Introduction to 1 Samuel & 1-9

 1 Samuel 1:1-9

 Introduction

The introduction comes from HCSB Study Bible and gives a real insight or overview of what we will be asking the Holy Spirit to provide us with the ability to go deep into what is in it for us.

“The books of 1 and 2 Samuel highlight a significant transition time in Israel’s history.  As 1 Samuel begins, Israel is a loosely organized tribal league living under poor spiritual leadership.  God’s plan for His people nonetheless continued as He raised up Samuel to guide Israel’s transition from a theocracy to a monarchy.  Saul’s kingship constitutes the remainder of 1 Samuel, while David’s kingship is largely the focus of 2 Samuel.”

We begin with a man from Ramathaim-zophim, and that is in the tribal territory of Benjamin.  His name is Elkanah, son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.  As we move to verse two we see he had two wives, now that brings into question his sanity and if not sanity his understanding of what God said to Adam about a man leaving his father and mother and cleaving to his wife, it is singular, not plural, as in wives.

His first wife was Hannah, and she was childless, I find it of interest her name means “Grace.”  The other wife or wife number two was Peninnah, and she was a baby machine, she also was not a very nice person.  Her name meant coral or pearl, and coral can be amazing, but it can also cut to the bone when stepped on.  And a pearl is of little value until it is taken out of the shell and polished.

It is in verse three we are introduced to Eli’s two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, and they served in the role of the Lord’s priest at Shiloh.  Now Eli was not only their dad, he was the leading man, he was the high priest.  It gets fascinating in regards to Elkanah, he had a favorite, and it was not one of his children, it was his first wife, Hannah.  We find the account in verses four and five; “On the day when Elkanah sacrificed, he would give portions to Peninnah, his wife and to all her sons and daughters. But to Hannah, he gave a double portion, because he loved her, though the Lord had closed her womb.”

If you have ever wasted your time watching the T.V. series the Bachelor, you have seen the gals competing for his affection, playing nice when all together but they are all going for the same prize, they are rivals.  Can you imagine how Peninnah felt when she witnessed Elkanah giving a double portion of the meat to Hannah?  I’m sure that after seeing this happen a few times she came up with a plan, and it was to begin the trip and to let Hannah know she was not a real woman in that she could not even give her husband a son.  In fact, she may have played the God is not happy with you, or you would have children.  She made sure that she kept Hannah so upset she did not eat, and more than likely did not sleep that well.

Now men in general and especially Elkanah are not all that bright when it comes to understanding a woman, and after Peninnah had Hannah all upset, Elkanah would try to play Mr. Fix it.  He would ask her; Hannah why are you crying, am I not better to you than ten sons? 

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Finding yourself in a valley of decision

Joel 3:17-21

Do you find yourself often in a valley of decision, if so you will find this of interest, maybe even life changing?   The valley of decision Joel is referring to is the end time judgment of those who decided to live independently from God’s authority.  It’s God’s verdict being pronounced on an unbelieving world, not a decision that people are going to follow God.  

Now that is the bad news, but the good news is today if you hear the call, you can agree with God, that’s confession and repentance and asking Jesus to forgive you of taking His place, His authority and by faith trusting Him to do what He has promised.

Now the Valley of Decision will be a great and new day for Israel, not that its enemies will be judged, though that will happen.  No, the reason is they will know Yahweh, they will know their Messiah.  Many a person who goes by the name Christian does not know that God alone is our refuge and stronghold.  And many who go by the name Christian is in prison to a stronghold of self-reliance, to religion, to stuff, and to fear of loss.  But Israel on this day the day of decision, will know God as He is.

As you read verses 18-21, one can only imagine what the Creator has in store for His chosen people.  Verse 18, “And in that day the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and the hills shall flow with milk, and all the streambeds of Judah shall flow with water; and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord and water the Valley of Shittim.”   Israel will no longer be a stiff-necked people, for they will know, obey, and receive the blessing of their Father.

But a much different picture is in store for the nation of the earth that fought against Judah and Israel, and that is seen in verse 19. “Egypt shall become a desolation and Edom a desolate wilderness, for the violence done to the people of Judah, because they have shed innocent blood in their land.”  The word Egypt is used as an example of all the nations who have fought against Israel.

