June 2006
Let's begin by defining what the words "Power" and "Prayer" mean:
(Random House College Dictionary)
Power- 1) Ability to do or act; capability of doing something. 2) Great or marked ability to do or act; strength, might, force. 3) Delegated authority 4) To supply with energy.
Prayer- A Spiritual Communion with God.
-Communion- The interchange or sharing of thoughts or emotions; intimate communication.
Matthew 14:23-27
And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.
Jesus Christ went up into a mountain apart to pray as he so often did. This is important to note as we read on.
Matthew 14:24-25
But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
In verses 24-25 he was able to walk on water because of the confidence he had in God. Is it a coincidence that he was praying before this phenomenon was done?
The obvious answer is NO!
Matthew 14:26-27
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. 27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.
In verses 26-27 Jesus commands them to have no fear. Amazing accomplishments and no fear go hand in hand.
Now let's look at Job 1 (Pronounced Joe-b with a long O)
We learn in the first book of Job that he was the greatest of all the men of the east. GOD had blessed him with many possessions and a great household. He lost track of the source of his prosperity, and his overwhelming fear had allowed a hole in the “hedge of protection” of God. He would not renew his mind to eliminate his fear and it grew in his mind until he was consumed by it. Because of the influence of Satan, he lost everything except for his wife and his own life.
Verses 20-21 of Job 1 show Job’s response to all this calamity:
Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD. 22 In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.
The phrase "the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away" has been misconstrued over the years to say that God did this to Job. This is simply not true as we learn from 1 John 1:5 which says: "This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."
If God is light, and in him is no darkness at all then it CAN'T be God who brought all of this evil on Job.
In the Old Testament, they did not fully understand the fullness of God and his Word, that is revealed later after Jesus Christ came and the Day of Pentecost made available the gift of Holy Spirit for everyone who believes.
It was also an orientalism to include God in every statement they would speak, so as not to even say the name of their enemy, the adversary, Satan.
It even says in the last part of the verse that "..Job sinned not, nor charged (blamed) God foolishly." We learn here that it is foolish to blame God for evil. Job didn't blame God for bad things that happen and we shouldn't either.
Job 2:7,11-13-Job is stricken with boils from head to toe, His friends come to “comfort” him. Initially their intentions were very good, but they end up doing more harm than good later on.
Job 3:25- The thing Job greatly feared came upon him. (Fear, in essence, is believing for a negative consequence.)
Job 42:5-6- Job realizes his error and asks for God’s forgiveness.
Verses 7-8 God reproves Job’s three friends v.9- They obey.
Job 42:10- The Lord turned the captivity of Job when he PRAYED for his friends. Job took the focus off of himself and genuinely showed concern for his friends, and God was able to restore him to double what he had before.
I recently heard a story about a group of people who were on a long hiking trip, how one person was struggling up the hill. The man walking behind her was also struggling and tired, but when he took the focus off of himself and helped her by lifting her backpack up to take the strain off her back, his struggle became insignificant, and he soon forgot how much his own body hurt.
Likewise, Job showed concern for others and God was able to do mighty things for him. What a great example both of these records are to us.
Job’s captivity was temporary. He had just about every good thing stolen from him, but he knew where that attack came from. He never cursed God or charged him foolishly for any evil. He was set free by believing the word of God.
Matthew 6:38- Give, and it shall be given unto you…….
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Caves in the Bible Lands
February 2004
This teaching is about the usage of caves in biblical times. There are great records of people using caves for various reasons.
Caves used as a refuge or dwelling place:
David found refuge and assembled an army:
I Samuel 22:1-2
David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. 2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
The record continues...
I Samuel 24:1-3
And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. 3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
Saul “covers his feet” or takes a break in the cave at Engedi.
David could have taken Saul’s life in the cave, but he chose not to because he still viewed Saul as “The Lord’s anointed.”
I Samuel 24:4-6
And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. 5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. 6 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.
I Samuel 24:17-22 Saul is thankful for his life and gets back into fellowship with God. A Godly decision yields Godly results!
