June 16th, 2007
The War Within – Part VII
I can make decisions to do wrong:
• I can tear down road blocks so that when I want to do wrong, it isn’t as difficult.
I can make decisions to do right:
• I can put up road blocks so that when I want to do wrong, it is difficult.
First: There is a wall to keep OUT sin and a wall to keep IN sin.
Second: There is a stumbling block to PREVENT sin and a stumbling block as a CONSEQUENCE to sin.
Stumbling Block (noun):
Mikshôl (pronounced mik-shole')
• A stumbling block, literally or figuratively (obstacle, enticement (specifically an idol, scruple): caused to fall, offence, nothing offered, ruin, stumbling-block. (Strong’s)
• A stumbling, means or occasion of stumbling, stumbling block (stumbling, fall, means or occasion of stumbling, stumbling block) – (BDB)
This is what was used in Ezekiel 3. God put up a stumbling block after the person has done evil. That’s how I am reading it, although I am not sure this is entirely right. I would think that the Ezekiel 3 is the “consequence” stumbling block. 2nd Corinthians 6 is the “preventing sin” stumbling block.
Now, the above is from Part VI, and I am finally going to continue to this series. After some thought on this subject of “Stumbling Blocks”, I now believe that a stumbling block can serve two purposes. It will be a combination of the first and second above. For example, it can serve to keep out and prevent sin. It can also keep sin in and serve as a consequence. I don’t think it would really keep in sin and prevent it at the same time… unless it is like to keep it in something, like a safe guard, to prevent it. Like a wall to keep it contained away from something, thus preventing sin.
I just want to add that my wife convicted my socks right off today. She’s studying the Bible with a friend of hers and she shared some things with me that convicted her. It had the same effect on me. I’ll try to get her to put it in writing (at least in some form), and then I will post it here.
Anyway, ever feel like the walls are closing in on you? That everywhere you turn, there is temptation?
2nd Samuel 22:29-31
You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.”
God can help you scale a wall. He can overcome temptation. And what tools has God given to overcome temptation? How does God put up the right kind of “road-blocks” even in the most difficult challenges?
First off, this scripture:
1st Corinthians 10:12-13
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
How about the Johnny Ray street-language version? “So, if you think you are all good, be sure not to get pig headed. Nothing enticing has happened to you except what happens everyday to everyone. God is faithful, however, and will not so much on your plate that you can’t handle it righteously. But when you become enticed, God will have a way for you survive it righteously so that you won’t sin.” It’s not an official translation, but when I read it in the NIV, this is how it actually enters my brain. It’s how I understand it.
God allows Satan to put up sinful road-blocks (or as I have called them before “Billboards”), but God also makes sure that these type of road-blocks can be overcome. How???
Matthew 26:40-41
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Mark 14:37-38
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Luke 20:39-40, 45-46
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
The only way that I have found thus far is that prayer gives strength to overcome the temptations that Satan’s road-blocks bring. And of course, the Bible says to pray continually (all the time!). I guess that’s it on road-blocks. Johnny Out.
The War Within – Part VII
I can make decisions to do wrong:
• I can tear down road blocks so that when I want to do wrong, it isn’t as difficult.
I can make decisions to do right:
• I can put up road blocks so that when I want to do wrong, it is difficult.
First: There is a wall to keep OUT sin and a wall to keep IN sin.
Second: There is a stumbling block to PREVENT sin and a stumbling block as a CONSEQUENCE to sin.
Stumbling Block (noun):
Mikshôl (pronounced mik-shole')
• A stumbling block, literally or figuratively (obstacle, enticement (specifically an idol, scruple): caused to fall, offence, nothing offered, ruin, stumbling-block. (Strong’s)
• A stumbling, means or occasion of stumbling, stumbling block (stumbling, fall, means or occasion of stumbling, stumbling block) – (BDB)
This is what was used in Ezekiel 3. God put up a stumbling block after the person has done evil. That’s how I am reading it, although I am not sure this is entirely right. I would think that the Ezekiel 3 is the “consequence” stumbling block. 2nd Corinthians 6 is the “preventing sin” stumbling block.
Now, the above is from Part VI, and I am finally going to continue to this series. After some thought on this subject of “Stumbling Blocks”, I now believe that a stumbling block can serve two purposes. It will be a combination of the first and second above. For example, it can serve to keep out and prevent sin. It can also keep sin in and serve as a consequence. I don’t think it would really keep in sin and prevent it at the same time… unless it is like to keep it in something, like a safe guard, to prevent it. Like a wall to keep it contained away from something, thus preventing sin.
I just want to add that my wife convicted my socks right off today. She’s studying the Bible with a friend of hers and she shared some things with me that convicted her. It had the same effect on me. I’ll try to get her to put it in writing (at least in some form), and then I will post it here.
Anyway, ever feel like the walls are closing in on you? That everywhere you turn, there is temptation?
2nd Samuel 22:29-31
You are my lamp, O LORD; the LORD turns my darkness into light. With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall. “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.”
God can help you scale a wall. He can overcome temptation. And what tools has God given to overcome temptation? How does God put up the right kind of “road-blocks” even in the most difficult challenges?
First off, this scripture:
1st Corinthians 10:12-13
So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
How about the Johnny Ray street-language version? “So, if you think you are all good, be sure not to get pig headed. Nothing enticing has happened to you except what happens everyday to everyone. God is faithful, however, and will not so much on your plate that you can’t handle it righteously. But when you become enticed, God will have a way for you survive it righteously so that you won’t sin.” It’s not an official translation, but when I read it in the NIV, this is how it actually enters my brain. It’s how I understand it.
God allows Satan to put up sinful road-blocks (or as I have called them before “Billboards”), but God also makes sure that these type of road-blocks can be overcome. How???
Matthew 26:40-41
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Mark 14:37-38
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Simon,” he said to Peter, “are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Luke 20:39-40, 45-46
Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, “Pray that you will not fall into temptation.”
When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. “Why are you sleeping?” he asked them. “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”
The only way that I have found thus far is that prayer gives strength to overcome the temptations that Satan’s road-blocks bring. And of course, the Bible says to pray continually (all the time!). I guess that’s it on road-blocks. Johnny Out.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment