Most people know what “dit dit dit dash dash dash dit dit dit” means. It is Morse Code and is an international code signal of extreme distress, used especially by ships at sea. There are two meanings: One is “Save Our Ship” and the other is “Save Our Souls”.
In this lesson I’d like to make a spiritual application using the SOS as a way to remember what godly love is all about. How the word in the bible for “love” is used. That word is, ἀγαπάω [agapao/agape], and means to love, to be full of good-will and exhibit the same. But if you investigate that word a little more you’ll see that godly love includes “S”ervice, “O”bedience” and “S”acrifice. John wrote, “7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John4:7-10). Nine times in just four verses.
I hope that after listening to this lesson, every time you read the word love in your New Testament, you’ll connect these thoughts and have a greater understanding and appreciation for God’s love. Why? Because God served man by coming down from Heaven and putting on flesh. Jesus the Emmanuel then obeyed His Father in all things and finally, Jesus died, a sacrifice, so that you can be saved, reconciled.
There is a saying that most people are familiar with—”One Bad Apple spoils the bunch”. It is true that one rotten apple in a barrel can cause the others to spoil. I think the origin of this phrase is interesting. According to Ben Zimmer a linguist, this idiom goes back to at least 1340. The original phrase was, “A rotten apple quickly infects its neighbor.” It meant that a rotten apple, or a rotten person, corrupts others.
In Joshua 6 God led the people Israel in victory in Jericho and yet the next battle ended in defeat. Why? Same people, same God. What was the difference? As we study we’ll learn that it was just one individual that was the reason for the the defeat, and for all Israel to be troubled. His name was Achan, and what he did had consequences that reached beyond himself, to his family and to the entire nation.
We need to understand that our sin always has consequence and often affects those around us. Maybe that is why Paul commanded us, “in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves” (Phil. 2:3).
The Apostle Paul recounting his meeting with Jesus on the road to Damascus says, “15 So I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you. 17 I will [a]deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I [b]now send you, 18 to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified[c] by faith in Me.’” (Acts 26:15-18).
What an amazing event this was in Saul’s life. So powerful that it changed him forever to walk in a new direction. Saul turned from being a persecutor of God’s people, from seeking to destroy the way of Christ to preaching Christ Jesus and establishing most of the first century churches of Christ.
In this lesson the focus will come mostly from verse 18 where Paul quotes what Jesus commanded he must do, “to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified[c] by faith in Me.”
There is an idiom that goes: “To scrape the bottom of the barrel”. (Cambridge Dictionary) The idiom means “to use the worst people or things because that is all that is available:” According to Wikipedia, this idiom “Derived from the historical practice in the early European history of storing food in barrels; when food supplies ran low, only what was on the very bottom of the barrel remained, and had to be removed by scraping.” Alex Epstein in his 2014 book, “The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels” Stated the expression “scraping the bottom of the barrel” comes from the phenomenon of the oil in a barrel existing in different fractions, from heavy to light. The heavy fractions sit at the bottom of the barrel, and the heaviest, like asphaltum, which goes into asphalt, can be hard to scrape out and impossible to use.
Believe it or not—this is a bible term and was used by Zephaniah – let’s read it here: “12 “And it shall come to pass at that time that I will search Jerusalem with lamps, and punish the men who are settled[a] in complacency, Who say in their heart, the Lord will not do good, nor will He do evil.’ 13 Therefore their goods shall become booty, and their houses a desolation; They shall build houses, but not inhabit them; They shall plant vineyards, but not drink their wine.” (Zephaniah 1:12-13).
Can you guess which word captures the Idiom Scrap the Barrel. Notice the word used here, “Settled” — that is it. Strong’s says it a primitive root; MEANING to shrink, i.e. Thicken (as unracked wine, curdled milk, clouded sky, frozen water) — congeal, curdle, dark, settle. The KJV sheds a little more light on this: “And it shall come to pass at that time, that I will search Jerusalem with candles, and punish the men that are settled on their lees: that say in their heart, The LORD will not do good, neither will he do evil.” (Zeph. 1:12).
What then does this mean to Israel and then to the church? Listen in and we’ll see together.
Hospitality is a command not an option or choice and one of those things that must have become a lost art with many in the church today.
Some may remember when everyone on your street was known by name. Back when a “stranger”, that is a new person or family moved into the neighborhood—people would bring them welcoming pies and goodies along with an invitation to dinner or family barbecue—and before you know it, they are no longer strangers.
I hope that in this little part of our study from God’s word we will find spiritual resolve and strength to reverse the inhospitable trend among many of the people of God.
THINGS PRECIOUS TO GOD PART 2
What things do you hold precious? Wife, children, grandchildren? Is there something that you own that you hold precious? We all have something that is so important to us that we would fight, even die for it. What is that in your life?
But, truth be known, if what you hold precious most is not to be in heaven in the after while, then you are susceptible to falling short of that home in heaven. When Jesus counseled the rich young ruler who asked Jesus “…what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17), the ultimate answer Jesus gave, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me” (Mark 10:21). We know that young ruler went away sorrowfully, because at the time he had possessions that were precious to him (v.21).
Jesus said, “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12:25). Knowing what is precious to God is a great way to learn to see things God’s way. To value what He values – to know what is important to God. There are so many things we could talk about—it’s an endless list and understanding them—helps us set our priorities accordingly.
In this part two we’ll finish up the things that our Bibles describe as being precious in the sight of God. We begin with unity of the saints is precious to God…
What things do you hold precious? Wife, children, grandchildren? Is there something that you own that you hold precious? We all have something that is so important to us that we would fight, even die for it. What is that in your life?
But, truth be known, if what you hold precious most is not to be in heaven in the after while, then you are susceptible to falling short of that home in heaven. When Jesus counseled the rich young ruler who asked Jesus “…what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?” (Mark 10:17), the ultimate answer Jesus gave, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me” (Mark 10:21). We know that young ruler went away sorrowfully, because at the time he had possessions that were precious to him (v.21).
Jesus said, “He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.” (John 12:25). Knowing what is precious to God is a great way to learn to see things God’s way. To value what He values – to know what is important to God. There are so many things we could talk about—it’s an endless list and understanding them—helps us set our priorities accordingly.
In this two part lesson I want to consider just a few things that our Bibles describe as being precious in the sight of God.
We have all heard phrases like, “Before I leave—let me just say”, or “Before I go let me leave you some final thoughts”, and then there is in conclusion let me leave you with these thoughts”. In closing his first letter to the saints in Corinth—Paul offers 5 admonitions.
Thus, the lesson today is thus called, “Five Admonitions”. They are 1. Watch, 2. Stand Fast in the Faith, 3. Be Brave 4. Be Strong, and 5. Let all that you do be done with love.
In the Previous lesson we looked at the first two, this lesson will pick up at the third admonition which is, “Be Brave”…
We have all heard phrases like, “Before I leave—let me just say”, or “Before I go let me leave you some final thoughts”, and then there is in conclusion let me leave you with these thoughts”. In closing his first letter to the saints in Corinth—Paul offers 5 admonitions. Thus, the lesson today is thus…
For Every Season God Has A Reason
For the next few minutes I’d like to consider with you the words of Solomon from Eccl. 3:1-8 where he wrote, “1 To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: 2 A time [a]to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck what is planted; 3 A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break down, and a time to build up; 4 A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance; 5 A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones; A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6 A time to gain,
and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to throw away; 7 A time to tear, and a time to sew; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak; 8 A time to love, and a time to hate; A time of war, and a time of peace.”
Let us touch on just a few of these…