Now it is hard for us who are not Jewish to grasp, to understand the love of our God and Father for His chosen people.  But this is evident in Scripture, that Jesus Christ, the Messiah they rejected will be known by them, and He will dwell with His people, and they will receive pardon for their sins.

Do you understand that Jesus is your only hope of eternal life with God the Father?  That His love for you was so great that He stepped out of being worshiped in heaven, to identify with His creation.  To live a pure and perfect life, looking to the Father for all His wants and needs, because He was pure God this allowed Him to take your judgment.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

God is in total control

 Joel 3:4-16

Yesterday, I was going to address the contrasting nations called to judgment, and the chosen people Israel weeping over living independently of God and rejoicing that God had opened their eyes and heart and is returning them to their homeland.  So that is the focus this morning, we have all the nations gathered in the valley of Jehoshaphat, and yet no one knows where that is.  Many believe it is the valley of Jezreel near Megiddo, where the battle of Armageddon will take place.

The apostle John saw this day in a vision from God and recorded it in Revelation 16:12-16, “The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up, to prepare the way for the kings from the east. And I saw, coming out of the mouth of the dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet, three unclean spirits like frogs. For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. (“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”) And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.”

Tyre and Sidon were trading hubs for slaves, and when Israel lost wars, their children would be put on the block to be sold at one of these places, that may be the reason God singled them out.  The nations that attacked Israel not only took its children but it also carries off its treasure, the gold and silver, and God is proclaiming it was not Israel but His children, His gold, and silver.  But God, what a great term, but God is going to awaken His people, and they are going to come back to the land of their fathers.

But God is going to allow those nations to reap what they have sown; it will be their children that will be sold by the people of Judah to the Sabeans.  Who were the Sabeans: They were "men of stature," and engaged in merchandise, and the Sabeans mentioned in Job 1:15 were probably Cushite?

Be sure of this one fact, God is in total control, He was the one that called the nations into battle, and they believed it was Israel they were going against, but how wrong they were.  

And why did God bring about this judgment; because the wickedness of the nations is great?  It is judgment time, it is too late to repent, the last person on earth that was called by God has answered the call, and now the Holy Spirit has been withdrawn, and an unbelieving world is to be judged.  On that same day God is going to be a refuge, a stronghold for His chosen people Israel, this is what Joel was told to write.  “Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision!  For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. The sun and the moon are darkened, and the stars withdraw their shining.

The Lord roars from Zion and utters his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earthquake.  But the Lord is a refuge to his people a stronghold to the people of Israel.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A nation returning to God

Joel 3:1-16

What a contrast, nations called to judgment, and the chosen people Israel weeping over living independently of God and rejoicing that God had opened their eyes and heart and is returning them to their homeland.  This time will make what happened in 1948 seem hollow in comparison. 

It makes one wonder if this excerpted Anne Graham Lotz, “The Daniel Prayer” is what was taking place in the minds and hearts of Israel.  My prayer is it will take place in my life and yours also, for we, like them have become self-centered, and often we allow the little gods of this age to draw us back to living independently from our Father and His will.  This is what we have chosen; “We seem to be consumed with ourselves!

We ourselves seem to be the center-point as we pray. We are so ashamed. In the light of who You are, we now get it. We understand that it’s what You want that is vital, what You think that is so critical, what You feel that is crucial, what You say is the wisdom of the ages expressed in unvarnished, eternal truth. How could we have set ourselves up as gods, and expected You to fall in line with us? We’re so sorry for spending the majority of our prayers thanking You for what You have done for us and asking You to do something else for us, as though You exist for our personal benefit.

We choose now to make You the Center-point of our lives and of our prayers.

We want what You want more than what we want. What You think matters more to us than what anyone else thinks, including ourselves. We want to feel Your heart and speak Your word to a world that desperately needs a Center-point.

Now, in the privacy of this place, with utmost sincerity, necessity, and humility, we plead with You for what You have purposed to give, for what You have wanted to do, for what You have promised to fulfill in Your Word. We want Your kingdom to come, Your will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven. We want to be a part of what You are doing... to come alongside You as You accomplish Your perfect plan.”

