I don’t know that God is making an open-ended promise here, in today’s Text.

But I do  know He is capable of granting good health to anyone He chooses.

God to the Jews: “And the LORD will take away from thee all sickness, and will put NONE of the evil DISEASES of Egypt, which thou knowest, upon thee; but will lay them upon all them that hate thee.” Deuteronomy 7:15

God controlling diseases?

Apparently so.

In fact, one of God’s very Names is “Jehovah Rapha.” According to one of His “I am” statements anyway, Exodus 15:26. “If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: FOR I AM THE LORD THAT HEALETH THEE.”

Wow!

I am saying that the Creator of our bodies best knows how they “work.” And is keenly aware of how to make them “continue” working!

Now let me add this disclaimer, on the Lord’s behalf!

If I overeat, abuse my body, physically violate every rule of common sense … I need not demand of God perfect health! What one sows in that area, he will likely reap!

But I still believe the Christian’s first course of action, in health related situations, is to bring to the Lord the matter at hand. Trust Him to “touch” your body.

HE IS ABLE … even to keep us from getting sick!

And for the believer … some day … we shall live in a City, an environment, of absolutely perfect health!

In the meantime, whatever the physical problem or problems you face … rejoice that spiritually you are already made whole! Healed, cleansed from sin!

That truth, that awareness alone … will bring strength and joy … until we do wake up one day in Heaven!

Sounds like we’re winners … either way!

Praise the Lord.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

Since I only write one Lesson on weekends now, It will be tomorrow before the my next Bible Study posts. Pray with us again about the Revival, please.

The Church is located in Oolteway, Tennessee.

After the Service Friday night, folks leaving to drive home. Fellowshipping (obviously) in the process!

Have a good day in the Lord!

Which (also) means … have a godly day in the Lord!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

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It’s one of the very “ways” of God, I suspect.

An emphasis on “opposites!”

Once sinners, we are (through the Blood of Jesus) now saints!

Once blind (spiritually), we now can see!

With our Lord, the way up is to go down! The humble will be promoted, in other words!

Yes, opposites!

Paul took up the same line of thought as well.

He told us certain things we must put off as Christians. Then consequently, certain things we must put on! For example: “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore CAST OFF the works of darkness, and let us PUT ON the armour of light.” Romans 13:12

But what has all this to do with Deuteronomy, one might ask?

Today’s verse, today’s Text emphasizes this truth. It is a restating of Israel’s testimony! What God has done for her as a Nation. “And he brought us out from thence, that he might bring us in, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.” Deuteronomy 6:23

Yes … “And He (the Lord) BROUGHT US OUT from thence, that he might BRING US IN, to give us the land which he sware unto our fathers.”

See it?

OUT of Egypt!

INTO Canaan!

One day, Paul again, when death comes our way … we Believers will be OUT of this body in which we have lived … and immediately IN Heaven … with our Lord!

Another one, 2nd Corinthians 8:9. Jesus became POOR … that we might be made RICH in Him! “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”

Wow!

See if you can think of more of God’s glorious OPPOSITES today!

If you do, text me at 770-844-7627. I like to know what God gives you.

Our great God … so gloriously DIFFERENT!

Listen to Him: “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and THERE IS NONE ELSE; I am God, AND THERE IS NONE LIKE ME.” Isaiah 46:9

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

Journeying through Deuteronomy:

Part of our Scripture Text today reads: “When thou shalt have eaten and be full; then BEWARE lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” Deuteronomy 6:11-12

It’s a warning!

DO NOT FORGET!

The ideas of remembering and carefully (attentively) hearing and certainly not forgetting … these occur in Deuteronomy dozens upon dozens of times!

But the Lord, knowing human nature as He does, realizes our sinful propensity to “prosper” … then promptly “forget” the source of that well-being.

God plans to bless Israel, here agriculturally, as well as in many other ways. Bumper crops, apparently. Lots of grain, plenteous food! But … “When thou shalt have eaten and are full …,” the danger comes.

It happened to the Laodicean Church many years later. See if you can “spot” the parallel, the similarity. “Thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing.” Revelation 3:17, not even needing God!

When God blesses us … let’s be careful. We too need to: “Beware … lest thou forget the LORD.”

And how do I not forget Him?

According to today’s verse … by thinking of many past blessings He has already showered upon us. Back to our Text: “When thou shalt have eaten and be full; then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”

Blessing number one for Israel:  “Who brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.” And thousands more (benefits) beside!

When you quit reading here … go and pray.

And remember some things God has done for you … even  if you’ve already had breakfast!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

 

The Lord, in the Text we’re using today, is very specific about something He wants done!

He not only wants us “talking” about His Word, and “teaching” it to everyone under our sphere of influence … He also wants us to prominently display its Instructions!

“And thou shalt bind them (His Words) for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.” Yes, pretty much “to-the-point,” Deuteronomy 6:8-9.

The verb “bind” can mean “to tie.” As if God would have us “wear” the Scriptures! Some strict Jews literally adore themselves with little boxes on their hands, forearms, with Scripture Verses written on paper and enshrined in those little containers.

The noun “frontlets” also means something that “goes around” some object, here likely one’s head. “Tie” some of the Word on your forehead, “between thine eyes,” it seems.

Then the third admonition is less physical (personally) but still quite obvious. “Write” the Truths of the Bible on one’s house, its posts and gates! The verb does mean “to record” them, visibly.

Wow!

Now of course … these “laws” were directed specifically to the Israelites. And we who are “in Christ” are not mandated to live under the Mosaic legislation.

So I’m not going to belabor the details of the foregoing commands.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THERE IS A PRINCIPLE UNDERLYING GOD’S DIRECTIONS IN TODAY’S TEXT.

God’s Word, the New Testament included, should be a major part of our lives!

I might not today wear it on the outside … but surely I am to carry it with me everywhere I go … on the inside. In my heart, my mind!

In Psalm 10:4 Scripture rebukes the “wicked” man, because “God is not in all his thoughts.”

Wow!

I’m thinking that if God is in ALL MY THOUGHTS … I am already wearing His Word internally!

Proverbs 23:17 adds to our discussion. “Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.” All the day long?

Then God’s Word must be with me, “hidden” in my heart, though not necessarily written on my front porch!

It’s called being Bible-centered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Joshua 1:8 encapsulates the whole idea: “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein.”

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

However, although I am grown and older now, I still remember a Scripture plaque Mom had placed in my little bedroom, on the wall at the foot of the bed! I can tell you its color, some details of its frame, and certainly the Words it conveyed! “Thou (Lord) wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3, still an overwhelming promise to my heart!

I grew up with that verse virtually “on my doorpost!”

If this gives any of you an idea, do it!