Book of Romans – Chapter One/Part one

As promised… the first part of my new series of studying the book of Romans. I just love this book of the Bible and hope you will enjoy getting an insight into how I like to read the Bible…

Paul wrote the book of Romans around 57AD. Paul the Apostle (Saul of Tarsus) was not one of the twelve or the seventy but a later convert, "the apostle of the Gentiles" he was called. He claimed a special commission from the resurrected Jesus, separate from the Great Commission given to the original twelve disciples.

In this part I will only be discussing the first 4 versus of Romans and will be using the Amplified version of the Bible.

Romans 1:1-2

1 From Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) called to be an apostle, (a special messenger) set apart to [preach] the Gospel (good news) of and from God,
2 Which He promised in advance [long ago] through His prophets in the sacred Scriptures -

• Vs.1 Paul calls himself a bondservant.

Comment: The word bondservant comes from the Greek word doulos, meaning “one who is subservient to, and entirely at the disposal of, his master; a slave.”
The Hebrew word for “bondservant,” ‘ebed, has a similar connotation. However, the Mosaic Law allowed an indentured servant to become a bondservant voluntarily.

Exodus 21:5-6

“If the servant declares, ‘I love my master and my wife and children and do not want to go free,’ then his master must take him before the judges. He shall take him to the door or the doorpost and pierce his ear with an awl. Then he will be his servant for life”

Many prominent men of the Old Testament were referred to as servants. God spoke of Abraham as His servant (Genesis 26:24; Numbers 12:7). Joshua is called the servant of the Lord (Joshua 24:29), as are David (2 Samuel 7:5) and Isaiah (Isaiah 20:3). Even the Messiah is called God’s Servant (Isaiah 53:11). In all of those instances, the term servant carries the idea of humble nobility. Being God’s servant is an honorable position.

• Vs.1 Paul is ‘set apart’ to preach the Gospel in the capacity of an Apostle.

Comment: What does being set apart mean? The Hebrew word for set apart is palah.

Psalm 4:3

“But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself; the LORD hears when I call to him.”

It means select, favored, or wonderful. It is more than setting aside. It means to separate from all the rest as favored or wonderful. It is the same word used for Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 when God the Father said of Him, “His name shall be called Wonderful...”

The people David was referring to (in this verse) were those who were not only saved, but who also chose to love the Lord and live for Him. God said He would set them apart for special favor and hear them when they called on Him.
Samson was supposed to live a life separated from the world and to God but chose not to do so until the end of his life.

Comment: Apostle according to the Webster dictionary could mean one of two things:

Apostle (noun)
Literally: One sent forth; a messenger. Specifically: One of the twelve disciples of Christ, specially chosen as his companions and witnesses, and sent forth to preach the gospel

Apostle (noun)
The missionary who first plants the Christian faith in any part of the world; also, one who initiates any great moral reform, or first advocates any important belief; one who has extraordinary success as a missionary or reformer; as, Dionysius of Corinth is called the apostle of France, John Eliot the apostle to the Indians, Theobald Mathew the apostle of temperance

• Vs.2 Jesus as the Son of God is prophesied in the Old Testament through the prophet Isaiah:

Isaiah 9:6-7

6 For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from the [latter] time forth, even forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah, who lived long before the time of Jesus, gave a prophecy about a "son" who would be called "Mighty God."

Jesus, the Son of God, is 100% human and 100% God. Thus He is both "son" and "Mighty God."

Romans 1:3-4

3 [The Gospel] regarding His Son, Who as to the flesh (His human nature) was descended from David,
4 And [as to His divine nature] according to the Spirit of holiness was openly designated the Son of God in power [in a striking, triumphant and miraculous manner] by His resurrection from the dead, even Jesus Christ our Lord (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

• Vs.3 The flesh of Jesus is descended from the bloodline of King David.

Comment: The prophet Jeremiah was specific when he wrote:

Jeremiah 23:5-6

5 Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch (Sprout), and He will reign as King and do wisely and will execute justice and righteousness in the land.
6 In His days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is His name by which He shall be called: The Lord Our Righteousness.

Jesus needed to become flesh to legally die for our sin. He had to become the Second/Last Adam to reverse what the first Adam (who was flesh) had lost.

1 Corinthians 15:45

Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life].

Jesus as part of the tripartite Godhead existed from before the earth was created but was lowered into becoming human just so He could die in our stead.

