present.  God’s enemies were destroyed and His people, the Jews, were delivered.

Esther lived in the country of Persia after the Jews had been taken to exile in Babylon.  After the death of her parents she was raised by a close relative, Mordecai. At the time that Esther was in her teens, King Xerxes of Persia banished the queen. In order to find a replacement, young virgins were brought to the palace to undergo a year-long regiment of preparation after which the King would choose one to be his queen. Esther was chosen.

Shortly after Esther became queen, one of King Xerxes closest advisors, Haman, initiated a plot to destroy all of the Jews in the Persian kingdom with the king’s permission.  (On the advice of Mordecai, Esther had not revealed to the King that she was Jewish.)  In the midst of God-ordained events, Esther acted courageously to intercede on behalf of her people, the Jews.  As a result of her actions, the Jews were  not only spared from destruction but they triumphed over their enemies.

Although we know Esther was Jewish it doesn’t seem that there was anything in her outward behavior or appearance that would have set her apart as being Jewish or overtly religious.  As I just mentioned, she was instructed to keep this a secret.  Reading about Esther brought to mind a passage in the Book of James. If you have a minute, please read James 2:14 – 2:26.  In this passage James teaches about the relationship between faith and works. Verse 2:26 sums it up well, “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead”.  Esther was a woman who was able to walk out her faith despite the restrictions she faced.   I think we can see that her actions truly did spring from a solid faith in the Lord.

Esther walked in humility.  Reading through the entire book, there are many instances where Esther accepted the counsel of others. Prior to appearing before the king, “she asked for nothing other than what Hegai, the king's eunuch who was in charge of the harem, suggested” (Est. 2:15b).  It also says, “She continued to follow Mordecai's instructions as she had done when he was bringing her up” (Est. 2:20b).  In the same way, God desires for us to walk in humility.  It is something He esteems.  Walking in humility means being able to accept instruction, which is not always easy for us to do.  God has put people in all of our lives who are godly and wise.  The instruction they give to us is a gift, one which we should receive with gratitude. God tells us in Proverbs 16:20, “Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers”.

Esther walked in the favor of God.   I think it may not surprise us too much that Esther found favor with the king.  As scripture states, Esther “was lovely in form and features” (Est. 2:7b).  We also know that she had undergone a full year of beauty treatments.  What I read in Esther 2:15 did surprise me, “And Esther won the favor of everyone who saw her” (Est. 2:15c).  Imagine what the harem must have been like…countless young women, the most beautiful in the land, competing with one another for the ultimate prize – the king.  It doesn’t seem like a place where you would expect to find favor with the other women yet this is exactly what Esther did. It says in Psalm 84:11, “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless”.

Esther walked in dependence.  After Esther became queen, a message was brought to her from Mordecai.  He told her of Haman’s evil plot to destroy the Jews.  Mordecai “urged her to go into the king's presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people” (Est. 4:8b).  Esther sent the following reply to Mordecai:  "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do.”  (Esther 4:16a).  

Fasting, along with prayer, are signs of dependence upon the Lord and trust in Him.  Esther knew that she would need God’s help in what He was calling her to do.  In Isaiah 58:6 it says, "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”  The fast Esther was calling for was in line with God’s will and His heart.   

Esther walked in courage. When Mordecai initially asked Esther to go before the king on behalf of the Jews she was understandably afraid. In Esther 4:11b we read, “for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that he be put to death.”  Mordecai had asked her the rhetorical question, “And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?” Esther had to make a very difficult choice. By faith she believed that after the fast was complete she would have the courage to act.  Esther made the courageous choice.

I end this post by asking you the same question that I am asking myself.  How are you walking out your faith?  If you don’t know the answer, ask God to show you.  He desires this more than you know. 

“For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:9-10).

"What's the Scoop on ........... Anna?"

On Tuesday Janet taught on Anna.  She showed us a woman who lived her life wholly devoted to the Lord.  Anna’s mention in scripture is relegated to a mere three verses.  As I looked at a few commentaries on this passage in Luke, I was able to glean some additional insight into this woman that I would like to share.  There is much we can learn from this Anna.

“There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:36-38).

Anna was a prophetess. 

As we have gone through our study of the women of the bible, we studied two other prophets: Deborah and Huldah.  Like these women, Anna had a very special calling on her life that was characterized by a devout faith and an earnest prayer life. Because she did not leave the temple it follows that she was saturated with the word of God.  She was a woman who would have been highly respected and sought after by those seeking divine guidance. Anna’s years of faithfulness to her calling brought much blessing to her life. God used her to proclaim His divine message. Anna was rewarded with the revelation that the child she beheld in the temple was the son of God, the Redeemer of Israel!

