Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 17:6–18:12, Eph 1:1–23, Prov 8:9–18

Today’s Theme: The Blessed, Bless God

Today is an exciting day, we begin our study of Ephesian’s, this is one of my favourite books in the Bible. Today’s theme is the wonderful blessings we are blessed with in Christ which causes us to praise our God. A shortlist of 11 blessings are outlined for us to meditate on and give thanks to God for.

Alongside this main theme we see the destruction that reigns in the lives of those who do not trust in God and the call to wisdom.

2 Kings 17:6–18:12

Don’t fear other gods / demons

And this occurred because the people of Israel had sinned against the Lord their God, who had brought them up out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and had feared other gods (2 Kings 17:7, ESV)

One of the reasons the children of Israel were led into bondage was because they had feared other gods. We can end up in bondage by fearing things in our life more than and in place of God.

Also in a very direct parallel we should not fear the false gods and demons, we fear God only.

Nothing is secret

And the people of Israel did secretly against the Lord their God things that were not right. They built for themselves high places in all their towns, from watchtower to fortified city. (2 Kings 17:9, ESV)

Lord deliver us from the folly of thinking we can do anything secretly from you.

God has anger

and there they made offerings on all the high places, as the nations did whom the Lord carried away before them. And they did wicked things, provoking the Lord to anger, (2 Kings 17:11, ESV)

God has actual personal anger which can be provoked. I recently saw a good Christian documentary that went too far in making the point that God is loving by stating God is not angry when in fact the Bible teaches that God is loving and is angry too, our sins provoke God to actual anger.

Don’t be stubborn

But they would not listen, but were stubborn, as their fathers had been, who did not believe in the Lord their God. (2 Kings 17:14, ESV)

God sent messengers in His love to warn the people but they stood in stubborn rebellion. We should not stand in judgement of this but look at ourselves and ask if we are also being stubborn.

What are you running after?

They despised his statutes and his covenant that he made with their fathers and the warnings that he gave them. They went after false idols and became false, and they followed the nations that were around them, concerning whom the Lord had commanded them that they should not do like them. (2 Kings 17:15, ESV)

You will become what you run after, if like the people you run after false and empty idols you too will become false and empty.

Depravity

And they burned their sons and their daughters as offerings and used divination and omens and sold themselves to do evil in the sight of the Lord, provoking him to anger. (2 Kings 17:17, ESV)

Israel reached a level of gross depravity, even sacrificing their babies to demons. As human beings we are inherently evil because of the fall and left unchecked we will descend into anarchy and depravity. This is why God set up laws, governments, the authorities (police, courts etc), schools and of course the church.

Syncretism is not right

So they feared the Lord but also served their own gods, after the manner of the nations from among whom they had been carried away. (2 Kings 17:33, ESV)

This is like modern day syncretism, where some teach that someone can have Christ in context with their cultural religion… simply not right or true.

Do it for your children

So these nations feared the Lord and also served their carved images. Their children did likewise, and their children’s children—as their fathers did, so they do to this day. (2 Kings 17:41, ESV)

What we do, our children are likely to do. Serve the Lord faithfully for the sake of the generations that will follow you.

Don’t make idols

He removed the high places and broke the pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made, for until those days the people of Israel had made offerings to it (it was called Nehushtan). (2 Kings 18:4, ESV)

There are great things God used and did in the past that we must not make idols of today. This could include the nation of Israel, the reformation or some past revival etc.

Trust in God

He trusted in the Lord, the God of Israel, so that there was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him, nor among those who were before him. (2 Kings 18:5, ESV)

This is a huge statement that Hezekiah trusted in the Lord more than all other kings (including David).

Rebel against the enemy

And the Lord was with him; wherever he went out, he prospered. He rebelled against the king of Assyria and would not serve him. (2 Kings 18:7, ESV)

Let us rebel against Satan and the flesh and not serve them. Rebel against the tyranny of sin.

