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For many years, Stewards in Action (SIA) has desired to share the word of God with men from a man’s prospective. This year, the Lord has provided an opportunity for men to talk about living a Godly life. We welcome your comments and questions. If you would like a copy of prior posting contact us at kcheathem@aol.com ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fresh Fire Ministries The Expository Teaching Ministry of Jay Duane Driver July, 2010
“A Righteous Man May Fall” For a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, but the wicked shall fall by calamity. Proverbs 24:16 (New King James Version)
The wisdom of Solomon, son of David, and successor to the throne of Israel touches a plethora of issues that we now face in the 21st century. We are living in an age where we often discover that the righteous do indeed fall. In Jude, verse 24 the text states that God is able to keep us from falling. This is not a contradiction to our devotional text but one of context. In Jude verse 24, the context of falling is that of falling away from the faith or into what is called apostasy. The contrast here is that of a righteous man "stumbling" or "faltering" or falling into ruin.
For those who have never fallen, or had a temporary lapse in judgment, ungodly thought, mischief, or an indiscretion of any kind this text may not be as liberating as oppose to any of us who have had such an unfortunate occurrence. Solomon parallels the outcome of the righteous in relationship to the wicked. The idea here of the righteous is one who is just in conduct, character, and in relationship with God. It is the picture of Job who was a just and upright man who eschewed evil. The wicked in contrast are those who are hostile towards God, or guilty of sin against God or man. The distinction is quite clear and the result of falling between the righteous and the wicked without debate.
God has always provided a remedy for the righteous when and if we fall. Adam and Eve committed the first fall in the history of humanity. They immediately made for themselves aprons of fig leaves; which was symbolic of salvation by works. However, God who knows how to deliver the righteous stepped in and made for them aprons of animal skins. In order for the skins to be made available, the animal would have to be slain and their blood shed which became a type or shadow of the blood that would be required by the sacrifice of our Lord to remedy the penalty for our fall. The righteous will rise again when found in a fall. The blood of Jesus has guaranteed it. "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace." Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV)
We fall down, but we get up. We fall down, but we get up. We fall down, but we get up. For a saint is just a sinner who fell down. And got up.
-Donnie McClurkin
Questions of more information about this ministry- http://www.freshfireministries.net
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Fresh Fire Ministries The Expository Teaching Ministry of Jay Duane Driver April 1, 2010 “It’s Not About Me”
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.” II Corinthians 4:7 (NKJV)
“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NKJV) The words of Jesus resonate in the backdrop of our devotional passage. If you believe that you can be successful, fulfilled, complete, whole, blessed, healed, prosperous, victorious, holy, and righteous without the person and the power of Jesus Christ our Lord, then think again. If this is what you have been thinking then you have already been defeated long before your attempts to succeed. Your business plans mean absolutely nothing without Christ. Your vain attempts to not make the same mistake again in life are quite mundane unless you understand that you cannot do it by yourself. It is not about me, and it is not about you. Apart from the power of God and our relationship with Him, no matter how we hope and wish things to come to pass, it will not be done without Him.
The power of God is incomprehensible. “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God. How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways are past finding out.” Romans 11:33 (NKJV) However, He places this power that we cannot explain or comprehend in us, mere “earthen vessels.” He does so that the power that He grants us will be of Him and not of us. The Apostle Paul was well aware of His limitations, and as result he fully understood where the source of his power came from. Think about it. God places His power in earthen vessels. This He has done on many prior occasions. When Joshua encountered Jericho and the walls that surrounded the city, God asked Joshua and his army to shout on the seventh day and He would do the rest. When Gideon faced the Midianites, he started out with 32,000 men. God reduced the number to 300 and He did the rest in bringing Gideon the victory. It is never about us, but it is “always” about the power of God. It is reminiscent of what my mother would often say. “Whatever you do, don’t lose the power.” It was her way of saying that never underestimate, disavow, or fail to rely on the power that comes from God because it is never about you.
Paul pens this particular portion of his second letter to the church at Corinth to somewhat validate his ministry. His reputation had preceded him and many knew far and wide of his past history. Yet Paul could not take any credit with regards to what God had done and was doing in his life through the power of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It would be absolutely blasphemous not to mention foolish for Paul or any of us to believe for one moment that we deserve or merit the power of God working in our life. He has placed a “treasure” in each of us. Here the idea of “treasure” implies metaphorically that we have “spiritual treasures that pertain to eternal life.” God does not place these treasures in vaults, compounds, Fort Knox, or any other physically fortified location. No, He places this treasure in earthen vessels. In the life of every blood bought believer.
Therefore, we must acknowledge the power of God that as an act of His grace He allows himself to be placed in the compartment of “earthen vessels” which is to say our flesh. Don’t you think for one moment that your recent victory, deliverance, or accomplishment had anything to do with you. You are merely an earthen vessel without power. But God in His awesome and miraculous mercy has allowed His power to rest on us. Not just for us but that He would be glorified though our works. Whatever you do don’t confuse His power. Don’t abuse His power. Don’t misuse His power. It is always and will forever be about God’s glory and not about us. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 (NKJV) -----------------------------------------------------------------------------Fresh Fire Ministries The Expository Teaching Ministry of Jay Duane Driver January 1, 2010 http://www.freshfireministries.net
“Return to the Lord”
Yet from the days of your fathers you have gone away from my ordinances and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you says the Lord of hosts. But you said, "In what way shall we return?" Malachi 3:7 (New King James Version)
The pastor stands and walks toward the podium to begin his time of preaching the word of God. He opens his Bible, and recites the chapter and verse of the subject for the days' message. Malachi Chapter three. Before he can get the rest of the passage stated for your hearing, you immediately think, "Oh no, another message on tithing!" He doesn't begin at verse 8, but he begins and ends with verse 7. We must be careful that we don't view the context of Malachi's prophecy on one verse alone.
The overall focus of Malachi's prophecy is God's unchanging love for His people. This unfailing love is a result of God's mercy that endures forever. Malachi's voice resonates in the fashion of the first New Testament prophet John the Baptist simply, "the voice of one crying in the wilderness." Malachi had an extremely heavy burden for the people of God. (See Malachi 1:1) He was burdened with the alarming sins of his people and spells out in detail several indictments regarding their behavior. To put it briefly but bluntly, they had denied God's love, despised His name, defiled His altar, and disregarding His law. There was a vain attempt to blame God for their circumstance and behavior by stating that He had not extended His love to them. "I have loved you, says the Lord. Yet you say, "In what way have you loved us?" Malachi 1:2 (NKJV)
In the midst of Israel posing such a ridiculous question; God responds to their inquiry concerning His unfailing love. (v.3-5) Those select verses hold God's response from an historical perspective concerning His covenant relationship with them. But in our devotional text he uses the one word that strikes directly at the heart of the matter when we come to a place in life where not only Israel but we also believe that God's love is not abounding toward us. Return. This one word suggests that God is still where He has always been; surrounding us with His love and protecting us from all harm, when we are the ones who have become "estranged" in our relationship with Him. Return. In the original text it means to "restore, refresh, or repair". This act of reconciliation must be initiated by the one that has left the relationship.
The beauty of this text is that no matter what you have done, you can always return to the Lord. When you return, He will return. His returning does not indicate in any way shape or form that He has ever left. What it does suggest is that when you return He simply meets you at the place that He has always been. He looks beyond our faults and with an unfailing love, meets us at the point of our most immediate need. If God is not there, guess who left? "And the Lord, He is the one who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8 (NKJV)
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