His Name, His Blood, His Word - Day 18 Through the Bible

ATRC - Appalachian Therapeutic Riding Center - down the road from Mt. Celo Church

As a former volunteer in this deeply soulful place,  I am pretty sure there were times I felt the touch of angel wings.

Gleanings and a Quandary fromToday's Readings

1) Full Obedience - Jacob was told to return to his family (Gen. 31:13).  He didn't.  He only obeyed the "go" part but decided to live in Succoth/Shechem - not Bethel as God had said.  We saw the consequences of following his "eyes" rather than God.  We all make this mistake at times - turn our eyes to the world and away from God. 

2) Back on Track - now Jacob is communing with God again and is where he is supposed to be, doing what he is supposed to be doing- back in Bethel (Luz/Light). (Gen. 35: 9-14)  This is what I am to do as a believer when I get off track.

3) Separation/Purification/Cleansing/Division - Jacob said to his household and all who were with him -"Put away the foreign gods that are among you, purify yourselves, and change your garments...let us arise...go up..I will build an altar there to God. (Gen 35:2-3) "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?"  2 Cor. 6:14  Jesus said, "Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand." (Matt. 12: 25)  We belong to God's kingdom - not the worldly kingdom.  

4) Know/Trust/Seek God - HE is our refuge, THE righteous and just Judge (we are not) who has finished the destruction of His enemies forever. (Psalm 9:6-10)  Fight on my knees in prayer, obey God in my will before Him prior to taking action against evil. "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Eph. 6:12
5) Vertical Wisdom of God/ Horizontal Wisdom with Man.  "Do not withhold good to those to whom it is due, nor strive with anyone without cause, nor devise evil against your neighbor who lives by you for safety's sake..."(Proverbs 3:27-30)  "And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise."  Luke 6:31

6) In His name, through His blood, by His Word. Matthew 12:29: This is the believer's power and one of Charles Stanley's notes regarding Answers to Life's Questions - "Binding Satan."  "How can one enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man?" "And in that day ye shall ask Me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in My name, He will give it you.  John 16:23; But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin." 1 John 1:7; 2 Timothy 3:16-17—"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."
7) The Unforgivable Sin - "Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men."  Rather than a lesson learned, this is something I will continue to contemplate through the year of study.  Dr. Stanley says this sin is unforgivable because it prevents repentance - but that God will never reject anyone who is truly repentant.

The Holy Spirit persuades and enables men to accept Christ and enjoy the saving benefits of the gospel [John 16:8; 1 Corinthians 2:12-14; Acts 7:51], but if anyone refuses to submit to the Spirit's gracious constraint, preferring to call good evil and evil good, how can the gospel avail for him? The deliberate refusal of the grace of God is the one sin which by its very nature is irremediable" F.F. Bruce, Answers to Questions