Listen and obey

because they did not obey the voice of the Lord their God but transgressed his covenant, even all that Moses the servant of the Lord commanded. They neither listened nor obeyed. (2 Kings 18:12, ESV)

We must both listen and obey. Listening is pointless without obedience. Obedience is impossible without first listening.

Ephesians 1:1–23

Blessed people bless God

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, (Ephesians 1:3, ESV)

God is blessed and praised by those He has blessed which is all those He has redeemed. Moreover God is blessed by those who recognise His blessing in their lives.

Paul declares that we have every spiritual blessing in heavenly places. He will spend the next few verses detailing exactly what those blessings are, they are spiritual in the sense that they are for God’s people only and are in the heavenly (permanent) dimension rather than the earthly (temporary) dimension.

I will give you a sketchy outline of some (not all) of the blessings expounded on by Paul.

Blessing 1: Election

even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love (Ephesians 1:4, ESV)

This puts election in context, we were chosen before creation began. The reformed understanding of this is correct. God chose us long before we were created, meaning His choice was not dependant on our own choice, sense, goodness, religiousness, ethnicity or any other thing initiated by us.

Blessing 2: Adoption

In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, (Ephesians 1:4b–5, ESV)

The full stop is put in the right place so this reads that it was in His love that He predestined us and went so far as to adopt us. Our adoption is evidence of His special love for us.

Blessing 3: Grace

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, (Ephesians 1:7, ESV)

How wonderfully rich is the grace of God. There is more than one blessing here, the others are redemption and forgiveness of sins but both come from the over arching blessing of His grace.

Blessing 4: Knowledge

making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ (Ephesians 1:9, ESV)

We know the mystery of God’s will. God’s will is not a mystery to us, it is clearly defined in the Bible, the Gospel message and the Holy Spirit guide us daily.

Blessing 5: Inheritance

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, (Ephesians 1:11, ESV)

God is sovereign in election and works all things after the counsel of His own will, not mans, not circumstance but His own will. In relationship with Him we have an inheritance as Pastor prayed and taught this time last year.

This is one of the great themes of this letter, our inheritance in Christ.

Blessing 6: Hearing

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, (Ephesians 1:13, ESV)

Hearing and believing is 100% necessary for our salvation. Not everyone hears so even this is a blessing from God.

Blessing 7: Sealed

In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13–14, ESV)

This is not something for graduated saints only, but for all saints. We have been sealed by the promised Holy Spirit. This means we can have confidence and assurance in our salvation, it is not something that can be simply or easily lost, it and we are sealed by God Himself.

You are secure in Christ unlike Islam and other works based religions where there is no guarantee or security.

Blessing 8: Enlightened

having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, (Ephesians 1:18, ESV)

Our eyes should be open and clear to the hope to which we are called, this letter goes a long way to opening our hearts to the truth of this hope in the predestined love and plan of the Father.

We should not live in fear of losing our salvation at the last minute or of missing the mark and so being cast into hell. We who trust in Christ and have been predestined have eternal security.

We have been enlightened regarding the hope we have in the glorious inheritance of Christ. Hallelujah!!

Blessing 9: Power

and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might (Ephesians 1:19, ESV)

We are kept by God’s great power, you can’t get more secure than that.

Blessing 10: Jesus

far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Ephesians 1:21, ESV)

Jesus is king and we are on His side, this is the greatest blessing.

Blessing 11: The Church

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, (Ephesians 1:22, ESV)

Jesus, not the pope is the head of the church. The church itself is a blessing for God’s people to be nourished, protected and built up in Him.

Proverbs 8:9–18

Wisdom is precious

for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her. (Proverbs 8:11, ESV)

Wisdom is the most precious commodity in the world.

Study and apply

“I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. (Proverbs 8:12, ESV)

Wisdom, prudence, knowledge and discretion, this is shouting that studying the word of God thoroughly and applying it is both good and key.

Hate evil

The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. (Proverbs 8:13, ESV)

The fear of the Lord simplified is to hate evil.

Invest

I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me. (Proverbs 8:17, ESV)

This is good, this is why we invest time and effort into the reading, study and meditation of God’s word.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Ephesians 1

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 15:1–17:5, Gal 5:1–6:18, Prov 8:1–8

Today’s Theme: Free to Love

Today we look at the wonderful truth of our freedom in Christ. We have been freed to love so the crux and cycle of love, faith and work can operate in our lives and leave a legacy for generations to come to the Glory of God.

2 Kings 15:1–17:5

The Long Reign

He was sixteen years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Jecoliah of Jerusalem. (2 Kings 15:2, ESV)

Uzziah was the longest reigning monarch in the history of Israel which is directly connected to his mostly godly life.

A godly legacy

And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, according to all that his father Uzziah had done. (2 Kings 15:34, ESV)

Again the importance of a godly legacy and example.

Don’t burn your children’s heritage

but he walked in the way of the kings of Israel. He even burned his son as an offering, according to the despicable practices of the nations whom the Lord drove out before the people of Israel. (2 Kings 16:3, ESV)

When we compromise and commit sin, it is the same as burning our children in sacrifice… The opposite of legacy.

Hold fast to true religion

When King Ahaz went to Damascus to meet Tiglath-pileser king of Assyria, he saw the altar that was at Damascus. And King Ahaz sent to Uriah the priest a model of the altar, and its pattern, exact in all its details. (2 Kings 16:10, ESV)

We should be careful not to copy false religions, the pomp of state religion or the new untested and sometimes ungodly church fads. We should hold fast to the tried and tested faith.

Sanctification is needed

And the bronze altar that was before the Lord he removed from the front of the house, from the place between his altar and the house of the Lord, and put it on the north side of his altar. (2 Kings 16:14, ESV)

A church goes very wrong when a need for sanctification is removed. In fact a church that takes away an emphasis on living godly lives is a ticking time bomb. All those people coming together without godliness can only result in sin, hurt and frustration.

Northern Israel’s fall

Then the king of Assyria invaded all the land and came to Samaria, and for three years he besieged it. (2 Kings 17:5, ESV)

The great fall of Israel, this was a sad day in the land of Israel (the northern kingdom). The fall was not happenstance, it was judgement from God.

Galatians 5:1–6:18

Stand in Freedom

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1, ESV)

We are called to make a stand, that takes effort, to stand in freedom. Notice also to submit to the bondage of sin’s slavery is not involuntary but requires submission to those passions and lusts.

Don’t fall away

You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. (Galatians 5:4, ESV)

We can fall away from grace so we need to make an effort to stand in freedom.

The rhythm of life

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision counts for anything, but only faith working through love. (Galatians 5:6, ESV)

A summary of the rhythm of our lives, they should be lives of faith operating through love. Love > Faith > Work.

Sin is like a virus

A little leaven leavens the whole lump. (Galatians 5:9, ESV)

A little compromise can destroy your whole life/group. Sin’s nature is like a virus, it is spread with aggressive speed and intent so we must cut it out or we will harm our own lives and those around us.

Free to love

For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. (Galatians 5:13, ESV)

Love is the key, yes we are free but we should not use that as an excuse to sin (this would actually be evidence of bondage to sin), we should use the freedom to willingly and lovingly serve.

The crux

For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Galatians 5:14, ESV)

The crux of Christian life and practice is to love your neighbour as yourself.

Walk in the Spirit

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5:16, ESV)

We should, live, walk and behave ourselves in line with the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Desire vs desire

For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. (Galatians 5:17, ESV)

Which desires will you satisfy, the desires of the Holy Spirit dwelling in you or of your flesh? You will inevitably satisfy one of them so make a choice today.

Drunkenness

envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Galatians 5:21, ESV)

Drunkenness is a sin which leads to other sins. This is why I (and many other Christians) choose not to drink alcohol.

This is a really clear, black and white statement, those who walk in sin shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

The fruit of the Spirit

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (Galatians 5:22, ESV)

The result of the Spirit, of walking in the Spirit is fruit.

