April 1st One Year Bible Readings

Deuteronomy 18:1-20:20 ~ Luke 9:28-50 ~ Psalm 73:1-28 ~ Proverbs 12:10
~ Click here to read today's Scripture on BibleGateway.com ~
~ Listen to today's Scripture on BibleOnRadio.com or DailyAudioBible.com (podcast) ~

Wow, the past 3 months seem to have flown by...  It's now April 1 and we are officially 25% of the way through the Bible!  Give yourself a pat on the back.  High five God.  Your marathon pace is going great! 

Old Testament - In Deuteronomy 18:15 today Moses prophesies about Jesus!  "Moses continued, “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him."  These words of Moses' show that the coming of Jesus was not an afterthought, but part of God's original plan.  In Acts 3:22-23 Peter quoted this verse to show that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah, the prophet referred to here in Deuteronomy.

Bob Deffinbaugh with Bible.org has a great commentary on Deuteronomy chapter 18 titled "False Prophets" at this link.  One good quote from this link from Bob is - "False prophets play down the majesty and holiness of God. They try, as it were, to ‘bring God down’ to our level. They make us feel comfortable around “God” (or the “gods”), and they even seek to convince us that we can manipulate God to our advantage. The true prophets did just the opposite.'"  Think there are false prophets in our world today?

In Deuteronomy chapter 19 we read about the Cities of Refuge today.  An image is below for verse 11 - which did not allow one safety in the Cities of Refuge.... ""But suppose someone hates a neighbor and deliberately ambushes and murders that neighbor..."

An image is below for Deuteronomy chapter 20 verses 1 through 4 - ""When you go out to fight your enemies and you face horses and chariots and an army greater than your own, do not be afraid. The LORD your God, who brought you safely out of Egypt, is with you! Before you go into battle, the priest will come forward to speak with the troops. He will say, `Listen to me, all you men of Israel! Do not be afraid as you go out to fight today! Do not lose heart or panic. For the LORD your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!'"  This reminds me of a great lyric from Chris Tomlin's Arriving CD - "If God is on our side, who can be against us?"

New Testament - Today in Luke chapter 9 we read about the Transfiguration!  I read an interesting commentary that said Peter was suggesting that 3 shelters be made because Peter thought at that time that the faith was built on these 3 pillars:  The Law (Moses), the Prophets (Elijah), and Jesus.  Whereas, Peter later understood that through the New Covenant our faith is now built on Jesus, "a chosen and precious cornerstone" (1 Peter 2:6).

In Luke chapter 9 verse 46 today we read - "Then there was an argument among them as to which of them would be the greatest."  Hmmm.... think this sort of thing still goes on today?  :)  Sure it does, because I've participated in this sort of thing.  No, I guess I've never straight out argued with someone that I'm greater than them in the kingdom of God...  but I've thought it.  How sad.  How very sad.  Why sad?  Because if we consciously thinking about ourselves as being better than someone else, then we are spending precious time focused on the wrong thing in life - ourselves.  God calls us to love & serve others in so many more valuable ways.  When we are focusing on ourselves, and thinking we are all-that-and-a-bag-o-chips we are not loving anybody...   Praise God that Jesus teaches the disciples - and you and me today - that there is a better way.  Verses 47 & 48 continue - "But Jesus knew their thoughts, so he brought a little child to his side. Then he said to them, "Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.""

Bible.org's commentary on Luke chapter 9 titled "The Transfiguration of Christ" is at this link and commentary titled "Secular Saints" is at this link.

Psalms - Wow... Psalm 73 today is amazing!  I love it.  I actually had lunch with a good friend who said to me verse 13 almost verbatim - "Was it for nothing that I kept my heart pure and kept myself from doing wrong?"  It was so sad for me to hear him say this... but he obviously is not alone.  The Psalmist thought this too, and I imagine each of us might feel like this is at times.  Praise God that the Psalmist rallies, as hopefully do we, in verse 23 - "Yet I still belong to you; you are holding my right hand." And then I absolutely love where he goes with verse 26 - "My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever."  I can quickly think of people in our world today where this verse 26 is so applicable...  let us pray that those in time of failing health and spirit have God remain the strength of their heart!