Anna was of a great age.

We know very little about Anna’s life and what transpired from the time of her husband’s death until we meet her in this passage. We can only surmise what it must have been like for her – financial hardships, battles with bitterness or loneliness, questions of God’s purpose for her life.  Yet God did not share these details with us.  Perhaps because they don’t matter.  I am reminded of what we studied about Bathsheba, was she a victim or victor?  In the end, Arlene taught that it didn’t matter.  What mattered was how she ended. Could the same be true with Anna? No matter what had transpired in her past, well into her senior years her life is characterized by whole-hearted joyful, thankful devotion to the Lord.

Anna was a widow. 

It was traditional for a Hebrew girl to be married at a young age.  Anna probably became a widow in her early 20s, with no children.  This was not a set of circumstances anyone would wish for themselves. Many places in scripture give us a picture of the destitution that these women faced.  Yet God did allow this in Anna’s life. 

Some of us might find ourselves in circumstances similar to Anna’s - perhaps as a widow,  divorced, or single after many years of desiring marriage.  It is a place that bitterness can easily develop.  Looking at Anna, there is not a hint of bitterness in her life.  As I read this passage I was reminded of Paul’s words: “An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord's affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit” (1 Cor. 7:34b). Our circumstances my last a lifetime or only for a season, but is it possible that this time could be a gift from God? It affords the opportunity to draw close to Him free from the distractions that married women might face. Satan may have meant this for evil but God will use it for good as we focus on Him.

Anna was a missionary.

Anna’s role in scripture is intertwined with that of Simeon. Simeon was a devout man who had waited his whole life for the appearance of the Messiah.  He was moved by the Spirit as Joseph and Mary presented Jesus at the temple in accordance with the Mosaic Law to consecrate their first born child to the Lord. Simeon proclaimed, “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss  your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation” (Luke 2:29-30).  Anna recognized the Messiah as well but it did not end there for her.  What did she do? She….. ”spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38b). Her calling was that of a prophetess yet she did the work of a missionary as she proclaimed Jesus as Messiah, not just to some people but to “all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:28b, emphasis added).

 

“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.  We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thess. 1:11-12).

"What's the Scoop on..........Ruth?"

Tuesday in bible study Jan taught on Ruth.  Her lesson  was set against the backdrop of a picture of an onion to give us a powerful visualization.  She compared the story of the Book of Ruth to the layers of an onion, drawing us deeper into a greater understanding of our God.

Layer 1: God’s hated land of Moab. The Book of Ruth opens with the story of a Jewish man, Elimelech, and his family. They Had left their home in Bethlehem during a time of famine to live in Moab. Throughout the history of Israel, Moab had been a source of conflict and affliction for the Jewish people.  In Deu. 23:3 the Lord commands “No Ammonite or Moabite or any of his descendants may enter the assembly of the LORD, even down to the tenth generation”.  Not only did Elimelech move his family to this land, but both of his sons married Moabite women.

Layer 2: God sees a light in the darkness. After a time in Moab, Elimelech and his two sons die.  Left behind are his wife Naomi and his two daughters-in-law, Ruth and Orpha.  Jan pointed out that when tragedy strikes, very often we want to go home. That is exactly what Naomi wanted to do.  She was filled with bitterness over the circumstances of her life.  

As Naomi was leaving Moab she told Orpha and Ruth to stay in Moab; she had nothing to offer them in the way of a future.  Despite Naomi’s insistence, Ruth chose to accompany Naomi to Bethlehem.  In the darkness there was a glimmer of light. “But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me” (Ruth 1:16-17).

Layer 3: God looks at the heart.  Ruth, the glimmer of light, was a Moabitess. In the last few weeks of Bible study we have seen how God differentiates between the judgment on a nation and the judgment of an individual.  The land of Moab was evil but Ruth chose to make the Lord her God. As it says in 1 Sam. 16:7c  “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart”.

Layer 4: God sets up situations. In you read through the book of Ruth from beginning to end you will clearly see the hand of God at work.  Upon returning to Bethlehem Ruth must go out to the fields to gather grain so that she and Naomi will not starve.  She happens upon the field of Boaz.  Boaz knows of Ruth’s faithfulness to Naomi and grants her favor, providing both protection and abundant provisions. Boaz also happens to be a family relative of Elimelech.  "That man is our close relative; he is one of our kinsman-redeemers” (Ruth 2:20b).  This is significant, as Jan pointed out, to the 5^th layer of the story.