We do not know if they prayed such a prayer, but it is evident this generation needs to do so, especially those who go by the name Christian.  But this we do know they cried out in confession and repented to God, that is what is meant by they called on the Name of Yahweh.  And we also know the Lord called them to Him and they answer as if their eyes were opened, sorrow and joy filled their hearts, and faith overcame their sin of the past, and they only wanted to seek the face of God.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Nations under judgment

 Joel 3:1-3

Nations under judgment, nothing new in that for all one needs to do is open a history book, or the Bible to see great nations come under the Judgment of God.  It is this writer’s opinion that the United States of America has been under judgment for many years.  We read about Egypt, the Romans, and the Greek empires and how they went from greatness to destruction.  But that is not the “judgment of the nations” referred to in Joel chapter three, check me out on this.

The first clue is found in chapter 3:1-3, “For behold, in those days and at that time, when I restore the fortunes of Judah and Jerusalem, I will gather all the nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. And I will enter into judgment 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, 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.”  In those first nine words is the core, those days and at that time refers to what has been written and promised to everyone who calls on the name of Yahweh, they will be saved.  The Jewish peoples eyes will be opened, and once more they will return to their God and have an understanding about who Jesus Christ is.

We're told that these things will take place before Jesus returns, as you go back and study the history of the church, this happens in a small way at Pentecost.  A day is coming like no other, the church age may come to an end, I do not know, but this is for sure; Jewish people will have their eyes opened to God, and they will turn to Jesus Christ, their Messiah. 

At a time before Jesus returns, the world will be in both fear and wonderment over the cosmic signs that are part of His return.  I allowed my mind to ponder on that day and it is going to be something!  Can you only imagine that all the smartphones or not going to be smart, they are not going to work, and all the defense of the military will not work, the satellites will be rendered useless, and the world will be put on notice, God is up to something?

This is the revelation that was shown to the Apostle John and recorded in Revelation 6:12-17.  “When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood, and the stars of the sky fell to the earth as the fig tree sheds its winter fruit when shaken by a gale. The sky vanished like a scroll that is being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place. Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

If you read anything I’ve penned, you are aware that often I refer to John 10:10, and how the thief or the devil, Satan will tell you do not worry if any of this is true then on that day you will call on the Lord and be saved.  Sounds good, one big problem, you have been getting your needs met outside of Christ and not even on that terrible day will you bow to a Holy God.  But there are two calls the one where God’s Spirit calls you, and you are calling on the Lord to be saved.  I took this quote from my study Bible HCSB on page 1487; “God does not save those who do not call on Him, and none call whom He has not called.”   

So dear people, today is the proper day to call on the Lord.  Tomorrow we will look at God calling the nations into battle, they will all come to the Valley of Jehoshaphat, and it’s meaning is, “the valley where Yahweh judged.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

A call to a Sacred Assembly

Joel 2:15-17

“Blow the trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, and call a sacred assembly.  Gather the people, consecrate the assembly; bring together the elders, gather the children, those nursing at the breast.  Let the bridegroom leave his room and the bride her chamber. Let the priests, who minister before the Lord, weep between the portico and the altar.  Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.  Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn, a byword among the nations.  Why should they say among the peoples, ‘Where is their God?’”

A holy fast, and a call to a sacred assembly, I’m not sure the Church has any real understanding of a call to a sacred assembly.  Not being sure myself, I went to Exodus 12:16, and then to Leviticus 23:3, “Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the LORD in all your dwelling places.”

As you explore the book of Leviticus or Numbers, one thing is consistent a sacred assembly was a day without work, a day of worship and prayer.  Now that’s very different from what most of the churches in America do.  Most have it all scheduled out; the time allotted for the music, the announcement, the message, and the taking of the offering.  I sometimes wonder if we leave time for the Holy Spirit to be part of much that takes place in our Churches?

Now God is very serious and precise: the elders are to gather the children, even the ones still nursing at the breast, in that time they may have been two or even three years old.  It is clear that this call is even to those like the bride and bridegroom; the nursing mothers were exempt from such gatherings.

And who has been told to lead this, the priest, in the expression of the nations lament and petition?  Many believe it was one of the northern armies coming down on them for invasion, not locust invasion.

But this is the question one must ask, in that it is clear God has not changed, why do we, in the mess we find our world in, not have someone calling us to a sacred assembly?

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

How to turn to God

 Joel 2:12-13

“Even now—this is the Lord’s declaration—turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning.  Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God.  For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, and He relents from sending disaster.  Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave a blessing behind Him, so you can offer grain and wine to the Lord your God.”