Bible.org's commentary on today's readings in Psalm 73 titled "Is Your Spiritual Vision 20/20?" is at this link.

Proverbs - Proverbs chapter 12 verse 10 I kind of forgot was in the Bible - "The godly are concerned for the welfare of their animals..."   Great Proverb for all you animal lovers out there! :)  I'm an animal lover too... but as I know my weakness for even caring for plants, I have wisely not moved into caring for the animal kingdom in any way, shape, or form...   I probably should not put this out there publicly.  God may now put me to the test in this arena!  :)

YouTube:  Today's Deuteronomy Chapter 18 readings on false prophets reminded me of the new book by Chuck Colson called The Faith.  This book dives into the importance of knowing our Christian faith so that we're not swayed by the world - or by false prophets.  Here's Chuck talking about this book.  Anyone read this book yet?

Do you have The Faith?  Click here for Faith!

Please join us in memorizing and meditating on a verse of Scripture this week: "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31 NIV

Comments from You & Questions of the Day:  How have the first 3 months of readings been for you?  Have you learned something new about God?  About Jesus?  About the Old Testament?  Are you looking forward to the next 3 months of readings?  Do you think this daily reading of the Bible is a good spiritual discipline?  Also, what verses or insights stand out to you in today's readings?  Please post up by clicking on the "Comments" link below!

God bless,
Mike

Comments

[Stuart]

This is a truly wonderful site with well proportioned daily readings. No matter how many times we read the Word, there is always something new to learn. The daily discipline of reading OYB before embarking on each day's activities is indeed beneficial:)As for looking forward to the next 3 months readings, I will go further and state that I look forward to reading OYB for as long as it is written!
Blessings to Mike and all his readers. Stuart - Spain

[Jim]

Are there false prophets?

Two researchers from Arizona State University (D. L. Altheide and J. M. Johnson) infiltrated Billy Graham’s ministry and reported on advanced preparations made prior to a Phoenix Crusade visit in 1977 for seeding the audience with ringers rehearsed to come forward as a specific time to give witness and donations, “By the time Graham arrives in town and makes his altar call, an army of six thousand wait with instructions on when to come forth at varying intervals to create the impression of a spontaneous mass outpouring.” [D. L. Altheide and J. M. Johnson “Counting Souls” Pacific Sociological Review 20(1977) pp: 323-348. and Robert B. Cialdini, Ph.D. “Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion” HarperCollins (1984) p: 117. (Another ASU professor)]

Then there’s the issue of his income – he suggests making very little ($200,000), but there’s no way to be sure since he’s never publicized his tax records (or of his employed sons) and many perks (like the full time nurse for his wife) clearly go unreported. Moreover, after Graham was embarrassed in 1977 when the Charlotte Observer discovered an undisclosed $23-million fund in Texas, apparently not mentioned in the accountings of the Minneapolis headquarters, his group never allowed direct access to records again.

In 1994, H.R. Haldeman‘s diaries revealed that Graham had taken part in conversations speaking of “Jewish domination of the media.” The allegations were so at odds with Graham’s public image that most did not believe his account, and Jewish groups paid little attention. Graham released a statement denying that he talked “publicly or privately about the Jewish people, including conversations with President Nixon, except in the most positive terms.” He said, “Those are not my words.”