John 1:1

In the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself.

• Vs.4 Jesus’ Spirit and divine nature is that of the Son of God.

Comment: This nature was displayed as being power-filled when He beat death through resurrection.

• Vs.4 Jesus Christ is Lord, the Messiah, God’s Anointed One.

Comment: The Prophet Micah prophesied Jesus as the Messiah in the Old Testament about 2700 years ago. He prophesied that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. What does Messiah mean? A messiah is a savior or liberator of a people.

What does anointed one mean? The general understanding of 'the anointed one' especially in the Old Testament seems to be a chosen individual who would fit the biblical description "desire of the nations". He is a leader with qualities that could be described as prophetic, priestly or royal.

Micah 5:2

2 But you, Bethlehem Ephratah, you are little to be among the clans of Judah; [yet] out of you shall One come forth for Me Who is to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth have been from of old, from ancient days (eternity).

Comment: It is clear that when Paul speaks to the people of Rome, they must have had some knowledge of the Old Testament scriptures, because he is constantly referring to prophecies on the coming of the Messiah, recorded in the Old Testament to confirm that Jesus really is the ONE.

Romans 1:1:4

1.From Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) called to be an apostle, (a special messenger) set apart to [preach] the Gospel (good news) of and from God,
2 Which He promised in advance [long ago] through His prophets in the sacred Scriptures -
3 [The Gospel] regarding His Son, Who as to the flesh (His human nature) was descended from David,
4 And [as to His divine nature] according to the Spirit of holiness was openly designated the Son of God in power [in a striking, triumphant and miraculous manner] by His resurrection from the dead, even Jesus Christ our Lord (the Messiah, the Anointed One).

After studying the full meaning of the ‘carefully selected words’ Paul used in the first 4 versus of Romans 1:1-4, this is my interpretation and understanding of it. Keep in mind that every word written in the Bible is God inspired and is in there by design. Even if Paul did not mean every word he wrote, God did…

1. Hi, my name is Paul. I am subservient to, and entirely at the disposal of, my Master. I am a self-proclaimed slave to my Lord Jesus Christ. Yes, my master is Jesus, and He is the "desire of the nations." He is a leader with qualities that could be described as prophetic, priestly and royal. He is a savior and liberator of a people. He personally asked me to become a special messenger called an Apostle, and my job is to bring great moral reform and to teach the nations of the world about the Good News of Him dying and being raised from the dead for all who accept Him. I have to teach them all, that they can now have life for eternity. Christ chose me, to be an Apostle because I am favored by Him and He sees me as being wonderful. I am humbled by this noble position He set me in.

2. God the Father promised the nations thousands of years before He sent His son Jesus to die for our sins, that He would do so. If you don’t believe me, just read the Old Testament, Jeremiah, Isaiah and Micah (to name a few) all wrote it down in scripture, thousands of years before it came to pass.

3. Do you remember reading in the book of Isaiah that He would be born in His flesh as a descendant of King David? Well he was born, as David’s descendent, through His Mother’s bloodline, as He did not have a natural father and was born of a virgin. But, just as much as he became a 100% man, we must not forget the fact that He was also 100% God.

4. The Holy Spirit gave Him the power and ability to overcome death and become alive again after His crucifixion. This was an astounding miracle and a triumph for mankind who had been suffering the decay of death trough sin, since the days of Adam.

To be continued…

Bibliography:

-      Bible Answers for Almost all Your Questions by Elmer Towns.

-      Bob Yandian

-      Webster Dictionary

Book of Romans Introduction

I feel inspired to start a new series after reading the first chapter of the book of Romans. I realized that in this chapter alone there is enough ‘meat’ to preach on for months, so I decided to invite my blog readers to join me in my ‘at home’ study of this absolutely fascinating book of the Bible. It is funny how one can sometimes feel like you have been handed a tangled piece of rope when reading a specific part of God’s Word…you know there is so much to be understood and so many layers of revelation, that it almost gives you a feeling of congested excitement, confusion and challenge – all in one!