Why yes, I wonder why you and I are so slow to understand the character of our God and Father?  Many times in the Scriptures, it's stated that God does not change, but you and I are fickle, it might have been nicer to say we are indecisive, or changeable, but you get the point, we change.  Not only in our actions and thoughts but also in all areas of life.  I believe Moses or whoever penned the book of Numbers gives us a clear picture of God’s unchangeable character in Numbers 23:19, “God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind.  Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?”

As I’ve often stated, if you and God are in total agreement, that you need little or no improvement, you have fashioned a little god, yes, you are now the creator.  If that is where you find yourself, take inventory, do as instructed in 2 Corinthians 13:5, “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the test!”

So it matters not if you are like my sweet friend, the mother of three young children, who wrestles with the stronghold of being an alcoholic and hates it when she falls under its authority.  Or a builder of custom homes, who I got to know and his business model was personal integrity as a Christian builder.  But deep down, well hidden was a spirit of greed, the love of money had a grip on him, it was a stronghold, and the price he paid money cannot replace.

Now it is time for each of us to take the test, is Jesus Christ living in you?  If the answer comes out yes, then follow the instructions given by the Lord in verses 12-13.  Turn to God with a repentant heart, the Hebrew people would often rend or tear their clothes when confronted with sin, but that is not what the Father is asking, it is not an outward action but an inward one.  A time of personal confession, to restore fellowship with the Father, but not words alone but an act of the heart, an action of hating the sin, and asking the Father to put into your life a distain for allowing anything to break fellowship with Him.

I get agitated when I hear someone who claims the name of Christ but is blaming our Father for the sins of fallen humanity.  They fall in one of two categories: they are ignorant of our Father’s character, or they have never entered into a relationship with the Father.  For Joel has stated these truths about our Father; “For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, and He relents from sending disaster.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

The Day of the Lord is Coming

Joel 2:1-11

The fear of God was not in the hearts of the leaders of Israel or its citizens, but God had placed a spiritual watchman named Joel to cry out, sound the alarm, the day of the Lord is coming.  In the 64th chapter of Isaiah, verse one, we're told the people had for years asked Yahweh to open the doors of heaven and come down.  “If only You would tear the heavens open and come down so that mountains would quake at Your presence.”  They were looking for a God to do their bidding, not much different than the people of our day.  Joel has a message, you are going to get a small sample of what you have been asking for, but know this, a Holy God does not allow sin in His presence, and that is as true today as it was in the time of Joel.

“Blow the horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain!  Let all the residents of the land tremble, for the Day of the Lord, is coming; in fact, it is near—a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and dense overcast, like the dawn spreading over the mountains; a great and strong people appears, such as never existed in ages past and never will again in all the generations to come.”

Not the day they were planning, it was a day of darkness and gloom, and yet so many each day go out of this life with the wrong expectation of standing before a holy, pure, God.  Sin is absent from heaven, yet we have all sinned and fallen short, all, the Pope, Billy Graham, Sister Teresa and you and me.  Jesus is the only way anyone is going to have our sin debt paid.  He did it all for you, but until you agree and bow before him, giving Him permission to come into you and make you a new person in Christ, you're not ready for the “Day of the Lord.”

A fire destroys in front of them, and behind them a flame devours.  The land in front of them is like the Garden of Eden, but behind them, it is like a desert wasteland; there is no escape from them. Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like warhorses. They bound on the tops of the mountains. Their sound is like the sound of chariots, like the sound of fiery flames consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for war.

Their appearance is like that of horses, very critical, judgment has come from the Lord, His watchman have declared what is going to happen, but no one knows if it was an army from the north or an Army of Locusts.  What is clear it was a fire, leaving not one thing standing, no food, no jobs, and no hope.

Nations writhe in horror before them; all faces turn pale. They attack as warriors attack; they scale walls as men of war do.  Each goes on his own path, and they do not change their course. They do not push each other; each man proceeds on his own path. They dodge the arrows, never stopping. They storm the city; they run on the wall; they climb into the houses; they enter through the windows like thieves.

We try to understand what is stated, it’s like an incredible war machine, and we come up with something like “Desert Storm, ” but that is so weak, maybe what General Sherman did to cities like Atlanta is closer, but it is still much worse.