In 2002, however, newly declassified “Richard Nixon tapes” confirmed remarks made by Graham to President Nixon three decades earlier. Captured on the tapes, Graham agreed with Nixon that Jews control the American media, calling it a “stranglehold” during a 1972 conversation with Nixon. “This stranglehold has got to be broken or the country’s going down the drain,” said Graham, agreeing with Nixon’s comments about Jews and their influence in American life. Later, Graham mentions that he has friends in the media who are Jewish, including A.M. Rosenthal, saying they “swarm around me and are friendly to me.” But, he tells Nixon, “They don’t know how I really feel about what they’re doing to this country.” These remarks were highly controversial to some Jewish leaders that characterized them as antisemitic, such as Abraham Foxman. [Wikipedia]

Joyce Meyers is the most popular woman evangelist, but how many does her ministry convert and baptize? Her ministry draws about $100 million per year (of which ten percent is “tithed” to show production works and she pockets the other $90 million in direct opposition to U.S. non-profit tax law) and her 10,000 square-foot home and $2 million car are but a few of her prized possessions. Meyers tends to brag about her poor education and her many books on emotional health never reference any textbook theories or publish any studies on the successful application of her ideas. She claims, “I am not poor, I am not miserable, and I am not a sinner” and maintains Faith Movement attitudes of accumulating wealth, “I want to live in the Promised Land during my life.” Friend Napoleon Hill likewise says, “Desire is the starting point of all achievement.” Myers also promotes the same lies of Benny Hinn, Copeland, Hagin, etc. that Christ died a sinner and went to Hell and God / The Holly Spirit saved Him from tormenting demonic powers.

Then, even David Koresh (Vernon Howell) was a man who seemed to know how to inspire hope. He seemed wholly committed to people in need. For example, he counseled prisoners and juvenile delinquents. He started a job placement center. He opened rest homes and homes for the retarded. He had a health clinic. He organized a vocational training center. He provided free legal aid. He founded a community center. He preached about God. He even memorized the Bible as a youth (with nothing more than a ninth-grade education), claimed to cast out demons, do miracles, and heal.

Jim Jones similarly started the nation’s first interracial church to which state welfare sent over a hundred children to live (all were unfortunately later sent to Jonestown and killed). Moreover, David Berg, Reverend Moon, Victor Wierwille, Lord Maitreya, and Charles Manson have all managed similar “good” deeds. How can one discern the true nature of a person? For one thing, all of these people (besides many megalomania claims to be divine sovereigns) seemed uninterested in producing independent, spirit-driven, viral (or geometrically successful) conversion agents, and their groups always hit “growth ceilings” common for man-lead churches (of course, there's never been an English church with geometric First century church growth past the founder's life time).

Earlier, escaped slave Frederick Douglass wrote about the nineteenth century American Christian church, “Between the Christianity of this land, and the Christianity of Christ, I recognize the widest, possible difference--so wide, that to receive the one as good, pure, and holy, is of necessity to reject the other as bad, corrupt, and wicked. We have men-stealers for ministers, women-whippers for missionaries, and cradle-plunderers for church members. The man who robs me of my earnings at the end of each week meets me as a class-leader on Sunday morning, to show me the way of life, and the path of salvation. He who sells my sister, for purposes of prostitution, stands forth as the pious advocate of purity. He who proclaims it a religious duty to read the Bible denies me the right of learning to read the name of the God who made me. We see the thief preaching against theft, and the adulterer against adultery.” In other words, he saw agents of great sin preaching against Satan (the very picture of the modern TV evangelist) – the very thing Christ said made one worse than Sodom and Gomorrah. Alas, we seem to always have more false prophets than real ones.

[Laura Johnson]

I am new to the word of God, I am being Baptized in a few weeks. I do not understand Deuteronomy 19:21 Show no pity: life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.
Are we not suposed to firgive all who sin against us so we to will be forgiven?

[Nancy]

In response to Laura, after Christ came things changed. Yes, we do need to forgive always, but in Old Testament times that was not the case. Many things are new because of Christ coming and giving us a new covenant. May the Lord Bless You.

[Richard]

I think your blog on the one year Bible is outstanding. I enjoy the confident, yet humble way you share God's Word along with your insights. I've never read the comments section before, and I totally disagree with the criticism of Billy Graham. He is an outstanding representative of Jesus, and any antisemitic comments he made with Nixon are minor blemishes. I've participated in his meetings, and the "plants" in the audience are most likely the counselors who come forward at the time the respondents do to pray with them.
It is a challenge to keep up with the readings, but a very good discipline that I enjoy more with the relevant discussion you provide.

