top of page
Search

Bible Reading 2025

coachbowen1984

Updated: 14 minutes ago

More on ... The Intercession of Elijah


Bible Reading:

February 9 – 15

Ex. 29 – 40

Matt. 26 – Mark 1

Psalm 31 – 35

Prov. 8:14 – 9:12


I've been thinking about prayer and about how Elisha comes boldly before the Lord in 2 Kings 4. He is approaching the Lord on behalf of the grieving mother and the little boy who tragically loses his life out in the field working with his father. When the woman from Shunem rushes to Elisha who is up on Mount Carmel—the spot of Elijah’s greatest hour some years before—he takes to his chariot and sprints back to Shunem, the woman of God clings to him the way Elisha clings to Elijah on that final day on the other side of the Jordan. She was not leaving Elisha, because she knew where the power of God is.


Elisha goes up to the room where the little boy lies lifeless; and, like the Holy Spirit does when we pray, he intercedes on behalf of the mother and for the life of this little boy.


He does what the apostle tells us to do in Hebrews 4: He goes boldly before God.


As we go boldly before the Lord, let us remember exactly where we’re going: to the ‘throne of grace.’ It is not the throne of judgment nor the throne of criticism. If it were that, you and I would shy away from it. We would not come close to that throne.

But we are glad today that it is the throne of ‘grace.’


We come back to the great promise in Romans 8:26 where the apostle declares that the Spirit of Christ knows our weaknesses, and He is more than willing to step up to the plate on our behalf and interpret our petitions ‘with groanings that cannot be uttered, crying ‘Abba Father’—Galatians 4:6. 


Men may judge us, and friends may even have an air about them when we find ourselves standing before their tribunals. But at the throne of grace, we don’t find those human judgments, nor do we find an air of contempt.


Go there, friends. Go there with the greatest of confidence. You know Someone goes there ahead of you, interceding with unutterable groanings all the way to the divine throne where the truest representation in all the world waits.


God bless you on all your blessed journeys there! ~ Coach 






The Intercession of Elisha!


Good week to all! Welcome to the 'front porch.'


When I think of a great passage in the eighth chapter of Romans, where the Spirit Himself knows our weaknesses and steps up to the plate on our behalf and intercedes for us when we pray, it seems that a hundred thoughts sometimes run through my mind.


One thought is of that great story of the woman of Shunem–you remember, the ‘it is well’ woman–who comes storming up to Mount Carmel with the greatest need she has ever had. And when Gehazi the servant meets her upon Elisha’s behest and asks her if all is well, she merely says, “It is well.”


While I like that we take that great statement and preach good sermons on faith, the immediate context of that suggests that she at that moment is giving Gehazi a quick “I’m ok” answer so that she can get to the one who can provide an answer to her prayers.


Going back to that scene, we see that Elisha is, indeed, a type of Christ, that this sorrowful woman approaches him the way that we approach Christ. And when we see her arrive at the feet of Elisha–and that is straight where she goes–we recognize that she fails to put her thoughts into the proper words. What comes out of her mouth is, ‘Elisha, why did you deceive me this way …?’ I don’t think she can form the words to beg Elisha at that moment. But Elisha knows her need – he sees it written all over every part of her being – and he interprets her prayer easily.


That’s what I think about when I get to Romans 8:26. Elisha has to "intercede" for this suffering woman, and he goes to that upper room where her son lies dead, and there he just “prayed unto the Lord” – 1 Kings 4:33. I can only imagine the fervor and the spirit of that prayer. Sweat must have run down his face the way it runs down the face of our Lord in that lonely Garden; and if Elijah could pray “fervent, effectual” prayers, then Elisha, who had requested a double portion of his spirit, might pray them even more fervently, The great prophet takes the prayers and pleas and supplications and the needs of this grieving mother and lays them at the feet of the Lord, “with groanings which cannot be uttered.”


(Part 2 next week)


Bible Reading:

Jan. 26 - Feb. 1

Exodus 2 - 15

Matt. 17 - 21

Ps. 22 - 26

Prov. 5:7 - 6:19

February 2- 8


The Intercession of Elisha (Part 2)


Good warm, sunny week to all! Welcome to the ‘front porch.’


