Luke 4:1-13 (Daily Bread of 27/5/2018)

JESUS WAS TEMPTED BY THE DEVIL

Verse Key 4: 2

At the beginning of his ministry, Jesus was led into the desert and tempted by the devil.  He was baptized by John, and after this he was tempted as a symbol of the starting of his ministry. 
 
1.  Man will not live by bread alone (1-4)

After his baptism, Jesus was filled with the Holy Spirit.  It came down like a dove.  It was totally peaceful. The Holy Spirit also comes to put the power of God on him. John says that he is the consoler, but he is also God's powerful weapon who works with the Word of truth. God knew that He had to doubly strengthen John so that he could inaugurate his mission which is God's fight.  Jesus came to save sinful mankind from the hand of Satan who had tried in the beginning all the earth, stirring man's heart to rebellion and disobedience.  Then the devil tempted Jesus through the problem of bread.  Man is very weak before this first material need. Jesus clearly said the truth and this is that man cannot live by bread alone, but by the word of God that comes out of His mouth.

2.  You shall not tempt your God (5-13)



The second temptation is glory and wealth.  If Jesus bowed down and worshipped him, he would have given him all this. Jesus rejected it with these words: "It is written.  It is easy for us to fight the enemy Satan with our own intelligence, but if we fight him with our own strength, we are doomed to failure.  Like Jesus, let us use our words in battle.  The third temptation is the human desire to tempt God.  Man justifies his sin under the pretext of God's protection.  It's a very dangerous thing for a spiritual life.  We have to give it up. Jesus won over his temptation and gives anyone who confides in him victory over demons. Jesus defeated 2000 demons at a time to heal a man possessed by demons.  Jesus casted out 7 demons that were in Mary Magdalene.  Call at him, he will give you the power to cast out demons within you and others

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Psalm 56 (DB of 23/5/2018)

WHAT CAN MEN DO TO ME?

Verse Key 56: 5

The psalmist groans night and day because of his stalking enemies (1Sa 21:11-15). The Gathians waged war without cause, blaming him. However, at that time he placed his trust in the Lord and he praised the Word of God. It was his only refuge and valid remedy.

1. Give me a break. (1-7) David called for God's mercy (2). His enemy's throbbing weapon was their tongue. It was like a poison, a viper. They were unscrupulous by blaming the innocent. They were plotting to kill David. Nevertheless, he framed the confession of fear, which gradually gave way to trust (v.4-5). Human beings, weak both physically and morally, find help in God who is strong, has life and eternity. The psalmist made a perfect act of faith in the Word of God. His Word deserves praise (v. 5a). What's this "Word": it is the promise made by God to protect and defend his faithful, as Ps 119:41 recalls: "Let your graces come to me, O Lord, your salvation, according to your words". And 119:65: "You have done good to your servant, O LORD, according to your word. Deep in his anguish, the psalmist discovered that he who trusts in God has nothing to fear from human actions.

2. O God, I want to fulfill my vows (8-14) The psalmist cried, "O God. He really wanted to fulfill his vows before God (13). Help was needed for this (v.8-9), because the situation was really hostile. The psalmist expressed "his tears" as his human fragility, knowing that his misfortunes were taken into account. Since God's goodness was manifested in favour of the needy whom he certainly delivered, the psalmist would praise the divine word of salvation. The trials and sufferings had led the psalmist to the certainty of faith engendered his trust and led him to entrust himself entirely to God. In the face of danger and harassment by his enemies, the psalmist appealed to God, implored him, and being strengthened by the Word, he surrendered himself to the LORD. The petitioner glimpsed a prospect of victory and the collapse of evil, here called "the peoples" (v. 8b), then "death" (v. 14a) and pledged gratitude to God (v. 13b).

Luke 3: 1-14 (Thursday, May 24th 2018)

BEAR FRUIT OF REPENTANCE

key verse: 8

Thirty years after Jesus' birth, God began his work through John the Baptist. It was a dark time, but God's work is always begun by a forerunner. Let us each become one.

1. Baptism and repentance for the forgiveness of sins (1-6)

Under the cruel hand of Tiberius in Rome, Pontius Pilate in Judea, Herod in Galilee and others, the people suffered. Yet, for God it was the most favorable moment to begin his work. He sent John the Baptist, son of Zachariah. Isaiah describes him as the voice calling in the desert. Instrumental in the people's salvation, he was a humble and self-sacrificial man. In terms of repentance, there were none like him. He cried aloud, "Repent and be forgiven". It's not that he enjoyed speaking harshly. There was simply no other way for man to be saved. The Word works powerfully and twisted hearts become straight. If we obey and preach the message of repentance, God's powerful work will always be there. This is how we overcome our timidity. 

2. Bear fruit of repentance (7-14)

John's message was very heavy with the premonition of judgement. Its contents were about bearing the fruit of life for fear of the falling ax. When John baptised with water, many came to him in spite of his severe words. They each had a serious problem, but to each, John gave the best counsel, and he spoke to all on the problem of selfishness. It's the greatest evil among mortels. John's focus on repentance is invaluable. Repentance is expressed not only by the mouth but also by the results of one's life. Evil is born and grows in a man. The forerunner's role is difficult and delicate because he must attack the seeding and the harvesting of evil. If we do this labor, bad fruit transforms into good fruit for the glory of God.

1 Samuel 5: 1-12 (Daily Bread of 19/5/2018)

THE ARK OF ETERNAL BECAME THE SOURCE OF GREAT EVIL Key verse 5: 11b The Philistines took the Lord's ark . The Lord's ark was a symbol of power and protection. However, it was no longer powerful or protective, when God's people's fait became superstitious. He did not save them. This morning's Word describes how the ark became the source of great evil for man. 1. The Philistines (1-9) The Philistines were extremely idolatrous people. Their god was Dagon. It guaranteed the fertility of the earth. They rejected the God of Israel, even though they knew He was powerful enough to punish the Egyptians. Deliberate rejecting God is a great sin. For those who reject the God of Israel, and in the New Testament era, those who reject the Lordship of Jesus, judgment will come according to the condemnation of the Law. The presence of the Lord's ark is frightening, and it can bear a frightening prejudice to those who, like the closeness between God and Dagon in this passage, do not believe in spite of the knowledge they have of God's name. Many listening to God's name reject it. Their end will be dreadful. The Asdodians, then the Gathians, then the Ekronians suffered damage. God caused diseases provoqued by hemorrhoids. They shouted for the removal of the Lord's ark of the source of all their woes. 2. God's hand weighted heavily on them (10-12) The Ekronites were afraid, for the presence of the Lord's had already caused many deaths in Gath. They wanted to refuse it. The dilemma was that as long as the ark was there, someone or some tribe had to suffer the damage anyway. Hence their strong request to return the ark. They, who were strongly idolaters, interpreted that it happened to them because of the anger of a foreign god, because they had changed the place of his dwelling without his permission, hence his discontent. They demanded the ark be returned to where it was. The God of Israel will then leave them alone.

Deuteronomy 20:1-21 (Daily Bread of 28/4/2018)

MAY THE COWARDS RETURN HOME!

 Key verse 20:5

This text talks about exemption from military service. However, it is not the dispensation of service by illness. God also explains how to carry out a siege.

1. Let the cowards go back home! (1-9)

God says that when we enter the country and fight the enemy, we should not fear tthem. When the battle time is near, the priest gives the people inspiration saying," The Lord will walk with you and fight with you. Do not weaken, do not fear, do not be afraid, do not be frightened. As the President of the republic said in the American Congress, "fear does not build, it weakens and paralyzes." That's right, we have to overcome fear before we fight. The officers will speak and say, "all those who are fearful, all those who have family concerns go home." (5,6,7). They'll also say, "All those who are afraid and lack courage, go away!"

2. You will siege the far cities (10-21)
   

God gives very concrete instructions regarding combat. There will be a distinction between near and far nations. It will be necessary to ban the near nations, for they  commit horrible practices before God and God decided to judge and destroy them. This act is needed so that they will not teach Israeltheir horror. As for distant nations, a distinction will be made between submissive nations and rebellious nations. The latter will be destroyed, while the former will be subjected to tribute. The Israelites will spare the women, children and the fruit trees in the destroyed cities -  what sin would they have committed they, when they will be rather useful to men - but on the other hand, they will kill all the men. They will cut down the other trees so that they can be used as building materials for the entrenchments.

Deuteronomy 17:1-20 (Daily bread of 24/4/2018)

IDOLATERS WILL BE PUNISHED

Key verse 17:5

God talks about how to deal with idolatry in Israel. Israel will have to follow the servants in legal matter and the King is supervised.     

1. You will extirpate idolatry from the land (1-7)

Moses told the people not to offer malformed animals to God. It is strange that he should mention it in the midst of idolatry. Perhaps because idolatry is similar to a malformed animal. God wants the people created by Him to be faithful to Him. God is a perfect God, so one cannot bring him something imperfect, even though he is not at fault for himself. Human idolaters are different. They are not distorted in appearance, but they are internally twisted beings. God hates them. They don't do their creator any credit. They must be punished by the people. The investigation must be serious and we need two witnesses, because man's heart is not trustworthy. The man and woman who rally with the idols must be stoned first by the witness and then by all the people. The evil is eradicated.

2. Judgments and Royalty (8-20)
   

If the cause of judgment is too complicated, the people have to go up to the temple of Jerusalem and ask the Levite priests who reside there for advice. When someone brings the case before them, his heart needs to be emptied of all prejudices. He must be ready to listen to the servant's opinion, whatsoever it may be. He must not give up in the middle because of his preference. It is necessary to follow the  teachings which are given to him until the end . God foresees that the people would claim royalty when they enter the country. Samuel said what good would it do, but he hearkened to the voice of the people, and crowned them King. The King's status will not be special nor above the people, he is one of the citizens. It is especially necessary for him to move remove any objects which would distance him from God, such as many horses, gold, women etc.. He has to make a copy of the law and keep it on his bedside table and read it every day. Thus he will not depart from God and will assume the role of King to rule the people.

Deuteronomy 6:1-25 (DB of 12/4/2018)

Key verse: 5

YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART

Moses exhorted his people to love God with all of the heart, soul and might. This is the fundamental base for a believer, and this love is expressed through the commandments. 

1. That you may do them (1-19)

God gave his people the commandments so that they would observe them and in doing them be happy. To observe means to fear the Lord. Love for the Lord also means to fear him, for he is our Creator God. When man maintains this attitude, he is blessed and his life on earth prolonged. Not only that, God also multiplies his fruit. Israel had to listen to God because God is one. Our God is the tri-une God, existing as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but he is one. He was incarnated in Jesus Christ to save man, but he is the God of eternity. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We must love God with all our heart, soul and might. The people would experience great blessing in the new land, but at this moment, man's heart was ready to fall. We must well remember God's grace and thank him, lest we turn to idols and be vainquished by the enemy. 

2. You shall teach them to your children (20-25)

Moses pointed out the importance of religious education, since man is quite forgetful. We must therefore teach children so that they obey the commandments with joy. The young generation has no understanding of history. But they must be told who they were and how a loving God delivered their ancestors from the hand of enemies through miracles. They must know that this loving God had given them these commandments based on love. So, we must not perceive God as too demanding or legalistic, for his fundamental motive is love. It is so that his people enjoy a long and fulfilling life. We must believe in his love. Moses says that obediance is righteousness for the people. 

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