Sister Wives (tv show)

Before you ask, no we're not into polygamy! 

The last few years there has been a reality tv show called Sister Wives which follows the family life of a polygamist family with 4 wives.

It's a fairly popular show, and I (rae) find it kinda interesting to watch the dynamic between all the family members. Cliff thinks it's stupid show, but he will sometimes watch it with me and it leads to some very interesting conversations. 

Now, neither of us believes that plural marriage is biblical, but it is still that family's choice to live the lifestyle they choose. But we do feel that is is wrong. Mostly we feel sorry for the kids that live that lifestyle and then choose it for themselves, because then it goes in a cycle and will never change.

It sounds crazy, but I think watching this show, and seeing all the different problems and situations that arise in these 4 marriages has helped our relationship. We can see the arguments or differences between the husband and each wife and talk about it. We can discuss what we would do in that situation, or how what they did didn't seem fair or right, or how that attitude really changed that situation, and on it goes.

A lot of the problems they have don't apply to us, because we don't have kids and aren't in a plural marriage, but a lot of their problems are just marital stuff that happens to everyone. While the rest of it is a little funky, some of the things they do to help or strengthen their marriage(s) is good advice or ideas, and that has certainly helped us as well.

From what we've seen on camera, it seems that a big issue that they either don't see or won't fix is the blame game. The dad blames almost everything on the wives, the kids, or the community or situation they're in. Seeing that attitude and how it affects the wives has been really good for us. Both of us struggle with blaming the other person, and I struggle more than Cliff. So it's really good for us to see what kind of damage it does, and how it hurts the relationship(s).

There have been a lot of times while we've been watching together that something will happen and we'll look at each other and ask things like 'do I do that?' or 'do I sound like that?' or 'do you feel that way?'

A lot of the time this will lead to conversations that are hard, but we always try to be very honest with each other. We don't ever want to hurt the other person, but we try to talk about problems we're having in a safe, non-threatening way. We know we're not perfect, and that we're going to do things that hurt and upset each other, but it's still hard to listen to compliants without getting upset.

It's something that we try very hard to do, because we value our relationship so much, we don't want to have problems in 10 years because one of us has been doing something harmful or hurtful that whole time and didn't know it.      (I'm sure we'l have problems in 10 years, but hopefully they will be newer problems that haven't festered for so long)

It sounds really weird to say, but I think watching the Sister Wives tv show has had a good influence on our relationship.

(Wow that sounds so weird!!!)

The Potter NoG9

Tonight let us look at a name for God that shows how he molds us and tests us. We are looking at God as our potter. Now what does this mean? Let us turn to Isaiah were this name is used first.

Isaiah 64:7-8  And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.  But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.

This passage preceding verse 8 is talking about how Israel had been forsaking God and turning away but now they are coming back to God; because God is the potter. Let us think about this, what is the imagery showing here? Have you ever seen a piece of pottery, like a pot, being made? The way it works is that a person sits down at a pottery wheel, and places the lump of clay on it. Then they start to spin the wheel and as the wheel spins they shape the clay with their hands. So they start by making a depression in the clay and slowly working that into a larger opening and then as that grows they begin to smooth at the walls of the pot and shape the clay into the proper shape.

When I first read this passage here I was thinking, so what does this have to do with me? Let us think about this. When we first came to know Jesus we were like that unformed lump of clay. We just sat there with no purpose in life. But once we came to know Jesus, he is able to take us down from the shelf and place us on the wheel so that he can form us and direct us.

Just like when the pottery wheel first starts spinning and clay does not have a shape or a purpose, so were we when we first came to believe in Jesus. Think back to that time when you were new in the faith, even if you were saved did you know what it meant to be a child of God? Of course not, we had to be taught.

Being saved is like the first impression on the unformed clay on the potter’s wheel. Then after we are saved we begin reading our Bibles, going to church services, and seeking Godly counsel, all of these things are helping to shape us into the vessel that God wants us to be.

Going back to the imagery, the lump of clay having just the initial indentation is now spinning on the wheel, the hands of the potter reach down and begin to form the vessel from the inside out. Each time the wheel spins the pot is closer to being finished.

So over time as we continue on our journey with God, he continuously forms us for his purpose. We read our Bibles and learn more about him so that we can be formed by him. That is so that we are more like him. Just like how a potter doesn’t make something useless, God has a purpose for all of the vessels that he makes. That is, we have a purpose in Gods kingdom.

The big way this illustration fails is that pots and vessels formed by the hands of man cannot be made perfect. There will always be a weak spot or a mistake. But our potter, that is God, does not make pots that are imperfect. He is shaping us according to his will.

Let us turn to Romans and see what was revealed through Paul about this name of God

Romans 9:17-23 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.  Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.  Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?   Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?   Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? Rom 9:22  What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:  And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory

Let us take a look at each verse on an individual basis so we get a better understanding about what is being said. Verse 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.

This verse is saying that God sometimes uses other people even nonbelievers to accomplish his will in our lives and so that people can see who he is. Then the people around us can influence us and help to shape us into the vessel that God wants us to become. In other words God sometimes forms us using outside influences, so we must be careful that the outside influences we are into are good for us.

Verse 18 and 19 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?.

These verses are explaining that God choose to not soften Pharaoh’s heart, that is God choose to allow Pharaoh to still hate the Israelites. God does not cause anyone to hardener there heart toward him but if a person has chosen to not accept God then God working through that person can cause other people to learn things or grow closer to him.

Look at what happened for the Jews in Egypt and all of the plagues and the outpouring of Gods power, and how this showed the Israelites that Mosses was from God and was going to lead the people out of slavery. Think about how little faith the people had if when Moses showed up, Pharaoh had simply said take the people, the Jews would not have followed Moses because they would not have known that he was sent from God.

We can look at this verse in our lives today like if you are sharing the Gospel with someone and they are not responding to it, maybe you being consistent and doing what God has called you to do will open up the heart and mind of the other person that you were not trying to reach. God has plans that are different from ours.

We have touched on how he is our potter and forms us for his purpose, so shouldn’t we listen to him and do what he wants? So these verse are talking about how when a person goes against what God is wanting to accomplish, God is still in control, that is God’s will is still done. God was working through all of the objections of Pharaoh so that we to this day are still talking about this story. About how God is so powerful that he was able to overcome all of the objections and roadblocks put in place by man.

God is able to overcome all things because he is in control, he is the one who is forming his people for a specific purpose. In this passage he was forming Pharaoh in such a way so that the Jews would know who he was.

Verse 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

This is a very good question for us, since God formed us and is molding us into the person he wants us to be, then what business do we have to question him about what he is doing? God is able to accomplish anything he desires. Who are we to object to how God made us? God has planned out everything in our lives for his specific purpose. That job you hate going to everyday? Maybe God has placed you in that situation because someone you work with needs to be shown God through you.

I am a firm believer that we reach way more people through living out Christ in our lives than we ever can reach through preaching another sermon. You may be the only Bible someone ever sees.

This is profound, you may be the only Bible someone ever sees.

This means that we are supposed to live out our lives just as Christ did. We are supposed to be the example for other people because God has formed us, he is our Potter and he doesn’t make mistakes, you are for a purpose.

Verse 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

Going back to our image of the pot being formed on the wheel, in the same way God is forming us on a daily basis. He is slowly applying the pressure and smoothing out areas in our life so that we are of use to him. Verse 21 is explaining that God chooses what we are used for, so we should not be discouraged if someone is doing more than us or accomplishing more than us. All we need to worry about is that we are doing everything for the glory of God, because we have a purpose and need to fulfill it for God.

Some people may have a calling from God that has more honors then yours but it doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of things because if you are doing God’s will, then you are doing what you are supposed to do.

1 Corinthians 12:20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

Being in the body of Christ means that people have different jobs to do and different functions in the body, thus we must do what we are called to do for the glory of God. In the preceding verses in 1 Corinthians 12 it talks about how the body of a person cannot function if it is made up of all eyes. In the same way if every person who is in Christ had the same gifts and did the same work then the church could not fulfill what it is supposed to do.