The earthquakes before them; the sky shakes.  The sun and moon grow dark, and the stars cease their shining.  The Lord raises His voice in the presence of His army.  His camp is very large; those who carry out His command are powerful.  Indeed, the Day of the Lord is terrible and dreadful—who can endure it?”

The watchman have moved past locust, and vast armies of God Himself and His command brings judgment on the nations, Judgment day has come!

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

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It was all Gone

Joel 1:5-20

Joel is not clear about who-done-it, was it a mighty army from a foreign nation or was it a nation of locust.  It is not clear but what is clear is the nation was awakened, much like a drunkard going through withdrawals when there is no more alcohol and no hope of getting any more.

“Awake, you drunkards, and weep, and wail, all you drinkers of wine, because of the sweet wine, for it is cut off from your mouth.  For a nation has come up against my land, powerful and beyond number; its teeth are lions' teeth, and it has the fangs of a lioness.  It has laid waste my vine and splintered my fig tree; it has stripped off their bark and thrown it down; their branches are made white.”

Israel’s food supply is gone, can you imagine such a scene, you go to the store for food, but it is long gone.  You ask your neighbor for food, but he/she has already asked all the other neighbors, the fields and trees are gone, and there is no food!

In the time Joel is writing, the proper response to a catastrophe was grief and by wearing sackcloth, not something you would want to wear for its style or comfort.  Sackcloth is a very rough, uncomfortable fabric that irritates the skin.  We also have the priests lamenting that the offering was cut off from the temple, and also their food supply, because it came from what the people brought to the temple as sacrifices and offerings.  All the people who worked and made their living off the food supply were without work and food, it was all gone, no food for people or animals, even the fruit trees were destroyed, and it sure looks as if all will starve.

We see the priests are to remove their nice clothes and put on sackcloth and spend the night at the temple.  They are also instructed to hold a sacred fast and to gather the elders and all the residents of the land to come to the house of the Lord.  The purpose is to confess corporate guilt before the Lord.  That brings a question to mind, why do we as a church not call an assembly to confess our corporate sin as a nation before God?  How long as it been since the pastor or priest has called a sacred assembly to confess the sins of your nations before our Father?  Today is a good day to begin, and let it begin with you and me.

In verses 15-20, judgment is on them, and sin has brought judgment on all of the people, but it has also brought judgment to the animals, and even the wild animals cry out to the Lord for water and food, but none is to be found. “Woe because of that day!  For the Day of the Lord is near and will come as devastation from the Almighty.  Hasn’t the food been cut off before our eyes, joy, and gladness from the house of our God?  The seeds lie shriveled in their casings.  The storehouses are in ruin, and the granaries are broken down because the grain has withered away.  How the animals groan!  The herds of cattle wander in confusion since they have no pasture.  Even the flocks of sheep suffer punishment.  I call to You, Lord, for fire has consumed the pastures of the wilderness, and flames have devoured all the trees of the countryside.  Even the wild animals cry out to You, for the river beds are dried up, and fire has consumed the pastures of the wilderness.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Joel introduction

 Joel 1:1-4

The author of Joel is God’s Holy Spirit as it is in all the books of the Bible, but he used a man named Joel  his name meant (“Yahweh is God”), and the only biographical information we have is that he is the son of Pethuel.  So what do we know from history about Pethuel, he is the father of Joel the prophet.  It is also one of the shortest Books in the Old Testament.  It begins with a terrible locust plaque and is followed by a plea for confession of sins.

My mother was born on March 12,1909, and left her earthsuit in 2002.  Mom grew up during the great depression and lived with her family of 8 brothers and sisters on a farm in Young 

County at the crossroads of 209 and 578, and it was called Murray, Texas.  Now you may be a little confused where one can find Murray, it is fourteen miles southwest of Graham and was founded in 1874 by Thomas Price and J.J. Murray soon followed.  In 1880 the post office was established and named for Murray.  Murray was a fast growing town, and in 1886 it was a community of twenty-seven, and in 1980 the post office was closed, and the population was an incredible twenty-nine people.  Why did I tell you all of that?  Because I wanted to, but it has little to do with mother’s story of the locust plague that hit the farm.  She told us the sky would turn dark when the locusts came in thick flying clouds, and the crops and even the trees were stripped.

