1 Corinthians 7

One of my favorite and most popular talks I give is entitled “The Wonder Bridge.”  Today in my devotion, I studied the passage on which this message is based.  Paul is writing to an unruly group of believers.  They have received the Gospel, and they’ve gone wild.  Rather than dodging the issue like a religious prude, Paul tackles the issue head-on, with frank language. 

Paul states upfront that it is actually good if people can avoid sex.  This does two things:  it signifies that when you are on mission, there is often a time when relationships and sex can get in the way.  The second thing Paul alludes to, is that sex is a powerful force and impulse in the lives of most people.  Rather than ignoring it (while lusts runs rampant in the dark), we should understand it.  According to the Bible, God’s plan for man and woman’s sexual impulses is marriage…between 1 man and 1 wife.  I didn’t make this up.  Jerry Falwell didn’t make this up.  The Holy-Spirit inspired sex says that people should get married so they can “do it.”

The text goes on… According to verses 3-4, the marriage relationship is unlike any other.  A man and woman give up their own claim to their bodies.  We are compelled by scripture to have sex with our spouse.  Again, this recognizes there are some times when women don’t want sex, but should lovingly “accommodate,” their husbands.  However, scripture is often intentionally specific.  In this text, husbands are admonished to give in to their wives’ appetites.  (its ok, and even BIBLICAL, for women to want sex).  1 Corinthians 7:3 - “The husband should fulfill his wife’s sexual needs, and the wife should fulfill her husband’s needs.”

All this sex talk has really nothing to do with my message, THE WONDER BRIDGE.  However, I’m sure that will make an appearance here soon.

Nehemiah 1-3

I love the book of Nehemiah.  Pastor Jim Austin preached through “The Wall Builder” book when my family first began attending BPBC.

Notes:
- Nehemiah asks his friend what’s going on in Jerusalem (real change always starts with asking the right questions)
— Nehemiah got a bad report about what was going on.  Namely, there was no wall.
— Nehemiah was so upset, he began to weep, fast, and pray (real prayer is the catalyst for real change)
— Nehemiah prays for the heart of his King

-  One of the best questions you can ever be asked:  NEHEMIAH 2:4 “⁴ Then the king said to me, “What do you request?”  So I prayed to the God of heaven”

- Grants Nehemiah favor and moves in an amazing way.  The King gives him everything he needs to go an rebuild the wall.  (when’s the last time you asked for something really big?)

God, I’m anxious.  It may be my sin.  It may be the coffee.  It may be the devil.  But you are lord of my heart!  Come and fill me with your eternal Spring of Life.

King Jehoshaphat & The Trouble with Friends 
2 Chronicles 17:1 - 18:34 

King Jehoshaphat was a really interesting character.  On one hand, he loved God.  Scriptures tells us that he chose to follow the example of his dad’s early, godly years.  This is a powerful principle:  You have to choose your influences, because they determine your destiny.  Who are you following?  Where will it lead you?

The King was a big naive and he trusted easily.  Seeking the approval of the ruler of the northern kingdom, Jehoshaphat found himself in a crazy situation.  On a journey to Israel, Jehoshaphat was asked by King Ahab to join him in an unholy battle.  King Ahab asks the dangerous question that con artists usually begin with, “will you go with me?”  To his credit, Jehoshaphat has a check in his spirit.

All of Ahab’s false prophets influence Jehoshaphat to go to battle, promising God’s favor.  (just because someone says they speak for the Lord, it doesn’t mean they do).   Jehoshaphat seeks out a prophet of the Lord, Michaiah.  This dude is a hero!  He is kept in shame because he brazenly speaks the truth of the Lord, and yet, he cannot be suppressed.  He tells Jehoshaphat that he would be crazy to go to battle with King Ahab…

However, the deception has already run its course.  (see the power of friends). We see that all along, Ahab’s intention was to let Jehoshaphat find his death.  Ahab dressed in plain clothes while encouraging Jehoshaphat to remain in his royal outfit.  It turns out, the other guys just wanted to kill the king.  What a jerk!   Because God saw Jehoshaphat’s heart, he spared his life in the ill-fated war.  Ahab the trickster wasn’t so lucky.  A random arrow shot him dead.  

You would think that  Jehoshaphat would have learned his lesson.  Old habits die hard.  He had to be reminded of the “trouble with friends” in 2 Chronicles 20:35-37

The Scandalous Simplicity of Faith
Romans 9:25-10:13

 In Romans 9:25, Paul explains my story…and the story of everyone who now believes.  “I will call them My people, who were not My people, And her beloved, who was not beloved.”This love was prophesied in Hosea…that means it was planned!  Jesus always intended for me to be part of the plan.  What an amazing God we serve.  He sought us, and He saved us.

Some beautiful stuff in this passage.
- Paul longs for the children of Israel to come to repentance
- He acknowledges  their zeal for the Lord, but states that it is mis-directed toward works
- Romans 10:3-4…whew!  Christ is the righteousness for those who believe

Romans 10:¹⁰ For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. ¹¹ For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”^[v] 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. ¹³ For “whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”^[w]

In context:  
- Not your way of salvation
- Not your way of God
- Calling on Him and His way, the way HE offers, by His drawing and because of His grace.