Genesis 50; Luke 3; Job 16 – 17; 1 Corinthians 4
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Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
What the Ethiopian Eunuch Means for You
What the Ethiopian Eunuch Means for You: "
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(Author: Jonathan Parnell)
Luke is picking up the pace when we get to Acts 8. Jesus' mandate that his disciples spread the word about him (Acts 1:8) is being fulfilled. The gospel has gone from Jerusalem to Judea and Samaria, and we are on the verge of seeing it break through to the Gentiles. But right in the middle of this advance we find a short narrative about Phillip being sent to the desert to meet an Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-40).
Acts is full of allusions to the book of Isaiah, and this scene with the eunuch is one of them. Think back to Isaiah 56. In the place where the most explicit gospel content in the Old Testament is found, Isaiah prophesies that the salvation to come will include the conversion of the nations (Isaiah 56:1, 6-8). And in the thick of that content we read,
For thus says the LORD: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that shall not be cut off." (Isaiah 56:4-5)
In these verses Isaiah pictures God-fearing Gentile eunuchs, and he says that the LORD's salvation will come even to them. 'The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, declares, 'I will gather yet others to him besides those already gathered'' (Isaiah 56:8). God will gather inhabitants for Zion from among the nations.
So Phillip meets an Ethiopian (Gentile) eunuch who is returning home from worshipping in Jerusalem (a God-fearer) and reading the prophet Isaiah (the same book that declares that God-fearing, Gentile eunuchs will be saved). Then, using Isaiah 53, he tells him the good news about Jesus (Acts 8:35), and this God-fearing Gentile eunuch believes.
What's the point of this little story? You see the connection: Luke is showing us that all the stuff Isaiah prophesied about is now taking place. Jesus has been crucified, buried, and risen. The Spirit has been sent. And the gospel is being proclaimed among the nations.
It's happening. God is doing his gathering work. Luke wants us to get that. Luke wants the story of this emasculated guy from East Africa to send us the message of where we're at in the storyline. The church in Acts is on the brink of seeing God finish history—how much more the church today!
Here's an incentive not to waste your life: we are the people upon whom the end of the ages has come.
Prevailing Prayer
Prevailing Prayer: "
You Actually Have to Pray Series: Click | View Series
“Every great movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure”
–D.L. Moody
A Man Who Kneeled
Nehemiah is a man who adopted a kneeling role. Instead of trying to look productive, we must instead be productive. Seeking God earnestly and patiently is the most productive use of our time. It is no mere escape route, but a wise response to grim reality. It gives us the perspective that we need, and it changes history.
How did Nehemiah respond to news of desolation back in Jerusalem? Nehemiah 1:4 says, “When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.” He wept, and then threw himself into lengthy prayer and self-humiliation.
Why Not Take Action?
As we read the book of Nehemiah, we appreciate that the man is no passive flower. We have a man of swift, decisive action; a creative and brilliant strategist who made things happen. He’d engineer and generate things through a mixture of ingenuity and belligerence.
So then why did he not do something? It would surely beat all this wailing. Begin a PR campaign, start lobbying, get on talk radio, or at least write a blog. Instead he mourns. And in doing so, he’s “blessed,” according to Jesus (Matt. 5:4).
Knee-jerk activism, however impressive it might look, reveals a feeble grasp of the situation and a sinful confidence in independent methods. Nehemiah prays and mourns (with fasting) for five months because he doesn’t have a choice.
Do You Pray?
The biggest danger for any generation of leaders is prayerlessness. Much in the church that begins from a spirit of genuine humility and prayer is carried on in proud self-sufficiency. Arthur Wallis once said, “A move of God will last as long as the Spirit of prayer that inspired it.” You can tell when this happens. It’s when prayer is used as a last resort, as a spare wheel, but it’s meant to be the steering wheel.
There are certain battles we simply cannot win without prayer. The more I lead, the more frequent such battles seem. Jesus made this clear with the statement regarding the demon that would not submit to his disciples in Mark 9:29: “He replied, ‘This kind can come out only by prayer.’” This is a striking text if you reflect on it: what had the disciples been trying with this demoniac? Of course they must have prayed, but that is not the point being made here by Jesus.
It is one thing to hit a crisis and pray in reaction, which is what the disciples were doing, but it is quite another to live a life of prayer and have reserves of spiritual force, wisdom, and peace from which to draw when Satan is threatening. This is the lifestyle Jesus wanted his twelve to live.
To be continued.
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"Thursday, February 11, 2010
On Sleep
On Sleep: "
For more on these points, see C.J.'s sermon "Sanctifying the Ordinary: A Biblical Understanding of Sleep."
Posted by Tony Reinke
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The topic of sleep is rarely far from the newsstands. Studies link sleep to everything from academic scores to obesity. A new line of sleep drinks features a shot of melatonin to help you fall asleep (think anti-energy drink). And of course the news is filled with reports of a major pop musician’s sleep problems and of his doctor, who is accused of inducing permanent and irreversible slumber.
Sleep is rarely far from conversation. Probably because sleep is never far removed from our lives.
Roughly speaking, most of us spend about 1/3 of our lives asleep (whereas mothers of small children spend about 1/8 of their lives asleep). The Bible says quite a bit on this topic, probably because sleep is both a good teacher and a revealer of the heart.
The Bible says:
- Sleep is a daily gift from God (Psalm 127:1–2).
- Sleep reminds us daily of our need for God (Psalms 3:5, 4:8).
- Excessive sleep exposes sin and leads to poverty (Proverbs 6:9–11, 20:13).
- Sleep is sweet when we are walking in wisdom (Proverbs 3:19–24).
- Falling asleep provides an opportunity to examine our hearts before God (Psalm 4:4).
For more on these points, see C.J.'s sermon "Sanctifying the Ordinary: A Biblical Understanding of Sleep."
Posted by Tony Reinke
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