Kill the desires of the flesh

And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:24, ESV)

Yes we must put the flesh and its desires to death.

Keep in step

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25, ESV)

We must have daily sensitivity to this.

Restore others

Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. (Galatians 6:1, ESV)

We should seek to restore our brothers in the right spirit.

Bear others burdens

Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2, ESV)

This is the church, we need to bear each others burdens, this is Christ’s law of love for one another.

Bear your load

For each will have to bear his own load. (Galatians 6:5, ESV)

We each have a load to carry and should be sober in our awareness of this not thinking of ourselves as more than we actually are.

God is not a force

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. (Galatians 6:7, ESV)

God is not some force we can fool, He is a person and knows our hearts.

Invest in the Spirit

For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. (Galatians 6:8, ESV)

My life verse for investing in the things of God’s kingdom.

Do good

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith. (Galatians 6:10, ESV)

Doing good is part of the Christian life, especially within the church, we should not grow weary in this.

A new creation

For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. (Galatians 6:15, ESV)

Both Jews and Gentiles are a new creation in Christ.

The ultimate Israel

And as for all who walk by this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:16, ESV)

This is wider from the context than the physical Israel of circumcised Jews. This speaks of believes past, present, future, Jew and Gentile.

Proverbs 8:1–8

Men be wise

“To you, O men, I call, and my cry is to the children of man. O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense. (Proverbs 8:4–5, ESV)

God is specifically calling out to men to learn to be prudent and to have good sense. This is why our culture has tried to make it normative that it is cool for men to be dumb when in fact we are called to be wise.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Galatians 5 and 6

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 13:1–14:29, Gal 4:1–31, Prov 7:21–27

Today’s Theme: The Fullness of Time

In today’s reading we see that Jesus was born in the fullness of time, at God’s appointed time to redeem and adopt us as God’s sons. The theme of the fullness of time seeing prophecies fulfilled is also seen in the Old Testament reading and even in the call to keep striking the ground for a fuller victory.

In the fullness of time Jesus inaugurated a better, new, second covenant between God and man of which we are all the beneficiaries. Let’s pray that we live in light of this new freedom as God’s children and use our time as God has appointed to His glory.

2 Kings 13:1–14:29

Seek God

Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the Lord, and the Lord listened to him, for he saw the oppression of Israel, how the king of Syria oppressed them. (2 Kings 13:4, ESV)

His father was a godly leader with a zeal for God and his son at least knew to seek God.

Strike the ground

And he said, “Take the arrows,” and he took them. And he said to the king of Israel, “Strike the ground with them.” And he struck three times and stopped. (2 Kings 13:18, ESV)

I’ll never forget the message Pastor brought about this, we need to strike and strike and strike the ground, we need the zeal of the king’s grandfather Jehu.

The dust of the ground speaks of the flesh, so strike the flesh in faith.

God keeps covenant

But the Lord was gracious to them and had compassion on them, and he turned toward them, because of his covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and would not destroy them, nor has he cast them from his presence until now. (2 Kings 13:23, ESV)

Thank God that He is a compassionate, covenant keeping God.

Prophecy fulfilled

Then Jehoash the son of Jehoahaz took again from Ben-hadad the son of Hazael the cities that he had taken from Jehoahaz his father in war. Three times Joash defeated him and recovered the cities of Israel. (2 Kings 13:25, ESV)

This is a direct fulfilment of the prophecy we read about earlier. Only the Bible contains actual prophecies that have actually been fulfilled.

A godly heritage

And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, yet not like David his father. He did in all things as Joash his father had done. (2 Kings 14:3, ESV)

More hope for Judah, another godly king, leaving a godly heritage is so important.

The deception of pride

You have indeed struck down Edom, and your heart has lifted you up. Be content with your glory, and stay at home, for why should you provoke trouble so that you fall, you and Judah with you?” (2 Kings 14:10, ESV)

Beware when you stand lest you fall. Our stand in Christ should not give us false confidence in the flesh.