17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. 19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. 20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. 21 Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house. 22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
Obadiah hid a hundred prophets in a cave:
1 Kings 18:4
For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.
Caves used as Tombs:
Abraham buried his wife Sarah:
Genesis 23:19
And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.
Abraham was buried with his wife:
Genesis 25:9-10
And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; 10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.
-“Zohar the Hittite”-The Hittite tribe was located where Turkey is today.
-Today, what is thought to be the traditional site of the cave of Machpelah is covered by a mosque
Lazarus:
I recommend reading John 11:1-45 in your own personal study time.
Here is verse 38: Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
Jesus Christ goes on to raise Lazarus from the dead in verses 43-44
Jesus Christ himself was buried three days and three nights in a cave:
Matthew 27:59-60
And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Matthew 28:5-6 He is risen!
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
These are some of the examples of how people used caves in biblical times.
“It is one of the remarkable features of the Bible that it contains enough to occupy the greatest intellects for a lifetime, and yet the simplest soul can read and understand, and in reading with an obedient heart, find God himself.” -Eerdman’s Handbook to the bible
Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
This teaching is about the usage of caves in biblical times. There are great records of people using caves for various reasons.
Caves used as a refuge or dwelling place:
David found refuge and assembled an army:
I Samuel 22:1-2
David therefore departed thence, and escaped to the cave Adullam: and when his brethren and all his father's house heard it, they went down thither to him. 2 And every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them: and there were with him about four hundred men.
The record continues...
I Samuel 24:1-3
And it came to pass, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, Behold, David is in the wilderness of Engedi. 2 Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men upon the rocks of the wild goats. 3 And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.
Saul “covers his feet” or takes a break in the cave at Engedi.
David could have taken Saul’s life in the cave, but he chose not to because he still viewed Saul as “The Lord’s anointed.”
I Samuel 24:4-6
And the men of David said unto him, Behold the day of which the LORD said unto thee, Behold, I will deliver thine enemy into thine hand, that thou mayest do to him as it shall seem good unto thee. Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe privily. 5 And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. 6 And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.
I Samuel 24:17-22 Saul is thankful for his life and gets back into fellowship with God. A Godly decision yields Godly results!
17 And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil. 18 And thou hast shewed this day how that thou hast dealt well with me: forasmuch as when the LORD had delivered me into thine hand, thou killedst me not. 19 For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day. 20 And now, behold, I know well that thou shalt surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in thine hand. 21 Swear now therefore unto me by the LORD, that thou wilt not cut off my seed after me, and that thou wilt not destroy my name out of my father's house. 22 And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.
Obadiah hid a hundred prophets in a cave:
1 Kings 18:4
For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water.
Caves used as Tombs:
Abraham buried his wife Sarah:
Genesis 23:19
And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre: the same is Hebron in the land of Canaan.
Abraham was buried with his wife:
Genesis 25:9-10
And his sons Isaac and Ishmael buried him in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the son of Zohar the Hittite, which is before Mamre; 10 The field which Abraham purchased of the sons of Heth: there was Abraham buried, and Sarah his wife.
-“Zohar the Hittite”-The Hittite tribe was located where Turkey is today.
-Today, what is thought to be the traditional site of the cave of Machpelah is covered by a mosque
Lazarus:
I recommend reading John 11:1-45 in your own personal study time.
Here is verse 38: Jesus therefore again groaning in himself cometh to the grave. It was a cave, and a stone lay upon it.
Jesus Christ goes on to raise Lazarus from the dead in verses 43-44
Jesus Christ himself was buried three days and three nights in a cave:
Matthew 27:59-60
And when Joseph had taken the body, he wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60 And laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn out in the rock: and he rolled a great stone to the door of the sepulchre, and departed.
Matthew 28:5-6 He is risen!
5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. 6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
These are some of the examples of how people used caves in biblical times.
“It is one of the remarkable features of the Bible that it contains enough to occupy the greatest intellects for a lifetime, and yet the simplest soul can read and understand, and in reading with an obedient heart, find God himself.” -Eerdman’s Handbook to the bible
Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
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