SOUL: WORK

The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple (Psalm 19:7,ESV). God’s Word transforms me. It changes and renovates me. And according to Psalm 19:7, it converts death into life and spiritual ignorance into wisdom. I need wisdom. The word law in “the law of the Lord” translates the Hebrew Torah as the law for life, the rule for living. God’s Word is the absolute norm. His statements are never guesses or suggestions. The Bible is the standard by which every other truth is measured or assessed. (like it or not) Notice the claim of ownership. Scripture is “the law of the Lord”.  God claims clear authorship of His book. Throughout history, people have written and established laws and rules; governments have imposed structure on society. Nations come and nations go, but the Word of God remains—timeless and enduring because it is His. The verse also describes God’s law as “perfect.” That word perfect literally means all-sided, many-faceted, all-encompassing, and comprehensive. The utter perfection of God’s law is linked to “reviving” (ESV) or “converting the soul” (NKJV). The soul is the inner, immaterial part of you. You are not just primarily a physical person. Part of you is spiritual and will live forever, and that’s the part of you in need of being converted—your soul. God’s Word demonstrates its perfection by making you a new creation. This transformation is a fascinating, supernatural process, exemplified by “Robbie Rebel"  This girl invariably appears in churches across North America and is somewhere in the process of life-change. A regular girl who works in an office, just trying to get by and figure out life, Robbie shows up at church—often against her will, at least at first. She begrudgingly attends because she lost a bet with her friend or decided to find out what was going on in her life. But she’s not sure—about any of it. Her body language communicates her resistance. The first week, she sits cross-armed and leans back, observing. Though she is there, she refuses to participate. She projects, I’m not singing. I am flat-out not singing. I may be here, but you can’t make me sing. I’m going to show you I don’t like what’s happening right now. Yet as much as outer evidence points to the contrary, we begin to see little signs of God at work. As weeks become months, God’s Word transforms Robbie Rebel. First, she unfolds her arms. She relaxes. She begins to lean forward. While we watch and pray and wait, we have a front-row view of the conversion process as God softens and changes her heart, by grace alone through building her faith. Just as Psalm 19:7 describes, God’s perfect, powerful law converts an unsaved, unregenerated, uninterested, hardhearted Robbie Rebel into a new person. His Word spins this woman completely around. Robbie unfolds her arms and lifts them in praise . . . she unseals her lips and worships the Lord. God’s Word has the power to transform anyone. He can soften even the hardest heart. The regenerative work in Robbie's life is a process, and it doesn’t end with conversion. God continues to change and sanctify us through His Word. In what ways can you say, “I’m a different person because of the impact God’s Word has in my life....daily?!"  Just as we can trace the effects of Scripture in the lives of others, so we should be able to see the persistent, guiding, transforming work of “the law of the Lord” in our own. Soul work. Under Construction. Read daily. Meditate day and night. Over Coffee. Robbs "keep depending on grace"

DID YOU R.S.V.P?

Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him. Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord; his going out is sure as the dawn; he will come to us as the showers, as the spring rains that water the earth. —Hosea 6:1-3  At the bottom of every page of Scripture, the Lord could have noted, “R.S.V.P.—please respond.”  From the moment our earliest ancestors walked away from the Garden of Eden, to the amazing vision of the new heavens and the new earth at the end of Revelation, if we are watching and listening, we will hear God beckoning. Time after time He invites us to come to Him, regardless of how far we’ve wandered or how long we’ve been gone. No matter how great the distance between you and the Lord right now, passages like Hosea 6:1 issue His surprising summons—especially to the torn and struck down to return. God admits He hurts us for our good.  The open door, the light left on, and all of His gracious approaches haven’t worked. Those who've not responded have an opportunity to hear His invitation through the pain of their continued wandering.  It’s time to R.S.V.P. “Come, let us return to the Lord,” is the response God wants to hear and the first step to spiritual revival. Notice the invitation, “Come.” You have a choice to leave the unfulfilling location where you are. It’s a tender-hearted pleading.  Doubt can become faith. Discouragement can become joy. Despair can become purpose and deep satisfaction. Defeat can become victory. But you have to come. And you are not alone—notice Hosea says, “Let us.” You may feel alone, but you're not. Others are hearing the invitation, and when you come, you will discover they’re coming, too. “Let us return to the Lord,” admits our mistake. Our problems began when we turned away, so let’s turn back. Right now is not too late. Returning to the Lord is a decision made at a particular point in time.  Do you sense the Holy Spirit drawing you? Are you ready to make that choice in these moments? You gain no benefit if you don’t begin by responding to Him. Responding includes recognizing some things have to change. Think about your life and ask God to shine the light of His Word on your attitudes and activities. He will show you what is wrong. And He will help you repent of sin. (Sin=all rebellious acts towards Him).  When you see through His Word what got you where you are and the damage it's caused, God will help you turn away and develop a new thought pattern. "I’m wrong God. I’m sorry for what I’ve done. I have no excuse for acting and choosing as I have. I’m unworthy, but I’m returning." Turning to the Lord is often actually re-turning. If you want to experience a fresh downpour of God’s mercy, you have to come back to the place where the water flowed previously. This is not just an emotional response and a change of mind; it’s also an exertion of your will (by His grace) to get moving again in the right direction. Invite the Lord to listen in on your thoughts as you identify specific sins you’re leaving behind. Plan to turn away from opportunities to sin and reject habits that involve putting yourself in tempting situations. Choose healthy alternatives. Ephesians 5 speaks much of substitutions. Don't do that, instead do this.  Taking these positive steps will put distance between you and past sin, and move you in a new direction. You will be returning to the Lord. And every time you make a choice that honors Him, you're deepening your commitment to wanting all He has for you. I hope you find this cup of theology to be the best part of waking up! I know it's one of my favorites, and will be until He returns to make me perfect!  RSVP with me?  Father, I deeply regret how often I have read Your Word with little effort to hear Your invitations to respond. I’ve followed the words on the page without hearing Your voice. And because of that, Your invitations which could have kept me close have had to travel farther since I have wandered unnecessarily away. You are so faithful in Your guidance and persistent in Your warnings. Father, open my ears to hear even the whispers of caution You utter in my life. I know responding to You continually will make all the difference. I thank You for Your gracious invitations. Here is my R.S.V.P! "I'm Yours!"  In the name of my relentless, loving Savior, Yeshua, I pray, amen. RobbRobb

FOR GOD SO LOVED...WHO? ME?

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. —John 3:16

One verse has been considered by believers throughout history, as the most important statement in the Bible. It’s the centerpiece. It summarizes what God has done and highlights an unavoidable decision YOU must make. 

Everything starts and flows from its truth.

Nothing in this life truly makes sense until John 3:16 makes sense. In order for that to happen, both your ability to think [mind] and your capacity to feel [heart] have to be fully engaged in the choice God offers in this verse. Choosing to believe requires your whole heart and mind.

This crucial message from The Father of all creation starts with His love. This action on God’s part should never be taken for granted. There’s nothing that requires God to love us, and at times there is very little about us that’s loveable. He loves the world as only our Creator can—despite our rebellion and rejection. “God so loved the world” because He chose to do so. (Let that really sink in.) 

In order to effectively doubt or reject God’s love, we have to ignore its ultimate proof: “he gave his only Son.”  Yes, He sent His Son, and the Son willingly came. But here is the truth that God gave His Son, in order to demonstrate His love. 

Gave also means “allowed Him to perish.” The crucifixion of God’s Son came at the hands of men, but under His permission. The Father's love allowed that terrible act because the death of His Son makes life "possible" for many. Jesus became the propitiation [wrath remover] for our sin on the cross. Because God loves, He gave.

God’s choice places our most important decision before us. The phrase “whoever believes in him” actually divides humanity into two groups: those who choose to believe in Him and those who choose not to. 

Whoever believes receives one result; whoever doesn’t believe receives a different result. Just as those who believe in Jesus receive eternal life, those who reject [ignore] Jesus are subject to eternal death.

The phrase “shall not perish” reminds us of our fate if God doesn’t intervene. The reason we perish is sin. Acknowledging our sin-full  reality is called repentance. 

It’s more than regret or feeling sorry; it’s a deep-seated desire to turn from deeds of death to life. . We turn away from sin so we can turn toward the One who loves us.

Agreeing with God’s accurate view of your sinfulness (which deserved his wrath) is the repentance part of trusting Him. Believing in Him means you put your full weight down on His love for you. 

It's choosing to believe with your whole heart not just that God loves, but that He truly loves you as you are, with full knowledge of your inabilities, sins and shenanigans. 

Beyond an intellectual agreement [mind], you must embrace God’s love for you [heart] as your ultimate source of forgiveness, hope, direction for living, and eternal life. 

In John 3:16, God's truth comes close and confronts you. You can’t remain neutral about the choice to believe in [God with skin on] Jesus. Either you do or you don’t. And it’s the most important decision you will ever make. 

Care to Pray with me? 

