17 DEC 2023 · Welcome to "Voyage to the Heart and Mind of God", where we seek to discover the heart and mind of God as he reveals Himself in the Bible.

19 DEC 2023 · Genesis 2 Summation and a narrowed focus

9 JAN 2024

15 JAN 2024 · Conclusion of Genesis 3

16 JAN 2024 · Genesis 4

24 JAN 2024 · Jeremiah: Speaking Truth to Power This study is called “Speaking Truth to Power”. This phrase is of late misused by people with either no ethics, no clue or neither. It is of late attributed to the well-supported and accepted who are assailing someone holding ideas that run counter to culture. In their eyes, any audiennce this person or group gains, no matter how small makes them powerful, even dangerous and thus worthy of denunciation by any means necessary. That the upstart is speaking verifiable truth is all the more reason to silence them. Jeremiah’s ministry was the real deal. He spoke truth to power. He was tasked to speak Truth to five kings in succession. He was tasked to speak Truth to the most popular and powerful religious (mis)leaders of his day. He was tasked to speak Truth to the people about their ungodly lifestyles. He was even tasked to speak Truth to some of the most powerful rulers outside of the Jewish nation. And he suffered the consequences, too. Jeremiah is sometimes compared to Jesus Christ, because like Jesus, he was sent to his own people with God’s Word and rejected. I often refer to Jeremiah as the prophet who had the job of closing the curtain on Judah. He was the prophet whose ministry spanned the last five kings of Judah before the Lord sent Egypt and then Babylon to conquer and destroy Jerusalem.

24 JAN 2024 · You can read more background on the ministry of Jeremiah's ministry at II Kings 22-27 & II Chronicles 34-36 Jeremiah: Speaking Truth to Power This study is called “Speaking Truth to Power”. This phrase is of late misused by people with either no ethics, no clue or neither. It is of late attributed to the well-supported and accepted who are assailing someone holding ideas that run counter to culture. In their eyes, any audiennce this person or group gains, no matter how small makes them powerful, even dangerous and thus worthy of denunciation by any means necessary. That the upstart is speaking verifiable truth is all the more reason to silence them. Jeremiah’s ministry was the real deal. He spoke truth to power. He was tasked to speak Truth to five kings in succession. He was tasked to speak Truth to the most popular and powerful religious (mis)leaders of his day. He was tasked to speak Truth to the people about their ungodly lifestyles. He was even tasked to speak Truth to some of the most powerful rulers outside of the Jewish nation. And he suffered the consequences, too. Jeremiah is sometimes compared to Jesus Christ, because like Jesus, he was sent to his own people with God’s Word and rejected. I often refer to Jeremiah as the prophet who had the job of closing the curtain on Judah. He was the prophet whose ministry spanned the last five kings of Judah before the Lord sent Egypt and then Babylon to conquer and destroy Jerusalem.

24 JAN 2024 · For more background on Jeremiah's ministry, read II Kings 22-27 & II Chronicles 34-36 Jeremiah: Speaking Truth to Power This study is called “Speaking Truth to Power”. This phrase is of late misused by people with either no ethics, no clue or neither. It is of late attributed to the well-supported and accepted who are assailing someone holding ideas that run counter to culture. In their eyes, any audiennce this person or group gains, no matter how small makes them powerful, even dangerous and thus worthy of denunciation by any means necessary. That the upstart is speaking verifiable truth is all the more reason to silence them. Jeremiah’s ministry was the real deal. He spoke truth to power. He was tasked to speak Truth to five kings in succession. He was tasked to speak Truth to the most popular and powerful religious (mis)leaders of his day. He was tasked to speak Truth to the people about their ungodly lifestyles. He was even tasked to speak Truth to some of the most powerful rulers outside of the Jewish nation. And he suffered the consequences, too. Jeremiah is sometimes compared to Jesus Christ, because like Jesus, he was sent to his own people with God’s Word and rejected. I often refer to Jeremiah as the prophet who had the job of closing the curtain on Judah. He was the prophet whose ministry spanned the last five kings of Judah before the Lord sent Egypt and then Babylon to conquer and destroy Jerusalem.