We need people who are gifted and called by God to teach and preach, but we also need people who are gifted in serving to pick up chairs and sweep the floor. One may have more honor but both are needed, both are jobs that people are called to do through God. If a person being formed by God to sweep the floor of the church building and that is their act of service then they are being formed by the master potter.

Verse 22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:.

God has been waiting on us as people to turn to him and accept what he has done for us. Part of that waiting is giving all people a chance to turn to him, but God knows that not all people are going to, so some people are vessels that are to take God’s wrath.

God must pour out vengeance on the people who have refused to come to him because he cannot be around sin but he gives us every opportunity to turn to him and do his will. God has formed some people to teach us lessons about what not to do. He uses these other people to form us in his image.

Verse 23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory.

The people who have accepted God are vessels to show his glory in all of the earth. So when we accept Christ and God begins working on forming us, we then become this example for all of the people who do not know God. We are only accepted through God because of his grace and mercy, there is nothing we can do that gets us accepted by God. But once we are accepted and God is moving in our lives then we are to show God through our lives. Just like when a potter makes a gorgeous piece of pottery we are to be shown to other people so that they see how great our God is.

Unfair

I (rae) would like to say something.  This isn't directed at any one in particular, but society in general, and especially Christian's who are trying to tell us how we should live.

Ok here goes:

It is OK for me to have my own opinions and choose my own lifestyle. I'm an adult, I'm in a wonderfully committed marriage, I have a calling and goals for my life. I do not have to conform to what you think is "normal" to be happy.

 My husband and I are making a lifestyle choice that suites us best, is the best for our marriage, and that we believe will make us happier than the alternative. It isn't hurting anyone else, it isn't disrupting anyone else's life, and it's a very personal decision. It shouldn't include anyone but Cliff and I, it affects us most, we will be the one's who have to deal with it for the rest of our lives. It's not up to society, the Church, or our friends and family to make, or even influence, this decision for us.

I am starting to see and understand the people that have chosen the homosexual lifestyle (and other alternative lifestyles) a little more. Now, I do believe that the Bible teaches that living that way is wrong. But it is still their choice.  Everyone has the right to chose their own lifestyle, and if that's what they want, then they should have it. It would not be a free country if they didn't. Again, I don't agree with them, or believe that they are in any way inside the will of God, but I'm starting to understand where they're coming from.

If my husband and I choose to do something a little outside the norm, because that is what's best for us, then people should respect that decision, even if they don't understand or agree. Otherwise it's not really the land of the free.

I'm not, nor have I ever been, against the idea of kids. Kids are great. But I don't appreciate people saying that to be happy, fulfilled, or have a good marriage we have to have children, because it's not true.

In case you don't know this is in response to some of the backlash we've received about our decision to not have children.

Childfree

This is a revised update of an earlier post. I was told that what I said was a little harsh, and in rereading it I found that to be true. I want to state our opinion, but not hurt other people. So here is a slightly softer version of what I was trying to say. 

I've discovered something in the last few months. Once you get married, everyone starts talking about having kids.  It's a topic that comes up with disturbing regularity, and it's surprisingly non-marital status specific, as far as the asker is concerned. What I mean is we get these questions from both married couples with kids, married couples without kids, and singles, almost equally. Questions like:

"How many kids do you both want?"
"Aren't you excited to start a family?"
"Aw you're such a cute couple, you'll have adorable kids!"


It doesn't seam to matter that we've said we don't want kids, or that we are living in a foreign country, the subject seams to be everywhere. So in response to all of this, and to let anyone else know, here is our stance on the matter of children.

We don't want kids. Not now, and probably not ever.  Now, having said that I would like to make it clear that we are not kid haters or anything of the sort. We volunteer in several of our church's children programs, and we met at a camp for children. We mentor two kids, and have spent a whole weekend alone with them and survived. We like being around kids... in small doses. But that doesn't mean that we are ready to have kids, or even that we want kids. And there is nothing wrong with that. There is no rule that says just because we're married of over 21 we should have or want children.

 The matter of children was something we discussed in depth before we even considered getting engaged. It's a big deal and we wanted to be sure of our view before we committed the rest of our lives to each other.

We believe that raising children is the single most important and demanding job on earth. It takes a person's whole life, energy, resources, love and commitment. A parent is given the greatest task of all; to care for a human soul. It is the most worthwhile thing a person can do.

We also believe that being a parent is a calling the same as with a missionary, pastor, or teacher. It is something that should only be done if God calls you for it. I would suggest that when God tells Noah and his family to "go forth and multiply" it isn't so much a command as a blessing. Because we believe that having children is a calling, it stands to reason that not everyone is called.

God has a special love for little children. Just look at how Jesus cared for them, or how the are called a gift from God. They are special to Him. And it can be assumed that God wants them to be raised well, and cared for properly, not mistreated or forgotten.

Could it assume that it is better to not create a child, than to conceive a human soul and let it lead a miserable life? I think so.  I will argue that to care for a child is both the greatest blessing, and the greatest responsibility that God could give a person.

And it's a calling that we don't feel. We believe it is better to remain childfree than to have a child for the wrong reasons and hurt that child. The wrong reasons are anything other than God's calling and a deep love of children and a commitment to spending the rest of your life providing, caring, guiding and loving that child.

We have many reasons for not wanting kids, the greatest being the one above. At this point in our life we are not called to parenthood. Another reason is that we simply do not want them. Why should we have a child if we already know we don't like being around them? There are plenty of miserable kids in the world already, who have parents that had them for the wrong reasons or don't care enough about them, so why add to it?

Also, I'm sure everyone reading this knows someone who you would say is a bad parent. For whatever reason, that person should not have had kids. I think it can be said that not everyone (even married couples) should be having kids. Just because someone is married or breathing does not not mean they are capable of taking care of children. Just like not everyone that is over 16 should drive. It's a priviladge that is earned, and a great responsibility. You wouldn't give a car and the keys to a drunk person? So why is it OK to force an even greater responsibility on all married couples just because they are married?

Another reason is expense. While at first this may sound petty, it's a very good reason to at least postpone having kids. Too many people are having a lot of kids and for any number of reasons not being in a position to financially provide for them. Then usually one if two things happen: the kids are not given the basic necessities they need or the parents have to take handouts and are dependent on the government to care for their families. Neither is healthy for anyone involved.

Another reason is overpopulation. No matter if you believe global warming or not, it can not be denied that there are too many people on earth. I read somewhere that in the next few hundred years ( if the population keeps increasing how it is now) we will run out of natural resources like fresh water, forests, and land to grow food. I don't believe this is what God meant when He said to multiply, nor it it being good caretakers of the earth (which, if you remember was the very first thing Man was told to do... even before multiplying) We're not being responsible with our planet, and a lot of its problems are from too many people.


But having said all of this, there is still one main reason we don't want children.

The most important thing in our life, after God, is our marriage. Children too often get in the way of that. Some statistics show that people that have children are more unhappy, and have more marital problems than people that never had children. Our priorities are supposed to be God, our marriage, family, church/ministry, community, world. In that order. Too often in our kid-centric world the children take the first or second place.

That's not OK for me and Cliff.  We want the absolute best marriage we can have, which takes a lot of work! We spend a lot of time working on, smoothing out, and growing our relationship every single day. We make a lot of decisions based on how it will affect our marriage, because it is the most important thing in our lives, after God.

I know people say that having a kid together cements your relationship, and makes it so much better.  And that may be true for that person, but in my experience the most unhappy people I've met have had kids and a crappy marriage. (Not that these always go hand-in-hand)  I've met several couples who have chosen not to have children, for various reasons, and have devoted their time and energy first to their marriage and second to ministry opportunities. These couples have the best marriages I've ever seen, and seem much happier with their life together than a lot people I know or have seen that have kids.

So at least for now, until if God changes our mind, we're not planning on having children.  That's our choice to make. No one else can make it for us.

Jehovah Tsidkenu NoG8

Tonight we are looking at an interesting name for God, and thus an interesting characteristic. The name we are looking at is Jehovah Tsidkenu which means the Lord is our Righteousness. This is a name that is only used twice in our Bible; both times occurring in the book of Jeremiah.

The Hebrew root words that Tsidkenu is derived from means stiff, strait, or righteous. I feel these are good words to describe God. Our God is stiff meaning he is unbending, he does not compromise himself or what he expects from us. This name is very important for us, because in order for us to come into God’s presence then we must be righteous, because God can’t be around sin.

But our Bible tells us in

Romans 3:10  As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:.

Does this mean that we cannot approach God? Yes we cannot approach God alone, but through Jesus we can. Let us begin by looking at the passages in Jeremiah for some historical context. We will start in chapter 23 verse 1.

 Jeremiah 23:1  Woe be unto the pastors that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! saith the LORD.  Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the LORD.   And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be fruitful and increase.   And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.   Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.   In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

As I am sure we know the book of Jeremiah is a prophetic work, so through Jeremiah God is revealing to Israel things that were going to happen in the future. So what is being revealed here? The first two verses are a warning from God concerning the scribes, Pharisees, and other false teachers.

If we read through the Gospels we realize that Jesus was very much against religion. What I mean by this is that the Jews had become so focused on doing everything correctly and not missing a single letter of the law that they were missing the spirit of the law.

The reason God gave us the law was so that we would see that we were sinners and can only approach God through his grace, it doesn’t matter how good we are for our Bible tells us that all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Then and now, if people tried to come to God through themselves God rejects them. The law was and is a type of a shadow pointing us to our need for God’s grace. These first two verses are a stern warning, then and now, for anyone who is in a leadership position. We must make sure that if we are leading then we are also being led by God. I know for me every time I write a lesson I am very careful to look at the passages I am using, the context of the passages, and any passages that are cross referenced in my Bible because we must not pervert the word of God.

Verses 3 and 4 are a promise from God that he will provide the shepherd for his people in the right way, but it is up to us to find them. In the last two verse Jeremiah is painting a picture of Jesus who was the promised messiah that was going to come. Jesus is our righteous. We are unable to come to God apart from Jesus, it does not matter how much you study your bible, how much you pray, how much you give, or what you do in the name of God, if you do not have a relationship with Jesus as your Lord and savior then you are not righteous and cannot approach the throne of God because Jesus is our Lord and our righteousness.  

Let us take a look at the other time this name for God is used in Bible; it is also in Jeremiah.

 Jeremiah 33:15  In those days, and at that time, will I cause the Branch of righteousness to grow up unto David; and he shall execute judgment and righteousness in the land.   In those days shall Judah be saved, and Jerusalem shall dwell safely: and this is the name wherewith she shall be called, The LORD our righteousness.

This once again is a prophesy that points us toward Jesus. I think this is interesting because God is telling the Jewish people in these prophesies that it does not matter how well you keep the law or how many sacrifices you make, you simply will never be good enough to come to me.  In verse 15, Jeremiah is saying that the one who will bring righteousness comes from David’s line; this a direct reference to Jesus.

Then in verse 16 is the promise that through this one person Judah and Jerusalem will be saved. We can apply that promise to ourselves as well because when we accept Jesus then it is as if we are righteous.

Since Jesus takes away our sin by his sacrifice on the cross, we are saved because God views us as though we have no sin. In the flesh we are not righteous but through our Jehovah Tsidkenu we are reckoned as righteous.

Since God is our righteousness, then what does this mean for us? What is our part of the job? Let us take a look at what Jesus has to saying about righteousness.

Matthew 5:6  Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.

