Bible Shorts

(Genesis 34:18-29)
Here, we read a story of how the prince of Shechem tried to get his way into Jacob's family through marrying one of Jacob's daughters.

First of all, he tries to buy his way in. He offers Jacob great wealth and security, but eventually, Jacob's sons tell Shechem that in order to be able to marry their sister (Dinah - whom Shechem had raped), he and all his men must be circumcised.

This gave to Shechem a hope of joining with the family of Jacob. Through this, Shechem was given the impression that he could become one with Jacob's family (we also read that his motive was to take all that was Jacob's).

This is an impression the church can give people today. The church can tell people that if they stop smoking, stop their bad habits and start doing good things like saying the Lord's prayer every morning and a couple of 'Hail Mary's when they make a mistake, then they will get to Heaven.

The chances are that the men of Shechem didn't understand why they had to be circumcised, they just went ahead and did it so that they could achieve their goal. They put their hope in this circumcision.

If the church just tells people what to do, they (the people) will think that doing those things will get them to heaven.

Going to church does not mean that you are a christian.
Giving money to the church does not mean that you are a christian.
Being in charge or having position in a church does not mean you are a christian.
Jesus said that even prophecying in His name does not mean you are a christian.

There is only one way to become a Christian and that is by believing that Jesus died for your sins - thus admitting that you are a sinner before God. It's free and certainly does not involve ritual.

The change has to be made within. Even concerning the Old Testament law, Paul says in Romans 2:29 that a real Jew is someone who has been circumcised both in his flesh and in his heart.

So the church needs to take note that we don't give a message of salvation by works, because anybody who comes to the church believing in this, believes that they deserve to get to Heaven on account of what they have achieved.

And to the individual; don't be deceived. If you've not made a commitment to Jesus, if you have not accepted that His death on Calvary was the means by which you are forgiven your sins, then you are in a serious situation.

When the battle came to the men of Shechem, the biggest hindrance that caused their defeat was the fact that they had carried out the circumcision. They could not fight because of the pain of circumcision.

Far from being of a benefit to your spiritual welfare, your religious practices and rituals or 'good habits' may well be what breaks you, not makes you.

(Proverbs 20:10)
"Differing weights and differing measures, Both of them are abominable to the LORD".

Ouch!

When I first read this, I just considered how God wants us to be fair with people and to make sure we don't rob others. I had an image in my mind of an old market place where someone would want to buy a unit of grain and a 'diverse weight' would be used by the marketeer in order to give the impression to the purchaser that he was getting a full measure when in fact, he wasn't. Something like that couldn't apply to me....... surely?

The the Lord asked me what this Proverb had to do with me. I said "surely nothing", and then came to mind all the times I have held people 'worthy of concern' (polite language for 'in the wrong') because of what they have said to me concerning their thoughts, what I have seen them do or what I have observed. Surely, if I have seen someone do something wrong, then as one of the leaders in my church, I should be concerned, right?

That wasn't the issue. Try again.

Some of the things these people were doing, I had either done them myself or was struggling with myself.

Getting closer to home.

What were my thoughts toward them? What were my thoughts toward myself?

Bingo!

And so I'd argue that it was different because I didn't know the motives of others in what they were doing but at least I knew the motives of my own actions, and then God revealed to me the motives of my own actions and so the truth came to light that I didn't really know the motives for my own actions and therefore I was using different measurements for what I perceived as sin in someone else's life than I was to the same sin in my own life.

The issue wasn't whether the other person was doing right or wrong, but that I was applying different standards to him. I applied less stringent measurements to my own actions so I came out Ok, but toward him, I was more harsh.

One word for this, a word that came to me as I was thinking on this verse was; Hypocrite.

I was acting with no small amount of hypocrisy.

I'm glad the Lord highlighted this before I managed to do something to hurt anyone.

But still....

Ouch!

We read in the Old Testament about how the only person who could ever enter the presence of the Lord God was the high priest, and then only once a year. Such was the ceremony to ensure that the high priest was clean and without blame or blemish before the Lord God that it was clear that the holiness of the Lord was not to be taken lightly and such was demonstrated when the sons of Aaron (who themselves had been appointed as priests to bring offerings before the Lord) were burned by the fire of God for offering that which they should not in a manner in which they should not.

And so, we read something which is so earth-shatteringly humbling in John 18:21-22. Jesus is on trial before someone who is counted as the high priest and He explains that He (Jesus) has not been at all deceptive in His teaching but that He has been publicly preaching in the Synagogues where everybody could see Him and know what He was saying. And the response?

"When He had said this, one of the officers standing nearby struck Jesus, saying, "Is that the way You answer the high priest?"".

How it would satisfy our human sense of justice for Jesus to have smitten that officer and said "Is that how you treat the Lord God of Hosts!?"

But what did Jesus do?

He took it.

The God who burned His own appointed priests for bringing a corrupt offering, responded to a slap from a common officer by taking it. Jesus knew why He had come to earth - He had come to save us and He knew what it was going to cost Him in order to achieve that. He gave His life and suffered a humiliating death so that we could come to the the Lord God without fear of being burned.

He took my shame, He took my guilt. He took it all and never once responded with even an evil look. He accepted the punishment for my sin.

What a Man! What resolve! What love He must have for us!

(John 10:7-10)
Jesus said that a thief is someone who would seek to enter the fold of the sheep without using the door (Him). He also said that the thief would come to steal, kill and destroy.

What is there in the fold to steal apart from the sheep?
What is there in the fold to kill apart from the sheep?
What is there in the fold to destroy apart from the sheep?

The enemy of your soul isn't so much interested in taking from you as he is in taking you. As long as you are not with your Shepherd, he doesn't care where you are because as long as you're not with your Shepherd, he has you.

So in all these things, we see that the enemy is just seeking to get between you and your Shepherd. To steal you, he may give you things to entice you away from Him who saved you. In killing you, he may help you 'find yourself', the kind of thing that leads to tragedy and spoken of by Jesus in Matthew 10:39. The enemy would also seek to destroy you (he is often referred to as 'The Destroyer'). Maybe he wouldn't look to destroying the thngs around you, but you - look at the effects of drugs, alcohol, gambling and you'll see what I mean.

The enemy comes to take away the first thing you've ever been given, even while in the womb - life. He wants to make it his, make it gone or make it worthless - he doesn't care, as long you're not the Shepherd's sheep.

But Jesus says that He came to give life, and not just normal rigmarole life, but abundant life. The thing the enemy would take, Jesus gives and with a better quality than the norm, as we may have come to know it during our time on earth. He has come to give us life that is bursting with good things. Psalm 16:11 says that in His presence is fulness of joy and at His right hand are pleasure evermore. Do you want that? It's there for you if you believe in the one who came to die for you and take the punishment for your sin.

The devil wants to take you, but Jesus wants to make you.

(Acts 6:1-6)
"Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task".
We need to be careful regarding who we look to in order to provide ministry in our churches. Sure, we make sure that anybody who preaches in our churches must be saved, but it goes much further than that. Some churches have strict rules regarding who can lead the celebrating the Lord's Table (communion), others may be careful about who is actually able to convene a service. Both of these are admirable and necessary.

In this passage, we read of a dispute in the church between two groups of people therein. One group, the Hellenists, or Grecians, who were Jews scattered in Greece and who would have read their scriptures in Greek, accused the church of giving preferential aide to the widows of the native Jews who would have used the Hebrew scriptures. This feeling of being overlooked was serious and came to the attention of the Apostles and so they (the Apostles) decided to appoint people to look after the distribution of food since it was not right that they (the Apostles) should neglect the word of God.

The fact that such significance was put on the Word of God is interesting. This wasn't an excuse for them to get out of serving at tables; remember that it was these whom Jesus taught the importance of servanthood and He even washed their feet. No, they knew that ignorance of the word would make them blind and incapable of leading the church, something today's church leaders need to keep in mind - neglect the word and neglect the people.

So let's look at those who were to be appointed. They had to be 'of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom'.

The emphasis on the requirements is that they are practicing Christians, living the way a Christian should live, demonstrating the power of the Holy Spirit and able to work with Holy Spirit wisdom. While some may argue that the requirement for good administrative skills would come under 'good reputation', it's clear that whoever is chosen must be wise in the things of God.

Now, you may argue that this specific task was a special case, that it was delicate and so required an extra bit of Holy Spirit power, but why not ask for a good organiser or someone who could have sweet talked the Hellenists into feeling better? I believe this is an example of how, throughout all the church, it is only Born Again, Saved Christians who should minister in the church, whether they're preaching, convening, playing in the worship band, cleaning, arranging the flowers or anything, all ministry (for these are ministries) should only be done by children of God.

With the best will in the world, only someone who has given their life to Christ should minister in the house of God. We can't be encouraging people to come to church so that they can play in the band (for example) if they don't know Jesus. It may sound hard and grumpy and full of the misery of a rainy day, but do we want to give the impression that someone can offer their talents and abilities as a contribution to their acceptance by God when we all know that it is God's gift through salvation - and that through repentance? Far from making people feel wanted, we risk making them feel saved when in reality, they're not.

The people chosen were men of God, consecrated to the task, and we see that the Apostles actually laid their hands on these people - only to serve at tables?

These people who some may look down on because they only served at tables were carrying out a ministry and were used by God even so, that one of them, Stephen, was martyred! And all he did was serve at tables?

Ministry is not only what goes on at the front of the church, the work of God is not only what goes on at the front of the church and so Spirit filled servants of the Lord God are not only needed at the front of the church.

Only the priests were allowed to minister before God in the Tabernacle and only the High Priest was allowed to come before Him (and that only once a year). They had to be clean and spotless. Christians are only made clean and spotless because of the work of Jesus.

So where does that leave us with those whom we choose to minister before the Lord in His house today?

(John 8:1-11)
"But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him {be the} first to throw a stone at her."".

Someone who is enjoying their sin in whichever form it may take may often respond to the Christian who tells them that they are doing wrong by quoting the above verse. It's a favourite among those who want to justify their actions and keep living their life without having to confront the truth that they are not pleasing the Lord with their actions.

But let's look at the context of this story where an adultress was brought before Jesus.

First of all, the woman had sinned. There is no question of the fact that she was in the wrong, that's why Jesus said to her in Verse 8; "I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more". Be warned, if your only defence is this old "let he who is without sin throw the first stone" line, remember that it was first used to defend someone who was actually guilty.

Jesus was without sin, so He could have thrown the first stone.

He didn't.

Why?

Grace.

Legally, she deserved punishment for her sin (having been caught in the act and having more than one witness), but Jesus didn't come into the world to condemn the world, but that through Him, the world might be saved (John 3:17). If Jesus had condemned this woman, He would have denied the reason He came.

So what He did was demonstrate why He came and demonstrate why you shouldn't be afraid to come to Jesus with your sin, guilt and shame. He came to save and He does that through forgiving our sins and we receive that forgiveness because of the blood He shed on Calvary.

He forgave this woman's sins. The woman knew she was guilty, there was no arguing with that for she was caught in the act. Let's be a bit more graphic about this; if she had been caught in the act and brought straight to him, she would have been in a state and the memory of what she had just been enjoying would have been fresh in her mind and who knows what she was wearing (if anything much at all)?

And so, before the Lord she had no defence but to admit her guilt, and He forgave her telling her to go and no longer sin.

It's interesting that only two people left this scene without a burden of sin; Jesus (who was always without sin) and the woman who had only moments before been involved in adultery - who's sins had been forgiven.

Remember, just because you're being accused, it doesn't mean you're innocent. But your guilt can be dealt with, done away with, totally removed, and only by Jesus.

This woman was an adultress when she was brought before Jesus, but she left him cleaner and more innocent than those who were accusing her.

No matter how dirty you may feel, or even be, Jesus will accept anybody and can forgive you all of your sins, give you a clean start and give you a new life.

By the end of this passage, this woman was not an adultress.

(John 6:11)
It's hard to find time to sit down and do anything properly these days since we're often in situations where no matter what we're doing, we're mindful of something else that needs doing.

I'm reminded about something mentioned a while ago which showed how Mary was willing to take the time to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to His ministry.

Again, we see here in that famous old story in John 6 of when Jesus fed more than 5,000 people with five loaves and two fishes. It says in Verse 11; "Jesus then took the loaves and having given thanks, He distributed to those who were seated".

Before this, Jesus instructed the crowds to sit down. When someone sits down, they're there to stay a while and if you tell someone to sit down yet they remain standing, you will assume that unless they have some medical condition that makes sitting panful, they are busy and are eager to be somewhere else.

Do you 'sit down' when you come to the Lord in prayer during your quiet time, or do you pray with one eye on the clock? Do you commit yourself to listening to the Lord's voice or are you worried you may be missing something?

If the Bible says in this passage that 'those who were seated' were fed, one can assume that there were some who were not seated and they were not fed.

Maybe you see Jesus as someone who only meets certain needs and so refuse to accept that He is able to actually meet some of your physical situations? These people would have all heard what Jesus was teaching, they had been following Him all day, so what was it? Does Jesus only preach a good sermon? Is it too low that the Son of God should wish to actually feed anybody?

Sit down and wait for what the Lord wants to give you. You may be suprised at how He can meet all your situations with a word of truth. But you must be willing to hear, and to obey...... To sit down and eat the food He has for you.

(Jeremiah 2:11)
""Has a nation changed gods When they were not gods? But My people have changed their glory For that which does not profit"

Verse 13 says that two evils have been done by God's people - they have forsaken God and made their own cisterns which hold no water.

In what do you find your sustainance? Where do you go for wholeness and even a little cheer?

Why do I watch TV, play games and buy new things if not to please me? Yet, when these fail to meet my needs, I turn to God.

Is it right that I should behave thus?

Jeremiah 3:1 says "But you are a harlot {with} many lovers; Yet you turn to Me".

How many 'lovers' do you have? For each thing to which I turn, by which I seek to be identified, entertained or comforted is such a 'lover', and they give me temporary happines. In Verse 2 God asks "where have you not violated?".

What do you think of a woman who advertises herself as an object for consumption according to the money being offered and the desires of any pervert who may pass?

What does God think of me and the way I look to the things around me for short term pleasure?

(Proverbs 1:23)
Nobody likes to be corrected, least of all me! Being corrected by someone can be one of the most painful experiences that we all have to go through, especially when we think that we know better.

Likewise, when the Lord God corrects us, but when He corrects us, we can at least be sure that He is doing it in love. Indeed, if you are even now being corrected and chastened by the Lord, know that this can serve as proof of His love for you for it says in Hebrews 12:6 that the Lord chastens those whom He loves.

So, looking at this promise in Proverbs Chapter 1, we read; ""Turn to my reproof, Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you". Although Proverbs is an Old Testament book, reading this passage of Proverbs 1:20-33 you can't help but think of Jesus and Proverbs 3:13-26 is almost a commentary on the Gospel of John 1:1-12.

So, with that in mind (and assured that Jesus is the Wisdom of God), we can see this in a way that applies to us today.

If we listen to the voice of God and turn according to His correction, we're not going to be forced to sit on the 'Naughty Mat' until we decide to be good, but rather, the very act of turning and acknowledging that the Lord's way is better than our own, and that His way is right while ours is wrong will already put us in a place where He is able to speak to us and work with us.

The Lord desires fellowship with you, to be close to you and for you to be close to Him and so His reproof, His correction and attempt to get you to change your ways is aimed at encouraging that fellowship between Him and you, and He wants that fellowship because He loves you.

But you must act. You must decide to 'turn to His reproof', to take heed to His voice and admit your fault. The Lord will not force you and although He will correct you, you must decide for yourself to turn and obey Him...... and don't expect that to be easy because it will mean swallowing your pride, not offering any excuses or trying to wriggle a measure of dignity for yourself.

But look at the promise! Look at what He has said He will do when we turn to Him!

He has said that He will pour out His spirit! What a place in which to be, where we see the power of the Spirit of God at work in our lives, strengthening us against the power of sin in our lives, giving us courage to take a stand and the peace which only The Comforter can bring.

But that's not all. He also says that He will make His words known to us. This is what Jesus said would be part of the work of the Holy Spirit when He came thus imparting wisdom and knowledge of God.

If you have gone wrong in your life and you can hear the voice of God calling you to return, the first thing He will do is give you a revelation of truth that you need. That truth will set you free (John 8:36) from what is binding you, will heal you and give you abundant life.

So the choice is yours. Continue in your own wisdom, in your own way and hope for the best, or listen to God, swallow your pride and take your place in His eternal purpose and love.

(2Samuel 7)
After king David had finished establishing himself as king over Israel and he had a nice palace in which to live, something troubled him. He thought about how he was living in that plush place while the Ark of the Covenant (above which was found the presence of the Lord), was in a mere tent. David, being a man of passion who loved his God decided that such a thing ought not to be and set his heart on building for God a great temple, a house in which God could dwell.

A message came from the prophet (Nathaniel) where God said that David was not to build a house for Him because David had too much blood on his hands. However, the bible says in Verse 11 that "the LORD will make a house for you (David)".

David was not chastised by God but blessed! David sought to build for God a great house that would glorify the name of Jehovah throught Israel and the world, yet God said "No, you shall not build Me a house, but I will build you a house".

It is often said by people "It's the thought that counts" and that is always the case before God. We can do the right thing with the wrong heart and that counts for nothing with God yet with the right heart, we can offer but little yet God sees our intention was glorify Him and so, although it may seem to us that things have gone wrong, in reality, the Lord has been blessed. So even in our frustration where in your church, you're giving it all you've got because you're desperate to see God glorified and to see people coming to Him, yet nothing is happening, don't count yourself a failure! "God sees your heart and the little that you achieve with a righteous heart is worth more than the many achievements of a proud heart.

And so here we see David wanting to glorify God. Was it a sin that he wanted to glorify God in this way? After all, if it wasn't the Lord's will, couldn't it be argued that David was seeking to do something contrary to the will of God and therefore avid had sinned?

Well, David didn't know it was contrary to the will of God until he was told so there's no problem there. Also, the first thing he did was check out the idea with the prophet of God, Nathaniel (and as far as Nathaniel was concerned, the idea seemed great to start with). Also, we see that when David was told that he wasn't to build the temple, he submitted to the command of God and obeyed.

For in seeking to glorify God, David was glorified and told that his son's (Solomon's) throne would be established forever Verse 13, Verse 16 - and only the throne of God lasts forever, so this is a clear reference to the Messiah; Jesus, a descendant of david according to His physical familiy tree.

When we are blessed by the Lord, we can often find ourselves running around in a mad excitement, thrilled that we have been chosen by God for a specific task and it's not long before we start telling people (or gladly 'let' the news get out to them) and if we're not careful, pride can set into our hearts. But David's attitude is wonderful for he doesn't go boasting to the surrounding kings about how great he and his house is. Rather, he went and sat before the Lord and thanked Him for giving honour to a man with such humble beginnings as he. In Verses 18 to 29, we read David's prayer that starts thus; "Who am I o Lord GOD, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far?". David is saying that what God has already given him is awesome, and yet there's more!?

Have you sat before the Lord in contemplation of all that He has done for you in saving your soul through the sacrifice of His Son and said to Him "Who am I o Lord"? What a place to be, a beautiful place where we realise that the most important honour comes not from men but from God because His honour carries weight, is pure and not motivated by anything less than love and righteousness.

And have you thought that as far as God has brought you, He wants to take you even further?

Yet how often I've caught myself in a moment of pride, wondering how powerful I could be, how I could do something for God and people see me. But this place where David was is where we need to be, where we ask the Lord "Who am I?", realising what He has done for us and how He has chosen to use us for his name's sake.

(John 3:3)
"Jesus answered and said to him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God" ".
Many have said that a loving God would not send people to Hell just because they didn't believe in Jesus.

What if God doesn't have a choice?

What Jesus says here is that if you're not born again, you cannot enter the kingdom of God. That's not a case of 'not be allowed to enter', but rather 'cannot'.

Why?

God and sin do not mix, His natural reflex reaction to sin is to burn it up. And we are sinners. Every one of us are sinners. We're not sinners because we sin, we sin because we're sinners - it's in our nature and we can't help it. If we get near to God as we are, we will die just as if we get too near the sun in space, we will burn up.

So, in order to get us to be able to enter His kingdom and enjoy His presence, God had to give us a new life, a life that is not of the old sin-riddled life we have lived, and this 'new life' comes about by being born again.

How is someone born again? By believing that Jesus died to take away the punishment that we deserve for our sin; this results in the condemning of our physical bodies with their lusts and selfish ways to the grave (symbolised in baptism) while empowering our spirits to live on eternally with our Creator by who's will they (our spirits) have been born (the second birth).

So if the provision for being born again was not available, would it be true to say that nobody could enter the kingdom of God? Yes, and that's why God in His love for you and the rest of humanity, took such drastic measures to bring about the ability for us to be born again.

If you've not been born again, it doesn't matter how good a life you have lived, you cannot enter the kingdom of God, no matter how much God would love to see you there - and He does want to see you there as can be seen by the measures He has taken to enable you to get there - all you have to do is believe in the One whom He has sent, Jesus Christ who was the sacrifice for your sin, who took your punishment upon Himself.

For if it were possible for God to change, to become tollerant of sin and turn a blind eye to unrighteousness, how far should He go and where should He draw the line? Who should decide the level of righteousness? A focus group of people?

God is holy and righteous and His reaction to sin is uncompromising. Therefore, His effort to save us is equally uncompromising.

Being born again doesn't mean you have to go forward in an altar call in a big TV evangelist show campaign, but rather making the decision to believe in Jesus, that He died for your sins (thus acknowledging that you are a sinner).

(Numbers 11:11)
"Now the people became like those who complain of adversity in the hearing of the LORD; and when the LORD heard {it,} His anger was kindled, and the fire of the LORD burned among them and consumed {some} of the outskirts of the camp"".
It's easy to complain when things don't go your way. It's the simplest thing to moan about the leadership, about how lousy it is and how it doesn't care for anybody except the elite few. Trust me, I've been there and there's no more vulnerable place!

Don't withdraw if the Pastor hasn't asked you to read or the elder hasn't visited you. Don't pull back because by doing so, you are putting yourself on the outskirts of the camp.

Why is it dangerous to be on the outskirts of the camp? Is it because of God's evil? Of course not! On the outskirts of the camp, you don't get the fellowship, the stabillity or the spiritual food that those at the centre of the camp may get. That makes you weak. Also, you are more likely to be influenced by what is outside the camp. Matterless affairs suddenly become important, opportunities offered by those outside the camp suddenly look more attractive because you are now closer to the world than you are to the heart of the purpose of the Church.

When water evaporates, it is the surface that goes. The deep does not evaporate away so quickly. A gentle breeze and a litte warmth will carry water away, but the deep will remain with better establishment.

"Ah" you may say, "Nobody wants me in the camp. I've been pushed out here to the outskirts". Get in there! You pitch your tent where you want. You're not to be looking to be the centre of the church, you're looking to be closer to the Lord. There is enough room at the heart of the camp for all those who want to walk closely with the Lord. Sadly, even if there was limited space, there would still be plenty of room because the attraction of what is outside is often more tantalizing than the truth of the Word of God.

Get in there! Know the will of God for your life and be far from sin for it's not God that made the outskirts of the camp dangerous, it was the people's vulnerability to sin and thus God's reaction to sin.

(Luke 10:38-42)
"but {only} one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her".
This 'one thing' that is needed can only be found at the feet of Jesus.

But He says that Mary has "chosen the good part". Part of what? Has she chosen a part of the 'one thing'? But Jesus says that she has "chosen the good part".

Could the 'one thing' be acknowledged as part of life? Jesus showed an understanding that life is made up of so many things, things that do worry and trouble us. But of these things that make up the patchwork of life, one thing is needed.

We may not know at once what this 'one thing' is, but let's look at this; This chapter has Jesus speaking in parables to crowds, explaining the Kingdom of God. Here, He is able to speak the same message but directly into Mary's life. He is able to refer to her specific needs as she sits and listens. How wonderful it must be, receiving ministry on a one-to-one basis with the Son of God!

Having a personal tutor for any education is a major boost for anybody's progress. How much better, then, that our personal tutor for life, the One who looks after us and cares for us is the Holy Spirit, and he speaks to us on a one-to-one basis! Who needs anything else? Sure, it may be nice to have someone give us a word of wisdom or to prophecy over us, but nothing beats hearing from the Lord Himself!

Who needs anything else?

So what was this 'one thing' that Mary received? Ministry? Teaching? instruction? Guidance?

That's a lot, but verse 39 says that she heard His word.

If He has a word for you to hear, am you listening to Him? Maybe you're too busy?

(Psalm 19:1-4)
"Day to day pours forth speech, And night to night reveals knowledge.".
These verses are almost a celebration of night, but show that it is with day's partnership that we are shown our situation and position.

The heavens declare the glory of God. This isn't only the night sky, for the sun burns with its glory. It gives the speech to the day and tells us what is about us. It reveals ourselves, each other and our environment. The speech of the day is its light and it describes the world around us. Speech communicates and reveals the thoughts of the speaker. Speech is a means of expression.

Yet, the night reveals knowledge. We see in the heavens at night things invisible in the light of day. It allows us to see the bigger picture.

God is greater than us and the world around us. We are not only part of a global plan but also a universal plan.

Each day speaks into the next as we live our lives, and each night carries its knowledge. When we have seen many days and many nights, if we have listened to the Lord, we shall be wise for hearing and understanding.

Day and night take their turns for all people. This speech and this knowledge transcends all cultural and linguistic barriers - indeed; "There is no speech, nor are there words; Their voice is not heard".

This speech of day is there to be heard, this wisdom of the night is there to be understood. it is declared, and declerations are made for people.

We are without excuse.

(Luke 22:41-48)
"saying, "Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done"".
We cannot expect to know the will of God for and in our lives by making it fit in with ours. We first must deny our own rights to decide and say "Not my will".

Until I can say "Not my will", I cannot say "Your will be done" because I am still endeavouring to twist, wriggle and squeeze a way to my own objectives.

Until I can honsetly say "Not my will", I will keep an eye on my hopes and dreams, looking to see if what I want may possibly coincide with God's will; for even if it does, my will always has pre-eminence until it is denied.

The effect of saying "Not my will" is an initial weakening - We remove from us our drive to move forward and achieving great things to glorify ourselves. We remove the power behind what keeps us going to 'that goal' - we die.

But then we utter, "But yours be done", we welcome the Divine drive, we take the empty will-less shell we have just become and hand it over to our Maker who makes all things good. He will strengthen us and take us to far greater achievements in His purpose.

God knows its not easy to submit and deny oneself of the right to govern, but when we put ourselves in His hands, we will be given the strength to pray more ernestly, to never give up.

If Jesus were just any ordinary sinful man, He would have gotten up and walked away under cover of darkness. But He is Immanuel, He is 'God with us' - the Word of God and therefore stood in His work without giving up.

We need to say those all important words, "Not my will". If you're not truly here, pray that God brings you here, but be prepared because it's not pleasant and it's not easy - but it is worthwhile.

(John 3:30-36)
The Son of God, Jesus, had and still has the authority to say whatever he likes. Indeed, His words even to this day keep the universe intact.

But what was it that gave Him that 'something extra' to say? What was it that authenticated what He said so that what he said was 'different' or 'better' than the words which many others have spoken throughout history?

John 5:31-47 says that the Father bears witness to the Son, so we know that what the Son says is true. But how can we be sure that the Son knows what He is talking about? How can we know that He is not mistaken?

Apart from the fact that He is Jesus, the Son of God, we have a wondeful statement in John 3:32 where He says of Himself; "What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony"".

Even now, we believe through faith in what the Bible says, but Jesus, who preached the Good News of the Kingdom of God, has seen and heard all of what He speaks. He didn't have to read about it and make up theories, he has been there and seen it. He can say "Listen to Me, I've been there, I've seen it with My own eues, I've heard it with My own ears".

He has brought the spiritual to a physical understanding, for we live in a physical world first.