In regards to Jim and the false prophet information: I was astonished to learn this information about Billy Graham. I have always had to utmost respect and admiration for this man. I know that the information you have shared is documented and some of it could probably even be proven to be correct, but I would never speak of him as being a false prophet. Nor would I mention his name along with Jim Jones or David Karesh. Mr Jones, Karesh and Charles Manson were murders and cult leaders. They might of done some good for some people, but in the end they did Satan's deeds.

My thoughts are, that anyone who has any kind of power, money, or authority and is in the public eye, will always be under scrutiny by some. As we all know the WORLD is driven by money, greed and power. God's ways are not man's ways. In the end we will all be judged by God for our deeds and not man. Thankfully, Jesus Christ came to save those who have repented and accepted HIS forgiveness so that we don't have to face a final judgement.

I think I would much rather face HIS Judgement or rest in the assurance of HIS forgiveness than have my fate be decided upon my sinfull man.

I felt like I walked into a discussion which may of taken place previously and that the topic must of been false prophets. I didn't see anything about false prophets in todays readings or discussion.

I think we all ought to put the focus back on Jesus who this whole bible study and blog is about.

Have a blessed and wonderful day.
LJ

[Jim]

Dear LJ,

You can use a Ctrl-F to find the questions on "false prophets" in Mike's posting and then reread the corresponding Bible readings.

As for whether it is right to consider the conman techniques of Billy Graham (as well as his unowned antisemitic attitudes), Joyce Myers, Hinn, Copeland, and Hagin in the same breath as Koresh, Jones, etc... remember that ALL sin leads to death - there are not different levels of Hell based on the degree of one's sin. Moreover, I believe some of the greatest Christians I've ever known are repentant and reborn serial murders and child molesters doing life I've met through the local prison ministry as smaller sins without guilt are far worse (leading to death) than greater sins washed away by Christ's blood (leading to Heaven). And, flashing the name of Jesus does NOT guarantee getting out of jail.

Hebrews 6:4-5 – “FOR IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO WERE ONCE ENLIGHTENED, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, IF THEY SHALL FALL AWAY, TO RENEW THEM AGAIN UNTO REPENTANCE.”

Luke 14:34-35 – Jesus said, “Salt is good; but if the salt has lost its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is neither fit for the land nor for the dunghill, but men throw it out.”

1 Timothy 4:1 – “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.”

Hebrews 10:26 - “For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins.”

The source of false prophets, however, is not in bad leadership but specifically from the poor followership resulting from taking your common suggestion that we leave judgment to God. The Bible makes it very clear that we are to judge ourselves, each other, and even Him (do you not know that Satan is an angel of light?) as we are to test all things and hold on to only those things that are good (being of God). In the real world, corrupt leadership cannot survive in a moral society just as moral leadership cannot survive in a corrupt society. But, not arguing and simply accepting things as they come (as God's plan) is exactly how over 900 people calmly drank poison and then laid down in neat rows to die in Jonestown.

Finally, there is no more covered topic in the Bible than money. The New Testament contains 2084 verses dealing with the stewardship of and accountability for money and finances. This is more than is said about Heaven and Hell combined, five times more than prayer and faith combined, as well as almost ten times more than salvation. In addition, sixteen of Jesus’ thirty-eight parables deal with money. Obviously, the Bible has much to say about money management. Ironically, however, the average number of sermons per year about money annually is only around one. Some people may think money is an unfit subject for the pulpit because it isn't “spiritual,” but stewardship is a precious chance for us all to put “money” and “God” and “me” in the same sentence, where these words actually belong, without embarrassment or apology (except when some flimflam man is living the good life off of the donations and tax dollars of hard working Americans).

Peace,

Jim

[Susan]

Well, I was glad to see Chuck Colson. I just read
A Life Redeemed.

His testimony is amazing! He reminds me of Paul in the Bible. So zealous.

Susan Girdner :)