God saves Israel

But the Lord had not said that he would blot out the name of Israel from under heaven, so he saved them by the hand of Jeroboam the son of Joash. (2 Kings 14:27, ESV)

God sovereignly saves Israel (in a military sense) even with a king that was not righteous. We should remember this as we pray for the nation today.

Galatians 4:1–31

The fullness of time

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, (Galatians 4:4, ESV)

As we approach Christmas we remember the miraculous birth of Christ, born through the virgin woman Mary as the incarnated Son of God and we remember that this was all a part of God’s predetermined plan of salvation.

The idea of appointed times is seen throughout Jesus’ ministry and the New Testament.

When Jesus came the stage was set and the conditions were just right to fulfil the specific prophecies, fulfil the law and the world was at that point so well connected by Rome that the spread of the gospel was expedited.

Adoption as sons

to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. (Galatians 4:5, ESV)

We have been adopted as God’s own sons, because Jesus came in the fullness of time and purchased our freedom. Hallelujah!

The inner witness

And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!” (Galatians 4:6, ESV)

The inner witness of the Holy Spirit is so crucial to our joy and assurance in God.

Known by God

But now that you have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how can you turn back again to the weak and worthless elementary principles of the world, whose slaves you want to be once more? (Galatians 4:9, ESV)

This is key, does God know us? He does not know all of us intimately, because on the day of judgement He will say to many I do not know you.

This does not mean God does not know about us but the intimacy of the adoption relationship is something reserved only for the redeemed.

Stand for the truth

Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth? (Galatians 4:16, ESV)

This happens so often but we must stand for the truth even when people turn against us because of it.

Anguish

my little children, for whom I am again in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you! (Galatians 4:19, ESV)

We should feel this anguish for those we are responsible for or discipling that Christ be formed in them.

Two Covenants

Now this may be interpreted allegorically: these women are two covenants. One is from Mount Sinai, bearing children for slavery; she is Hagar. (Galatians 4:24, ESV)

Some say that we are wrong to call the New Testament new. Some argue that there is only one covenant but the Bible teaches that there are two major covenants and Jesus inaugurated the new covenant in His blood which was the fullness and fulfilment of the old one under the law.

Thank God today that Jesus has made a new covenant on better promises between God and man.

Proverbs 7:21–27

Dumb animals

All at once he follows her, as an ox goes to the slaughter, or as a stag is caught fast (Proverbs 7:22, ESV)

A good picture of the bondage of sexual sin, it leads men away like dumb animals.

Defeated by lust

for many a victim has she laid low, and all her slain are a mighty throng. (Proverbs 7:26, ESV)

Many men have been defeated by their own sexual lust.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Galatians 4

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 11:1–12:21, Gal 3:1–29, Prov 7:10–20

Today’s Theme: God’s Order

Today’s overarching theme is God’s order for men, women and children. God intends that men would rule well as good stewards, that children and women be covered by male authority, love and instruction and that women adorn themselves with holiness and discretion.

This created order is also seen in the spiritual realm. God’s order is that all peoples, both men and women, Jews and Greeks would come to Him in one way only, through faith.

Let’s rejoice in God’s divine order for both the family and faith for His glory and our joy today.

2 Kings 11:1–12:21

Covering for our children

And he remained with her six years, hidden in the house of the Lord, while Athaliah reigned over the land. (2 Kings 11:3, ESV)

The true church provides a covering for our children from the wickedness in the world seeking to destroy them.

Biblical leadership and covering is male, this woman Athaliah is a picture of the unnatural and destructive usurping of male authority.

Our creation roles are not optional, when women wilfully and aggressively replace men as leaders we have broken God’s order and it can only lead to destruction.

Godly leadership

And Jehoiada made a covenant between the Lord and the king and people, that they should be the Lord’s people, and also between the king and the people. (2 Kings 11:17, ESV)

This was a great spiritual leader, through his reforms the people were restored. The king was godly and idolatry was destroyed, we need to pray our leaders also have godly spiritual counsel in their lives.