Lord, the familiarity of this verse sometimes keeps me from stopping long enough to appreciate again its essential message for my life. Your love is not only expressed most powerfully in giving Your Son, it is also expressed clearly in recording this verse. You inscribed Your love for me and Your Son signed the declaration with His own blood on the cross. Eternity will not be long enough to express my love for your love that surges through me each time I realize how unlovable I am, yet You loved and rescued me. My heart, soul, and mind bow in worship and seek to love You in response. In the life giving name of Jesus, I pray, amen. 

THE BOOK-A-MONTH STUDY

How to immerse yourself in a book of the Bible for 30 days

• This method is designed to help you to study one book of the Bible thoroughly in a month. 
• I recommend that you select a book you can read in one sitting, such as an epistle or one of the minor prophets. If the amount of study required on a particular day seems overwhelming, tackle that day's work over two or three days, if necessary. This schedule isn't holy writ: Adapt it to your circumstances.]

To begin this study, select the book of the Bible that you want to explore for one month. 

Purchase a folder in which to store all your insights. You should be able to do each day's assignment in 30 to 45 minutes.

Day 1

Read the book out loud in one sitting.

Day 2

Read the book again. Write down the big idea you find in the book.

Day 3

Read the book again, looking for repeated words or phrases. Write down anything that is repeated; then ask yourself why the author repeats these ideas.

Day 4

Ask who. Write down the names of all the people mentioned. Who are they? Which ones are the main characters? Why are they important? Are they mentioned anywhere else in the Bible? Check your concordance. What have you learned about these people? Summarize your discoveries.

Day 5

Ask where. List geographic locations. Which ones are important to understanding this book? Find these locations on a map. Pick one or two cities, and read about them in a Bible dictionary. Write down how this information helps you understand the book.

Day 6

Ask when. Look for words that indicate time: before, after, while, during, then, no longer, as long as, etc. This should help you see the sequence of events. What happened in the past? What is presently taking place? What are future events?

Day 7

Ask what. What events take place in this book? What topics does it discuss? Write down your answers.

Day 8

Observe and record contrasts. These can be broad contrasts between characters, events, or themes. Or they may be more narrow, such as the contrasts within a paragraph that are identified by the conjunction but.

Day 9

What illustrations does the author use? Are they from everyday life, from other passages of Scripture, from history, or from personal experiences?

Day 10

List any words you don't understand. Complete the following steps to discover what they mean.

1. How is the word or phrase used in this book? Consider the context. What is the passage talking about? How does the main idea of this passage help you understand the word or phrase? Consider these questions in every instance the word is used.
2. How does the author use the same word or phrase in other books he's written? Use a concordance to help you find this information.
3. Look up the word in a concordance, and investigate the original Greek or Hebrew meaning. (The introduction to the concordance will tell you how to do this.)
4. If you have a word-study book, look up the word.
5. Look up the passage in a commentary to see if anything is mentioned about the word or phrase.
6. Look up the word in a dictionary.
7. Read the passage in another translation.
8. Formulate your definition of the word or phrase using the information you've gathered. Insert your definition into the passage to see if it makes sense. Do you understand the passage more clearly now?

Day 11

Finish your work from Day 10 if necessary, or investigate the meaning of another word or phrase.

Day 12

If the book has six chapters or fewer, write a brief summary of each paragraph. If the book has more than six chapters, write summaries of each chapter.

Day 13

Look carefully at each paragraph, and consider this question: How does each paragraph lead into the next? Does the paragraph continue to address the same topic as the last one, or does it change topics, characters, ideas, or events? How does this paragraph fit into the overall message—the big idea—of the book? How is the material organized: biographically, geographically, chronologically, logically, or thematically?

Does the author answer a series of questions? Does he move from a problem to the solution, from general to specific issues, or from theology to practical application? (If you are working through a book with more than six chapters, you may want to go chapter by chapter for Day 13.)

Days 14 & 15

Continue working through Day 13.

Days 16 & 17

Consider historical background. How did the original audience receive and understand this book?

1. If the book is a letter to a church, answer the following questions.

1. When was the church founded? Can you find any information in the book of Acts? Consult a Bible dictionary.
2. Who founded the church? How were these original evangelists received?
3. Read through the letter to discover the church's strengths and weaknesses.
4. Imagine what it would be like to be a member of this church.
5. What was the prevailing religious climate in the area? What religious beliefs did these Christians hold prior to their conversion?

2. If the book is a historical narrative, answer the following.

1. What was happening in Israel's (or the early church's) history before and after this book?
2. What was happening in the surrounding cultures?
3. How does this book fit into the overall history of God's people?

3. If the book is one of the prophets, answer these questions.

1. When did this prophet minister?
2. What was happening in Israel at the time?
3. To whom was the prophet's teaching directed?

Day 18

Ask yourself, What type of literature is this book? Learn to recognize the following types of literature and understand their specific characteristics so that you interpret each correctly.

1. Epistles
2. Gospels
3. Apocalyptic literature such as Revelation and parts of Isaiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and Zechariah
4. Historical narratives such as Acts or 1 and 2 Samuel 
5. Wisdom literature such as Proverbs or Ecclesiastes

A useful reference that discusses the interpretative principles for each of these biblical genres is How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon D. Fee and Douglas Stuart.

Day 19

Meditate on either the whole book or a certain passage. Spend today thinking about the book. Write down your insights.

Day 20

Finish anything you haven't completed, or decide for yourself what aspect of the book you'd like to study today.

Day 21

Observe progression. Does the author move to a climax of ideas, emotion, or story line? From a question to the answer? From a statement to an illustration? From teaching to application? Record your insights, and then ask the question, Why?

Days 22 & 23

Wrestle with a difficult passage. Read through the passage several times and meditate on it. Bombard the passage with why questions. Consider the context and the main ideas of the surrounding paragraphs. How does this passage fit into the overall message of the book you are studying? Write down your conclusions, and ask yourself if this is a reasonable interpretation. Does it go against any major teaching in the Bible? 

Ask three other mature believers what they think about the meaning of this passage. How do their ideas agree or disagree with your conclusions?

Day 24

Read the entire book again in one sitting. Think again about the overall message.

Day 25

Reiterate the author's main concern. What does he want readers to know and understand? What are the readers' main concerns? Have they asked certain questions that the author is answering? Write down what you discover.

Days 26 & 27

Summarize the basic truths of the book. Ask yourself how they apply to your life. Does the book teach you something you didn't know? Reveal the glory of Christ to you?  Bring correction? Bring encouragement? Help you to understand something new about God or man?

Day 28

In light of what you wrote for Days 26 and 27, ask yourself the following questions: What changes need to take place in my life? Do I need to change what I believe? Do I need to make an adjustment in my relationships with others or with God? Personalize the book for your life.

Day 29

If you were teaching from this book, how would you challenge your listeners to apply the truths you've discovered?

Day 30

Pray through the applications you've identified. Write down your prayer as a permanent record of your desire to apply what you've learned.

To complete your study, review what you wrote about the book before you began to examine it in depth. How has your perspective on this book changed? What have you discovered that you didn't know before? Record your answers. Now . . . decide what book you'd like to study next!

I hope you DUG DEEP and enjoyed a different approach to the traditional bible in a year plan! May The Spirit cause you to grow in wisdom and stature with God and man! 

2 Cups of Coffee Later! 

Robbs 

HOW TO LITERALLY HOLD ONTO GOD!

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

—2 Peter 1:3-4

When the apostle Peter mentions how God “has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness,” he can’t help but look forward to the way God will follow through on His “precious and *very* great promises.” The word great means more than size. It’s also a measure of quality, and this dual understanding applies to what God promises to do for us.

Why are God’s promises great? 

First, because they come from a great God. His promises are huge because of who said them. Would you believe your four-year-old if he said in his best grown-up voice, “I promise I’ll make enough money to put food on the table next month”? A promise’s reliability is tied to the one who is making the commitment—and to their ability to fulfill it. (Selah)

Psalm 145:3 says, “Great is the Lord . . . and his greatness is unsearchable.” 

We might as well admit we don’t have a clue how great God is because no one can discover the limits of His greatness. There are none. BUT His promises allow us to explore and experience a measure of how great He really is.

A second note of greatness in God’s promises comes from the way they address great issues.Don’t search the Bible for divine assertions about superficial things. God doesn’t do that. The promises He makes are about big things: fear, unknowns that would paralyze us regarding our future, our family, and our finances. If your god can’t promise you anything bigger than an occasional good parking place or a husband or wife and a decent job your god is way too small!

God’s promises are also great because they respond to our deepest doubts: Am I going to make it? What’s going to happen up ahead? Who will care for those I love when I’m gone? God makes promises about this kind of uncertainty so we won’t have to wonder and worry.

As David declared, “I would have despaired if I had not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” (Psalm 27:13 NASB). His encouragement can be yours: I’m not going to have to wait until heaven—I’m going to see God’s goodness right here on this earth while I’m still alive.

God told Jeremiah “I am the Lord . . . Is anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27). Sometimes we look at our needs or our overwhelming circumstances and we feel beaten before we start. But God asks, What exactly is it that you think I can’t handle? To which we would have to reply, Nothing is too hard for You, Lord.

Does that give you courage and hope? 

It should. Holding on to God’s promises is the closest we get to actually holding on to God. His promises come from a great God, they’re about great issues, they respond to our greatest concerns, and God always delivers on them in the greatest ways.