We began last week talking in the eighth chapter of Romans and in 2 Kings 4. I say “in” because we were having a sort of discussion or conversation about some of the lessons we glean from those two places, not an in-depth exposition of the two.


Sometimes—or almost all the time might be more accurate—you can only glean a little from a passage or two from the Spirit’s message because there are so many lessons hidden away that you can hardly get past one point before you’ve taken a pretty good journey. You understand.


It is an amazing parallel between Paul's teaching in Romans 8:26 to the fervent intercession of Elisha a thousand years before in the upper room of a poor woman's home after she loses her son suddenly. That scene reminds us the picture Paul paints for us in Romans 8:26 as he describes how the Spirit who dwells within us will intercede for us in the times of our deepest and most urgent needs, when we are the most helpless.


When Elisha comes to the upper room where the Shunammite woman’s son lies dead, he has to appeal to God in the most fervent way he may ever have done. If indeed the Lord had given him a double portion of Elijah’s spirit, he was having to drain every ounce of hope and confidence out of his languishing spirit in that hour.


But he wasn’t doing this alone, for we know that “the Spirit intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.”


We have wanted to share these thoughts beginning last week because I know that sometimes we all—and I think especially of the young ones in our audience—feel spiritually drained and inept. I am sure you look around at times and see other Christians and think, ‘You know, I could never be as strong as that person; they seem to just have it all figured out.’


And even though you’re probably wrong about that, you still feel sometimes as if it’s no use for you to try because you can never be like that.’


I believe the reason so many young Christians get discouraged and end up leaving the Lord is because they feel inadequate, because our needs never go away; but in those moments of crisis, His intercession becomes even more profound.


As we think on these thoughts, the words of Hebrews 4 come to us again:


“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.”


Then, the apostle adds, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”


Come boldly.


That means you and me, today. That means the ones who are the weakest and most tired, the ones who have come right to the end of the rope and cannot figure out how in the world they are going to live the Christian life.


We’ll make this our intermission this week and plan to pick back up next week. It’ll be colder then, I expect, but the great truths of God’s Word stay constant through warm weather or cold, right--and through smooth times and rocky. That's one good reason for us to meet here every week, come what may.


Be safe, and God bless!


Bible Reading:

February 2-8

Exodus 15 – 28

Matthew 22 – 26

Psalm 22 – 31

Prov. 6:26 – 8:13













Excellence


Bible Reading--January 19-25

Genesis 19 - Exodus 2 

Matthew 12 - 17

Psalm 18 - 21

Proverbs 4 - 5:6

 

January 23, 2025


Good cold, cold week to all. Welcome to the 'front porch.'


I ran across this column this week. I had forgotten about it, so I wanted to re-share.


Over the past few weeks, we have plunged into a study of one of many people’s favorite books: the book of Philippians. When I asked on Facebook what book many of my friends who study with us wanted to study next, several came back immediately with ‘Philippians.’


Why is Philippians a 'Go-To' Book?


I’ve been thinking about that a great deal, why that was the response. What is it about this little book that grabs so many people? Is it because life is hectic – people bustling here and there all day every day – and this is one book that teaches us to slow down, to search for that peace that passes understanding, something you can’t get unless you drive in the right lane?


Is it because there is so much negativity all around us? Why, I’m sure there’s somebody you deal with every day who brings enough negativity before lunch to last you a month.


But this book is a positive book, a book that tells us to think on things true and honest and lovely and of a good report – Philippians 4:8. Ah, that's a good reason, I know!


Philippians is a ‘mind-changing’ book, too. If you are having too many bad thoughts and you can’t seem to get that train to slow down at all, just pick up Philippians and begin to read for a few minutes. You’ll see quickly that you need to have a bigtime change of mind? We call that 'attitude' nowadays, and it needs to change sooner than later.


Or is it because the writer of this book – Paul, the ‘slave of Jesus Christ,’ as he says in his salutation – had been in a place similar to where you have been–that is, he had been far away from the Lord, even fighting against Him? But he woke up one day spiritually, and he got on the right road; and since the day he found the right road he learned to ‘press toward the mark’ with all that he had, with every fiber of his being, fighting and scratching to reach that goal with both tooth and toenail (as we say), and he never looked back. He forgot all of that past and kept his focus up ahead at the goal he had set. On those days when we find ourselves looking back too much, we can open up the book of Philippians and be reminded, quickly, that looking back won’t do anything for you except make you run into a tree or something


I have one more, and a story, too: Perhaps many love Philippians because it lays out for us (without preaching or lecturing) exactly what a Christian looks like. In short, it shows us what it means to be excellent. You go out in life, says the apostle to the Philippians, and you prove the things that are excellent. Be excellent in your attitudes of peace and joy and in your positive way of looking at things; and you carry yourself every day with excellence. You can’t read this book without desiring it to attain just a smidgen of the excellence we see in this letter!

 

Stay tuned--I have a story to share soon.


Thanks for reading along with us! God bless! ~ Coach
































Thank all for joining in on our 2025 meditations from the scriptures. I hope you find some inspiration for the day. It's a long journey, but it's easier together! God bless! ~ Coach

Bible Reading: January 12-18


Gen. 28 – 38

Matt. 9 – 12

Psalm 11 – 16

Proverbs 3:9 – 32


January 14, 2025


Today ~ Gen. 30-31:16 / Matt. 10:1-23 / Ps. 12:1-8 / Prov. 3:13-15


We approach each year with a different mindset—I suppose it’s the ebb and flow of life. This year, I’ve had a renewed desire to roll up my sleeves and do the daily Bible reading to examine the Book through in 2025. It is amazing how each day speaks to you right where you are with the valleys you have to go through and the mountain-top experiences.


A day’s reading does not go by without true introspection plus a clearer look at what makes people what they are.


Today in Genesis 29-30 you’ll read about Rachel and Leah, the two sisters Jacob marries—Ah, there’s a great deal about human behavior, the spirit deep within them. No, it was not a commendable spirit at all, unfortunately; and it creates a vast chasm and discord in their lives. Their story reminds us to “clean up” our spirits and to be aware always to keep the devil’s spirit from our hearts.


When we allow Satan to plant the wrong seeds in our hearts, our actions, motives, and love become contaminated. Sometimes it may be hidden, at least for a while, but the Lord knows how to bring things to light. That’s why we need continually to examine ourselves and to seek the Lord’s mercy. We are all very human, after all.


It reminds us to do the very best we can every day with everyone we meet, to treat all with love and respect, and to keep the devil’s fruit from taking any root at all in our hearts.

The best we can do every day with what we have! We can live by that.


It may not seem like much, and it may not be profitable outwardly, but the Lord sees the inside.


When we get to Psalm 11, the Spirit sheds more light on these two sisters’ hearts. It is not that they were totally corrupt, but they were losing the battle at this stage in life.


“But the Lord is in his holy Temple; the Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely, examining every person on earth. The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked. He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked, punishing them with scorching winds. For the righteous Lord loves justice. The virtuous will see his face.”


All of this hits us right where we live, today, January 14, 2025.


It will hit it the same tomorrow.


Thank each of you for reading today! ~ Coach


Bible Reading: January 5 - 11


Genesis 1 - 26

Matthew 1 - 8

Psalm 1 - 10

Proverbs 1 - 3:8

Notes over Bible Reading:


1: Stopping at Haran – Genesis 11:31-32

2: History of Shechem – Gen. 12:6

3: Morning prayers – Psalm 5

4: “For we are brethren” – Gen. 13:8ff

5: A Higher Standard – Matt. 5:38-43

6: The Lord sees me! – Gen. 16:13-14 / Matt. 5:6 / Matt. 6:18 / Psalm 7:9

7: Never Too Old – Gen. 18:12


36 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All

Kommentare


Post: Blog2_Post

Subscribe Form

Thanks for submitting!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

©2018 by Front Porch Gospel.

bottom of page