 

Layer 5: The Kinsmen Redeemer. The kinsman redeemer played an important role in ancient Israelite society.  This man would avenge the deaths of family members, claim inheritances for poor family members, and marry the widow of a dead male relative. In the story of Ruth the closest male relative had forfeited this position which put Boaz in the position of the kinsman redeemer of Naomi’s family.   Boaz acted in integrity and honored his position and responsibility.  

While the kinsman redeemer is important in the Book of Ruth, it points to something even more amazing in our own lives.  Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer! He has rescued us, paid the debt for our sin, and redeemed us. Because of what he has done we have “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven” (1 Peter 1:4b).

God is the Core: At the very center of the story of Ruth is the Lord.  God’s hand is on the events from the beginning to the end.  This is a story about a single family but it is a far greater story about the redemption of mankind.  The fruit of Boaz’s and Ruth’s union is a son.  This son goes on to become the grandfather of King David, the human ancestor of Jesus Christ!

Jan reminded us in 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 he will make your paths straight”.  In our own lives God is always at work even when we don’t realize it.  Our circumstances may be far from ideal but God uses these things even when we don’t understand.  It is His desire that our faith and compassion grow.  The core of the Book of Ruth is God.  Our relationship with God needs to be at the very core of our own lives!

“This is what the LORD says--your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: "I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go” (Isaiah 48:17).

“What’s the Scoop on…….Athaliah and Jehosheba?”

The two women that Pastor Grace chose to teach about were unknown to all of us, their stories buried in the accounts of the kings of Judea and Israel found in 2 Chronicles and 2 Kings. The contrast in the legacy that these women left taught us some important lessons.

Before I begin, I want to warn you that the family relationship between these two women is complicated. Pastor Grace gave us a copy of their family tree which greatly helped. For the purposes of this post I am going to focus on what was most relevant to the lesson she taught.

First we will look at Athaliah.  She was the daughter of Queen Jezebel of Israel, a woman notorious for her depravity. (At this time in history, Israel and Judah stood divided.) Athaliah married King Jehoram, a king of Judea.  Jehoram continued the evil practices of his fathers, eventually dying in disgrace.  After Jehoram died his son Ahaziah was crowned king. He followed the evil practices of his family before him, encouraged to do so by his mother Athaliah.  After reigning only a year, he too died.  At this point Athaliah, his mother, saw a great opportunity to seize power.  She commanded that all of Ahaziah’s heirs (her own grandchildren!!) be put to death, securing her place on the throne on Judah. Her quest for power eventually resulted in her own brutal death.

Now let’s look at Jehosheba.  She was the daughter of King Jehoram (husband of the evil Athalaih, her step-mother).  Her family tree is not much different than her half-brother’s, Ahaziah.  Despite the legacy of evil in her life, Jehosheba married Jehoida, the high priest of the Lord.  As Athaliah carried out her evil plan to destroy the royal heirs, Jehosheba is able to rescue one child, her nephew, from death.  She combined her faith in the Lord with action. This child, Joash, is taken and hidden in the temple of the Lord for seven years. At eight years old Joash became king of Judah, following in the ways of the Lord.  Probably due to the influence of both Jehosheba and Jehoida in his early years as king, Joash instituted religious reforms in Judah.

Pastor Grace made some important points in comparing these two women and the legacy they left behind.  We can apply these lessons to our own lives.

Your family heritage does not dictate who you will become.  

Both Athalaih and Jehosheba shared a family heritage and probably grew up in similar cultural surrounds but the paths of their lives couldn’t have been more different. Athalaih choose the path of darkness.  This didn’t have to be the case.  Jehosheba’s choices resulted in a much different path.  Jehosheba purposely choose to align herself with God.  This choice did not come without cost.  She risked her own life to save Joash. 

The same is true for us.  Pastor Grace pointed out that many of us come from backgrounds that were far less than ideal.  We may have had many influences in our lives that were ungodly.  This can’t be an excuse for continuing to live in darkness.  We will have to stand before God on our own and answer for our own choices. “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness” (2 Peter 1:3).

Who you surround yourself with will influence who you become.