Based on what you just read, what reasons do you have right now for being able to say, “I’m doing great”? How have you seen the greatness and goodness of the Lord in the last few days? Pray Lord, You are great and Your promises are great. I realize I haven’t begun to experience all You have to show me of Your greatness, but I long to have You make me alert to the evidence. I want to look for Your goodness in the land of the living and point it out to others as I let it renew my hope. Thank You for Your great promises, Lord. Because they come from You, they make today worth living. In Jesus’ great name I pray, amen.

GET SOME "UGLY SLEEP!"

This post is inspired by Camille LeNoir. This parable that we call  "Ugly Sleep" is found only in Mark 4:26-29:

“The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground. He sleeps and rises night and day, and the seed sprouts and grows; he knows not how. The earth produces by itself first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. But when the grain is ripe, at once he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”
Jesus said "Go To Bed!" 

Jesus had already spoken parables of the Kingdom being like sowing a seed, but in this parable, he gives us the secret knowledge of how it works. 

We love to understand how things work so we feel like we are more in control; we love the how to messages that fill in the blanks with the knowledge we need to be happy and a bit more holy.

But in this parable Jesus explains how the Kingdom works when the seed is sown by telling us “the seed sprouts, and grows though the sower does NOT know how.” You may say that is not an explanation, but a mystery--and you’d be right!! How the Kingdom works is beyond our understanding, BUT!.... it does work! 

Can you live with that? 

(Seriously, think on that!) 

I am very cautious about anyone who is an expert about how God works. The longer I walk with Jesus the less certain I am about ALOT of things.  The more I learn about the Kingdom the less I really understand. This is ugly theology, but trust transforms it into beautiful childlike faith.

In essence, Jesus tells us that after we have done our part by sowing in faith, (bible reading that we didn't understand,  praying for family and friends to know God, charity work, other types of petitions, and the like) ALL we can do is ...... go to bed! 

GET SOME UGLY SLEEP! 

The alternative, which I used to select often, is to stay up striving, worrying, fearing, and doing some faithless praying. 

One of the best examples in my life would be Evonne's teenage years.  I sowed the seed over and over in my kids heart, by example, singing over it, praying for it, crying about it, shouting at it to grow, but rarely did I just go to bed in perfect peace knowing that in the hiddenness and silence God was powerfully at work. 

It is a battle to believe that God’s seed is more powerful than a persons rebellion.

Jesus goes on to describe the growth of the seed as producing “all by itself.” 

The word Mark uses, automato, is only found one other place: in Acts 12:10 where a huge iron gate that is locked “opens for them by itself,” so Peter is able to escape from prison. 

This word is of course where we get our word automatically. Jesus says that the seed needs no help from us, leaving us in a place of humbleness and helplessness. 

Once we have done our part, we must believe that God is faithful to do His. The miracle of resurrection is the basis of our faith for which we wait on Holy Saturday while the “seed is planted.” We will not know how, but we will know who is working. 

Is it enough for you to see no evidence, hear no noise of work going on, to stand helplessly by knowing there is nothing God needs from you, but to go to bed -in trustful peace?

The sower went about his daily life being faithful to his responsibilities, knowing that in the unseen, the underground Kingdom was at work ready to break forth at any moment. 

This hope floods the ordinary moments of life with Kingdom expectations. Free from the need to understand in order to believe and be delivered from the false responsibilities of trying to make His seed grow, we rest in Him.

In many ways going to sleep is like dying, in fact, the New Testament refers to dead believers as “sleeping.” I am not sure teaching little children the traumatic prayer “now I lay me down to sleep, and pray the Lord my soul to keep, and if I die before I wake, I pray my soul the Lord to take” is the best way to get this truth across. Jesus teaches us in this parable, that one of our greatest acts of faith is going to bed with a complete trust that while we sleep He is working, and His kingdom is advancing.

In sleep, we are completely helpless, and totally inactive depending on Him who never slumbers or sleeps. (Ps.121:4) 

The seed will sprout all by itself in the miracle of resurrection, and we will not know how it happened, but we will certainly know Who made it happen. 

Yes, God is working while we sleep, and while we live our ordinary lives, but it is usually unseen and without noise.

To be Kingdom people we must embrace our helplessness, knowing He does not need our help. We should celebrate our ignorance of how His Kingdom works, while we in faith expect the blade to sprout up. TONIGHT, why not try laying your head on the pillow in faith, and practice dying?

Get some “Ugly Sleep,” knowing God is at work.

A tall DECAF, so you can SLEEP! 

Now..... GO TO BED! 

Robbs