"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." Hebrews 11:5,6
There is one last lesson that I want to talk about from the life of Enoch. From his life we learn what it is that pleases God. Do you have a desire to please God? Have you often wondered what it takes to please God? Have you wondered if it is even possible to please God? Enoch pleased God, so that means that it is possible. The answer is found in verse six of our scripture text this morning. "Without faith it is impossible to please God." So, it's faith that pleases God.
Not only does faith please God, but He also rewards those who have faith and are faithful. Through the life of Enoch we discover that our faith in God is not in vain. His faith so pleased God that God did something in his life that we have only seen happen in the scriptures one other time- God translated Enoch and took him to be with Him without tasting death.
Though there is very little written in the scriptures about Enoch, it was through his life that we learned that faith is what it takes to please God and that God will reward those who are faithful. So, hold on to your faith in God this morning. Don't stop believing. Don't give up. Keep diligently seeking Him. Remember that He will reward your faith and it is not in vain.
Have a great day. What wonderful lessons we have been taught through the life of Enoch. Are you applying those lessons to your life?
For further reading:
Hebrews 11
Psalm 119:2
1 Corinthians 15:58
Friday, January 29, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
"Enoch- Part 3"
"And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints." Jude 1:14
Continuing our discussion about Enoch this morning, another thing that his life teaches us is that those who walk closely with the Lord have revelation and insight. Like we said yesterday, Enoch lived during the time of the Old Testament. According to the verse above, he was the fourth great grandson of Adam. He lived during the beginning of history, yet he is prophesying about events that will happen at the end of history.
How was he able to do that? How did he know these things? How did he know that the Lord was going to return to earth and bring judgment? How was he able to know about a return when he lived in a time that had not yet known about His first coming-- the cross?
Enoch knew these things because it is God's desire to reveal Himself and His plans to us. He desires to show us things that we don't know. He desires to show us things that are hidden from our understanding. When Moses asked to see God's face, God didn't rebuke him and deny his request. He didn't show him His face because no one can look upon it and live. But God did grant his request by placing Moses in the clef of a rock and declaring who He was as He passed by. Enoch walked closely to the Lord and the Lord revealed His plan for mankind to him. God gave him a glimpse into the future and gave him hope.
The lesson for us- God desires to reveal Himself and His plans to us as well, and He will if we will walk closely enough to Him to listen. Yes, because God is a sovereign God there are things that He reserves for His own understanding- that means, He doesn't always tells us everything. But the reason we don't know "more" about God, His plans and the things He does want to show us is because we won't walk close enough to Him for Him to tell us.
This morning, how closely are you walking to God? Close enough that He is able to reveal His plan to you? Close enough for Him to show you deeper insights, greater revelations and a clearer understanding of spiritual things? Close enough to know Him a little better?
Have a great day. The closer we walk to the Lord, the more He can show us about Himself and His plans.
For further reading:
Psalm 84:11; 103:7
Amos 3:7
Jeremiah 33:3
Exodus 33:18-34:8
Continuing our discussion about Enoch this morning, another thing that his life teaches us is that those who walk closely with the Lord have revelation and insight. Like we said yesterday, Enoch lived during the time of the Old Testament. According to the verse above, he was the fourth great grandson of Adam. He lived during the beginning of history, yet he is prophesying about events that will happen at the end of history.
How was he able to do that? How did he know these things? How did he know that the Lord was going to return to earth and bring judgment? How was he able to know about a return when he lived in a time that had not yet known about His first coming-- the cross?
Enoch knew these things because it is God's desire to reveal Himself and His plans to us. He desires to show us things that we don't know. He desires to show us things that are hidden from our understanding. When Moses asked to see God's face, God didn't rebuke him and deny his request. He didn't show him His face because no one can look upon it and live. But God did grant his request by placing Moses in the clef of a rock and declaring who He was as He passed by. Enoch walked closely to the Lord and the Lord revealed His plan for mankind to him. God gave him a glimpse into the future and gave him hope.
The lesson for us- God desires to reveal Himself and His plans to us as well, and He will if we will walk closely enough to Him to listen. Yes, because God is a sovereign God there are things that He reserves for His own understanding- that means, He doesn't always tells us everything. But the reason we don't know "more" about God, His plans and the things He does want to show us is because we won't walk close enough to Him for Him to tell us.
This morning, how closely are you walking to God? Close enough that He is able to reveal His plan to you? Close enough for Him to show you deeper insights, greater revelations and a clearer understanding of spiritual things? Close enough to know Him a little better?
Have a great day. The closer we walk to the Lord, the more He can show us about Himself and His plans.
For further reading:
Psalm 84:11; 103:7
Amos 3:7
Jeremiah 33:3
Exodus 33:18-34:8
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
"Enoch - Part 2"
"And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters." Genesis 5:22
Yesterday we talked about Enoch and that his name means "teacher'. We said that even though we don't know much about him, what we do know teaches us a lot. This morning I want to look at another lesson that we can learn from his life.
We know that Enoch walked with the Lord. According to the scriptures, he walked so closely to the Lord that one day while they were "walking" together, he just walked right on up into heaven- never seen on this earth again.
From this we learn that not only can we "walk" with God, but we can walk as closely as we desire. There are no limits or boundaries as to how close to God we can walk-- at least none that the Lord puts on us. If there are limitations, we placed them on the relationship we have with Him.
Think about this also. When did Enoch live? He lived in Old Testament times. He lived after Adam sinned, but before Jesus came to reconcile us back to the Father and give us access into His presence. If Enoch was allowed to have such a close intimate relationship with God during the time when they had to offer sacrifices, how much closer a relationship can we have because of grace and mercy which came through the eternal sacrifice that was paid by Jesus.
There is nothing that hinders us from walking as closely to God as we desire. Enoch walked with God before the way was made into His presence, before His throne of grace, through Jesus Christ. This morning, how closely are you walking with the Lord? If Jesus moved the wall of partition out of the way, what is keeping you from getting closer to Him? What boundaries and limitations have you set? He hasn't set any- He moved them out of the way through the cross.
Have a great day. How closely you walk with the Lord is determined by you. He taught us through Enoch that we could walk as closely to Him as we desire and then He moved everything out of the way through Jesus that would be a hindrance.
For further reading:
Hebrews 11:5
James 4:8
Ephesians 2:13-18; 3:12
2 Corinthians 5:19
1 Peter 3:18
Hebrews 7:26,27
Yesterday we talked about Enoch and that his name means "teacher'. We said that even though we don't know much about him, what we do know teaches us a lot. This morning I want to look at another lesson that we can learn from his life.
We know that Enoch walked with the Lord. According to the scriptures, he walked so closely to the Lord that one day while they were "walking" together, he just walked right on up into heaven- never seen on this earth again.
From this we learn that not only can we "walk" with God, but we can walk as closely as we desire. There are no limits or boundaries as to how close to God we can walk-- at least none that the Lord puts on us. If there are limitations, we placed them on the relationship we have with Him.
Think about this also. When did Enoch live? He lived in Old Testament times. He lived after Adam sinned, but before Jesus came to reconcile us back to the Father and give us access into His presence. If Enoch was allowed to have such a close intimate relationship with God during the time when they had to offer sacrifices, how much closer a relationship can we have because of grace and mercy which came through the eternal sacrifice that was paid by Jesus.
There is nothing that hinders us from walking as closely to God as we desire. Enoch walked with God before the way was made into His presence, before His throne of grace, through Jesus Christ. This morning, how closely are you walking with the Lord? If Jesus moved the wall of partition out of the way, what is keeping you from getting closer to Him? What boundaries and limitations have you set? He hasn't set any- He moved them out of the way through the cross.
Have a great day. How closely you walk with the Lord is determined by you. He taught us through Enoch that we could walk as closely to Him as we desire and then He moved everything out of the way through Jesus that would be a hindrance.
For further reading:
Hebrews 11:5
James 4:8
Ephesians 2:13-18; 3:12
2 Corinthians 5:19
1 Peter 3:18
Hebrews 7:26,27
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
"Enoch"
"By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God." Hebrews 11:5
The name Enoch means "teacher". When I discovered this, I thought, "How fitting". Although the Bible doesn't tell us a lot about Enoch, it tells us he walked so closely to God that one day God translated him and took him to be with Him. Enoch didn't make it to heaven by way of the grave like the rest of us- his arrival took place through supernatural means. He was only one of two men recorded in the Bible who did not leave this earth through death.
Why do I think the meaning of his name is fitting? Even though we don't know a whole lot about him, what we do know "teaches" us a lot. We can look at his life and learn from it- which is what a teacher does.. teaches. His life teaches us that he was no ordinary man. Those who are followers of the Lord and walk with Him, are not "ordinary" people. We are considered by God as a "royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people". (1 Peter 2:9) There should be nothing "ordinary" about us because we are children of God, ambassadors of Christ, representatives of the King of kings and Lord of lords and bright shining lights in a dark world. (Matthew 5:16)
Enoch's life also teaches us not to follow "status quo". While so many Christians seem to be content with just going to church and barely getting by in their relationship with God, we should be going above and beyond the norm and in pursuit of a deeper relationship with Him. The Book of Psalms compares this pursuit of a relationship with the Lord that we should have to a deer that is thirsting for a water brook. We should those who are "radical" for Jesus. We should be among those who are told that "it doesn't take all that". We should be those who are called "fanatical" in our love for Jesus. It is pretty obvious that Enoch was on the "radical side". His relationship with the Lord went way past just a Sunday morning church service or "casual Christianity". If it hadn't, the only thing that we might know about him would be just his name-- and it would be just another name among a genealogy that stretched out over thousands of years.
Even from such a brief testimony of his life, there is so much that we can learn. What have you learned this morning? Is your relationship with the Lord "status quo" or "radical"? Are you pursuing your relationship with Him, or is it just a "church thing" to you? Are you acting like everyone else, or is there some sort of obvious distinction between you and those who don't profess to know the Lord?
