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January
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Reading 1 - Genesis 1 & 2
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Peter Cresswell
2 v24 Here we have a two stage process, both of which apply equally (or maybe more so) to our allegience to God, as well as to marriage, as shown in the passages below
First
we must leave: Psa.45:10,
Matt.19:29, Luke 14:33
Then we must cleave: Deut.10:10,
Josh.23:8, Acts 11:23, Mal.2:14-16, 1Cor.6:16-17
Peter Cresswell
ch2:8 The garden 'planted' in Eden is echoed in the vineyard 'planted [Isaiah 5:2] and the planting of Israel as a 'noble vine' [Jeremiah 2:21]
All these
'plantings' show that God is concerned to work with man and that he commences
the work with the 'planting'
Peter
Forbes
1:26 Whereas Adam was created in the image and likeness of God Adam's children were in his image and likeness (Genesis 5:3) - what a contrast!
2:18
In saying that it is not good for man to be alone we have the first indication
of fellowship. Man need company of likeminded people - exemplified in
a wife who answers to him. A picture of Christ and the ecclesia.
Peter
Forbes
When God created Adam he put him in the garden he had planted in Eden to work it and take care of it. Adam's job was to be the gardener, taking care of the creation of God, helping it to grow and mature. God also had Adam name all the animals, but among them all Adam could not find a helper that was suitable for him. So God created Eve, a woman, from one of Adam's ribs to be a companion and a suitable helper for Adam.
God has a plan for your life. He has a job for you to do. Adam's job was to be a gardener; David's was to be king; Jesus was to save the world from sin and death; and the Apostle Paul's was to preach. Whatever the plan God has for our life or the job he has given us to do, if we are married, God has provided our partner to be a suitable helper for us as we live out his plan in our lives.
The ideal situation is that the husband and wife have one vision which they both work towards and help each other on the way.
Husbands: Esteem and appreciate the help your wife gives.
Wives: Help, support and encourage your husband as he does the work God has given him.
Robert Prins
Your personal life might, at this point in time, resemble the state of things that existed right here at the beginning of time on this planet... dark, turbulent, sad, dysfunctional and "lifeless".
But the powerful creative words of our Loving Heavenly Father can change all that, even as they changed the face of this globe in just 6 days, 6,000 years ago.
The God of the Bible can transform your life into a dynamic, vibrant, fully functional creation that will give HIM glory for ever and ever.
How?
By opening your heart to HIS gracious message in HIS wonderful book, the Bible.
Is it hard, I hear you ask? No. The simplest of folk can understand this wonderful book, and the most intellectual will never exhaust it's wonders and beauty.
Why not begin this New Year with a resolution to let this Word into your life every day for the year. Download the free audio player and listen to the Bible being read to you while you read the words yourself and follow the comments offered for each reading.
Share
this service with your friends and family and spread the joy of being
a part of God's New Creation.
Cliff
York
David Simpson
Reading 2 - Psalms 1 & 2
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Peter Cresswell
2 v.6 is the first mention of Zion in the Psalms. This is a fascinating study which is taken up elsewhere in these notes from time to time. In this initial context consider these other Psalms - 48:1-2, 50:2, 78:68, 132:13-14
As well
as these Psalms, we can see the fulfilment both in Jesus and in the inclusion
of the faithful at the end - Heb
12:22, Rev.14:1
Peter Cresswell
2:6
In setting the king on Zion the record is speaking of 'anointing' because
that is what the word translated 'set' means. This setting will be achieved
because Jesus was raised from the dead - :7
'thou art my son
' is used in the New Testament Acts
13:37, Hebrews 1:3 - to speak of the risen Jesus.
Peter
Forbes
1:3 By 'the rivers of waters' is where the bridegroom is to be found (Song of Solomon 5:12)
2:4
In saying that the Lord will 'laugh' we see language picked up (2
Kings 19:21) by Isaiah in speaking of Babylon.
Peter
Forbes
The very first word of the book of Psalms is the word "Blessed." In many other places through the Bible this same Hebrew word is translated "Happy" or "How happy." The book of Psalms is like the song-book of the Bible and it begins by telling us the secret of true happiness.
The truly happy person is one who does not do wicked things or go to the places of wickedness. Instead he delights in the law, thinking about it all the time.