God’s watchmen

Then all the people of the land went to the house of Baal and tore it down; his altars and his images they broke in pieces, and they killed Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars. And the priest posted watchmen over the house of the Lord. (2 Kings 11:18, ESV)

We are the watchmen over our city. Watch and pray.

Godly instruction

And Jehoash did what was right in the eyes of the Lord all his days, because Jehoiada the priest instructed him. (2 Kings 12:2, ESV)

The key here was the teaching and instruction of Jehoiada in the life of Jehoash. He is the only king on par with the first three great kings of Israel.

Heartfelt offering

Jehoash said to the priests, “All the money of the holy things that is brought into the house of the Lord, the money for which each man is assessed—the money from the assessment of persons—and the money that a man’s heart prompts him to bring into the house of the Lord, (2 Kings 12:4, ESV)

Offerings should be heartfelt and prompted as taught in the Old Testament, not like a cold 10% bill.

Love God’s house

let the priests take, each from his donor, and let them repair the house wherever any need of repairs is discovered.” (2 Kings 12:5, ESV)

Jehoash’s godly upbringing gave him an appreciation and love for the things of God which drive these reforms.

Godly stewards

Jehoash king of Judah took all the sacred gifts that Jehoshaphat and Jehoram and Ahaziah his fathers, the kings of Judah, had dedicated, and his own sacred gifts, and all the gold that was found in the treasuries of the house of the Lord and of the king’s house, and sent these to Hazael king of Syria. Then Hazael went away from Jerusalem. (2 Kings 12:18, ESV)

This was a holy reign but there were two problems, the priest had no understanding of money and budgeting matters and the king had no skill as a warrior so capitulated by paying off his enemy… this would ultimately lead to his downfall.

We are called to be godly soldiers and stewards in God’s house.

Galatians 3:1–29

Receive the Holy Spirit

Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? (Galatians 3:2, ESV)

We receive the Spirit by hearing the Word with Faith… no special ceremony or touch is needed.

Faith alone

just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? (Galatians 3:6, ESV)

One of the five sola’s (alone) of the reformation was Sola Fide meaning by faith alone. By faith alone can we be saved. We must believe in God, putting all our trust in Him.

Spiritual Israelites

Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. (Galatians 3:7, ESV)

If we believe in the gospel we become the sons of Abraham.

Blessed together

So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (Galatians 3:9, ESV)

We are blessed along with, not instead of Abraham. There is no replacement here, just alignment, fulfilment and joining together.

Live by faith

Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” (Galatians 3:11, ESV)

As righteous people in Christ we live our lives by Faith in Jesus.

Curses are broken

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Galatians 3:13, ESV)

I do not need to be scared of any curses, generational or otherwise because Jesus became a curse for me… There is no double jeopardy in God’s kingdom, if Jesus paid for it all, I do not need to pay again.

You do not need a person with special powers to break curses over your life, you just need to believe in Jesus.

The seed of Abraham

Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, “And to offsprings,” referring to many, but referring to one, “And to your offspring,” who is Christ. (Galatians 3:16, ESV)

This is hugely important when we consider the relationship claimed to Abraham for Jews and Christians, the offspring was actually neither but Jesus Christ Himself.

The function of the law

But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. (Galatians 3:22, ESV)

The law encapsulates all men under sin as sinners making it quite clear to us that we need salvation and that this is available only through faith in Jesus.

The law is good, it is from God and is used to make clear to us all that we are in fact sinners in need of God’s mercy and grace.

Adopted and FREE

for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. (Galatians 3:26, ESV)

We are no longer bound by the universal truth that we are sinners before a holy God. We have been set free by Jesus and adopted as God’s sons, we are FREE!

One in Christ

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28, ESV)

We must not so boldly declare a distinction between Messianic and Gentile believers, we are one new man in Christ.