When I used to read this verse in conjunction with Romans 3:10, I used to be confused because on one hand none of us are righteous, but on the other we are blessed if we hunger after righteousness. These verses actually go together perfectly. We must realize that we are called to be imitators of Jesus and thus we need to be striving to be perfect like he is perfect and if we are reaching toward that goal then we are blessed. But we also have to realize that we cannot approach the throne of God ourselves because we are not perfect, we are not righteous apart from Jesus. Jesus in Matthew 5:6 is telling us that by hungering after righteousness then we will be filled, but filled with what?

 I feel that when we are striving after God then we are filled with the Holy Spirit, that is we are filled with God himself. This is pretty awesome because all of the things that we are not, God is; God is perfect, God is righteous, God knows all. By us seeking to be Christ like and by hungering after righteousness we are able to tap into Gods power.

Another large component of Jehovah Tsidkenu is that we are able to resist Satan by calling on this portion of Gods character. If we look back into Genesis and throughout the rest of our Bible we see that Satan is a tempter. But Satan does not tempt with just anything. He uses half-truths because the best temptation or con has an element of truth. I know in my life that when Satan is attacking me, he use things out of my past.

I have these thoughts such as “it doesn’t matter what you do because you remember ten years ago when you stole that candy bar, God doesn’t love you.” The half-truth in that statement is, yes when I was a little kid I did steal the candy, but the truth is that God still loves me and has forgiven me for that.

Satan tries to point out all of the ways we mess up because we are all human and we all mess up but what we have to realize is that once we accept Jesus as our savior he forgives us of all sins. He is our righteousness because through Jesus God views us as if we have no sin. Let us take a look at another scripture talking about Jesus functioning to show us righteousness.

1John 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

Looking at this verse the key word here is propitiation. Now what does this mean? It means atonement, it means that Jesus has appeased the wrath of God. Christ dyeing for our sins means that God sees us as righteous.

The law given in the old testament was a type or shadow to show that people needed & need a savior, and Jesus fulfilled the law for us. Let us look at Romans:

Romans 3:19  Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.  Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.  But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;  Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

Let us look at each of these verses on an individual basis. Verse 19 is speaking to us about how if we look at our lives through the lens of the law we are all guilty of breaking the law and deserve to go to hell. And that we must realize that we are guilty and there is nothing that we can do that will make us right with God. Verse 20 is explaining to us that if we did not have the law then we would not know what sin is, for being in the flesh we are opposed to God and his perfection. The Law was given so that we would have a standard to reach toward. It also tells us that no flesh, that is nobody can be justified by the law because we all fail to keep it.

In verse 21, Jesus is the manifestation of Gods righteousness on earth and Jesus did not come simply to say that we are all going to hell even though this is what we deserve. He came so that he could bring us back to the father. Jesus came so that we can be reckoned as righteous before God.

Jesus is our Jehovah Tsidkenu he is our rightounos. But all of the law and prophesies given throughout our Bible are designed to point us toward Jesus. They are designed to show us that we have a need for a savoir, that we cannot do it ourselves.

Verse 22 is assuring us of the fact that it doesn’t matter what our background is God can save us and we can be viewed as righteous before him. If we accept Jesus it doesn’t matter what has happened in our past, it doesn’t matter what country we are from, it doesn’t matter what our skin color is, God sees us all the same.

This verse was originally given to try and show the Jews that people didn’t have to be Jewish to be saved through Jesus because that was a big point of contention during the time period when this was written. We just need to know that when we accept Jesus he becomes our righteousness no matter what our background is. We already talked a little about verse 23 and it pretty self-explanatory but we are all sinners and are separated from God by that sin so we need Jesus to approach the throne of God.

Verse 24 tells us that the only way for us to be redeemed from the life of sin that we lived is through Jesus and it is not something that we have done. It a very simple process; all we must do is believe in our hearts and confess with our mouths and we will be saved.

Now this is the first step and when a person is saved then they have a change of heart and turn away from the negative things that they were doing. But all we need to do to be saved is to repent or turn away and confess Jesus as Lord, then we receive the righteousness of Jesus. We are saved through grace; that is a very simple word but it has a profound effect, that is the word that separated us from every other religion.

