Today’s reading: 1 Chron 4:24–5:26, 1 Tim 4:1–5, Ps 78:1–12

Today’s theme: Trust in our good Creator

God is a good creator, He made this world for us to enjoy and bring glory to Him. We can cry out to Him  in any battle that we  may be going through, knowing that He will hear us, despite the deceptions of demons who want us to see God as weak and unable to help us.

1 Chronicles 4:24–5:26

Cry out to God in the battle

And when they prevailed over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him. 1 Chronicles 5:20 (ESV)

These men were mighty and valiant men, this was not only true physically, but spiritually as well. They put their faith and trust in God and cried out to God in the middle of the battle, God heard and graciously granted their request. We must learn from this, to be valiant in our spirits and minds.

We must put our trust and faith in God. We must open our mouths in the middle of the battle and cry out to God. see John 14:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 and Ephesians 6:10–18

1 Timothy 4:1–5

The teaching of demons

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 1 Timothy 4:1 (ESV)

Today, we still have to be conscious of this. Ever since Jesus came, the last days have been in motion and we have openly seen the teachings of demons in institutions such as the Roman Catholic church with its “Veneration” of Mary, and the Watchtower Society who say that Jesus is just an Angel. There are also modern day distortions and inversions of the truth in things like the New Age and the Word of Faith Movement.

These false teachings often rely on legalistic frameworks to keep its adherents in bondage, which is why in some cases, it insists on celibacy and in others, an over-emphasis on spiritual exercises such as fasting or being away from normal life and people (monks etc).

We should avoid these types of error and extremism.

God’s good creation

For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 1 Timothy 4:4 (ESV)

God’s created order with things like marriage and food, should bring us great pleasure and bring God great glory, as we enjoy these things in thanksgiving and honour to Him.

Our faith is not just spiritual, it has a very real part to play, and affect on the physical world, which does not belong to the devil and was created by God. We should avoid all subtle forms of Gnosticism which says that the spiritual is good and the physical is evil – the bible does not teach this. The physical and spiritual all belong to and were created by God.

Psalm 78:1–12

Teach your children

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the LORD, and his might, and the wonders that he has done. Psalm 78:4 (ESV)

We must preserve and spread our faith by teaching it to our children, so that they too will know God in their generation.

Most of the above post is a copy of the original notes from the same date in 2014.

Additional resources

The Gospel Coalition on 1 Timothy 4