Have a great day. Has Enoch's life taught you anything this morning about your own life and walk with the Lord?
For further reading:
Genesis 5:22-24
Psalm 42:1
2 Kings 2:11
1 John 3:10
Ephesians 5:1
2 Corinthians 5:20
The name Enoch means "teacher". When I discovered this, I thought, "How fitting". Although the Bible doesn't tell us a lot about Enoch, it tells us he walked so closely to God that one day God translated him and took him to be with Him. Enoch didn't make it to heaven by way of the grave like the rest of us- his arrival took place through supernatural means. He was only one of two men recorded in the Bible who did not leave this earth through death.
Why do I think the meaning of his name is fitting? Even though we don't know a whole lot about him, what we do know "teaches" us a lot. We can look at his life and learn from it- which is what a teacher does.. teaches. His life teaches us that he was no ordinary man. Those who are followers of the Lord and walk with Him, are not "ordinary" people. We are considered by God as a "royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people". (1 Peter 2:9) There should be nothing "ordinary" about us because we are children of God, ambassadors of Christ, representatives of the King of kings and Lord of lords and bright shining lights in a dark world. (Matthew 5:16)
Enoch's life also teaches us not to follow "status quo". While so many Christians seem to be content with just going to church and barely getting by in their relationship with God, we should be going above and beyond the norm and in pursuit of a deeper relationship with Him. The Book of Psalms compares this pursuit of a relationship with the Lord that we should have to a deer that is thirsting for a water brook. We should those who are "radical" for Jesus. We should be among those who are told that "it doesn't take all that". We should be those who are called "fanatical" in our love for Jesus. It is pretty obvious that Enoch was on the "radical side". His relationship with the Lord went way past just a Sunday morning church service or "casual Christianity". If it hadn't, the only thing that we might know about him would be just his name-- and it would be just another name among a genealogy that stretched out over thousands of years.
Even from such a brief testimony of his life, there is so much that we can learn. What have you learned this morning? Is your relationship with the Lord "status quo" or "radical"? Are you pursuing your relationship with Him, or is it just a "church thing" to you? Are you acting like everyone else, or is there some sort of obvious distinction between you and those who don't profess to know the Lord?
Have a great day. Has Enoch's life taught you anything this morning about your own life and walk with the Lord?
For further reading:
Genesis 5:22-24
Psalm 42:1
2 Kings 2:11
1 John 3:10
Ephesians 5:1
2 Corinthians 5:20
Monday, January 25, 2010
"Follow Close"
"Then took they him, and led him, and brought him into the high priest's house. And Peter followed afar off." Luke 22:54
The first time we saw Peter in the scriptures he wasn't following Jesus. The rest of the time we see him in scripture he is following Jesus closely. But in this verse he is following Him afar off. After Jesus' resurrection and the rest of Peter's life he followed Jesus more closely than he had followed Him when He was alive.
Let's bring this issue of following Jesus home- on a more personal, individual level. Are you following Jesus? How closely are you following Him? Are you following Him afar off? Are you endeavoring to follow Him more closely today than ever before? Are you following Him daily? Are you following Him only when it is convenient for you? Are you following Him on Sundays but not on the other six days of the week? Are you following Him when things are going well only? Or when things are going bad too?
When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, He meant that they were to follow Him close enough for Him to tell that they were following Him. That goes for us modern day disciples too. As a matter of fact, if you aren't following Him, you really aren't His disciple, because that's what a disciple does.... follows.
Check your walk and relationship with the Lord today. Honestly examine your life to see where, or if, you are following Jesus. It was never His desire for you to follow afar off. He wants to be "up close and personal" with you.
Have a great day. The only true way to follow Jesus is closely, and growing closer every day.
For further reading:
Luke 5:4-11
Matthew 16:24
John 10:27
John 12:26
John 21:14-19
The first time we saw Peter in the scriptures he wasn't following Jesus. The rest of the time we see him in scripture he is following Jesus closely. But in this verse he is following Him afar off. After Jesus' resurrection and the rest of Peter's life he followed Jesus more closely than he had followed Him when He was alive.
Let's bring this issue of following Jesus home- on a more personal, individual level. Are you following Jesus? How closely are you following Him? Are you following Him afar off? Are you endeavoring to follow Him more closely today than ever before? Are you following Him daily? Are you following Him only when it is convenient for you? Are you following Him on Sundays but not on the other six days of the week? Are you following Him when things are going well only? Or when things are going bad too?
When Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, He meant that they were to follow Him close enough for Him to tell that they were following Him. That goes for us modern day disciples too. As a matter of fact, if you aren't following Him, you really aren't His disciple, because that's what a disciple does.... follows.
Check your walk and relationship with the Lord today. Honestly examine your life to see where, or if, you are following Jesus. It was never His desire for you to follow afar off. He wants to be "up close and personal" with you.
Have a great day. The only true way to follow Jesus is closely, and growing closer every day.
For further reading:
Luke 5:4-11
Matthew 16:24
John 10:27
John 12:26
John 21:14-19
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