The Anywhere/Anytime God - John 4:23-24

"But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” Mount Gerizim was the Old Testament setting for the pronouncement of blessings for keeping the covenant. The Samaritans identified Mount Gerizim as the place for the altar to sacrifice to God. That is what the Samaritan woman was arguing to Jesus when He made this statement to her by Jacob's well. Because God is spirit, He is looking for people to worship Him in Spirit. In other words, God is looking for people in whom He can dwell by His Spirit. And that was Jesus' job during His earthly ministry and His job today--find people to be filled with the Holy Spirit, and then worship Him not just on Mount Gerizim, but anywhere and anytime.

The Gospel for Dummies - John 3:36

"Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." You've probably seen these "how to do" books that focus on some subject or skill and the target audience purports to be "dummies" or those who are not experts with the subject or skill. The books provide explanations of the subject or skill on a level so that anyone who is not an expert can learn to do it or understand it. It's almost ironic that the last verse of the iconoclastic Chapter 3 of the Gospel of John that contains such provocative theological propositions as "You must be born again" (vs. 7) and "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son" (vs. 16) ends with this amazingly succinct statement of the gospel that even a dummy like me can understand. The verse clearly states that since we are all under God's wrath, all one has to do is believe in Jesus, the Son of God, and obey Him to escape the wrath of God and have eternal life. If you don't believe and obey, then God's wrath remains on you. It's that simple--you either have eternal life or you have God's wrath! Don't be a dummy and remain under wrath when you can have eternal life!

Entering the Invisible Kingdom - John 3:5-6

"Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit." Jesus explained to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, that the Kingdom of God does not come visibly but comes as an invisible Kingdom into which one must make a spiritual entrance. New birth is the work of the Holy Spirit. It is a supernatural birth appropriated by the Holy Spirit and enabling entrance into and participation in the eternal Kingdom of God. New birth--spiritual birth--is conceived through Divine Action on the part of God through His Spirit in the life of each person becoming a citizen of God's Kingdom. Because citizenship is generally a function of where you are born, persons born of the Spirit are citizens of the Kingdom of God. When God’s Holy Spirit enters into us and we enter into the Kingdom of God, we begin to participate in eternal life. The Holy Spirit enables us to live our lives according to God’s will in God’s Kingdom in the present and in preparation for life in God’s Kingdom in the future.

Signs Everywhere - John 2:11

"This, the first of his signs, Jesus did at Cana in Galilee, and manifested his glory. And his disciples believed in him." During political campaigns, signs begin to be posted everywhere advertising a person running for a certain office. The miracle of turning the water into wine at the wedding at Cana was Jesus' first miracle and a sign, as John referred to Jesus' miracles. It was not a public miracle but rather a miracle to be seen and understood by a select few--His disciples. The miracles of Jesus that John included in his gospel were signs that attested to His identity as Messiah and Son of God and generally meant to lead unbelievers to faith (see vs. 23). The miracles or signs John writes about revealed Jesus' divine nature by the performance of an exceptional or outstanding accomplishment: a large quantity/high quality of wine (2:6, 10), the official's son healed over a long distance (4:47, 49–50), the invalid's recovery from a 38-year medical condition (5:5), the large quantity of food produced (6:13), the man's recovery from lifelong blindness (9:1–2), and the raising of Lazarus from the dead (11:17, 39). While these miracles showed the glory of Jesus as the sovereign Creator and ruler of the universe, He is still working personal and private miracles today in the hearts and lives of individuals. His signs are posted everywhere advertising that He can be your Savior.

When the Spirit Remains - John 1:32

"And John bore witness: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him." The Holy Spirit did not just descend on Jesus, the Spirit remained on Him. In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit came upon people periodically to enable them to accomplish certain God-given tasks, communicate a word from God, or see a vision from God. However, Isaiah predicted that the Messiah would be full of the Spirit at all times: "And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him" (Isaiah 11:2). With Jesus began the age of the Spirit. Jesus' ministry was anointed by the Holy Spirit because He walked in the Spirit. Oh, that the Spirit of God would descend from heaven and remain on us!

