Isaiah’s Attention

On April 10, 2016June 7, 2017 By Alan MorganIn Faith

Isaiah was concentrated to God.

We can do this by spending time with the Lord and developing a loving relationship with Him.

Believe

On March 8, 2016June 7, 2017 By Alan MorganIn Faith

Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.

John 20:8&9

Believe (Strongs G4100) – πιστεύω transliteration pisteuō

As used here, to believe does not mean understand. John admits, he and the other disciples don’t know all mysteries contained within scripture. John accepts what he sees.

The gospel writer felt compelled to describe his reaction to the empty tomb as having belief. Of all the emotions he could have conveyed (shock, excitement) John sees the empty tomb and makes a decision to believe.

Believe almost doesn’t fit. If reading John’s account for excitement and adventure, his word use is anticlimactic. The opposite statement, “I can’t believe my eyes” would be a fitting expression to convey the empty tomb. It would also destroy the entire account.

John’s not writing a ‘whale of a tale.’ He writes a steady account to be shared, reread, and accepted for it’s simple recounting of fact. Jesus told John what would happen, the Old Testament foretold what would happen. John reaches the pinnacle event in human history, one of a few eye witnesses who gets to share it with the rest of the world, and says it’s true.

The Valley of Kidron

On March 4, 2016June 7, 2017 By Alan MorganIn Faith

John 18:1 – Jesus and his disciples cross the brook of Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples enter.

Following the last supper, Jesus and his disciples sing a hymn, exit the city, walk down the hill, cross a creek, and enter a familiar garden on the Mount of Olives.

Why the emphasis on Kidron over the naming the Gethsemane as Matthew and Mark do, or referring to the area as the Mount of Olives as Luke does?

Jesus chooses this location for his final moments with his disciples before the crucifixion. This location jumps off the page for three reasons: historical and prophetic significance, Judas knows where to find him and finally, because it is a quiet place to pray.

The Valley of Kidron separates the Mount of Olives from Jerusalem.

Historical and Prophetic Significance of the Valley of Kidron

2 Samuel 15 – King David and all his supporters cross the brook and head into the wilderness east of Jerusalem to flee from Absolom, David’s son seeking a hostile takeover of Israel. When David reached the last house in Jerusalem, he stops to let all his supporters cross the brook in front of him, weeping openly.

2 Chronicles 20 – Jehoshaphat and the kingdom of Judah are about to be slaughtered by Moabites, Ammonites and the Meunites. The three armies form in Edom, to the south east of Jerusalem and begin to march up the valley of Kidron.

v3: Jehoshaphat was afraid and set his face to seek the Lord, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.

Joel 3 – The valley shows up again in the prophecy given to Joel.

v2: I will gather all the nation and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgement with them there, on behalf of my people and my heritage Israel, because they have scattered them among the nations and have divided up my land, (3) and have cast lots for my people, and have traded a boy for a prostitute, and have sold a girl for wine and have drunk it.

The name Jehoshaphat literally means “YHVH judges” so the valley could be known as the valley of decision – which is exactly what occurs when Judas and the Jews take Jesus prisoner.

Living By The Book

On December 16, 2014May 30, 2017 By Alan MorganIn Faith

Howard Hendrick – http://www.livingbythebook.net

“The Bible was not written to satisfy your curiosity but to help you conform to Christ’s image.
Not to make you a smarter sinner but to make you like the Savior. Not to fill your head with a
collection of biblical facts but to transform your life”

“The more time you spend in observation, the less time you will have to spend in interpretation,
and the more accurate will be your result. The less time you spend in observation, the more time
you will have to spend in interpretation, and the less accurate will be your result”

The 3 Step Process of Inductive Bible Study

Step One: Observation (what do I see?)

Background information (author, audience, date, location, main theme)
Literary genre (exposition, narrative, poetry, wisdom, prophecy, apocalyptic)
Literary structure (a general outline that shows the development of the book)
Grammatical structure (subject, main verb, object, clauses, phrases)
Important terms (nouns, verbs, modifiers, prepositions, conjunctions)

Step Two: Interpretation (what does it mean?)

List your unanswered questions (who, what, when, where, why, how)
Use your Bible study aids to find the answers (concordance, handbook, atlas, etc.)

Step Three: Application (how does it apply?)

How does it apply to me?
How does it apply to others?