I am exited about untangling this mystery and will be reading up about what others have had to say about these scriptures, but I am first and foremost going to believe that the Holy Spirit will bring some new light and a fresh revelation. Times change, but God’s Word is always current. The whole Bible-system was built on a failsafe that ensures that all scriptures are always current, always relevant and always tailor-made for your personal needs without one *jot or tittle ever moving one inch. Some may ask what this ‘failsafe’ is, and the answer is simple – the Holy Spirit. The Bible is not a murky pond with old stale water, it is a fountain of living, moving, fresh water, ready not just to wash you, but also to quench your thirst for the truth - “what is the meaning of life?” 

Prepare yourself for this new study by reading the first chapter of the book of Romans and ask God to lead you in understanding what He has to say about it (before you read what I have to say about it).

* A jot is the name of the least letter of an alphabet or the smallest part of a piece of writing. It is the Anglicized version of the Greek iota - the smallest letter of the Greek alphabet, which corresponds to the Roman 'i'. This, in turn, was derived from the Hebrew word jod, or yodr, which is the smallest letter of the square Hebrew alphabet. Apart from its specialist typographical meaning, we still use the word jot more generally to mean 'a tiny amount'. Hence, when we have a brief note to make, we 'jot it down'.

King James Version 1611, renders Matthew 5:18 as: “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.”

See God working a visible miracle on Youtube - Angus Buchan Story

I went to church this morning expecting a miracle like I always do. I am use to chasing out demons, laying hands on the sick and seeing them get healed, but I had to deal with ‘unbelief,’ which I did not know I had, my heart stopped beating for a second. It felt like my spirit was shaken so hard that my insides moved. What I saw made me gasp for air and cover my face – maybe I was ashamed for not expecting to see what I saw…? It will take me a while to wrap my mind around it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqK3jWgY81o …

Our Pastor showed this to us this morning, and said that he had spoken to Angus Buchan (see the movie “Faith like Potatoes” and read about the “Mighty Men” movement in South Africa if you don’t know who Angus is) about this event posted on Youtube.

This is one of the most touching moments in Ps. Angus’s life according to his conversation with Ps. André. Apparently it never rains or has any wind in that area of Israel, as it is a desert area. Angus also told Ps. André that his hat blew off as well as his heavy bible that was on the podium. Also notice that there was no wind interference on his microphone at any stage...

I don’t think anybody can be the same after watching these visuals…and looking at it through all the signs of war going on in the Gaza strip, it makes me think about our time running out to save those who are lost.

Why do we not see things like this on the 6’O clock news?

Beyond Adventure - Graduation speech 2012 "MOMENTUM"

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(This was my husband's speech tonight at the graduation of the gap-year students of "Beyond adventure" - you might just need this to get your MOMENTUM back!)

Have you ever meditated or thought on the name “Beyond adventure”? Have you started thinking what you will be doing beyond the adventures of 2012? It has surely been a year filled with endless challenges that has pushed you to new limits you didn’t know you had. But again…what next? What lies beyond this adventure? Are you willing to take the momentum of this challenging year and continue to push yourself to do things that seem beyond your capabilities?

Newton’s theory on motion is as follows:

• “An object that is at rest will stay at rest unless an unbalanced force acts upon it.

What does it mean to have momentum? It means that the faster an object moves, the harder it is to stop. You might be able to stop your car rolling on an even road, (because you forgot to put the handbrake on), by standing in front of it and using the force of your muscle strength, but there is no way that you are stopping a guy on a bicycle going down a hill at 70km an hour.

Your power does not lie in your size or how intimidating you’re credentials or even your family history may be.

It is about staying on the move. Constantly evaluating your situation, your thinking patterns and the people you hang out with.

I will explain to you, what I mean when is say: “don’t be a body at rest” – “Keep the momentum”…

Ever since I can remember, I wanted to be a director for film and television. When I hit high school, my uncle at that point was head of the SABC (Wynand Harmse) so I was privileged enough to literally spent my holidays at the SABC roaming the halls and indulging in the behind the scenes creation of the amazing 1980s television era.

After school, I went to University of Cape Town and studied drama, (to the horror of my dad). I took opera lessons form a famous opera star and made my first commercial music album at the age of 21. I worked as a waiter, I did puppet and performance shows on Green Market square, I worked as a radio presenter for Radio 2000, reviewed films for Sterkinekor, had a successful rock band that toured the country with 5FM and other top South African bands.  I worked at a Hydrological Research Laboratory and was offered a full Bio-chemistry scholarship, which I thankfully declined. I Studied law for a very short while, I also went for auditions for every major television series, movie and musical made in this country and made sure I had the best agent. I played in TV commercials and series like “Agter Elke Man” and  “Sonkring”, before I had left school and later landed roles in Egoli, Generations, Suburban Bliss, and many more. I also had assistant lead role in a French television series called “Due South”, and played in many TV commercials. A talent scout had organized to fly me to England for a meeting with Virgin Records for a record deal, before I was 23, but I gave up the opportunity for a more romantic one…my wife. At that point I was a regular lead-performer and actor in the top musicals performing at some of our countries major theaters.

I then went on to study Film & Broadcast Design as well as, marketing, and started working for a UK advertising agency during which I proposed to my wife (to the horror of my now Father - in-law – he is a medical Dr.) He advised my wife not to reconsider marrying me because I was a “dreamer”.

Ironically it is the dreamer in me that has lead me to many of my successes to date.

Soon after, I had a rare opportunity to join the then top advertising agency in South Africa, FCB Lindsay Smithers in Sandton. Their New York office bills in one month what the entire advertising industry of South Africa bills in a year!

After the first 2 weeks of starting there, I got my first promotion. One year later I was made a Manager and 2 years after I started there, I was asked to start up a new division for the group in Cape Town, and so became the youngest Managing Director that FCB had ever employed.

2 years later, after I successfully built up and established the Cape Town division with an amazing team, I got tired of making money for other people and decided to start my own company called Eclipse Media. I got a capital investment company to back me financially and got the guy who started Kalahari.net to join me. I got some of the advertising and design industries best people to join us, and the industry took serious note of our company,even before we officially opened our doors. I was 26 years old at this point in time.

After 4 months of giving it all I had, the investment company that backed us was liquidated because of fraudulent deals on their part adding up to billions of Rands, and our little company, in the trendy loft apartment office, situated in the heart of Cape Town died over night.

My wife Zania often says that she has no idea how I managed to pull myself together without shedding a single tear or showing any sign of self-pity. I re-opened the company (now called ORIJIN), with new investors a mere 2 weeks after this event.

I just don’t understand why people take so much time licking their wounds when the whole world is out their waiting for the next great idea or opportunity.

Today, ORIJIN is a fully-fledged broadcast design and production company responsible for designing most of the tv channels on DSTV such as Supersport, MNET, Movies, MK, Kyknet, Series as well as a variety of international channels like BBC, HBO, Disney Europe and also 2 partnered feature Films. Funny how this giant was born out of the ruins of a failed first try (12 years ago). We started with 6 members and grew to a team of 62 with offices in JHB and Cape Town and representation in Europe and America. With an Emmy nomination and winning more than 100 various local and international television and advertising awards. 2 Years ago in NY, Orijin was ranked as one of the top international broadcast design companies in the world.

Over the past 3 to 4 years whilst leading Orijin, I also recorded my second commercial music album, because despite all my successes, music is still my passion, and I also took up studying again - a BA degree in ministry, before God called me, to bring my secular experiences and lead a change in Christian TV.

I have traveled many times to America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. I sailed on a yacht through the Indian ocean, trekked through the African continent, walked the red carpet in Hollywood, skied down snowy mountains in 5 different countries, drank Campaign underneath the Eiffel tower and climbed up the Great Pyramids.

Today I am in my late 30s and everything I had ever done so far has culminated in what makes me “Me”. To do what I do today, I needed to understand acting, to direct actors, music and the integration of design in and with motion picture. Nothing I ever did was a waste of my time. It made me who I am. Even waitering will teach you a level of humility, which few people will ever understand. The best part of giving you this “toilet-roll” rundown of a part of my life is that it might sound like a lifetimes worth of adventures but I can honestly tell you that I see myself as standing on the starting line of my career, the beginning of great things to come. I don’t dwell on the past, and I don’t feel that I have by any means “arrived” now or at any point before…

What is my secret? Or rather what has worked for me?

Discover what brings momentum to your life and never loose your speed. Don’t dwell on your losses, and never under-estimate the power of being a dreamer. You might start as a so-called dreamer, but you will end up being remembered as a visionary.

Do you have momentum in life or are you "a body at rest"? What are you actively doing to discover what you enjoy and what you are good at?

Michael Dell, founder of Dell Computers, started his company with $1,000 and the idea to sell computers directly to customers. Dell says there’s not much to learn from success.

