Author: evangelist_breland

Judges 6:1-10, NRSV

Scripture has told us many times of the disobedience of God’s people and the consequences as a result. Here the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and He gave them seven years of oppression in the hands of the Midianites (v.1). We may not fear God and may choose to disobey Him, but when He removes His hand of protection, we will fear the enemy for He is not merciful and will wreak havoc in our lives. God allowed Midian to have the upper hand, prevailing in His people’s lives. They hid out in the mountains in caves and strongholds they made for themselves (v.2). Every time they planted their crops, the Midianites, who had allied with the Amalekites and the people of the east, came up against them, destroying the produce of the land. Israel had nothing to eat or any livestock. The enemy came with their camels as locusts and wasted the land as they came in. The Midianites left Israel greatly impoverished, and the Israelites cried out to the Lord for help (vv.3-6). “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15, ESV).

When God allowed the Midianites to oppress the Israelites, they cried to the Lord for help (v.7). The God of mercy sent a prophet to the Israelites to deliver His message to them, “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: I led you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of slavery (v.8), and I delivered you from the hand of the Egyptians and from the hand of all who oppressed you and drove them out before you and gave you their land (v.9). I said to you, ‘I am the Lord your God; you shall not pay reverence to the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live.’ But you have not given heed to my voice” (v.10). If you are tired of the Midianite oppression God sent to prevail over you, repent today and return to the Lord. Give Him praise and a hand clap!

Ephesians 4:29-32, NKJV

Here Paul continues to set forth commands for believers. They must not remain the same as when under the influence of the old man. Think about it. Once you take a refreshing bath or shower, you would not put those old dirty clothes back on. You change into a fresh set. When you put on the new man, you do not want to continue wearing the old man’s clothes of unrighteousness, walking in disobedience. The change children of God make must be transformational; the new man must be very different from the old man.

In verse 29 believers are commanded to not let a corrupt word come out of their mouth. Believers should only allow words that are “good for necessary edification, or building up, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”  Believers have put on the new man of righteousness and holiness; they must remember that a good tree does not bring forth corrupt fruit (Luke 6:43a). In other words, believers are expected to build up and encourage others according to the need and the occasion, so that what you say will be a blessing to those who hear. “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God,” (v.30a) we are commanded. Yes, we have the tendency to sin, but because God has been so gracious to His children, why would we make Him sad by sinning? God’s Holy Spirit has sealed us for the day of redemption (v.30b).  

Children of God, we have been washed in the blood of the Lamb, transformed by the renewing of our mind; therefore, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, or loud quarreling, and evil speaking be put away from us, with all malice” (v.31). “And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave us (v.32). Put on the New Man of righteousness and holiness and walk worthy of your calling. Give God a hand clap of praise.

Ephesians 4:23-29

Believers are new creatures in Christ, living under the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. The redeemed of the Lord should always give Him glory for putting off the old man and putting on the new man. Since we are new creatures in Christ, we are to daily “be renewed in the spirit of your mind” (4:23). In Romans 12:2 Apostle Paul said for us not to be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our mind. When we put on the Lord Jesus Christ, He gave us our regenerated and renewed nature, created according to God. Therefore, even though our earthen vessel is the same, our once self-centered ways “have passed away.” Our living now reflects God’s righteousness and holiness.

We do not treat each other as we did when we were that old, corrupt man. We are all members of the body of Christ;  therefore, we are to put away lying, backbiting, spreading rumors – talking that we know partially and that we do not know except what someone else told us, and we accept it as truth. Our brothers and sisters in Christ are our neighbors. We are to speak truth with them (v.25). Be angry about sin, injustice, and etc., but do not sin by being angry at the sinner. Anger could lead you to a decision of regret. Do not let the sun go down on your anger (v.26); this may be your last sunset. Do not harbor anger. That only gives the devil an opportunity to lead you into sin (v.27). Let the anger go, forgive, and trust God to take you through the situation.  

Those who once stole, you are believers; do not steal. Go to work; use your hands for what is good, that you may have something to give someone who is in need (v.28). Then he warns believers to let no corrupt word come out of their mouth; only what is good for building up others that it may impart grace to the hearers (v.29). Remember, you have put on the new man of righteousness and holiness, walk worthy of your calling.

John 11:11-15, 25-26

Two days after learning that Lazarus was sick, Jesus told His disciples “Let us go to Judea again” (v.7). They were fearful for His life if He went back there.  Jesus was concerned about giving life to one that was dead.  

His answer to their fear was that one had twelve hours of daylight to walk without stumbling because he sees the light of this world (v.9).  If one walks in the night, he will stumble because the light is not in him (v.10). He was telling them that it would be safer to walk to Bethany during the daylight hours while God’s sun shone its light on the world.  They could walk without stumbling over obstacles. Spiritually those who walk in Him, the light of the world, would not stumble because in Him there is no darkness.  We can’t see danger in the dark because there is no light in us.  When we come out of darkness into the marvelous light, we can see clearly to avoid danger.    

After saying these things, He told them that our friend   Lazarus was sleep; He was going to wake him up (v.11).  The disciples did not understand.  They said, “Lord, if he is sleeping he will get well” (v.12).  Jesus was talking about Lazarus’ death; they were talking of Lazarus taking natural sleep (v.13).  Jesus now made it plain to them, saying, “Lazarus is dead (v.14).  Jesus told them that He was glad for their sakes that He was not there so that they may believe.  He told them, “Nevertheless, let us go to him” (v.15).

In verses 25 and 26 Jesus told Martha, “I am the Resurrection and the Life.  Whoever believes in and trusts in Me as Savior will live even if he dies (v.25); and everyone who lives and believes in Me as Savior will never die.  Do you believe this?”  Are you glad the all-powerful God woke you up from your sinful state and gave you life?

During Jesus’ ministry, He had formed a close relationship with three siblings – Lazarus, Mary, and Martha – of the town of Bethany. Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus (v.5). The scripture refers to Lazarus as a certain man who was sick (v.1). His sister, Mary, is the same Mary “who anointed the Lord with fragrant oil and wiped His feet with her hair (v.2). Because of the close friendship these siblings had with Jesus, the sisters sent Him a message, letting Him know “the one whom You love is sick” (v.3). We do not know the nature or severity of his illness; we do know that when Jesus heard of Lazarus’ sickness, He said, “This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory and honor of God.” A miracle would soon be performed “that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (v.4). Jesus declared on another occasion that He had all power in heaven and on earth (Matthew 28:18). Therefore, the songwriter wrote “My God can do anything.”

In order to demonstrate His power for the sisters and the disciples to believe, Jesus would use his friend’s sickness to prove His sovereignty. After getting the word that Lazarus was sick, Jesus stayed where He was two more days (v.6). Then He told the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again” (v.7; 10:31-42). The disciples reminded Him of the danger of going back to Judea. “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again (v.8; 10:31-33)?”

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world (v.9). But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him” (v.10). These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up” (v.11). Praise God that Jesus has the power to wake up the dead. Trust and believe that He is all- powerful.