Sunday, June 26, 2005

At John 11, we read that Lazarus died, was wrapped and laid in his grave for four days. Jesus, through the Power of God, expressed by His words, raised Lazarus up. Lazurus was brought back to life and restored to his family through no action or effort of his own.

Lazarus was redeemed by the Love of Christ and the Power of God!

Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building; Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. Hebrews 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: Hebrews 9:14 How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? Hebrews 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

Monday, June 27, 2005

In Jonah 2, we read how a disobedient Jonah - in the belly of the fish, deep at the bottom of the sea - has no human power over the fish. Jonah 2:10 reports that God spoke to the fish and then the fish delivered Jonah upon dry ground. In the final verses, in case Jonah does not fully appreciate the Power of God, God demonstrates that He can redeem Nineveh any way He chooses. In the process, God redeems Jonah too!

Jonah did not redeem himself. God redeemed Nineveh and Jonah.

Wednesday, June 29, 2005

At 2 Chronicles, Judah and King Jehoshaphat found themselves encircled and outnumbered. Jehoshaphat gathered the people and sent up a prayer that reminded God that they were trusting God to be faithful to His promises and to them. The enemy probably reckoned Judah for dead. But, in another one of those "single-evening" God activities, Judah was spared; saved; redeemed.

Jehoshaphat's prayer reminded God. God redeemed Judah.

2 Chronicles 20:23 For the children of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of mount Seir, utterly to slay and destroy them: and when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, everyone helped to destroy another. 2 Chronicles 20:24 And when Judah came toward the watch tower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude, and, behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none escaped. 2 Chronicles 20:25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much. 2 Chronicles 20:26 And on the fourth day they assembled themselves in the valley of Berachah; for there they blessed the LORD: therefore the name of the same place was called, The valley of Berachah, unto this day. 2 Chronicles 20:27 Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, and Jehoshaphat in the forefront of them, to go again to Jerusalem with joy; for the LORD had made them to rejoice over their enemies.

Friday, July 01, 2005

Daniel finds himself in the Lions' Den and he doesn't lift a finger to extract himself. The King ordered that Daniel be brought up and out of the Den, however, Daniel attributed his redemption to his God.

God protected and preserved Daniel and God Saved Daniel.

Daniel 6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste unto the den of lions. Daniel 6:20 And when he came to the den, he cried with a lamentable voice unto Daniel: and the king spake and said to Daniel, O Daniel, servant of the living God, is thy God, whom thou servest continually, able to deliver thee from the lions? Daniel 6:21 Then said Daniel unto the king, O king, live for ever. Daniel 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.

Monday, July 04, 2005

At least three times, in the Bible, men chosen by God find themselves trapped inside walled cities with enemies pursuing them. In Joshua, the men are the spies, sent by Joshua to spy out Jerico. They do not save themselves after Rahab hides them on the rooftop. It is Rahab, from Christ's lineage, who lowers them through a window, to safety.

The spies did not save themselves. God's provision of Rahab saved them.

Joshua 2:11 And as soon as we had heard these things, our hearts did melt, neither did there remain any more courage in any man, because of you: for the LORD your God, he is God in heaven above, and in earth beneath. Joshua 2:12 Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the LORD, since I have showed you kindness, that ye will also show kindness unto my father's house, and give me a true token: Joshua 2:13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death. Joshua 2:14 And the men answered her, Our life for yours, if ye utter not this our business. And it shall be, when the LORD hath given us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with thee. Joshua 2:15 Then she let them down by a cord through the window:for her house was upon the town wall, and she dwelt upon the wall. Joshua 2:16 And she said unto them, Get you to the mountain, lest the pursuers meet you; and hide yourselves there three days, until the pursuers be returned: and afterward may ye go your way. Joshua 2:17 And the men said unto her, We will be blameless of this thine oath which thou hast made us swear.

Tuesday, July 05, 2005

1 Samuel records the many times that David needed saving. In one instance, like the spies referenced in Joshua, he found himself trapped. Like those spies, he was saved by the hands of a woman who lowered him through a window...a window that many believe was Christ, who continues to be the only way out of the trap that everyone finds themselves within.

David was saved by the hands of another. Through Michal, God saved David, God redeemed David.

1 Samuel19:10 And Saul sought to smite David even to the wall with the javelin; but he slipped away out of Saul's presence, and he smote the javelin into the wall: and David fled, and escaped that night. 1 Samuel19:11 Saul also sent messengers unto David's house, to watch him, and to slay him in the morning: and Michal David's wife told him, saying, If thou save not thy life to night, to morrow thou shalt be slain. 1 Samuel19:12 So Michal let David down through a window: and he went, and fled, and escaped.

Wednesday, July 06, 2005

Paul twice describes how the hands of others were used to rescue him when he was also trapped. Like the spies and David, Paul was provided for by passing through a window and he had no hand in saving himself.

God Redeemed the spies, David and Paul. Paul did not redeem himself.

Acts 9:23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him: Acts 9:24 But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him. Acts 9:25 Then the disciples took him by night, and let him down by the wall in a basket.

2 Corinthians 11:32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: 2 Corinthians 11:33 And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.