Is it a worthwhile pursuit to memorize scripture?  Is this something important we can teach our children?  Will this discipline offer rewards that last a lifetime?  John Piper presents convincing argument regarding why it is so important to memorize scripture.  First, he quotes from the masters:

"Chuck Swindoll wrote, "I know of no other single practice in the Christian life more rewarding, practically speaking, than memorizing Scripture... No other single exercise pays greater spiritual dividends! Your prayer life will be strengthened. Your witnessing will be sharper and much more effective. Your attitudes and outlook will begin to change. Your mind will become alert and observant. Your confidenc and assurance will be enhanced. Your faith will be solidified" (Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life [Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994], p. 61)."

Next, he gleans from scripture (quoted from source linked below):

1. Conformity to Christ
Paul wrote that "we all... beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another.
1 Samuel 3:21

2. Daily Triumph over Sin
"How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word... I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you..."
Psalm 119:9
Psalm 119:11
Romans 8:13
Ephesians 6:17

3. Daily Triumph over Satan
When Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness he recited Scripture from memory and put Satan to flight...
Matthew 4:1-11

4. Comfort and Counsel for People You Love
The times when people need you to give them comfort and counsel do not always coincide with the times you have your Bible handy. Not only that, the very word of God spoken spontaneously from your heart has unusual power...
Proverbs 25:11

5. Communicating the Gospel to Unbelievers
Opportunities to share the gospel come when we do not have the Bible in hand. Actual verses of the Bible have their own penetrating power. And when they come from our heart, as well as from the Book, the witness is given that they are precious enough to learn. We should all be able to sum up the gospel under four main headings (1) God's holiness/law/glory; 2) man's sin/rebellion/disobedience; 3) Christ's death for sinners; 4) the free gift of life by faith. Learn a verse or two relating to each of these, and be ready in season and out of season to share them.

6. Communion with God in the Enjoyment of His Person and Ways
The way we commune with (that is, fellowship with) God is by meditating on his attributes and expressing to him our thanks and admiration and love, and seeking his help in living a life that reflects the value of these attributes. Therefore, storing texts in our minds about God helps us relate to him as he really is. For example, imagine being able to call this to mind through the day:

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious, Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.  
9 He will not always strive with us, Nor will He keep His anger forever. 
10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins, Nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  
11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth, So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. 
12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.  
13 Just as a father has compassion on his children, So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him. 
14 For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust.  

Psalm 103:8-14


Read Why Memorize Scripture? , by John Piper at Bible Study Tools.

Here is another excellent article from Bible Study Tools.  This, Why Worrying is a Failure to Grasp the Gospel, is one of the most-read Bible Study Tools articles of 2012, written by Trevin Wax.  Visit Trevin's daily blog at Kingdom People (found at The Gospel Coalition).

"I give an inordinate amount of attention to little details. Worry consumes me in a variety of ways: I lose patience quickly, I snap at my wife and kids, or I lose my sense of empathy for others. Worry turns my focus to Me. For a while, I thought that worry was caused by my failure to seek first the kingdom. If I would only fix my eyes on Jesus more, then I would stop worrying. If I would only think about the kingdom more, then anxiety wouldn't be an issue.

"Certainly, those who are seeking the kingdom above all things are not preoccupied with food, and drink, and clothing (as Jesus says in the Sermon on the Mount). And yes, seeking the kingdom first is a good action plan if we find ourselves worrying."

"In these difficult times, we - the people of God's kingdom - need to be reminded of our true citizenship and true identity. The uneasiness of worry surfaces in our hearts when we lose sight of the gospel of God's grace to the undeserving. Failure to grasp the gospel is what causes us to take our eyes off the kingdom and forget who we are in Christ."

"When was the last time you heard a "last days" sermon from the Old Testament? When most pastors preach a sermon on the end times they usually start with the Olivet Discourse (Matthew 24, Mark 13 and Luke 21) or the Book of Revelation. For years the focus on end times discussions has remained in the New Testament. Unfortunately that results in our teachers only giving us the end of the story. When reading a story, it makes sense to start at the beginning, rather than at the end and try to figure out the story from there. Yet the study of the "last days" in most churches today has us doing this very thing. I did that, too, for years, until I finally decided to start at the beginning of the book."

Snippets:

1. Jacob's Prediction of the Last Days:  Would you believe the first mention of the "last days" is in Genesis 49:1? 

2. Moses' Warning to the Israelites: In Deuteronomy 31:29, Moses tells the Israelites: "For I know that after my death you will act corruptly and turn from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days, for you will do that which is evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger with the work of your hands.”

3. Jeremiah's Prediction of the Last Days. Jeremiah 30:24 says: "The fierce anger of the LORD will not turn back, until He has performed and until He has accomplished the intent of His heart; in the latter days you will understand this (NASB)." Jeremiah 30:24 speaks of judgment coming upon His people, and it  is also the context for Jeremiah 31. Jeremiah 31 contains several fulfilled prophecies at the first advent of Christ.

4. Prediction of the New Covenant That Would Come: Another passage in the context of Jeremiah 30:24 is Jeremiah 31:31-34 -- a prophecy that predicts that the New Covenant would come at the end of the Old Covenant. 

5. Jesus Was Born in the 'Last Days': Micah 4:1 shows that Jesus was born in the last days of the Old Covenant: "And it will come about in the last days, ,  that the mountain of the house of the LORD will be established as the chief of the mountains. It will be raised above the hills, And the peoples will stream to it." In the same context, Micah 5:2 reads: "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.” This prophecy is fulfilled in the last days of the Old Covenant according to Matthew 2:1-6...  (Cross references: Deuteronomy 31:29: Judg 2:19)

6. Isaiah's Prediction of judgment on Old Covenant Israel in the Last Days: In Jeremiah 30:24; Jeremiah 4:8; Jeremiah 30:24; Jeremiah  23:20; Isaiah 2:1-2 , we see almost verbatim the words from Micah 4:1,  about the last days of the covenant...  In the same context of Isaiah 2 is the parable of the vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7) – the Vineyard is the house of Israel! (vs 7). It is a vineyard that God said produced worthless grapes! This same parable Jesus quotes in Matthew 21:33-46.

7. Joel's Prediction that the Holy Spirit Would be Poured Out in the Last Days: Joel 2:28-32 is quoted by the apostle Peter in his sermon on Pentecost in Acts 2:14-21... 

"All the Prophets we have mentioned above were writing to the Jews of coming judgment upon them for breaking the covenant of Deuteronomy 28-32. Last days events mentioned in the Old Testament  included the birth of the Messiah, the New Covenant coming, the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, and pending judgment on the Old Covenant system. Jesus clearly states that this judgment is coming upon the generation He came to in the First Century (Matt. 23:36, Matt. 24:34, Mark 13:30, Luke 21:32)."



Read the entire article, Seven 'Last Days' Passages You'll Rarely Hear Pastors Preach On [Sunday], published by Bible Study Tools as one of The Most-Read Bible Study Articles of 2012.

The State of Christianity Today, Bamabelle

The recent release of a compilation of 5,000 non-propietary interviews conducted in 2010 by the Barna Group indicates the current state of the physical church. When speaking of Christ's church, I use the term "Body of Christ" for purposes here, "church" is a physical church with members and which may or may not adhere to biblical doctrine.

The study reveals what many Christians already knew and much has been written about these issues. It revealed that the "Christian Church" is theologically illiterate. The very basic truths of Christianity are unfamiliar to many members of various denominational congregations, particularly the younger members.
Revealing and troubling statistics indicate that growing numbers who make up these churches do not associate their faith and belief in God with all areas of their lives. They do not believe God should be the focal point of their lives. These Christians believe the Holy Spirit is a "symbol" of God's presence or power, not a living entity.

As these younger believers mature, one can easily see how this lack of knowledge will be perpetuated to others. This dumbing-down of the church is a tool of satan and has been very effective. These same believers to which the study refers are the same ones who accuse other Christians who put their faith first, who
are not afraid to integrate God into every aspect of their lives, to be the very center of their lives of being "intolerant" and we see a disturbing trend developing . Those "fundamentalist" Christians to which I just referred, are being singled out as "fanatic" Christians and the most disturbing part is that those pointing fingers claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. It reminds us of something Jesus said, "And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand:" Matthew 12:25

As these believers, who are theologically devoid of the basic tenants Jesus taught, have more and more influence over other members in churches, it is easy to see that a theological "free-for-all" will ensue and beliefs once held with reverence by these denominations will have ever-growing inconsistency with Bibilical teachings.

The Book of Hosea makes it clear what happens when a lack of knowledge occurs:

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children." Hosea 4:6



The State of Christianity Today, Video, by Jim Wallis

The State of Christianity in America Today, by 4 Truth Net

If my people which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

But America is not repenting, not seeking God -- but turning away from God! What can we do to combat this Lostness in America? What must we do to help bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the 150 million unsaved people in America?

We must ...

PRAY • WITNESS • DISCIPLE

Click here to download a PDF of this presentation. (8.80 MB)

Today, I reference Seeing Beyond the Suffering This Year, by Ray Pritchard.  This wonderful article was the 'Topical Bible Study' by Bible Study Tools on January 3rd, 2013.  I gained much from it, so I wish to share it with you!  It helped me formulate a plan of attack and brought much peace.  Please visit the above link to read the entire article.  It is long, but well worth the time spent to make a study of it.  Meanwhile, here are a few choice snippets:

"Life is hard. Does anyone reading these words have any question about that? I didn’t think so. Because we live in a fallen world, nothing works the way it’s supposed to. Sin has stained every part of the physical universe. And sin has deeply infected the human bloodstream. Things break. Our bodies wear out. We grow old and die. People kill each other. Marriages break up. Children get hooked on drugs or alcohol or sex. Or all three. Babies are born with defects that cannot be corrected. Priests molest children. Pastors commit adultery. Our friends disappoint us. And we disappoint our friends. One day we wake up to find  out that we’re being sued by a former colleague. Or the boss decides that we  aren’t the right “fit,” whatever that means."

"There is abroad in the land today the notion that the Christian life is easy. It isn’t. Whoever said that it was? Jesus did say that his yoke was easy and burden  was light, but that was in comparison to the Pharisees, and anyway, an easy yoke  is a yoke nonetheless. He also talked about taking up your cross daily, denying  yourself, and following him. Nothing easy about that.

"Lest I be misunderstood, I hasten to say that the Christian life is the best life there is because it’s the only true life. To know Christ is to know God and  to know God is to have eternal life. Jesus himself said that anything you give  up will be repaid many times over in this life, and much more in the life to  come (Mark  10:29-30). The paradox is this: If you follow Christ, you have to lose your  life in order to save it. You have to go to the cross every day in order to  discover the power of the resurrection. You have to die to find abundant life.  You have to reckon yourself dead to sin in order to experience the fullness of  life in Christ."

"Here are four principles that help us think clearly about our trials:

1) Because we live in a fallen world, bad things happen to all of us.
2) We have no control over many things that happen to us or to those around us.
3) We do have complete control over how we respond.
4) Our response to  our trials largely determines our spiritual growth—or lack thereof."

" “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James  1:2)."

"As I have pondered the matter, and considered my own difficulties with this concept, the thought occurs that “counting it all joy” when troubles come is not  a natural response. If we want a natural response, we can talk about anger or  despair or complaining or getting even or running away. It isn’t “natural” to  find joy in hardship. But that’s the whole point. James isn’t talking about a “natural” reaction. He’s talking about a “supernatural” reaction made possible by the Holy Spirit who enables us to see and to respond from God’s point of view."

"If we can make the choice to view life that way, then we can make the following statements about our struggles and our trials:
1) This is sent from the Lord.
2) This is necessary for my spiritual growth."

"Here’s a practical hint. Don’t trust your feelings!"

"No doubt our main problem comes because we misunderstand the word “joy.” In contemporary parlance, the word is virtually a synonym for happiness. Joy to many people speaks of a pep rally or a champagne party or a New Year’s Eve bash.  To us, joy means the absence of all pain. But that’s not at all what the Bible  means. Here’s a working definition: Joy is deep satisfaction that comes from  knowing that God is in control even when my circumstances seem to be out of  control. The key to joy is knowing that God is in control. If you know that, you  can be satisfied at a very deep level even while you weep over what is happening  around you and to you."

"...excessive grief can be selfish..."
"A. Remind yourself of the promises of God."
"B. Give thanks for what you can give thanks for."
"C. Refuse to give in to bitterness and despair."
"D. Choose to believe in God."
"E. Make up your mind to go on with life."
"This is what David did [II  Samuel 12]. This is what we must do. Grief is good and proper and is healing and even ennobling, but after grief has done its work of healing and helping, then we must move on. The past is gone and we can’t go back. Don’t try.  You can’t live in yesterday. And you can’t even live in today. The voice of God  calls us onward toward tomorrow. Several years ago I formulated a principle I  call the First Law of Spiritual Progress. It goes like this:
I can’t go back.
I can’t stay here.
I must go forward."

"What is God trying to do when he allows his children to go through hard trials and deep suffering? There are several answers to that question. First, God wants to purge us of sin and to purify us of iniquity. Second, God uses suffering to test our faith. Will you still obey God in the darkness? Will you serve God when things aren’t going your way? Will you hold on to the truth when you feel like giving up? Third, God uses times of difficulty to humble us. When things are going well, we tend to get puffed up about our accomplishments. But let the darkness fall and we are on our knees crying out to God. Fourth, God definitely uses hard times to prepare us to minister to others. He comforts us so that we may comfort others. I know many Christians whose greatest ministry has come from sharing with others how God helped them through a time of crisis. Fifth, I believe God uses hard times to prepare us for a new understanding of his character. In the furnace we discover God’s goodness in a way we had never experienced it before."

"God’s great design is to produce “perseverance.” The Greek word is hupomone, sometimes translated as “endurance” or “steadfastness” or “patience.” In the book of Revelation, this word describes the faith of those brave saints who would not take the Mark of the Beast. Thus it describes a certain kind of “battle-tested” faith that stands up under withering fire from the enemy and does not cut and run."

"“Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James  1:4)."

"When trials have finished their work in us, we will not lack anything the Lord wants us to have. If we need faith, we will have it. If we need hope, we will have it. If we need love, we will have it. If we need any of the nine-fold fruit  of the Spirit (Galatians  5:22-23), it will be produced in us. Nothing will be left out; nothing will  be left behind."

" "In order to make this as simple as possible, I’d like to boil my sermon down to just two words. When hard times come, when trials fall upon us, or we seem to  fall upon them, when the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune knock us to the  ground, what should we do? Remember these two words.

"Pray and stay. Repeat that out loud. PRAY and STAY.

"Don’t run. Don’t hide. Don’t shake your fist at God. Don’t start arguing with the Almighty. And don’t waste time trying to make excuses or empty promises. And  don’t try to bargain your way out of trouble. It doesn’t work, and you don’t  have anything to bargain with anyway.

"Pray and stay. Pray and stay. Pray and stay."

"Pray: Seek God’s face. Spend time with the Lord. Listen for his voice. Ask God, “What are you trying to teach me? Speak, Lord, and I will listen to your voice.”

"Stay: Wait. Be patient. Don’t rush God. (You can’t rush him!) Refuse to run away. Affirm by faith that God is at work even though he seems invisible and your life seems chaotic."

"The Choice is Ours:

"Joy or bitterness.

"Forgiveness or anger.

"Trust or unbelief.

"Faith or fear.

"Love or hatred.

"Kindness or malice.

"Temperance or self-indulgence.

"Gentleness or stubbornness.

"Mercy or revenge.

"Peace or worry.

"Hope or despair."

______________________
Scripture Cited by Ray Pritchard:

Mark  10:29-30
Romans  7
Romans  8:13
Galatians  5:17
I  Peter 5:8
Acts  14:22 ESV
II  Timothy 2:3 ESV
James  1:2-4
II  Samuel 12
II  Samuel 12:15
II  Samuel 12:23 NKJV
Ecclesiastes  3:1-8
James  1:3
Job  23:10
James  1:4
Galatians  5:22-23
Romans  8:28

As one who is fascinated by God's creation, this story is particularly appealing to me.  The Oak of Mamre is mentioned in Genesis (and elsewhere in scripture) and reported to be about 5,000 years old.  It is a spectacular tree.  It has stood the test of time and is still sprouting a few twigs today.  Please follow the links provided for more information.  This magnificent tree's life has been recorded in biblical history!  Imagine the stories it could tell!




Then Abram moved his tent and came and dwelt by the oaks of Mamre, which are in Hebron, and there he built an altar to the LORD.
Genesis 13:18

"...under the Oak of Mamre, in the very place where the Covenant had been drawn up between YAHWEH and HIS faithful follower, four points were now clearly established: the confirmation of the Covenant; the change in the names of the patriarch and his wife; the introduction of circumcision among the Hebrew clan; the promise of the birth of Yitschaq."

The Oak and The Covenant

"Abraham's Oak has become considerably weakened in recent years, as is shown by the accompanying illustrations, taken in the years 1847 and 1897 respectively. In 1852 a large branch was broken off by lightning; and the wood from it formed eight camelloads."

Jewish Encyclopedia

"Set in what looked like a huge cement pot and surrounded by a 10-foot-high iron fence, the gnarled gray-and-charcoal-black oak stood only because seven metal bars held it upright. Steel belts encircled every weak joint, some of them only preventing broken pieces from falling to the ground.

"The tree sprouted not a single green leaf or bud.

"The tree was dead.

"A tear streaked down caretaker Zablah's left cheek. 

" `The tree was alive eight months ago,'' he said. ``It still had green leaves. Before, 10 years ago, busloads of people used to come. Every day I have come to this tree, watched over it, prayed by it.'' "

A Little Recent History, 1996, The Miami Herald

"There are five figures in the Bible who, according to standard Jewish and Christian interpretation, are reported to have ascended to heaven: Enoch (Gen 5:24); Elijah (2 Kgs 2:1-12); Jesus (Luke 24:51; Acts 1:9); Paul (2 Cor 12:2-4); and John (Rev 4:1). There are also four related accounts in which individuals behold the throne, or heavenly court, of Yahweh: Moses, Aaron, and the elders of Israel (Exod 24:9-11); Micaiah (1 Kgs 22:19-23); Isaiah (Isa 6:1-13); and Ezekiel (Ezk 1, 10). Finally, there is the scene in which an otherwise unidentified “son of man” comes before the throne of God in an apocalyptic vision of Daniel (Dan 7:11-14)."







I. Ascent as an Invasion of Heaven

"Generally speaking, just as there is no coming back from the dead, there is no idea or expectation that humans can go to heaven, a place reserved for God and his angelic attendants. This means that any report of a human being ascending to heaven would be seen as not only extraordinary, but often even as an intrusion or invasion of the divine realm."

II. Ascent to Receive Revelation

"This type of ascent involves a “round trip” from earth to heaven and back again, or some visionary experience of the heavenly court from which one returns to normal experience (ascent/descent). In contrast to the previous type, the journey or experience is appraised most positively. The earth, not heaven, is still understood as the proper human place, so that the ascent remains a “visit,” though not an intrusion, into the divine realm."

III. Ascent to Immortal Heavenly Life

"This type of ascent to heaven is final or “one way:” a mortal obtains immortality, or release from mortal conditions, thorough a permanent ascent to the heavenly realms..."  "The only candidates for such immortalization in the Hebrew Bible are Enoch and Elijah..."

IV. Ascent as a Foretaste of the Heavenly World

"This type of ascent involves a journey or “visit” to heaven which functions as a foretaste or anticipation of a final or permanent ascent to heavenly life. Though related to the second category, ascent to receive revelation, it is fundamentally different. For example, when Isaiah is taken before God’s throne, though he receives a commission and experiences the glories of the heavenly world, there is no idea that he will return to that realm. He remains a mortal who dies and descends to Sheol with all the other dead."


If I Ascend to Heaven…Paul’s Journey to Paradise, by James Tabor

"This article was originally published on Dr. James Tabor’s popular Taborblog, a site that discusses and reports on “‘All things biblical’ from the Hebrew Bible to Early Christianity in the Roman World and Beyond.” "

Chief of Sinners

1 Timothy 1:16 and Galatians 1:15

I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. . . . He set me apart before I was born, and called me by his grace.

You were aflame, a Pharisee.
      I  was. Without a flaw.
Then blameless? Perfect purity?
     Yes, in the law.

Did you consent to Stephen's death?
     More than consent, approved.
And did you hear his final breath?
     I did, unmoved.

Did you condemn the innocent?
     More than condemn, blasphemed.
And was your sentence violent?
     It was. They screamed.

Did you not once lament all this?
     Not once. Nor felt regret.
Or feel the heat of the abyss?
    Nor chill, nor sweat.

And still you say, you were elect?
     I do: to pray, to preach.
And all this time your King reject?
     And worse, impeach.

Did he regard your wickedness?
     With flawless eye, enthroned.
And you he purposed to possess?
     Already owned.

Then why so many wicked years?
     My guilt, my unbelief.
What? Make you like your sinful peers?
     No. Rather, chief.

But yet the last apostle! Paul.
     Not only last, but least.
A co-inheritor of all!
     And co-deceased.

For whom, then, all this sin, this pain?
     For you, like me, depraved.
And what my benefit, my gain?
     Forever saved.

From Pharisee to freedman then.
     Two thousand years apart. 
The hope of all the worst of men:
     His patient heart. 
 
November, 2012 

Chief of Sinners
©2012 Desiring God Foundation. Used by Permission.

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Please include the following statement on any distributed copy: By John Piper. ©2012 Desiring God Foundation. Website: desiringGod.org