Forward momentum and Strength in Weakness

Hello again!

Something I've learned over time about getting in to the Word of God and pulling something meaningful out of my time is that simply reading and being done with it is not very effective.

There's a method called "inductive study" which I've found extremely helpful in the past. There is also a similar method labeled "S.O.A.P Bible Study Method". This is the method folks at my church are using currently and in an effort to track along with my church community it is the method I'm going to be using as well.

Unfortunately I'm coming in to the year's study plan from the middle which may make the first few sessions falter a bit but I know that the Holy Spirit will still be able to speak to me through that time.

For anyone who might be curious about this "SOAP" thing here's a brief breakdown.

It's an acronym that stands for:

S - Scripture
Open your Bible to the reading found under today's date of your Bible bookmark. Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal.

O - Observation
What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Paraphrase and write this scripture down in your own words, in your journal.

A - Application
Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write how this scripture can apply to you today.

P - Prayer
This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out.

And now, to work...

I'm using a few different versions, some for word-for-word accuracy and others for easy readability... Typically I look at the scripture in NIV, NASB, and Amplified versions of the bible.

Today's scriptures are Josh Chapter 13 verses 8-13 and Acts Chapter 4 verses 1-22.

Joshua 13:8-13

The key passage:
It's a short enough passage that I can't really pare it down much...
⁸ Half the tribe of Manasseh and the tribes of Reuben and Gad had already received their grants of land on the east side of the Jordan, for Moses, the servant of the Lord, had previously assigned this land to them.

⁹ Their territory extended from Aroer ... to the plain beyond Medeba, as far as Dibon. ¹⁰ It also included all the towns of King Sihon of the Amorites, who had reigned in Heshbon, and extended as far as the borders of Ammon. ¹¹ It included Gilead, the territory of the kingdoms of Geshur and Maacah, all of Mount Hermon, all of Bashan as far as Salecah, ¹² and all the territory of King Og of Bashan ... last of the Rephaites, for Moses had attacked them and driven them out. ¹³ But the Israelites failed to drive out the people of Geshur and Maacah, so they continue to live among the Israelites to this day.

My Paraphrase:

Joshua 13: 8-13

The tribe of Reuben, Gad, and half of the tribe of Manasseh were assigned by Moses to the land chosen for them and promised by God. Those lands were east of the Jordan River.
The boundaries of their land were mapped precisely and many enemy tribes were forced out of those territories. However, the tribesmen did not force the people of Geshur and Maakah, who had already been living in their lands, to leave and those people continue to live among the Israelites today.

Acts 4:1-22

The key passage(s):
^{... 5} The next day the council of all the rulers and elders and teachers of religious law met in Jerusalem. ⁶ Annas the high priest was there, along with Caiaphas, John, Alexander, and other relatives of the high priest. ⁷ They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”

⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers and elders of our people, ⁹ are we being questioned today because we’ve done a good deed for a crippled man? Do you want to know how he was healed? ¹⁰ Let me clearly state to all of you and to all the people of Israel that he was healed by the powerful name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene,^b]">[b] the man you crucified but whom God raised from the dead. ¹¹ For Jesus is the one referred to in the Scriptures, where it says,

‘The stone that you builders rejected
has now become the cornerstone.’^c]">[c]

¹² There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

¹³ The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures...
¹⁸ they called the apostles back in and commanded them never again to speak or teach in the name of Jesus.

¹⁹ But Peter and John replied, “Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? ²⁰ We cannot stop telling about everything we have seen and heard.”

My Paraphrase:

Acts 4:1-22

The priests, the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees (a sect of aristocratic Jewish priests) approached Peter and John while they were speaking to a crowd. The priests were angry and disturbed because Peter and John were teaching the crowd of people about Jesus and His resurrection from the dead. Peter and John were siezed by the priests and their guards and jailed overnight. Their message had been heard by the crowd however, and many believed them, raising the number of new Christ-followers to around five thousand men.

The next day John and Peter were brought before a group of religious and political leaders for questioning. The leaders asked "By what power or what name did you do this?"

Peter, given word by the Holy Spirit of God, responded to the men saying, "Rulers and elders of the people! If you are putting us on trial today for an act of kindness shown to a crippled old man who was unable to walk properly, asking how he was healed, the know this, you and all of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, whom you crucified and God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed." He continued, quoting a verse from the Psalms, "Jesus is 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the cornerstone.' Salvation is found in no one else. There is no other name on earth or under heaven which can bring salvation."

When the leaders saw the courage of Peter and John and heard the level of eloquence with which the two common fishermen spoke they were shocked and had no doubt these two had been students of Jesus. They wanted to punish Peter and John but they could see the old man standing healed in front of them and so, uncertain what to do next, Peter and John were taken away from the council hall so the priests and leaders could discuss their options.

The men argued amongst themselves, debating the possibilities. They knew that by now everyone living in the city of Jerusalem would have heard of the miracle healing and they were unable to deny the truth of it with the healed man so easily available to the populous. Finally they decided the only option available was to force Peter and John to stop any further miracles or teaching about Jesus. They called the two men back to them and commanded them not to speak or teach in the name of Jesus again but they both replied with a challenge.

"Do you believe it is right in God's eyes that we should do what He asks of us or that we should do what you ask of us? Judge for yourself which is the right choice but as for us, we can not help but speak about what we have seen and heard."

After attempting to cow Peter and John with further threats the leaders and priests eventually gave up and released them because they were unable to imprison them in the midst of the positive reputation they had gained among the common people of the city, all of whom were celebrating the miraculous healing of the old man who was more than 40 years old.

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Wow... That's a lot of paraphrase...

So what am I taking away from this? Both sections of today's reading speak to me. On the one hand we have the book of Joshua which is recounting the taking of the Promised Land by the tribes of Israel. Funnily enough I just got back from a weekend retreat with 40 other Christian men and the theme of "taking land" and "entering the promised land" was a lot of our discussion over that weekend. It is ... an awesome thing to have God re-iterate what He has been trying to say to me in such a clear way. I see in this passage of Joshua an example of how specific God's plan for me is. He knows the exact boundaries of the territory He has set aside for me, east to west, north to south, heights to depths, God knows exactly what he has prepared for me. That is encouraging...more than encouraging... It also encourages me to know that some of the 'enemies' or obstacles in my way have been or will be destroyed *before* I move in to my new lands... That makes me feel like perhaps I haven't been standing on the sidelines as much as I think, just because I'm not 'on the march' doesn't necessarily mean God hasn't been using me to fire volleys of arrows from a distance or sending allied armies in to help clear away the enemies too big for me to handle... Forward progress doesn't have to mean walking forward, it can mean clearing the path before I begin to move. I dig that.

In Acts I see a perfect example of God using us in our weakness to show His majesty... Peter and John are simple fishermen... They have little to no formal education, certainly nothing remotely close to the education and knowledge of the political and religious leaders of the nations capital (Jerusalem). And yet in a moment of accusation God's Holy Spirit gave Peter just the right words to deflect their accusers, speaking truth with power and conviction and pointing at the evidence that their message was genuine.

I've known for a while now that God can work through my weaknesses... The idea that 'when I am weak, He is strong' is sort of a foundation of my faith....but having this reminder is good for me at this stage of my life, in fact it actually encourages me not to worry to much about 'saying just the right thing' while I do this blog thing... God will make sure the message He wants to get out there through me...makes it to the hearts He means it to reach...

So that's going to be my prayer for the moment.

Father God, continue to teach me your ways, your wisdom, your life... Use me to speak truth and love to those around me. Prepare me for the battle ahead and bring me to the land you have prepared. Lord all of this I pray and believe will come about because of the sacrifice You made through the blood, death, and resurrection of your Son, Jesus Christ, Messiah, Savior, my All-in-all.

Amen