The man Jehosheba  married was a follower of the Lord God. And not just a follower but a man committed to the ways of the Lord.  Reading 2 Kings 11 and 12, you can see what a mighty man of God  Jehoida was.  As he followed the Lord, so did she.  As Pastor Grace pointed out, “bad company corrupts good morals”.  We need to be very careful of who we spend most of our time with.  God calls us to be lights in this world but those closest to us should be people who are wholly seeking after God. We will become who we hang out with.

God has called us for a purpose.

God had a very specific job for Jehosheba.  Pastor Grace pointed out that He has specific plans for us as well.  She reminded us that Satan will try to steal the purpose that God may have for us, often by undermining our confidence. We have to recognize his lies for what they are.  No one has the power to take away what God has ordained. 

Athaliah and Jehosheba were women whose fates were shaped by the choices they made.  One stopped at nothing to gain what she desired.  The other choose to follow God and live a life of faith. Thank you Jesus that we have the power to make the right choice!!

“Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.  For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it” Luke 9:23-24.

"What's the Scoop on........Huldah?"

Arlene’s message for Tuesday’s Bible Study was aptly entitled Who in the World is Huldah? Although Huldah was unknown to all of us, Arlene taught many things about her that we could apply to our own lives.

We meet Huldah is 2 Kings 22.  She is a prophetess of the Lord during the reign of King Josiah.  King Josiah was the son of Amon and the grandson Manasseh.  When Josiah  became king of Judah he inherited a land overcome with idol worship and other practices that were detestable to the Lord. King Josiah did not follow the traditions of his fathers. “He did what was right in the eyes of the LORD and walked in all the ways of his father David, not turning aside to the right or to the left“ (2 Kings 22:2).

In the 18^th year of King Josiah’s reign the Book of the Lord is discovered in the Temple and is brought to him.  After hearing the words of the book King Josiah is deeply convicted.  “"Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found. Great is the LORD's anger that burns against us because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book; they have not acted in accordance with all that is written there concerning us” ( 2 Kings 22:13).  He sends his officials, among them the high priest, to inquire of the Lord regarding the message. The men seek out Huldah, a prophetess of the Lord.

Arlene taught us five important things about Huldah.

First Thing : She was a Prophetess.

“Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam, Acbor, Shaphan and Asaiah went to speak to the prophetess Huldah,” (2 Kings 22:14).

Arlene differentiated the role of the prophet in the Old Testament from that of the prophet in the New Testament.  In both Testaments,  prophecy was (and is) a gift given by God for the purpose of hearing what God was saying and then speaking it.  In the Old Testament it was primarily a foretelling.  This means to tell about an event before it took place. In the New Testament the role was primarily forthtelling.  This means to speak out.

In the Old Testament the words spoken by the prophet were usually not found in the written scriptures.  They were spoken by God directly to the prophet. These words were considered infallible.  In the New Testament the words of the prophet most often bring a challenge or encouragement.  These words can be fallible, as scripture shows.  Paul tells us not to despise prophecy but to test it. “Do not treat prophecies with contempt. Test everything. Hold on to the good” (1 Thess. 5:19-20).  It should be noted that all prophecy must be in agreement with the authority of God’s written word.

Arlene pointed out that both Old Testament and New Testament prophecy are vital for correction and encouragement.  “He who prophecies edifies the church”  (1 Cor. 14:4b).

Second Thing : She was a teacher.

“She lived in Jerusalem in the Second District.”  (2 Kings 22:14).  According to Jewish tradition the Second district was called the University district.  Jewish tradition also tells us that Huldah was a teacher.  She, along with her husband, probably trained Josiah in the ways of the Lord when he was young and she probably had a school for women.

Third Thing : She had a good reputation.

“Go inquire of the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah about what is written in this book that has been found.”  (2 Kings 22:13).  It was the High Priest who sought Huldah out.  She must have had a solid reputation as a faithful woman of God and was honored as such.  Arlene noted that Huldah’s contemporaries were Jeremiah and Zechariah yet the high priest went to her.  Like Huldah, we can have a reputation that causes others to seek us out and to have the favor of the Lord upon us. “Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.”” (Proverbs 3:3-4).  Huldah had that kind of favor.

Fourth Thing : She was a prophetess who was confident in her gift.

“This is what the LORD says”  (2 Kings 22:16).  Huldah spoke with boldness and confidence.  This shouldn’t be confused with pride.  When we are walking in the confidence of God we can accept the truth of scripture:  “apart from me you can do nothing” from John 15:5c  and  from Phil. 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ”.  Confidence is something that God has given us and we shouldn’t give people the power to take it away.  God tells us in Hebrews 10:35a “So do not throw away your confidence”.          

