Weekly Scripture Studies

Singing to the Lord

January 4, 2022 By LMW

A Psalm for the New Year

Sing to the Lord a new song,
for he has done marvelous things;
his right hand and his holy arm
have worked salvation for him. Psalm 98:1 NIV

The psalmist called for a new song to celebrate God's salvation of His people. God had done a wonderful work on their behalf by victoriously delivering them. His fresh blessings deserved a fresh expression of their praise.

Through His incomparable power, God gained the victory for His people and saved them. God's right hand and His arm are both symbols of His mighty power. If the occasion for this psalm was the people's return from Babylonian captivity, holy, would speak of God's righteousness in fulfilling His promise to deliver His people after seventy years (Je.25:9-12:29:10).

God's deliverance of His people was a compelling witness to unbelievers of His salvation and righteousness. The Gentile nations observed God's righteousness in that He did not overlook His people's disobedience. But they also saw His salvation in that He came to their aid and rescued them from their oppressors.

The psalmist called for fresh praise to the Lord because of His mercy and truth. Mercy (hesed) is God's unfailing, covenant love. Truth (emunah) is His faithfulness. The Lord had remembered His covenant promises to Israel and graciously delivered the people from captivity, proving that He will love and be faithful to His people. As a result, His salvation was witnessed to the ends of the earth- all throughout the world.

Happy New Year! May you go into it singing of God's salvation!

Submitting to Authority

December 7, 2021 By LMW

The Christian and Civil Government

Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority: whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. 1 Peter 2:13-14 NIV

Submit to national and local officials. This is a hard pill to swallow when one is being persecuted and has lost much because of the persecution. But note: the word submit is an imperative; it is a strong command. God expects believers to submit themselves to the laws of government.

Without law and the keeping of the law, there can be no society and no community, no life together, no bond to tie people together. Law, rulers, and their authority are an utter necessity to keep people from becoming wild beasts in a jungle of unrestrained selfishness and lawlessness.

Chaos is not God's will for the world; law and order are God's will. God's will is that we would live in a world of love, joy, and peace- a world of perfect law and order. God has ordained that the family exist as the means by which family members share together, and that the office of parents rule within the family.

God has ordained that the church exist as the means by which people share with God, and that the office of church leaders exercise authority within the church.
God has ordained that the government exist as the means by which citizens relate to each other, and that the office of government officials exercise authority within the state.

Civil authorities execute justice for God. They rule to execute punishment for evil-doers and to reward those who do well and work good throughout the state. Rulers are not ordained by God to be a restraint upon good works, but upon evil. Civil authorities and laws exist to restrain evil; therefore, any believer who breaks the law can expect to be punished by the state.

Taxes…

November 30, 2021 By LMW

The Christian and Civil Government

For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.

Romans 13:3-6 NIV

The government is ordained to provide benefits through taxes. Note three points:

1) The government provides justice, protection, and services for its citizens. It is the agreement between the law and the people to live by the law that keeps the strong from dominating the weak. It is also the state that often provides services such as roads, public transportation, and electricity.
2) The government keeps the world from diving into chaos. Whatever peace is known within a country, it is known through the government that exists. It is not perfect peace, but usually within its boundaries there is a semblance of peace.
b. The believer is, therefore, to pay taxes. Every citizen is obligated to the government for the benefits which he receives from the state. Certain benefits come from the cooperative effort of people within a state. A man could not receive these benefits acting as an individual. These benefits and privileges are his because the government has brought them about. Therefore, the man is obligated to the state to pay his share.
c. The believer is not only to pay taxes, but he is to pay whatever is due to every person. The word pay (teleō) means to fulfill or to complete. The believer is to fulfill his obligations no matter what they are.
⇒ If a nation is due tribute (taxes), he is to pay his tribute.
⇒ If a civil authority is due customs (taxes), he is to pay his custom.
⇒ If an authority or person is due fear, he is to reverence the authority or person.
⇒ If an authority or person is due honor, he is to honor the authority or person.
Very simply, the believer is to live above reproach before all people, and this includes being a good citizen of his government.

Three People you may Meet in Heaven

November 2, 2021 By LMW

“I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back-not to mention that you owe me your very self.I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings.And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”

Philemon 1:20-25 NIV

This closes the brief letter of Paul to his dear friend Philemon. As was his usual custom, Paul closed his letter by sending greetings to and from various believers. These closings are always of significant interest as they give us a meaningful glimpse into the lives of some of the believers of the early church- brothers and sisters whom we shall soon meet face to face in heaven and fellowship with! Over this week and next, we will discuss six men.
1. Paul is the first believer seen. The point being stressed is his eternal optimism. He was in prison, yet he believed unreservedly that he could be freed by the prayers of his dear friends. What an impact prayer has. God answers prayer; this is His promise. The problem is that we do not take God at His word: we do not pray. The friends of Paul prayed, and Paul was apparently released from prison.
2.Epaphras: he was a servant of the Lord who in the past had been imprisoned with Paul. He prayed for one thing: that they might be perfect and complete in all the will of God; that is, that they might know the complete will of God and do His will perfectly.
3.John Mark: he was the young man who had redeemed himself. Mark had earlier deserted Paul and the ministry. But note what Paul says to the Colossian church. He tells the church that they are to receive John Mark if he was able to visit them. Apparently, some earlier instructions had been sent to the churches founded by Paul telling them about Mark’s desertion. But now the young man had repented and recommitted his life to Christ. He had redeemed himself; therefore, he was to be welcomed.
When a believer fails and sins, even if it is desertion of Christ, he is to be welcomed back with open arms once he has repented. We must not hold a person’s failure and sin against him. Christ has forgiven us for so much-all of us-therefore we must forgive and welcome our brothers and sisters back into our hearts and lives.

Next, we will look at three more people that are mentioned at the end of this letter.

Perhaps the Reason He was Separated from You…

November 2, 2021 By LMW

“That I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel.  But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.  Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever—  no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.  If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.  Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.”

 Philemon 1:10-21 NIV

It seems that Onesimus was a runaway slave and a thief. Somehow in the providence of God, Onesimus ran into Paul. Perhaps they were introduced after Onesimus became a believer. Either of them could have chosen not to engage, but instead, by God’s grace, they began a conversation. Notice, Paul could have been in the same place, but chosen not to talk to a runaway slave. How different this story would be! Or imagine if Onesiums had been ashamed to talk with Paul. God used their willingness to become friends as the backdrop of a book of the Bible!

Imagine Onesimus having just returned to Philemon and having handed this letter to Philemon—and Philemon standing there reading this letter. What were his thoughts? What was the impact upon Philemon, the slave owner who had been converted to Christ? What would he do now? There standing before him was a former slave who had broken the law by running away, broken one of the major laws upon which the Roman empire was built. (Rome kept the peace by enslaving and scattering the people of conquered nations all over the world, breaking their loyalty to their homeland. Death was the punishment for runaway slaves.)

Onesimus faced his past in order to right his wrongs. This is clear evidence that the heart of Onesimus had been truly converted to Christ. He wanted to return and right the wrong he had done.
⇒ A Christian believer is to make restitution, to right whatever wrong he has done, in so far as it is humanly possible. No Christian should ever try to escape from making restitution, from righting whatever wrong he has done.

Onesimus had been changed by the hand of God. Paul tells Philemon that Onesimus had left for just a brief time so that he could return. God was overlooking and overruling the whole event for the sake of Onesimus’ salvation. Philemon was now able to be associated with Onesimus forever. The implication is that both shall live forever with Christ, worshipping and serving Christ throughout all eternity.

Questions for reflection:

Are you willing to make friendships with those who are different from you?
Is there someone you need to reconcile with?

Encouraging Good on the Basis of Love

November 2, 2021 By LMW

“Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus—” Philemon 1:1-7 NIV

Paul wanted to make a special request of Philemon. How can any believer, even a minister, demand that another believer do anything, especially if the believer differs or does not wish to do what is requested?
There are two reasons:
⇒ It is the right thing to do.
⇒ It is a believer’s duty to do it.

A believer, no matter who he is, should do the right thing. Therefore, Paul had the right to make a special request of Philemon. But note: Paul did not demand that Philemon grant the request. Instead, he urged and pleaded with Philemon because he loved Philemon.

Paul based his appeal on three things:
⇒ upon love: the love of Christ and the love of believers for each other.
⇒ upon his age. He was apparently in his fifties and no doubt his body was somewhat more aged than the average person because of the wear and tear upon his body from the sufferings that had been inflicted upon him through the years.
⇒ upon the fact that he was a prisoner for the cause of Christ. He had suffered so much in order to carry the gospel to the lost of the world, to people who were hopeless and lost just as Philemon and his family had been.

Questions for reflection:
Have you, yourself, been receptive to correction?
Is there a current situation that you should speak into and ask a fellow believer to do the right thing?
If there is, how could you frame your appeal in love?