We are saved and go to an eternity in heaven because of the free gift God gave us, when he forgave our sins and choices to view us as righteous. In verse 25 it is talking about the blood of Jesus being our propitiation, now what does that word mean looking at the original wording it is the same word that is translated for the mercy seat on the Ark of the Convent.

See through Jesus we are forgiven from our sins. Before Jesus the Jews once a year would place blood on the mercy seat so that their sins would be forgiven for the next year. See how the mercy seat was a type of Jesus. Now Jesus is so much better at showing us righteous before God because we don’t have to kill Jesus every year to be viewed as righteous. He die once for all. That is, he died one time to forgive all sins past, present, and future. Jesus died so that we are reckoned as righteous before God. Jesus is our Jehovah Tsidkenu.

Jehovah Sabaoth NoG7

We learned last week how the Lord goes to battle for us and protects us as our shield. This week we are going to look at the army the Lord brings with him. We are going to look at God as Jehovah Sabaoth which means the Lord of Hosts, or Lord God Almighty. Looking up this name for God it appears over 250 times in our Bible so it must be an important name for God. So what is God revealing about himself in this name? This name for the Lord, means the Lord of armies. This means that God has an entire army that we can’t see. It also means that God is powerful and in control; God is the general of a great army.

Again how we talked about last week, God is a God of war. This name reveals how powerful God is, Our Jehovah Sabaoth is in control of the entire angel army. This is a name for God that is used by people in our Bible who are at the end of their rope. This name for God first appeared in our Bible during the time of the judges in Israel, this was a dark time for the people. So the few people that still followed God were calling on a name of God that showed that he was all powerful.

Let us take a look at the first time this name is used in our Bible

1 Samuel 1:1  Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite: And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there. And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions: But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.

If we continue reading the story we find out how Hannah had faith enough in God that she kept praying to God, and God gave her a son, Samuel. And Samuel became a prophet. Let us turn our attention back to the verse we just read, why did Elkanah pray to this name of God?  As we have been learning, each name of God shows a characteristic of God and thus is the portion of God we call on in the situation at hand.

Why did he not call on Jehovah Rapha -quick test who remembers what that name for God means? Instead he was tapping into the fact that God is so powerful that he is able to command an army so great that it will conquer the world. Many men tried to conquer the world but none have been successful except our God and his hosts, that is his army, will. So Elkanah was tapping into the limitless power of God. For this family the power of God was able to answer their prayer and provide them with a son. This section of scripture is also a testament to the faith that both Elkanash and Hannah had, because they had been waiting years for God to provide them a son; but did they get discouraged and turn away from God? No, they just kept praying and believing that God would provide because he is so powerful.

Looking into the next part of the story of Samuel

1 Samuel_1:11  And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.

This is Hannah praying to God and she once again calls on the Lord of Hosts.  Why does she do this? She is once again tapping into the full power of God. Let us think about this for a minute, an angel is a creature so powerful that one of them thought he could overthrow God. Anytime we hear of angels coming to someone in the Bible the people are terrified. When I think of angels I normally get this vision of these little cute chubby babies flying around in this pink sky but this is not accurate. It appears to me from reading the accounts of people meeting angels that angles were terrifying and not something you would want to mess with.

So what does this tell us about God?  It tells us he is so powerful that he can command the angles to do his will. It is not as if the angles are forced to serve God or do his will. Let us look at Satan who was an angel in the beginning, his name at that time was Lucifer which means light bringer. This means that he worked to bring the praises to God but he made a choice that he wanted to be God and thus tried to overthrow God. This just shows us the power angels have but our God is so much stronger and more power because he is the Lord of Hosts he is our Jehovah Sabaoth, he is the one who commands the angles.

Let us take a look at a famous use for this name in our Bibles

1Sa 17:45  Then said David to the Philistine, Thou comest to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to thee in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom thou hast defied.

We all know this story it is the story of David and Goliath. David was going into battle with a giant, a man who’s whole occupation was war, while David was a simple shepherd. David had complete faith that God was in this battle, David knew that God was going to deliver his people, the Israelites. What David is saying here is that even though your army and your solider look bigger and stronger, I have God and his hosts of angles here with me and nothing can overcome my God. God went with David out to deliver the people from the hand of the Philistines because David was the only one in the camp to have faith in God.