Proverbs 7:10–20

Dress is important

And behold, the woman meets him, dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. (Proverbs 7:10, ESV)

The way our women dress is important. Dress with dignity.

Forward women

She seizes him and kisses him, and with bold face she says to him, (Proverbs 7:13, ESV)

This is so common today, women are making moves before men do. this is the Devil’s plan to ruin the lives of these women and the men they seduce and rule over. God’s daughters should not be forward but discrete and holy.

Lust is not love

Come, let us take our fill of love till morning; let us delight ourselves with love. (Proverbs 7:18, ESV)

This is not love but lust and you can never be fulfilled with lust.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Galatians 3

Today’s Reading: 2 Kings 9:30–10:36, Gal 1:1–2:21, Prov 7:1–9

Today’s Theme: Zeal for The Gospel

There are multiple themes today including zeal for the Lord and the balance we must have alongside zeal for God. The strongest theme is Paul’s point that there is only one Gospel and it is only by this Gospel that salvation is available by grace for all people.

Paul tells us about his call in the Gospel and the Proverbs encourage us to have a zeal for God’s word which is the Gospel so both themes are joined together in our zeal and passion for the one and only true Gospel.

2 Kings 9:30–10:36

Shallow Jezebel

When Jehu came to Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. And she painted her eyes and adorned her head and looked out of the window. (2 Kings 9:30, ESV)

This was probably to try and allure him or maybe it was mockery. It shows how shallow Jezebel was and the mentality and spirit associated with her name today is also shallow and manipulative.

Judgement fulfilled

When they came back and told him, he said, “This is the word of the Lord, which he spoke by his servant Elijah the Tishbite: ‘In the territory of Jezreel the dogs shall eat the flesh of Jezebel, (2 Kings 9:36, ESV)

God fulfilled His terrible word of judgement and justice on this cursed woman.

A man of conviction

select the best and fittest of your master’s sons and set him on his father’s throne and fight for your master’s house.” (2 Kings 10:3, ESV)

This is a noble man of war, full of conviction, that is why they fear him, he backs his talk. Spiritually we should also be like this.

Be jealous for God’s word

Know then that there shall fall to the earth nothing of the word of the Lord, which the Lord spoke concerning the house of Ahab, for the Lord has done what he said by his servant Elijah.” (2 Kings 10:10, ESV)

Jehu was jealous to see the Lord’s word performed, we can learn from his passion.

Finish the job

So Jehu struck down all who remained of the house of Ahab in Jezreel, all his great men and his close friends and his priests, until he left him none remaining. (2 Kings 10:11, ESV)

This was a man who finished the job, he left nothing undone. Again let’s learn the lesson and be finishers.

I had a task at work last week which was given to me at the last minute with a tight deadline, I just had to block out tine in my calendar, get my head down and just get it done… and it was done.

This attitude and determination to finish should apply to everything in our lives as believers.

Don’t compromise

He said, “Take them alive.” And they took them alive and slaughtered them at the pit of Beth-eked, forty-two persons, and he spared none of them. (2 Kings 10:14, ESV)

This was a no compromise man, there were no grey areas, we should not be people who compromise God’s standard.

Have zeal for God

And he said, “Come with me, and see my zeal for the Lord.” So he had him ride in his chariot. (2 Kings 10:16, ESV)

He really did have great zeal for the Lord. Be like Jehu, have zeal for God.

Kill sin

And when he came to Samaria, he struck down all who remained to Ahab in Samaria, till he had wiped them out, according to the word of the Lord that he spoke to Elijah. (2 Kings 10:17, ESV)

This is how we need to deal with sin… Without mercy we MUST kill sin.

Zeal and care

Then Jehu went into the house of Baal with Jehonadab the son of Rechab, and he said to the worshipers of Baal, “Search, and see that there is no servant of the Lord here among you, but only the worshipers of Baal.” (2 Kings 10:23, ESV)

In his Zeal he still cares for God’s people, this is a crucial balance to have as zeal on its own will make us callous.

A fresh start

Then they went in to offer sacrifices and burnt offerings. Now Jehu had stationed eighty men outside and said, “The man who allows any of those whom I give into your hands to escape shall forfeit his life.” (2 Kings 10:24, ESV)

The 80 men symbolise a fresh start, new beginning. This is the only remedy to sin, a new life in Christ.

Idolatry’s end

And they demolished the pillar of Baal, and demolished the house of Baal, and made it a latrine to this day. (2 Kings 10:27, ESV)

The house of idolatry became a stinking sewer.

Zeal and consideration

But Jehu was not careful to walk in the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart. He did not turn from the sins of Jeroboam, which he made Israel to sin. (2 Kings 10:31, ESV)

Zeal and energy without careful consideration, counting the cost, discipline, self control and consistency can lead to disaster.

Galatians 1:1–2:21

God makes Apostles

Paul, an apostle—not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead. (Galatians 1:1, ESV)

God makes Apostles not man

A glorious summary

who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1:4–5, ESV)

A summary of the Gospel and of the doctrines of grace in particular.

Don’t distort the gospel

not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. (Galatians 1:7, ESV)

People still want to do this saying it is down to personal interpretation, which is illogical, words and messages ACTUALLY mean something.

Don’t be accursed

As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:9, ESV)

A false gospel is no trifle, it is a serious thing.

Seek God’s approval, not man

For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ. (Galatians 1:10, ESV)

Lord please help us to remember this

God’s good news

For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:12, ESV)

This is not man’s Gospel, it’s God’s.

Called by grace

But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, (Galatians 1:15, ESV)

Election and calling, parallel truths, it is only by grace that we are effectually called.

Is God glorified by your life

And they glorified God because of me. (Galatians 1:24, ESV)

They glorified God specifically because of Paul’s life and testimony. Can the same be said of your life?

Submit to your leaders

I went up because of a revelation and set before them (though privately before those who seemed influential) the gospel that I proclaim among the Gentiles, in order to make sure I was not running or had not run in vain. (Galatians 2:2, ESV)

Paul was not a law unto himself but submitted himself to other leaders, how much more should we.

Don’t be a legalist

to them we did not yield in submission even for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you. (Galatians 2:5, ESV)

Do not yield to legalism, in doing so you may be causing the Gospel message to perish in the ears of your hearers.

Just ONE Gospel

On the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the gospel to the uncircumcised, just as Peter had been entrusted with the gospel to the circumcised (Galatians 2:7, ESV)

In both cases it is THE Gospel not two different gospels. The way of salvation is the same for the Jews and the Gentiles.

Walk in the gospel

But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?” (Galatians 2:14, ESV)

It is visible and evident if we walk in the truth of the Gospel we proclaim so there is no need for religious or cultural legalism.

Saved to, not by good works

yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified. (Galatians 2:16, ESV)

We are saved when we put our faith in Jesus not when we keep the law. We will keep God’s moral law as a result of being saved not to be saved.

Evidence of true salvation

For if I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a transgressor. (Galatians 2:18, ESV)

The evidence of true conversion is in what we do.

The Christian Mantra

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20, ESV)

This whole verse should be the mantra of our lives.

Don’t nullify grace

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. (Galatians 2:21, ESV)

A strong and valid point

Proverbs 7:1–9

Desire teaching

keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; (Proverbs 7:2, ESV)

We should earnestly desire teaching and keep it as prized.

Write the word on your heart

bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. (Proverbs 7:3, ESV)

This is a good prayer to pray, you can pray that God would help you to write His word on your heart as you read it and hear it preached. This has been something I have prayed since I was young.

Wisdom should lead to sanctification

to keep you from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words. (Proverbs 7:5, ESV)

The practical end of wisdom is sanctification.

Don’t be simple

and I have seen among the simple, I have perceived among the youths, a young man lacking sense, (Proverbs 7:7, ESV)

This describes so many of us, caught out so easily, we need to wise up and live in sanctification.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on Galatians 1 and 2