Here’s the gem guys - “Don’t spend so much time trying to choose the perfect opportunity, that you miss the right opportunity. Recognize that there will be failures, and acknowledge that there will be obstacles. But you will learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others, for there is very little learning in success.”

There’s a saying that sums up how life can be perceived sometimes: “Good judgement comes from experience, Experience comes from bad judgement.” 

The powers that stand against your momentum in life are:

1.   Fear

2.   Lowering our standards

3.   Giving in to our perceived circumstances

4.   Laziness

5.   Procrastination – (the putting off of things that needs to get done.)

Step up and be clear on what you want! The faster an object is moving, the harder it is to stop.

Life is about momentum, not about motions!

Don’t accept your physical environment as the definition of how you are going to live your life.

You need to stand still and truly contemplate “resolutions” to better your life – a resolution is a true resolve to a matter. It means cutting off all possibility of going back on your decision or your old way of doing things. A resolution is not expressing your desire with no plan, no action, and ultimately no follow through. You have to have enough reasons to follow through.

1.   Get clear

2.   Get focused

3.   Make the changes you want, in order to make the outcome an absolute must to achieve.

4.   Get a proven plan

5.   Find a role model

Where focus goes, energy flows. If all you ever focus on is your losses, then you will inevitably become a loser.

Know what you want.

1.   Don’t just do what you have done in the past.

2.   Don’t repeat the sins of your fathers and grandfathers.

3.   Don’t believe that the family you where born into will be the measure with which God molded you.

Genetics does not mold us. Life and Life experience does, Faith in God, the studying of His Word, and the operation of the Holy Spirit in us, is what molds us.

Proverbs 26:14 (AMP)

As the door turns on its hinges, so does the lazy man [move not from his place] upon his bed.

Proverbs 24 (AMP)

³⁰ I went by the field of the lazy man, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding;

³¹ And, behold, it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles were covering its face, and its stone wall was broken down.

³² Then I beheld and considered it well; I looked and received instruction.

³³ Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep—

³⁴ So shall your poverty come as a robber, and your want as an armed man.

Kevin Spacey once said:

“A lot of young people meander around and they have no idea what they are doing. To want to be successful is not enough – That is just desire.

You have to:

1.   KNOW what you want

2.   UNDERSTAND why you are doing it

3.   and DEDICATE every breath in your body to achieve it.

If you feel that you have something to give, if you feel that your particular talent is worth developing, is worth caring for, then there is nothing that you could not achieve.”

Creating momentum in your life takes increasing the things that move you forward and decreasing those that hold you back. I know that living a life that we desire is not always easy to achieve. We have ‘habits’ and ‘repeat cycles’ to overcome. But by creating momentum, we can move past those and move toward the life we want.

Momentum, by its nature, requires a lot of upfront push to get the ball rolling. Here are some tips I found to jumpstart the momentum in your life:

1.   Create your picture of success and make it a reality. If you can’t see your vision of success, you’ll never get there.

2.   Know what you love and do what you love. If you hate your job, get a new one. Go to school and learn a new profession. Start that business you’ve always dreamed of. Pick up that crazy hobby you’ve been thinking about.

3.   Eliminate your energy drains and recharge yourself. Energy drains are those things that drag you down. Things that recharge your energy can be anything that inspires you and puts you in a good mood, like a place to relax, an activity, or a person.

4.   Remove your fears. The greatest source of procrastination is often a deep-seeded fear – fear of success, change, failure, ridicule and the unknown.

5.   Create a “braintrust”. Identify a handful of people in your life who can help you move your life forward. Consider pulling from a wide range of backgrounds, ages, experience and opinions. Sometimes those who are most critical provide the best insights.

6.   Find the time. Be creative and find the time to do what you love to do, instead of what you have to do.

7.   Let things evolve. When the flywheel of momentum starts to turn, pay attention to clues, connections, and opportunities that are presented to you.

8.   Commit to your dreams. Creating momentum starts with commitment.

Momentum is more than just moving. Momentum is a mental shift. It’s a gratifying sense of progression that gives your life stamina, inspiration, joy and that push you need! When it’s working, elusive or not, momentum can be an amazing and abundant force for change in your life. How do we get the momentum we need for change that lasts, that inspires and that infuses every day with purpose?

“Never give in. Never give in. Never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in, except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never yield to force. Never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.

  

Hubby a few years back in New York