If we look at it from a physical standpoint, Saul should have been the one to go out face the giant, not only was he king but he was also the largest of the Israelites. But Saul didn’t have the faith needed to face his enemy, so God rose up David to take care of the people and David, being a man after Gods own heart, took over being king of Israel and was their greatest leader. In this story of David and Goliath God came down and fought for David to show all of the people his power.

But did God respond to David’s use of his name? It would appear not because God did not call down an army of angels to fight against the Philistines but instead he went with David and fought for David. So why then does our Bible tell us that David called on Jehovah Sabaoth, David used this name for God because he was showing that he had faith that God would fight the battle for him. David is saying by using the Lord of Hosts that if God had chosen to send down an army to wipe out the Philistines than it would have been done. God was trying to show through David that if you have faith in God then you can accomplish anything for our God fights for us.

Next let’s look at this name of God when Elijah is speaking with God.

 1 Kings 19:10  And he said, I have been very jealous for the LORD God of hosts: for the children of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thine altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.

If we read the verses around this one then we learn that Elijah was in hiding from the people because they were seeking to kill him. He was hiding in a cave and the Lord sent ravens to care for him. Elijah was calling on the Lord as Jehovah Sabaoth to protect him from his enemies. Elijah was certain that the Lord would care for him and provide what he needed. This is an interesting time in Elijah’s life to use this name for God, because it is almost like he was needing assurance that God was there and had power but if you look at the verses before it you see that God had just called down fire onto an altar of wood that was drenched in water in front of Elijah. So Elijah had to have known how powerful God is.

But Queen Jezebel had told Elijah that she was going to kill him. So even though Elijah knew that God is powerful and able to do all thing he still had fears and doubts when faced w a bad situation. So it is not wrong for us to wonder what is going to happen, but what we need to make sure is that we do not doubt God, we must have faith that God in all of  his power is going to take care of us. What we cannot do is allow that doubt to change how we view God. We need to view the Lord of Hosts for who he is, the all-powerful creator and sustainer.

Isa 31:4  For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself for the noise of them: so shall the LORD of hosts come down to fight for mount Zion, and for the hill thereof.

Isa 31:5  As birds flying, so will the LORD of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it; and passing over he will preserve it.

Breaking this section of scripture apart, when Isaiah is talking about the lion he is referring to God, and when he talks about the shepherds he is referring to things of this world and Satan. Let us think of the imagery here: which is stronger and scarier, a lion or a group of shepherds? The lion is much more powerful, and in the same way our God and Lord of Hosts is stronger than anything we will face in this life. He will be there to protect us from the attacks that have come against us.

Looking into verse 5 it says the Jehovah Sabaoth will defend Jerusalem. Now we can take that old testament promise and apply it to us. We are Gods people just like the Jewish people, so if God was willing to go to war to defend a city then he is willing to come down and defend us. He is able to send down warriors from heaven to protect us. He also provides us the tools we need to defend ourselves. We have discussed it before, about how we have a suit of armor that God provides, and last week we looked at how God is our shield. So even though we may not be able to see him or the angles standing next to us we know that he is there to protect us from the attacks of Satan.

We have been focusing on how powerful God is through this name and how he uses the army of angels that he has to fight for us but we need to do something as well. We need to come to God with a humble heart and repent of the sin and wrong in our life. If we do not repent and turn away from our sins then God can’t hear our prayers because we are still in sin and God cannot be around sin. This is one of the most powerful things God does; that is he forgives us when we mess up. I know I struggle with this, I struggle to confess my shortcomings to people and to God but what me and you need to do is realize that God is perfect and he will forgive us where we fail no matter how often. Now this is not a free pass to sin, simply because sin causes death, but it is a great comfort to know that no matter how many times we mess up, God in his almighty power can and will forgive us if we confess and repent. God is the Lord Almighty he is able to forgive us and save us.