“

The word of the Lord that came to Joel, the son of Pethuel: Hear this, you elders; give ear, all inhabitants of the land!  Has such a thing happened in your days, or in the days of your fathers?  Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation.”   We find this person Joel and we address him as a minor prophet and yet he is God’s spokesman for this time and place.  He is addressing both the elders and the inhabitants of the land, and he is asking a question; “Has such a thing happened in your days, or in the days of your fathers?  Tell your children of it, and let your children tell their children, and their children to another generation.”  A plaque of locust had attacked the land, and they had never seen anything like it!  This is Joel’s account: “What the cutting locust left, the swarming locust has eaten.  What the swarming locust left, the hopping locust has eaten, and what the hopping locust left, the destroying locust has eaten.” 

I have read that  Joel " was so unusual that it served as a warning of two future events: a coming war and the Day of the Lord.” (Taken from page 1483 of the HCSB)

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Men who God used in the early Church

May 20, 2017

 Colossians 4:12-18

Yesterday, we examined verses 7-11 and looked at the ministry of Jewish men who were traveling with Paul, and today it is the Gentile men’s life and ministry we will study.  Epaphras and Paul are quick to remind them, “Who is one of you” a servant of Jesus Christ greets you.  Paul introduces him as a prayer warrior, a man who is always struggling on your account in his prayers.  And what is the theme of his prayers; that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God.

If we go back to Colossians 1:7-8, we find it was Epaphras who informed Paul about the church at Colossae.  Paul had not been there at this time, so it was Epaphras that informed Paul about the actions of that church.  In his letter to the Church at Colossae Paul refers to Epaphras as a fellow slave and a faithful servant.  In chapter 2 and verse one Paul makes it clear he has not yet visited that area. 

In verse 14, “Luke the beloved physician greets you, as does Demas. Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.”  The 14th verse tells us the profession of Luke, a physician and once more we see the hand of God using this doctor in a mighty way in the life of Paul.  We also have Demas a companion of Paul who began strong and yet later abandoned the gospel ministry because of his love for worldly things.  I’ve seen the old thief pull this on many a pastor, and I’m reminded that his goal is to destroy and it matters not how long it takes to do so.

Now back to the beloved physician Luke, who gave us the book of Acts and the longest book in the New Testament the book of Luke.  Its focus is the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.  Now both the book of Acts and Luke are dedicated to “most honorable Theophilus.”  

There is a high possibility that Luke was not an eyewitness to the life of Jesus Christ, but he often refers to others being eyewitnesses of the life of Jesus Christ.  But in the book of Acts we see Luke using “they and them”, but later in the book he changes to the first-person plural (“we,” “us”).  So we know that the doctor joined up with Paul and ministered to him and with him.  No one knows whom the person Theophilus is, but it's assumed he was a Gentile believer, who had both wealth and may have held some governmental authority and power.

As we look at verses 15-18, one wonder’s why are we not taking to heart this letter, for it was to be passed on to us also?  “And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea. And say to Archippus, “See that you fulfill the ministry that you have received in the Lord.”  (Go to Philemon, verse 2 to understand who Archippus is.)

“I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my chains. Grace be with you.”

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Paul Encouragers

Colossians 4:7-11

We first heard the name Tychicus in the Book of Acts, 20:4 and he was a native of Asia.  Paul was in Ephesus when a riot broke out, and it was after the uproar had ceased Paul sent for the disciples and encouraged them then he departed for Macedonia but first went to Greece.  A group of men accompanied Paul and Tychicus was one of them.  In the book of Ephesians, once more Tychicus’ name comes up in chapter 6, verses 21-22.  Paul is sending him out as a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord as his messenger.  In 2 Timothy 4:12, Paul is telling Mark to come as soon as he can for only Luke is with him and that he sent Tychicus to Ephesus with a message or letter.  We also have a man named Demas who began right, but Paul tells us his love for the world drew him away, not so with Tychicus.

Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother is from the area of Colossae.  Paul is in prison in Rome under house arrest when Onesimus came to have his encounter with Jesus Christ, look at Philemon verses 8-14. “Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.”

