Fun and Excitement

I am now co-teaching a Sunday school class at church. I like it a lot.
I'm not a big fan of talking in front of people, but the people in this class are all very nice and most of them are friends that I know fairly well. That helps, but I'm still not a fan.

The part that I like most about it is the studying for class.

God specializes in blowing your mind. He can take a passage of the bible that you have read dozens of times, and show you a new layer every time. Give a new understanding and perspective on the passage and at the same time never contradict or change the meaning of what has been learned before. He just adds to it; takes it to deeper levels. It's very exciting.

One of my mentors and heroes in the faith, Mike Hasper, once discussed what it was like for him to study for a lesson. He talked about how the Holy Spirit would start teaching and about Truth spilling out of God's word.

Thank you, Father, that true understanding comes only from You and that You are the only Truth, and that Truth is absolute.

Indescribable

Lamb of God, Lion of Judah
(Luke 22:39-44, John 28:30, Revelation 5)

In the garden begging and bleeding
The Lamb of God awaits the beating
In the cold night air as demons were leaping
His friend wandered shivering and weeping (Luke 22:54-62)
On the cross broken and bent
The Word accomplished the reason for which He was sent (Isaiah 55:11)
In a vision filled with despair an elder tells John to look
The Lion of Judah steps forward and takes hold of the book


Our Sunday school class has been studying Ephesians 6:11-18. We've been looking at each part of the armor of God. It's very interesting. When we got to the part of the Sword (Ephesians 6:17), it moved me to ponder the meaning.
Every sermon I have ever heard on the armor of God, it was pointed out that the sword is the only offensive part. The sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
I have always assumed that 'the sword' represented the bible. The more I pondered, and the more I read, the more I am persuaded that it is not just the bible that is represented.
Read John 1:1 and John 1:14. The Word became flesh. Read Revelation 19:13. And all through Revelation, King Jesus is described as having a sharp sword coming out of His mouth.
All the other parts of the armor are protective or defensive parts. The Sword is for fighting. Of course, we have our part in the fight. We are to stand firm in our faith and our love for one another, pray and obey what we are taught in the bible. But it is Jesus...The Word of God...who fights for us. He is the one who has thrown down the accuser (Revelation 12:10-11).
It is of great comfort to me to know who it is who fights on our behalf. Who is He? He is the Great and Mighty King. Read the following passages and take comfort, be encouraged and join me in praising our Warrior King, the Lion of Judah!
Deuteronomy 32:35-43, Colossians 1:15-20, Jude 1:24, and Romans 8:26.

Inseparable

There is one thing I've noticed recently that's been on my mind. Some Christians today seem to have the idea that the New Testament and the Old Testament are separate.

I have even heard that there are some denominations who do not allow music to be played in their church services because it is not mentioned in the New Testament (not prohibited in the New Testament, just not mentioned). Seems a little odd to me.

Most of the teachings and sermons in the New Testament are derived from the Old Testament. As a matter of fact, Jesus Himself, after His resurrection, opened up the understanding of two of His disciples using the Old Testament.
Read Luke 24:13-32.

Then there is Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch. Check out Acts 8:26-39. In Acts 8:35, it starts with 'Beginning with the Scriptures...'

The account of the stoning of Stephen begins with Stephen preaching the good news of Jesus Christ, starting from Abraham. Read about it in Acts 6:9 - Acts 7:1-60

On the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached from the prophet Joel. (Acts 2:15-16)

Peter tells us in his first epistle that the prophets did everything that they did for our benefit now. 1Peter 1:10-12

The Old Testament and the New Testament are not separate. It is all interrelated...intertwined. The gospel of Jesus Christ is what binds them together. The entire Old Testament points to this one event, this one...visitation. The entire New Testament points out all that was fulfilled in Christ Jesus and teaches us how to live in Him. Together, they give us the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ! The salvation of our God!

Father,
thank you for the salvation we have in Your Son, Christ Jesus. Thank you that we can now have understanding. That we know that there aren't many paths to You, but One. Thank you, Most High God, that You gave Your only Son as a gift for us, that He holds out Hope to us. And that You have given us to Him.