Fifth Thing : She operated in the power of the gift and not the power of the flesh.

“They took her answer back to the King.” (2 Kings 22:20 ).  Because of the power of the Holy Spirit behind Huldah’s words they were accepted and then acted upon.  We will not see God’s power working in us unless we step out of our comfort zone to do what we could never do without Him.  We need to walk in the gifts He has given us.

As a last point, and one Arlene didn’t even have in her notes but felt compelled to address, was centered on the proverbial gorilla in the room.  What do we do with this passage?

“This is what the LORD says: I am going to bring disaster on this place and its people, according to everything written in the book the king of Judah has read. Because they have forsaken me and burned incense to other gods and provoked me to anger by all the idols their hands have made, my anger will burn against this place and will not be quenched” (2 Kings 22:16-17, emphasis added). 

God  deals with groups and individuals.  While God was going to deal with his children for the abominations they committed he would also deal very differently with Josiah because of the attitude of repentance he displayed. “Because your heart was responsive and you humbled yourself before the LORD when you heard what I have spoken against this place and its people, that they would become accursed and laid waste, and because you tore your robes and wept in my presence, I have heard you, declares the LORD. Therefore I will gather you to your fathers, and you will be buried in peace. Your eyes will not see all the disaster I am going to bring on this place.'" So they took her answer back to the king” (2 Kings 22:19-20, emphasis added).

When King Josiah repented, God relented. Arlene brought us to Isaiah 48:9-11 which gives us insight into the Lord’s character regarding judgment.  “For my own name's sake I delay my wrath; for the sake of my praise I hold it back from you, so as not to cut you off. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this. How can I let myself be defamed? I will not yield my glory to another” (Isaiah 48:9-11).

Arlene pointed out two things from this verse. 1) God chooses to refine us, not wipe us out.  He wants to transform us into beautiful vessels. 2) God does this because it is who He is.  By cutting us off, His name would be defiled because we are His. 

Going back to 2 Kings 22:16-17 (see above),  we can see why God was angry.  Although His children had forsaken His way, God’s desire was to bring them back to a place where they could experience his blessing, enjoy life, and demonstrate to the world how wonderful it is to be under God’s leadership.  God’s correction is always meant to bring us to a place of blessing.  All we need to do, like Josiah, is repent.  Not only did he repent, but the king instituted a religious reform in Judah that was the most sweeping ever during the time of the divided kingdom. 

To conclude, we may not all be Huldahs with a gift of prophecy, but we can all be like Josiah and have the same sweeping effect in our own sphere of influence.  We repent, He relents!  You need not be afraid of the gorilla in the room. 

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth” (Psalm 67:1-4).

"What's the Scoop on........Potiphar's Wife?"

Tuesday in Bible Study Sandee taught about temptation using the notorious wife of Potiphar as an example.  We can read about her exploits in Genesis 39.  As you may remember, Potiphar’s wife attempted to entice Joseph into an adulterous affair, not just once but time after time. Joseph held fast to his convictions.  After being turned down once more, Potiphar’s wife falsely accused Joseph of attacking her and he is thrown into prison. 

Before delving into Joseph’s encounter, Sandee taught us about the actual word ‘temptation’ and how it used in scripture.  Many verses that use the English word for ‘tempt’ or ‘trial’ are translated from the same Greek word ‘PEIRASMOS’.  Usually when someone is being enticed to evil the word is translated as temptation.  When there is a testing present that aims at a spiritual good the word is translated as trials.

How We Are Tempted

Sandee pointed out three ways that Joseph was tempted.  These temptations can be found in1 John 2:16, “For everything in the world--the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does--comes not from the Father but from the world”.  

1.  Lust of the flesh: "Come to bed with me!"  (Gen 39:7b). 
2.  Lust of the eyes:  Joseph was well built and handsome. Potiphar’s wife looked    at him longingly.

3.  Pride of Life: “My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife” (Gen 39:9b).

It is important to remember that temptation itself is not a sin.  Even Jesus was tempted. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet was without sin” (Heb. 4:15). Sandee compared the temptations that Joseph faced to those that Jesus encountered from Satan.

           
1. Lust of the Flesh: “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread"     (Mat 4:3).

2. Lust of the eyes: “The devil took Him to a very high mountain and showed all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor” (Mat 4:8).

3. Pride of Life:  “All this I will give you, if you will bow down and worship me” (Mat 4:9).

How We Prepare for the Battle Against Temptation

Sandee gave us five ways that we can arm ourselves against the temptations that are sure to come.