 I also looked at Easton's Bible Dictionary:

“Useful, a slave who, after robbing his master Philemon (q.v.) at Colosse, fled to Rome, where he was converted by the Apostle Paul, who sent him back to his master with the epistle which bears his name. In it, he beseeches Philemon to receive his slave as a "faithful and beloved brother." Paul offers to pay to Philemon anything his slave had taken and to bear the wrong he had done him. He was accompanied on his return by Tychicus, the bearer of the Epistle to the Colossians (Philemon 1:16, 18).”

Do you recall that Aristarchus from Thessalonica was also with Paul when the riot broke out in Ephesus and he also was with the group that left with Paul?  It was Aristarchus and Gaius who were dragged from the theater when the riot broke out in Ephesus.  Aristarchus also became a fellow prisoner in Rome with Paul. 

And in Colossians 4:10, we have the name Mark, Barnabas’s cousin and they have already instructed that when he comes to you, welcome him.  Who is this Mark, we need to return to the book of Acts 12:12, but before doing so first visit Acts 12:1-5, it is the account of Herod killing James the brother of John with the sword, and arresting Peter.  The night before Peter was to be executed the following morning, God sent an angel to free him.  And Peter went to the house of Mary mother of John his other name was Mark, where many were praying.  In the 25^th verse of chapter 12, we find John Mark going with Barnabas and Saul or Paul to Jerusalem.  In Acts 15: 37-39 we find that John Mark has dropped the ball with Paul on a mission trip and it caused a tiff between Paul and Barnabas.  It was only later that Paul became convinced of John Marks usefulness in the ministry of Jesus Christ.

The last Jew on the list who was with Paul in Rome and a servant of Christ is Justus, and we have no other account of him.  Each day as a follower of Christ we make choices, some are good, in fact, I believe most are good, but we also choose wrongly, and that is what Demas did when he desired the things of this world that are passing away.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice

Why Pray?

Colossians 4:1-6

I’ve told you I’m a mess, and so thankful that God loves messes, and yet often I awake from my cluttered life and wonder why; why do I live in such defeat.  Now I find myself in some good company, the apostle Paul also lived, at times, a defeated Christ life.  Look with me at Romans 7:15, “For I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.”  Paul goes on to explain that his flesh has learned how to operate outside of Christ, and there lies the battleground.   The key to winning this battle is found in Galatians 5:16, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”  Now the problem a mess like me encounters is letting my emotions be in the fallback position, and depending on the old ways of getting my needs met outside of Christ.

 If we read Colossians 4:1 in today’s English, we would exchange the word slaves for employees, so read it that way.  The word bondservant also is used, and it was a slave who chose to stay with his master, even after he was released.  “Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.”

But beginning in verses 2-6 we are given further instructions on how to live this life on planet earth.  Start with verses 2-4, “Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison— that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak.”

We are told to be steadfast in our prayers, and yet many of us fall so short and could it be we just do not understand why and whom to pray to?  In the book of Daniel 9:18b, “For we do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness, but because of your great mercy.”  And in 19a we hear a very dependent Daniel pleading with God; “O Lord, hear; O Lord, forgive. O Lord, pay attention and act.”  I know of no other who is all knowing, all loving, all merciful, and who can forgive sin.  That is why one should be steadfast in prayer!

It is evident we should pray, but about what, any and everything, and yet these mighty should be high on the list.  Pray for understanding and wisdom, and you will find instruction on doing so in Proverbs 2:6-8 and Proverbs 3:5.  If you do not have a thankful spirit ask the Father to fill you with thanksgiving and you will find insight in Philippians 4:6 & 7.  My wife is a prayer warrior, and each night we lay in bed and intercede, and anyone who is in Christ can bring one who is in need before the throne of God.

Paul is writing this letter to the church at Colossae, while in his first time in a Roman prison, go back and read what he is asking the church to do.

It is verses 5 & 6 where I often get in trouble, shall we read them with a desire to do as instructed.  “Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” 

I served on the homeowner’s board in my area and it was not a fun job.  Last week at a board meeting I was offering to do an act of kindness, but one person, an astute person was putting up roadblocks that I knew were not in the covenants.  I told you I’m a mess and that night I allowed my emotions to rule, saying that is just stupid, and I said it more than once, I was right in what I said but very wrong in how I said it.  I left wisdom at the door, and my speech was not gracious.  Today, I must write a letter to the Board asking them to forgive me, especially the lady who I was addressing.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice