Romans 7

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Romans 6

Is God more Likely To Do Something If More People Are Praying ?

Easter 2009

⁴Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. (Romans 6:4) (NASB)

¹²having been buried with Him in baptism, in which you were also raised up with Him through faith in the working of God, who raised Him from the dead. (Colossians 2:12) (NASB)

Proverbs 6:20-35 (New International Version)

Warning Against Adultery

²⁰ My son, keep your father's commands
and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

²¹ Bind them upon your heart forever;
fasten them around your neck.

²² When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.

²³ For these commands are a lamp,
this teaching is a light,
and the corrections of discipline
are the way to life,

²⁴ keeping you from the immoral woman,
from the smooth tongue of the wayward wife.

²⁵ Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
or let her captivate you with her eyes,

²⁶ for the prostitute reduces you to a loaf of bread,
and the adulteress preys upon your very life.

²⁷ Can a man scoop fire into his lap
without his clothes being burned?

²⁸ Can a man walk on hot coals
without his feet being scorched?

²⁹ So is he who sleeps with another man's wife;
no one who touches her will go unpunished.

³⁰ Men do not despise a thief if he steals
to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.

³¹ Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,
though it costs him all the wealth of his house.

³² But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment;
whoever does so destroys himself.

³³ Blows and disgrace are his lot,
and his shame will never be wiped away;

³⁴ for jealousy arouses a husband's fury,
and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

³⁵ He will not accept any compensation;
he will refuse the bribe, however great it is.

Giant Ant Colony is a World Wonder - Watch more Funny Videos

Proverbs 6:6-11 (New International Version)

⁶ Go to the ant, you sluggard; consider its ways and be wise!

⁷ It has no commander, no overseer or ruler,

⁸ yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest.

⁹ How long will you lie there, you sluggard? When will you get up from your sleep?

¹⁰ A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest-

¹¹ and poverty will come on you like a bandit and scarcity like an armed man. "

Wisdom

In my daily Bible reading, this section from the book of Job was highlighted from an earlier time when i had previously read the passage.

For man, wisdom is exceedingly difficult to even find. Comparison is made to mining where man is at least able to through exceedingly toilsome labour dig out the treasure of precious stones (see verses 1-11).

But such is not to be the case with wisdom. For man, wisdom is a much more elusive commodity than the gold, silver or precious stones located in the deepest and furthest mines.

What stikes me in the passage that follows (verses 12-28) is that we have wisdom as seen from God's perspective. This is the perspective where we are given God who stands ABOVE wisdom; testing and approving it. No elusive commodity for Him but very much at hand.

The punchline is verse 28 which is where man's only hope for even hoping to attain to something of this wisdom is given. It stands in contrast to all the pretention strivings man normally engages in to obtain wisdom or what he thinks is wisdom.
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Job 28:12-28 (New International Version)

12 "But where can wisdom be found?
Where does understanding dwell?

13 Man does not comprehend its worth;
it cannot be found in the land of the living.

14 The deep says, 'It is not in me';
the sea says, 'It is not with me.'

15 It cannot be bought with the finest gold,
nor can its price be weighed in silver.

16 It cannot be bought with the gold of Ophir,
with precious onyx or sapphires.

17 Neither gold nor crystal can compare with it,
nor can it be had for jewels of gold.

18 Coral and jasper are not worthy of mention;
the price of wisdom is beyond rubies.

19 The topaz of Cush cannot compare with it;
it cannot be bought with pure gold.

20 "Where then does wisdom come from?
Where does understanding dwell?

21 It is hidden from the eyes of every living thing,
concealed even from the birds of the air.

22 Destruction [a] and Death say,
'Only a rumor of it has reached our ears.'

23 God understands the way to it
and he alone knows where it dwells,

24 for he views the ends of the earth
and sees everything under the heavens.

25 When he established the force of the wind
and measured out the waters,

26 when he made a decree for the rain
and a path for the thunderstorm,

27 then he looked at wisdom and appraised it;
he confirmed it and tested it.

28 And he said to man,
'The fear of the Lord—that is wisdom,
and to shun evil is understanding.' "

"Feed me with the food that is my portion"

Proverbs 30:1-9 (New American Standard Bible)

The Words of Agur

1 The words of Agur the son of Jakeh, the oracle.
The man declares to Ithiel, to Ithiel and Ucal:
2 Surely I am morestupid than any man,
And I do not have the understanding of a man.
3 Neither have I learned wisdom,
Nor do I have theknowledge of the Holy One.
4 Who hasascended into heaven and descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has wrapped the waters in His garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name or His son's name?
Surely you know!
5 Every word of God is tested;
He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.
6 Do not add to His words
Or He will reprove you, and you will be proved a liar.
7 Two things I asked of You,
Do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep deception and lies far from me,
Give me neither poverty nor riches;
Feed me with the food that is my portion,
9 That I not be full and deny You and say, "Who is the LORD?"
Or that I not be in want and steal,
And profane the name of my God.

For commentary on this passage
see HERE and HERE .

Wedding Vows

DEARLY beloved, we are gathered together here in the sight of God, and in the face of this congregation, to join together this Man and this Woman in holy Matrimony; which is an honourable estate, instituted of God in the time of man's innocency, signifying unto us the mystical union that is betwixt Christ and his Church; which holy estate Christ adorned and beautified with his presence, and first miracle that he wrought, in Cana of Galilee; and is commended of Saint Paul to be honourable among all men: and therefore is not by any to be enterprised, nor taken in hand, unadvisedly, lightly, or wantonly, to satisfy men's carnal lusts and appetites, like brute beasts that have no understanding; but reverently, discreetly, advisedly, soberly, and in the fear of God; duly considering the causes for which Matrimony was ordained.

First, It was ordained for the procreation of children, to be brought up in the fear and nurture of the Lord, and to the praise of his holy Name.

Secondly, It was ordained for a remedy against sin, and to avoid fornication; that such persons as have not the gift of continency might marry, and keep themselves undefiled members of Christ's body.

Thirdly, It was ordained for the mutual society, help, and comfort, that the one ought to have of the other, both in prosperity and adversity. Into which holy estate these two persons present come now to be joined.

from the Anglican Book of Common Prayer