30 JAN 2024 · “Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, ‘Go and proclaim in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, ”Thus says the Lord, ‘I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown. Israel was holy to the Lord, The first of His harvest. All who ate of it became guilty; Evil came upon them,” declares the Lord.’ ” (Jeremiah 2:1-3) The beginning of Jeremiah’s ministry. He was to leave the comforts of his hometown, Anathoth, for the unfamiliarity of the capitol city, Jerusalem. Most likely he was held in good standing, known for his faithfulness to YHWH. By contrast, he was being sent to a relative metropolis of Jerusalem, the political and reputed spiritual capitol of Judah. This is where the most powerful, the most wealthy, the most influential members of the Jewish culture lived. Here was the throne of David, Solomon's Temple, the Ark of the Covenant that certified the Aaronic priesthood. There are two real-life analogies that come to mind. 1. Martin Luther, the Augustinian monk who unwittingly sparked the Protestant Reformation, walked 1,000 miles from Erfut, Germany, to Rome on business for the Augustinian Order, his order, in 1510. He arrived ecstatic, with high expectations of being enlightened and inspired by the depth and devotion of some truly godly men. He left completely dejected by the corruption, irreverance and immorality he saw there - among the priests! Imagine that - a corrupt, irreverant and immoral clergy! 2. A certain billionaire, with nothing to gain, but everything to lose, answered what he considered a Divine call to serve as President of the United States. Instead of being the rich man who had built up more than enough wealth to sustain himself and his posterity for multiple generations, he laid it all on the line to follow this call. Those who once celebrated, sought after, enjoyed him became those who would laugh at, ridicule, mock and scorn him. He won his first election, and for four years endured the most scandalous libel and slander. He was falsely officially accused of and investigated for collusion, quid-pro-quo, and insurrection. He wasacquitted of all of the charges. He lost his first attempt at reelection in an election where his opposition utilized lies, legislative manipulation and questionable ballot handling and tabulation practices. I could go on, but I think you know who he is. Regardless of what you think of him, he could have remained in the comfort and ease his wealth and fame afforded him, but chose to expose not only himself, but his entire family and all who bore any affinity or loyalty to him to unprecedented levels of slander, libel and efforts to destroy them socially, personally, economically and politically. 3. In Philippians, we are told that Jesus Christ,"who although He existedin the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:6-8) Likewise, Jeremiah went from a place that he knew and where he was known to a place he did not know nearly as well, where he was unknown and we will soon see unwelcome – just as the Lord told him. ”Thus says the Lord, ‘I remember concerning you the devotion of your youth, The love of your betrothals, Your following after Me in the wilderness, Through a land not sown. Israel was holy to the Lord, The first of His harvest. All who ate of it became guilty; Evil came upon them,” declares the Lord.’ ” (Jeremiah 2:2-3) God takes them back to the beginning of their relationship. This is reminiscent of Revelation 2-3, where Jesus addresses the seven churches of Asia Minor, i.e., Turkey. Ephesus, the church of orthodoxy gone cold. The church where orthodoxy overrode passion. Well, here it was the direct opposite. Their passions had overridden Truth. In Pergamum, the issue was the tolerance of false teachers. If we look back at Israel and Judah, we will see that compromise leads to seduction, which leads to capitulation which leads to corruption which leads to destruction. This leads to Thyatira which had been corrupted. After tolerating heresy, we become corrupt, living only for our passions. This can only lead to spiritual, and maybe even physical death, like Sardis. God in His gracious love may send revival, which could lead us to Philadelphia, but the final condition is Laodicea, which on its best day is tepid, a disgusting mixture of all of the above, good and bad, that is ultimately foundrepulsive to Jesus. This church is not the Church, as Jesus is outside seeking admission. When we read more about the reign of Josiah (II Kings 22), we learn something shocking.

2 FEB 2024 · When we read more about the reign of Josiah (II Kings 22 & II Chronicles 34), we are shocked to learn that they found the book of the law! How were they living until this happened!?! Looking at their history (Judges – II Chronicles), not very well. This is the result of a casual to dismissive posture towards God's Word. There is much promise for our lives when we prioritize God's Word in our lives (all passages are from NASB (1995), unless otherwise noted): “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord and in His law he meditates day and night… He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatsoever he does, he prospers.” (Psalms 1:1-3) “How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their heart.” (Psalms 119:1-2) “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgements of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” (Psalms 19:7-11) “How can a young man keep his way pure? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought you; do not let me wander from Your commandments.” (Psalms 119:9-10) “Those who love your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.” Psalms 119:165 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout, and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:10-11) “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them , may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. …It did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.” (Matthew 7:24-25) “’If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.’”(John 8:31-32) “So faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17) “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.” (I Peter 2:2). “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3) Apparently Josiah, without the Scroll knew enough of God to live virtuously. How did he learn this?