The person in this Psalm is described like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Those words remind me of the Garden of Eden which was placed at the junction of four rivers that watered the garden. In the middle of the garden was the tree of life. If you ate its fruit you would live for-ever. It also reminds me of the last chapters of the book of Revelation where we read about the trees of life on either side of the river of God. It yielded fruit and the leaves were for the healing of the nations. The picture in Psalm 1 is of a man who loves God, who is refreshing, healing, who is perfectly happy and will ultimately live for ever. Is it a picture of you?
Psalm
2 - JESUS IS KING - LIKE IT OR LUMP IT
When Jesus returns he will take his place as the King of Israel and King
of the World. But, as this Psalm so clearly states, not everyone will
be happy about that. Nations and people, kings and rulers will plot and
conspire and stand up against the LORD and against Jesus but it will all
be to no avail.
God has warned us all early about this and given us advice as to what
we can do about it. The advice is to be wise and to be warned. It is to
serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest
he be angry and you be destroyed in your way and Blessed are all those
why take refuge in him.
God has said that when Jesus returns his reign will be successful and
it will last for ever. All nations will serve him and all people will
bow before him. We will be one of those people. The questions is, are
you one of the people who will be glad he is king and will bow willingly
and gratefully? Or will you be one of those who are forced to bow before
the Son of God and face his wrath? You can make the answer for yourself
now.
Robert
Prins
What is so great about an 'inheritance?"
For a start, an inheritance is usually passed on from the parents to the children. What do the children have to do to receive the inheritance? Usually what is required from them is to simply remain true to the family values.
What loving father would not want to share the family inheritance with all his offspring who love him and adore him?
Of course, none of us is naturally "born" into the Family that Psalm 2 is speaking about. Our "birth" involves a conscious decision to "change families" and allow God in Heaven to "adopt" us as HIS Sons and Daughters. And HIS feelings for us, are not unlike those that we ourselves have for our very own offspring that please us well, except, of course, HIS feelings toward us are perfect and pure and just and right.
Will we receive the inheritance then? The "Firstborn Son" has already tasted the inheritance, and the Father has promised that "there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus."
Our
Father wants us to share the inheritance with His Firstborn Son. The Son
wants very much to share the inheritance with us. The question then lies
with ourselves.... will we allow our lives to be guided by the Spirit
of God, so that we as Sons of God, might receive the great inheritance
of God?
Cliff
York
Reading 3 - Matthew 1 & 2
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Peter Cresswell
1:23 Whilst some might say that 'virgin' just means 'young maid' thus minimising the miraculous when we bring other Scriptures to bear on the account we learn that Mary was truly a virgin as she had not 'known' Joseph before the birth of Jesus Matthew 1:25
In saying
2:20
'for they are dead which sough the young child's life' we see the first
of many links between Jesus and Joseph - see Exodus
4:19
Peter
Forbes
1:19 Joseph is described by God as 'Just'. How many other people does God describe as 'just'?
2:2
In saying that they had come to see the 'king of the Jews' we have the
first occurrence of the phrase which is used at the death of Jesus - John
19:3
Peter
Forbes
Wise men came to the house where Jesus was living with his mother. They brought with them gifts, Gold, Incense and Myrrh. The gifts they gave were the best, they were expensive and they were especially chosen to give to the new king.
They gave gold for its purity and value. They gave incense for its steady burning glow and the beautiful smell it emitted. And they gave myrrh for its healing and embalming qualities.
We cannot give him gifts today as the wise men did on that day. But in our actions and in our service we can give him the same. We can give gold by keeping our lives pure and letting him refine us to be his perfect and treasured possession. We can give incense when we pray and offer up constant praises and thanksgiving to the lord of Life. And we can give myrrh when we pass on the healing and life that flows from our Lord.
We could offer gifts to Jesus, but richer by far is the adoration of our hearts and our love freely given to him.
Robert Prins
And it was necessary for it to be so, for the Scripture had prophesied that "a virgin shall conceive..." but every woman who had conceived before her, and every woman who has conceived after her, could not have been a "virgin" in the strict sense of the word, because the actual physical act of conception occurs after the woman has lost her virginity.
What
strength of character this wonderful maid in Israel had, that the God
of the Universe should choose her, out of all the billions that have ever
existed, to bring His Only Begotton Son into this world.... for us!
Cliff
York
Although Mary held a special position, being the mother of Jesus, the Lord was emphasizing the hierarchy of God > man > woman as laid out in Genesis.
The New Covenant continues the same theme in the Christ/ecclesia (husband/bride) arrangement with
Christ > husband > wife.
Many would elevate Mary to a position of deity. Surely this must be wrong.
Michael Parry