Sharing wisdom by verse: September 2013

September 30, 2013

Classic Sermon - 1

Grazing Sheep - no fences

"My Shepherd"

Sermon by: J.R. Miller

Pastor J.R. Miller
1840-1912

"The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need!" Psalm 23:1

The shepherd is a favorite Scriptural picture of the divine love and care. In the Old Test-

ament, the twenty-third Psalm gathers the whole wonderful truth in exquisite lines which are dear to young and old wherever the Bible is known. Then in the New Testament when our Lord gave His friends the sweetest revealings of His heart toward them, and tell them what they are to Him and what He would be to them He says, "I am the Good Shepherd."

The Hebrew shepherd lives with his sheep. If they are out in the storm — he is with them. If they are exposed to danger — so is he. Just so, Christ lives with His people. He enters into closest relations with them. The shepherd knows his sheep. He has a name for each one and calls them all by their names. Just so, Christ knows each one of His friends, has intimate personal knowledge of each one. He knows the best in us and also the worst; our faults, our sins, our wanderings. Yet, knowing us as we are — He loves us still and never wearies of us!

The shepherd is most gentle with his sheep. He does not drive them — but goes before them and leads them. When they need rest on the way he makes them lie down, and chooses for their resting-place, not the dusty road but green pastures. He is especially kind to the lambs, gathers them in his arms and carries them in his bosom. All this is an exquisite picture of the gentleness of our Good Shepherd in His care of His sheep. He is thoughtful toward the weak. He loves the lambs and makes room for them on His bosom. Whatever the need is there is something in the heart of Christ which meets its craving and supplies its lack! The shepherd defends

his flock in all danger. Often he had to risk his own safety, even his life, in protecting his sheep. Just so, the Good Shepherd gives His life — for His sheep!

Christ's sheep are absolutely safe in His keeping. "I give unto them eternal life," He said; "and they will never perish — ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand!" Then at last, He will bring His own all safely home, "and they shall become one flock — with one Shepherd!"

Written by: J.R. Miller

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Grazing Sheep: Courtesy of Google Commons/free to share

My Shepherd: Courtesy of Grace Gems.org/free to share

Pastor J.R. Miller/Wikipedia.org/public domain

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September 25, 2013

Prodigal Prophet - 1a

Portugal Sailing Vessel

The Prodigal Prophet

~ ~ ~
Jonah pursues the wrong path
(Part-1a)

Jonah is a type of Christ and the similarities can be seen by way of contrast throughout this wonderful book. Jesus Christ is the promised Jewish Messiah as foretold by their prophets of old; the evidence having been written in the bible for us all to see and believe. “I worship the ancestral God believing all things according to that having been written in the Law and the Prophets.” Acts 24:14.

He was a prophet during the reign of JeroboamII 793-758BC and he prophesied the restoration of Israel’s bor

der north and south to the time of King David and King Solomon 2K14:25 He was from Gath-Hepher not far from Nazareth which means he was a Galilean and the pharisees were wrong because there was a prophet who came from Galilee. The name Jonah means dove and his fathers name Amittai means truth. I could not find any information regarding his father which means that Jonah could be the son of a prophet, (or not).

Author: Unknown; could be Jonah; there are arguments for both sides.

Theme: The sovereign rule of God over His creation and mankind.

Setting: Nineveh; Capital City of the Assyrian Nation. Eastern

bank of the Tigres River; modern-day northern Iraq, Kirdistan.

Jonah’s message: 40 days’ and Nineveh will be overthrown.

Time: Approximately 760 BC.

Book of Jonah: Outline
Chapter 1: Jonah pursues the wrong path;
Part-1a: Vs. 1-3 - Part-1b: Vs. 4-17

Chapter 2: Jonah pursues the right path; 2:1-10

Chapter 3: Jonah pursues the Ninevites; 3:1-10

Chapter 4: Jonah pursues his own death; 4:1-11

Text: Jonah1:1-3

1) “The word of the LORD came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying; 2) Arise, go to Nineveh the great city
and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before Me." 3) But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD. So he went down to Joppa, found a ship which was going to Tarshish, paid the fair and went down into it to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.”

1)The word of the LORD: - "The word", Hebrew translation: "dabar" (noun m).

Def; singular speech, discourse, saying, the sum of that which is spoken (Strong’s-1697).

This was a divine utterance from Yahweh to Jonah that will introduce miraculous prophetic events. "Surely
the Sovereign LORD does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets.” Amos3:7

came to Jonah the son of Amittai saying: Jonah is God’s missionary of mercy to the city of Nineveh. The blessing's of God were always meant to include the entire world and every human being; “and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”Gen12:3 His message of salvation is meant to have an international audi-

ience; “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make His face shine upon us so that your ways may be known on earth your salvation among all nations; so that all the ends of the earth will fear Him" Ps.67:1,2,7

2) Arise, go to Nineveh the great city: - “Arise”, Hebrew translation: “qum” (verb). Def; stand up and let us go. His mission will take him away from the comforts of his home country and put him directly into harms way. One author stated that, going into the capital City of Nineveh was like going into the jaws of a lion. The Book of Nahum tells about the cruelty of the City of Ninenevh ”Woe to Nineveh the city of blood, full of lies, full of plunder, never without victims; All who hear of your destruction will clap their hands for joy. Where can anyone be found who has not suffered from your continual cruelty." Nahum3:1,19

and cry against it, for their wickedness has come up before me: The message from Jonah to Nineveh is urgent and sobering; “40 days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” The city that he will cry against is known for being cruel beyond imagination and their wickedness has now come to the attention of the Sovereign ruler of the universe. Historically the Assyrian nation, present-day Iraq, has been Israel’s nemesis. The city must rep-

ent and be saved or remain under God’s judgment and parish and Jonah is God’s messenger of Good News.

3) But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD: Jonah has a few obvious personal

and spiritual issues with Yahweh that will cause him to suffer needless setbacks to his life and ministry.

(continued)

A Bible study by: Glenn

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References:

GoogleEarth:Courtesy of OpenBible.Info/Attribution/fair use

Lighthouse:Courtesy of Pixabay.com/public domain

Rigging:Courtesy of Pixabay.com/public domain

Historical information:gty.org/Jonah

Definitions:Strong's concordance

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Prodigal Prophet - 1b

Portugal Sailing Vessel

The Prodigal Prophet

~ ~ ~

Jonah pursues the wrong path

(part-1b)

Text outline: Jonah 1:4-17

A) God Sends a Huge Storm - 1:4-6

B) The Crew Casts Lots - 1:7-9

C) Jonah admits he is wrong - 1:10-13

D) Jonah stops running from God - 1:14-16

E) Jonah gets swallowed by a great fish - 1:17

A) God sends a huge storm: Jonah 1:4-6

4)The Lord hurled a great wind on the sea and there was

a great storm on the sea so that the ship was about to break up. The Sovereignty of God. No matter what the nature of our calling, nor how big or small that calling may be, we should take a lesson from the life of Jonah - when in doubt; run to God not away from Him.

5)Then the sailors became afraid and every man cried to his god and they threw the cargo which was in the ship into the sea to lighten it for them but Jonah had gone below into the hold of the ship, lain down and fallen sound asleep. Aye aye Captain, helms-a-lee, rig for foul weather! Force 12+ hurricane, batten down hatches, reef the mainsail, luff the storm jibs and heave-to the cargo. Every man cry to your god that the ship not sink; but what did Jonah do? With his hardhearted indifference to his surroundings and feet securely dug-in rebellion and opposed to God's will - He'd, 'fallen sound asleep."

6)So the captain approached him and said, “How is it that you are sleeping? Get up, call on your god. Perhaps your god will be concerned about us so that we won't perish.” The Captain is being somewhat cour

tious to Jonah because he did paid his fare for a passage to Tarshish. But Jonah's continual state of rebellion is making him of no use to anyone except to pray to God for a miracle

Get up, call on your god; God is Sovereign and when we call upon the name of the Lord He can save us in our most desperate time of need. A Christian running from God's will is going to produce much distress and regret.

B) The crew cast lots: Jonah 1:7-9

7 Each man said to his mate, “Come, let us cast lots so we may learn on whose account this calamity has struck us.” So they cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. Quote: “God sent a pursuer after Jonah, even a mighty tempest. Sin brings storms and tempests into the soul, into the family, into churches and nations; - it is a dis-

quieting, disturbing thing. Having called upon their gods for help, the sailors did what they could to help them-

selves. Oh that men would be thus wise for their souls.” (Matthew Henry commentary).

8Then they said to him, “Tell us, now! On whose account has this calamity struck us? What is your occupa-

tion? And where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?” After the lot falls on Jonah the ships crew becomes anxious to know. "Tell us, now!" what did you do that has caused such a huge calamity and is now threatening every ones life. Bible scholars say this appears to be a kind of interrogation of Jonah by the crew because they want to know why this is happening to them.

9He said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord God of heaven who made the sea and the dry land.” Again most bible scholars agree Jonah say's, "I am a Hebrew", because Hebrew is the name most foreigners would recognize and understand where he is from. Jonah's acknowledgement; 'and I fear the Lord God', is

a sign of his penitent heart toward God who made the sea and land.

C) Jonah admits that he is wrong: Jonah 1:10-13

10 Then the men became extremely frightened and they said to him, “How could you do this?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. The crew understands that Jonah is running away from the God who made the sea and the dry land so they ask of him, "How could you do this?" because the possibility of dying makes them want to know why they may have to die.

11So they said to him, “What should we do to you that the sea may become calm for us?”—for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy. 12 He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.” Desperate situations call for desperate measures; It is self-centered pride that makes anyone think they can be right with God without first throwing the Jonah in our life over-board; "Jesus paid it all, all to him I owe. Sin had

left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow."

13However, the men rowed desperately to return to land but they could not, for the sea was becoming even stormier against them. At first the men try to return to the safety of dry land because throwing Jonah into the sea could make things worse.

D) Jonah stops running from God: Jonah 1:14-16

14Then they called on the Lord and said, “We earnestly pray, O Lord, do not let us perish on account of this man’s life and do not put innocent blood on us; for You, O Lord, have done as You have pleased.”

15 So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. 16Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

E) Jonah gets swallowed by a great fish: Jonah 1:17

17And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.