1)  We need to spend time in the Word of God. This goes beyond a cursory reading of scripture.  We really need to know what God says. We need to study His Word. We need to commit it to memory! As Sandee pointed out, we may not have our bibles with us when confronted by Satan. (For those of you joining us in the Bible Memorization Project – keep it up! For everyone else – its never to late to hide God’s Word in your heart!!)

2)  Be ready for the battle.  It tells us in Ephesians 6:11 “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes”.  Ephesians 6:13-17 goes on to give us detailed instructions on how we do this.

3)   Watch and pray. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."  (Mark 14:38).

4) Be alert and self-controlled. “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8).
 

5) Be strong in faith. “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Peter 5:9).

Strategies for Fighting Temptation

When temptation actually comes our way we are not powerless. God tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:13 – “No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”  We can resist the temptation. Joseph clearly resisted the temptation that Potiphar’s wife presented. In James 4:7 God says “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”. We can  run away from the temptation. It says in 2 Tim. 2:22 “Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness”.

Sandee noted something significant about Joseph.  He resisted. He did what was right in God’s eyes yet he was falsely accused and sent to prison.  So what do we do when we face similar circumstances? The answer is found in James. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4).  We also know from 1 Corinthians 10:13 that God will show us a way out.  Looking at the example of Joseph’s life we see that he lived by faith. He forgave those who contributed to his problems. He trusted God.

“For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently. (1 Corinthians 10:13, The Amplified Bible).

What's the Scoop on Sarah?

Waiting.

Can’t say that I have mastered the art of waiting. Not sure if it is the momentum of the present day culture that distracts me from the mandate in scripture to “wait” or just an unsettledness woven into the fabric of my personality. Either way I confess I am clearly not a professional waiter.

When I look back on my spiritual journey with God, I realized that there have been things that I waited on that did come, indeed, to pass in spite of my weakness in waiting well. But still there are others that clearly have yet to come to account. I find myself wearying in my waiting.

In scripture, we find someone that we can grab a little encouragement from when there seems to be no end to the waiting process. This past week, we gathered together in Women’s Bible study to examine the life of our sister Sarah, Abraham’s wife. Most of us remember her mainly for her taking matters into her own hands and trying to fulfill God’s promise of a child through her maidservant Hagar. The general perception is that she wasn’t very good at waiting. Can’t imagine how many people throughout history have used her as a model of what not to do rather then applauding her for what she did do. Let’s take a brief overview of Sarah’s call to wait.

- Sarah is married to Abraham.

- God speaks to Abraham and tells him to leave his country of origin and travel to an unknown land. Abraham obeys and Sarah goes with.

- Sarah leaves all her friends, family, and all that was familiar to share whatever Abraham’s future held. She was sixty.

- Fast forward seventeen years and Sarah is still without the promised heir. She is now 77 and well beyond her child bearing years.

- Since bearing children was seen as a duty and a privilege, Sarah decided to adopt the solution that was prevalent in the Middle Eastern culture at that time. This custom encouraged a woman to use a surrogate to produce offspring for their husbands. Keep in mind there was no law at this time and Abraham and Sarah were still learning about who God was and what He could do. This is where Hagar becomes part of the patriarchal picture and gives birth to Ishmael.

- Thirteen years after Ishmael is born, God again appears to Abraham and confirms that Sarah would bear Abram a son. One year later, the promise is fulfilled and Isaac is birthed.

Since I am really good at math, I thought I would break this down for you.

  60      Sarah’s age when leaving her home land.

+17      # years making their way to Canaan and then living there.

+13      # years of waiting after Ishmael is born.

=90      Age when God reconfirms promise and Isaac is born.

-60      Original age when Sarah left her home land.

=30      Years Sarah spent in waiting.



I don’t know about you but that is a very long time by my standards. Probably by yours as well. As we talked about this during class, a question was presented. Why did God make them wait so long? I have heard several answers to this question over the years. Some were that God had them wait to show that it had to be God, or perhaps it had to be God’s perfect timing, or maybe it was to display the difference between the law and grace (a whole different theological discussion that would revolve around charts and a sweeping course of study that would span the old and new testament a like). But something occurred to me that I hadn’t ever thought of and it is reflected in the following scripture.

“Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness and who seek the LORD; look to the rock from which you were cut and to the quarry from which you were hewn; look to Abraham, your father, and to Sarah, who gave you birth. When I called him he was but one, and I blessed him and made him many.” Isaiah 51:1-2

These words come from God at a time when Israel was desperately waiting for His deliverance. Things had not been going well and God was encouraging them not to lose heart. Notice whom He sites as an example to follow, your father Abraham and Sarah who gave you birth. Even as God seemed to have tarried in His promise to Abraham and Sarah and was still faithful, He would be to them too!

Scripture tells us in 1 Corinthians 10:11 “These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warning for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.”

Could it be that part of why God allowed Abraham and Sarah to wait for so long was because He knew that we would have times in our lives where we would have to wait too? Could it be that Sarah is an example for us to follow rather then a woman to be criticized? Knowing God’s heart and tenderness towards His people I would lean towards the former rather then the latter. I think God knows how hard it is for us to wait. I think He knows our struggles with insecurity and fear. I think He is aware of the root of why we can’t stand waiting. But in spite of it all, our feelings don’t change his faithfulness. Perhaps you find yourself wearying in waiting, don’t let how you feel change who God is and His promise to you. He doesn’t change. The same God that was faithful to Abraham your father and Sarah who gave you birth, will be faithful to you.

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36

"What's the Scoop on........Delilah?"

On Tuesday in Bible Study Annie taught on Delilah.  Many of us know Delilah as the Philistine woman who tricked Samson into betraying the secret of his great physical strength.  As I read over the account of Samson and Delilah found in Judges 16 from the Life Application Bible, a sentence in the commentary jumped out at me: “A person’s greatest accomplishment may well be helping others accomplish great things.”  I was intrigued to see how we would apply this concept to this notorious woman.

Before he was born, Samson’s calling was prophesied by an angel, “No razor may be used on his head, because the boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5, emphasis added). God had set Samson apart for a very special purpose. At the time of Samson’s birth Israel had suffered much under the oppression of the Philistines.  As you read through chapters 13-15 of Judges, the time of Samson sat as judge, you can see that his actions resulted in the death of many Philistines.

Delilah entered Samson’s life when he had been judging Israel for 20 years.  Throughout chapter 16 it is obvious the amount of influence that Delilah held over Samson.  He was thoroughly under her manipulative control.  She nagged him mercilessly in order to discover the secret of his strength. “Then she said to him, "How can you say, 'I love you,' when you won't confide in me? This is the third time you have made a fool of me and haven't told me the secret of your great strength." With such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death” (Judges 16:15-16).  Samson finally acquiesced to her demands, resulting in tragic personal consequences.

As we have progressed in our study of the women of the bible throughout the year we have learned that all woman have influence, either positive or negative.  Delilah was a woman of influence-of very bad influence! She manipulated Samson into betraying the very special calling God had placed on his life.

Like Samson, God may call some of us to a very specific, visible purpose. It may be a position of leadership, to start a ministry, set out for the mission field or maybe a public speaker. But God also calls many of us to something that might not be as concrete. We may be called to help someone else fulfill the vision God has given them. This is no less a calling of God.  As we have been studying in Sunday services, the individual gifts of the Spirit enable the body of Christ to function together as a whole, for the glory of God.  Each part needs the others.

If we are called to come alongside someone to help them fulfill their God-given purpose there are a few things we can do to better serve them as they serve the Lord.

1)Prayer  -  “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective”(James 5:16b).  You can pray not only for the needs of this person but also that you would have wisdom in how you could serve them best.

2) Gift of helps - “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might”  (Ecc. 9:10a).  Do whatever might need to be done. Do what you can do so they have the time and concentration to do what God asks of them.  God will equip you with what He asks you to do.

3) Words of encouragement -  “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Eph.4:29).  Challenge them to be the best that they can be.

4) Willingly offer yourself as God’s instrument in their lives - “Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men” (Eph. 6:7). As it also says in Romans 12:1b, “offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God-this is your spiritual act of worship”.  As we willingly offer ourselves in service we please Him.

As women of positive influence we want to spur those around us to do what God has called them to do. Delilah is certainly not an example for us to follow.  She used her influence to achieve her own purposes, much to the detriment of Samson.  As we embrace the calling that God has upon all our lives to accomplish His purposes, we will fill no greater contentment.  Whether that call is to a position of leadership, to step out on the mission field, open our mouths in public speaking or to come alongside and encourage and help those who are.

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms  If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.  If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praises through Jesus Christ.  To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever.  Amen.” (1 Peter 4:10-11).

"What's the Scoop on........the Proverbs 31 Woman?"