Receiving is Believing - John 1:12-13

"He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." Have you ever tried to give someone advice and they were not interested in your help? You give the advice but it is not received. And if your advice is not received, then it must not have been believed in the first place. Although a person may know about Jesus, that person must receive Him to become a child of God. Whether or not John is saying in these verses that “receiving” is the same as “believing,” the point is that the right to become a child of God is bestowed by Christ based on an act of faith—believing that Jesus is God and that He came into this world as a human being and died as payment for your sins and was raised from the dead to eternal life so that you can receive eternal life.

The Importance of Bible Study - 2 Timothy 3:16

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work." Can you imagine hearing the words that God has actually spoken? If you have a Bible, then you have in your possession the very words that God has spoken! If the Bible is the authoritative Word of God containing God's spoken words and is easily accessible and available to you, then it should be something that you as a child of God want to hear, read, and study regularly. The Apostle Paul told Timothy that God's spoken words--the Scriptures, or the Bible as we know it--are useful for teaching and training ourselves and others in the way of God's righteousness. Futhermore, when you study and learn God's words, then you will be a proficient messenger of God who is certified for performing good works in the name of the Lord.

God's China Cabinets - 2 Timothy 2:20-21

"Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work." Many homes have a china cabinet that holds the "good" dishes and flatware. These dishes and eating utensils have been set apart and specially cleaned and shined so that they are ready to be used at meals prepared for holidays and special occasions. In the kitchen there are drawers and cabinets with assortments of plates, cups, pots, pans, and cooking utensils that are used for the regular preparation and serving of meals. The challenge Paul presents to Timothy is that of how he will be used of God. Timothy and all of us will be used of God, but will it be as vessels for honorable use or vessels for dishonorable use? We get to make that choice! If we choose honorable use, then we must cleanse or purify ourselves by laying hold of the provision of grace and redemption that has been given to us by God and flee evil and pursue godliness (vs. 22). Choose to be a vessel of honorable use just like those good dishes in the china cabinet, specially cleaned (holy) and ready for any special occasion (every good work)!

Kingdom Profitability - 2 Timothy 1:14

"By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you." The Apostle Paul told Timothy to safeguard the gifts of the Holy Spirit that God had given him. Paul wanted Timothy to be bold in using the gifts of ministry entrusted to him through the in-dwelling power and presence of the Holy Spirit. We, like Timothy, are all like branch banks with whom God makes a deposit of His Holy Spirit for safe-keeping in our lives. We safeguard the gifts and grace of God entrusted to us by using them! A bank doesn't make money by keeping all its deposits in the vault. A bank makes money by putting its deposits to work making loans and investments. Remember the teaching of Jesus in the parable of the talents. A master left money for each of his servants while he was gone on a long journey. Two servants invested the money and made more for their master while the other buried the money in a hole in the ground. The servants that invested the money were considered faithful and were entrusted with more responsibility while the other servant was considered unfaithful and sent away. Jesus said, "For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away" (Matthew 25:29). To be faithful in the Kingdom of God, you must be profitable. Put the gifts of the Holy Spirit entrusted to you by God to work for the growth of His Kingdom.

Fighting Faith - I Timothy 6:12

"Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called." Faith is a fight, no a battle, no a war. You have to fight for the faith and sometimes people get hurt; sometimes people get killed (see Hebrews 11). But it is a fight we should engage in, we must engage in because it's a fight worth having--it's a good fight. Fight to stay faithful to God and in so doing, take hold of eternal life--grasp on to eternal life and don't let go. Fighting for the faith is a matter of fleeing from sin and vigorously pursuing godliness. You are fighting for faith in the One Who holds eternal life, "who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality" (vs 15). Contend for the faith because its end is eternal life with God, "who gives life to all things" (vs. 13).

The Straight Path - 2 Kings 22:2

"And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in all the way of David his father, and he did not turn aside to the right or to the left." Moses told the people of Israel before they entered the promised land that in the future they may have a king who shall be chosen by the Lord. And the king over Israel "may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel" (Deuteronomy 17:20). King Josiah was an example of such a king. Josiah rebuilt the temple and re-established temple worship in Judah according to the Mosaic law. Josiah did not deviate from God's law--he stayed on the straight path of obedience to God's law and did not turn to the right or left, and he reigned peacefully over Israel for over three decades (vs. 1, 20). There is a path through life that leads straight to God and your life will be blessed if you choose the straight path and remain obedient to Him.

Godliness Training - 1 Timothy 4:7-8

"Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come." The Apostle Paul tells Timothy that godlines requires training in the same way that one would train the body for a competitive sport. With godliness training a person receives eternal benefits--eternal life--while physical training only benefits a person in the present life. However, godliness training like physical training is rigorous and requires exercise and practice: "For to this end we toil and strive and suffer reproach" (vs. 10). So let us undertake the development of godliness in our lives with the same discipline that an athlete undertakes physical training.

Your Destiny, God's Plans - I Kings 19:25

"Have you not heard that I determined it long ago? I planned from days of old what now I bring to pass, that you should turn fortified cities into heaps of ruins." Isaiah prophecied against Sennacherib, king of Assyria, at the request of Hezekiah, king of Judah. The Assyrians had already conquered Israel and its capital city of Samaria and now they were trying to conquer Judah. (They will fail in their attempt.) Sennacherib's great mistake, however, was to imagine that what he had accomplished in all his military campaigns had been achieved in his own strength and not by the providence of God. In reality God had determined it long ago. God planned for Sennacherib to conquer fortified cities so his pride in his mighty accomplishments is only vanity. In fact, Assyria is merely the means to pronounce judgment on Israel for its disobedience. Similarly, God has determined plans and a purpose for your life--your destiny. Find out from God what it is and let Him use you to accomplish His will through your life.

God's Good Intentions- I Timothy 2:1-6

God wants more than universal salvation--He wants everyone to accept the free gift of salvation. This passage teaches us the free and universal offer of the gospel is to all human beings. This offer is a bona fide expression of God's good intentions toward all human beings. First, the Apostle Paul urges that prayer and supplication be made for all people so that Christians may lead a peaceful and godly life (vs. 1-2). Then Paul declares that God desires for all people to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth (vs. 4). Finally, Paul proclaims that Christ gave Himself as a ransom for all people (vs. 6). God has good intentions toward all people, but some people do not receive God's salvation because they do not accept the free gift of salvation that has been offered by God. While God's salvation is intended for all people, some people accept the free gift of salvation and some people reject God's good intentions.

The Biggest Sinner - I Timothy 1:15

"The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost." There is a popular television show called The Biggest Loser in which contestants compete to see who can lose the most weight in a certain period of time. The Apostle Paul says that he could not imagine anyone being a bigger sinner than himself, possibly because of his previous persecution of the church. Because Paul was a big sinner, when God saved him all of Paul's sin was forgiven, which allowed him to serve as an example of the extent of God's grace: "But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost [sinner], Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life" (vs. 16). Because of the Holy Spirit's powerful conviction of sin, most people who have received the saving grace of God are predisposed to think of themselves as the biggest sinner. If, like Paul and like me, you are a big sinner that has been saved by God's grace, then remember that Jesus wants you to be an example of His grace so that others might believe in Him for eternal life.

The Grace That Saves Us Teaches Us - Titus 2:12-13

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." Our blessed hope is Christ's second coming. So the grace of God by which we are saved also teaches us to live godly lives while we wait upon the second coming of Christ--saving grace becomes teaching grace. The grace of God that saves us also instructs us to live in a new way that prepares us for eternity. This change in lifestyle is rooted in our eager expectaton of the return of Christ. We should discard our sinful ways and live in a godly way in the present anticipating our eternal life with God in the future.

Proving the Gospel by Example - Titus 2:7-8

"Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us." The Apostle Paul encourages Titus to become a living testimony of the gospel by being a model or example in word and deed of the gospel he teaches. Living out the gospel in one's daily life through ethical behavior--honesty, respect, and wholesome speech--keeps Christians from providing any legitimate grounds for the gospel to be criticized and actually influences others to believe the gospel. By becoming a living testimony,you prove the gospel to those who don't believe it and even to those who oppose it.