Arlene’s message on Tuesday was on the Proverbs 31 Woman.  Although the mention of her name might evoke a feeling of dread,  Arlene taught us that there is no need to be afraid.  Her lesson dispelled these feelings of fear by giving us practical ways to apply the truths found in these verses to our lives.  Please read Proverbs 31:10-30.

Many of us in the Tuesday morning group are taking part in the “31 in 31” challenge – reading through the book of Proverbs during the month of March. Our slogan is “31 Days to a Wiser You”.  Proverbs is a book of wisdom.  Wisdom is not merely knowledge but it is the ability to function successfully in life. It is practical. God gives us wisdom so that we will glorify Him in our daily lives.  Arlene pointed out that in Scripture, all wisdom has a feminine value.  (Similar to the way a boat would be a ‘she’.)  The woman we see in Proverbs 31 is wisdom personified, that is what wisdom looks like in a practical sense. The precepts contained in these verses could be applied to both men and women.

A)  Wisdom manages her fears and responds with courage.  In verse 10, the Proverbs 31 Woman is said to have noble character.  In scripture this word gives us the image of a warrior, someone full of strength, valor, and victorious.

B)  Wisdom manages her time well.  We manage our time well by preparing for the day ahead and being organized. We also have to invest time into our relationships. The fruit of this investment can be found in Proverbs 31:28, “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her”.   Arlene asked us to consider some things that may steal our time: unproductive relationships, abundance of possessions,  a disorganized home.

C) Wisdom manages her treasure well. God will give us what we need, not necessarily what we want.  We can also find wisdom regarding our treasure in Proverbs 30:7-9, “Two things I ask of you, O LORD; do not refuse me before I die: Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the LORD?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.” Of course God wants us to be good stewards of what He has given us. This includes spending our money carefully.  It would be wisdom to save up money for a big purchase rather than going into debt by buying impulsively.

D)  Wisdom manages her talents well. Managing our talents means that we use our skills where they will most benefit our families.  We need to be aware of our own limitations and  also recognize the gifts that he has put in those around us. He desires us to be dependant of each other as well as on Himself.  Being self-sufficient is not a gift from God.

E)  Wisdom manages her tongue. It says in Proverbs 31: “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue”. God has much to say about our tongue and our words throughout scripture. Our words are to be filled with grace, seasoned with salt, and pleasing to God.

To help us understand wisdom, Arlene gave us the image of wisdom being a rare treasure.  She asked us ‘if wisdom is the treasure than what is the key to unlocking it?’.   The answer is found in Isaiah 33:6, “He will be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure”.  It also says in Proverbs 9:10 “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding”.  In order to better grasp this concept Arlene gave us three facets of this precious key which is fear of the Lord.

Admiration:  Some of the innumerable qualities of the Lord we admire are his: omnipresence, omnipotence, transcendence, righteousness, and holiness.

Amazement: There is so much that amazes us about God. He loves us unconditionally. He rejoices over us. We are precious in His sight.

Respect:  Because we accept Jesus’ death on the cross as the payment made to cover our sin we are free from the judgment to come. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire” (Heb. 12:28-29).  Respecting God means accepting His discipline.  Reading through Proverbs, it is clear how important this is to God. His discipline is in love, truly for our good, in order to teach us His ways, not to punish us. God is not an abusive parent. He is preparing us for what He has in store.  The question to ask is not ‘why?’ but ‘what am I learning from this?”.

Arlene gave us four ways in which we could grow in the fear of the Lord and apply the principles that we learned to our lives.   Before explaining this more fully, she pointed out that a good test in determining if we fear the Lord is how quickly we obey Him.  When God asks us to do something, our concern shouldn’t be based on what we think the outcome will be. If He is asking you to do something, He will be with you.   

1) Fan the flame:  God tells us “I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me for their own good and the good of their children after them” (Jer. 32:39).  Growing in the fear of the Lord is a combined effort.  As we seek after God He will do a work in us.

2) Pray:  David, a man after God’s heart prayed, “Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name” (Psalm 86:11).  A good example to follow.

3) Regular exposure to teaching: – Attending a bible study is a great way to do this.  This is something we want to be actively engaged in, by doing our homework and taking notes.

4) Go for Depth:  You want to know God’s word for yourself, not just what other people say about it.  By doing research on your own using commentaries (many good ones are available on-line) and other study tools will bring you a depth of understanding.

“Charm is deceptive and beauty if fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised”.  Proverbs 31:30