Where Forgiveness Is Found - Hebrews 13:13

"Therefore let us go to him outside the camp and bear the reproach he endured." Unlike most other Old Testament offerings, the tabernacle priests could not eat the meat of the sin offering from the Day of Atonement. The body of that sacrificial animal was burned outside the camp (see Leviticus 16:27). Because Jesus' sacrifice was an atonement for sin, once and for all, Jesus suffered "outside the gate in order to sanctify the people through his own blood" (vs. 12). Thus, we don't receive atonement through religious ceremonies or by doing good deeds, but we find forgiveness and redemption "outside the camp" at the cross of Jesus! We should, therefore, leave behind the love of this world and the desire for its approval by enduring the same contempt by this world that Jesus suffered. Our endurance of the contempt of this world is based on the realization that we are only sojourners in this world en route to our eternal residence: "For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come" (vs. 14).

Cosmic Convergence - Hebrews 12:22-24

"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant." The greatness of the new covenant exceeds the old covenant revelation at Mount Sinai because the new is mediated by Jesus, the Son of God. It's almost like the Hebrews writer is saying that you are staring heaven right in the face so it is all the more important to accept the new. With the new covenant believers actually confront heaven, the place where God resides, and they participate in worship with innumerable angels and the great assembly of those who have died in faith and are already in God's presence. We now live at the intersection of time and eternity where the Divine Will has crossed the path of human history--the point in time and space where eternal life begins. The eternal reality, the cosmic convergence of one's physical life with eternal life, has been activated in the lives of those who have faith in God!

Heavenly Discipline - Hebrews 12:10

"But he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness." Just as our earthly parents disciplined us and we respected them for it, so God disciplines us and we should respect Him as well. God's discipline proves that He considers believers to be his children. As our Heavenly Father it is both appropriate and necessary for God to discipline us. While parental discipline is sometimes arbitrary, God always disciplines His children for their own good. The focus of God's discipline is a call for perseverance or endurance in the painful tests of life. These tests are to our benefit, prove our sonship, require a response of perseverance, and produce God's holiness in our lives. Submit to the discipline of the Lord and you will become a better child of God for it.

The Historical Reach of the Cross - Hebrews 11:39-40

"And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect." The examples of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 all anticipated a greater future hope, but saw only preliminary glimpses of what God promised. Specifically, their faith anticipated the new covenant realities of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, Son of God, with his superior priesthood and the consequent eternal perfection of the faithful. The perfection of the faithful (believers) is the goal that was accomplished through the work of the perfect Son of God on the cross. The believers of the new covenant along with the faithful saints of the Old Testament partake together of the same end-times perfection: redeemed people in resurrection bodies. So the cross of Jesus that has power to reach forward two thousand years into the future to save you and me also has the power to reach thousands of years into the past to save those who believed the promises of God.

Hope, Faith's Main Ingredient - Hebrews 11:13

"These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth." The presence of faith requires the existence of hope. In fact, hope is the main ingredient in faith: "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (vs. 1). All the great examples of faith in Hebrews 11 are characterized by having a hope for something beyond what this present life offers: "They desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one"(vs. 16). For example, if Abraham was looking for an earthly homeland, he could have returned to his hometown of Haran. Instead, he persisted in following God's leading and focusing on the promise God made to him. So people who have faith in God are hopeful people and, conversely, people who do not have faith in God are hopeless people. When you are a Christian, you have joined the ranks of the hopeful. Like Abraham and the other great pillars of our faith, you have acknowledged that this world doesn't offer what you are looking for because you are "looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God" (vs. 10).

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth - Hebrews 10:24-25

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." The Hebrews writer exhorts us to stir up or provoke other Christians to conduct themselves with love and good works and not to neglect meeting or assembling together with other Christians (in church services, Sunday School, Bible studies, and/or prayer groups). Living by this code of conduct will help Christians strengthen one another's faith so that they can persevere to the end of their life or to the coming day of Christ's return and judgment, whichever comes first. This exhortation from the Hebrews writer provides some basic instructions we would be well-advised to follow before leaving Earth!

Celestial Security - 2 Kings 6:16

“Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” The army of Syria came by night and surrounded the city of Dotham to capture Elisha. When Elisha's servant awoke and saw the army of Syria surrounding the city, he was afraid. Elisha, however, knew that the Lord had sent an army of angels to protect him, and apparently he could see them but his servant could not. So Elisha prayed that the Lord would open the eyes of the servant. When the eyes of Elisha's servant were opened, he could see a vast angelic army all around Elisha to protect him from the Syrian army. Although the Syrian troops surrounded (vs. 15) the city where Elisha was, Elisha himself is protected all around (vs. 17) by the army of the Lord. Christians have this same celestial security protecting them today. When we are surrounded by the troubles of this world, God Who is in us, is also all around us: "For he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world" (I John 4:4).

A Clear and Present Expectation - Hebrews 9:26

"But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself." Christ has appeared at the end of the ages to sacrifice Himself once, for all, to take away the sins of many people. Christ's sacrifice of Himself is sufficient for all His followers and for all time. The end of the ages has been inaugurated by Christ's sacrificial death, even though it still awaits its consummation at Christ's second return. The Hebrews writer says that to fulfill this salvation Jesus will appear a second time to gather those who are waiting for Him (vs. 28). The final judgment will take place when Christ comes again. If you are a follower of Jesus, then you should persevere expectantly. In other words, you should have a clear and present expectation of His future return because He saves all who are eagerly anticipating His return.

The Principle of God's Provision-Redux - 2 Kings 4

At the beginning of the chapter a widow of a man of the school of the prophets appealed to Elisha help her with a creditor who threatened to take her two sons as his slaves for payment of her debt. Elisha told her to gather as many jars as she could and pour the little oil she had left into the jars. As she began to pour, the oil from the original jar did not run out until all the jars were filled. Elisha then commanded the widow to sell the oil and pay her debts and to live on what is left from the proceeds of the oil sale. Elisha repeated essentially the same miracle at the end of the chapter when he received an offering of twenty loaves of bread and fed a hundred men of the school of the prophets (and possibly their wives and children). And this is the same type of miracle Elijah performed in 1 Kings 17 with the widow of Zerapheth. God provides by increasing or extending one's need or deficiency rather than giving you more of what you already have in abundance, especially when your deficiencies are offered or surrendered totally and willingly to the Lord.

God's Better Deal - Hebrews 8:6

"But as it is, Christ has obtained a ministry that is as much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better, since it is enacted on better promises." According to the Hebrews writer the new covenant of Jesus is founded on better promises than the old one. While the Mosaic covenant informed people of God's moral law, convicted them of sin, and established a pattern of sacrifice and priesthood, it did not redeem sinful people; it only offered a promise of redemption that was fulfilled in Christ. Suppose you go to purchase a new car and the car dealer first offers you a deal that's not affordable for you and so he comes back with a better deal--more options on the vehicle and a better price that enables you to purchase the car. God has offered us a better deal because it has better promises--it redeems us to eternal life. God's better deal is Jesus Christ,  Who as God's Son is the high priest and mediator of this new covenant.

God's Good Planning - Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah sent a letter to the exiles in Babylon to reassure them that God has not abandoned them or forgotten his purpose for them. Jeremiah told them that after 70 years God will bring the exiles back to the land of Israel. The Hebrew word for "welfare" is shalom , which covers all aspects of peace and plenty. So God plans good--shalom--for His people. God tells the exiles through Jeremiah that if they will pray and seek Him, then He will hear them and grant them shalom. God's plans for you are good plans that give you hope for the future! So pray and seek Him to find His shalom for you!

Becoming a Spiritual Grown-Up - Hebrews 5:14

"But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil." The Hebrews writer rebukes the Hebrew Christians for their immaturity in their faith in Christ. The writer claims the Hebrew Christians should have matured enough in the faith to instruct others about the Kingdom of God, but they seem not to have progressed to spiritual adulthood. He says that spiritually they need milk instead of solid food. In other words, they act like spiritual babies who require someone to feed them milk instead of grown-up Christians who can feed themselves solid food. The Hebrews writer identifies a Christian who is spiritually mature as one who has the ability to discern between good and evil--to know what is God's will and what is not (cf. Genesis 3:5). This ability is acquired by constant practice--by feeding oneself spiritually. What kind of practice might train you to distinguish good from evil? Certainly the spiritual disciplines of Bible study and prayer can help you hone your discernment skills. So practice every day and grow up into a healthy, mature Christian!